Rugby - Tours Tours Everywhere!

[finbar]

Better Wallaby effort today, mainly in the second half, before they lost concentration again. First half was forgettable from both sides. Burgess, Giteau and Barnes are sorting themselves out at 9-10-12. How refreshing to see a #9 attack the way Burgess does, even if his passing was more erratic than usual. It must truly be a second- or third-rate French front row because they made the Wallaby front row look passable. Some tough French defence mixed up with some crap French defence. Traille should be taken out and shot for his laziness. The young winger with the big mouth looks like a very good prospect. Do they grow good wingers on trees in France?

[finbar]

Jeez, Italy -v- Argentina was a shocker. The best advertisement you'd ever see for L*****, S*****, or even curling. Yes, curling would be enthralling compared to the shambles of yesterday. And both sides had most of their French-based good players back. Italy won. Somehow. Only the ref seemed to see the try scored. The commentator thought the ref was actually penalising Italy. No, he was awarding them a try. Hernandez was briefly entertaining till he hurt his wrist, and the Pumas, unfortunately, resorted to some of their old thuggish ways. That's two wasted hours of my life I'll never get back. I think I'll sue.

[LDiCesare]

The young winger with the big mouth looks like a very good prospect. Do they grow good wingers on trees in France?

I only saw the tries on tv as I couldn't see the match. I don't think Palisson will make the real France team soon, after watching the final.
Toulouse has extraordinary wingers like Clerc (who was hurt), Heymans and Medard (who can both play full back) and Donguy. For some reason, some people think that Rougerie is good, and he can indeed score tries when Toulouse fumble on their line and he started offside. He might be ahead of Palisson in the eyes of the selectors. Malzieu might too, although he's not been playing because of the Fijian Napolioni Nalaga. Funny first name, I didn't think they still called babies Napoleon these days. And then there's Saubade at the Stade Français.

As for the front row, we certainly have better hookers (Servat was huge in Toulouse win, and Swarszewski might be my favorite if only he had less w and z in hi shis name so I could spell it right). As for props, I don't know. There's Marconnet, Poux, Mas, but after that it's not really brilliant. I even think the French staff was satisfied of their front row...

I'd also say that the Pumas lacked some of their most important players, namely their hooker. Ledesma is so good he relegates the World champions captain on the bench. That didn't prevent Toulouse from taking almost all balls from Clermont in the lineouts, though.

[finbar]

I don't think Palisson will make a full-strength French team either. Yet. But he's certainly one for the future.

Though given the coach's sometimes eccentric selection policy, who knows?

[Havak]

The "sort of" France v "the real" Wallabies game was a step too far for me - I passed on it.

Mr Meyer has been confirmed as Tigers new head coach this morning - let's hope he knows what he is in for.

[finbar]

You mean the other half wouldn't let you watch it. There's no shame in admitting it.

Hopefully the new coach knows that failure to win a trophy in his first year means he will be sacked. I also hope the players are more familiar with Afrikaans than they were with Spanish.

[Havak]

They soon will be.

You saw right through me (as if I was transparent) on the Wallabies game.

[finbar]

Ah well, you're in good company. LdiC didn't see the game either. Same problem, methinks. Heck, I even watched Italy-v-Pumas at 8pm. While we were having dinner. Read that and weep.

[Havak]

Well I would Finbar - but I had escaped by then and was on my second Guinness whilst setting the world to rights with the boys....

[finbar]

So the Saxons squad is now officially the parking lot for back-up players for the Elite squad. Or maybe it was always that way. I could never figure out how a development squad seemed to feature has-beens and never-weres.

What an odd mix of selections. Sensible new blood, but Jamie Noon stays? In the top group? How? Still, as someone pointed out on the BBC board, if Wilko plays at #10, it really doesn't matter who plays outside him because they will rarely see the ball.

[Havak]

Well I have to agree with you. Noon is not an international player and never has been. And who would he play alongside - he is a bad fit for Flood, Geragthy and Hipkiss all. But then Barkley is still there too.

I was pleased to see the emphasis on younger forwards though. the squad is a better pick there I think.

[Havak]

I missed the locks didn't I. It's a weak old pick in that department. Shaw in particular is now yesterdays man and should have been replaced by his team mate Skivington.

The recall of Josh Lewsey and JSD is also iexplicable to me - too old and too many failed chances respectively.

But look at the loosies:

Tom Croft (Leicester), James Haskell (Wasps), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Tom Rees (Wasps), Jordan Crane (Leicester), Luke Narraway (Gloucester).

Only Moody is above 22!! This is a bunch with serious potential to become world class. Time we did a Wallabies and lobby the IRB for ELVs so that loosies have the most impact on a game and that backs are incidental?

[finbar]

That's what I meant about an odd mix of selections. Youth in parts, same old same old in other parts. Borthwick, Palmer, Shaw, Vickery. I don't mind seeing JSD getting another chance. I saw him play some corkers during the season - attack and very solid defence. What he can also do is run lines and angles, something lacking in many of the backs, Tait aside.

The complete disappearance of Vaininkolo certainly makes a statement about the previous administration.

What did surprise me was Nick Easter's disappearance. Shame about him. Very good club player who hasn't made the step up skills- or mobility-wise. Narraway's good efforts on tour seemed to clinch it. Actually, the only thing that bothers me about Jordan Crane - the last time I saw him, anyway - is his lack of pace.

EDIT. Where is Will Skinner?

[Havak]

He appears to have been canned completely as Lipman and Armitage are both the opensides in the Saxons squad.

Guest has got potential (at 8) so it seems that Easter and Worseley dropping down then leave no room for Skinner (who skippered the side to the Churchill Cup last month).

It's a fickle old game is Rugby.

[LDiCesare]

Where you see inconsistencies (selecting old and young players), maybe the coaches just want to avoid sending a team of newbies on the field all at one time?