04-09-2005 13:35									#301
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quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare I can still walk. Everything's fine.

Yes, well. It was only the first week. Report back to us in a month's time. If you can.

I heard about five minutes of yesterday's Wallabies - ABs game before I had to go out. The five minutes coincided with Mark Gerard's first try just on half time, so the Wallabies went to the break down 5-20. It sounds like they played very much better in the second half, with Matt Rogers excelling at #10 before he ran out of puff. They even got to within three points before they stupidly gave away penalties. I suppose it has to be deemed a good effort under the injury circumstances. The knives remain out for George Gregan, even thought he, apparently, had a much better game. The fact remains that, while a pack is, at best, constantly under pressure, no half back can excel except on the back foot. Thus anyone who replaces Gregan will face exactly the same problem but without his experience and guile.

While I haven't seen any of this season's Tests, it sounds like the front row is even less competitive than it was. That, and crap lineouts - they're missing Plank's organising skills terribly, and Dan Vickerman, his lieutenant and astute organiser is injured - on top of the injuries, are what is killing them. If you can't control possession from the set pieces, you're always chasing and defending.

	06-09-2005 13:58									#302
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Morning Gentlemen. And how are we? Have the kiwi lads finished celebrating yet?

quote: Any more outrageous than you lumping England into the top four or five teams come next World Cup time?

Given that the Wallabies still hold third place in the world rankings I might as well make England favourites for the next RWC – it has just as much credibility.

There’s a very real chance that the Turnip led England will beat this Wallaby outfit in November Finbar. I hope that scares you as much as it does me – a Robinson led England really shouldn’t be threatening SH sides. After all Turnip says he took some positives from the Lions experience.

I can understand Eddie being frustrated but what on earth was he doing going on record saying “clearly the players we have are not good enough”? If it is an attempt to light a fire under the players it is perhaps an ill considered one as it could turn the players away from him?

quote: I'd be interested to hear from Havak - when he gets back - who the fourth and fifth choices for the England #10 spot would be.

Current pecking order would probably be Wilko-Hodgson-Goode-King-Barkeley.

So King (Wasps) or Barkeley (Bath). Both have been tried at the top level and found wanting

quote: no half back can excel except on the back foot

A good point in defence of George – and strangely timely for ‘King’ Carlos who might be regretting his move to Northampton. Dan Carter would have been anonymous behind a Saints pack that is just about the worst I have ever seen from them.

Saturday’s result Tigers 32 – Saints 0

And Goode missed four conversions and three penalties.

	06-09-2005 14:26									#303
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By the way Finbar there really is hysteria here about the Cricket now. Even lasses are getting wrapped up in the drama for goodness sake.

I expect Australia to come out all guns blazing on Thursday to be honest. They can't keep relying solely on Warne to give them a chance.

How do you feel about Ponting's deportment recently? Lucky to keep any of his match fee after his disgraceful behaviour at Trent Bridge and, along with McGrath, made a total a*** of himself after the test by whining on and on about something that was simply not against the rules of the game.

I think the Irony of Australians moaning about the spirit of the game being ruined sailed right over this pairs head anyway. Aussie sledging passed the bounds of decency/acceptability decades ago after all?

	06-09-2005 20:17									#304
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quote: Originally posted by Havak There’s a very real chance that the Turnip led England will beat this Wallaby outfit in November Finbar. I hope that scares you as much as it does me – a Robinson led England really shouldn’t be threatening SH sides. After all Turnip says he took some positives from the Lions experience.

Whether an England side, patched up, missing nine players, with an utter novice and fourth choice #10 would get within three points of this All Blacks team after being down 0-20 is another matter.

quote: I can understand Eddie being frustrated but what on earth was he doing going on record saying “clearly the players we have are not good enough”? If it is an attempt to light a fire under the players it is perhaps an ill considered one as it could turn the players away from him?

He was talking about the pack, and the front row in particular. That's what's giving the grief. I have no idea why he said it. With the pressure he's under in Australia, it doesn't surprise me, though.

quote: Current pecking order would probably be Wilko-Hodgson-Goode-King-Barkeley. So King (Wasps) or Barkeley (Bath). Both have been tried at the top level and found wanting

At least the Wallaby fourth choice #10 obviously craps on the England one.

quote: A good point in defence of George – and strangely timely for ‘King’ Carlos who might be regretting his move to Northampton. Dan Carter would have been anonymous behind a Saints pack that is just about the worst I have ever seen from them. Saturday’s result Tigers 32 – Saints 0 And Goode missed four conversions and three penalties.

