Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Rugby - New Year, New Coaches, New Laws

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • The French squad that's been announced is quite surprising:
    Trinh-Duc starts at fly half, and both props have zero cap.
    Add to this a winger with 0 cap (but he's really good and has some experience with international sevens).
    What with two more newbies on the bench, it will be interesting to watch.
    Lièvremont had to pick up new props, since all the previous props were hurt (Marconnet started playing, 20 minutes, this week end, Poux, Milloud and de Villiers are hurt...), except for Mas, who's on the bench.
    As I hinted, the winger choice (Malzieu alongside Clerc) is natural.
    The fly half is a surprise. Of course, the fact that Michalak is in South Africa and Beauxis was hurt can explain things, but just about everyone expected Skrela to start.

    I have never seen Trinh-Duc play, so I have no opinion about how he will fare against a Scottish team that also sports some youngsters.
    Clash of Civilization team member
    (a civ-like game whose goal is low micromanagement and good AI)
    web site http://clash.apolyton.net/frame/index.shtml and forum here on apolyton)

    Comment


    • Keep a big pot of coffee beside your armchair. If Scotland reach their usual heights of mediocrity, they will put you to sleep. In fact, if I'm ever struggling with insomnia, I put on a tape of any Scotland match. Zzzzzzzzz in seconds.
      " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
      "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

      Comment


      • Looks like everyone is using the 6 nations to go experimental and blood new players...

        Some sections of the Welsh media have dubbed our team 'Ospreylia'...
        Is it me, or is MOBIUS a horrible person?

        Comment


        • Originally posted by MOBIUS
          Looks like everyone is using the 6 nations to go experimental and blood new players...
          Everyone except England.
          " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
          "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

          Comment




          • Crane is skippering the Saxons by the way.

            I think it's very clear we will have a new head coach sometime this year. Hopefully a new Director of Elite Performance too.
            It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

            Comment


            • Need rather than have. Coach and DEP are there for a while yet, methinks.
              " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
              "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

              Comment


              • Regrettably you may be correct.

                *edit* It does make me smile when lazy BBC journos who cannot match your thoroughness refer to Rob as the "Elite Director of Rugby".

                What exactly is an Elite Director? Better than your average Director??
                Last edited by Havak; January 31, 2008, 10:35.
                It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

                Comment


                • I see Masi will play fly half for Italy... I though he was a center, and not prone to passing the ball much. I'm not sure this will be an improement over the WC.
                  Clash of Civilization team member
                  (a civ-like game whose goal is low micromanagement and good AI)
                  web site http://clash.apolyton.net/frame/index.shtml and forum here on apolyton)

                  Comment


                  • They're having to manufacture a #9, unfortunately. I've been perusing the Italian rugby sites - such as they are - and the thought was that Pablo Canavosio, another Argie, would be chosen. At least he's played #9. He plays his rugby with Castres, apparently. Don't know whether you know anything about him.
                    " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
                    "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

                    Comment


                    • I've seen Canavosio a few times as he was a repacement in the Squadra sometimes, but it looks like Mallett picked a guy from Parma to play scrum half. No idea what he'looks like.
                      Clash of Civilization team member
                      (a civ-like game whose goal is low micromanagement and good AI)
                      web site http://clash.apolyton.net/frame/index.shtml and forum here on apolyton)

                      Comment


                      • Pietro Travagli is the guy from Parma, arriving there after a short time at Bath, it seems. Maybe Havak overcame his hatred of Bath long enough to notice what happened to him there.
                        " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
                        "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

                        Comment


                        • Sorry chaps - I do watch them when I get chance but I never recall seeing him in first team action for them.

                          He was apparently scouted by Brian Ashton for them (he was at Viadana) would you believe? He spent one season there (06-07) and apparently never rose above being fourth out of the four scrummies on their books.

                          And this is the man Italy are making an International? Hmm....that makes as much sense as giving Balshaw his millionth chance!

                          Oh look Wales are trumpeting how their new skipper, Ryan Jones, has never lost to England. I like Ryan - a great player who has been plagued by injury - but even I can count. He has only played against us once (2005) and his charges have been ever so slightly beaten since then.

                          It's typical Gatland/Edwards (ie. classic Wasps) bull**** in the lead up to a match. I do hope the players can match the hype on the pitch.

                          All I need now is to read some more silly hyperbole about Henson the rugby god and I'll be nicely psyched up for tomorrow.
                          Last edited by Havak; February 1, 2008, 11:30.
                          It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

                          Comment


                          • No riposte about Wales glorious 2007 victory (albeit sans their current skipper)?
                            It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

                            Comment


                            • Is it me, or is MOBIUS a horrible person?

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by Havak
                                Oh look Wales are trumpeting how their new skipper, Ryan Jones, has never lost to England. I like Ryan - a great player who has been plagued by injury - but even I can count. He has only played against us once (2005)
                                Make that twice. For two wins.

                                It's typical Gatland/Edwards (ie. classic Wasps) bull**** in the lead up to a match. I do hope the players can match the hype on the pitch.
                                With a great deal of assistance from England.

                                I'm also normally not one to quote myself, but:

                                The irony, of course, is that of the selected back three, Strettle is probably the best defender.
                                Sadly, England lost him in the first quarter of an hour. Leaving Sackey to prove, once again, that he can't tackle, and Balshaw to underline that he's always a disaster waiting to happen.

                                That aside, Ireland haven't improved much since the World Cup.

                                Italy have. Though it's obviously a very low starting point.
                                " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
                                "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

                                Comment

                                Working...
                                X