Rugby - Hands Off Green!

[finbar]

Gee. I got the internet back just in time for a Leicester loss. Talk about good timing.

[Havak]

You might call it good timing. I might call it something else.

[finbar]

I could have got it back on or about the date of any Leicester away match and had the same luck.

[Havak]

Thanks for reminding me we travel badly.

I see that Rogers has inked a pension deal for after the RWC - he is heading back to the inferior code where his body will last much longer in his dotage.

Oh and has Sailor had his hearing in Switzerland yet?

[finbar]

Yep. M. Rogers will return to L***** with a new franchise that is starting up. He'll be 32 and probably on his last rugby legs anyway. The good thing is that Knuckles has said the move won't affect Rogers' World Cup selection. Sensible. Apparently Lote Tuquiri is also talking about moving back after the World Cup. That would be a shame.

Wendell wants a reduced sentence in order to return to L*****. Who cares?

[Solly]

Wakefield v Castleford last day relegation special I see Myler from Salford is off to Northampton, but not before our season is finished.

[LDiCesare]

Havak, you shouldn't have mentioned Wilkinson. He managed to hurt himself again. It's a real pity. Besides the fact tha a wound is never a pleasan thing, the guy was a pleasure to watch. I wonder how long he will play. If he keeps getting hurt every year several times, he will end up looking for another job?

[finbar]

He doesn't know how to do anything else. But I have an idea. When Havak's too hungover to post, Wilko could substitute for him.


Mmmm. Then again, he'd probably pull a finger muscle typing.

[Havak]

Unfortunately Wilko is a spent force at just 27 - knee, shoulder and groin weaknesses that he just cannot get over. He is still a joy to watch when he is fit - which is not too often sadly.

He is simply paying the price for the way he threw himself into tackles as a youngster.

Hodgson looks a superb Ten at club level but he always blows the pressure situations in an England shirt. There are some youngsters on the radar, including Toby Flood at Newcastle, but there are no quick fixes likely.

I also forgot to tell you Finbar - young Tom Croft picked up a minor ankle injury in our opening game. Perhaps his absence helped explain why Bath lowered our colours in the next game.

It's Gloucester at home on Saturday - always a tasty fixture.

[finbar]

So much for the home advantage!

Oh, and just in case you were contemplating the deed, Anton has beaten you to it. Fifth article down from the top.

[Havak]

To each their own - perhaps he should focus more on rugby?

I'm very worried about our start to the season. It's pretty shambolic behind the pack (and that is not what I expected from a Pat Howard coached side).

[finbar]

Maybe they need to take a figleaf out of Anton's book.

[Havak]

A terrifying thought!

[Havak]

In late reference to something you touhced on above Finbar it strikes me having heard the news this morning that Australia is going through the same distateful process that the UK did after the death of Princess Diana.

I call it 'faux grieving'. I had nothing against Mr irwin personally but does his death really warrant three networks covering the memorial or a eulogy from the PM (and what a PM - he make Balir look good)? The Aussies seem to have lost their intellectual detachment with this the same way many Brits did with Diana.

I'm surprised the Aussies didn't declare a public holiday! I'm trying to imagine if Sir David Attenborough passing would draw such a response from TV and politicos here - and his natural history achievements far surpass Mr irwins.

It seems that Irwin tapped into something quintissentially Aussie with his on screen persona perhaps? So everyone thinks they have lost a 'good mate' despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of Aussies could possibly have known the man personally?

[Caligastia]

I think that's it Havak. Lord knows it wasn't his achievements as a naturalist that merit such mourning.

As Finbar said, he was a shameless self-promoter. I've always referred to him as a professional animal annoyer.

"Ooo, he's a stroppy bugger eh!?" says Steve as he drags a snake around by its tail.