Rugby - Hands Off, Wattle!

[Havak]

You say that like it is a bad thing?

He punched him. Once. There was no priors or afters. Four weeks is therefore harsh for something the ref saw and chose not to card?

Robinson is the best option I've seen alongside Jack - although I will never forgive him or Mr Stuart ****headson for the Shaw incident. It's important I think that Ali Williams is kept away form the ABs - seems to have a fuse loose?

[child of Thor]

Argentina will be a great work out for the forwards. And the 'jigsaw' will be able to test if his pieces have fit together properly, you just know the AB's will target him hard if he plays; so a good test bed from Sir Clives point of view i guess.
I guess he is going with M.Owen as captain to see how he holds up(and the home game situ you mentioned), and if he has a bad game he may not feature again unless as an injury replacement.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
You say that like it is a bad thing?

I think the woman with whom we're staying might have it on cable. She's originally a Kiwi and likes her rugby.

He punched him. Once. There was no priors or afters. Four weeks is therefore harsh for something the ref saw and chose not to card?

I would have to concede that it's hard.

Robinson is the best option I've seen alongside Jack - although I will never forgive him or Mr Stuart ****headson for the Shaw incident. It's important I think that Ali Williams is kept away form the ABs - seems to have a fuse loose?

He would have to be a candidate, although his form has only been average. Long suspensions haven't helped him.

Well, this is my last post from this sh*thole neck of the woods for two years! When you next hear from me, in about ten days, I'll be in a civilised part of the world. Making Tamerlin's life a misery!

I know I leave this thread in safe hands. Just don't let it sink like a stone before I return to it!

Ciao tutti!

[LDiCesare]

Okay, it's now time for me to reveal everyone here a few realities about things only slightly alluded to on these threads.
First, let me say that I went to Toulouse last week-end to play rugby. There was a thing called the R'Cup (www.rcup.org) organised by people from Airbus down there. So we wen twith my team and we played. Not very well by the way. We played 5 20-minutes matches, lost 1, won 2, had 2 draws and ended 7th out of 10 because we hadn't scored many tries. Now the uninteresting stuff is almost over. I'll just state that 20-minutes matches aren't exactly the best thing for a team whose strength is the forwards.
Now the interesting stuff.
Toulouse is still a place I didn't see much of. But then the 'De Danu' pub was just on the other side of the bridge from the hotel. And after 4:30am, I didn't feel like going to the Bodega on foot. Those who went didn't feel it was worth it after all. I guess it was a bit late.
So Tamerlin says Toulousains like rugby, but I saw many of them flooding out of the 7Deniers (or whatever they renamed it) when there was still rugby being played just behind, with international matches to boot: Who can prefer a mere Toulouse Castres local derby when there are the ArleXV vs. Airbus UK Team A or Dassault Systemes vs. Airbus UK over 30 just a few yards away?
We didn't even meet many toulousaines. Just a few spanish girls, but then my captain-srum half-president would hold me a grudge if I talked about that. This is to say that toulousains, male and female, have limited wisdom.
And now the touring English teams. Well... they started using a pala to spank one another on the first evening. Although I'll agree it's much more clever than using burning newspapers, it's still a bit silly. On the second day, they played, and quite well. But on the evening, they didn't hold what they drank. One of them decided to push a scrum against one of us on the sidewalk (just before throwing up). He didn't even realise our prop had his back on a barrier . Most of the Brits didn't even manage to wake up on the following day. Tssk tssk...
I also learnt from some locals that the supporters of the Stade Toulousain are much less friendly and sympathetic than those of Colomiers. I wonder what Tamerlin thinks of these allegations. Are the Toulouse fans haughty?

And of course tomorrow, a Stade will have won the European cup, but which one, Paris or Toulouse? So is Tamerlin on the plane to the place where whiskies are made or is he still in the pink city?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

Well, this is my last post from this sh*thole neck of the woods for two years! When you next hear from me, in about ten days, I'll be in a civilised part of the world. Making Tamerlin's life a misery!

Promises, promises... I hope this is not "que de la bouche".

