Rugby World Cup: And the Winner is...

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by finbar
Pity I didn't get to see Stade Français lose in their ridiculous pink strip. Serves them right for their appalling fashion sense.

We did. We knew all about it - but nothing prepares you for when you see it in real life!

I mean we're not just talking pink - we're talking shocking DAYGLO pink!!!

Morgan's theory is that it helps with the passing because they're so bright that you can easily see them even in your peripheral vision.

I also thought it was funny when the crowd was singing "Allez les Bleus!"...

[kittenOFchaos]

Originally posted by finbar
It only surprised me that Perpignan took so long to overpower Irish. Maybe Cusiter was one of the problems.

Cusiter is quality, what your beef?

[LDiCesare]

Cusiter played like crap against London Irish.

[finbar]

Full stop.

Chris Latham off to Worcester after the 2008 Australian season. Sad, but not unexpected. He'll be 33 and there would have been question marks at Test level the year after. Talented player who turned himself into a great player.

[Havak]

Ultimately, Toulouse just had too much class, particularly in the backline.

I don’t disagree. The problem is that class only manifests at home – pushed in Edinburgh, beaten in Leicester – I guess I just need to hope that their visit to Dublin is an unsuccessful one for them. “French teams don’t travel”?

I suspect we would beat them consistently at Welford Road and that the reverse would be true in France.

Ultimately though we have been the architects of our own predicament – we should not have lost in Dublin first game out.

A heart felt plea to LdiC though – can he shoot the trumpeter and percussion support that seem to plague every French stadium – it’s a sound that might be joyous to French ears but it’s two cats in a bag to mine!

I was lucky enough to see that Pink strip at Welford Road the first season they sported it – time doesn’t make it any easier on the eye sadly.

I was surprised by the news about Latham. I mean I expect he probably will honour the contract this time but has he looked at where Worcester sit in the table? Latham in Division One rugby is a waste of his talent – but then he should have been looking for two years with one of the big sides rather than joining Warriors in the first place.

[LDiCesare]

Latham in Division One rugby is a waste of his talent

Look at Toulon in France. It's Pro D2 only and sports players like Umaga last year, now Gregan, Mehrtens... Look at their team.
Little surprise they trump everyone in Pro D2. Next year it'll be harder for them.

[finbar]

I asked LdiC to track down and murder the brass band during the World Cup. No response. I suspect he might be the trumpeter.

Strange how Australian players opt for those sorts of clubs - Plank at Ulster, even the overrated Peter Hewat at Irish. Chris Latham is an uncomplicated soul, maybe he saw something in the set up that he liked. There's no doubt other, better clubs would have been very interested in him.

I'd like to see Leicester find a higher quality #10. As dependable as A. Goode is, someone more inventive would open up more options. Their game, as powerful and impressive as it can be, has its limitations which can be exposed. It doesn't help, either, that both wingers are dodgy in the defence department.

D. Hipkiss is doing some very useful things but I thought that #13 had retired. Is he filling in until A. Mauger is fit and ready?

[Havak]

Don't you think Tom Varndell is improving defensively?

Couldn't agree more about the #10. I still think there is a good chance Hernandez will join us in the summer. I tend to prefer Ian Humphries at #10 in any case - but his kicking at the posts doesn't match Goode's.

Ollie Smith was that 13. He surprised everyone by signing a new deal last summer (two seasons I think). I feel sorry for him - he was really breaking through a few seasons ago when he suffered a family tragedy. Now I think his chance has probably gone. Tom Youngs seems to be our next big hope in the centres. Then again perhaps Mr Mauger can give Smithy a career renaissance - I hope so.

[finbar]

I think T. Varndell's making a bigger effort defensively. The notion of defence seems actually to have occurred to him. I suppose that counts as improvement. The other winger, on the other hand, strikes me as just a bit lazy in the defence department.

B. Ashton seems to be going to get the nod. Fair enough, too, with no other outstanding options presenting themselves. Let's see if he has the courage - or is allowed - to renovate the team.

[Havak]

The judgement on Ashton will be rapid and based on one simple premise for me - if Dayglo features in the 6N in any way then Brian completely fails my test and loses my support permanently.

Time to ditch the nose.

We played Rabeni on the wing in Toulouse. I have to assume this is due to injury to Tuilagi and Johne Murphy because the big Fijian is an outside centre - and you are quite right that defence is not his favourite passtime (he is after all Fijian).

It was nice to see Blaze on the bench though - another of our young English players (albeit one we poached rather than an academy boy this time).

[finbar]

I think Mr Ashton is safe from your bile. There's no chance in the world that Nose will reappear. I'm waiting to see whether he has the courage to shift Wilko to #12 and find another, more creative #10. That's the key to unlocking the backline. Sadly, I can't see it happening.

[CerberusIV]

Well, it's fun over here. The IRFU have now looked at the consultants report on why we were a shambles at the world cup. The official line is that the problem was a lack of competitive matches before the WC started - but it's not the fault of the coach as he decided not to risk injury to key players with only "a small pool of players to select from". But the report isn't to be published so everyone is left with only the IRFU version to go on.

The solution? - to appoint four extra coaches "which in no way dilutes Eddie O'Sullivans role".

Now I don't pretend to really understand the game (but do know enough to know when a team plays poorly) but rugby is doing pretty well in this country and if there aren't enough players coming forward for international level then either a) the IRFU isn't developing the game at grassroots level or b) the national coach hasn't been blooding new players when possible.

Expect another glorious near miss in the 6N and Ireland losing to teams they should probably beat on a fairly regular basis. The next WC won't be fun if you plan to watch wearing a green jersey.

[LDiCesare]

I'd like to say the Irish had the worst pool to be in (and it was the worst pool), but they didn't play that well against France and Argentina. Still, Irish provinces seem to do very well so the players pool thingy is a rather poor excuse.
So four more coaches to make up for a lack of matches? Must I conclude that the coaches are going to play against the team as sparring partners then?

[finbar]

Pity O. Barkley's rugby skills don't match his biffing skills.

[Havak]

Well that is Bath players for you – nothing good ever came out of Bath (except the Tigers team coach).

Does Ashton have the courage to play Wilko at 12 and try someone like Geragthy at #10? He actually might – but it doesn’t matter. Rob Andrew moved Wilko from #12 to #10 and Mr Andrew is pulling the strings methinks. Moving Wilko back to #12 would be like admitting Rob Andrew was fallible – I don’t think he has that humility in him.

What I do want to see is names like Blaze, Croft, Crane, Haskell and Rees featuring in the 6N squad. Now is the time to blood young ‘uns alongside a core of older players (your Kays, Moodys, Worseleys and so on).

Today is my last day in work until 2008 – no doubt I’ll pop by and post to celebrate our glorious victories in the seasonal fixtures (away at Sale and then home to London Irish).