Rugby - Crouch and Hold!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I highly recommend it. The boyos will go in numbers despite knowing that they will lose and the way Bread of Heaven rings around the ground will put the ?Go Wallabies? mob to shame.

They'll come all that way in June? The tickets are for the Trial Test, not the real thing. It was the singing that tickled my interest.

Fearsome mutt there ? better read back at some point and find what the context is.

It's Dermott, my 3 year old Old English Sheepdog. With a bad haircut. Tamerlin thought he looked a bit like an oddly-coloured tiger, hence he suggested Dermott as your mascot for next season.

[Havak]

They will bring a healthy number of fans even for a warm up game. Not as many as will follow them to the Cup itself but enough to be heard I suspect.

Thats the strangest Tiger I ever saw. I'd never have marked him for an OESD with that eyes-clear hair cut.

Great dogs. Do you get much stick for it being a Pommy breed?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
They will bring a healthy number of fans even for a warm up game. Not as many as will follow them to the Cup itself but enough to be heard I suspect.

Mmmm. Okay, I might investigate the ticket situation.

Thats the strangest Tiger I ever saw. I'd never have marked him for an OESD with that eyes-clear hair cut.

Mrs finbar tied his hair up with that pink ribbon. We usually tie some of the hair out of his eyes, but not usually that much. I think Mrs finbar did it for the photo. I'll get her to dye him red and green and take a photo. See what you think about him as a mascot then.

Great dogs. Do you get much stick for it being a Pommy breed?

They're wonderful dogs. He's the third one I've had. In fact, my 'net name - finbar - is after his predecessor. He's possibly the most affectionate creature on God's earth. Even more than the usual OESD. Probably one of the reasons why I don't get any stick over him. He warms the coldest heart in two seconds flat.

[Havak]

Mmmm. Okay, I might investigate the ticket situation.

Give it a whirl. At the very least you will be able to give me your view on the terrible problems they have in certain positions – pick anywhere on the front row, either half back (although Jones if they pick him has promise at stand off) and the centres in particular.

What they do have is a very promising lock – Robert Sidoli – who got man of the match in their loss to us in the six nations. It will be interesting to see him against the likes of Harrison, Sharpe and Giffen. I think he has the measure of the former to be honest but the other two I’m not sure – should be interesting. Of course unlike your lads he is surrounded by lesser quality and that might well tell.

I'll get her to dye him red and green and take a photo. See what you think about him as a mascot then.

I’m already sold. We only have your word the pink ribbon is down to Mrs Finbar of course.

Does he share the other aspects of an OESD? Can he be stubborn and also very protective of you two if he gets surprised by a stranger? All the breed I have encountered seem hugely affectionate animals like Dermott but several have had those two qualities too – they were sheep dogs for a reason of course. No ‘German Shepherd’ holds a candle to an upset OESD.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Give it a whirl. At the very least you will be able to give me your view on the terrible problems they have in certain positions ? pick anywhere on the front row, either half back (although Jones if they pick him has promise at stand off) and the centres in particular.

What they do have is a very promising lock ? Robert Sidoli ? who got man of the match in their loss to us in the six nations. It will be interesting to see him against the likes of Harrison, Sharpe and Giffen. I think he has the measure of the former to be honest but the other two I?m not sure ? should be interesting. Of course unlike your lads he is surrounded by lesser quality and that might well tell.

I read in this morning's paper that they're bring 3 uncapped players - Bath's backrower Gareth Delve, Neath's prop Adam Jones and Leeds backrower Alix Popham. Never heard of any of them.

I?m already sold. We only have your word the pink ribbon is down to Mrs Finbar of course.

Does he share the other aspects of an OESD? Can he be stubborn and also very protective of you two if he gets surprised by a stranger? All the breed I have encountered seem hugely affectionate animals like Dermott but several have had those two qualities too ? they were sheep dogs for a reason of course. No ?German Shepherd? holds a candle to an upset OESD.

The breed can certainly have those traits - his two predecessors certainly did. In fact, OESDs never lose their herding instincts, regardless of them having been bred as domestic creatures for a very long time. I well remember my first one herding the very young children of a friend in their backyard. He very gently rounded them up into a corner of the yard and sat and watched them.

Dermott, though, is a bit of a one-off. He's a very nervous, timid animal. I'm not sure why. There's been nothing in his upbringing to make him that way. Must be in his genes. With humans, his first instinct is to go for a pat, regardless of who it is, where they came from, and how suddenly they appeared. With other dogs, his first instinct is to flee. I'm the proud owner of the World's Greatest Coward.

On rugby matters - it seems the WRC could be decided by drop goals! If, in a knock-out match, the scores are level after full time, after extra time, and after sudden death, the match will be decided by five players from each side lining up for drop goals from various points behind the 22, starting in front of the posts, moving closer to the sidelines. S*****'s penalty shootout comes to rugby!

Cal - you'd better get in quick with a new thread. Havak and I like Rugby - Advantage!, it sprang from a Bearcat suggestion, so that could constitute a majority.

[Caligastia]

Rugby - Advantage! it is.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=85381