Rugby - Hemisphere Wars!

[Havak]

Well I can hardly agree with you on that AB call now can I?

Caligastia would not expect me to. An inactive side that last drew with a team ranked two places lower and before that lost to the team ranked immediately below them? No bean counter worth their salt could make them favourites.

Plus I suspect when there senior team does turn out in the tri-nations and they perform far less well than they did at Twickers (and lets face it they haven't looked the part in their Aussie away fixture for many seasons now so it's more than possible) you may revise that opinion anyway?

Heh Caligastia - is my hook visible above the waterline?

Tomorrow is a poignant and very personal day for me. England v Wales in Cardiff used to be a fixture every Englishman dreaded. I'm still adjusting to going into them expecting us to win and win well. But I will still get the hairs stood up on the back of my neck when 'bread of heaven' gets in full flow.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Well I can hardly agree with you on that AB call now can I?

Caligastia would not expect me to. An inactive side that last drew with a team ranked two places lower and before that lost to the team ranked immediately below them? No bean counter worth their salt could make them favourites.

Care to put some Civ gold where your ladle is?

Tomorrow is a poignant and very personal day for me. England v Wales in Cardiff used to be a fixture every Englishman dreaded. I'm still adjusting to going into them expecting us to win and win well. But I will still get the hairs stood up on the back of my neck when 'bread of heaven' gets in full flow.

Someone call a therapist. Quick!

[Havak]

Have I got any Civ gold left? I still can't believe I accepted that silly margin for the England-AB game and margin betting emptied my coffers over time.

Oh I don't need therapy. I accept we are able to beat them. I expect a tough 15 mins early doors then a rapid assertion of English control.

I was lucky enough to witness 'bread of heaven' sung in the old national stadium in Cardiff, albeit at a club match, and it is something every rugby fan should experience once in life. The Millenium stadium accoustics are okay as well and the Munster fans singing "Molly Malone" is worth listening to.

You SH guys really don't know what you are missing in terms of rugger related singing. Fields of Athenry, The Wild Rover, Jerusalem. Ah happy thoughts.

Keep it under you hat okay but I sang BoH myself several times whilst down under. And Flower of Scotland. And Ireland's call.

This one though I don't sing, my accent is wrong.

Arise children of the fatherland
The day of glory has arrived
Against us tyranny's
Bloody standard is raised
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consorts
To arms citizens, form you battalions
March, march, let impure blood water our furrows

It's a bit violent is it not?

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
I’ve been called an Australian by several American cousins on my travels. Apparently if you don’t speak in a halting monotone like the ‘Upper class’ (and was there ever a less accurate description for a group of people?) you can’t be English.

I love the variety of English accents. Ever see that bit in "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels"?

Southerner - "****ing norvin monkeys"

Northerner - "ah aate these soothern faiirys"

Whilst in NSW an absolutely charming lady from NY with the proverbial child from hell mistook me for an Australian when I suggested said child might be best left in the Jenolan Caves when our party departed.

I love the NY accent. They don't roll their Rs like the rest of the country.

So as for your adopted country I was told the other week that over 90% of the adult population has never left it’s borders (indeed don’t have passports) – would you agree with that?

That's probably true, but you have to keep in mind that Americans don't need passports to go to Canada or Mexico.

I think we may have found a place Finbar would like to reside even less than Oz? Well maybe there and Leicestershire anyway.

For some reason I think Finbar would enjoy NYC. Or were you referring to the USA?

That hook is back? This is not what I meant at all, but rather that Ireland are at an all time high.

But not high enough to beat you guys of course

A serious opinion, with no banter?

I thought that was the banter..

Well okay then. This is the best England side we have ever had. They are capable of competing with any side in the world. Do I think they are capable of winning the RWC – no not really, the venue is beyond them right now. Do I hope they do so – absolutely. But I have more modest goals for continued growth – I want them to beat Aus in Aus, NZ in NZ and put 150 points on Wales. All three are more realistic possibilities than they have ever been.

True, but I think the one weakness of the English team is their dependence on Wilkinson. Is there anyone waiting in the wings with the potential to replace him if he is injured?

As long as I think we are moving forward I’ll be happy. It’s worth pointing out that Union here is a poor second string to the national obsession that is soccer (excuse me whilst I retch) so the team needs to keep moving forward to keep the sport here healthy.

Yes, I do think it's good for rugby in general for England to have a bit of success. Only till the world cup though...

[Devil of Truth]

Oh f*ck! Sport.

Lately every warm blooded SA male cowers at the mere mention of any sporting code. Right now, it seems like only our national tiddlywinks team shows some promise of possibly beating their rivals - the blind, paralyzed, lesbian midgets of Frikfrakistan.

Tonight, SA will get back onto the Super 12 merry-go-round with two local derbies. I’ll be at Newlands watching the Stormers vs. Sharks game (not that I support either side), hopefully an SA side will win that match.

Full report on Monday.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
Blues 31 -d- Waratahs 18

Wet, slippery conditions but no excuse for the Waratahs' handling errors that had them playing - apart from the last 7 minutes - like a schoolboy Under 7 C team. The possession percentages weren't far apart, but the Waratahs simply gave the ball away too often in the most inept, amateurish fashion. The Blues' defence was outstanding. The two Fijian wingers make Doug Howlett look like a draught horse and are incredibly dangerous given an inch of space. But one of them could end up in trouble for a very ugly and unnecessary swinging arm aimed at Matt Rogers' head in a tackle.

