Rugby - Hands Off White!

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar
The ABs are now missing McCaw and McDonald and the #10 is a baby. This has to be the Lions' chance. Just a pity about Greenwood and Peel.

Both teams now missing at least three star players:

McCaw/ Dayglo
Carter/ Johnny
Mauger/ O'Driscoll

Could be the game we have been hoping for all tour? A real contest?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Yes I tend to agree. With Smith injured it had to be D'Arcy who has played himself into some semblance of form - Will certainly has not. The faith kept in Peel is interesting after Dawson had a great mid-week game (not that I like Dawson) and Cusiter has been solid all tour.

If Kellaher is up to his usual harassing tricks, Peel could be costly.

What is hilarious to me is that there is no longer a Kiwi in the AB loose forwards. And perhaps there is just a slim shred of hope and early signs of Henry-itis in the move of the big blocking, badgering and bullying Samoan to openside? Frankly I would have put Hollah straight in there instead and I fully expect Moody to beat the Samoan at the art of the breakdown even though Lewis is no specialist seven either.

A-ha. But as per my post of the other day, they are all, originally, South Chinese via Taiwan.

Incidentally Finbar Horse is banging the league drum elsewhere - go smack him down in your eloquent style please?

Yes, I looked at the thread the other day. Your contribution was valiant. I deliberately stayed out of it. I've had these discussions with Horse before, via ICQ, while waiting for our Civ games to get under way. It's a lost cause. He prefers the tedious, one-dimensional game. And as for the argument that X number of tackles per game constitutes X amount of action per minute ergo it's entertaining! On that basis, basketball is entertaining, and basketball, as we know, is an entertaining as a puff of vapour. Surprising, really, for an otherwise highly intelligent soul. I think the chilled, rarefied Canberra air has damaged some of his neurones.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Not ignoring it and never said it didn't have faults. In fact the first thing Henry did on his return to NZ was to instruct all the Super12 coaches to sort out the forward play.

Eddie said pretty much the same thing early last season about the set pieces in general.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog


Both teams now missing at least three star players:

McCaw/ Dayglo

No comparison these days. Three years ago, perhaps.

Carter/ Johnny

Two years ago, perhaps, for obvious reasons.

Could be the game we have been hoping for all tour? A real contest?

You master of irony, you.

[ravagon]

I'm not sure that McDonald has been entirely ruled out as yet ... ?

Glad to see that D'Arcy is finally getting a foot in the door though.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
I'm not sure that McDonald has been entirely ruled out as yet ... ?

He has. McAlister is in for him.

Glad to see that D'Arcy is finally getting a foot in the door though.

Where?

[Havak]

Fine I'll get them for you. They aren't hard to find. And btw the Jonno book is worth reading and for the reason I suggested however funny you found it - look like I'll have to trawl up the relevant part myself. It will take me a day as my Library is at home of course.

Would you like a dictionary to look up 'fact' and 'opinion' as you have them a little confused I think - you even tell me I'm presenting other facts to yours before then citing an opinion that you had offered.

I like you mate - you are a kindred spirit (whether you like the fact or not).

The Lions came close to winning the series in 01 - but they had one of the best skippers ever to play the game. I would offer my opinion that this contributed hugely to their competitiveness.

[Havak]

I can only pray the irony actually plays out as true.

McCaw should actually be compared to Backy and Williams. He comes out favourably to both right now - although he is ten years younger than Backy and it’s still much closer between them than that fact should insist upon.

Dayglo should be compared to the Samoans – and is not overmatched there.

Carter is out on his own – probably better last Saturday than Wilko at his best. Will he collect the same silverware? Time will tell.

Umaga and BOD are the direct comparisons and it remains a shame we were robbed of this clash.

If Kellaher is up to his usual harassing tricks, Peel could be costly.

Yes but it’s Kaplan and the beef barrel might tread on his toes early doors (metaphorically speaking)?

