Rugby - Hemisphere Wars!

[Havak]

Presumably you also preferred it when a chap in a top hat with a red flag walked in front of the new-fangled things called cars?

In rural Leicestershire that still happens.

I recall a game within the last 6 months reffed by Honiss for which you gave him at least a pass mark. Which one?

I don’t like to say really.

Well okay – he helmed Ireland-Australia.

Depends on which teams turn up. If you know what I mean.

Heck yes.

I think our lads are very hungry this year – and we are long past the hoodoo of Cardiff (to the extent I believe I am right in saying Wales have not beaten us in their Millenium stadium as yet). France have to be smarting and surely they will fire on all cylinders against a weak Scottish side? And Ireland – you have to back them to take Italy really. But the joy of rugby is that anything can happen.

By the way Jason Leonard and Lewis Moody are big injury doubts for us. Moody is the young blindside who threw himself into contact with gusto in the November series. He is a real talent but I worry for his longevity in the game – he is already susceptible to shoulder injury.

And I have to say – he who shall not be named is currently playing as well as I think I have ever seen. I hope he can hold that form into RWC – I need to be able to praise the guy to the rafters whilst the Wallabies stroll to the inevitable tournament title as France, NZ and England self-destruct against each other. You know it will happen. The All Blacks in particular have been made such pre-tournament favourites we all suspect they will blow it in the grand English patented style.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


In rural Leicestershire that still happens.

I happened to be watching another cooking show on cable the other night - surprise, surprise - and they did a mini feature on a free-range, organic goose farm just outside Leicester. Looked like very pretty country. I cupped my hand to my ear and strained to hear the melifluous tones of Havak, in his cups, singing "I Saw J**** Kissing Santa Claus", but, sadly, I was disappointed.

I think our lads are very hungry this year ? and we are long past the hoodoo of Cardiff (to the extent I believe I am right in saying Wales have not beaten us in their Millenium stadium as yet). France have to be smarting and surely they will fire on all cylinders against a weak Scottish side? And Ireland ? you have to back them to take Italy really. But the joy of rugby is that anything can happen.

The picks are, you'd think, obvious. I wouldn't dare hazard a guess at the margins. If the Italians revert to biffball, the Irish should cream them.

And I have to say ? he who shall not be named is currently playing as well as I think I have ever seen.

My night was made the other night when I was watching a promo for the FoxSports rugby show that starts on Thursday night. It showed Himself trudging off, obviously having been carded. The lantern jaw was trailing on the ground.

the Wallabies stroll to the inevitable tournament title as France, NZ and England self-destruct against each other. You know it will happen. The All Blacks in particular have been made such pre-tournament favourites we all suspect they will blow it in the grand English patented style.

I've said it before - I have absolutely no idea how the Wallabies will perform. There will be many new faces and the home ground advantage, as you know, isn't always that. It can often make a tough job tougher. OTOH, our pitches and the temperature - which will be warm, if not as hot as it is now - will make it tough for the NH teams. I'm willing, right now, to bet Civ gold on the ABs. I think their current coach is a very astute chap, and I think he'll have the cattle to do the job.

BTW, speaking of temperatures, the Waratahs play the Blues in the opening S12 match in Sydney on Friday night. The temperature today was 29 C and 70% humidity. The weekend forecast is for mid 30s. God save them on Friday night.

[Havak]

I cupped my hand to my ear and strained to hear the melifluous tones of Havak, in his cups, singing "I Saw J**** Kissing Santa Claus", but, sadly, I was disappointed.

They must have filmed it at the wrong time of year.

The picks are, you'd think, obvious. I wouldn't dare hazard a guess at the margins. If the Italians revert to biffball, the Irish should cream them.

As long as they don’t get sucked in to the biff themselves – doing so has been a problem for Ireland in the past.

It showed Himself trudging off, obviously having been carded. The lantern jaw was trailing on the ground.

Was this the yellow recently against Bristol? He walked off and kicked the benches around!

The BBC promo for the six nations coverage also used a clip of him (without sound) incandescent with rage and very clearly mouthing an extremely anglo saxon expression ( I think it was a clip from the Australia game shortly after the Flatley try!). An interesting choice of clips by Auntie Beeb there.

The club are appealing his last two yellow cards. The grounds seem fairly solid. But the RFU has to back it’s officials really. Tigers just really do not want him to miss the big Glaws semi-final.

I'm willing, right now, to bet Civ gold on the ABs. I think their current coach is a very astute chap, and I think he'll have the cattle to do the job.

He is astute. As I have pointed out before he learnt his trade at Clive’s feet up here.

Logically your call makes good sense. However I still believe that NZ will slip up in a minor game (Boks maybe?). They are depressingly similar to England in that regard. If Australia make the final it’s a foregone conclusion for me. England will blow it of course, they will probably play beautiful flowing expansive rugby through the rounds, make the final, stick it up the jumpers and get turned over for it.

The exact reverse of 1991 in fact.

29C and 70%??? You have to respect they guys for playing in that kind of environment – talk about Professionals!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
At least he was consistent because he got that one wrong too.

