Rugby - Laissez la balle, Bleus!

[finbar]

The last time was about 15 years ago to the West Indies. I'm enjoying listening to D. Fletcher now being hailed as a hero, as if the Ashes series hadn't happened. Australia's cockiness caught them out. They tossed away a monumental start in the first final with sheer arrogance, blasting away regardless. Added to which, a bizarre obsession with selecting S. Watson at any available opportunity. He's not up to it with either bat or ball.

That's 17 players who are supposed to play in the next three matches who were neither on the field nor replacements this and last week.

I would imagine many will get a run against Wales.

[LDiCesare]

I've been reading a lot of remarks from the Irish complaining about the ref. He was indeed bad, but for both sides I believe. Any neutral opinion about him and his refereeing effect on the match?

[finbar]

I don't think he affected the outcome. And he wasn't as bad as the ref in the Italy-England game. Some of his decisions were inexplicable:

1. The penalty, converted by J. Wilkinson, seemingly - or apparently - for an Italian being in front of his kicker? No one was in front of the kicker.

2. The penalty against Italy - not far from the England line - for pushing in the lineout when G. Chuter missed his jumper by about three metres? The English jumper fell sideways because his lifters couldn't support him. The ball was taken out the back by the Italians, in great position to score, and the ref blew the penalty.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar
The last time was about 15 years ago to the West Indies. I'm enjoying listening to D. Fletcher now being hailed as a hero, as if the Ashes series hadn't happened. Australia's cockiness caught them out. They tossed away a monumental start in the first final with sheer arrogance, blasting away regardless. Added to which, a bizarre obsession with selecting S. Watson at any available opportunity. He's not up to it with either bat or ball.

Over here there's quite a bit of stick being given to some of the upper echelon players who were apparently rather, erm, 'disrespectful' of the English team in the press leading up to the finals. This seemingly gave them back some motivation to actually win it.
Additionally it is being pointed out, not infrequently, that in spite of Australia having retrieved the ashes in the test series, the world cup is made up of one-dayers.
They may face a rather torrid time of it if they don't do well in NZ in the next few weeks.

Oh and somewhere in there the Western Force won a game.

[finbar]

B*stards. Naturally I tipped against them.

The Oz XI got what they deserved.

[Caligastia]

Jeez, not much S14 talk going on...have you renounced the SH finbar?

Well, I just got to see the Blues game, which was fantastic. Quite a thriller at the end there with the last-second score and conversion to give the Blues the win. After recording wins over the Crusaders and the Brumbies in their first matches, it looks like the Blues will definitely make the semis this year. Of the rest of their matches, only 3 will be played outside NZ, and their last round-robin will be against the Force.

Oh, and despite his best efforts (blatant foul play in the lineout), Flavell failed to earn a yellow card. Better luck next time eh?

[finbar]

They're a bit irregular with their S14 coverage on Sky here. The Friday night match is shown live - meaning 7.30am here! - and there are only two or three other matches covered over the weekend. Usually delayed because of the obsession with s*****! I watch as many as I can.

I saw most of the Brumbies-Blues game. Just a tad lucky, I thought. The Blues. Dreadful conditions, though.

With the AB players still missing, it's making tipping a nightmare.

[Caligastia]

What's the situation with your internet connection these days? If you have broadband you should sign up for the rugby channel at mediazone.com.

[finbar]

I'm on broadband, but with the 6N in action, and the World Cup coming up, if I watch any more rugby, I'll get a clip over the ear.

[Havak]

An old problem came back to haunt me last week – has anyone else had back spasms so bad that it stresses the ligaments? Bit painful...

Too many pork pies no doubt…

shot in the ribs for Havak

Having caught two games last weekend – Sharks v Waratahs and Brumbies v Blues you have a very hard sale to make to convince me it is a step up from the Welsh National Leagues yet alone the English and French top flights.

England really needs to play way better if they want to beat France or Ireland.

The Italy game showed where we really are far better than the Scotland game. Big question mark over Vickery as he got sucked in to playing the forwards game that the Italians wanted and failed to change in the second half despite clear instructions from Ashton to so do

That said I don’t think it was anywhere near as close as you chaps seem to think – Italy are still a one trick pony and their discipline still lets them down.

We can also certainly beat France who were far from special against a well under par Irish side. We only need a ref prepared to call that rush defence for what it is – permanently off side.

Indeed, even though the Irish lacked their first choices at centre and scrum half, we fielded our third choice scrummy and a fourth choice fly half,

Combined population of Ireland < 5 Million.
Population of France >= 55 million

France can’t hide behind the “first choices not available” any more than England should be able to – both of us should have the depth to cope.

