Rugby - Crouch and Hold!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


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

"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's .... Tamerlin!"

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!"

Mais .. où?

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...

Well, yes, according to the logic Havak uses, too.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

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

SCENE: HAVAK'S OFFICE

CAST: HAVAK, AN IRISH CO-WORKER

HAVAK sits at his work station with a face longer than a weekend in Blackpool. An IRISH CO-WORKER wanders up:

IRISH CO-WORKER: Begorrah, begorrah, begorrah! 'Tis Havak sittin' at his work station! Top o' the mornin' to you, Havak, and would you have been havin' a fine time watchin' your Tiger lads crumple in the face of the might of our Munster lads at all?

HAVAK: F*** off!

[Havak]

Closer to the truth than I'm comfortable with.

The logic I use is flawless. England number one, everyone else lower than that.

[LDiCesare]

USA 62 -d- Spain 13

So bad I won't get to see my spanish flanker for 2 weeks. It'd be so good to make fun of him...

I'm sad about Biarritz failing against Leinster, but I think these will be tough to beat. Toulouse's first half was particularly impressive.
The good point for European rugby is that, although England's XV dominates the scene, we'll have a French club (hopefully) or an Irish province as Europe champion. That makes the competition more interesting.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
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.

For a moment there I thought I was reading a Havak post.

[Caligastia]

Great to hear of the Eagles success Hopefully they'll have a good RWC compaign too.

[Tamerlin]

"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's .... Tamerlin!"

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

If you are not afraid of a frog dressed with a pair of red and yellow pyjamas... you are welcome Havak.

I'm sad about Biarritz failing against Leinster but I think these will be tough to beat.

The fish was ideed to big to swallow for Biarritz though I am sure they can nurture some regrets.

Toulouse's first half was particularly impressive.

Yes it was...

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

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...

I looked at the Zurich thing on occasion when I was putting civ gold on some of the 6 nations matches.

Suffice to say that I don't look at it anymore.

The logic I use is flawless. England number one, everyone else lower than that.

I used to have a professor who often proved theorems via the "blatant assertion" method. ie: He blatantly asserted it and none of his students knew enough to disprove it.
An acquaintance of yours perhaps?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Closer to the truth than I'm comfortable with.

I didn't realise you worked with an Irish cliché.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
For a moment there I thought I was reading a Havak post.

Havak and I share a virtue - the facility to mount the pre-emptive excuse.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

So bad I won't get to see my spanish flanker for 2 weeks. It'd be so good to make fun of him...

It's good to see that the urge to sink the boot into a loser is an international thing.

[Havak]

That makes the competition more interesting.

I have to disagree.
Btw Leinster will be very hard to beat. They play at Donnybrook and that ground is perhaps a mile and a half from Lansdowne Road where the final is being played. I suspect we will see a Leinster-Toulouse final. Difficult for Finbar – which side does he support there? Myself – Toulouse I think. I’m off the Irish temporarily for some reason.

I think they won't this time as there is an old grudge to settle...

I am afraid I need to warn you of something – they are now coached by their second Australian in succession. It’s noticeable – whenever ST win set piece expect one of their players to fall over like he is dying.

whatever the number of Irishmen they will be outnumbered by at least 6 or 7 times more hot Toulousains

They travel in huge numbers do the Irish. They will bring many times as many fans as they officially have tickets. There was a problem with forgeries on Sunday and the ground was dangerously packed. Expect them to mob the turnstiles just before kick off in the hope that the police will let every one in for safety reasons (dare I say that is very Irish logic but again it happened Sunday and held kick off up over ten minutes).

Elephant Stamp for the honesty and eloquence.

Losing with good grace is fundamental to the spirit of Rugby to my mind.

and barrack for his mob against Munster.

I think I’d rather visit with Tigers to add that extra spice to the event. It will be hard for me to see the team that beat us playing a team that was our biggest rival in the early years of the cup. Rock and a hard place time.

Bags put the match to his pyre!

There’s a lengthy queue.

He has class about him, even if a bit one-dimensional. What he does, he does wonderfully well.

I think that’s what we need. Okay they might want silky all rounds skills but a centre who can carry it in with power and lay it back reliably would be a good start. We have a Bok 13 called Gelderbloom who is a solid defensive centre – hard tackler - but he came on at 82 mins Sunday – stable doors and horses? I do find the prospect of Herbert and Smith pairing up promising. I’d keep Gelders but we need another inside centre hence my half-serious interest in Pat. The rumour that Kafer has been advised to be ready to pack is gathering more credibility. It’s a bit hard on him – could any coach turn wingers into centres just like that?