A-ha. But as per my post of the other day, they are all, originally, South Chinese via Taiwan

I am sure you are right. I certainly agree they are not New Zealanders. There are a a couple of non-Brits in the Lions too of course – a bok and an Aussie.

Here is a little fact for you all – I managed to forget about Granny-gate! Graham Henry picked and played Shane Howarth and Brett Sinkinson for Wales only to look somewhat foolish when it proved that both their claims of having Welsh grandparents were false and had not actually been verified in any way. Probably not his fault – a coach picks who he is told is available by his staff – but damn funny still.

[Havak]

Well I was little busy last night but I did trawl up some quotes from VD and Martin (didn't get time to find Dawse and Dai Young's).

I'm not going to use them though for this reason:

"We would just like to pass on from the All Blacks our deep sympathies to the people affected by the terrorist attacks in London. The game, really, doesn't seem that significant when these sort of things are going on in the world."

Mr Henry has shown a bit of class and I respect that.

It took me over six hours to finally confirm that both friends I have who live in London were okay yesterday. I was particularly worried about one of them who works rather close to where the bus was bombed - thankfully she was fine.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Yes but it’s Kaplan and the beef barrel might tread on his toes early doors (metaphorically speaking)?

Kaplan? Mmmm. The Lions' odds just shortened. Anything's possible with Mr Unpredictable. Kellaher can and does tread that very thin offside line but he's just as much of a menace from onside.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
It took me over six hours to finally confirm that both friends I have who live in London were okay yesterday. I was particularly worried about one of them who works rather close to where the bus was bombed - thankfully she was fine.

And hopefully Andydog is the same.

[Andydog]

I'm okay thanks, so are all my London friends thankfully.

I was quite lucky really, to get to my office in Holborn I take either the Central Line to Chancery Lane (untouched) or the Circle Line to Kings Cross (the scene of the 2nd blast). Luckily yesterday I took the Central Line.

Walking home yesterday afternoon was strange - the streets, although teaming with people, were eerie. All the shops were shut, the tube stops closed, the roads devoid of all but police cars, ambulances, and fire utilities, and even the bars had locked their doors. It took me 3 hours to walk from Holborn to my home in NW London.

I'm pretty sure that the Londoners will bounce back from this fairly quickly. Bombs are nothing new here - the IRA have been letting them off for generations. I was impressed with how the emergency services did their work with speed and efficiency.

[Andydog]

Originally posted by Havak
Would you like a dictionary to look up 'fact' and 'opinion' as you have them a little confused I think - you even tell me I'm presenting other facts to yours before then citing an opinion that you had offered.

Take another look at my posts. I used facts such as these:

..he lead Auckland to four successive national titles and the Blues to victory in the first two Super 12 tournaments.

Wales, who had been thumped 96-13 by South Africa in June 1998, halted England's grand slam bid in 1999, then beat the Springboks 29-19 in Cardiff, and then went on to win 10 straight games.

..to support my opinion that Henry is a quality coach.

And I earlier I had given my opinion as to why some of the 01 Lions disliked his style.

No confusion there mate!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
I'm okay thanks, so are all my London friends thankfully.

I need you around here with Havak plucking statistics out of his backside!

EDIT. He, of course, will be pleased with the news that Leicester won't be sharing a ground, that Welford Road will be redeveloped instead. For some reason, there was a link on the BBC rugby page to the weather in Leicester. 25C, sunny, but, oddly, the visibility declared to be poor. Presumably all those one-eyed supporters.

[Havak]

Glad you are okay Andydog.

Dude I grant you the Auckland fact.

But the 'ten straight victories' I have fully rebutted as a sign of his coaching quality by pointing out who they were against (and that they did not commence with the Bok game). What do you personally make of his two record losses to Ireland - and his two record losses to England? How do you feel about the fact that he was sacked by Wales - and that he left Hansen a team that kept getting walloped (thus undermining any claim he laid any foundations for Wales current success)?

Like I said you are a kindred spirit - you cherry pick in your replies too.