21-11-2003 18:39									#331
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Water polo = excellent. I’m sure we have more experience of mud bath games.

The rain stopped a couple of hours ago. Hopefully there will be no more than drizzle tomorrow. But the ground is going to be soft and the ball will have to be slippery.

quote: Surely the lack of a traditional blindside – a hard charging man clearer and ball carrier – has to tell against you at some point. Please let it be us that exploits it.

David Lyons and Nathan Sharpe are doing those jobs for us quite well at the moment, thanks.

quote: I’ll be honest with you I’m looking forward to the Johnson-Kay to Sharpe-Harrison clash. Both combinations seem to have a man on form and a man who is not so (Kay for us – Sharpe for you?). Once again our cover is Martin Corry for the back five – having Giffen on the bench maybe gives you an edge there (I rate Corry – but mostly as an 8 or blindside).

Could be a key to the match. Hopefully the Beer Gut's throwing will be as crap as usual.

quote: And Lyons v Dallaglio – young gun versus old stager – and the only man on the England side who certainly knows where that white line is (I know you’ll get this one).

Greg Martin made an interesting point tonight on the Fox rugby show. Dallaglio doesn't break tackles like he used to. He can be stopped. Lyons, though, younger and no less strong, is breaking tackles and making yards.

quote: But the tastiest player on either bench has to be Roff – I can’t believe he doesn’t warrant a start these days?

But where to start him? Apparently his preferred option these days is full back. Rogers is there. Rogers is quicker, runs great angles, is no less a defender, and is a reliable kick. Roff's kicking deserted him this season. And, all up, what a very handy replacement to bring on with about 20 minutes to go?

	21-11-2003 18:47									#332
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quote: Originally posted by Havak He could certainly do a job there yes. The try line gag is pretty old Matt Rogers speaking about that tackle from Josh Lewsey in June: "One of the ribs he broke set in a slightly higher position than before and I can't lie comfortably on a surfboard any more because my rib sticks out. "It was an old injury but he flared it up. Now when all the boys go surfing I have to go swimming because I can't lie on my board. "I have copped a few good ones in my time but that was right up there."

Young Mr Rogers is a dead keen surfer, so missing out would really p*ss him off. A lad in his youth, was Mr Rogers. A real lad. Mixed in bad company. Not to the extent that Jason Robinson did, but he was, um, a disappointment to his parents. Son of a L***** legend, his Mum died of cancer a couple of years ago. He buried his L***** World Cup medal with her, so now he wants another one.

	22-11-2003 00:47									#333
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quote: The even more scary thing is that Dunning, who has played all his rugby as a #1, is having to cover #3.

Eeek... Havak's right there... Facing one of the best front rows in the world without a tighthead prop... Are they mad?
I played once loose head in a training session and then tight before I'd go back to my customary hooker position. I hate loose head. You've got the head out of the scrum. Brrr...

Now France demoralised, skipperless and unfit B-team lost to New Zealand. I didn't see the match but wadsn't overly surprised.

I hope there will be some good rugby tomorrow.

	22-11-2003 04:28									#334
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We got serious rain here. I didn't order that.

Hopefully the ball will get too slippery to kick.

	22-11-2003 04:56									#335
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quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare Eeek... Havak's right there... Facing one of the best front rows in the world without a tighthead prop... Are they mad?

We have one starting, but he has only played a handful of Tests. It's his back up who hasn't played tighthead except for a couple of minutes in club matches and at training. Such is the parlous state of the prop situation in this country.

quote: I hope there will be some good rugby tomorrow.

There will be wet weather rugby, whether it's good or not is a different matter. After heavy rain yesterday, we have a constant ongoing heavy drizzle today. It will continue all day and probably through the match. The ground will be waterlogged and ball handling will be a nightmare.

	22-11-2003 15:07									#336
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damn - bad first half

	22-11-2003 15:21									#337
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What's the score?

	22-11-2003 15:30									#338
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Aus just pulled it back to 14-11

	22-11-2003 15:53									#339
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Bah! Should be exciting for extra time anyway...*grumble*

	22-11-2003 16:01									#340
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muwahahaha!!!!

	22-11-2003 16:24									#341
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Who's laughing now!

	22-11-2003 16:27									#342
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I was going to die in that extra time.

	22-11-2003 16:30									#343
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Final score:
England 20 - 17 Australia
Small score IMO, the English could have scored much (too many drop goals missed). The Wallabies have never played, just profited from numerous English mistakes and the generous referee.

