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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:18
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Originally posted by Havak
Wonder what the franchise will be called – Perth Possums? |
There are all sorts of competitions being run for a name. Naturally, your suggestion features prominently. 
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I just hope they aren’t playing in an Aussie rules stadium? |
Like you will be? Or the equivalent thereof. No fear. Randwick's home ground is like all the other clubs - a suburban oval. They're right on the beach at Coogee, just past Bondi. South-east of the CBD. Very pretty ground. Televised matches have the ocean in the background.
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Do they? Shame on them! The RFU knows the Prawn sandwich brigade will pay for any old tat on match day. Did you know they make a Polo shirt for every Twickers fixture – wonder how well the Aussie one sold this year? |
They make a polo shirt for the oppo supporters? Mmmm. I suppose it would be a reasonable souvenir if Twickers is on it somewhere.
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She is a very young 16 bless her. I can’t stand him myself so it’s unlikely I will pluck up courage to see that worthy movie. |
Look, one night when the doctor's told you to give the grog a miss, and there's nothing better to do, have a look at it. It's a very good film, and you wouldn't know it was Adam Sandler.
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It will be very emotionally charged – we may be saying farewell to him and the ground on the same day. I strongly suspect that if we do win silverware he will indeed retire. And that worries me – because he is the very heart of the team. Where does the next talisman come from? |
That's the problem with legends. They retire eventually. A price is paid for relying on them.
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Did you catch his pragmatic reply to the journalists who pressed him on the issue? |
Yes I did. Typical him. There's absolutely no hope he'll do the Lions tour. If he'd wanted to play on internationally, he would have. He's too sensible to do a Nose.
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*edit* Checking I see that our last home league game of the season is against Wasps on April 30th. If we (hopefully) top the table after that game it will be out last homegame of the season - and Jonno's possible farewell. That would, I think, be pretty perfect. |
Except if Wasps win. He will have to play on again! 
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
I am not sure that Aussie Rules stadiums lend themselves to Rugger do they? |
No, they're ovals. Some of them are big ones, meaning the pitch is marked out well inside the normal boundaries, meaning the crowd on the ovals' wings - their widest points - are a long way from the action.
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Love the idea of turning the Waca into a park though – it surely proves stupidity is a global problem?  |
The WACA spent an absolute sh*tload of money upgrading the facilities without doing their sums properly. The ground is only really used for cricket and they're not even guaranteed a Test match every season. So now they're sitting on a white elephant and down the fiscal dunny. If you'll pardon the mixed-ish metaphor.
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I really hope Kafer does not sign – I would commend you to check his coaching record (Tigers two worst season ever when he was backs coach for us – two more of Saracens worst seasons ever when he was head coach there). The man has everything to prove. |
But didn't you only very recently defend his time at Saracens? No one has been able to turn the mob into a team? Anyway, I still doubt he'll get the gig, and his record in the NH will probably be the main reason.
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So specifically I don’t mind him running out the lads as they need game exposure. What bothers me is not using the bench to even try and save the game. Shame on you Tigers – taking the proverbial from fans pockets and disrespecting the cup to boot. I don’t blame those souls who walked out a few minutes early at all. |
I read the match reports. Utter arrogance. More fool the supporters who went along with it.
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And Finbar – Eight test wins in a row now. Are England becoming a credible cricket side at long last? |
You're looking like the only oppo at the moment. The Kiwis were hopeless and the Pakis are an embarrassment. Bear in mind, though, that we beat the Boks 5-1 last time. 3-0 here, and 2-1 backing up over there. I watched some of this week's match. Your attack is looking strong with Jones fit again to partner Harmison, but they're going to have to learn to put the ball on the spot each and every time. Or they'll be murdered. It bothers me that bods like Butcher are still in the line up. And Trescothic still hasn't acquired footwork. He will fail much more often than he succeeds against a topline attack.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
It’s a problem watching rugger – you need top be able to discern individual limbs.
I recall the Gabba (and I realise it is a cricket stadium) had this problem when they put rugger inside it. |
And they play AFL at the Gabba, too. Cricket grounds, AFL grounds, they're all ovals, so inherently unsuitable for rugby from a watcher's point of view.
