Rugby - Hands Off Green!

[Havak]

Except in the late 90s the ABs suddenly decided that no action whatsoever was permissable during the Haka and the IRB allowed them to get away with enshrining that.

Other fond memories include the Aussies turning their backs (even better than sticking two fingers up) and Gavin Hastings dribbling the ball around them...both of which caused huge offence to the ABs apparently (sensitive souls clearly).

Phew. Are J. Guscott's ears burning red this morning?

Nope. Haven't even tied him to the stake yet Finbar.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Except in the late 90s the ABs suddenly decided that no action whatsoever was permissable during the Haka and the IRB allowed them to get away with enshrining that.

Other fond memories include the Aussies turning their backs

Possibly coincidence, but they were belted off the park (scoreboardwise) after that silly little effort.

Sources - guess who? - told BBC Leicester today that J**** wasn't interested in rugby coaching or managerial roles in the forseeable future. Who can blame him?

[finbar]

Now P. Larder is dumping on A. Robinson. The Ex-England Rugby Coaches' Christmas Drinks should be a cheerful little event this year ...

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

But where we lead NZ will follow - just ask Anton who claims the rebuilding of Kiwi forward power by G.Henry was prompted by England (up to 2003).

So in a few years time the NZRFU hires one A. Robinson as coach, much to your amusement, only for England to find out the hard way that he's become much better after his English experiences and the Robinson-coached AB's go on to pretty much resoundly beat all comers?

It's one rule for the Kiwis - and the Kiwis rules for everyone else?

That's much better. Thankyou. That wasn't really so hard now was it?

[finbar]

Interesting things out of the Boks - v- ROW match. Given that scratch sides are always going to struggle in these sorts of games:

1. Not sure what all the fuss is about A. Farrell;

2. M. Perry showed more than all the fullbacks England used this year put together;

3. Quite impressed by some of R. Cross' work. He's an ex-L***** chap who crossed to the Perth franchise without much fanfare;

4. The Boks have some mighty young talent.

And, apparently, Eddie has put his hand up to coach England for 10 months, including the 6 Nations and World Cup.

EDIT. And Eddie and Bob Dwyer are both talking up A. Farrell. They would both slot him straight into the England side at inside centre. Presumably Eddie is arguing his case for a ten month contract. With all the money they spent on him, the RFU would obviously love to have A. Farrell in the team. B. Dwyer? Has to be trying to sabotage the England team.

[Havak]

Possibly coincidence, but they were belted off the park (scoreboardwise) after that silly little effort.

Nor did England win after Mr Cockerill’s episode. But that doesn’t mean teams shouldn’t be allowed to do it?

IIRC it was the second test in 97, after the first had been drawn, and England lost it. It was played up in Manchester (the first time that had been done) and the England side went around and thanked the crowd for attending afterwards.

For years after that Kronfeld et all wet themselves telling the story of England’s “victory lap”. An amusing – if inaccurate – perspective by the Kiwis.

That wasn't really so hard now was it?

You’ll never know.

And if the ABs do convert Robinson into coaching gold then I will indeed have some humble pie to eat. I think I am safe enough. But I would LOVE to see NZ employ him.

As for that little clash between scratch XV and Bok tertiary string – the deal with Farrell is he has good hands Finbar, and he did show glimpses of it. He is still red raw in the senior code however.

Perry is the forgotten man of England. And I would agree that he should still be playing. Rock solid defensively but fell out of favour because he lacked the impact of a Latham of Robinson going forward.

I saw Eddie had put his hand up. Fortunately the RFU has a master plan – don’t replace the coach at all. Staggeringly simple in it’s incompetence wouldn’t you say?

Bob has no chance – his brutal honesty burnt all his bridges here many years ago.


Switching to sports the Kiwis also suck at…

I recall arguing during the last Ashes series that the arrogance shown by the Aussies in the build up cost them dearly. The shoe is truly on the other foot now as England talked up a side in appalling form and are being exposed for it. Flintoff clearly isn’t up to skippering a test side – and choosing mates who have not earnt their place (Giles, Jones) is no way to select a side either. It is hard to imagine Chris Read taking a stupid waft so far wide of the stumps the way Jones did.

I look forward to Duncan Fletchers inevitable excuses.

[finbar]

Yes, the Australians can be an arrogant mob, but that's not what cost them last year. England played out of their boots - well, A. Flintoff and a couple of others did - and the Australians lost McGrath for a couple of matches, Gillespie never turned up, they stupidly left out S. McGill, and key batsmen had shockers. And England still only fell over the line. A better team than England last year would have smashed the Australians so badly did they play.

Now, Australia have recovered themselves, and England are falling into all their old bad habits.

Yes, A. Farrell has good hands, and can obviously think on the field, but that's a long way from playing test rugby. Only time will tell, I expect.

EDIT. D. Fletcher's excuses are now available, as are A. Flintoff's. They don't blame the batsmen, they say Australia's bowlers were too good. They were very good. But K. Petersen and A. Flintoff's cheap dismissals were entirely self-inflicted, as was the run out. And still D. Fletcher defends the Giles selection. They want to bat to #8. If Giles were a better batsman, I could understand the argument, albeit an incredibly negative one. Bottom line - it doesn't matter how many runs your #8 makes if he - in his real role, as a bowler - isn't up to the job. D. Fletcher has read the A. Robinson manual on interpreting the results of a game, methinks.

[Havak]

Nor do the parallels stop there. Given too long a contract and too free a reign after the last ashes series methinks - he reminds me of a coach stuck in 'god' mode who cannot see his own mistakes.

I certainly find him ineffable.

Also like Mr Robinson he may find himself unemployed rather soon. The defeat has gone down like a lead balloon - the Robinson-esque denial of reality has gone down even worse.

[Havak]

And an intriguing day continues with news that my club has held talks with Jake White...

[finbar]

With the SARU VP sh*tting on him from a great height saying he plays favourites. What a cosy little outfit Bok rugby is.

[Havak]

Well he will be well received at Tigers - until the results start going against him of course.

[flipside]

Originally posted by Havak
Well he will be well received at Tigers - until the results start going against him of course.

Starts viewing fixture list.

I'm up to see London Irish vs Ulster at the Maji stadium this weekend.

Still I imagine they'll bounce back by boxing day.

[Havak]

Ulster are a useful outfit - and Irish are not matching the heights they reached last year.

Plus Finbar's old mate Justin Harrison is leading Ulsters efforts.

Tigers are away at Bourgoin on Friday night. The two fixtures that really catch my interest though are Llanelli hosting Toulouse and Stade Francais hosting Sale.

The latter fixture is practically two French sides taking each other on given the number of French players PSA has brought to Sale (and the number of UK players he has lost to injury recently).

[finbar]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee Ooooooooooop! As Geoffrey Boycott would say. I have a weekend of rugby ahead of me courtesy of Sky Italia!

[Havak]

His other favourite being - "Don't talk a good game, play a good game".