	22-11-2003 16:40									#344
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Oh well - the best team on the day won.

Congrats to the smelly pale English.

	22-11-2003 16:41									#345
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If my psychic powers could kill, that referee would have been thinly smeared across 70 yards of pitch.

	22-11-2003 16:43									#346
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I thought he was good.

	22-11-2003 17:02									#347
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Every time I see that kick it makes me tingle

	22-11-2003 17:03									#348
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AMAZING .... Well done Australia, as always, you put on a brilliant sporting event, and your team fought all the way to the final whistle ...

AT LAST, ENGLAND WIN SOMETHING



Well done to all the team .. we are all so proud of you.

	22-11-2003 17:09									#349
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quote: Originally posted by Snotty Every time I see that kick it makes me tingle

It's more a rolleyes and yawn for me.

	22-11-2003 17:10									#350
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Youve got to be yawning just as hard for all the aus kicking then.....

	22-11-2003 17:40									#351
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A Wallaby win would have been faintly embarrassing. England were superior on the night, even if they never gave up trying to conjure ways to lose. Their pack murdered ours, our lineout went missing for half the match, their effort at the breakdown was enormous and their defence was lethal. Top effort from England, undermined by handling errors and silly penalties. The Wallabies showed their usual courage.

I was amazed by the condition of the ground. It rained solidly from midnight last night till midday today, with another burst half an hour before the match. Under those circumstances, the overall handling was surprisingly good.

	22-11-2003 17:52									#352
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er, you forgot to *cough* congratulate *cough* um, you know who....

	22-11-2003 18:02									#353
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All I can say is "Limey bastards"

	22-11-2003 19:11									#354
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The English were clearly superior, but the Australians played them well: They didn't give off penalties the French did. The English have had problems scoring tries, so not giving them penalties to convert was the best way to handle them. The wallabies failed to be dangerous, however, except for two actions by Tuqiri (one being the try, more of Larkham's action than Tuqiri, but still he scored the try). The English gave penalties and the ref helped them a lot, penalising them in scrum and sometimes when they were on their feet trying to get the ball. I think the way people can no longer try to grap the ball in rucks I find a bit annoying. That's going a bit far as it's becoming exceedingly hard for any team to fight for the ball. Next they'll decide that there are 2 uselss players on the field and rugby union will be gone.
I also find it strange that the ref didn't whistle several times when he obviously saw an australian offside in a ruck, but gestured to continue because the ball could live. He should at least have lifted his arm to signal an advantage.
I'll stop ranting, Tamerlin will probably find more to say.

	22-11-2003 19:30									#355
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LDiCesare, maybe next time its France's turn to win .. make it 2 northern teams at least ..

	22-11-2003 19:54									#356
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"Swiiiiiiiing Loooooooow, Sweeeeet Chaaaaaariot..."

quote: I'll stop ranting, Tamerlin will probably find more to say.

Yep! The Dermotties can thank Mister Watson, I don't think they would have reached the extra time without him. Mr Watson's way of refereeing the scrums and rucks was particularly ridiculous in the second half. When the hell will we have good referees at least at the international level?

Anyway...

	22-11-2003 22:52									#357
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What can I say, a real nailbiter. England deserve the win despite all the handling errors - it was them that kept Australia in the game. That dropped ball over the tryline must have had Havak banging his head against the wall.

Well done England, you deserve the title of champions.

	22-11-2003 23:14									#358
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quote: That dropped ball over the tryline must have had Havak banging his head against the wall.

Actually he banged his head into the TV set and is now parading in Leicester with a TV around his head and neck, risking death by drowning everytime a friendly soul pours some lager into the set.
A real pity Kay missed that one.

	23-11-2003 00:20									#359
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quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare Actually he banged his head into the TV set and is now parading in Leicester with a TV around his head and neck, risking death by drowning everytime a friendly soul pours some lager into the set. A real pity Kay missed that one.

Definitely. I still can't believe he dropped it. Woodward must have been furious! Perhaps we'll see less of Kay in future as a result of that.

BTW, if case any of you are wondering why I'm not commenting on the NZ/France game, it's because I haven't seen it yet and I don't know the result.

	23-11-2003 01:49									#360
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Can I ask the rugby fans who know the game (unlike me!), was the ref justified giving all those fouls to the Aussies in the second half?