There you go. If the pack is on roller skates, what can a half back do? The gunning for Gregan is ridiculous at this point in time. Yes, he had a couple of ordinary games behind a dismal pack, but apparently he did everything humanly possible behind a dismal pack on the weekend.

	07-09-2005 14:21									#305
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quote: Whether an England side, patched up, missing nine players, with an utter novice and fourth choice #10 would get within three points of this All Blacks team after being down 0-20 is another matter.

At the moment such an England side would get marmalised by them. Fortunately the ABs face Wales to start off the ‘Grand Slam tour’ so we don’t get humiliated first.

Having said that an England side with similar circumstances got within a few points of a much better Wallabies side (than they are now) last November so anything can happen in rugger.

quote: With the pressure he's under in Australia, it doesn't surprise me, though.

I actual feel sorry for him. And I never (ever) thought I would to be honest. What can he do as you say – the front row is badly deficient right now and the locks are either raw or just lacking guile. Come back Plank all is forgiven?

quote: At least the Wallaby fourth choice #10 obviously craps on the England one.

Rogers v King? There’s no contest at all and I would be mad to argue otherwise. Rogers is a gifted natural footballer despite the error he made in his choice of codes initially (purely IMO). I’d risk him every time. King excels at club level (another Wasp sadly) – and has fallen flat every time asked questions above that standard.

We have a number of youngsters in the youth sides but all are behind the guys I named at the moment.

quote: but apparently he did everything humanly possible behind a dismal pack on the weekend.

I only caught the last 12 minutes or so – but George was a committed as ever. I couldn’t fault him really.

I didn’t realise that Ponting was a Tasmanian by the way – it sheds new light on his self control. He must have to work on it constantly?

Now don’t spread this too far Finbar – but I have a sneaky feeling Australia will blow England away in this one. England excel at anti-climaxes after all.

*edit* Forgot to mention that the new SH style game time clocks and game time sirens were not used last weekend in any games. Why? Well Premier Rugby (the clubs/RFU hybrid organisation that runs the top flight) failed to deliver them to the grounds on time. Typically English eh?

	07-09-2005 20:36									#306
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quote: Originally posted by Havak I actual feel sorry for him. And I never (ever) thought I would to be honest. What can he do as you say – the front row is badly deficient right now and the locks are either raw or just lacking guile. Come back Plank all is forgiven?

Yes, and Dan Vickerman, fit, would be handy. Apart from being a promising lineout organiser, he was Plank's deputy in that department, he also has some mongrel. Nathan Sharp seems never to have learned organisation and also lacks mongrel. The other incumbent, Chisolm, is young and promising. So the current combo aren't all that threatening.

quote: I only caught the last 12 minutes or so – but George was a committed as ever. I couldn’t fault him really.

So you probably caught Matt Dunning's brain explosions, handing out penalties that utterly destroyed their fightback.

quote: I didn’t realise that Ponting was a Tasmanian by the way – it sheds new light on his self control. He must have to work on it constantly?

I think I said once before - he's from one of the lesser parts of Launceston, a very rough part of the world where drinking, punting and unemployment are rife. He publicly admitted a drinking problem and seems to have controlled it. He still punts, hence his nickname.

quote: Now don’t spread this too far Finbar – but I have a sneaky feeling Australia will blow England away in this one. England excel at anti-climaxes after all.

One the quiet, I wouldn't be surprised. The Australians have played like crap for most of the series, they have to fire at least once, you'd think. It will interesting to see whether England goes conservative with Collingwood, or positive with Anderson. Not that I think all that much of Anderson anyway. On that basis, I hope they pick him.

quote: *edit* Forgot to mention that the new SH style game time clocks and game time sirens were not used last weekend in any games. Why? Well Premier Rugby (the clubs/RFU hybrid organisation that runs the top flight) failed to deliver them to the grounds on time. Typically English eh?

What time clocks? What time sirens?

	08-09-2005 13:43									#307
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Chisolm was the youngster whose name I could not remember. He accounts for the raw part, Sharpe for the lack of nounce. Sharpe in fact seems to have gone backwards this season as a player – it seems he needed a longer period of mentoring with a more senior player?

quote: So you probably caught Matt Dunning's brain explosions, handing out penalties that utterly destroyed their fightback.

