Rugby - Hands Off Green!

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I'm back!

Now I have to decide whether life's too short to submit myself to wading through the dross posted while I was away.

[LDiCesare]

Better hurry reading everything before the line gets accidentally cut off?

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Originally posted by 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?

The irony was that he was vastly more popular and seen more widely on TV overseas than in Australia. America was his market.

It was all only symptomatic of Australia's problems. They also had a state funeral for a racing driver who was killed in a crash in a car rally. It's a pathetic, immature society, it really is.

Good riddance to it.

Fear not, LdiC, I'll take a Latin country - rogue Telcos and all - any day.

Oh, and if I were you, I'd clench my buttocks the first time your new lock looks for somewhere to jam his head. In fact, I suspect it's the real reason for Havak's early retirement from the paddock to prop up the bar.

[Havak]

I couldn't possibly comment.

Welcome back.

I see the Wallabies have a scrum half problem for the upcoming tour. There is speculation Giteau will start there in the first test of the tour!

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Yes, it's a pity Sam Cordingley had to pull out. He's an energetic, very aggressive little bugger with good skills. Knuckles has always seen him as Gregan's replacement. Giteau's spot is #12, methinks.

[Havak]

It speaks to the depth in Oz - which would appear similar to that of England with fly half and centres.

Giteau is a great centre - but he is Aussie which makes it very hard to admire his skills for long.

Did you know Joe Roff now plays for Oxford University?

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Yes, I noticed that. Presumably he's doing his thesis on tearing meters out of Bok taxi cabs.

I also got the internet back just in time to observe a Leicester win. I guess my luck had to run out at some point.

In other news. Jonah has obviously dropped his plans to win back his ABs jersey. He's going to play L***** with the same start-up NRL club that signed Matt Rogers.

EDIT. I also note that Aaron Mauger is being linked with Leicester after the World Cup. Just what the English game needs. More budding young talent.

And an interesting piece by Grant Fox on the SMH rugby site. What's this about a damning review of the England coaching set-up after the 6 Nations? Where was this reported? How did I miss it? The fact that I was internet-less is not an answer!

[Havak]

The snow job that fingered three world cup winning assistant coaches and completely absolved Andy Robinson of any blame whatsoever? I am sure we mentioned it at least briefly.

I still say the only positive about having four internationals this November is that once he loses them all Robinson truly has nowhere else left to hide – everyone else has already been sacked.

Mauger is being targeted as a replacement for Gibson by Tigers. And yes it is not a great move from an England point of view – but then I have lamented previously that whilst my club churns out world class forwards by the bucket load it doesn’t have the same success with backs. The lack of centres is a country wide problem of course – witness how the RFU is desperate for a 31 year old ex League player (Farrell) to be rushed in at 12.

There is some young centre talent out there – Flood and Tait at Newcastle (though Flood is going to end up at 10 I think – a Carter beater perhaps, certainly very talented and wasted at Falcons), Smith at Tigers is hitting form again, Clarke from Northampton was breaking through (then broke his leg…) but there is not huge depth there. That’s part of the reason why an average player like Gavin Henson (once) looked good against an England midfield – interestingly Tait is now far the better player (the Orange one is struggling to start for Ospreys being overweight, unfit and too focused on his good time girl instead of the game).

That Tigers win you clocked was a terrible game – you do pick your time to drop back in – but an away win is a bonus four points every time.

I knew Jonah had given up the grail dream when the S14 franchises ignored him – but hadn’t heard that had made him so depressed he was heading for tag rugby.

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There's a follow-up article this morning suggesting that it might all be PR hoopla on the club's part.

[Havak]

That would make a lot of sense. Tag needs all the hoopla it can get.

Stephen Larkham is now an IC then? And a winger will play fly half whilst a centre plays scrum half? By all rights Wales should wallop the Aussies on this basis.

And as for Mr Larkham - a great player but complex logic clearly escapes him:

"The talk at the moment is that Wales will be the hardest test. Wales are extremely tough.

"The Welsh players have been together for a number of years and they understand each other quite well.

"They think they have a good game plan against us. But, if you look at Ireland's form, they will be strong and at home they will be a lot harder."

Almost trips over his own tongue doesn't he? So as you pick that apart who does he think will be the tougher challenge.

Personally I fancy Scotland for a major upset and I wouldn't rule out Italy - this Wallaby squad looks as weak as the England summer tour squad.

Oh and after all the fuss about the RFU demanding players for this extra money spinning 'opening of the new stand' AB game it looks like the stand might not actually be finished fully in time - a classic RFU mess.

As for the game itself the ABs should stroll it - but I bet Ravagon is secretly worried.

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Methinks S. Larkham was being polite, finding praise for all the opponents.

The shuffling around between wings, centres and halves is the end result of Gregan not touring and Cordingley being injured. The only bona fide #9s in the squad are Valentine and, from memory, Sheehan. I think Valentine replaced Cordingley and Sheehan would always have been a mid-week player, so stocks behind the pack are low. As soon as #9 is filled by an existing player, the shuffle is on. Added to which, they're going to experiment in the interests of life post-S. Larkham.

[Havak]

Stevo is not known for excessive politeness.

That makes sense - as at 32 I would imagine Larkham will have a few retirement interviews lined up during the tour with Celtic league clubs (or lower end Premiership clubs)?

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He's only talked about Japan.

[Havak]

Again that does make sense - a quality of rugby that brings little risk of injury, not too many games and money that per game just about matches UK levels.

The Irish invade Leicester this weekend as Munster visit us - these games are always great tussles and with them being defending champions it should be well tasty. The craic in the city is rather nice too.

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I noticed they were rolled last week by Edinburgh or someone.