Rugby - Six Nations, S14, Lions, Can't Wait

[finbar]

Goose. Good player, but a goose.

[kittenOFchaos]

Amazing...South Africa looked so dominant until this weekend with the Tri-Nations wrapped up and now NZ could steal it and I could win my bet

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Should you win your bet, I - on behalf of the Wallabies - expect a cut for facilitating the win.

[Havak]

At least I did add the question mark.

[finbar]

I assumed a typo.

[Havak]

You know me too well.

[Caligastia]

The chances of NZ winning the 3N are still pretty slim. They need 10 points, which means bonus point wins in both of the next games, and if the Boks can pick up a single bonus point in the upcoming match they win the tournament.

[kittenOFchaos]

Bokkes win, 32 - 29

Strange thing with SA is that they let teams come back at them, eventually that'll bite them hard. NZ would have drawn had McCaw gone for the posts instead of the scrum on the 22 in the last 10 or so - very poor decision. Also, Carter gifted SA 7 points...so they game could have been won by NZ without much been done differently.


NZ need to sort out their handling, it was dire at times, Nonu for instance did many powerful runs, but then lose the ball in the final tackle, but even McCaw dropped a very simple pass.

Also has to be said that Rokocoko don't seem to be that effective anymore. Cory Jane looked pretty good when he got on, what other viable options do NZ have?

[finbar]

Yes, the Boks do have the unfortunate habit of switching off, though the All Blacks were resorting to desperate 7s stuff - hurl and hope - and that's very hard to counter. The final score flattered the ABs immensely. The ABs were scrappy, mishandling, and never had the Boks' control. They only have one field kicker and it wasn't one of Carter's better efforts. Hopefully, the AB selectors will finally accept that Stephen Donald simply isn't up to it at this level. Andrew Hore's throwing improved in the second half. His first half was dire. And very costly.

[Havak]

More importantly Tigers have not scored a single try in two games - and Tom Varndell has scored four.

This release is going to come back to bite us.

Well done the Boks - quite a run of consecutive wins going against New Zealand now then?

[finbar]

Maybe he's happier at a club that seems to be able to accommodate egos. He certainly seemed to have personal problems at Leicester. By which I mean he was probably never going to realise his potential there. Nor, probably, were Leciester going to play consistently the sort of game he needs inside him.

[Havak]

The persistent rumour is he rubbed Cockerill up the wrong way rather badly when he was first dropped to the bench last season. The relationship never repaired.

I do wish him well, though not his new club of course. I'm annoyed that they have won twice already.

The only ego Tigers never tamed was your old mate VD....

Tigers potentially have a very good midfield that should service the wings better. The combination of Mauger and Allen will be interesting when the former gets fit again. Still problems at fly half though - Staunton is last man standing there.

*edit* I don't often applaud SANZAR as you know, but inviting the Pumas into the tri-nations is a very good thing in my view.

[kittenOFchaos]

More importantly Tigers have not scored a single try in two games - and Tom Varndell has scored four.

This release is going to come back to bite us.

And deservedly so.

Varndell scored many crucial tries for Leicester and yet they gave him precious little game time. Wasps also picked up Lemi, who still managed to score a good number of tries despite Bristol being god awful. Though it is early days, I see Wasps doing alot better than last season, that is for sure.


In other news I was very impressed by what little I saw of George Lowe on itv.com playing for Harlequins. He didn't score, but he showed insane pace and a good step...only 20, apparently great for England U21 (or U20 maybe)...he could be a real talent. Wonder what his tackling is like...

[Havak]

To clarify they gave him precious little game time last season, in the two previous seasons he was a fixture of the XXII. But then his replacement Matt Smith scored a few crucial tries last season didn't he?

I have a lot of time for Tom - but if the terrace rumouras are true he does have an attitiude problem. Wasps therefore will suit him just fine.

And certainly Wasps will do better - they were woeful last season and yet still almost managed to sneak into the play offs with this stupid southern system the ERP has adopted. My own personal view is it would be good for the Premiership if Wasps, Irish and Saracens were relegated - all the mobile 'customer' seeking franchises in fact - so the league is left to the real clubs that have developed their own grounds and still give longstanding fans the same welcome as new fans.

That is your Gloucesters, Saints, Tigers, poor old Quins and even Bath. I mean what is so very 'London' about Wycombe Wasps after all?

[finbar]

I have a lot of time for Tom - but if the terrace rumouras are true he does have an attitiude problem.

Terrace rumors? His attitude problem was on display for all the world to see with his public dummy spit after that final - was it the EDF against Ospreys? - when he stormed off into the sheds. Seriously arrogant tosser. I look forward to watching some Wasps game to see whether he's developed from merely a tram lines speedster.

Yes, it will be good to see the Argies in regular serious competition. Hopefully they will have access to their best players.