Rugby - Hands Off, Wattle!

[Havak]

(shut up Havak)

Moi? Je Suis innocent.

Corry got a three week ban – the minimum he could receive.

Jonno is appealing against the yellow card at Saracens – the hearing is on Monday night. An appeal should mean he is free to face Wasps a week on Saturday.

Good news – although both Kay and Deacon apparently now have a good chance of being fit for Sunday’s game with Toulouse in any case.

[finbar]

What's he appealing against? The shade of yellow?

[Havak]

Either that - or the prospect of not being able to bust Daylgo's nose in his last ever Premiership fixture at Welford Road.

*edit* NZ old boy Craig Dowd is retiring at the end of the season - and moving upstairs at Wasps to be forwards coach.

[finbar]

I fear for this thread while I'm in transit to the promised land and before I get my internet connection set up. Unless, of course, Tamerlin gets his priorities right and returns to us and/or LDiCesares stops throwing his head against opposition fists and boots!

EDIT. A Frenchman, an Australian and J. Kaplan esq have been appointed to ref the Lions tests. The IRB has scripted Havak's excuses for him!

[child of Thor]

I don't know.........i just have a horrible feeling the lions will not win purely on a hunch.
(then i didn't think wales would win the grand slam either.... ).

oh and the NZ guys sounds pretty excited about the test:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4468979.stm

maybe if the lions can ban the haka - then i'll feel they can go win it.

[Havak]

I don’t think the Haka should be banned – I also don’t think the opposition should be forced to watch it if they don’t want to. Forget the nonsense about respect and tradition - it’s only purpose is to intimidate without any opportunity for the opposition to reply and to upset opposition pre-match psyche up whilst aiding NZ’s own. Respect and tradition don’t figure – and don’t believe any Ravagon who says they do.

So either we don’t have to watch it – or NZ have to pray in supplication as the Lions belt out ‘Bread of heaven’ (or preferably Jerusalem).

On a different note Tamerlin will be all over the thread like a rash on Monday if a certain Welsh fullbacks team wins on Sunday.

If not could I keep the thread going by trying to bait Ravagon? I know how much he enjoys that.

You are in transit for some time are you not Finbar?

Perhaps we simply ask you to start a new thread when you reach nirvana? I suggest the title “Rugby - Hands off Perth” given recent events?

Havin said that I am not sure I can cope with you posting on only a one hour time shift!!

A Frenchman, an Australian and J. Kaplan esq have been appointed to ref the Lions tests. The IRB has scripted Havak's excuses for him!

They have indeed. Jutge is poor, Kaplan simply bizarre (at best). Don’t know much about Cole – but coming from the country that produced D***headson I don’t hold out great hopes.

Did anyone else know Spencer was in London earlier this week? Negotiating with Quins, Irish and Saints. Probably not a contract ploy like certain other players (*cough* Betsen you git.) given he has 12 months to run with Auckland and the NZ Union. I guess being behind Carter and Mehrtens has made him give up on the Lions series – and being injured may not have helped?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I don’t think the Haka should be banned – I also don’t think the opposition should be forced to watch it if they don’t want to. Forget the nonsense about respect and tradition - it’s only purpose is to intimidate without any opportunity for the opposition to reply and to upset opposition pre-match psyche up whilst aiding NZ’s own. Respect and tradition don’t figure – and don’t believe any Ravagon who says they do.

You can turn your back on the haka as the Wallabies did a decade or so ago. And got blown off the park!

On a different note Tamerlin will be all over the thread like a rash on Monday if a certain Welsh fullbacks team wins on Sunday.

No he won't. He's been led astray.

If not could I keep the thread going by trying to bait Ravagon? I know how much he enjoys that.

Yeah, Ravagon and stinky bait seem to travel hand in hand.

You are in transit for some time are you not Finbar?

No, only about three or four days. Depart here the 26th of May, a couple of days in Honkers, arrive Italy and occupy the house on the 30th. I know I can get dial-up straight away, at considerable expense given that Telecom Italia operate timed calls, so I'll be investigating some sort of broadband ASAP.

Perhaps we simply ask you to start a new thread when you reach nirvana? I suggest the title “Rugby - Hands off Perth” given recent events?

How about - S***** - I'm surrounded by it!

Havin said that I am not sure I can cope with you posting on only a one hour time shift!!

I'll keep you on your toes!

They have indeed. Jutge is poor, Kaplan simply bizarre (at best). Don’t know much about Cole – but coming from the country that produced D***headson I don’t hold out great hopes.

Cole isn't too bad. Kaplan is the real worry with his utter unpredictability.

Did anyone else know Spencer was in London earlier this week? Negotiating with Quins, Irish and Saints. Probably not a contract ploy like certain other players (*cough* Betsen you git.) given he has 12 months to run with Auckland and the NZ Union. I guess being behind Carter and Mehrtens has made him give up on the Lions series – and being injured may not have helped?

Yes, it had been reported here. And the NZRFU has virtually said they'll look at an early release. He's injured, but he'd been relegated to the Blues' bench for his last couple of games before the injury anyway. He's off to the NH. Mehrtens has said he will be, too, if he doesn't get a crack at the Lions. Interestingly, the Crusaders are starting him this week for the first time in ages, dropping Carter to the bench. I think it's Mehrtens' 100th game - or similar - and the oppo is the abysmal Cats so it's an occasion rather than anything form-based.

[Caligastia]

The ABs have the Haka, England have obnoxious "Sweet chariot", and Australia has obnoxious "Waltzing Matilda".

