02-04-2004 06:00									#421
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Funnily enough, that's what she tells me every day.

That must be true then.

quote: Two suggestions: (1) Stop it! Or, failing that: (2) take your crayon de couleur and change every z - when substituted for s - to an s when you come across one. Guaranteed to cure your appalling habit. BTW, this method is especially recommended for books borrowed from libraries!

I think that I will bring Pierre to the soo one of these days, it would be great if there are some sebras and other animals coming from the Saïre. We would depart when the sun is at its senith and before leaving we would drink a lemonade with a sest of lemon. We would walk a little in sigsags to have fun and come back home before night.

quote: I haven't got enough so you're not getting any of mine!

Egotist!

quote: Fresh beetroot, hopefully, and not that tinned muck!

Of course!

quote: On a related note, Kiwi ref Paddy O'Brien has apparently written a book. He reports this exchange between French ref Didier Mene and an unnamed Springbok: Mene chastises the player. PLAYER: "F*ck you!" MENE: "What did you say?" PLAYER: "I said, 'F*ck you!'" MENE: "Huh! I'll decide who f*cks me. You're off!"

BTW, I know who he is f*cking every time he is refereeing the Stade Toulousain.

	02-04-2004 06:39									#422
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin I think that I will bring Pierre to the soo one of these days, it would be great if there are some sebras and other animals coming from the Saïre. We would depart when the sun is at its senith and before leaving we would drink a lemonade with a sest of lemon. We would walk a little in sigsags to have fun and come back home before night.

Don't zhit me!

quote: BTW, I know who he is f*cking every time he is refereeing the Stade Toulousain.

The opposition, obviously.

	02-04-2004 15:25									#423
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Tamerlin – have you sussed the OESD was the breed Dermot belongs to?

quote: Yeah well, add modesty to his list of achievements. It's crap, of course.

Without wanting to bore you about the guy he has also been winning new friends as a studio pundit with the BBC. A lot of people who had written him off as a ‘thick lout’ have been having to revise their preconceptions. One thing is for sure – he runs rings around Fitzy intellectually – but then who does not?

quote: I'm not convinced about Cohen. Obviously talented, but he doesn't produce the goods often enough.

It’s partly the way they use him – drawing him in field to bang ball up like a Tindall or Mortlock. When they use him the way he should be – as a strike runner – he really can impress. The try against France was quite sublime.

quote: a good red wine is far better IMO.

Very true – such a shame therefore that Chilean, South African and Aussie wine is now much cheaper and of equal quality at least.

*Hand grenade thrown, retire to safe distance*

quote: MENE: "Huh! I'll decide who f*cks me. You're off!"

If only his reffing matched his level of wit.

By the way – Alain Rolland was a true ‘Homer’ in the SH sense of the word.

The European Quarter finals must be fairly soon – I bet Tamerlin is getting excited – fingers crossed Mr White is available to take the helm for that game.

*Edit* Breaking news:

Leicester captain Martin Johnson has agreed a one-year extension to his contract with the club.
Johnson, who quit England after leading them to World Cup glory last year, is expected to sign the deal next week.

The 34-year-old Johnson confirmed: "I want to play on for another year at least and go from there."

Leicester chairman Peter Tom told the Daily Express: "It's tremendous that he has agreed to play on, he has been outstanding for us."

Tom added: "Martin was the best player in the world last year and England's loss has been Leicester's gain.

"His presence next season will be a huge boost."

	02-04-2004 15:44									#424
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Caucau, so recently injured for Auckland, is likely to make his return to Professional rugby with...Newcastle Falcons apparently.

Serious talks have alledgedly taken place.

This would be a huge coup for Rob Andrew - and a huge worry for the SANZAR's S12 brand. If current young stars of S12 are now being tempted away it gives the tournament a huge headache.

I am encouraging Tigers to go for Doug Howlett without delay. A pairing of him and Murphy on the wing would make my season next year - and Doug could learn plenty by playing with a talent like Geordan.

On the other hand he may just be 'doing a Doug' and threatening to leave so he can get more money down there (for far less rugby) and still be able to live in NZ.

	02-04-2004 16:37									#425
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Tamerlin – have you sussed the OESD was the breed Dermot belongs to?

Yes, he knows. In fact, I emailed him a zipped short video of Dermott making a dill of himself on a beach.

quote: Without wanting to bore you about the guy

I deleted the rest of your para without reading it just in case.

quote: Very true – such a shame therefore that Chilean, South African and Aussie wine is now much cheaper and of equal quality at least.

