Rugby - Tours Tours Everywhere!

[Havak]

I do indeed. I can only think of two that regularly start with two English props - Bristol and Bath. Worcester might have qualified if Horsman had not bizarrely decided he was Welsh (he isn't). And Bath cheat anyway because Stevens 'chose' to be English.

Tigers are amongts the worst culprits - especially given letting Young go (it was the year he was going to get a lot more starts).

It appears that you can indeed now be hauled over the coals for hearsay and vague allegations from embittered boy friends - the RFU plan to investigate the conduct of the 'Duracell four'. I have a feeling they may be more severely punished by the RFU than you think Finbar. It's just a gut feeling that Martin will want to put down a marker....based on my many years of watching him tear strips off of players for the less serious matter of an on field mistake.

*edit* Isn't Zinzan a strange mix of a chap - good points mixed in with redundant ones. The latest column is a doozy. When England took the field in NZ recently it was thre twelfth month of an RWC including season - a little allowance might have been made for that?

[finbar]

The RFU aren't going to be investigating the (potentially) criminal side of the matter so it's not really a case of pursuing an aggrieved boyfriend's complaints. They're after the circumstances that allowed such a situation to arise (if you'll pardon the pun). Which includes, hopefully, the on-the-spot management's complete and utter slackness. Hullo Rob Andrew.

Zinzan is famous for being stupid. No one in their right mind thought England would get within 10 points in the second Test. Except Zinzan. And this:

I thought England would be good value for their two Tests, what with the new coaching set-up to impress.

Utter simplistic drivel.

In other news, Rocky Elsom is off to Leinster for a period. Interesting case. There had been a long, drawn out contract negotiation. Rocky would only sign a 2 year contract, up to 2010. The ARU wanted a 3 year contract, including the World Cup. A NH season seems to have been the compromise. I think there's a NH girlfriend involved.

[Havak]

Finbar - on the BBC piece that reports Elsom is joining Leinster for a single year (bizarre in itself) they seem to indicate that Richie McCaw has gained the same clause as Carter for a sabbatical - but simply isn't exercising it yet.

Any truth to that do you think?

[finbar]

The report at the time that Carter signed his sabbatical contract said that McCaw had also signed till 2011 but without a sabbatical clause. That's when he said he was more likely to take a complete break from the game. I'll go back and see if I can find the original report.

The Elsom deal is a compromise that obviously satisfies both Elsom and the ARU. There are some sort of personal issues involved.

EDIT. Sorry, I was wrong. McCaw does have a sabbatical clause but he - at this point - doesn't seem interested:

Although the NZRU offered him the same "sweetener" deal to take a sabbatical that they offered star Daniel Carter, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw today shook his head at the suggestion of playing rugby outside New Zealand any time soon.

McCaw's new contract includes a "sabbatical" option, similar to that offered to first five-eighth Daniel Carter which enables Carter to remain under contract to the NZRU while pursuing his short-term playing options in Europe.

However, McCaw said he had no plans to take that option.

"Right now, I'm feeling fresh mentally and my body seems to be handling the rugby okay so I have no plans for a sabbatical," he said.

"I see myself playing here in New Zealand through to the next World Cup, but I appreciate that the sabbatical option is there to discuss with the NZRU in case things change over the next couple of seasons."

McCaw today told a packed press conference that he'll stay in New Zealand until at least the end of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He told the gathered media that the black jersey was the "most important thing" to him.

"There's more money available overseas, but personally, it wouldn't bring the same challenge," he said.

McCaw shrugged off the question that he had received a number of offers from overseas. He said he had not been flooded with offers and that they only seem to come once players make it clear they are looking to move.

"I've always been keen to say that I'll stick around," McCaw said.

He said he still enjoys playing rugby for the All Blacks and the Crusaders and he would only move once he stopped enjoying his job.

[Havak]

I'm shocked that the BBC got it right.

