Rugby - Laissez la balle, Bleus!

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God bless Eddie Jones:

Jones, who took the 2003 Wallabies to the World Cup final, said Australia had the advantage of an easy pool.

" They should beat Wales, who are not a strong side at the moment," Jones said. "Then it's possibly a quarter-final against England, who are dreadful. Then you're in a semi-final, and it's do your best."

[Joe Kick Ass]

Originally posted by Havak
Wasps are outside the play off places by the way – and their two remaining fixtures are Saints at home then Tigers at Welford Road.

Well at least that's one club headed for an ERC final

Possibly two if Saints are gunning for ND1 qualification I guess.

I wonder if we'd play Bedford, or perhaps 'Earth', at the Millenium, or keep it at CAP?

what a bloody ridiculous idea...

What's really annoying though, is the whole "the magners has eight spots blah blah blah" bs coming out the premiership lot. I'm not liking that.

Originally posted by Havak
at least a Welsh side might finally lift the cup (though Munster would become red hot favourites in these circumstances)

May 20th.

Also, it would take a Leicester fan to talk of Munster in such terms, wouldn't it?

Originally posted by MOBIUS
Especially for example at a time when club rugby in Wales had seemed to finally stabilise and emerge from its recent doldrums...

Apart from in Cardiff, Llanelli, and Newport.

[Havak]

As it happens Finbar I do fancy Australia to just about beat Wales. The Wallabies are better on the road than Wales after all. But Schizo England they will either bury or be buried by.

I'm not liking that.

The truth often hurts.

Hard to compare automatic qualification for the majority of the Celtic franchises alongside the open meritocracy of English qualification.

May 20th.

Time will tell. It will take a huge off day from Tigers in the semi for that to pan out. I’ve only seen Celts pick Llanelli for the win as it happens. Wishful thinking?

Also, it would take a Leicester fan to talk of Munster in such terms, wouldn't it?

Because we beat them this year and have a good record against them? They have beaten us home and away too you know.

No I make them favourites because of all the sides in the Celtic League I like their forwards the most – and I am biased towards forwards.

Ospreys, Cardiff and Leinster might have nice backlines – but as Ospreys will find out unless you stop Tigers up front that won’t help. Munster can stop us up front when they click – ergo I like them.

There is also the fact their fans are a great laugh win, lose or draw.

Now Llanelli on the other hand - well lets just say their fans will feel at home in the Soccer stadium.

[Joe Kick Ass]

Originally posted by Havak
Because we beat them this year and have a good record against them?

Moreso because of this reason...

Originally posted by Havak
I like their forwards the most – and I am biased towards forwards.

I guess only from Welford Road could rugby at Thomond seem to be an entertaining prospect.

..and I am biased towards backs.

Originally posted by Havak
Ospreys, Cardiff and Leinster might have nice backlines – but as Ospreys will find out unless you stop Tigers up front that won’t help.

Ickul's gonna get yer!

Also, the Os at least have the best pack in Wales...
erm..

never mind...

Originally posted by Havak
There is also the fact their fans are a great laugh win, lose or draw.

Though they do think p*ssy o'gara is the NH's best 10...

Originally posted by Havak
The Wallabies are better on the road than Wales after all.

We're not on the road...

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Originally posted by Havak
Ospreys, Cardiff and Leinster might have nice backlines – but as Ospreys will find out unless you stop Tigers up front that won’t help.

I only saw the second half so I have no idea what happened in the first half. Except, obviously, Leicester got out to a serious lead. Forward superiority doesn't mean much if the defence leaks like a sieve. Still, kamikaze rugby can be entertaining.

But I would seriously batter T. Varndell around the head with a fence post. He's an arrogant poser. Who doesn't have a defensive clue.

[Havak]

Oh thats right - the Wallabies have to play Wales in Cardiff during France 2007.

The lead wasn't gained by forward superiority though I suspect you would have loved Tom Crofts 50 metre run in and Ben Kay's 40 metre lung buster.

Tigers pounced on and mercilessly punished a series of Ospreys mistakes - many of which were made by Marshall (including Varndell ripping the ball from his hands).

Ospreys made a massive tactical error in the first half - they kept having Marshall line up at first receiver. When he started doing his own job in the second half they looked much more dangerous.

Even then Tigers were the architects of their own worries - two early errors from which the Taffs scored let them get their heads right up again.

On balance I think the better side won though.

And yes Varndell is a worry with the silly show boating. He will drop the ball one day.

Another Welsh team next - and this one even better so they tell me?

[Joe Kick Ass]

Originally posted by Havak
Even then Tigers were the architects of their own worries

And the Os not of theirs?

Scarlets will be happy, IMO. When the Os actually played the passing/offloading game Llanelli will bring, they hit tiggers for 4 tries in 40 minutes. That's got to be good.

Also, Scarlets will be better at it. There won't be any scrum half at first receiver/looking for contact/covering the line BS next weekend. Jones will make better decisions than Hook too, and I guarantee he won't bottle a tackle in quite the same cringe worthy manner as young James did.

