Rugby - Hands Off Green!

[Havak]

I agree with you about Sky - the problem is they as a company have considerable power over our sport - they bank roll it to a large degree and by virtue of that I suspect they can do pretty much what they like.

I think part of the deals with tests is a post match word with both skippers. This time BOD, possibly for very good reasons (treatment), failed to comply. So Sky picked up their ball and went home with it.

It's Irish fans rather than the Irish camp that seem to be in confident mood - the camp has played the usual game of respect pre-Test.

Don't get me wrong - Eddie O'Sullivan is quite capable of blowing his mouth off but it was fan comments that prompted what i said above this time.

And Finbar wasn't joking about 'Cunning Eddie' - rumour is he has been interviewed for the RFU 'Driector of Elite Rugby' post. Talk about sleeping with the enemy!

[Solly]

Originally posted by Havak
Good to see you are still trying PA - very trying some might say.

for £450k. What's the transfer payments like in Union?

[Havak]

Chev Walker is reputed to have cost over £600K...

[finbar]

Chev Walker? Is that some sort of American car with an ironic name?

EDIT. Just saw the Wallabies-Ireland result. Didn't see the match. Anyone? Sounds like Ireland were vastly more competitive than England.

On a thoroughly dispiriting note, my sister has been sorting out our family tree. She sent me a copy in PDF form. Horror of horrors. My great great great grandmother on my maternal grandfather's side was born in Waltham, Leicestershire, circa 1815, and was married in 1835 in somewhere called Ashby Folville. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

ANOTHER EDIT. So I cheered myself up reading this perceptive demolition by S. Barnes of England rugby in general and Turnip in particular

[Havak]

Chev Walker was one of the junior codes very best UK players - so naturally has moved to the senior code now.

I saw it – not sure how you make that call on competitive – the Irish struggled in the line out and suffered in the scrum to an extent that England certainly didn’t. Stringer was made to look shambolic by a harassing Gregan. Outside of O’Connell I thought the Irish forwards were pretty poor – their blushes were saved only by having a backline that was clicking nicely.

Latham is in the form of his life right now – I suspect he will get targeted from the kick off by the angels in black.

And what about France? You have to love the way that you never know which side will turn up! They took the Boks apart – the score line misses the full tale as the French scored four tries to one (Percy’s boot kept the Boks vaguely in the hunt).

So the three year unbeaten home record comes to an end just as the Bok coach is playing hardball over his contract renewal – bad timing!

My great great great grandmother on my maternal grandfather's side was born in Waltham, Leicestershire, circa 1815, and was married in 1835 in somewhere called Ashby Folville.

The former is North East of the market town Melton Mowbray (the Mowbray part comes from the Norman family who were ‘owners’ of the area – there’s an impressive 13th century church to see if you ever go there) and the latter South West of it. It’s a very nice rural area – and there are cracking pubs in both villages. But the killer here Finbar is that there is a strong chance we might be distantly related – two of my grandparents were from the Melton area. If you ever find yourself craving Pork Pies and Stilton do not worry – it is just your latent DNA asserting itself!

*edit* One of Barnes better pieces that. I am sick of Robinsons 'we won everything but the scoreboard' excuses.

[finbar]

I've had to put off posting today to recover from the notion, however remote, that I might be related to a Leicester supporter.

Yes, Chris Latham has put his error-prone days behind him. He was capable of terrible, terrible clangers. I. Balshaw comes to mind. His judgement has improved with maturity, his confidence has grown, now he's top class.

The thing I like about Barnes' piece is that he manages to put into words, simply and succinctly, what we haven't been able to put into words simply and succinctly. He nails Robinson for hiding behind stats, rendering them as meaningless as they can be.

BTW. Catherine Hardinge was the great great great grandmother in question. If there are Hardinges or Porters - she married a Porter - that far back in your family tree ... I don't want to know!

[Havak]

now he's top class.

As a player yes – but his word is still worthless.

He nails Robinson for hiding behind stats, rendering them as meaningless as they can be.

You are quite right. Hmm – the piece must have been ghost written then. Barnes never makes simple sense like that.

If there are Hardinges or Porters - she married a Porter - that far back in your family tree ... I don't want to know!

Then I shall not tell you – but if you ever find yourself craving a pint of bitter on your travels don’t be surprised.

Well I see the Boks are letting their coach talk to the RFU about the Elite Director post – it appears the bone of contention between him and his Union is length of contract – it seems the Union prefer a ‘no ties, pay as you go’ deal where they can dump him at any time with no financial comeback? Surprisingly he is interested in joining England instead – where they give you a four year contract and never sack you however incompetent you prove to be.