I caught a couple of penalties that took the game away from the Wallabies. I didn’t specifically register it was Dunning (my attention was not fully on the game). Normally when I see Dunning the thoughts that go through my head are mainly how someone seemingly so unfit can be playing international rugby – he blows like a cart horse all the time.

quote: He publicly admitted a drinking problem and seems to have controlled it. He still punts, hence his nickname.

‘Punt’ meaning ‘wager’ as it does here? Did you ever get to lip read his tirade to the England balcony at Nottingham? Quality and Quantity of ‘effing and jeffing’ – lucky he kept any of his match fee after it.

I’m sure you had mentioned his origin before – I have an amazing capacity to forget things (although I still remember a time when England won an RWC final).

quote: Not that I think all that much of Anderson anyway. On that basis, I hope they pick him.

Collingwood Finbar. A Defensive option. He has been in cracking form with the bat though.

The Aussie top order has to fire at some point. I’d prefer it to be in their next test of course.

quote: What time clocks? What time sirens?

ERP in their wisdom decided there should be a clock in every Premiership ground this season displaying official elapsed game time and that a siren (hooter) should signal the end of play in both halves. And then they didn’t deliver them on time.

It’s interesting that our League seems to pick the very worst parts of the SH game to copy IMHO – play offs and sirens to name but two – and yet what we really need (a TMO at every game to catch all the SH pensioners lurking offside) they ignore.

	08-09-2005 18:15									#308
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I recall Finbar saying after the second test how Flintoff was carrying England.

What amazes me about the Aussies (and it has really surprised me) is that Warne has been single handedly carrying them the whole series. Without him I shudder to think how they would have coped. He has got them right in the game today. The quicks have been useless thus far...

	08-09-2005 23:22									#309
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Hey guys, just thought I'd pop in to let you all know that I became a Dad on September 1st at 2:18am when my son Brendan was born.

Oh, and UP THE ALL BLACKS!!!

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	08-09-2005 23:23									#310
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	08-09-2005 23:40									#311
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and congratulations to the mum and dad

Still i hope you will teach him a sport that potentialy pays much better money and with much less risk than rugby [he says ruefully looking at his knee] which one can i mean

	09-09-2005 05:07									#312
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Don't listen to the Welshman Cali!
Get him started young.

One of these might be the way to go ...

http://www.bearinggifts.co.nz/prod....2&c_id=00000073

	09-09-2005 13:11									#313
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Big Congratulations Caligastia (and your good lady) - he looks like a centre to me.

He qualifies for the Eagles too of course.

Different note entirely - the bottled bronze and most over rated centre in the UK (Charlotte Churchs squeeze Gavin Henson) is to miss six months as he needs surgery on a long standing groin problem. It means he will miss the 6N. I already thought England would beat Wales at HQ this year (I also fancy France to do them in Cardiff - sorry CoT but i think the golden times are over) - this just helps make it even more likely.

	09-09-2005 14:32									#314
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Chisolm was the youngster whose name I could not remember. He accounts for the raw part, Sharpe for the lack of nounce. Sharpe in fact seems to have gone backwards this season as a player – it seems he needed a longer period of mentoring with a more senior player?

I don't know what Sharpe's problem is. He hasn't come on. He doesn't seem to have any mongrel in him. And his handling skills seem to let him down more than they should.

quote: ‘Punt’ meaning ‘wager’ as it does here? Did you ever get to lip read his tirade to the England balcony at Nottingham? Quality and Quantity of ‘effing and jeffing’ – lucky he kept any of his match fee after it.

No, I didn't see it. Haven't seen a second of the series. He was fed up with England's stretching of the replacement rules. But not the place to show it, and he paid the price.

quote: Collingwood Finbar. A Defensive option. He has been in cracking form with the bat though.

And he failed. I've always thought of him as one of those one-day specialists. Test cricket asks more demanding questions. As K Pietersen is finding out.

quote: ERP in their wisdom decided there should be a clock in every Premiership ground this season displaying official elapsed game time and that a siren (hooter) should signal the end of play in both halves. And then they didn’t deliver them on time.

How was time sounded at these grounds before this?

	09-09-2005 14:39									#315
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quote: Originally posted by Havak I recall Finbar saying after the second test how Flintoff was carrying England. What amazes me about the Aussies (and it has really surprised me) is that Warne has been single handedly carrying them the whole series. Without him I shudder to think how they would have coped. He has got them right in the game today. The quicks have been useless thus far...