Actually, the BBC coverage was a bit ridiculous re: Hook. We know he's a great young talent and everything, but all of a sudden he's the 'man of the season'? wtf? we know that's only because of the England match...and it's bs.

Oh well, Peel-Jones will definitely be better than Marshall-Hook...or rather Bennett-Hook. They'll also get to look outside them and see Regan King where the Os saw Sonny Parker...

And they know you don't need to beat Leicester up front to beat Leicester.

And tiggers could be carrying some new injuries.

And Andy Goode was ****e.


A 20 point start and you still barely won...

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You mean the same A. Goode whose physique has much in common with an overstuffed armchair? Methinks he needs to spend less time in the bar with Havak.

Sorry to see P. Berbizier exiting the Italian coaching job.

[Havak]

It's not a head start when you score the points yourself!

And the Os not of theirs?

Partly – but then they aren’t used to facing sides that punish sloppy show boating nonsense the way English sides can.

Scarlets will be happy

Good. It will hurt more when they lose.

Ospreys did this to us. Opsreys did that to us. And still lost because they weren’t good enough. Butler and Moore might have forgotten that but the trophy is in our cupboard thank you.

I guess we should be grateful Lyn Jones is a ‘tactical genius’ (in his own head) and Justin Marshall not experienced enough to mention when something is a poor idea?

Hook is a talent – but I thought Williams was the stand out threat from Neath/Swansea to be honest?

Llanelli and the Celts are all talking well in the lead up to next weekend. I hope they can deliver what is promised because I can assure you Tigers will have learnt lessons from Sunday and should be far better focused.

Peel-Jones will edge Ellis-Goode (the latter is the weak link as you spotted, Harry is every bit as good as Dwayne). However Jones has not performed well for over a year – a massively over rated player. Gibson-Hipkiss is the best centre pairing in the UK for my money so although I know King is dangerous I’m not worried (he isn’t Welsh either is he?)

And if either yourself or Llanelli think they don’t need to beat Tigers up front to win then god help them. Read too much into our lapse of concentration on Sunday and it might be fatal for them.

I’m hoping Tigers win anyway – I feel it very important that no welsh side should win until the English and French clubs are not there. That will let us mercilessly point that out for ever more.

A 20 point start and you still barely won...

WON. Interesting word that.

Anyway we need a world class fly half – Humphries is promising but we should sign someone top drawer to help drive him through properly. Stephen Jones has left Wales before – if only he were world class. Geragthy would be my preference.

[finbar]

Toulouse beat you to one of the greats.

[Havak]

Five years ago I'd have taken him Finbar - not now. I want a younger talent who can give us 4-5 seasons of their best.

I see Cannon joins Thompson in medical retirement. Shame - both had that faults but they both also played a part in that certain game from 2003.

[Joe Kick Ass]

Originally posted by Havak
Partly – but then they aren’t used to facing sides that punish sloppy show boating nonsense the way English sides can.

Yeah, 'cos Ospreys couldn't put away tiggers mistakes right? I mean, they scored simply through being the better side, of course.

Originally posted by Havak
Hook is a talent – but I thought Williams was the stand out threat from Neath/Swansea to be honest?

Definitely. I thought Bishop/Walker were the other backs to perform - less so Hook. Hook will always get the embarrassing hyperbole from the press though. One good game (essentially) and he's "the new Barry John". hmm.

Originally posted by Havak
And if either yourself or Llanelli think they don’t need to beat Tigers up front to win then god help them. Read too much into our lapse of concentration on Sunday and it might be fatal for them.

So you think Scarlets will instead look for a head on battle up front? mmm, I think probably not. They can lose it up front, but it's hard to see them actually winning the game up front. Backs will have to earn their keep, for sure.

Backrow probably as important an area as any (can't see Scarlets dominating set piece, at least).

-Winning up front means a different thing in Wales, than in England.
(it often means 'losing'...)

Originally posted by Havak
I’m hoping Tigers win anyway – I feel it very important that no welsh side should win until the English and French clubs are not there. That will let us mercilessly point that out for ever more.

Oh, I'd be fully expecting that. But still, the European double is still on for Welsh clubs this year, so no need to worry yet.

What's your take on the progression of this issue anyway? I've still not abandoned hope of a (competitive) cup next year at least...

Originally posted by Havak
WON. Interesting word that.

Blues 48 - 0 Edinburgh

We know all about winning!

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*cough* Cricket *cough*

Speaking of which, ravagon has gone quiet.

Oh, and judging by some of the English club rugby I've watched this year, S. Larkham could comfortably play till he's 42.

[LDiCesare]

A pity indeed that Berbizier leaves Italy after the World Cup.
He says personal reasons. I wonder who will take his place next?

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I don't know. He certainly lifted the Azzuri.

Oh, and welcome back. It's nice to have someone other than a Pom or a Taffy to talk to.