Rugby - The Game They Play In Heaven II

[Havak]

Mallett would still be foolish as we have been here before. Andrew gets stripped of responsibility for the senior side, works busily at undermining everyone above him or in his way for a few months and hey presto he is suddenly back involved with them again.

He HAS to go - I have not spoken to single soul who wants him to remain involved. The man spent five years (99-04) saying "give me the power and I'll make everything right". We did - and seven years into that power he has overseen disaster after disaster instead.

Go Rob - you are not wanted by the grass roots.

*edit* A fortune as well as my liver perhaps Finbar. Australia's economy has avoided the impact ours suffered because we let the financial sector enjoy a decade at the casino tables with our money. In 2001 I think I got 2.3 Dollars to the pound, now it is 1.5.

[finbar]

Which is as it should be.

Leicester -v- Saints. Should be a decent old test. For both sides.

[kittenOFchaos]

Australia's economy has avoided the impact ours suffered because we let the financial sector enjoy a decade at the casino tables with our money. In 2001 I think I got 2.3 Dollars to the pound, now it is 1.5.

Australia has 22 million people and is 31 times bigger than the United Kingdom. Given the natural resources they are sat upon and the demand China has for them they should be rolling in it. Britain has precious few natural resources and a vast under-class and yet it still ain't all that bad.

[finbar]

Added to which Australia has only three major banks after successive governments allowed them to swallow up all other competition. An anti-competitive situation that allows the banks to charge customers what they like and treat customers how they like. On the other side of the (ahem) coin, they're massive businesses, extremely conservative, and little exposed to any of the world-wide banking silliness of the last three or four years.

[kittenOFchaos]

Well...I shouldn't have bet against Sale

Australia eased through that game against Wales - it really was a damp squid. It was such a shame Leceister Vs Northampton wasn't on Sky as I'd have been watching that. What is it about Leceister that make them want to have so many close games won at the last?

My betting tip for tonight? Munster to beat Ospreys - for Munster to win both halves I got 23/10 which is pretty awesome all things considered. Yup, it is my bet to recoup the money I lost on my accumulator due to Sale and Leceister winning. Still pleased Sale won

[finbar]

Bloody Sale. I tipped Bath. Swab them! Wales really were ordinary. In fact, the entire first half was pretty dire. Not helped by Kaplan and his love of the whistle. Yet, for all his whistling, he happily let players from both sides dive off their feet. Ten minutes of clinical Wallaby play disposed of Wales. Coincided with the yellow card but it was the clinical play and some poor defence that did the job. If Wales could discover how to be clinical instead of just bashing it up through Roberts they'd win more than they do.

I've tipped Munster too. In fact I've tipped against most of the Welsh teams missing players for today's game.

Did I hear that Tuilagi was red-carded? Good win in the end if he was.

EDIT. Ah, I see. A red card each.

[Havak]

Other side of the coin. You work so hard I do feel I should acknowledge it occassionally.

The Tigers match was on ESPN - part of Sky's ploy to wriggle yet more money out the fans.

Bit of a touchline fracas at the end of the first quarter. Ashton pulled Alesana out of play by his braids, several players got involved and Woods and Alex got carded for throwing punches. Except Alex certainly didn't - the wrong Tigers player was sent off. Then again the referee was Mr Barnes.

Other than that a cracking game with both sides going for it.

Nice to see Sale get that win.

And Genia is a smart cookie isn't he? Wales left the hole and he found it. Should have been a penalty try anyway really.

[kittenOFchaos]

The Ospreys overcame the absence of 19 players through Wales and Wales Sevens calls as well as injuries to beat Munster in the Pro12 League.

[finbar]

Useless stupid Munster!

I saw the punch up on the sport news last night. Couldn't tell who was punching what. Though I did see Ashton's contribution to start the proceedings. He's showing more and more unpleasant traits. His pout and hissy fit in lieu of chasing the oppo after an intercept in the HC last week deserved a slap.

[kittenOFchaos]

I saw the punch up on the sport news last night. Couldn't tell who was punching what. Though I did see Ashton's contribution to start the proceedings. He's showing more and more unpleasant traits. His pout and hissy fit in lieu of chasing the oppo after an intercept in the HC last week deserved a slap.

http://www.rugbydump.com/2011/12/2265/alesana-tuilagi-and-tom-wood-red-carded-following-touchline-brawl-

I'll quote myself by saying:

only one red card was needed...one to Chris Ashton. After last year you'd have thought he'd be wary of provoking a Tuilagi.

The citing commisioner will be busy and Ashton will no doubt be on his Xmas holidays early.

With Armitage, Ashton, Hartley, Haskell, Lawes and Manu England certainly have the most wankers in an International 15. Based on attitude, they shouldn't be picked, simple as.

[kittenOFchaos]

Watching Wasps Vs Harlequins - very enjoyable.

Mike Brown is very impressive as it the spirit of Quins, might wander over to watch them at home in the coming months.

[finbar]

Quins were impressive under difficult circumstances. That young 7 looks good. Wasps will look back on the match and wonder.

[finbar]

And Irish were terrible against Sarries. Plenty of possession and opportunity, all frittered away. What on earth has happened to Irish? Irish of a year or so ago would have won comfortably.

[finbar]

Ashton cited for the hair-pulling. Fair enough. Might snap him out of his increasingly prattish behaviour. Having seen the footage again a couple of times, Murphy and the Argie winger should be worried, too. Murphy has since said it was all handbags, they shook hands later and had a few beers. Not the point, boyo. Nice attempt to dissuade the judiciary, though.

[Havak]

In super slo-mo (which I finally got to see yesterday) Alesana did throw one left hook that missed - but contact is not needed of course so technically the red is warranted. The other winger - the Argie - is the one I saw throwing at the time. And Murphy. Then again there was more than Woods throwing on the other side too.

A citing is fair enough - I don't think dragging a man off field by the hair is really in the spirit of rugby.

Irish have off field problems including, but not limited to, their long term home. Maybe the uncertainty is permeating through the squad?