13-01-2004 03:15									#421
	Remove this text

What's the problem between Thomas Castaignede and Laport? Or is Castaignede simply not good enough? I was reading this morning that Castaignede says he's not picked because Laport has some sort of problem with him.

	13-01-2004 05:04									#422
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

I think that Thomas Castaignede and Bernard Laporte have an old problem to solve that is dating back two Tournaments ago.

When Thomas Castaignede came back from his grievious injury, I think that Bernard Laporte was more or less ordered by the French Federation of Rugby to take Thomas Castaignede in the French squad in order to calm him down as Thomas Castaignede was asking a huge amount of money to the FFR through his lawyers.

Bernard Laporte being an authoritarian coach has certainly not appreciated being forced to select a player he did not wished in his squad and casted him out at the first opportunity.

To Bernard Laporte's defence Thomas Castaignede has not been good with the French team though he was playing very well in the English Championship. I think that Thomas Castaignede is a bit bitter because Bernard Laporte has not really given him a second chance when he started again to play very well in England.

	13-01-2004 05:46									#423
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Goodoh. Thanks for that. A common story. And I gather Laport has another letter on the end of it.

	13-01-2004 13:50									#424
	Suffering from ads?

quote: A heavy rain fell over Toulouse for two consecutive days, without the hard work of the voluntaries the game would have been cancelled.

My favourite sight pre-match was the poor volunteer emptying an industrial ‘wet’ vacuum into a green plastic skip on the pitch – then accidentally spilling said skip right back onto the pitch. Heart breaking drama.

quote: This has nothing to do with luck, sir! :uttercontemptiblelook:

No we must be honest here Tamerlin – NS Ospreys are a poor poor side.

quote: they are mainly lacking the habit to play together as the Ospreys are a newly formed "provincial" club.

That’s no excuse – the province is only two club sides – Neath and Swansea – and they should have settled by now?

I see the Ulster minority are getting a bit carried away – plenty of posts on Tigers board about how they would win the Zurich Premiership. Sad fools – they might sit one place above Tigers (not hard this season) but that is about it!

quote: She was great.

Something we should know here?

quote: Thomas Castaignede

Where on earth did you get the idea he has played well for Saracens? A handful of semi-decent showings in over three seasons is no great record for the lad.

	13-01-2004 14:13									#425
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by Havak My favourite sight pre-match was the poor volunteer emptying an industrial ‘wet’ vacuum into a green plastic skip on the pitch – then accidentally spilling said skip right back onto the pitch. Heart breaking drama.

Rather classical I guess...

quote: No we must be honest here Tamerlin – NS Ospreys are a poor poor side.

They are certainly not a great team, the weakest of the pool, but I won't say they are a poor, poor side... limited, yes they are.

quote: I see the Ulster minority are getting a bit carried away – plenty of posts on Tigers board about how they would win the Zurich Premiership. Sad fools – they might sit one place above Tigers (not hard this season) but that is about it!

Do you mean they are gloating all over the Internet?

quote: Something we should know here?

One Australian writer who owns a sheep dog (though it sometimes appears like the contrary) and grows tomatoes in his garden still remains to be convinced that she is a great player.

quote: Where on earth did you get the idea he has played well for Saracens? A handful of semi-decent showings in over three seasons is no great record for the lad.

I read some after game reports and heard some comments that let me think he was a good player of the English Championship.

As far as I am concerned he is no more the great player he was since he left the Stade Toulousain and does not deserve to play in the French Team.

	14-01-2004 04:52									#426
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

quote: Originally posted by Havak (isn’t flipside an Ulster boy)

Yeah.
I am from Coleraine, a small town on the Derry/Antrim border.
I now live in the South of England in Bournemouth.
I have heard that the most disappointing thing about the Tigers(fluffy kittens?)performance was the failure of the forwards to set up any sort of platform and the lack of defensive pattern in midfield.
I was surprised, as the Tiger's have always been the most professional team, and this is basic passion and organisation.
Oh, and I certainly do not think we would win the premiership.
I would be very angry as a Leics. fan, however.

	14-01-2004 05:06									#427
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

Fear not, he is.

	14-01-2004 05:40									#428
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by finbar Fear not, he is.

You mean the stories about a crazed, wild eyed individual threatening to throw red and white paint over Dean Richards whilst boasting about his friends in the french mafia are true?