That's the only Australian-based tri-series I can recall Australia losing in quite some time.

And I saw both matches Ravagon – including the bizarre D-L ending in the rain.

Now the England camp seems to think this excuses the ashes showing – it most certainly does not!

You got that one totally right Finbar – it is outrageous that they are asking for apologies to Fletcher based on the Aussies dropping the ball in a one day series.

Any neutral opinion about him and his refereeing effect on the match?

Not quite neutral perhaps – but he should have called the French defence offside. He never once penalised it that I saw. But then he is perhaps the worst A list ref there is (and an amateur boxer in rugby grounds) – either him or that Deaker chap any way.

Some of his decisions were inexplicable:

The English jumper fell over because his lifters couldn’t support him? Nothing to do with the men driving through his lifters then? Finbar you have set me back a week as the laughing has done my back in again!

[finbar]

And there I was thinking you were off at a local language school boning up on your Argentinian. Presumably he'll bring a couple of gauchos with him to help offset Aaron Mauger's overt Englishness.

Pushing in the line out? Tosh. Remember you watched the match through spasms. I'm still waiting for someone to explain the other penalty I mentioned.

Italy's problem is that they're one-trick ponys. They're also getting better at it. If only they had a couple of playmakers to capitalise on the ample possession they achieve.

Interesting that the French defence wasn't penalised against Italy either and they were just as far offside. I suspect LdiC is a part-time ref adviser.

It's been interesting watching the 6 Nations alongside the S14. They're playing fundamentally different games. I haven't had the opportunity to contrast them - so obviously - before. Leaving aside Scotland -v- Wales, which didn't qualify as rugby, I'm leaning towards the 6 Nations. But then I'm Italian now.

I heard D. Graveney demanding apologies to D. Fletcher. Twayt.

Oh, and I'm leaving my sig as it is forever more. Or at least until a certain ex-skipper of the England rugby team shuffles off the mortal, at which time I'll chisel it on his headstone.

[Havak]

The day before Tigers field a third team against the Pumas on a 6N weekend this rumour appears. It was about selling tickets to a heavily undersold match Finbar - I will be highly suprised if he is even on the list.

Agree with you entirely about Graveney though.

It is interesting how everyone spots a jumper being taken out but will miss the support players being gently nudged out the way.

As for the other isn’t it obvious – the referee is the final arbiter of the laws on the field. If he says an Italian was ahead of the kicker then an Italian was ahead of the kicker. I don’t even remember the penalty you are talking about in all honesty – it was just one amongst so many. Sort their discipline out and the route one game will start to take scalps for them if all sides adapt as poorly as England did.

The game did prove one thing – Tigers made a great signing in Castrogiavanni – alongside Hayman he must be the prop most on top of his game in world rugby.

I'm leaning towards the 6 Nations. But then I'm Italian now.

Well that should have Ravagon choking on his morning coffee nicely.

Oh, and I'm leaving my sig as it is forever more

I’ll be leaving mine as it is for a while too.

A win in Ireland, a win at twickers and a win in Cardiff away from a Slam. Only France and England have the Slam left open to them – and France have to come to us (they won’t take England lightly I am sure). At this stage – and if I choose to ignore the actual performances – things are as well placed as they could be. Just as they were at this stage last year.

I’d encourage you to read the Wikipedia entry for Croke Park in order to understand how monumental it is that the English rugby team will take the field there this year. If you follow the links it will also give you an idea why the Irish themselves (or rather his political rivals) killed Michael Collins.

On which note - wasn't that 1996 film a load of sacharin sweet rose tinted tosh?

[LDiCesare]

France can’t hide behind the “first choices not available” any more than England should be able to – both of us should have the depth to cope.

Indeed. But we won anyway. What I'm really pointing out is that Skrela hasn't had much international games to play. He's at about 3 or 4 caps if I'm right, and I believe international experience matters quite a bit, particularly if you play 9 or 10, where you will have to react really fast.

As for Croke Park, yes indeed, it's really something that the English will be playing there. I confess I still can't believe it until I'll see it happen. But I kind of suspect the English will never have a harder game against Ireland.

[Havak]

I suspect you are right - not that they ever have easy games in Ireland.

It's just as remarkable that the irish rugby team are there in a way - given it is a combined team that incorporates Ulster.

There is no doubt the Black and tans committed that attrocity but it always baffles me how the Irish are able to rationalise away their own attrocities as 'heroic' - earlier that same day the IRA had murdered a dozen British Officers in cold blood. You can't have your cake AND eat in all the time...

[finbar]

Regardless of the politics, Croke Park is a fairly impressive piece of real estate. I'd never seen it before.