Rugby - Crouch and Hold!

[Havak]

That's the guy.

I'd be amazed if the pie lasts past the pre-tour drink tonight.

On which note I have run out of time - have a good weekend all.

Back your respective picks with gusto and I honestly hope Finbar that your horse loses - nothing personal.

[Tamerlin]

Thanks Tamerlin – I downloaded modswapper but the tip on file editing I hadn’t seen – much appreciated.

It's a pleasure Havak, editing the said text is a common omission...

A bit too late but good week-end Havak!

Finbar, when I asked my mother if the Lentils were "Puy" she replied indignant "of course" with a shrug...

And thanks for the Pork Pie Hat explanation...

[LDiCesare]

We scored again putting us up 10-0, I think it was run in by our flyhalf.

Bearcat shows he is a true forward: Even on the bench, he can't make out a back from another one (I "think"...).
As for myself, I have been playing on tuesday on the same field which was a mudfest last time but was hard and dusty this week... Just to lose a match (6 tries for them vs. 5 for us) thanks to a sometimes absent defense and an awful referee. If on saturday the ref doesn't see how the reds hold the ball when tackled the way ours did on tuesday, the French are in trouble...
Speaking of which, I'll be playing on saturday morning at 9 AM... because France-Wales is at 2 PM and the other team has come to PAris to see the match...

I bet Italy will beat Scotland. The way both teams played in second half this weekend, Scotland is in trouble.
Ireland-England should be a good match. I think the odds are for the English, but Murphy, O'Driscoll are real good players, and Irish in Dublin for a Grand Slam against England, that will be a tough team for Havak's favourite players.
As for Wales-France, it depends on how France plays. Like the first half this week end or the second? I hope for the first...

[Bearcat]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Bearcat shows he is a true forward: Even on the bench, he can't make out a back from another one (I "think"...).

I'm honored by that title bestowed upon me, but I do know the positions of the backline, I just couldn't be sure

[finbar]

Originally posted by Bearcat

I'm honored by that title bestowed upon me, but I do know the positions of the backline, I just couldn't be sure

There's a very simple test, Bearcat. If the guy looks like his IQ is a bigger number than his shoe size, he's a back. Flankers, of course, because they have the nouse only to attach themselves to the side of the scrum rather than immerse themselves in it, count as backs.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

Finbar, when I asked my mother if the Lentils were "Puy" she replied indignant "of course" with a shrug...

Your mother is obviously a woman of high class and you have obviously inherited the genes.

And here are pictures of Pork Pie Hats. The next sounds you hear will be Havak drooling and picking up his knife and fork:

http://www.millerhats.com/derby4.htm

[Caligastia]

I get to watch 3 super 12 games this weekend - the Blues game, the Crusaders game, and the Waratahs game. I won't be posting till I've seen all three though, so I'll talk to you guys on Tuesday.

[finbar]

Blues 41 -d- Brumbies 15

The Blues simply too strong, the Brumbies simply made too many errors. And, as one of the commentators noted, no one told the Blues' Fijian winger Caucau that the driving rain and slippery conditions made ball-handling difficult. His performance to gather, one-handed, a loose Brumbie ball, avoid half a dozen tacklers and run half the length of the field to score one of his two tries was simply astonishing rugby.

Yet again, however, a ridiculous yellow card marred the game. The two #8s were scragging each other, the ref claimed he saw the Brumbies #8 throw three punches and asked the video ref to check (a) who the other player was; and (b) what the other player contributed to the situation. The replay clearly identifed the Blues #8 as the other player and showed him aiming an open-hand slap at the Brumbies #8 which seemed to miss. The Brumbies #8 retaliated with a couple of open-handed slaps none of which seemed to make contact.

These, apparently, were the "three punches" the ref had claimed to see. But the video ref reported back to the ref that it wasn't clear what had started it. Which is absolute crap. But worse, the video ref didn't clarify for the ref that that none of the blows were punches. So the ref sinbinned the Brumbies #8 for "punching" and the Blues #8, who committed exactly the same "offence" - slapping with an open hand - wasn't even spoken to. The appropriate response from the ref in this case would have been to tell both players to grow up.