Mr Honiss has been utterly incompetent, the French scrum has been overpenalized and J. Crenca at the end of the game said he didn't knew what he had to do. Garin Jenkins (Wales former hooker) said that "Mr Honiss was wrong when he penalized Crenca. This, IMO, has handicaped the French team which couldn't use the scrum which is a weapon for this team".
Bernard Laporte said France's defeat must not be related to the referee (and he is true IMO) but that it is nonetheless a shame we don't know what will be authorized and what will be penalized when the team enter the field.

I thought Merceron’s tactical kicking was poor as well? He was popping it down the field to Robinson, but he was doing it with Robbo in space and he wasn’t turning him but putting it down the barrel – so it was coming straight back at pace all the time. And neither Ibanez nor Thompson were throwing straight – but apparently Mr Honiss was not calling that last Saturday?

Merceron's kicks were really poor actually but the problem is he was uninspired, but the attack was so inefficient it was difficult to "spark" something, this is the story of the snake eating its tail...

Not least because we play them in the very last match of the tournament (trust me on that – I’m going to it!). You visit them first (the next match after this weekends round). Ireland have Italy this weekend then you at their place, then Wales away and finally us at their place. If they beat you the Ireland-England game could be a Slam decider!

Right, and I think Ireland will stomp the Italian. The games played in Dublin will also be tough ones and France and England should be very wary of them.

So here is my request – Tamerlin, LdiCesare please have a word with the boys and make sure they hammer Ireland? Just for me?

No need, B. Laporte is already hammering them a few ones and I think he shouts louder than both of us...

Strangely Mr Honiss policed the lineout gap quite strictly last weekend. Almost NH of him?

Other than that tell me what he policed evenly?

Whatsoever, one of the most stupid thing that has been done by the IRB was to organize this game the first week of the Six Nations Tournament, neither France nor England have played at their best level as it is often the case at the beginning of a competition.

No pronostics from me, I am too angry for the moment and the results are so dependant on the referee it seems to mean nothing at all.

[Havak]

Garin Jenkins (Wales former hooker)

The Garin Jenkins? Coach of Llanelli now?

Hmm. Cried into his beer when Tigers knocked them out the European cup and threw his rattle everywhere to boot. Has been known to express not exactly pro-English views once or twice. I take his opinions with a healthy pinch of salt.

we don't know what will be authorized and what will be penalized when the team enter the field.

Several times the Krazy Kiwi said “what did we say before the game boys?” when policing the scrum. I would have to presume then that the pre-match talk from the ref lacked one thing in your dressing room – an effective translation for your guys? English is hard enough but English with a Kiwi accent – phew!

The games played in Dublin will also be tough ones and France and England should be very wary of them.

We should both take them up front. With Galway and Clohessy gone I don’t see them trading equally with either of us in the tight five. It’s their back line that frightens. It is certainly a more cohesive unit than Englands.

No need, B. Laporte is already hammering them a few ones and I think he shouts louder than both of us...

You should see me after I’ve visited the products of those Suffolk breweries Finbar mentioned.

Other than that tell me what he policed evenly?

I, um, can’t easily. He targeted your loose head and our scrum half in the scrums. Pinged England for off the feet at rucks and your lads for ‘back feet’ all the time. I know – most of the offside laws – he ignored them for everyone on the whole??

neither France nor England have played at their best level as it is often the case at the beginning of a competition.

The great Zinzan Brooke made the same point – rounds should be seeded so one and two meet in the last game of the tournament. I agree with you entirely.

No pronostics from me, I am too angry for the moment and the results are so dependant on the referee it seems to mean nothing at all.

I understand entirely. I agree Honiss is an awful referee – one of the SHs worse in my opinion. But we have to learn to play these guys in time for RWC. One will certainly get the final. Give me O’Brien anyday – I’ve still not forgiven him for the last Lions test but he had the courage to make a Bok walk in November and that redeemed him a little for me.

Of course I’d rather we had had a decent ref like David McHugh or Chris White. Even Steve Lander.

And best of all - Monsieur Jutge?

[Caligastia]

Bah! Even Sky Sports News didn't show any highlights! They prefer to dwell on s*****.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Bah! Even Sky Sports News didn't show any highlights! They prefer to dwell on s*****.

It's very hard indeed, condolences.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Hmm. Cried into his beer when Tigers knocked them out the European cup and threw his rattle everywhere to boot. Has been known to express not exactly pro-English views once or twice. I take his opinions with a healthy pinch of salt.

You take all not exactly pro-English views with a healthy pinch of salt? The spare box cupboard's chockers with cartons of salt?

I understand entirely. I agree Honiss is an awful referee ? one of the SHs worse in my opinion. But we have to learn to play these guys in time for RWC. One will certainly get the final. Give me O?Brien anyday ? I?ve still not forgiven him for the last Lions test but he had the courage to make a Bok walk in November and that redeemed him a little for me.

Of course I?d rather we had had a decent ref like David McHugh or Chris White. Even Steve Lander.

And best of all - Monsieur Jutge?

