Rugby - Hands Off Green!

[Caligastia]

What do you guys think of the proposed law change for scrums? Bunch of whining pansies?

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/10/19/1160851065726.html

[Havak]

It's an ill considered law change with two eyes on insurance claims - and it does indeed play right into Wallaby hands.

Yes Finbar Edingburgh beat them at Thomond park (no mean feat!). I think Munsters form has been quite poor - languishing near the bottom of the Celtic League IIRC. Unfortunately they will inevitably step up their game big time when they visit the home of English club rugby this Sunday.

You will be clutching the four leaf clover and a pint of the black gold perhaps?

[LDiCesare]

What's that stupid change? We are already told to simulate scrums at low levels, they want to kill the sport or what?

[finbar]

I suspect that young Matt Hampson must be wishing the law had been changed well before this.

EDIT. Cripes. Plank must be chuffed. Where's Tamerlin when you want to mock him?!

[kittenOFchaos]

Ulster vs Toulouse was a great game...

30-3

Ospreys Vs Sale was a dreadful game, but Ospreys did more to deserve the win...that first Shane Williams try was sooo well taken and the winning try was an awesome example of keeping the ball alive for ages.

English clubs haven't done well so far.

[finbar]

Never a truer word spoken, my friend.

*cough*Munster*cough*

[kittenOFchaos]

Awesome game that though Finbar...one of the best to watch as a neutral.

Deacon just messed up by a silly infringement and pissing off the ref. Cost them so dear.

The new, leaner version of Andy Goode seems far, far better...no longer the little barrel is that one.

[Havak]

Shame Jennings (a Leinster boy) actually gave away that last marched back penalty mere minutes after coming on for Moody - oh the irony!!

Ill discipline cost Tigers the game - were I a forward in that pack I would be in a red rage after the game - they did a great job on what is a very solid Munster pack and from that platform should have won comfortably.

And Goodey? If he could reliably turn in perfomances like that forty minutes then he would threaten for the England shirt - but he ins't consistent enough (even now he is more slimline).

Fascinating clash between O'Connell and Kay - the latter actually getting the upper hand even though I generally rate PO'C as one of the very best lock forwards in the world right now.

*edit* Reports this morning suggest there is no Guiness to be had anywhere in Leicester after last night.

[finbar]

What? You picked up the wrong glass?

I notice that very handy and very aggressive lock Keith Robinson is fit again and picked for the ABs touring outfit.

[Havak]

To be honest I am in denial about the AB tour.

Although having one Robinson involved who has a clue about rugby would be nice.

He does looks the best compliment to Chris Jack that I have seen them field - I'll never fully forgive him for the Shaw red card debacle however.

*Edit* I felt very much that I had picked up the right glass (or two...)

[finbar]

Nice to see England appointing two skippers. If in doubt, always opt for quantity over quality.

[Havak]

As always there is a story behind it - Robinson had to promise the clubs that no player would play in all four autumn tests (as our League does not stop during these tests! Such behaviour would be far too sensible?). That means in essence that Cozza will not play in the Argentinian game - therefore why not let Sanderson have a go (after all he has a formidable losing streak under his wing as both England and Worcester skipper - and to Robinson that is no doubt an ideal qualification!!!).

More worrying is the talk around the squad announcment (due later today). Cueto is having an awful season and yet is being talked of as an automatic choice for a wing berth. Noon too seems to have a reserved spot. It's madness - there are young skilful centres around like Flood, Tait, Allen and Smith and yet turnip will throw a bang-bang 1D player like Noon at the ABs.

Add to this the inevitable 'square peg in round hole' back row where he will play his flankers on their non-natural side and McCaw will have a field day too.

Henry must be laughing himself silly.

[ravagon]

Although having one Robinson involved who has a clue about rugby would be nice.

That's the spirit Havak! If in doubt just throw another Robinson into the mix. Just imagine the odds of getting at least one who knows what he's doing if you have a whole team of them?


Looks as though they may end up putting an NZer in the side too.

15 against 1. The ratio might also represent the odds of something else.
Couldn't for the life of me think what though.

[Havak]

Perry Freshwater was with Tigers for years - good lad. Forged in the fires of Welford Road he might give the reinvigorated AB front row far more trouble than you might expect.

We probably shouldn't look at nationalities however - you know what with England fielding more Englishmen than the ABs do New Zealanders. Okay so this policy has got us losing games after game under a doofus of a coach but gosh darn it we can beat our patriotic chests about it.

[finbar]

And they can't play rugby.