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Acutally I loved the mixed metaphor. Surely that is ripe for local or federal government to step in and get a bargain? I know Aussie government does not run shy of getting involved in sport like our mob do. |
I think they've already approached the WA government. They've got no hope. The WA government is a Labor government - all our states and territories are Labor governments - but of the ugly ilk, competing with the Tories to be as penny-pinching and meanspirited as possible. Not that I'm suggesting the government should take over the WACA.
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By the way – Amnesiac David Blunkett claiming he ‘did it all for the love of his son’ got the same positive reception from me that David Campese would speaking at my club. This from a man who claimed peaceful protestors at a USAF facility had ‘swords and cudgels’. They had a Kite. But I digress… |
I realised only recently that he's blind from birth. He's achieved much, even if his politics are despicable. And it turns out that half of England has been porking that same bint. Hopefully you passed up the opportunity.
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I did – and you are correct. I was trying to be fairer to him given my own personal view is definitely coloured by his failure as backs coach for Tigers. I still think he is a bad move for a new S12 franchise trying to match the established franchises because I have heard terrible things about his inter-personal skills since his leaving Saracens. |
His career path was almost preordained. Because he was essentially the Brumbies backline captain, organiser and brainstrust, along with Gregan and Larkham, it was sort of assumed that he would make a good coach. It ain't necessarily so. He was also famous here for being prickly. He was at the forefront of the them -v- us (meaning the Brumbies -v- everyone else including the ARU) psychology that the Brumbies developed for motivational purposes. It doesn't surprise me that his inter-personal skills are dodgy. I suspect he needs like minds around him to prosper, as he had at the Brumbies.
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Oh the Aussies are well out in front still. It’s a good thing the next series is here I think – should make it more competitive. |
Everyone here is looking forward to the series. Thumping the Kiwis and the Pakis is, ultimately, tedious. And bad for the game itself in the long term.
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I thought the second innings dismissal of Tres might catch your eye – no foot movement at all that I could see. |
None. He has a good eye, so he'll score heavily against bowling that isn't top class.
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Yes why is Butcher there – his dismissal in the second was a very Gower type flash to a wide and low delivery, aka damn stupid. Key is still on probation for me – but Butch simply messes up too often.
I don’t know if you have caught any of it but Vaughan’s footwork also seems to be getting very lazy. Excellent skipper – but his batting is really suffering from it. |
I've always thought Thorpe was the only genuinely top class batsman. When his head is right. Great technique and a tough nut. Strauss is scoring runs but I haven't seen enough of him to judge. Vaughan looked immensely promising in exactly the same way Thorpe was but he hasn't progressed. Maybe it's the captaincy. We'll see. The thing with the Australians is that, on song, they're masters of pressure. And I don't mean of the verbal kind. They probe for weaknesses, find them, and target them. They rarely let an oppo off the hook. There's a lot of planning behind the skills on the field.
Oh, and if Michael Clarke can forget that he's probably the most gifted young batsman to appear since Tendulkar, and stop trying to play every shot in his arsenel before he gets to 20, you could be in for a batting treat.
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*edit* Graeme Bond, Sale Centre, has failed to recover from a serious neck injury and has therefore retired from rugger. Sorry to see him go - sure he was a pain to see in the oppo at times but he was a decent player. |
Yes, a great pity. Always just short of top quality, but a terrific contributor.
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LDiCesare
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La Ferté sous Jouarre France
Jan 2001
time: 05:18
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quote:
On the rugby side Tigers are hugely annoyed after our European opponents Calvisano moved the last pool fixture 30 miles to a smaller stadium after suddenly remembering that they do not have floodlights to accommodate a 3pm kick off. You can understand why Finbar loves the place – small things (like being able to see the ball) just are not important to them. |
I think you get it wrong. They planned on Leicester not being able to see the ball so they would score less, not knowing where the ball was.
Then they realissed that the scrum half wouldn't see his fly half either and would play the whole match only with his forwards.
Then they looked at their own forwards.
And at the Tigers'.
And decided it was a bad idea to let the latter stomp on the former during the whole match.
So they changed the fixture.
