Rugby - Crouch and Hold!

[finbar]

Results of interest to the thread:

Gloucester 38 -d- Bristol 21

Newcastle 24 -d- Leicester 22

Yikes! And Newcastle played the last 10 minutes with only 13 men when Leicester scored two tries. What were they doing so far behind in the first place against Newcastle? I look forward to the report on the match.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
But big surprise for me was that Craig McMullen is starting at Stand off for us ? he has been the invisible man since we signed him in December.

I gather he's Australian. From where?

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar


Blues will cream Reds. If you'll pardon three colours in a four word sentence.

Too late! My wife just called the fashion police...unfortunately they arrested her for being unpatriotic.

[ravagon]

Newcastle 24 -d- Leicester 22

I'm tempted to wonder exactly how a team facing relegation (no longer though by the sounds of things) managed to beat a team facing the playoffs.
I might be more overt but I'm just not quite sure about the extent of Havaks reach right now - nor his wrath.
With the Falcons losing 2 players staving off a Tigers resurgence right at the very end one is hard-pressed to contemplate whether or not such send-offs were in situations whereby a penalty try may have been appropriate ... ??

[I would not presume to guess at the Tigers take on the matter, however. ]

[Bearcat]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
No? I am not that agressive when I play hooker (which is almost all of the time now).

I remember reading that the hooker was rather a fiery character who tended to grate on the opposite team.

Nice report. Bearcat, was there any bit of your shirt not covered with mud at the end of the match?

Yeah, there was a bit. One of our centers was covered in muck by the end though. Our scrumhalf used me to wipe the ball and his hands off though, I chalked that up to taking one for team (and being a forward) though.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon



I'm tempted to wonder exactly how a team facing relegation (no longer though by the sounds of things) managed to beat a team facing the playoffs.
I might be more overt but I'm just not quite sure about the extent of Havaks reach right now - nor his wrath.
With the Falcons losing 2 players staving off a Tigers resurgence right at the very end one is hard-pressed to contemplate whether or not such send-offs were in situations whereby a penalty try may have been appropriate ... ??

[I would not presume to guess at the Tigers take on the matter, however. ]

Friday again already? Feels like it was Friday only 3 days ago!

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

Friday again already? Feels like it was Friday only 3 days ago!

Time just flies when you get past a certain age doesn't it?

[Havak]

I gather he's Australian. From where?

I believe he was with ACT. But he came to us via France – was it Montferand? The boys might know.

I hate listening to games on the radio but the word ‘lacklustre’ came up once or twice – the only forward who got a glowing report was Josh. That bothers me hugely because it was a must win game – and it’s now very hard work to make the play offs. Even if we do we get an away draw in the semi and that will be hard work if it’s Sale – I watched their game against Leeds and they played great rugby – their pack was second best but their counter attacking was awesome – and I have hugely revised my opinion of Graeme Bond – his ability to stand up and offload in the tackle is sublime and when he works it in tandem with putting Robinson through no defence has a chance.

Of course Jonno had other things on his mind – the birth of a baby daughter – before the weekend. Yes Finbar he is breeding – be afraid, be very afraid.

Ravagon maybe has a point – the two cards were for professional play – Mark Andrews and Andrew Mower (coincidence that it was two SH men I am sure?). But our defence had lost us the game before this – I can’t really argue the result even if I am very unhappy with it indeed.

Serious questions are being asked about the head coach for the first time I can recall – he started the game with Vesty (Fly half), Backy and Kay on the bench – and brought them on at the death with the game already all but lost. The media are questioning his nounce on that one – and remember this is a four times League winning and back to back European trophy winning coach. Has he, they are asking, lost the plot? Well given that we are close to having lost as many league games this year as we lost in the last three seasons even I am starting to wonder – loyal Tigers man that I am.

Onto lighter stuff

when you end up with a balance of 6.5 Civ Gold!

Not going to happen.

Of course I mean your friend no offence but I shall maintain these broadsides until the bastard settles his debt with me!

Keep it up. There is a new twist. I talked to a guy that does a lot of business in HK and Australia and he claims Ealesy is back playing amateur stuff in Sydney – a team with Blue and white hoops? I didn’t buy it for a second myself but is there a local team that wears that colour scheme?

And they have any number of individuals who can, on any given day, virtually win a match single-handedly

They are a great side. What else is there to say?

A lot of the dills actually buy them

I am truly shocked!

As far as pat Howard goes I think our problems are more deeply rooted now. It was one thing to look at the backs and think they needed re-organising but now our forwards seem to be off the boil and I had always rated our forwards coach John Wells very highly indeed. I’m glad I don’t need to sort the mess out anyway.

It’s all starting to look like the early 90s when we were ‘nearly but not quite’ a good side.

Bearcat - I'd suggest you contact Havak for some tips on getting your forwards a bit more mobile. He boasts that his nickname was White Lightning.

Well yes…but it referred to my speed in reaching the bar post match.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon


Time just flies when you get past a certain age doesn't it?

Dunno. If you say so. You must know.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


I believe he was with ACT. But he came to us via France ? was it Montferand? The boys might know.

Mmmm. I don't recall the name.

I have hugely revised my opinion of Graeme Bond ? his ability to stand up and offload in the tackle is sublime and when he works it in tandem with putting Robinson through no defence has a chance.

Told you so! Very talented, determined player. Terrific pace and much stronger than he appears, great leg drive. I was really sorry to see him go. Missing selection for the NH tour was what sent him on his way. He always seemed destined to remain a back-up player here.

Of course Jonno had other things on his mind ? the birth of a baby daughter ? before the weekend. Yes Finbar he is breeding ? be afraid, be very afraid.