Dunno about the others, but more and more Australian wine is up there. And cheaper. And it's p*ssing off the French wine industry in a huge way.

quote: Leicester captain Martin Johnson has agreed a one-year extension to his contract with the club. Johnson, who quit England after leading them to World Cup glory last year, is expected to sign the deal next week. The 34-year-old Johnson confirmed: "I want to play on for another year at least and go from there." Leicester chairman Peter Tom told the Daily Express: "It's tremendous that he has agreed to play on, he has been outstanding for us." Tom added: "Martin was the best player in the world last year and England's loss has been Leicester's gain. "His presence next season will be a huge boost."

Fiddling in the East Midlands while England burns. Fine by me.

	02-04-2004 16:47									#426
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Caucau, so recently injured for Auckland, is likely to make his return to Professional rugby with...Newcastle Falcons apparently. Serious talks have alledgedly taken place. This would be a huge coup for Rob Andrew - and a huge worry for the SANZAR's S12 brand. If current young stars of S12 are now being tempted away it gives the tournament a huge headache. I am encouraging Tigers to go for Doug Howlett without delay. A pairing of him and Murphy on the wing would make my season next year - and Doug could learn plenty by playing with a talent like Geordan. On the other hand he may just be 'doing a Doug' and threatening to leave so he can get more money down there (for far less rugby) and still be able to live in NZ.

Serves you right for not reading my posts! I reported last week that Jonny Wilkinson had made a flying trip to NZ to talk to Caucau about going to Newcastle. This was prior to the injury, which sees him out for six months.

As I reported last week, Caucau's problem is that his total income is about $NZ100,000 - $75,000 from S12, and $25,000 from his club. NZ S12 money is less than Australia's. The Kiwi S12 players who play for the ABs obviously earn a heap more. But he's not eligible to play for the ABs. He's tied to Fiji, who are not only bankrupt, but play few Tests. The NZRFU won't increase his S12 money for obvious reasons - it would set a precedent. It's also no real skin off their nose if he leaves NZ because he's not eligible for the ABs.

Ergo, his only opportunity to increase his income is to play in the NH. Which is what he will do. It's not a matter of if or when, it's a matter of with whom. Newcastle seem to have got in first. What were Leicester doing?

	02-04-2004 19:57									#427
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Dunno about the others, but more and more Australian wine is up there. And cheaper. And it's p*ssing off the French wine industry in a huge way.

Mind you we are keeping the best ones for ourselves.

	03-04-2004 06:18									#428
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I bet you were never allowed to drink red cordial because it made you hyperactive.

	03-04-2004 17:23									#429
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Hurricanes 29 -d- Reds 12

Dreadful match. A battle to see who could be more incompetent.

Crusaders 47 -d- Brumbies 28

The Crusaders of old. Mighty effort. In fact, they resembled the Blues of last season. Mehrtens didn't take his place. The Brumbies didn't play all that badly - they scored 4 tries for a bonus point - but the Crusaders wouldn't let them get the ball. I have to say, though, that young Rathbone showed some real touches of class. Talented kid. Looks like the Crusaders are back in town. Good thing.

	04-04-2004 00:50									#430
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I must point out that mixing white and red wine to produce rosé is not the official way of producing the thing. It's still done, though, but called Auxkin's rosé (this being the name of a Spanish basque center/full back playing in my team).
About Harinordoquy's try, that combo is called 'Angleterre' because it's inspired from English play.

I think that the French are going to tour in Northern America, the US and Canada this summer. That's hardly a big tour, but if it could help US rugby a bit, it would be a good thing. Caligastia would even get to see some rugby in that backwater country!

	04-04-2004 06:07									#431
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quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare Caligastia would even get to see some rugby in that backwater country!

	04-04-2004 06:31									#432
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But they'll only be allowed in if they're happy to be fingerprinted, photographed, body-cavity searched, et al. Cripes, imagine drawing the short straw and having to ask Mam'zelle Labit to spread 'em.

	04-04-2004 13:10									#433
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finbar, Labit will no longer play for France. That's not exactly how they said it, but Jo Maso said something like "Christian's too old for the next world cup, so we'll try other players in the meantime. If exceptionnally for some reason we couldn't find anyone else, we'd call him back for a specific match."

	04-04-2004 13:36									#434
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Mmmmm. Thanks for that. So I'm going to have to find someone else to pick on.

Blues 22 -d- Waratahs 17

Abysmal first half of rugby full of handling errors and neither team seeming to have any idea what they were doing. In fact, the highlight of the first half was Carlos being yellow carded for a late shoulder charge on The Plank. Howlett and Rokococo fired in the second half for the Blues and did the damage. The Blues showed brief snatches of their old form but they're still relying on individual efforts. The Waratahs are simply lost without Matt Rogers' speed and creativity. He was driving the train when they strung together the early wins. Without him, they will finish mid-table.