	14-01-2004 05:53									#429
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by Havak I see the Ulster minority are getting a bit carried away – plenty of posts on Tigers board about how they would win the Zurich Premiership. Sad fools – they might sit one place above Tigers (not hard this season) but that is about it!

Notice the Aussie twang to this boasting?
Umm.....
You know that Finbar's impersonation of the Ulster accent is almost perfect?

	14-01-2004 06:02									#430
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

You mean this one?

"Be-gorrah be-gorrah be-gorrah!"

	14-01-2004 06:17									#431
	Suffering from ads?

Aye, that's dead on.
What's the craic?
Are we still taunting the wee fecker?

EDIT: Deleted the last line .
It was meant to take the mickey out of 'comedy Irishness'and did not work.Sorry.

Last edited by flipside on 14-01-2004 at 08:09

	14-01-2004 09:42									#432
	Remove this text

Mmmm. There was a feature made here a couple of years ago called "The Craic". The work of an Irish-born comedian now resident here, Jimoein. His act is sort of "professional Irishman" dealing in whimsy and observation. Crap film, because he can't tell a story, in the filmic sense, but it made some money on the basis of his popularity on television. You would never have heard of him. He took up comedy after working on building sites.

There's an obvious additional line that I shall refrain from using.

	14-01-2004 13:53									#433
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: They are certainly not a great team, the weakest of the pool, but I won't say they are a poor, poor side... limited, yes they are.

Leaving it to me to pick on the Welsh then are you?

quote: Do you mean they are gloating all over the Internet?

Indeed they are. They deserve to enjoy the victory – but some of them are taking it too far.

quote: One Australian writer who owns a sheep dog (though it sometimes appears like the contrary) and grows tomatoes in his garden still remains to be convinced that she is a great player.

I suspect he knows really. Any player in the European Cup holders would walk into an Aussie S12 franchise if they didn’t have a closed shop policy.

quote: I read some after game reports and heard some comments that let me think he was a good player of the English Championship.

I have always found him unpredictable. Very similar I am afraid to Mr Healey. Capable of winning games single handed – and capable of losing them the same way. Of course he had a very lengthy injury and few players come back as good as they previously were in such cases?

quote: I would be very angry as a Leics. fan, however.

Don’t worry, I am. The clubs attitude is starting to really annoy me too – it is essentially “problem, what problem.” It’s just bad luck and injury apparently.

It wasn’t so much the lack of a platform – the forwards won plenty of ball, probably slightly more than Ulster did. It was simply never retained. I’ve never seen so many schoolboy handling errors or a Fly Half so uncomfortable on the ball.

I don’t know what the solution is – but I do know it’s not to do nothing which is all that is currently being offered.

As an aside Daryl Gibson, who went of after a few minutes with yet another hamstring problem, was caught on the terrace after the game by an upset lady fan. He apparently was smiling and that somehow touched the ladies fuse – she then proceeded to rip into him for his casual attitude to a ‘gutless’ display and told him to tell the boys it wasn’t good enough. He was shocked apparently – wish I had seen it.

I really like Dean Richards by the way – I have spoken to him several times and he is a genuinely really nice bloke. The problem is that in all this I have to think of the club – and I seriously think it may be better for Dean and the club if he moves further upstairs. He is not a team builder like Bob Dwyer – though he is better at using an established squad than Bob was – so maybe a Lions role or an England supporting role might suit him – where someone else is assembling the talent?
And Finbar – drop the Ulster accent as the posts on Tigers board are really annoying me now.

I’ve seen Leinster beat us at home, I’ve seen Munster beat us at home, and I may soon have seen Ulster do the same. Do Connacht still exist? We could be the first English side to get the full set!

	14-01-2004 17:10									#434
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Havak And Finbar – drop the Ulster accent as the posts on Tigers board are really annoying me now.

"When Oi-rish Oys are Smiling!"

quote: I’ve seen Leinster beat us at home, I’ve seen Munster beat us at home, and I may soon have seen Ulster do the same. Do Connacht still exist?

Dunno, but I gather the East Dublin Primary School 3rd XV are putting their hands up to be next cab off the rank.

	14-01-2004 18:10									#435
	Support Apolyton

We can't handle opponents of that stature these days.