Ciao tutti!

Welcome, Finbar...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

I also learnt from some locals that the supporters of the Stade Toulousain are much less friendly and sympathetic than those of Colomiers. I wonder what Tamerlin thinks of these allegations. Are the Toulouse fans haughty?

Those of Colomiers, I suppose it is better hear that than to be deaf.

With the supporters from the Sporting Union Agenais, the supporters from Colomiers are among the worsts.

And of course tomorrow, a Stade will have won the European cup, but which one, Paris or Toulouse? So is Tamerlin on the plane to the place where whiskies are made or is he still in the pink city?

No plane for me, the cost is far too expensive. Moreover, I think that the Parisiens are better... of course I still hope the Stade Toulousain will win this f*****g match.

[LDiCesare]

I can see neighbours near Toulouse still love one another as much as neighbours in every other place. Those of Narbonne despise those of Beziers most, Columerins and Toulousains love each other. At least there's a geographic rationale to these hatreds.
By the way Tamerlin, which bars do you think are the best in Toulouse? I thought the De Danu beer to be quite poor but didn't visit other bars (too busy being a friend's red wine when I could have been in a pub instead).

[Havak]

A thread without Finbar for ten days? Has that happened before?

I doubt you could dampen Tamerlin’s mood on your arrival – three finals in three years and won two of them (should have won all three). They are the super power of European rugby now. Even if they are 'Haughty'.

and if he has a bad game he may not feature again unless as an injury replacement.

Well I was a little unfair to the lad – Owen has a chance, it is simply that the back row is so competitive and I think Corry offers more go forward and Dallaglio more niggle. Clive has a history of picking Dayglo however poorly he is playing and I suspect an all English back row is a real possibility (but the I am on record as saying that Williams is not good enough to compete with McCaw and I stand by that).

Most of the Brits didn't even manage to wake up on the following day. Tssk tssk...

Ah my countrymen are doing me proud as ever.

I think Airbus are Welsh? The Airbus soccer side certainly is.

At least there's a geographic rationale to these hatreds.

There are eleven other sides in the Premiership and the only one I have any time for now is Worcester – and that’s only because they are too new for me to have developed a dislike for.

The worst behaved fans I would now rank in this order: Wasps, Saracens and Gloucester. My own personal dislike list is similar: Wasps, Gloucester, Saints and Bath. I would normally add Sarries to the list but missed the home game with them this year.

Is there a point to this? I think I am saying that Sport is territorial and you seldom get fans of a side praising fans of any other.

[Caligastia]

If anyone is interested, I may have free tickets to the England-Barbarians game at Twickers this Saturday. A co-worker was given them by a business associate, and he offered them to me because he isn't interested in rugby (and won't be in London). I won't be in London either, so if anyone on here wants them, PM me your address and I'll send you them.

[ravagon]

Hmmm? No finbar?
Here's my chance to get in all of those last minute jabs.


The Lions huh? Well what can I say ...

http://www.planetrugby.com/Tournaments/British_Irish_Lions/story_43773.shtml

To borrow a phrase from the esteemed Mr Blofeld ...

"Dear oh dear oh dear Mr Woodward".

So what happened exactly? Lets review it a little ...
This was a game against a second string side from Argentina with the Lions playing at home.
Against this unstoppable force the Lions manage to narrowly avoid defeat near-on full time?
It sounds as though the Puma number 2's had a bit of a blinder I'll grant but you really have to wonder. Afterall this was supposed to be a warm up for the Lions wasn't it?
What'll happen when they take on a first rank All Black side playing back in NZ?

I imagine 'someone' might have some suggestions?

[Editted for, erm, 'technical' reasons. ]

[Havak]

I’m interested Ravagon. Are we telling him the house deal in Italy has fallen through?

Caligastia that’s a great offer and I hope someone takes it up. Unfortunately I am committed to a charity match at my local club on Saturday so cannot avail myself of your generosity.

. What'll happen when they take on a first rank All Black side playing back in NZ?

Well the Lions were not at home – three Welsh guys in the 22 meant it was an away game for most of them.