	04-04-2004 16:11									#435
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quote: So I'm going to have to find someone else to pick on.

Beware, Tamerlin has already picked Yachvili.

quote: Carlos being yellow carded for a late shoulder charge on The Plank.

Wasn't that supposed to be the other way around?

	04-04-2004 18:14									#436
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quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare Beware, Tamerlin has already picked Yachvili.

Yes, I know. Rest assured, I'll be choosing another Toulouse player. Mam'zelle Labit can't be the only Toulouse player who dies her hair, I'm sure.

quote: Wasn't that supposed to be the other way around?

You'd think so. It looked very funny. The Plank was juggling the ball, trying to control it, but lost it. Carlos had already lined him up and had his head down for the charge before The Plank lost the ball. Crash! The Plank went down, milking it for all it was worth. Carlos got a yellow card. His parting word to the ref was: "Bullsh*t!". Several times. It was one of the silliest yellow cards I've seen.

	05-04-2004 03:14									#437
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Yes, I know. Rest assured, I'll be choosing another Toulouse player. Mam'zelle Labit can't be the only Toulouse player who dies her hair, I'm sure.

If Cédric Heymans comes back in the French team, you have your chance.

	05-04-2004 04:18									#438
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I'll keep an eye out for her.

	05-04-2004 13:36									#439
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quote: And it's p*ssing off the French wine industry in a huge way.

It’s rested on it’s laurels for far too long – but with the Entente Cordiale now 100 years old I should leave it there.

quote: Fiddling in the East Midlands while England burns. Fine by me.

Strangely I am not all that sad about it myself. We remain undefeated since Martin regained the club captaincy.

A 25 all draw with Newcastle at their place yesterday. One of their Kiwi’s did a Dominici on the line to deny them the win.

Some guy called Mayerhofler? Never heard of him myself.

quote: Ergo, his only opportunity to increase his income is to play in the NH. Which is what he will do. It's not a matter of if or when, it's a matter of with whom. Newcastle seem to have got in first. What were Leicester doing?

Sitting on their arse and missing the opportunity as usual.

The problem is when you mention SH players I switch off in the same way you do when Jonno gets mentioned.

Good to see the young Bok doing well for his mercenary country of choice.

quote: About Harinordoquy's try, that combo is called 'Angleterre' because it's inspired from English play.

Cohen does it better.

quote: It was one of the silliest yellow cards I've seen.

Should have been red – we musn’t allow that kind of disrespect for refs onto the field.

	05-04-2004 18:35									#440
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Strangely I am not all that sad about it myself. We remain undefeated since Martin regained the club captaincy.

Club before country? Fair enough too.

quote: Some guy called Mayerhofler? Never heard of him myself.

Is there any rugby played in Germany? He could probably represent them in the run up to the next World Cup.

quote: Sitting on their arse and missing the opportunity as usual.

But I wonder who tipped off Newcastle?

quote: Good to see the young Bok doing well for his mercenary country of choice.

That aside, I've been amazed by his development over six or seven weeks. He's starting to produce some very classy work. Shades - dare I say it? - of a young Timmy Horan. Quick thinker, fast and strong, a knack for the devastating angles. Of course it doesn't hurt having Gregan, Larkham, Mortlock, et al, inside him.

quote: Cohen does it better.

But not very often.

quote: Should have been red – we musn’t allow that kind of disrespect for refs onto the field.

I could only have laughed louder if it had been VD. That aside, too, there has been some pitiful reffing this season. There's obviously some sort of edict out on high tackles. Tackles around the biceps are being penalised.

	05-04-2004 19:06									#441
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Crusaders 47 -d- Brumbies 28 The Crusaders of old. Mighty effort. In fact, they resembled the Blues of last season. Mehrtens didn't take his place. The Brumbies didn't play all that badly - they scored 4 tries for a bonus point - but the Crusaders wouldn't let them get the ball. I have to say, though, that young Rathbone showed some real touches of class. Talented kid. Looks like the Crusaders are back in town. Good thing.

Jeez, and didn't the game start off at about 500 Mph? Three tries in 10 minutes! The Crusaders forwards were awesome! The Brumbies only looked like closing the gap on the scoreboard for about 2 minutes of the whole game.

With the Crusaders now going to SA their place in the top 4 looks pretty secure.

