Rugby - Hands Off Green!

[Havak]

*tumbleweed*

No reaction to Bill Youngs retirement Finbar? One of the most capped Wallaby props ever? And actually Australian as well.

[finbar]

Sorry, just a bit busy. We take possession of the property here next Thursday, our household stuff arrives by sea from Sydney next Tuesday, trying to organise the connection of mains gas, trying to ensure the new kitchen will be ready to be installed ... and so on.

Bill Young? Yes, well. A trier. And symptomatic, really, of the Wallaby front row problems that he played so many times.

[Havak]

Ah I had forgotten you were moving - good luck coordinating everything.

The axe has fallen on Sailor - he might have made it, he showed glimmers of an ability to learn the senior code, but ulitmately he seems to have a huge self destructive streak. He might have been happier had he stayed in the junior code.

[finbar]

Rugby didn't come naturally to him. Unlike, say, another convert, Lote Tuquiri, who I think could end up a great. I also suspect that Wendell was doomed regardless of the code. He'd racked up as many off-field penalties in L***** as he did in rugby. He would have done the coke if he'd stayed in L*****. It was only a matter of whether he'd get caught. His stupidity was only matched by his ego.

[finbar]

Hey Havak. Resting between sweeping, packing and everything else, I was so bored that I ended up checking out the BBC Leicester site. And I found that toy you lost when you were a kid. The article suggests some forethought. Methinks you'd probably just had a few too many pints at recess time.

That aside, the Wallabies have picked the same front row against the ABs as last time. Thus the result will be the same as last time.

[Havak]

I can hazard a guess what the story links to from the URL string - but that link doesn't work for me unfortunately.

I doubt that anyone can halt the ABs to be honest.

And I see Sailor thinks he can play 2-3 more years after his ban? Taking him up to 37 years old is it? Hmm - don't think so.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I can hazard a guess what the story links to from the URL string - but that link doesn't work for me unfortunately.

Or me! Stupid BBC. Anyway, I'm sure I was right.

I doubt that anyone can halt the ABs to be honest.

I think you're right. Until they put in a stinker. I was wrong anyway. They've picked the massive R. Blake after missing three tests with an ankle problem. I'm not sure that size is the problem.

And I see Sailor thinks he can play 2-3 more years after his ban? Taking him up to 37 years old is it? Hmm - don't think so.

The man's a fool.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

I doubt that anyone can halt the ABs to be honest.

Not so sure about this myself. This ones in Brisbane again. Not too many opposing teams (AB's included) have a good record there.
Of course, should the Wallabies win it may well backfire on them as they'd be unlikely to then subject their deficiencies to the same scrutiny as they would if they had another loss. (I think that almost made sense ...)
At some point they'll come to realise they can't play away games in Queensland.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
At some point they'll come to realise they can't play away games in Queensland.

I'd've thought it perfectly logical. Foreign country, after all.

[Havak]

I have fond memories of Queensland - both Brisbane and Cairns. But then it was early in the tour - I had watched a super opening test at the Gabba - and the Aussie media (and the rabid subset of fans) had not at that point started to make my blood boil.

I still cringe every time I see the Yellow Nazi's (aka official supporters club) at Wallaby games Finbar.

I do agree with you Ravagon - the Wallabies are most dangerous after a thrashing and most vulnerable after handing one out themselves. I still think this AB side is playing within itself though so can't see the Wallabies troubling them.

Smith v McCaw and Larkham V Carter are tasty match ups indeed. And if I had to pick an area where the Wallabies have the edge I would say in the Centres (and that is whatever combo the ABs pick I think?)

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by ravagon
Of course, should the Wallabies win it may well backfire on them as they'd be unlikely to then subject their deficiencies to the same scrutiny as they would if they had another loss.

Here's hoping they have many, many, many more opportunities to intensely scrutinize their deficiencies.

[Havak]

What do you make of the furore over the new Haka?

Connelly is at the ABs throats over it (ha ha).

[Caligastia]

Storm in a teacup. I don't like the new Haka, but I was never crazy about the old one either. Just get rid of it before everyone else decides they want to do a little pre-match dance too.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

I'd've thought it perfectly logical. Foreign country, after all.

If I didn't know you were Italian born and raised I might be tempted to think you hail from NSW upon reading that.
It's a big if I know but still ...

Just get rid of it before everyone else decides they want to do a little pre-match dance too.

Ah. There I might have to disagree with you. That would come too close to pandering to the crowd who complain about the haka simply because they can't come up with anything better.

Mmm. Famliar feeling of Deja vu. Must be what I'm working on ...

[Havak]

I atually thought the suggestion that England do a Morris dance - followed by drinking a cup of tea and complaining loudly about the weather - proved that we had come up with something better - certainly something more culturally relevant to the majority of our players anyway.

The good news is that NZ will face whatever first choice side the great turnip can pick - the RFU won a case in the High Courts commercial division over release of players. They picked on a technicality in the long form agreement of 2001 (about 'reperesentative' games) that effectively blows the agreement apart (and lets England have players whenever they demand them now).

The clubs are considering appealing - and many have threatened to simply stop employing England players. So our harmonious domestic situation continues.

The RFU is stupid enough to hold it's course and end up, in a few years time, having to select England sides from the lower divisions. Madness.

* The original cause of this argument is that the NZ fixture was added outside the IRB Autumn AI window on a day when there is a full Premiership programme of games. The clubs bleed for England again - will England ever return the favour?