	15-01-2004 04:07									#436
	Inflate your Upload Space

Interesting news this morning. Occasional All Black winger Caleb Ralph is porking the Queen's grand daughter, Zara. That's the Bull Terrier's daughter. Speaking of Anne, she certainly reverses the old adage that dog owners eventually look like their dogs.

Anyway, be that as it may, if Caleb were to impregnate Zara, we could witness the appearance of the first chin in the family for about 200 years. The potential downside for Caleb, of course, is that if Zara's mother takes a dislike to him, she - Zara's mother - will more than likely take to him the same way she did the Royal Corgi and the Royal Servant.

What's that?, I hear you say. Anne's Bull Terriers savaged the Royal Corgi and the Royal Servant? Tosh. It's a cover up.

In other barely related news, Corne Krige has retired from international rugby. With J**** likely to announce the same thing soon, we bid a fond farewell to, apparently, the two dirtiest captains in international rugby.

	15-01-2004 14:08									#437
	Put an end to popups!

…and to, arguably (if you are Australian or Kiwi), the best and most successful lock ever to play the game.

The reality seems to be that Jonno will announce his retirement. The statement is due to be made after the game with (loss to?) Ulster on Saturday.

Here is what I have heard. He was keen to play 6N and help a smooth transition to a successor but then Sir Clive suddenly announced (in one of his well documented impulsive “I am the boss” moments) that only players who made themselves available for the summer tour to the SH would be considered for 6N duty. With a very young daughter J was thought not to want this – instead wishing to bow out with swansongs at Twickers and in Paris. Other players might simply have lied and said they were available then back out – but J seemingly has enough personal integrity not to wish to do so. Clive therefore has IMO made a huge error of judgment (how unusual) and rapid change is now upon us.

At least two players tipped for the captaincy – Backy and Hilly – have publically stated that they hope Jonno stays on. Dally of course has been publicly touting for the armband – but anyone who remembers his awfully naive performance during his last stint will be dreading that.

It could be interesting – for England’s success has certainly been driven at least as much by Jonno as by Woodward. I can see much whinging and bleating in Clive’s future as things deteriorate.

As for Royals – you know my position on them. Even watching the repeat of The Lost Prince last night had me hoping history would change and someone would shoot George Saxe-Coberg-Gotha (George V) and end the whole sorry business of British royalty.

And tell Caleb to be careful – he is following what is apparently, if you will excuse my crudeness, already a very well travelled path.

	15-01-2004 14:11									#438
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Havak and to, arguably (if you are Australian or Kiwi), the best and most successful lock ever to play the game.

I don't remember Corne Kriege playing lock ... ?

	15-01-2004 15:23									#439
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by Havak Here is what I have heard. He was keen to play 6N and help a smooth transition to a successor but then Sir Clive suddenly announced (in one of his well documented impulsive “I am the boss” moments) that only players who made themselves available for the summer tour to the SH would be considered for 6N duty. With a very young daughter J was thought not to want this – instead wishing to bow out with swansongs at Twickers and in Paris. Other players might simply have lied and said they were available then back out – but J seemingly has enough personal integrity not to wish to do so. Clive therefore has IMO made a huge error of judgment (how unusual) and rapid change is now upon us.

Mmmm. Cue Clive to announce a change of mind on his new rule.

quote: At least two players tipped for the captaincy – Backy and Hilly –

What? Can't they find anyone older?

quote: It could be interesting – for England’s success has certainly been driven at least as much by Jonno as by Woodward. I can see much whinging and bleating in Clive’s future as things deteriorate.

*crosses fingers and toes*

quote: And tell Caleb to be careful – he is following what is apparently, if you will excuse my crudeness, already a very well travelled path.

Excuse your crudeness? Good grief. It's in their genes. Her grandfather is - or was - known as the Royal Stick Man and her great aunt was a drunken slag. And still not a chin to be seen.

Which brings me, funnily enough, to J****. I was watching an old ep of "So Graham Norton" on cable tonight. Very funny man. That aside, it was an ep in which Linford Christie was a guest. They were talking about sportsmen endorsing products. Mr Norton opened a copy of the "The Sun" and there was the lantern-jawed one himself stretched out almost stark naked in an ad for Tetleys.

