Rugby - Laissez la balle, Bleus!

[finbar]

This from Scotty Johnson, now a Wallaby assistant coach:

Johnson said: "The 18 players they have left at home were all part of the Welsh team that finished equal bottom of this year's Six Nations, so I don't think the new players coming in can be regarded as second-choice."

But the real hoot is that the ARU are v. disappointed that Wales is sending a bits and pieces team. They wanted some stiff competition prior to the World Cup.

And they invited Wales!

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
Their decline has been astonishing. I saw them early in the season, when the AB players were being rested, and they were mighty powerful. As soon as the AB players returned, they fell in a heap. The Bulls absolutely destroyed them on the weekend.

I got about 3/4 of the way through and couldn't watch any more. I'm hoping the Force won't record their first win over the Blues this weekend. Perhaps playing on their home turf again will spur the Blues into action. Their troubles seemed to start at about the same time they went overseas.

[Joe Kick Ass]

5th is not equal bottom...

else the mick would actually have something to show for their 'golden generation'...

[Havak]

Fifth definitely is not bottom - even if the side below you did beat you.

Well done the Cardiff Blues however. Pole position to win the Magners?

Aussies whining about under strength sides arriving? Sounds awfully familiar! Strange how the European sides that hosted them last autumn received a badly understrength Aussie squad with very good grace.

Essentially what I am saying is the Aussie camp will always find something to whine about - and just wait until you see how politely their media will receive Wales too. The very first article after touch down will reference sheep I am sure (there are more per capita in NSW but Aussies generally don't get irony IMO - educated souls like Finbar aside that is).

Of course Finbar is Italian anyway.

[finbar]

Esatto!

[Havak]

In other news the AB exodus continues - the prop they found last season (Dermody) has decided to join Hayman and head north after the RWC.

No news on the two prime targets - McCaw and Carter - as yet.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Aussies whining about under strength sides arriving? Sounds awfully familiar! Strange how the European sides that hosted them last autumn received a badly understrength Aussie squad with very good grace.

Forgot this one. The difference last autumn, of course, was that the Wallaby squad was injury-depleted. They didn't rest 18 players. The only rested player, of course, was G. Gregan.

[Havak]

The reason they were absent isn't the point of the tale - the different way their hosts received them is.

That said didn't one player miss the tour because he had shoved cocaine up his nose?

All 18 Welsh players are surely injured in any case.

It's even more farcical in England's case - no one is being rested as such. The IRB are sanctioning a Test match just six days after the European Cup finals.

[finbar]

Ironically, the ARU is, publicly, talking up the Welsh squad. Of course, they're worried about ticket sales.

[Havak]

Usually the Welsh travel in good numbers - though the upcoming RWC and the fact it is the other side of the world for just a single week book ended by two tests might dampen enthusiasm a bit?

Of course the fixture isn't that tasty to the Aussie crowd I guess?

[finbar]

I can't imagine the usual Welsh army travelling all that way when they've got the World Cup around the corner.

Even at full strength, the Welsh, obviously, wouldn't draw the same numbers as a series against that other mob, you know, the ones with the white jerseys, red pansy on the breast, the oxygen symbol on the front. Added to which, with both the Waratahs and Reds having dreadful S14 seasons - second bottom and bottom of the table - and their respective crowds way down, there's a fear that the series will be a fiscal disaster.

[Havak]

And Western Force mid table?

Reds is no surpirse - the only irony there is the quote you gave from Eddie about England in the RWC does indicate he has no grasp exactly how poor his own coaching has become. Of course his raw materials in his last two jobs haven't been great (I mean Saracens and Reds Finbar - not the Wallabies).

Tahs being down there is a bit more surprising?

Guiness Premiership Semi-finals tomorrow - time for Tigers to step up and set up the treble I hope.

[Joe Kick Ass]

Originally posted by Havak
Well done the Cardiff Blues however. Pole position to win the Magners?

Yep. And I see your lot finished second; pole position to win the GP?

It was also nice to see Mike Phillips and Sowden-Taylor do well for the Blues Tuesday night, what with both heading off to Aus. To be fair, it's not that weak a side. I mean, it is weak, and take a look at the tight five, but for a second XV it's okay. Also, is my mind playing tricks on me, or were Australia planning on using 30+ players anyway?

Also, tonight I get to watch Dragons - Connacht. Are you all jealous?

[Havak]

Words truly cannot describe how jealous I am. The worst Welsh franchise versus the Irish franchise that has always has the sword of Damocles over it's very existence. As tasty a fixture as watching Esher play Moseley.

Tigers actually scored more league points than any other English side this season so I have a puzzle for you - how exactly did they finish second in the table?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
And Western Force mid table?

Yes, but they're (a) newcomers and (b) in Perth. The eastern states don't take them seriously. Australian rugby is a poisoned stew, particularly at the moment.

I actually hope the ARU looks outside Australia for the next Wallaby coach. Apart from coaching talent being thin on the ground, there are far too many sneaky allegiances and parochial backbiting. Same old story. At least when J. O'Neill was in charge, everyone was too scared of him to carry on their petty bickering.

R. Deans from the Crusaders is being talked about. He'd be mad to set foot in such a shark-infested pool.

Reds is no surpirse - the only irony there is the quote you gave from Eddie about England in the RWC does indicate he has no grasp exactly how poor his own coaching has become. Of course his raw materials in his last two jobs haven't been great (I mean Saracens and Reds Finbar - not the Wallabies).

Reds, in a year or so, will be pretty good. A lot of immensely talented youngsters. The question is, how long will Eddie stay? Having settled his disputes earlier in the season, he's now being touted for Northampton. He has a very busy PR agent.

Tahs being down there is a bit more surprising?

Season-long injuries to P. Waugh and D. Vickerman didn't help, but they were disappointing. Some stupid tactical decisions, too. Calls into question E. McKenzie's coaching. They've let a mighty talented young scrum half called Josh Holmes go to the Brumbies, choosing to keep a couple of journeymen.