Rugby - Hands Off White!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
not to mention England starting that new winning run against the Aussies and giving the ABs pause for thought...I'm assuming Turnip will be sacked before the autumn of course.

Slow day at work, huh?

Pietersen for Thorpe Finbar - the old warrior loses his last crack at his soon to be employers perhaps?

Yes, well, potential firepower in place of stability. Interesting choice. Big test for Pietersen. He won't have the luxury of pyjama cricket field restrictions.

[finbar]

Originally posted by child of Thor
For not reading back i apologise

Don't. Some of the greatest dross since Jeffrey Archer lurks in these threads.

and the not so tall Fiji(but i think we just like the way Fiji play - it has a touch of the old-style welsh about it; added with huge polyneisian hits).

You forgot no discipline and no structure. Still, they are fun to watch. Sevens was invented for them.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Oh I am just keeping my fingers crossed we blood the Aussie's noses in the cricket to be honest. I think their current skipper is the most arrogant in a long time (and that is saying something alongside the likes of Waugh) so he could do with a dose of the humbles. Finbar may disagree.

You confuse arrogance with confidence. In fact, R. Ponting is one of the humbler skippers of recent times. S. Waugh was immensely mentally strong, perhaps his greatest asset, and immensely private, often mistaken for arrogance. The last truly arrogant Australian skipper was Ian Chappell.

[Havak]

You’ll note I didn’t say support Wales – only that I would love to see them turn over the ABs. I think I have previously said I would support the ABs in the fixture haven’t I??

I can’t really lose whoever wins to be honest – I will enjoy either result on the different merits involved.

That is not withstanding that Finbar’s assertion about my preferences is pretty accurate normally.

Slow day at work, huh?

Anything but. Three out of six air handlers for the building I am in failed so I needed to ‘chill’ for a few minutes with some familiar bait.

potential firepower in place of stability. Interesting choice. Big test for Pietersen. He won't have the luxury of pyjama cricket field restrictions.

I just hope my usual routine is broken. I start watching ashes tests all excited – then after two days are normally so hacked off I have to stop. Pietersen has potential for sure – but you are quite right. I only wish he was 100% English.

You confuse arrogance with confidence.

Oh I’m not convinced of that.

Still he is at least facing up to another skipper with some tactical nounce. It shouldn’t be just another game of skittles for the Aussies in this series (does not mean it won’t turn out that way of course!)

I know Andydog has gone back into his self imposed exile after the Lions series but I was speaking to a friend who is in Dublin on business last night and a lot of bars there have mocked up pubwatch posters in the windows saying variations of “Tana Umaga is barred from this pub” and even spotted a T shirt of “BODs God, Tanas Satan” (clever, if contrived and of suspect grammar, eh Finbar?).

Don’t imagine that the Leinster boys are ready to forget and forgive the accident just yet. Sadly Brian is only 50/50 to make the autumn fixture anyway – a mark of what a serious injury it was.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
That is not withstanding that Finbar’s assertion about my preferences is pretty accurate normally.

If Lapland played Madagascar, your colours would be firmly nailed to the Lapland igloo.

Pietersen has potential for sure – but you are quite right. I only wish he was 100% English.

If he were, he wouldn't play the way he does.

Oh I’m not convinced of that.

What you have to realise with Australian Test cricketers is that the competitive edge - toughness, if you like - and confidence - that you call arrogance - is what has brought them through the mightily competitive Australian system. Shield matches here (interstate matches) are very hard fought. They're little Test matches in themselves. The prize - making the Test team - is a huge one. We don't have the extended country system where players can dawdle along earning a living knowing they will never make the English Test team. There are no passengers in Australian state teams. Perform, or someone else gets a chance.

It can, on occasions, roll over into boorishness, but that's the particular personality involved. Warne - a stunningly gifted cricketer but an obviously flawed human being - is capable of it. So is Glenn McGrath, the world's nicest person off the field, but a sufferer of white line fever. He works hard to control it.

Interestingly, R. Ponting was heading down a dangerous road. His background is working-class Launceston in Tasmania, not - with great respect to that part of the world - something that promises much. He had a serious drinking problem resulting in several ugly incidents. He has worked very hard on turning himself around. In fact, if anything, it's his very obvious self control that could be perceived to be arrogance.

Still he is at least facing up to another skipper with some tactical nounce.

I'm yet to be convinced of that. He didn't cover himself with tactical glory out here last time. But a lot of a captain's success can be traced to his on-field support. There's no shortage of experience and tactical expertise in the Australian team. I don't know that Vaughan yet has that back up.

“Tana Umaga is barred from this pub” and even spotted a T shirt of “BODs God, Tanas Satan” (clever, if contrived and of suspect grammar, eh Finbar?).

Not to mention childish.

Don’t imagine that the Leinster boys are ready to forget and forgive the accident just yet. Sadly Brian is only 50/50 to make the autumn fixture anyway – a mark of what a serious injury it was.

The key word, of course, is accident. If he'd fallen a couple of inches in either direction, he'd've got up and walked away.

[Havak]

I used the word deliberately - but if you think that will make any difference to the hulking Leinster and Munstermen waiting for the game then I'm a dutch uncle.

[finbar]

Yes, and I suspect the ABs are big and strong enough to look after themselves. Besides, if they're going to pursue vendettas in lieu of playing rugby, they'll get a bigger pasting than they otherwise would have.

[Havak]

I was actually talking about the fans and their lack of forgiveness!!!

[child of Thor]

Originally posted by Havak
I was actually talking about the fans and their lack of forgiveness!!!

Ah yes. Probably a good idea for any travelling kiwis to try and avoid those pubs with dark alleys atleast till they can judge the reaction from the locals. It might be fine, but then again it might not. Difficult to tell what a guiness+celtic temprement might do sometimes.

[child of Thor]

quote coT:
and the not so tall Fiji(but i think we just like the way Fiji play - it has a touch of the old-style welsh about it; added with huge polyneisian hits).

Originally posted by finbar

You forgot no discipline and no structure. Still, they are fun to watch. Sevens was invented for them.

Discipline and structure - as i said the welsh have an affinity for the Fijian style of playing. I think for Wales to be succesful they need to play this way AND keep the modern game intact? Atleast thats my gut feeling. But yeah i love watching Fiji play too, I wonder what proper investment would be able to do with all the latent talent they seem to posess

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I was actually talking about the fans and their lack of forgiveness!!!

Fans? Tish tosh.

[Havak]

I'm a veteran visitor to Ireland and can assure you that Kiwi fans will be totally safe. The BOD situation will however be verbally thrust at them time and time again. God help any that crack and get upset - the Irish can be quite merciless when a victim rises to the bait that way.

[Havak]

No, really, Finbar - I did mean the fans. How on earth did you read it otherwise?

Tana will get quite reception when he takes the field - and for the duration no doubt.

Going the biff? Don't condone it at all. Mind you if the ABs should try it I don't fear for the Irish too much.

[finbar]

Originally posted by child of Thor
But yeah i love watching Fiji play too, I wonder what proper investment would be able to do with all the latent talent they seem to posess

Hard to know. I suspect good coaching and nurturing could produce a mighty good outfit. Providing, of course, Andydog's mates stop cherry picking.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
No, really, Finbar - I did mean the fans. How on earth did you read it otherwise?

I meant tish tosh to the fans.