To be fair, McGrath has been missing, and he came into this match not having bowled a serious ball for about three weeks. He will be better in the second dig. It will also be interesting to see how England copes without Jones, their most threatening bowler in the series. But, yes, Warne has carried the attack, and not unexpectedly after Gillespie was found wanting early on. And I maintain that Flintoff has carried England. He saved them again yesterday, as he did in the last Test.

	09-09-2005 14:43									#316
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia Hey guys, just thought I'd pop in to let you all know that I became a Dad on September 1st at 2:18am when my son Brendan was born. Oh, and UP THE ALL BLACKS!!!

Well done. We all knew we had it in you, Cal.

I'll let Helen Clarke know she has another little voter.

	09-09-2005 14:44									#317
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Big Congratulations Caligastia (and your good lady) - he looks like a centre to me. He qualifies for the Eagles too of course. Different note entirely - the bottled bronze and most over rated centre in the UK (Charlotte Churchs squeeze Gavin Henson) is to miss six months as he needs surgery on a long standing groin problem. It means he will miss the 6N. I already thought England would beat Wales at HQ this year (I also fancy France to do them in Cardiff - sorry CoT but i think the golden times are over) - this just helps make it even more likely.

Presumably the injury is, um, Charlotte-related?

	09-09-2005 18:38									#318
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It is suspicious isn’t it? What with Charlotte allegedly being such a wild girl and all.

quote: He was fed up with England's stretching of the replacement rules

Steady now Finbar – something is either inside the rules or outside of them surely? And if the ICC were satisfied the rules were not broken then who cares if Ponting did not agree?

quote: And he failed. I've always thought of him as one of those one-day specialists.

He did indeed fail. In fact I am not happy right now with how it is going – your openers finally seem to have remembered they can play a bit.

Time for plan B – the poisonous deep fired mars bar on Shane’s pillow tonight.

quote: How was time sounded at these grounds before this?

You might find this hard to believe coming from a place where the hooter was essential to drown out the odd loud drongo in the crowd but the end of play was signalled by a combination of the referees whistle and his pointing to the tunnel. Traditional anachronistic stuff in the new cash cow Super-12 Premiership. Marketing men of course have always had the instinct to introduce more hooters to everything.

quote: And I maintain that Flintoff has carried England. He saved them again yesterday, as he did in the last Test.

But almost everybody has contributed at some point – with the possible exception of Bell (who looks like a rabbit in Shane’s headlights to be honest). Freddie has been exceptional and I am grateful for it – in fact if he could just knock over Langer right this moment that would be good…

	09-09-2005 19:38									#319
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Steady now Finbar – something is either inside the rules or outside of them surely? And if the ICC were satisfied the rules were not broken then who cares if Ponting did not agree?

The ICC satisfied? They've just announced they're going to review the rule.

quote: You might find this hard to believe coming from a place where the hooter was essential to drown out the odd loud drongo in the crowd but the end of play was signalled by a combination of the referees whistle and his pointing to the tunnel.

They obviously don't trust the refs (a) not to lose their watches; and (b) not to swallow their whistles.

quote: But almost everybody has contributed at some point – with the possible exception of Bell (who looks like a rabbit in Shane’s headlights to be honest). Freddie has been exceptional and I am grateful for it – in fact if he could just knock over Langer right this moment that would be good…

And now it's raining. Good old England.

	09-09-2005 22:03									#320
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quote: Originally posted by child of Thor and congratulations to the mum and dad Still i hope you will teach him a sport that potentialy pays much better money and with much less risk than rugby [he says ruefully looking at his knee] which one can i mean

Nah, he will learn the ways of his forebears.

	09-09-2005 22:07									#321
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quote: Originally posted by ravagon Don't listen to the Welshman Cali! Get him started young. One of these might be the way to go ... http://www.bearinggifts.co.nz/prod....2&c_id=00000073

My Mum is visiting next week, so I expect she'll be bringing something similar...if so I'll post a picture for you guys.

	09-09-2005 22:08									#322
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Big Congratulations Caligastia (and your good lady) - he looks like a centre to me. He qualifies for the Eagles too of course.

Yes, they could do with a bit of New Zealand blood...

	09-09-2005 22:10									#323
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Well done. We all knew we had it in you, Cal. I'll let Helen Clarke know she has another little voter.

Two problems with that:

1 - He is not a New Zealand citizen.