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Tamerlin
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Toulouse (South-western France)
Apr 2002
time: 06:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
There are two sporting codes favoured by Gentleman Tamerlin. Rugby Union and Cricket. You qualify as a Gentleman for loving Union – but to be the definitive article you must love the smack of willow on leather too.
It’s not a game for casual viewing – but it is a great way to spend five days with a picnic and a huge case of 1664. |
Thanks Havak, this is more or less what I am thinking about this game. Unfortunately, it is difficult, if not impossible, to watch at a cricket game in France and I doubt I would understand it fully should I see one live as I have nor the culture needed nor the necessary knowledge of the rules (I would not be surprised should you tell me they are also called laws).
I am sure this is a fascinating game and I am pretty sure that if, one day, I am earning enough money to subscribe to a satellite or cable TV network I will try to fill this lack. The problem is that I doubt I will, one day, earn enough money.
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Last day in the office tomorrow – then off (drinking) until 4th Jan. So marry Xmas to all!  |
Yeah, blah, blah, blah, merry Xthing to all. 
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
You can understand why Finbar loves the place – small things (like being able to see the ball) just are not important to them. |
The whole saga is so typically Italian. I love them!
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The man has triumphed over his disabilities. But he is a huge disappointment to me. As a young politician he was labour to the core. He then became one of the most right wing Home Secretary’s I can ever recall. |
Like the Labour Party here, they thought lurching to the right was the safest way to be elected and stay in power. It's a worldwide problem.
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What has happened to NZ – they were supposed to be resurgent when they came to us in the Spring. |
Chris Cairns retired from Test cricket. They can't find a decent pair of openers or anyone to support Fleming in the top order. Or at least anyone who can cope with top class bowling. They had two good young batting talents - Sinclair and Vincent - last time they were here, but they played too much one day cricket, lost form and lost confidence, now they're wandering in the cricket wilderness. On top of that, they sort of choked against us. On the odd occasion when they could have put pressure on us, they opted to occupy the crease as a priority rather than score runs. On top of that, their bowling lacks penetration against top class batting. Vettori took one bag against us, but his stock bowling has dulled his edge. The young all-rounder Jacob Oram - I think he played against you - looks the goods, though.
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I don’t mind to see good batting – but I’d rather see good bowling testing the lad. I have seen plenty of exhibition batting from Aussie touring sides thank you. |
Put the ball on the spot, over after over, without variation, build and maintain pressure, and you've got a chance against him. As you will against any batsman in the world. That's the problem in world cricket at the moment - the batsmen are on top because there's a dearth of top class bowlers.
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There are two sporting codes favoured by Gentleman Tamerlin. Rugby Union and Cricket. You qualify as a Gentleman for loving Union – but to be the definitive article you must love the smack of willow on leather too. |
It's beyond me how a chap with his intelligence has failed to grasp and embrace cricket!
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Last day in the office tomorrow – then off (drinking) until 4th Jan. So marry Xmas to all! |
Ditto! I'll be away between Christmas and New Year. Someone had better stop this thread sinking like a stone!
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Tamerlin
Thanks Havak, this is more or less what I am thinking about this game. Unfortunately, it is difficult, if not impossible, to watch at a cricket game in France and I doubt I would understand it fully should I see one live as I have nor the culture needed nor the necessary knowledge of the rules (I would not be surprised should you tell me they are also called laws). |
They are, indeed, called laws. And the game is incredibly simple. As rugby is - or should be - incredibly simple. Until administrators get their bureaucratic mitts on them!
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I am sure this is a fascinating game and I am pretty sure that if, one day, I am earning enough money to subscribe to a satellite or cable TV network I will try to fill this lack. The problem is that I doubt I will, one day, earn enough money. |
When we visit you next year, I'll explain the game over a bottle of Absinthe.
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Yeah, blah, blah, blah, merry Xthing to all. |
Bah humbug! Actually, there's a film out in the cinemas here called "Bad Santa", with Billy Bob Thornton playing a drunken, foul-mouthed department store Santa who hates children. Every time I see a trailer for the film, Tamerlin springs to mind. And apparently there's a version out on DVD in the States, sort of a director's cut of the film. It's called "Badder Santa" and contains some of the more foul-mouthed Santa material cut from the film for cinema release.
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17-12-2004 15:57
Don't joke!
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