Rugby - Crouch and Hold!

[Havak]

Is that what Jonah did when Bernat-Salles skinned him time after time in the last RWC?

[finbar]

Originally posted by finbar
Dan Herbert will miss most of the S12 season with his knee injury so he's not going to be a replacement for Mortlock. I think you're safe.

How wrong I was. Dan Herbert is lining up with the Reds against the Blues tonight. Talk about a miracle recovery. Totai Kefu is also back in the lineup, making for a much stronger Reds' lineup, but I still can't see them bothering the Blues in their current form.

[Tamerlin]

News from the French team facing Italy at the Flaminio Stadium this week-end:

François Gelez (Sporting Union Agenais) is replaced by Frédéric Michalak (Stade Toulousain) after its great performance in France A against Scotland two weeks ago. Frédéric Michalak was associated with Jean-Baptiste Elisalde (Stade Toulousain) in France A and the two were credited for an impressive game.

Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz Olympique) is given a second chance with the French team though many observers thought one week ago he could be replaced by Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.

Wait and see...

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
When the Aussies steal this world cup

Giving up already? How uncharacteristic for an English rugby fan.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Giving up already? How uncharacteristic for an English rugby fan.

It's the very English chronic lack of self-esteem. Australians suffer exactly the same problem only it manifests in completely the opposite way.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak
Is that what Jonah did when Bernat-Salles skinned him time after time in the last RWC?

A piece of side news - It seems Taine Randell has gotten himself into a bit of hot water with the SARFU due to his use of the word "disgrace" in reference to a recent 6 week ban imposed by that body on one of his fellow teammates.
Apparently the use of a lifted knee in warding off a tackle is now frowned upon in the RSA.
Most of those who responded seemed to agree with it but 80% were South African and the lone "Kiwi" went by the name of Franz Van der (something unpronouncable) so his "loyalties" might be slightly, ... suspect.
(There was one Brit who actually commented too but as his first statement went completely off on a tangent involving some other guy, rather dubiously named "Jonno", I wouldn't put too much stock in his opinion. )

Did anybody else actually see this?
It sounds like the sort of thing I could see happening a hundred times in a season with little or no consequence(s) whatsoever. Six weeks seems rather harsh especially in comparison to some of the recent "let-offs".

[finbar]

Blues 62 -d- Reds 20

The Blues steamroller rolls on. The Reds are in a sorry sorry state. Missed tackles galore, even more handling errors.

[Havak]

Giving up already? How uncharacteristic for an English rugby fan.

Unless you have been there and seen them in action you cannot understand.

Sure both England and NZ are better sides than Australia as far as I am concerned – although NZ have this annoying tendency to lose to them unlike ourselves So are France in all probabilitiy despite losing to them the last two times. It doesn’t really matter. They will move heaven and earth to make sure they win RWC – fair means or foul it doesn’t really matter how they win as long as they win.

I just hope some ref has the guts to red card the first one of them to target man not ball – I have never forgotten and will never forgive the conduct of the Wallabies in the Melbourne Lions test. The sad thing is they can play and probably could have won by playing – probably. They chose to win by crippling the men they couldn’t handle – Hill and Wilkinson. In fact they targeted Wilko in exactly the same way they get wound up about other sides targeting Larkham – hypocrisy dare I suggest? Two years on I’m still angry about it – I tend to put it aside after the odd rant in order not to fall out with Finbar too much.

Btw Why was Eales never able to reign his men back in on the pitch when they started the biff – J has no problem so doing. Whilst I always rated Ealesy as the second best lock in world rugby as a captain I think he was lucky to helm such a talented and normally controlled side – he’d have struggled to take a team like England or Ireland as far as their skippers have – he couldn’t have reigned in the biff both are prone to.

That’s my tuppence and I’m sticking to it!

It's the very English chronic lack of self-esteem. Australians suffer exactly the same problem only it manifests in completely the opposite way.

Yes but we call our manifestation of it ‘modesty’ and it’s something a gentleman exhibits when asked to comment on Johnny Foreigner’s chances.

As for the Randall incident well it’s a touch of the Healeys/Gregans/Mehrtens (delete as appropriate). Privately he can think what he likes but public criticism of another Union by an active player can’t be tolerated really can it? It’s up to the NZRFU to communicate the NZ position.

God forbid if players could say anything they liked the RFU and ARU (at least) would disappear under an avalanche of bile?

Apparently the use of a lifted knee in warding off a tackle is now frowned upon in the RSA.

Um – it’s frowned upon everywhere isn’t it? It’s against the laws of the game and damn dangerous as well.

And yes Finbar I am getting in a mischievous mood - it's essential ready to deal with the Shamrocks lads next week.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

That?s my tuppence and I?m sticking to it!

I've seen better bait on a mousetrap.

There, I've summed up your eighty paragraphs - that probably took you your entire morning teatime to construct - in seven words.

