Rugby - Tours Tours Everywhere!

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar
Andydog would have to agree they were leaderless and shapeless the further the game went.

Agreed. The ABs were handed a rugby lesson last weekend. Outclassed and outplayed. I can't even blame a pommy ref.

I'm not sure why Rodney wasn't able to get the team together and bring them up. This, along with the annihilation of the ABs at the breakdown, emphasises just how much Mr McCaw is missed.

We are seeing the effects of the player drain. Having the likes of Mauger, Thorne, Howlet etc on the pitch last weekend would have been priceless. What we are seeing now is the gap between the best and the players below. The tallent is there, and will be developed with time, but for now, the player drain is hurting us.

The team for tomorrow: 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Andrew Hore, 3. Greg Somerville, 4. Brad Thorn, 5. Ali Willliams, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Richie McCaw (c), 8. Rodney So’oialo, 9. Jimmy Cowan, 10. Dan Carter, 11. Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Richard Kahui, 15. Mils Muliaina. Reserves: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. John Afoa, 18. Anthony Boric, 19. Adam Thomson, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Stephen Donald, 22. Anthony Tuitavake.

Its a shame that Ellis was injured for them to start Cowan. I'm not convinced about Ellis and I'm not sure why the Cartel keep playing him ahead of Cowan and Weepu. I wonder how Cowan's broken shnozz will hold up. I'm sure that the Wobblies, being the nice folk that they are, will test it for him.

[finbar]

How bizarre. Almost a complete mirror image of last week, the ABs doing everything the Wallabies did last week, and vice versa. Which only underlines the mystery of the ABs' tactics last week. Woeful Wallaby line out effort, especially after replacement hooker Polota-Nau appeared. Very talented young player with plenty of skills. Except being able to throw into a line out. Always has been his fundamental flaw and nothing has changed. McCaw, as expected, delivered the goods, and the Wallabies missed Rocky Elsom. Two Wallaby scavengers was one too many in the context of the game.

[classical_hero]

Originally posted by finbar
I do the same for that round-ball game called S*****.

The Western Farce's third-party deals via the failed Firepower could hurt them in a big way. I read today that if clubs or players received payments from Firepower while Firepower was trading insolvent, they will have to repay the money to the company (Firepower) liquidators.

1. Never use that term, it is football.

2. We will have to see what happens with this mess that is firepower.

[finbar]

It will always be S***** to me.

[LDiCesare]

S***** or s***? That is the question.

[finbar]

Didn't Shakespeare write that? "S***** or S***, that is the question".

Of course he did. It's "Hamlet", Act III Scene 1:

"S***** or S***,
That is the question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer
The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune,
Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles,
etc."

So Shakespeare had the same trouble with Girlieball we all do.

[Andydog]

If rugby were around when Shakespeare lived, I have no doubt he'd be a rugger man over S***** thru and thru. Imagine how cool it would be to read a Shakespearian play about Bath beating Leicester.

Great game on Saturday. This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Tri-Nations ever. It's wide open at the moment, and I'd have to put the favourites to be the biltong biters, with 3 home games.

What a difference it makes to have a quality scrum half. McCaw was sublime, Carter nice and relaxed for those tactical hoofs thanks to clean reliable service, Rodders looking much better without captaincy pressure and in his preferred No. 8 position. Henry 1-1 Deans.

[finbar]

Yeah, just imagine "Richard III", Act V Scene IV, Leicester-v-Bath, set at Welford Road:

COACH WITH AFRIKAANS ACCENT: "A penalty! A penalty! My kingdom for a penalty!"

[Havak]

Didn't the "Biltong biters" start off at home with a rugby lesson from the ABs?

Well Shakespeare always had an eye to the main chance - witness his simpering brown nosing to the french-welsh throne usurping Tudors. Tigers would just need to pay him more up front.

[finbar]

The Bok flogging of the poor undermanned Argies yesterday was probably the best thing that could have happened for the ABs and Wallabies. Always prone to over-confidence, the Boks might be silly enough to try their Baa-Baas meets Harlem Globetrotters stuff in the Tri Nations matches. Sad, though, to see Jaque Fourie last only a couple of minutes in his return. Good, though, to see a ref finally nail Bakkies Botha for driving his shoulder into players on the ground in rucks. No one hurt a là Stirling Mortlock, thankfully, and the warning will probably go unheeded.

[Havak]

The Tri-nations has rather dragged on this year hasn't it? Some great matches - but the continuity has been lost.

[finbar]

It has. They've reverted to playing each other three times after only playing each other twice last year because of the World Cup. Even then, I'm not sure why the hiatus of a couple of weeks between matches.

I also wish the media in general - and Leicester in particular - would be a little more accurate in their description of Matt O'Connor's coaching history. He didn't coach the Brumbies, he was an assistant to Laurie Fisher. Given the Brumbies' efforts last season, I wouldn't advertise the involvement. He did coach the Canberra-based franchise in the short-lived - one season - national comp last season. He also didn't coach Australia A. He worked with the backs.

[Havak]

That saved me asking the question thanks - I couldn't remember him ever coaching ACT.

We will soon find out what he and Meyer have to offer. The first friendly pre-season game is on Friday. Against Biarritz. In Biarritz. Wearing the new Sky Blue away kit which is as far from a Tigers shirt as I could imagine.

[Havak]

I saw Meyer interviewed on local TV for the first time yesterday. He makes all the right sounds.

He did describe himself as "a life coach not just a rugby coach" and talked of a holistic approach to getting the performance right on the field.

It is all a bit new age for an old crufter like myself.

So Kiwis or Boks at the weekend? It's a fascinating call isn't it?

[finbar]

He was considered one of the best coaches in Bokland - and a worthier candidate for the national job than the fruit loop who won the position - so I'm sure he will bring something to the team. Bear in mind, though, that the Bulls - boasting a lot of the Bok pack - were very much a forwards-oriented outfit. I know that's a Leicester strength, but, as has been proved, that's not enough in the Premiership anymore.

I think Saturday depends on which Bok mind set turns up. The fruit loop coach seems determined to turn them into a run-from-anywhere-offload-in-the-tackle-regardless outfit. After a clumsy, error-riddled start, they eventually got away with it against the Argies. They won't against the ABs. If they play their hard, disciplined game, attacking when appropriate, they can win. If they play fruit loop stuff, the ABs will clean them up. At least Bakkies Botha is out, saving at least one of the ABs from concussion when defenceless on the ground.