	05-04-2004 19:12									#442
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Mmmmm. Thanks for that. So I'm going to have to find someone else to pick on. Blues 22 -d- Waratahs 17 Abysmal first half of rugby full of handling errors and neither team seeming to have any idea what they were doing. In fact, the highlight of the first half was Carlos being yellow carded for a late shoulder charge on The Plank. Howlett and Rokococo fired in the second half for the Blues and did the damage. The Blues showed brief snatches of their old form but they're still relying on individual efforts. The Waratahs are simply lost without Matt Rogers' speed and creativity. He was driving the train when they strung together the early wins. Without him, they will finish mid-table.

Didn't get to see it, so I'm glad it was dull. I'm also glad the Blues won, but it's probably too late for them to get into the top 4. Then again, they are going to SA for the next four games...

Speaking of yellow cards and penalties...did you see the Chiefs v Highlanders? The Chiefs got a penalty try because their man was taken out early just as he was about to toe the ball over the line and score. The guilty Highlanders player was also sent off for 10. How many times can you penalize the same offence?

	06-04-2004 06:08									#443
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia The Chiefs got a penalty try because their man was taken out early just as he was about to toe the ball over the line and score. The guilty Highlanders player was also sent off for 10. How many times can you penalize the same offence?

The same question was asked by one of the commentators.

Here's the relevant law:

quote: 10.2 UNFAIR PLAY (a) Intentionally Offending. A player must not intentionally infringe any Law of the Game, or play unfairly. Penalty: Penalty Kick A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored. The player who intentionally offends must be either admonished, or cautioned that a send off will result if the offence or a similar offence is committed, or sent-off. After a caution a player is temporarily suspended from the match for a period of ten minutes playing time. After a caution, if the player commits the same or similar offence, the player must be sent-off.

So, in the first instance, the ref has two options: (1) admonish; or (2) caution and yellow card. It was a deliberate foul of the most cynical kind, so I have no problems with the ref taking option (2).

	06-04-2004 06:46									#444
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Yeah, fair enough.

	06-04-2004 13:06									#445
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quote: Club before country? Fair enough too.

My club did more than any other towards winning the RWC – and suffered badly for it. So hell yes – it’s time for a little club before country sentiment.

quote: But I wonder who tipped off Newcastle?

They have Islanders on their books…maybe this helps shed some light?

quote: Quick thinker, fast and strong, a knack for the devastating angles. Of course it doesn't hurt having Gregan, Larkham, Mortlock, et al, inside him.

Certainly can’t hurt the learning curve.

quote: But not very often.

Quality rather than quantity.

quote: There's obviously some sort of edict out on high tackles. Tackles around the biceps are being penalised.

I think you are right – it is this years ‘minding the gap’.

Your friend VD is fit again incidentally – he may tour with England this June to say hello to all his Australian buddies.

European quarter finals this weekend – no interesting teams involved in it really of course.

I’m backing Wasps against Gloucester (better of two evils stuff) amd I think I have to back the Scots franchise too – if only because they are huge underdogs to Tamerlin’s mob.

	06-04-2004 14:07									#446
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quote: Originally posted by Havak European quarter finals this weekend – no interesting teams involved in it really of course.

quote: I’m backing Wasps against Gloucester (better of two evils stuff) amd I think I have to back the Scots franchise too – if only because they are huge underdogs to Tamerlin’s mob.

I am becoming a bit worried, what promised to be a formality is threatening to turn into vinegar. Jean-Baptiste Ellissalde is still wounded and Frédéric Michalack injured himself against the Racing Club de Narbonne. This means that Yann Delaigue will play fly-half and "who knows who" will play scrum half.

	06-04-2004 14:30									#447
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I can understand your concern - but it is only Edinburgh.

This is a team skippered by Chris Patterson (the Scotland captain) and with such a thin squad there is talk of Blackadder getting an emergency call (he retired from them when he took the Scottish coaching role). There is nothing there to trouble Toulouse on their home patch.

	06-04-2004 14:42									#448
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Since I am supporting the Stade Toulousain I have always heard that the worst opponent of the Stade Toulousain is the Stade Toulousain itself.

	06-04-2004 15:57									#449
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There's some truth in that - I recall you visiting us for the semi final in 1997 and it was such a bitter winter day your boys clearly didn't want to be on the pitch - they simply never started playing.

At the time I thought the same thing could never happen to us but then I saw our away leg at Ulster this year...

	06-04-2004 17:15									#450
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Quality rather than quantity.

Fair enough. That should guarantee you third spot in the 6 Nations next year too.

quote: Your friend VD is fit again incidentally – he may tour with England this June to say hello to all his Australian buddies.

Goodoh. Carlos can word him up on how to late shoulder charge the Plank.