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

We do but not always in the right positions. Smith is a product of our Academy. There’s a winger called Holtby who shows great promise, a talented fullback and several decent loose forwards (and a couple of locks). We need a couple of top class coal face workers including a hooker, a decent Fly half and a change in the centres. Some shopping will be necessary over the summer.

Gloucester are closing their Academy by the way – and trimming back room staff and the squad. Serious financial trouble looms for them. A shame because they have blitzed the league this year and looked very good doing it.

If you are not afraid of a frog dressed with a pair of red and yellow pyjamas... you are welcome Havak.

Afraid, like so many other words, does not figure in my vocabulary.

My hope is we shall get drawn in the same pool one season – then a home and away visit is a possibility?

The fish was deed to big to swallow for Biarritz though I am sure they can nurture some regrets.

As I say Leinster will take some stopping. We could have done it – I’m sure Toulouse can. USAP? I’m not convinced.

An acquaintance of yours perhaps?

Only if, like myself, he dealt in such solid facts for his blatant assertions.

I can’t say how good England are in comparison to the other five in the top six nations. I can tell you England have beaten them all in just over twenty weeks. They also haven’t lost since March 2002 and have only lost two games since January 2001. They haven’t lost at home since NZ in RWC 99. I reckon they are fairly good based on that. Good enough – who knows?

I didn't realise you worked with an Irish cliché.

Well you know that there are more ‘Irish’ in Boston than in the Republic itself? England is a bit like that too.

Havak and I share a virtue - the facility to mount the pre-emptive excuse.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Losing with good grace is fundamental to the spirit of Rugby to my mind.

And you do it so well despite so little practice. There must be a reason. (He said pregnantly)

The rumour that Kafer has been advised to be ready to pack is gathering more credibility. It?s a bit hard on him ? could any coach turn wingers into centres just like that?

Sounds a bit hard, but he wouldn't be the first to be chopped in those circumstances. If he doesn't stay in the NH, the Brumbies will find a place for him somewhere on the staff.

BTW, there was a rumour doing the rounds that one of our S12 teams was suffering from player unhappiness with coach and methods and a deputation had been sent and so on. Apparently it's the Brumbies.

Afraid, like so many other words, does not figure in my vocabulary.

I must steal that one.

[Havak]

And you do it so well despite so little practice. There must be a reason. (He said pregnantly)

It’s too obvious to have needed the laboured statement. Sorry, I couldn’t resist that.

As a player I had my fair share of losses, and I was at Tigers before the good times rolled as well. Looks like I’m still there after them too.

Kafer might be happier at ACT. He just has not captured the hearts of the fickle Welford Road crowds – I don’t know how he stands with the board but it will need to be very solid for him to stay. Kronfeld we want to sign for 12 more months but he wants to sign for six then head of to Tamerlin’s backyard to catch up on his surf time apparently.

I think you have hinted before the Brumbies had back room problems – is it still the guy who took over from Eddie at the helm? Once you have player deputations the problem has reached critical mass and something needs to give – roster or coach,

I must steal that one.

Feel free. You are a net doner I think.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
It?s too obvious to have needed the laboured statement. Sorry, I couldn?t resist that.

Can't fault you on your delivery.

*Havak dives into his bottom drawer for his copy of The Childbirth Thesaurus, which, surprisingly, is in mint condition*

As a player I had my fair share of losses

Of course you sensibly blamed the coach.

and I was at Tigers before the good times rolled as well. Looks like I?m still there after them too.

What we call the "rusted on" supporter.

Kafer might be happier at ACT. He just has not captured the hearts of the fickle Welford Road crowds ? I don?t know how he stands with the board but it will need to be very solid for him to stay.

I know he's been injured, but does he have much of a playing future? He must be getting on a bit now.

I think you have hinted before the Brumbies had back room problems ? is it still the guy who took over from Eddie at the helm? Once you have player deputations the problem has reached critical mass and something needs to give ? roster or coach,

David Nucifora. He took over from Eddie. I haven't seen enough of them this season to pass an opinion. Two matches - dreadful in the first; led 41-3 at halftime in the second and let the oppo back in the second half. How much can a coach be blamed for the second instance? He can't go out and play for the players. He can't make them concentrate. What more could he say at half time than "More of the same, thanks"? The thing is, there's a Brumbies style, and Nucifora doesn't seem to have tinkered much with it. And why should he? The reality probably is that they don't quite have the amazing depth of talent they used to enjoy.

It's a different matter with the Waratahs, though. They can run onto the field and play terrific rugby in one match and appalling rugby in the next. There's no predicting it. That, I think, is more of a coaching matter. If the Waratahs finish mid-ladder, which they probably will, I think there will be huge pressure on Bob Dwyer's position. It's said management has already spoken to one of the Ella brothers.