And, with the Brumbies #8 off the field, the Blues immediately scored two tries. The sin-binning didn't affect the overall result - the Blues were too strong and the Brumbies made way too many errors - but this is the second case of an unwarranted yellow card within a couple of weeks. This time, the video ref - having been involved by the ref - had the opportunity to prevent the mistake and didn't. If video refs are going to be called on by refs to clarify matters, it has to be the video ref's responsibility to correct a ref's apparent perception and prevent a team being wrongly disadvantaged.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
Blues 41 -d- Brumbies 15

The Blues simply too strong, the Brumbies simply made too many errors. And, as one of the commentators noted, no one told the Blues' Fijian winger Caucau that the driving rain and slippery conditions made ball-handling difficult. His performance to gather, one-handed, a loose Brumbie ball, avoid half a dozen tacklers and run half the length of the field to score one of his two tries was simply astonishing rugby.

That was definitely the try of the match. Brilliant skills - I don't think he even got into top gear for that one. Rugby provides moments like these that simply cannot be matched by any other sport - the combination of skill, power and heart is beautiful to behold.

Perhaps my memory is fading after such a long time since seeing a NH game, but I don't think I have seen anything this exciting ever in a game up there.

Yet again, however, a ridiculous yellow card marred the game. The two #8s were scragging each other, the ref claimed he saw the Brumbies #8 throw three punches and asked the video ref to check (a) who the other player was; and (b) what the other player contributed to the situation. The replay clearly identifed the Blues #8 as the other player and showed him aiming an open-hand slap at the Brumbies #8 which seemed to miss. The Brumbies #8 retaliated with a couple of open-handed slaps none of which seemed to make contact.

These, apparently, were the "three punches" the ref had claimed to see. But the video ref reported back to the ref that it wasn't clear what had started it. Which is absolute crap. But worse, the video ref didn't clarify for the ref that that none of the blows were punches. So the ref sinbinned the Brumbies #8 for "punching" and the Blues #8, who committed exactly the same "offence" - slapping with an open hand - wasn't even spoken to. The appropriate response from the ref in this case would have been to tell both players to grow up.

I agree, the ref was too heavy handed in this decision - fortunately it didn't affect the outcome of the game.

And, with the Brumbies #8 off the field, the Blues immediately scored two tries. The sin-binning didn't affect the overall result - the Blues were too strong and the Brumbies made way too many errors - but this is the second case of an unwarranted yellow card within a couple of weeks. This time, the video ref - having been involved by the ref - had the opportunity to prevent the mistake and didn't. If video refs are going to be called on by refs to clarify matters, it has to be the video ref's responsibility to correct a ref's apparent perception and prevent a team being wrongly disadvantaged.

I wonder if the video ref was a kiwi or not. It just seemed to me that they were being deliberately vague in the hope that the Blues player would not be penalised.

How about that temper tantrum from Gregan?! Kicking the ball in the ruck!?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
That was definitely the try of the match. Brilliant skills - I don't think he even got into top gear for that one.

He's going to do a hell of a lot of damage for Fiji in the WRC.

I agree, the ref was too heavy handed in this decision - fortunately it didn't affect the outcome of the game.

It's not so much that he was heavy-handed, he was simply wrong. He was acting on a fleeting glimpse. There were no punches thrown. It was the responsibility of the video ref to point this out to the ref.

I wonder if the video ref was a kiwi or not. It just seemed to me that they were being deliberately vague in the hope that the Blues player would not be penalised.

The video ref would have been a Kiwi, but that shouldn't have swayed the matter. Regardless, his response that the replay was inconclusive was ridiculous. It was perfectly clear who instigated the slapping - the Blues #8 - and perfectly clear that there were no punches on either side. If the Brumbies #8 was going to be marched, so should the Blues #8. It was massive incompetence all round.

How about that temper tantrum from Gregan?! Kicking the ball in the ruck!?

I forgot to mention that. If he's not ashamed of himself, he should be. It was childish, and punished by a penalty try as it deserved to be.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Perhaps my memory is fading after such a long time since seeing a NH game, but I don't think I have seen anything this exciting ever in a game up there.

Alzheimer's illness sometimes strikes young patients...

[The Emperor Fabulous]

I have a match in about 4 hours...wish me luck

[Tamerlin]

Welcome Emperor Fabulous and... Good Luck!

We are now waiting for a full game report...

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Wow...I played hooker for the first time ever, as well as threw in for all the line-outs.

We played considerably well against the number 1 NCAA Div 3 team in the country. They only scored once in the first half and only once while I was in. We held them considerably well.

So thus far, after having played in 5 games, I have been:

Prop, Wing, Flanker, and now Hooker. I love this game!

[finbar]

Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous
Prop, Wing, Flanker, and now Hooker. I love this game!

You're one versatile cookie, Emperor!