The French and the South Africans are obnoxious merely with their presence.

[Frozzy]

Interestingly, the Crusaders are starting him this week for the first time in ages, dropping Carter to the bench. I think it's Mehrtens' 100th game - or similar - and the oppo is the abysmal Cats so it's an occasion rather than anything form-based.

It was Justin Marshall's 100th S12 game, and Mehrtens nicked the most S12 points back from Burke.

On that note...

Crusaders 40 - Cats 36

Probably a fair reflection... could really have gone either way, Cats played out of their skins for a majority of the game, but (shock horror) Crusaders just played consistently the entire game.

[LDiCesare]

LDiCesares stops throwing his head against opposition fists and boots!

Don't worry. I'm fine. Except for the fact that a lock, while practising lineouts, decided to cross the 5 meter line and plant his studs deep into my ankle while supposedly helping the other jumper. I've tried to explain him that he was supposed to push from behind rather than one meter to the rightof the player with noone in front, but only ended up with a swollen ankle.

(As for Galciv, I haven't been playing this game for a while. Too busy playing "new" games like Dominions II, Fantasy General or even NetHack)

[LDiCesare]

Stade Francais beat Biarritz by 20-17 in the half final, so the Parisians will be finalists of the European Cup.
The match was won by a last-minute try by Dominici, despite their lack of a real fly half. They will still struggle, but the Stade showed that they are able to produce excellent game when they secide to play the ball. Biarritz also suffered from 2 yellow cards (both justified). It's still amazing that the Stade Francais managed to reach the final with so many wounded players.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Kalius


It was Justin Marshall's 100th S12 game, and Mehrtens nicked the most S12 points back from Burke.

Quite right.

On that note...

Crusaders 40 - Cats 36

Probably a fair reflection... could really have gone either way, Cats played out of their skins for a majority of the game, but (shock horror) Crusaders just played consistently the entire game.

I've never seen more abysmal handling from the Crusaders than in the first half. That, and the Cats playing out of their skins in the first half kept it close. In the second half, the Crusaders lifted their game (if not to great heights), but, surpisingly, the Cats matched them. Perhaps the Crusaders could be accused of treating their oppo lightly by starting Jack and Carter on the bench. Regardless, the Cats managed to expose some shoddy Crusaders defence. Given that the Cats were injury- and suspension-ridden, playing third and fourth choice selections, the Crusaders must be heaving a huge sigh of relief.

The Reds got home against the Sharks. Flatley's return after a month or more off saw some long over-due organisation in the backline, but the match highlight was the return of Ben Tune after two years out with knee injuries. He played at 13, showing all his old speed and ingenuity, running great angles. scoring a try and setting up another one. A wonderfully gifted player. If he can stay fit, he still has a future at higher levels.

[LDiCesare]

Apparently, the European Cup final will be Stade Francais vs Stade Toulousain:
Leicester is 19-27 Toulouse.
I haven't seen the match (f*** TV), so I had to follow it on the web. Apparently a good first half from Leicester except they took a try at the second minute and mishandled several balls near the line. And one French try was apparently invalid since there was a forward pass before?

[Havak]

Two of the tries were from blatant forward passes – but that does not alter the fact that the better side won on the day. Congratulations Toulouse!

Tigers performance was very poor. They had 25 mins of solid dominance in the first half and could have put the game away but there was fumble after fumble and scuffed kicks galore. Tigers therefore got what their performance deserved – nothing.

I have a lot to say about the Irish officials (particularly Monsieur Rolland) and certain aspects of Toulouse’s game (not to mention the crappy Soccer ground) – but I’ll come back to say them later so my congratulations can stand on it’s own merit for a little while.

Finbar will be happy as there was some 'robust' play including a spear on Austin that nearly killed him. To his credit him and Murphy were the stand out players in defence. Ollie Smith took a bang on the head early on and looked concussed – but stayed on.

Jonno nearly got carded. Not for foul play but because after the second try from a forward pass he went to both touch judges in turn and lectured them – and I doubt that was about personal grooming.

Tigers season has fallen apart – how can they pick themselves up to beat Dayglo’s bullies on Saturday?

Jonno was as realistic as ever:

"I've lost as many games as I have won. You win some and you lose some, and if we are honest with ourselves we didn't deserve to win. But that is what is so disappointing - if they had been head and shoulders above us then fair enough, but it came down to us."

[Havak]

You can turn your back on the haka as the Wallabies did a decade or so ago. And got blown off the park!

Actually you can’t Finbar. The IRB issued an edict in the late nineties that teams will face it meakly and quietly and at least 10M away or else. Some team should have had the courage to investigate the or else part.

No, only about three or four days

I’m not in work w/b 31st May so you may even be online before I return.

How about - S***** - I'm surrounded by it!

Very apt for you – I like it!

I'll keep you on your toes!

And distract me from work even more.

I think it's Mehrtens' 100th game - or similar - and the oppo is the abysmal Cats so it's an occasion rather than anything form-based.

I thought Mehrtens was a good bench prospect for the tests?

Who has displaced Carlos at Blues? Nipping the mouths heels?

The ABs have the Haka, England have obnoxious "Sweet chariot", and Australia has obnoxious "Waltzing Matilda".

Only one of which is performed by the players immediately prior to a match – and therefore the only psychological weapon amongst them?

What we should do is drink a cup of tea right after the Haka – it’s traditional after all. And all that nice psyche up adrenalin will flow out the ABs whilst we do.