Presumably a caesarian birth? I wouldn't wish a lantern jaw on my worst female enemy's birth canal.

Serious questions are being asked about the head coach for the first time I can recall ? he started the game with Vesty (Fly half), Backy and Kay on the bench ? and brought them on at the death with the game already all but lost. The media are questioning his nounce on that one ? and remember this is a four times League winning and back to back European trophy winning coach. Has he, they are asking, lost the plot? Well given that we are close to having lost as many league games this year as we lost in the last three seasons even I am starting to wonder ? loyal Tigers man that I am.

We've batted this one around before. There's no simple, obvious answer. And I suppose it depends how many brownie points he has racked up over the last few years. The bench selection does sound odd, though. Maybe he took Newcastle too lightly. OTOH, he had plenty of time to bring then on earlier when the game might have been saved. OTOOH, if the unknown - to me - Australian had kicked straight ... OTOOOH, you shouldn't have needed a last-minute kick to beat a cellar-dweller like Newcastle. Should be an interesting off-season in Leicester.

There is a new twist. I talked to a guy that does a lot of business in HK and Australia and he claims Ealesy is back playing amateur stuff in Sydney ? a team with Blue and white hoops? I didn?t buy it for a second myself but is there a local team that wears that colour scheme?

It has received absolutely no mention here and I think it would have. I have my doubts, but I'll look into it. Blue and white hoops? I'll look into that too.

It?s all starting to look like the early 90s when we were ?nearly but not quite? a good side.

Everything is, after all, cyclical. It doesn't hurt to have to start again once in a while.

Well yes?but it referred to my speed in reaching the bar post match.

Broke into an amble, did you?

[Havak]

Mmmm. I don't recall the name.

Hardly surprising when he understudied Larkham.

He always seemed destined to remain a back-up player here.

I wonder why – you don’t have strength in depth in the Centres do you?

I wouldn't wish a lantern jaw on my worst female enemy's birth canal.

Well…I wouldn’t wish a normal one on any woman either.

Should be an interesting off-season in Leicester.

Ruthless I suspect.

Admittedly Newcastle are a much better side now they have the imports playing, but we should still brush them aside really. The Tigers factor does lift teams (this season anyway – next season they may relax against us?!).

I think the acid test for a coach is when things are going badly and Deano is not convincing here. As you say the bench craft was lacking somewhat.

I don’t think there’s anything in the Eales story I was told – but any proof you can dig out would be appreciated.

Everything is, after all, cyclical. It doesn't hurt to have to start again once in a while.

Tamerlin and I respectfully disagree with you.

Broke into an amble, did you?

Almost a Trot.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Tamerlin and I respectfully disagree with you.

Yes!



Biarritz Olympique 22 - Stade Toulousain 15

Well... this game reminds me of the Ireland-France one. Place the Stade Toulousain in the position of the french players and you have the picture of the game.

- The Toulousains have lost the game more than the Biarrots have won it,
- Many handling errors,
- Bad referee (and a very bad one this time...),
- Apathic players,
- And so on.

A bad day for Toulousain's Rugby...

[LDiCesare]

I remember reading that the hooker was rather a fiery character who tended to grate on the opposite team.

Everything is in the "tended to". Here lies the whole art of playing hooker, as exemplified by utter pests like the Irich Wood and many English hookers. These top-class hookers manage to get their opponents so cross against them that said opponents lose their nerve and punch the offender right under the nose of the referee. The referee then rewards the offended hooker by giving a penalty for his side, 3 points which can change a match. With a bit of luck, the player who punched the hooker gets red carded, and the hooker himself remains relatively unharmed.
Personnally, since I don't withstand punches very well, I tend to be more peaceful. I already get my lot of high tackles (by actively being small), and there are enough opportunities to open one's head in a match not to provoke the opponent second rower who weights twice as much as I.
Tamerlin, did you see the match, you said you wouldn't be able to?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare Tamerlin, did you see the match, you said you wouldn't be able to?

Alas yes! I managed to convince my friend we should go to Carcassonne and find a bar where the game would be broadcasted. Very poor game actually (to the exception of Xavier Garbajosa), we would have been better advised to stay at Bram.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

Hardly surprising when he understudied Larkham.

Yes, but he didn't. Larkham's understudy went to Queensland in the off-season. The guy must have been second- or third-understudy.

I wonder why ? you don?t have strength in depth in the Centres do you?

I meant to add to my post that he played more wing than centre here. Either way, playing with the Brumbies, he was always competing with quality players for a position. Ironically, last season was one of his best for the Brumbies, with plenty of starts and good performances. Ultimately, though, I gather his goal was rep rugby. I understand that he had a word to Eddie Jones, discovered he wasn't amongst Eddie's plans, and decided to choof off. He'd probably be earning more money up there and he'd see establishing himself there as a fresh challenge. The thing is, he's not - and never was - of the highest quality. More one of those skilled, immensely dedicated all-rounders destined to hover in that twilight world of almost-but-not-quite. And there are a heap of them in every country. I'm just glad to see him succeeding because he's one of those wholehearted players who deserves success.

It has just been revealed that Stirling Mortlock is going to miss the rest of the S12 and possibly even the trial matches against the NH teams with another shoulder injury. Which is really going to test the depth of our candidates for the centres.

I think the acid test for a coach is when things are going badly and Deano is not convincing here.

But the question has to be - why are things going badly? A coach can't do the job for the players. But who knows? Chickens and eggs.

Tamerlin and I respectfully disagree with you.

Of course you do. I've watched the Waratahs p*ss away countless seasons with inept management, coaching, player selection, et al. They're only now nibbling at their potential. Adversity is a great test of character.

Almost a Trot.

Presumably the upper limits of the Richter Scale were tested?