Seriously however speaking as ‘someone’ last nights Lions showing would have resulted in a record All Blacks try tally. Yes greater than the one against Japan.

To say I am now worried about the tour is a huge understatement. Fine this was a weak Lions side only six days after the squad assembled but the problems looked fundamental. Even a Graham Henry coached squad could beat them.

I watched it all with a detached amusement. Where to start? The restart strategy was bizarre but never changed – Moody chased alone with Byrne (the hooker!) following and the cavalry way behind. They hardly won any restart ball. They were slow to the break down all game, they got bossed in the set pieces with the ultimate irony that the line out improved only when Thompson came on (mind you Kay came on at the same time), they missed tackles endemically and the defence was appallingly organised. Uruguay might have beaten them, Argentina certainly deserved to.

Child of Thor may disagree with me but from my point of view the only players who put their hand up in any way were Wilko (still some way off but the spark is returning), Smith (cracking try and pulling great running lines all night), Corry (one of the few breaking the game line), Moody (superb work rate), Cusiter (looked a class above Cooper when he came on). In addition to this the Murphy and Hickie combo in the back three at least tried hard.

But oh dear the Welsh lads who were playing at home did not shine – Cooper is simply too slow and must have slipped to last place in Scrummy contention. Owen was bereft of leadership skills and tactically inept. Williams? As feared too light weight to trouble big back lines – he was contained easily by a fairly poor back line. The AB back line will eat him alive. It was so funny to hear the crowd roar every time he got ball then almost instantly sigh as he got scragged and turned over time and again.

So as you don’t think I’m picking on the Welsh my old Tigers mate Rowntree had a very poor game and is out of contention (I’d pick that young welsh loose prop over anyone else anyway), Byrne and Hayes were awful, White failed to adjust to Stuart ****headson’s bizarre reading of the scrum, Danny and Donacha were lacklustre in the second row and both Irish centres were largely ineffective.

Apart from that everything was great.

Plenty of work for Clive’s huge staff before the NZ tests.

[ravagon]

[Editted for, erm, more technical reasons? ]

To say I am now worried about the tour is a huge understatement. Fine this was a weak Lions side only six days after the squad assembled but the problems looked fundamental. Even a Graham Henry coached squad could beat them.

So what you're saying is that you're really worried about the tour?


As for the rest, I wouldn't be too concerned just yet. They were, afterall, pulled together and couldn't really have been expected to meld into a single entity on the field as yet.
Basic errors aside, everybody has off days.
I would've still liked to have been at the press conference afterwards though. I wonder if Clive used the phrase "all part of the learning experience"?

Found an interesting comment on one of the feedback forums.

"...and Woodward's obvious tactics of lulling the kiwis into a false sense of security before the test matches...ingenious!"

Almost registered just to post "Hullo Havak" but then I noticed he was supposedly a Wasps supporter ...

[ravagon]

Hmmm. Had a nasty thought last night.
Rokocoko probably won't be able to play for NZ Maori.

IIRC though the requirements are that one has to be 1/16th Maori for eligibility ... ... ...
Perhaps a lat minute blood transfusion?

[Havak]

Hasn't Rokocoko been diverted to Sevens and will miss the early part of the tour anyway?

Clive used every cliche going - and I am certainly worried about the tour if he thinks Owen skippered that game well (the waterboy Neil Back had to shout the command to take that last penalty as Owen went to run it!).

One thing you can be absolutely sure of I will never pretend to be a Wasps fan whatever the pseudonym. I detest them for ruining the League system three years running.

[child of Thor]

Originally posted by Havak
edit..

Child of Thor may disagree with me...edit

No not at all from what i saw(about 10 mins of highlights ), i would say the Lions were lucky to avoid an embarrasing defeat.

In a way it may be a good thing - to even contemplate that level of playing against any AB side would be laughable. So i'm hoping all the guys take this as a very big wake up call and improve their team and individual performances like 300%.

You often hear players talk about the 'honour' of playing for the Lions or whatever - well i guess they have got some convincing to do now or give their place to someone else