So I wonder who the best refs actually are? Or is the superlative something not ever to be applied to refs? In the same way that it's rarely applied to influenza or even venereal disease.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

I would have to presume then that the pre-match talk from the ref lacked one thing in your dressing room – an effective translation for your guys? English is hard enough but English with a Kiwi accent – phew!

You've come up with better than that before fin, ... er, Havak?

When both sides criticize the ref it's generally taken to mean that he's done something right ... ?
I guess this wasn't a general match...

Bah! Even Sky Sports News didn't show any highlights! They prefer to dwell on s*****.

AFAIK the News services over here haven't even mentioned the results, let alone shown highlights...

[Edit: Typos, typos and more typos... ]

[Havak]

You take all not exactly pro-English views with a healthy pinch of salt? The spare box cupboard's chockers with cartons of salt?

Just because we English are paranoid does not mean that the whole world does not hate us you know.

Seriously as coaches go The Llanelli coach is the worst loser I have seen in a very long time. He could learn lessons in manners from Munster that is for sure (on which note I now safely have my tickets for the European QF so there’s three more Munster fans cannot have)

So I wonder who the best refs actually are? Or is the superlative something not ever to be applied to refs? In the same way that it's rarely applied to influenza or even venereal disease.

In all honesty I have seen no ‘good’ refs live this year. Some were ‘okay’. I rated Chris White highly last year but, coincidence that is surely is, when he returned after tri-nations duty he was shocking.

I think you may be right – a ref can never be all things to all people. For starters I thought Honiss was very poor but I could deal with that because his poorness didn’t stop us winning. In Tamerlin’s position I would be annoyed all right.

You've come up with better than that before fin, ... er, Havak?

Actually that wasn’t meant to be an insult – I was looking at it from the French point of view. Given English is not their first language and that they will have been mainly exposed to ‘English’ English speakers then the contractions and slang that Kiwis use may well have caused problems.

Then again whilst in Aus I upset the odd Kiwi through my inability to instantly tell they weren’t Aussies (I need to hear the two side by side to judge normally).
Ah heck someone take this shovel off me – I’ve reached the bottom of the hole so I should stop digging.

AFAIK the News services over here haven't even mentioned the results, let alone shown highlights...

Got to love that Aussie media? If no Australians are involved it doesn’t exist on their radar does it?

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
AFAIK the News services over here haven't even mentioned the results, let alone shown highlights...

Not true. The results were on at least two TV news services on Sunday night.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Then again whilst in Aus I upset the odd Kiwi through my inability to instantly tell they weren?t Aussies (I need to hear the two side by side to judge normally).

Some Kiwis have actually managed to shrug off their gutteral ukcents. I'm not sure about ravagon. But the fact that he opts for a lower case start to his name bodes well. OTOH, maybe his shift key's just had the richard.

Ah heck someone take this shovel off me ? I?ve reached the bottom of the hole so I should stop digging.

Dig away, m'lud, dig away. Most entertaining. Especially from our vantage point in deck chairs on the sidelines doing bugger all.

BTW, I caught another look at the promo for the rugby show that features a grab of J**** marching off. There's only a brief glimpse of the oppo, but they're wearing red. Red shorts, anyway.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Just because we English are paranoid does not mean that the whole world does not hate us you know.

True!

(Don't say you didn't deserved it...)

In all honesty I have seen no ‘good’ refs live this year. Some were ‘okay’. I rated Chris White highly last year but, coincidence that is surely is, when he returned after tri-nations duty he was shocking.

I have not seen many good referees myself but I have seen bad ones that were at least trying to enforce the laws of this game and not interpreting them to the point they are meaningless.

I think you may be right – a ref can never be all things to all people. For starters I thought Honiss was very poor but I could deal with that because his poorness didn’t stop us winning. In Tamerlin’s position I would be annoyed all right.

And I am still angry...

Actually that wasn’t meant to be an insult – I was looking at it from the French point of view. Given English is not their first language and that they will have been mainly exposed to ‘English’ English speakers then the contractions and slang that Kiwis use may well have caused problems.

I don't think this is the source of the problem, Mr Honiss lack of insight might be the real problem actually.

Then again whilst in Aus I upset the odd Kiwi through my inability to instantly tell they weren’t Aussies (I need to hear the two side by side to judge normally).
Ah heck someone take this shovel off me – I’ve reached the bottom of the hole so I should stop digging.

Go on, don't give up now, you have almost reached China...

Got to love that Aussie media? If no Australians are involved it doesn’t exist on their radar does it?

Do you think that, to the exception of Finbar who is not a real Australian, the competition is no more called the Five Nations Tournament.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Of course I’d rather we had had a decent ref like David McHugh or Chris White. Even Steve Lander.

Someone from the crowd would have been better...

And best of all - Monsieur Jutge?

Not a very good french championship referee, in my own opinion, but at least he is trying to apply the rules and has been fair with the two teams.

[Havak]

Just got time to drop by and say that I see Tamerlin was quite right about the change of fly half for France. Scotland will be happy to be facing a fly half with good feet and vision now.