2 - Voting for brownshirts does not run in my family.

	09-09-2005 23:56									#324
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Congrats Cali!

On another topic, I finally managed to but a new pair of boots. Had to go to a small shop in the northwest of Paris, where you had to go downstairs ("beware the head") in order to try the shoes. The three big shops I went to before and which are supposedly sports shops having nothign remotely looking like a stud. But you could buy lots of shirts if you wanted. Grrrr... But on the fourth try, I did get my shoes. First match on thursday if we've got enough players - manageing to get the doctor say you're apt to play rugby looks like a hard part for some of us - particularly the go and find a doctor part presumably, as I guess almost anyone would be able to pass their tests.

	10-09-2005 17:21									#325
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia 1 - He is not a New Zealand citizen.

Gee, born behind the eightball.

	10-09-2005 17:23									#326
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quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare Congrats Cali! On another topic, I finally managed to but a new pair of boots. Had to go to a small shop in the northwest of Paris, where you had to go downstairs ("beware the head") in order to try the shoes. The three big shops I went to before and which are supposedly sports shops having nothign remotely looking like a stud.

Wouldn't it have been easier - less travel time, anyway - to wait till the season starts? Ask your opponents to give back the studs you left buried in their flesh last season?

	12-09-2005 13:52									#327
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quote: The ICC satisfied? They've just announced they're going to review the rule.

If they review the rules every time the Aussies whine about something no two test matches will ever be played under the same ones!

It still amazes me that the Aussies of all people would have the front to make gamesmanship an issue – there’s just too much ‘pot calling kettle’ hypocrisy in that for my tastes.

The light rules are now under the Aussie whine-o’scope – conveniently ignoring the fact that the Aussies openers set the level where it would be offered when they stupidly went off and lost a whole session. Why on earth did they do that Finbar???

So I’m am watching the BBC news this morning and they have a camera in the ‘Foresters Arms’ in Sydney and the owner goes on camera saying he ‘doesn’t give a toss about sportsmanship – the Poms should not get to win the Ashes by default because of bad light’. This brings cheers from his regulars and reinforces the views I built through watching rugger down there – the majority of your countrymen are very bad sports and even worse losers. The only sport where this plagues us quite so badly is soccer (where our LCD thugs will physically kick off after losses sometimes) but it seems universal across all sports in Oz quite frankly.

But looking at it without such emotion the guy is missing a few things. The time lost to rain and bad light at Old Trafford most probably cost England that Test and kept the series alive until today. The Aussie openers were stupid to go of for bad light when they did in this test. The Aussies did not build a first innings lead because the lower order collapsed. Light has not thus far cost the Australians this test – not playing well enough after a very good start has had much more impact on that issue.

Basically I am saying if England keep their composure and close the deal they will thoroughly deserve to have won the series and no amount of whining will change that. I am not daft enough to think it will not continue unabated however.

If Warney works his magic and pulls a rabbit out hisn hat then he will deserve all the plaudits he gets too. He has been effectively carrying Australia this whole series after all.

quote: They obviously don't trust the refs (a) not to lose their watches; and (b) not to swallow their whistles.

Well the game time clock was in evidence this week – but not the siren/hooter. Weird.

Tigers should have won of course – but a draw down there will do.

quote: And now it's raining. Good old England.

It’s the middle of September. I’m amazed we have had as much play as we have!

	13-09-2005 02:06									#328
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Sorry, haven't had time to read any of the above, including the bit about Tigers deserving to win, so I'll just have to assume that it's twaddle. Been out all day, now I have to pack for a couple of days in Florence, one of the three great cities in the world. Gee, life's tough.

	13-09-2005 12:48									#329
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Enjoy

Perhaps I should not have let that bar owner get under my skin the way he did. I am afraid ungracious Aussies are one of the things that really push my buttons at times. Permanently marked by the 2001 experience perhaps.

Needless to say I was very happy with the result. Just a shame the return series is so soon as it cannot hope to match up to this one.

We are hoping to make Rome in February - if you hear of any tickets going Finbar please let me know.

Oh and Tigers DID deserve to win!

	13-09-2005 14:10									#330
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Nuts. Pushed for time again so I'll have to leave any thoughts on the cricket till the morrow.

Just read the the Falcons coach is warning Monsieur Robinson against fielding Wilco come November.
Apparently the latest medical mishap to assail the boy wonder is an appendix problem.
The lad is cursed.