Rugby - Crouch and Hold!

[ravagon]

One might think so if Tonga hadn't also defeated the RoK 75-0 playing in the RoK.
The odds for a NK ref leaving an RoK ground unscathed after such a match would have been truly astronomical.

[Havak]

Methinks he has myriad gallons of Bitter and truckloads of Pork Pies ahead of him before he reaches the Pantheon of Retired Tightheads.

If that’s what the future holds for him life could have been a lot worse.

*finbar wheels Havak's petard into place and ponders the physics of hoisting a retired tighthead*

Lets just say you must be quite strong?

It’s all subjective of course – there is applying the laws to keep the game honest, and then there’s pointless endless blow ups. In Mr Landers case this weekend that included stopping scrums constantly because they weren’t exactly on his mark. Now even I can see that’s a little overboard.

Have you read anything about the end game controversy in the Wales-Ireland game? In injury time Wales are attacking two points in the lead when the Irish centre (either the Aussie or NZ born one – I forget) strays offside in defence. Lander signals a penalty/advantage whilst Wales retain the ball. In the next phase an Irish forward also strays offside and the Welsh player spills the ball from that contact. Still signalling advantage, Lander then drops his arm, all the time saying nothing. Ireland pick up the ball, and because they are mainly over the game line already storm 50 metres up field where O’ Gara drops off a ruck and slots the match winning drop goal.

Why were Wales not given a penalty for the consecutive offsides? It’s caused some friction here and Lander was apparently saluted in Cardiff that night as “an English Irishman”.

It’s even been suggested he had one eye on the grand finale for next week. I don’t buy that incidentally before you ask – I just think he is a poor referee.

I'm almost tempted to back them

Wait for the weekend. If they win then put a few quid on them as they will be worth it. If they lose put it on anyway as the odds will drift way out and anything can happen in rugby – Aus and NZ might meet and knacker each other.

After the first half on Sunday I thought France had recovered fully. The way Traille was breaking the line at will was damn scary and made me grateful we had already played France. But something happened in the second half – just like against us the Italians stopped popping the pill from the boot and kept hold of it. They built phases patiently and came back with some nicely worked tries. Admittedly France took their foot off the gas but one has to wonder what Italy could achieve if they played for eighty minutes some time?

btw I think I claimed a third game leaking no tries? I was of course wrong, it’s only two. The Italians scored one very nicely taken try against us.

So next weekend – who do you guys think will win and why so?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
If that’s what the future holds for him life could have been a lot worse.

I'm not sure Bearcat would know a Pork Pie if it bit him, but anyway.

It’s all subjective of course – there is applying the laws to keep the game honest, and then there’s pointless endless blow ups.

Subjective now, is it? I thought, when I complained about it, it was fine NH refs applying the laws as against slack SH refs applying a slack SH interpretation of the rules.

In Mr Landers case this weekend that included stopping scrums constantly because they weren’t exactly on his mark. Now even I can see that’s a little overboard.

Come on, you're not wriggling off this hook. It included resetting scrums that weren't on the ref's mark? What else was included?

That aside, we're getting a lot of refs worrying about the exact mark in S12 too. Another IRB directive, obviously.

Have you read anything about the end game controversy in the Wales-Ireland game? In injury time Wales are attacking two points in the lead when the Irish centre (either the Aussie or NZ born one – I forget) strays offside in defence. Lander signals a penalty/advantage whilst Wales retain the ball. In the next phase an Irish forward also strays offside and the Welsh player spills the ball from that contact. Still signalling advantage, Lander then drops his arm, all the time saying nothing. Ireland pick up the ball, and because they are mainly over the game line already storm 50 metres up field where O’ Gara drops off a ruck and slots the match winning drop goal.

Didn't hear about that. Sounds like the sort of incompetence you see from time to time. A very similar thing happened in one of the rep matches here last season. Can't recall which one, but it resulted in a score that shouldn't have happened. I think Caligastia commented on it at the time, too. He might remember the match.

Why were Wales not given a penalty for the consecutive offsides?

Exactly. Unless he'd called the first advantage over and didn't acknowledge the second offside. In which case the latter is incompetence. Damn incompetent NH refs!

one has to wonder what Italy could achieve if they played for eighty minutes some time?

Well, yes, but that's not the Italian way in anything, you know that. It's one of their great appeals. God bless them.

So next weekend – who do you guys think will win and why so?

Paddys Paddys Paddys, Oi Oi Oi!

[Tamerlin]

I understand your excitement about the Six Nations week-end to come Finbar... BUT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO START A MP GAME AT 13:00 FRENCH TIME...

I would like to inform you I have give up an invitation for dinner by my mom who had prepared lentils... and she is damn good at cooking them.

Hope you feel guilty...

[Tamerlin]

About the Six Nations Tournament and the Ireland-England game, I must admit my heart (and yes, I have one) is divided. It would be great to see the Irish players win their first grand slam since some decades but I really can't imagine them winning against England when they have struggled against Wales.

The English forwards are impressive and the Irish scrum will certainly explode in the second half... provided the referee in charge of the game is not a crook from the Southern Hemisphere ( ).
Needless to speak about Dawson and Wilkinson...
The English backs are equally good, players like Ben Cohen and Jason Robinson are able to pierce through the defence and are quickly supported by players like Neil Back, Dallaglio and Martin Johnson...
I am convinced England will win this game...