[Havak]

It took me my whole first coffee to lay that useless bait.

I should have learned by now if I want to wind you up the correct target to aim for is actually not Australia - but rather Italy?

And incidentally I don't rate the Italians chances very highly this weekend after the tongue lashing Laporte handed out after the last game. I expect France to demolish them.

Okay guys - so hands up those backing England for the Grand Slam??

*Havak raises a paw*

Guys? Anyone?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
It took me my whole first coffee to lay that useless bait.

'Twas mouldy before it hit the mousetrap. Still, the practice will stand you in good stead.

I should have learned by now if I want to wind you up the correct target to aim for is actually not Australia - but rather Italy?

No, no. Just be a lot less heavyhanded. Hit and run rather than broadside.

And incidentally I don't rate the Italians chances very highly this weekend after the tongue lashing Laporte handed out after the last game. I expect France to demolish them.

Luckily, I love Italy for what it is rather than its rugby. OTOH, given that, on the whole, as a nation, they couldn't organise a root in a brothel, I suppose they do pretty well at a game so dependent upon organisation.

Okay guys - so hands up those backing England for the Grand Slam??

*Havak raises a paw*

Guys? Anyone?

Mmm. The sound of one hand clapping. How very Zen.

[finbar]

Stormers 39 -d- Waratahs 29

Mmmm. Bob Dwyer will be, as they say, spewing. The Waratahs led 21-0 after 15 minutes and proceeded to let the Stormers rip the game from them. It was an amazing effort by the Stormers - injury-riddled before the match, a whole new starting front row, lost their fullback early on, lost their 5/8 at half time, but they wanted to win. I haven't seen such a courageous effort in eons. They rolled the Waratahs with pure desperation.

And, I have to say, I find Corne Crige a total riddle. Playing for the Boks, he's often not much more than a thug. Skippering the Stormers, and I've seen him several times this season, there's no thuggery, just an incredible amount of very hard, disciplined, skilled work. If only he performed that way for the Boks, he'd be a legend.

[Havak]

No, no. Just be a lot less heavyhanded. Hit and run rather than broadside.

Shorter salvos – gotcha.

I suppose they do pretty well at a game so dependent upon organisation.

Two reasons for that. Kiwi’s. And various other tourists.

Witness with awe their metronomic veteran fly half. Argentinian.

Gasp at their improved ball retention. New Kiwi openside this season.

Put you head in your hands as the fullback is sent every which way by Josh Lewsey. Now he WAS Italian.

Mmm. The sound of one hand clapping. How very Zen.

It’s a shame Vulture disappeared (and not just so I could ask him to defend the despocable Gloucester cheating in our recent encounter).

Did I mention that for me Sale look a more complete side? Their forwards are not quite as powerful but there is art and pace in their backs – Glaws have the pace but thus far lack the art.

And us? We just lack.

Krige? Industrious and skilled? Now that really did honk as you placed it towards the trap!

The guy should still be serving a ban after November.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Shorter salvos ? gotcha.

Yes, but it's also the tone. Blatant is too obvious and easy to ignore. Bury the bait in something apparently appealing, just like the fisherman buries the hook in something apparently appealing. You're capable of it because you've done it before. Less is always better.

Two reasons for that. Kiwi?s. And various other tourists.

Witness with awe their metronomic veteran fly half. Argentinian.

Gasp at their improved ball retention. New Kiwi openside this season.

Put you head in your hands as the fullback is sent every which way by Josh Lewsey. Now he WAS Italian.

My point exactly. The natives couldn't organise to get wet in a downpour.

Krige? Industrious and skilled? Now that really did honk as you placed it towards the trap!

The guy should still be serving a ban after November.

There you go - it wasn't bait. I've said before, even in the context of his Bok performances, that he's skilled. He is. And I've gone on to bemoan that he ruins it with his thuggery. I wouldn't disagree with you in the slightest about his efforts last November. My point was that, in the S12 comp, there's no sign of the thuggery. His effort last night was outstanding. Inspirational, indeed. What I'd like to know is what brings about the dreadful transformation when he pulls on the Bok jersey? For that matter, Robbie Fleck - another Bok lunatic - plays an entirely different game in S12. Why?

[Bearcat]

Preview of Eastside vs. Wilson

Tomorrow were going to take on the team from Wilson High School. Both of us are second year teams, however we are direct opposities in abilities. We played Wilson at the pre-season tournament and absolutely demolished them. Hell, their coach had to explain to them what rucking was after our first try! Can you believe that? They only brought eight players to the tournament and didn't even know how to ruck. I guess that's what they get for being coached by a gal. Anyway, they're a small and not very talented team. They've made improvements since the tournament, but I imagine it will just be a slaughter in our favor.

We will be missing our flyhalf (he's on vacation), but I don't think it will make much of a difference as long as our pack plays well and provides support on time.