Interesting that despite their vigorous defence of him Flavell has been quietly dropped from the AB squad – whilst the old ‘Captain Invisible’ Thorne has been recalled. As the other disciplinary loose canon Ali Williams has also seemingly been canned it would appear that despite their public defence of players such factors do count against you with Henry after all?

[Solly]

"Chev Walker was one of the junior codes very best UK players - so naturally has moved to the senior code now."

Strange that he didn't make the 20 man squad yesterday if he's the very best.

Great Britain 46-14 New Zealand

At least one of our isle's sporting teams is playing their sport how it's meant to be played and winning. The Kiwis were admittedly a little under-strength though due to it being mid-season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/5119034.stm

[Havak]

Is it really a surprise that a man leaving the sport in two months time has been omitted from the squad PA.

Substitute Australia for NZ and that GB team would be roundly thrashed 99% of the time. However bad a period the Union side is going through it will beat the Australians again - and more often than the Junior code could ever hope to.

I still don't see the attraction of your favourite code - there is no competition for the ball and the players grind on top of each other like copulating dogs and call it a tackle?

[Solly]

"I still don't see the attraction of your favourite code - there is no competition for the ball and the players grind on top of each other like copulating dogs and call it a tackle?"

It's all the things the Old Man's code isn't - fast, played by athletes, entertaining and a physical contest rather than a kicking one.

[Caligastia]

If you don't think Union is a physical contest PA, then I don't think you've ever really watched it. Sure, there are more tackles in your average game of l*****, but I want to see more than tackles and passing.

[Havak]

Cal he is just trolling and having a little fun - s'no problem. Manx fans like to do this - and you don't take the views of Man Utd fans seriously do you?

I'd be happy to arrange a demonstration of scrumming, rucking and mauling for PA if he thinks league is more physical.

He forgot to add "and limited to small enclaves in the North West and North East of England, one artificial franchise plonked in London plus Her Majesty's former prison colonies overseas"

The great move to expand into the south worked well eh? Harlequins RL rely entirely on Harlequins RU for their continued existence.

The strengths of the League code used to be speed tackling and lower injury rates (in a 'more physical' game PA?) - speed and tackling have long since been negated by Professional Rugby Union but we still sadly suffer more injuries what with our competition for the ball and all.

I have fond memories of the year League packed it tails between it legs and fled the winter, where Union was trouncing it for viewing figures, to take up residence in the summer where no one subsequently cared. Every time League competes with us for an audience it gets trounced – check GB audiences on Sky against England RU ones. You would think you League boys might take the hint - we will welcome you back into the true fold when your code collapses.

You are cognisant of the fact PA that in reply to your trolling our Union thread that I am, in fact, having a little fun with you?

[Havak]

So Umaga has signed for a second division French outfit. It can only be for lots and lots of money - where is the challenge for a player like the 'Spear' in going to a a league where he will avoid the cream of French players (that cream play in the English and French top flights). I mean Dan Luger is going to be his team mate for gawds sake!

Perhaps it is tijme we forced French clubs to follow the same salary cap rules that UK clubs do so they cannot srinkle sposnors money will nilly like this?

[Solly]

Originally posted by Havak
Cal he is just trolling and having a little fun - s'no problem. Manx fans like to do this - and you don't take the views of Man Utd fans seriously do you?

Ex-Man utd fan

He forgot to add "and limited to small enclaves in the North West and North East of England, one artificial franchise plonked in London plus Her Majesty's former prison colonies overseas"

It's also played in Wales, Russia, France (you might have missed a French team plays in the top flight), New Zealand, Australia and all the Pacific Islands.

The great move to expand into the south worked well eh? Harlequins RL rely entirely on Harlequins RU for their continued existence.

*cough* Leeds Tykes

The strengths of the League code used to be speed tackling and lower injury rates (in a 'more physical' game PA?)

Physicality does not mean danger. A lot of injuries I have seen in Union were through poor tackling technique and through cowardly stamping on prostrate players.

I have fond memories of the year League packed it tails between it legs and fled the winter, where Union was trouncing it for viewing figures, to take up residence in the summer where no one subsequently cared.

Attendances are up, as is quality.

Every time League competes with us for an audience it gets trounced – check GB audiences on Sky against England RU ones.

Please post evidence.

You are cognisant of the fact PA that in reply to your trolling our Union thread that I am, in fact, having a little fun with you?

It's a rugby thread. Let's talk rugby. Now why is it Iestyn Harris returned half the player he was?

[Caligastia]

Maybe we need to change the format of our thread titles to "Rugby Union" instead of Rugby...