Fair made me nearly puke up my New York Cut Steak with Sauteed Rosemary Potatoes and Garden Salad.

	15-01-2004 16:03									#440
	Get a bigger avatar today!

Wasn't the can big enough to hide the offending article then?

Clive never admits he is wrong. The younger options for captaincy would be Ben Kay or perhaps Vickery. Wilko is Clive is insane (because Wilko really needs the added pressure!).

The great aunt - the stories are widely known but no one dares commit them to print here - even me.

And another rumour to surface this morning that has friends of mine worried - Jonno to head to NZ immediately with his family (wife is kiwi anyway) to Play and coach in S12. Frankly I think it's nonsense but you just never know do you.

	15-01-2004 16:32									#441
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by Havak Wasn't the can big enough to hide the offending article then?

Yes, it was. And he was advertising Tetley in bar fridge-size miniatures.

quote: Clive never admits he is wrong. The younger options for captaincy would be Ben Kay or perhaps Vickery. Wilko is Clive is insane (because Wilko really needs the added pressure!).

In other words, the options are very thin on the ground.

quote: The great aunt - the stories are widely known but no one dares commit them to print here - even me.

Where shall I begin? A friend of ours used to hang out with her and that crowd in the mid-60s.

quote: And another rumour to surface this morning that has friends of mine worried - Jonno to head to NZ immediately with his family (wife is kiwi anyway) to Play and coach in S12. Frankly I think it's nonsense but you just never know do you.

Turning his back on Leicester? In their hour of need? Mmmm. Highly unlikely. Still, I suppose it depends on what the trouble and strife wants to do.

	15-01-2004 20:58									#442
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Super party pack size I think you will find - as it is for me too.

Jonno will be a very hard act to follow as skipper - just as Eales was. No one I have named fills me with any confidence.

I suspect that nearly all the stories you have heard via that friend are true. There are a few urban myths. It wasn't the whole barracks of the Coldstreams that time.

I find it hard to believe the NZ rumour - Jonno is as Tigers as it gets. These days though one can take nothing for granted. To many Dills running my club to be perfectly honest!

	15-01-2004 21:19									#443
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by Havak And Finbar – drop the Ulster accent as the posts on Tigers board are really annoying me now.

I'm sure he will now.
I mean, now that he has spawned this thread all across the place.

	16-01-2004 02:52									#444
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by Havak Super party pack size I think you will find - as it is for me too.

Glad to know you two have compared them.

quote: I find it hard to believe the NZ rumour - Jonno is as Tigers as it gets. These days though one can take nothing for granted. To many Dills running my club to be perfectly honest!

Mmmm. Hark, I hear the sounds of the Drinking Boys Ticket being put together to contest the next election.

	16-01-2004 02:55									#445
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by flipside I'm sure he will now. I mean, now that he has spawned this thread all across the place.

And-a-one, and-a-two, and-a-three:

"Ahhh-tee-taaah-tee-taaah-tee-taaah!".

	16-01-2004 03:14									#446
	Suffering from ads?

Shhhhhhhh!!!

The tadpole is sleeping...

	16-01-2004 07:38									#447
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by finbar And-a-one, and-a-two, and-a-three: "Ahhh-tee-taaah-tee-taaah-tee-taaah!".

Yummy.
Potato bread, soda bread, Bushmills whiskey, Harp lager, Ash, Giant's Causeway,the craic, The Undertones, Patrick Kielty,champ, scallions, 33-0.
That should make Havak feel as though he is at home on the Tigers board.
The most galling thing though must the way the Ulster fans are saying how much they are enjoying the "banter,"and heartily slapping their new found Leics. friends on the back.
Oh, and btw, ask him if he thinks that the split Ulster/Tigers shirt is a good idea for me will you?

	16-01-2004 08:14									#448
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin Shhhhhhhh!!! The tadpole is sleeping...

Quick! Now's your chance to escape him!

	16-01-2004 08:18									#449
	Increase Your PM Length

quote: Originally posted by flipside Oh, and btw, ask him if he thinks that the split Ulster/Tigers shirt is a good idea for me will you?

Let's see what he thinks about the question.

	16-01-2004 08:20									#450
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by flipside Oh, and btw, ask him if he thinks that the split Ulster/Tigers shirt is a good idea for me will you?

Just in case he missed the question.