Rugby - Crouch and Hold!

[Tamerlin]

Latest H-Cup result:

Leicester 7 - Munster 20

I won't have the pleasure to meet Havak in Toulouse in a couple of weeks...

The Stade Toulousain will nonetheless have the opportunity to avenge the defeat (and the scandalous behavior of the irish staff) against the Munster a few years ago at Bordeaux.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Latest H-Cup result:

Leicester 7 - Munster 20

I won't have the pleasure to meet Havak in Toulouse in a couple of weeks...

And the world is therefore deprived of the most important meeting of Superheroes since Batman ran into Superman in the deli section of the the Metropolis MiniMart.

The Stade Toulousain will nonetheless have the opportunity to avenge the defeat (and the scandalous behavior of the irish staff) against the Munster a few years ago at Bordeaux.

Mmmm. My allegiances will be sorely tested. How fond am I of Jim Williams as a player? How much do I want Tamerlin to show us a good time when we visit him?

BTW, Bearcat will be dancing in the street. Or around his sitting room anyway.

USA 62 -d- Spain 13

And therefore the USA have virtually locked up a spot in the WRC. That's actually a very good effort by the Eagles. From memory, it's a better scoreline than the Wallabies were able to mount against the Spaniards on the NH tour before last.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
And the world is therefore deprived of the most important meeting of Superheroes since Batman ran into Superman in the deli section of the the Metropolis MiniMart.

I would rather compare myself with Robin (the slim one wearing a red and yellow pair of pyjamas in the original comic strip) rather than Superman...

Mmmm. My allegiances will be sorely tested. How fond am I of Jim Williams as a player? How much do I want Tamerlin to show us a good time when we visit him?

The question is: do you want a good guide to visit the most beautiful places of Toulouse?

USA 62 -d- Spain 13

From memory, it's a better scoreline than the Wallabies were able to mount against the Spaniards on the NH tour before last.

I suppose the Australian players were from a food poisoned out of shape B team...

[Bearcat]

Originally posted by finbar
BTW, Bearcat will be dancing in the street. Or around his sitting room anyway.

USA 62 -d- Spain 13

And therefore the USA have virtually locked up a spot in the WRC. That's actually a very good effort by the Eagles. From memory, it's a better scoreline than the Wallabies were able to mount against the Spaniards on the NH tour before last.

It looks like we're actually starting to improve, if slowly and bit by bit. I don't know how well we'll do at the RWC but at least we're one step away from getting there.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


I would rather compare myself with Robin (the slim one wearing a red and yellow pair of pyjamas in the original comic strip) rather than Superman...

Keep your dressing up fantasies to yourself, please!

The question is: do you want a good guide to visit the most beautiful places of Toulouse?

*finbar checks his Travel Library for his copy of The 1001 Best Sights To See In SW France*

I suppose the Australian players were from a food poisoned out of shape B team...

If only. That tour was even more crap than the most recent one.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Bearcat
It looks like we're actually starting to improve, if slowly and bit by bit. I don't know how well we'll do at the RWC but at least we're one step away from getting there.

It's a home and away contest between you and Spain, which means there's another match to come, but Spain would have to win by a massive margin in the return match to overcome the points difference.

I just checked the RWC team pools. I think you and Spain are competing for the last available spot in the competition. It's a place reserved for "Repechage 1 winner" in Pool B. If that's the case, and you get past Spain, you're in the same pool as France, Scotland, Fiji and Japan.

Tamerlin will have my guys for garters if I suggest you have a chance against Les Grenouilles. You could scare Scotland if they have an off day; Fiji will probably be too quick and strong, although 7s rugby is their strength rather than the real game; and Japan were hammered by a team made up of local Sydney-based - rep and club - players on the weekend. The Japanese are incredibly speedy and incredibly inventive - making up for a lack of size - so they could be your chance for a win.

[Bearcat]

Originally posted by finbar
It's a home and away contest between you and Spain, which means there's another match to come, but Spain would have to win by a massive margin in the return match to overcome the points difference.

Yeah we have a match in Fort Lauderdale against them.

Tamerlin will have my guys for garters if I suggest you have a chance against Les Grenouilles.

The who?

You could scare Scotland if they have an off day; Fiji will probably be too quick and strong, although 7s rugby is their strength rather than the real game; and Japan were hammered by a team made up of local Sydney-based - rep and club - players on the weekend. The Japanese are incredibly speedy and incredibly inventive - making up for a lack of size - so they could be your chance for a win.

I think we could possibly take Scotland and Japan. Scotland had a horrible 6 Nations outing and we beat the Japanese 7s recently for a Bowl Championship, I want to say at Hong Kong. France will definantely beat the crap out of us anf Caucau and mates will probably tear gaping holes in our defense, so I'd say 2-2 at best.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Bearcat

The who?

It's French for "The Frogs".

I think we could possibly take Scotland and Japan. Scotland had a horrible 6 Nations outing and we beat the Japanese 7s recently for a Bowl Championship, I want to say at Hong Kong. France will definantely beat the crap out of us anf Caucau and mates will probably tear gaping holes in our defense, so I'd say 2-2 at best.

