Rugby World Cup 2007 - Twiddling Our Thumbs!

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And there I was worried about you perched on your rooftop watching the waters coursing by. And all the time you were composing an essay. Still, presumably the Gloucester home ground is currently drifting in the direction of Nova Scotia.

Dunno about anyone else, but I find this quite extraordinary coming from a current Test ref :

Leading New Zealand rugby whistler Paul Honiss says the All Blacks should chat more to referees, believing it would boost their chance of winning tight Tests.

Honiss encouraged senior All Blacks players to follow the lead of veteran Wallabies halfback George Gregan, who has a reputation for persistently getting in the ear of referees.

While New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is well served keeping cordial relations, Honiss said others should become more vocal as it had the potential to sway the rulings of inexperienced referees.

"It's all about the timing of the communication and whether it's sewing seeds with the referee," Honiss told New Zealand's Radio Sport.

"If they win the odd battle here or there, it could result in tries being scored and a Test match being swayed one way or the other."

Honiss has refereed more Tests than any other New Zealander although because of the neutrality rule, none of them have involved the All Blacks.

However, it was apparent to him that they could apply a little more "acid" to referees.

"I think we (my emphasis) should be a little bit more cunning and leave Richie to captain the side the way he does," Honiss said.

"There's no two ways about it, he's a very intelligent player and a very intelligent captain.

"But maybe we (ditto) should have a (halfback) Byron Kelleher or somebody else in the team putting a little acid on from time to time.

"It's fair to say a guy like Andrew Mehrtens filled that role quite successfully and maybe it's time for someone else -- an Aaron Mauger or somebody who's experienced -- to pick his moments to have a cheeky crack at a referee."

Honiss said John Eales was the best captain he had ever officiated because the former Australian skipper chose his moments to query a decision.

Gregan, who has been usurped as Wallabies leader by Stirling Mortlock, took the opposite approach his on-field relations.

"Whenever John Eales asked a question I used to ***** my ears up," Honiss said.

"I think Richie's in that mould, I think he's a very intelligent captain and I don't think he should get involved in the gamesmanship that George does from time to time.

"With George, he probably did that far too often and as a result he became less effective as a captain maybe."

While Honiss encouraged more All Blacks chit-chat, he cautioned that it not be overdone as some officials didn't take kindly to players who overstepped the mark.

Bizarre.

Oh, and I note that the ABs have picked only three locks in their Cup squad, with Reuben Thorne covering flank and lock. Fingers crossed none of them get crocked.

[Havak]

Fingers crossed for New Zealanders certainly.

Bizarre stuff – but then Mr Honiss is bizarre

I could and should have made the point in my essay more succinct:

“England’s woes are a little more complex than simply the number of imported players in club sides”.

There – that will do the trick.

North Leicestershire has been very lucky and escaped the worst of the weather. Kingsholm and the Rec were always swamps – perhaps a little more so than usual at the moment (the Rec is right next to the river in Bath and floods all the time).

[Andydog]

Originally posted by Havak
“England’s woes are a little more complex than simply the number of imported players in club sides”.

Well, I did clearly acknowledge that other factors play a part. I guess where we don't see eye to eye is the extent of those other factors. If there are lots of talented young players around as you claim, then why has Ashton been selecting players such as Dayglo and Hodgson recently?

Anyway, yes, time to move on. The NZ RWC team selection. A few unlucky not to make the fold - Weepu dropped in favour of Ellis, Ellis being absent from the NZ side more than Weepu this season. And Kelleher lucky to be selected at all - his performances this season have been questionable, and he's had a shocker these past few Tri Nations games. Leonard looked to be a class above making positive contributions, slick delivery of the pill (notice how Carter's game picked up 100% once he started getting decent service?) and regular line breaks.

Originally posted by finbar
Oh, and I note that the ABs have picked only three locks in their Cup squad, with Reuben Thorne covering flank and lock. Fingers crossed none of them get crocked.

The problem the Cartel had here was that of Troy Flavell. The man is prone to brain explosions that make him too risky a choice. You don't want him seeing red and getting sent off in the last 10 minutes of a RWC final, and you don't want him kicking the ball away stupidly like he did in the Tri Nations on more than one occasion. Locks are supposed to tuck the ball under their arm and run like buggery at the smallest tackler coming their way. So.. the underrated Ruben Thorn gets called up to cover the lock/loose forward position for safety reasons more than anything. And with Masoe named in the side, a jack of all trades but master of none sort of guy, that means that Holah misses out.

[Havak]

then why has Ashton been selecting players such as Dayglo and Hodgson recently?

Because the squad was 47 players and is still 40 strong until the final cut to 30?

Actually I think it’s for various reasons - because Ward-Smith and Geragthy aren’t fully fit (hence the latters release) and for some reason he won’t pick younger players from the Saxons (like Crane) who some others (myself included) feel are fully ready. He also prefers playing some options for those roles out of position too (Corry and Flood - still respectively better than the two players you cited above IMO).