[Havak]

I'm not sure Bearcat would know a Pork Pie if it bit him, but anyway.

If that is the case it’s very much his loss.

Subjective now, is it?

Subjective according to our differing perspectives, yes. So if he is striking me as pedantic I meant you would be screaming blue murder at the permanent whistle blower in the middle of the park.

And that was nice subtle bait of the kind I should aspire to?

Come on, you're not wriggling off this hook. It included resetting scrums that weren't on the ref's mark? What else was included?

Let me see what was he pulling up? Line out tunnel (as per the current vogue). Every free kick and penalty to make it from his mark as well (no quick takes allowed). Plenty of back foot infringements (again very fashionable). The scrum for being straight and square. A few ropey forward pass calls. Not straight in the lineout…

What I am saying is that even I felt he was stopping the game gaining any fluency.

You are absolutely right about the marks I think.

Sounds like the sort of incompetence you see from time to time.

And that allows me to air yet again that Steve Lander helmed the 1996 Pilkington Cup final where he awarding Bath a penalty try in injury time, without any warnings, for Tigers collapsing the maul. And subsequently Neil Back pushed him over in disgust and sat on his backside for the next six months as a consequence.

To say Lander is disliked at Tigers is to say some Wallaby fans moderately dislike England.

In which case the latter is incompetence. Damn incompetent NH refs!

Cripes – how do I escape that one now. Damn your well laid traps!

The trouble was he didn’t say anything – only hand signals were given. I guess that’s how he gets off the hook on this one.

It's one of their great appeals. God bless them.

I agree. John Kirwan didn’t though – he did not sound happy after the game.

So Finbar is backing Ireland – but where are the reasons?

And Tamerlin continues to prove to me what an astute gentleman he is.

Based on last weekends showing we should take the Irish forwards apart to be honest – but can they be that shaky again?

Now then - where IS the referee from?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I understand your excitement about the Six Nations week-end to come Finbar... BUT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO START A MP GAME AT 13:00 FRENCH TIME...

I would like to inform you I have give up an invitation for dinner by my mom who had prepared lentils... and she is damn good at cooking them.

Hope you feel guilty...

I'm truly sorry, Tamerlin, but my ICQ hasn't been functioning since Sunday morning! When I try to connect, the little connection symbol turns and turns and turns and turns ... and doesn't connect! If it doesn't do what it's told today, I'll reload the bastard!

I was trying to work out how to let you know. It didn't occur to me to do it here!

I'm particularly cross with myself because you missed a feed of lentils and a growing boy needs his dietary fibre.

[Tamerlin]

No problem, I am not angry at all... and my mother has finally decided to do the lentils today (I mean in a few hours as it is 01:00 in France). I won't be available tomorrow at 13:00, I will confirm you via ICQ (if it works) or PM my disponibilities for the week.

You can go to bed in peace...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
If that is the case it?s very much his loss.

I wonder if there's an American equivalent.

And that was nice subtle bait of the kind I should aspire to?

Just testing to see if you're awake.

Let me see what was he pulling up? Line out tunnel (as per the current vogue). Every free kick and penalty to make it from his mark as well (no quick takes allowed). Plenty of back foot infringements (again very fashionable). The scrum for being straight and square. A few ropey forward pass calls. Not straight in the lineout?

Exactly what's happening here. They're all, obviously, directives.

Cripes ? how do I escape that one now. Damn your well laid traps!

I'm sure I was a half back in another life.

The trouble was he didn?t say anything ? only hand signals were given. I guess that?s how he gets off the hook on this one.

I think the laws oblige him to call it. Just as they're obliged to call all rulings. The hand and arm gestures are only there for confirmation and to inform the crowd.

So Finbar is backing Ireland ? but where are the reasons?

Blind hope's a good enough reason.

And Tamerlin continues to prove to me what an astute gentleman he is.

Lentils. That says it all.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
And Tamerlin continues to prove to me what an astute gentleman he is.

It is always a pleasure.

And lentils have nothing to do about it... though they were very good.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


It is always a pleasure.

And lentils have nothing to do about it... though they were very good.

Puy?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Puy?

I am a bit confused by this one, Puy is generally used in place names and means "mountain" in the french area called Auvergne (where can be find the famous Puy-de-Dôme and the Association Sportive Montferrandaise).

Do you mean something like:

And?
or
Then?

Which would mean you are expecting more details from me and could be expressed as: Puis?...

And yes, the lentils were very good.

[finbar]

No, I was asking whether they were Puy lentils. They're a variety of green lentil, considered one of the best. I just looked them up in my Laruousse Gastronomique - they're grown in or around the Velay, wherever that might be.

[Tamerlin]

It seems you know the french cookery better than me and that you definitely deserve to be ranked as a bon vivant...

As far as I know my mother I am pretty sure she has bought the best ones... I will check and if it is not the case I will notify her my dissatisfaction...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


It seems you know the french cookery better than me and that you definitely deserve to be ranked as a bon vivant...

I know them because I use them. I cook with only the best ingredients!

As far as I know my mother I am pretty sure she has bought the best ones... I will check and if it is not the case I will notify her my dissatisfaction...

If she didn't use them, a severe reprimand is in order. OTOH, there are a couple of other very fine French varieties - a green lentil grown in the Haute-Loire, a Champagne Brown lentil from the same area, and a Blonde Lentil grown in the Cantal, wherever that might be.