Japan, certainly. They're just so quick and unpredictable, that's the only problem. But good, strong ball-retention should beat them. Scotland's the interesting one. I'd be interested to hear Havak's opinion.

[ravagon]

Italians pulling out of RWC?

I must admit I'm not quite sure what all of the fuss is about but here it is ...

http://www.planetrugby.com/LATEST_NEWS/story_27173.shtml

It would seem that 4 matches in 14 days is a bit much for our Italian friends. While they may have a point, threatening to pull out altogether would seem to be a bit of an overreaction. Or it could be a bit of a bluff on JK's part...

[finbar]

It's a tough ask relative to some of the other teams' schedules. The threat to withdraw could be an attempt to force the IRB's hand. I suspect they won't withdraw but keep the matter up their manice as something to blame when they don't win the comp.

But I notice there's another reference to John O'Neill and the ARU dealing with the matter. This was tossed around in one of their earlier protests. It's the IRB rather than the ARU, I'd've thought, that has responsibility for these matters.

[Havak]

Sometimes you have to put your hands up and say you weren’t good enough. Sometimes you have to admit you were plain awful. Yesterday was the latter sadly.

Both sides were poor, but Munster were that little bit less poor. Worthy winners on the day.

It’s terrible news however as my tour party had plans to do the Toulouse game and that would have given me the chance to catch up with Tamerlin – and now Tigers have messed it up.

I can’t see Munster threatening you in France but O’Gara may be the key – his tactical kicking was spot on yesterday.

Worrying times at Tigers – not enough spirit yesterday from too many players. A summer clear out seems inevitable. Mr Healey has played his last game at Fly I have no doubt – he suffered a leg injury but then waived Vesty off when Richards replaced him. O’Gara immediately targeted him in the defensive line and strolled past him for the game breaking try. Lantern Jaw was not happy with him.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Healey shipped out – there’s no natural home for him in the side now. We don’t need him at scrummy (Tierney and Ellis look the real deal) and we have too many class wingers (and not enough centres where Aus cannot play!). Other players I can’t see staying are Lloyd, Garforth and West – the former spills ball in contact too much and the other two are late thirties – just that bit too old now.

I think Kafer’s days are over too – on the theory the backs have been shocking and the buck stops at the coach. He didn’t play yesterday having not shaken off the injury he is carrying so we once again had two wingers in the centre. Shouldn’t be so surprised we lost really. How is Dan Hebert doing with his injury? Tell him to get up here ASAP and bring Patty Howard back with him.

But I’m sure there will be more blood than that – the rebuilding must commence now.

Do you remember we signed Jo Naufahu from Canterbury in the early season? I just found out we loaned him to Glasgow four months ago – being loaned to a Scottish side is like the tombstone on a career up here.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Keep your dressing up fantasies to yourself, please!

I was not talking about my dressing habits but about my stature, Superman and Batman have something I don't have... big muscles.

*finbar checks his Travel Library for his copy of The 1001 Best Sights To See In SW France*

Books will never tell you the names of the places "avé l'assent" (wiz' ze accent)... and there are things they don't know...

Repeat after me: "Allez Toulouse!"

And therefore the USA have virtually locked up a spot in the WRC. That's actually a very good effort by the Eagles. From memory, it's a better scoreline than the Wallabies were able to mount against the Spaniards on the NH tour before last.

Following the weird logic of the the Zurich thing... the Eagles are better than the Aussies and stand a chance to win the World Cup...

[Havak]

Tamerlin - please beat Munster.

The number of Irishmen that have come out the woodwork here is getting my goat today.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Tamerlin - please beat Munster.

I will wear my red "ST" stamped shirt for the occasion, you can bet on it. Beating the Munster is a matter of honour. Though the Stade Toulousain players are sometimes lacking some motivation I think they won't this time as there is an old grudge to settle...

The number of Irishmen that have come out the woodwork here is getting my goat today.

Believe me, whatever the number of Irishmen they will be outnumbered by at least 6 or 7 times more hot Toulousains in a Stadium that is called the "petit Wembley" and will sound like a cauldron...

"Aux armes..."

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Sometimes you have to put your hands up and say you weren?t good enough. Sometimes you have to admit you were plain awful. Yesterday was the latter sadly.

Elephant Stamp for the honesty and eloquence.

It?s terrible news however as my tour party had plans to do the Toulouse game and that would have given me the chance to catch up with Tamerlin ? and now Tigers have messed it up.

You could always pop over solo, meet up with La Grenouille and barrack for his mob against Munster.

I wouldn?t be surprised to see Healey shipped out ? there?s no natural home for him in the side now.

Bags put the match to his pyre! .

How is Dan Hebert doing with his injury? Tell him to get up here ASAP and bring Patty Howard back with him.

Dan is fit and well and back, as ever, barging at the defences for the Reds. There will need to be injuries to others for him to be seriously considered for the Wallabies again, I suspect. They're genuinely trying for a revamp. So he should be available to you. He will do well for you. He has class about him, even if a bit one-dimensional. What he does, he does wonderfully well. There's been no word about Pat Howard. He came off the Brumbie bench last week.

But surely you have oodles of young talent coming through your development system?