But here is the killer that should make you laugh (it does me) – I honestly think Ashton believes than Dallaglio and Hodgson are World Class players. The former was once truly world class – but Champers Charlie is a bit of a joke outside Sale circles. A terrific club player he has constantly choked on the International stage but keeps getting chance after chance (in the forlorn hope he will finally click presumably)

As I said Ashton isn’t perfect – but assuming he plays both Dayglo and Hodgson against Wales next weekend he should subsequently have the sense to cut them from the squad. Is there a prayer smilie? That can fit the bill.

Flavell has missed the cut?

We were relying on him to level the playing field at the RWC by getting his marching orders. Now we will simply have to rely on McCaws inevitable yellow cards to give the opposition a glimmer. Refs do seem to have been pinging Richie this season?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Anyway, yes, time to move on. The NZ RWC team selection. A few unlucky not to make the fold - Weepu dropped in favour of Ellis, Ellis being absent from the NZ side more than Weepu this season.

Weepu is average at the best of times. You just have to wonder why they persisted with him.

And Kelleher lucky to be selected at all - his performances this season have been questionable, and he's had a shocker these past few Tri Nations games. Leonard looked to be a class above making positive contributions, slick delivery of the pill (notice how Carter's game picked up 100% once he started getting decent service?) and regular line breaks.

B. Leonard is a super young talent. B. Kelleher has always been more front than class. I reckon he'll end up back-up to Leonard.

The problem the Cartel had here was that of Troy Flavell. The man is prone to brain explosions that make him too risky a choice. You don't want him seeing red and getting sent off in the last 10 minutes of a RWC final, and you don't want him kicking the ball away stupidly like he did in the Tri Nations on more than one occasion.

Ironically, this has been T. Flavell's most disciplined season ever. He had a terrific S14, worked his butt off for the Blues, and far more disciplined than, for example, Ali Williams. So what happens if A. Williams suffers one of his notorious brain fades?

Locks are supposed to tuck the ball under their arm and run like buggery at the smallest tackler coming their way.

That's exactly what Flavell does. I'd have him in front of Reuben Thorn.

Flavell has missed the cut?

We were relying on him to level the playing field at the RWC by getting his marching orders.

See above.

but Champers Charlie is a bit of a joke outside Sale circles. A terrific club player he has constantly choked on the International stage but keeps getting chance after chance (in the forlorn hope he will finally click presumably)

He has only ever looked any good when the pack has been well in control. Which, these days, doesn't happen often.

[finbar]

Waratah winger/full back - and non-Wallaby - Peter Hewatt is off to London Irish, released from the final year of his Waratah and ARU contract. He wanted to be a Wallaby but was ignored by both Eddie and Knuckles. For good reason. Statistically, he's a points-scoring machine. Good goal kicker and master of the intercept. Problem is, his defence - and defensive nouse - is sadly lacking, and his running is predictable - always in a dead straight line. Very good club player, good S14 player when he had others around him to clean up his defensive efforts. As likely as not, he'll score quite a few points for Irish.

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar

Ironically, this has been T. Flavell's most disciplined season ever. He had a terrific S14, worked his butt off for the Blues, and far more disciplined than, for example, Ali Williams. So what happens if A. Williams suffers one of his notorious brain fades?

Ali does have a short fuse, and despite the fact that he has had a troubled season with the Blues coach, that fuse isn't as easily sparked as Troy's.

That's exactly what Flavell does. I'd have him in front of Reuben Thorn.

He doesn't do it enough. Too often he tries to become a first five with some seriously spastic 'tactical' kicks. He's a top Super 14 player, average international player. Neither he nor Thorne are likely to win us a match with a piece of individual brilliance, but I'd put Thorne in ahead of Flavell. I actually think Thorne is underrated. He had his hand in a lot of tries we scored this season, and earns his dollars at the coalface.

edit - spelling

[Havak]

My old friend Plank is having a camera pushed around his knee joint sometime today Finbar.

(Talking about locks with short fuses reminded me of the fact)

[finbar]

Yes, I read about it. They could always transplant some of the bone from between his ears. What a loss to the Waratahs, not to mention the Wallabies, he was.

[LDiCesare]

I’m prepared to give him more time

Did I read this correctly as "until the end of the World Cup"?

[finbar]

Exactly. Not that he - Havak - has any other option.

In other news, a lot of froth is emanating from the mouths of various Australian rugby bods at the news that Eddie is linking up with the Boks for the World Cup. One bod even claimed that Eddie would leak to the Boks the secrets of the Wallaby tight five on the basis that the Wallaby scrum coach is a Queenslander and Eddie coached Queensland.

The Wallaby tight five has secrets?

Like what? Their inside leg measurements?

[Havak]

Priceless!

You are both quite right - I have to give Ashton until after the RWC now whether I want to or not.

The Bok game - when he picks a full strength side - will be my barometer of whether we are moving in the right direction.

Eddie, as well as helping the Boks, is back consulting with Saracens. Chris Jack will therefore benefit from his wisdom in due course. I bet he can't wait.

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Eddie could probably pick up some pocket money consulting for the English cricket team.

[Havak]

Yes the useless twits have messed up again through some very cavalier batting in the first innings.

On the bright side Gavin Henson has been ruled out of the World Cup.

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Yes. Wales' Cup prospects have just soared.

Andrew Strauss' prospects of anything at all haven't.