I would have loved to see that game, but FSW only shows two super12 games a week so I'll have to be content with Crusaders v Hurricanes and Reds v Brumbies. Sounds like the Blues did famously though. They shouldn't have any problems rolling over the Chiefs next week, and the week after they will be in for a true test when they face the Crusaders.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Devil of Truth
Tonight, SA will get back onto the Super 12 merry-go-round with two local derbies. I’ll be at Newlands watching the Stormers vs. Sharks game (not that I support either side), hopefully an SA side will win that match.

If SA can get one of it's super 12 sides into the final four, then all will not be lost.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
Well I can hardly agree with you on that AB call now can I?

Caligastia would not expect me to. An inactive side that last drew with a team ranked two places lower and before that lost to the team ranked immediately below them? No bean counter worth their salt could make them favourites.

It will be England that will have been inactive when the world cup rolls around, whereas the All Blacks will have had the Tri-nations as a good warm-up.

Plus I suspect when there senior team does turn out in the tri-nations and they perform far less well than they did at Twickers

Of course, these things are inevitable, and as predictable as the tides.

(and lets face it they haven't looked the part in their Aussie away fixture for many seasons now so it's more than possible) you may revise that opinion anyway?

Heh Caligastia - is my hook visible above the waterline?

I saw that one a mile off, but I still have to respond.

I predict that NZ will win the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-nations this year, which will be a perfect lead-up to their World Cup victory over England. oh yeah

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
That was by no means his worst game ever - and he was by no means only making strange decisions one way.

And I won't support a post game witch hunt of any referee by a specific Union. Particularly when the ref is being bullied directly. Surely you can see it's inappropriate for Laporte to contact him directly?

The problem is this is starting to make it look like Laporte is a very poor loser.

I am not stating Mr Honiss' decisions have favored england as I won't say France has lost the game because of him. England played better than France and thus deserved to win.

But I am really concerned by the fact that the players can never know what are the laws that will be enforced on the field, and most of all, how they will be enforced. This is simply not acceptable any more, in the era of professionalism the referee question still lies on the border of amateurism. If the IRB would like to wipe the game of Rugby out of the records of history this organization would not do otherwise.

[Havak]

It will be England that will have been inactive when the world cup rolls around, whereas the All Blacks will have had the Tri-nations as a good warm-up.

The tri nations are early this year - and England have warm up games just before the RWC.

I saw that one a mile off, but I still have to respond

I predict that NZ will win the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-nations this year, which will be a perfect lead-up to their World Cup victory over England. oh yeah

This one I may file away. Could be a useful sig come the autumn?

Tamerlin - I can see your point. Please realise it was Mr Laporte I was suggesting may be seen as a poor loser and certainly not yourself!!!

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak


The tri nations are early this year - and England have warm up games just before the RWC.

Ah, so England will be all worn out, while NZ will be rested and ready to go!

This one I may file away. Could be a useful sig come the autumn?

Do you promise to wear it after England's RWC defeat at the hands of the All Blacks?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Have I got any Civ gold left? I still can't believe I accepted that silly margin for the England-AB game and margin betting emptied my coffers over time.

You certainly do have enough Civ gold left. Here's our current bank balance:

Andydog 186
Caligastia 37
finbar 123.5
Havak 60
LDiCesares 111
Mickeyj 143.5
NeoStar 114
ravagon 94
redbull 80
Tamerlin 59

So enough of this pussyfooting around and put some Civ gold where your ladle is! I'm willing to bet you - here and now - 50 Civ gold that the ABs will win the WRC. What about it?

Oh I don't need therapy. I accept we are able to beat them. I expect a tough 15 mins early doors then a rapid assertion of English control.

No, the therapy is for this curious lack of self esteem that has you, on the one hand, cheerfully celebrating England's superiority and rueing that the rest of the world doesn't acknowlege it, while, on the other hand, raising the notion of mind games when someone else does actually acknowledge England's superiority. While, on the other other hand, you're totally writing off the team's chances in the WRC before a ball is passed or kicked. Curious, yes?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
I would have loved to see that game, but FSW only shows two super12 games a week so I'll have to be content with Crusaders v Hurricanes and Reds v Brumbies. Sounds like the Blues did famously though. They shouldn't have any problems rolling over the Chiefs next week, and the week after they will be in for a true test when they face the Crusaders.

The Blues were terrific. They lost Carlos Spencer before the match with a knee injury but his replacement - Ai'i - was outstanding. They made many fewer mistakes in the conditions, their defence was powerful, and the counter-attacking was terrific. They were a lot more confident and aggressive than some of the Blues teams of recent years. It obviously helped that the Waratahs only played about 8 minutes of fluent rugby for the match and the scoreline ultimately flattered the Waratahs with two tries in the last 8 minutes when they actually looked like a decent team.

[Frozzy]

My Super 12 picks:

Winners: Blues. They look outstanding.
Runners Up: Hmm... I'd have to say Highlanders
Losing Semi-Finalists: Waratahs and Brumbies

The Crusaders will fall flat on their faces this year, IMO. The Blues SMOKED the Waratahs... but I think I'll be changing my bets come April

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
This one though I don't sing, my accent is wrong.

Arise children of the fatherland
The day of glory has arrived
Against us tyranny's
Bloody standard is raised
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consorts
To arms citizens, form you battalions
March, march, let impure blood water our furrows

It's a bit violent is it not?

Naaaah! Only a little war song sang by the troops coming from Marseille during the revolution. Only fearsome when it was sang in the Parc des Princes.