Rugby - Hands Off Green!

[ravagon]

The guy was very successful at making Australians look like idiots on the international stage.
Accordingly I will miss him greatly.

[ravagon]

Ummmm. Just took a brief look at the latest results of the rugby half time comedy act.
I'm guessing that this isn't Bristols first stint in the premiership?
I'm sure Havak could tell us more, given that he's just become a fan?

Oh and back in the real world Auckland topped the NPC and North Harbour won the RF shield.

[Havak]

Who? And what?

I am about as big a fan of West Country clubs as you are of the Wallabies I suspect.

Bristol are a big club that has never really fulfilled it's potential. They are in their second season back in the top flight after getting relgated and practically going bust about four years ago.

I don't have that much time for them but I confess I will cheer any club that beats Wasps the way they did this last weekend.

So I see big Jonah has not made the watch list for the NZ S14 franchises then? When do you think he will finally see the reality of his situation?

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

I don't have that much time for them but I confess I will cheer any club that beats Wasps the way they did this last weekend.

Mmmm. Well that thought never occurred to me ...

So I see big Jonah has not made the watch list for the NZ S14 franchises then? When do you think he will finally see the reality of his situation?

Sadly, probably about the same time that J. Wilkinson sees his ...

Much as I'd like to see them both back in their top form I think that may be a little beyond either of them.

[Havak]

I agree entirely.

I actually think it is starting to dawn on Wilko that he is done with the top flight - just an impression I am getting. Every time he gets fit he manages a few games then one or other of the weak points blows again - even the most stubborn of lads should start to suspect it is all over.

But whereas NZ have plenty of other huge islanders who can score tries for fun England are struggling to find a new fly half of the same standard as Wilko. Carter was already taken (I am sure he is really English).

[Havak]

I recommend you southern chaps hunt out Justin Marshalls latest tirade.

Having practically retired from top class rugby this season (by signing for a Welsh franchise) he is having a torrid time - you see those awful referees in the Celtic League are actually penalising infringements of the laws and he finds it quite 'unecessary'.

I'm sure it is pure coincidence that he is saying this after his Ospreys side were absolutely spanked last weekend by a very decent Ulster outfit.

He actually says he is looking forward to the Anglo-Welsh cup (because English referees will then be involved?). Nice way to annoy every Scot, Welsh and Irish ref you face this season Justin - well done!

[Havak]

Oh and as for the Turnip coaching England - after the recent three day training camp he report on the positives was this:

"the relationships are developing nicely".

wtf? Even his self delusional media guff is not making any coherent sense any more.

[finbar]

Lost our temporary phone line! Get a permanent one on October 11th!

Still, it could be worse. I could be back in Australia.

[Havak]

That would be terrible indeed.

[LDiCesare]

Ah, the joys of latin countries.
I read that it had apparently dawned on Lomu he wouldn't get back in the All black squad. Great for him to finally realise this.
In France, my season started this week. Due to a change of job, I can no longer go to the training sessions, but do go to the matches. I am apparently excused from throwing in lineouts now. Another hooker/prop is doing. The problem is we lost our last real prop last season (he's working at Bengalore now and pretending it's too far to come play with us - ever heard such a poor excuse), so our front row is made of:
-1 soccer player who started full back but converted as hooker because he prefers playing in the front row. Playing prop or hooker and throwing.
-1 hooker, playing prop, about to leave for Merignac (southwestern France) in a month or two.
-1 flanker who'd lile to play hooker (go figure) and therefore often ends up playing prop.
-myself (former scrum half), playing hooker exclusively now for about mmmm...I must have played center once maybe four or five years ago?
This means we'll have the wimpiest front row I've ever seen when there are only three of us left, all being more hookers than props. That with a friend of mine moving from wing to lock having to learn where to put his head in the scrum, I might end up being happy we don't contest these for a change.
Apart from that, the Stade Francais is winning each and every match they play this season. Already 9 victories in 9 matches, that's quite impressive. I wonder how they'll fare in HCup, and whether Beauxis will get to wear France shirt as fly half (particularly since Michalak hurt himself badly last week while training).

[kittenOFchaos]

Originally posted by Havak
I recommend you southern chaps hunt out Justin Marshalls latest tirade.

Having practically retired from top class rugby this season (by signing for a Welsh franchise) he is having a torrid time - you see those awful referees in the Celtic League are actually penalising infringements of the laws and he finds it quite 'unecessary'.

I'm sure it is pure coincidence that he is saying this after his Ospreys side were absolutely spanked last weekend by a very decent Ulster outfit.

He actually says he is looking forward to the Anglo-Welsh cup (because English referees will then be involved?). Nice way to annoy every Scot, Welsh and Irish ref you face this season Justin - well done!

Think Marshall will be feeling alot happier after this weekend thrashing an English invasion of Wales...

[Havak]

Well speaking as a member of a club that easily disposed of Welsh opposition without playing our first XV I would just like to say say I really enjoyed those results - particularly Cardiff beating Wasps (though I never mind seeing Gloucester walloped).

I think we should wait for the Heinekin cup before we start trying to compare anglo-welsh teams however - the AW cup has a guilty little secret, that being that home referees are used. In other words the welsh sides at home have welsh referees and the english sides at home have English referees.

I am sure they were all faultlessly impartial however.

[ravagon]

I have no doubt in my mind that you would echo this sentiment were it a Tigers away game ...


[Edit: Oh, and 'Prop Idol' ??!! ]

[kittenOFchaos]

Originally posted by Havak
I am sure they were all faultlessly impartial however.

I only saw the Wasps game and the Welsh ref there was faultless...once he essentially started ignoring his foolish linesmen.

Linesmen in rugby are so often ineffectual and add nothing to the reffing, better just get a lad running the line

[Havak]

Interesting point you raise though - in rugby the ref does not have the lattitude to ignore the linesmen. In theory if they flag something he then has no choice but to act on it.

As you correctly say Nigel Williams did ignore them several times. It was rather...interesting.