I think Richie is right - it wouldn't be the same challenge if he moved. His challenge at the moment is to be the first AB skipper in the Pro era (and the first in 24 years) to lift the World Cup. If they don't do it in 2011 they probably never will.

I think he sniffs that Webb-Ellis success and the huge retirement contracts that will then give him 'up north'. If his body can then hack the sudden move to playing twice the number of games a season he is used to - it has caught other retirees out has that.

[Havak]

Perignan for Carter then. He will enjoy the Catalan life.

Talented though the lad is I think clubs are somewhat daft to sign anyone for just six months - with the possible exception of squad augmentation in world cup years.

Still they will certainly want their moneys worth - I hope someone has warned him how many games they will squeeze out of him as he arrives just about in time for the European pool matches.

[finbar]

Perpignan, hm? So he will line up against Leicester in the HC. Tasty.

[LDiCesare]

Perpignan tend to do well during the season and lose in the semi finals or finals. I'm not sure Carter will address that issue if he doesn't stay long enough, but I have not checked the dates.

[Havak]

Well he will run rings around Goodey and Flood - but I think our back row forwards might relish the chance to get at him a bit?

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Perpignan tend to do well during the season and lose in the semi finals or finals. I'm not sure Carter will address that issue if he doesn't stay long enough, but I have not checked the dates.

He arrives in December after the AB NH tour. Actually the end of November. So he'll miss the first two HC rounds in October but play rounds 3 and 4. The finals are in May 2009, he finishes in June, so he will be around if Perpignan make it.

Well he will run rings around Goodey and Flood - but I think our back row forwards might relish the chance to get at him a bit?

Plenty of others have tried. Elusive cove.

[Havak]

I didn't say they would catch him - just that they would relish the chance to get at him....

That said I'd back Crofty to reach him a few times.

[finbar]

Yes, well, the Perpignan back row probably doesn't match up to the AB back row in terms of protection.

I look forward to the young French winger's debut against Lote Tuquiri tomorrow. He's been getting into Lote, telling the world he knows Lote's weaknesses and he's going to expose them all. L'enfant should have a look at the tape of Lote -v- Tom Varndell.

[LDiCesare]

I think Palisson (the young winger)'s just been naive. Answering a journalist that your opponent may be weak around the rucks is stupid because the opponent will learn that and be more careful around the rucks...
Trouble here is about nobody speaks of the test against Australia. Everyone is more interested in
1) the final of the French championship
2) Carter going to Perpignan.
I wonder how Nicolas Laharrague, Perpignan's 10, is feeling right now. He'll start the season and then leave the place for Carter.
The French championship final will be on June 6th, so I suppose Carter could make it. I hope for Perpignan that he'll stay that long (although I'm not particularly eager to sea Perpignan in the final).

[Havak]

That is probably because France don't beat Australia?

Lote certainly taught Tom a lesson - but then Tom is only a 'finisher' apparently (albeit one of the best I have ever seen).

*edit* And with the blood and sawdust from Marcello's execution only just cleaned up our defensive coach - one Neil Back - is on his way out the door.

Now just who the heck is Heyneke Meyer??? (I know he won S14 with the Bulls but who is he?)

[finbar]

Good coaching record in Bokland, even if the Bulls were very lucky to win the S14 final last season. The Sharks had them on toast and only some idiotic play on the Sharks' part with five seconds left gave the Bulls the chance to score in the very last second. And, it has to be said, he had the services of the likes of Victor Matfield, Bryan Hbana and quite a few other likely types.

He quit coaching altogether this season because he missed out on the Boks job. He was less than thrilled to hear that De Villiers landed the job for reasons that included other than rugby-based reasons. In fact, he said that if he couldn't coach the Boks, he didn't want to coach.

Until, obviously, someone with an East Midlands accent rattles their piggy bank in front of him.

It was time Neil Back moved on. He needs experience out of the comfort zone that is Leicester.

I think Palisson (the young winger)'s just been naive.

Yes he is. He will learn with more experience.