05-08-2005 15:22									#241
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No surprises that Corry has been named Tigers skipper this season. He has started well though with this quote pitched to please the fans:

quote: "The important thing is that I don't try to copy Martin. Sure, we both lead by example, but I don't have all his attributes, starting with his technical knowledge and captaincy experience. All I can do is to be true to myself - as a captain you want your players to trust you and they won't trust you if you try and change who you are."

	05-08-2005 23:12									#242
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I mostly ment the kiwi supporters. I think the players are professional and good enough not to get over confident. Even if they did, they'll probably do so one match and then realise they shouldn't.

quote: I also got the impression that straightness of the throw in the line out is this years big IRB instruction to referees?

If you're trying to scare me, it's useless. We rarely get real referees at the level I play. The coach of either side is often what we have to do away with. I even refereed a few times, but my captain doesn't like me to tell him "10 metres", so they look for other people now. Plus they need a hooker.

	06-08-2005 13:32									#243
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Drier than a dead dingo's donger, as the Australian saying goes.

	07-08-2005 20:36									#244
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Interesting to see the ABs succumb to the Boks. Apparently the Bok defence was even further offside than against us.

Also interesting to see the Australian XI beaten by Andrew Flintoff disguised as the England XI.

	08-08-2005 12:59									#245
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quote: If you're trying to scare me, it's useless

quote: Apparently the Bok defence was even further offside than against us.

Calling it a rush defence really isn’t fair anymore as it implies they start from an onside position – and they most certainly do not. Why are there officials on the line in the first place if they never call this?

Still interesting to see McCaw catch a touch of the Moody’s and give away penalties at the breakdown. His look of feigned innocence would not have convinced anyone.

It’s a good result for the tournament I suspect – even if not a popular one with the Kiwi boys. I have a feeling it could be home wins all round again.

quote: Also interesting to see the Australian XI beaten by Andrew Flintoff disguised as the England XI.

I think we did say a while back that it was time Freddie made the break through his potential has been suggesting he could?

Did you catch much of it Finbar? It might not have been the best technical game of cricket but by crikey it was the most enthralling test match I have ever seen I think. Warne’s ball that took Strauss in the second innings – I have just never seen the like of it. Freddie’s first over on Saturday was also quite amazing.

Just a shame it had to end in controversy with a wrong decision. Although had England lost it would have been fatal for the series of course.

G Jones has got to go – not performing with the bat or the gloves. And Bell is not convincing either. Neither is the skipper of course. For the Aussies the top order need to get in the nets – and someone needs to give Warne a course in spatial awareness!!

	08-08-2005 14:32									#246
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Umaga is struggling with ankle ligament damage and they are having to toss in an uncapped scrummy against Gregan? Hmm, I think the Aussies have a real chance here?

	08-08-2005 16:00									#247
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Calling it a rush defence really isn’t fair anymore as it implies they start from an onside position – and they most certainly do not. Why are there officials on the line in the first place if they never call this?

I wonder the same thing. But it's tough, crowding and aggressive defence that has caught out the ABs in the past. It's the Wallaby specialty, only starting from an onside position. For the most part.

quote: It’s a good result for the tournament I suspect – even if not a popular one with the Kiwi boys. I have a feeling it could be home wins all round again.

I think you could be right.

quote: I think we did say a while back that it was time Freddie made the break through his potential has been suggesting he could?

Good to see him rising to the occasion. He's the real deal. And he's pretty much carrying England at the moment, with bat and ball.

quote: Did you catch much of it Finbar? It might not have been the best technical game of cricket but by crikey it was the most enthralling test match I have ever seen I think. Warne’s ball that took Strauss in the second innings – I have just never seen the like of it. Freddie’s first over on Saturday was also quite amazing. Just a shame it had to end in controversy with a wrong decision. Although had England lost it would have been fatal for the series of course. G Jones has got to go – not performing with the bat or the gloves. And Bell is not convincing either. Neither is the skipper of course. For the Aussies the top order need to get in the nets – and someone needs to give Warne a course in spatial awareness!!

I listened to a lot of it via Radio 5 through the computer. We're playing carelessly, ending up with backs against the wall and fighting back. They're at half ratpower at the moment. This result could be the kick in the a*se they need. With sufficient runs on the board, England are always going to struggle against Warne. The occasional ball aside, he has lost a lot of his variety after his injuries and operations. For the most part, he thinks them out these days.

Flintoff is carrying England. Harmison and Jones aren't consistent enough. They can be dangerous, but fall away. OTOH, Gillespie seems to have lost it, and Kasprowiscz has forgotten how to bowl. I'm sure we'll see Shaun Tait in the next Test. Very quick, a slinging action not unlike Jeff Thompson's of years ago, very strong. We might also even see Stuart MacGill in tandem with Warne.

	09-08-2005 12:51									#248
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quote: It's the Wallaby specialty, only starting from an onside position. For the most part.

For the most part indeed.

Were I to pick on an aspect of play where the Wallabies currently get away with murder (and why not?) I would say it’s the scrum. They have become adept at fooling referees in the scrum. It’s admirable in a way.

quote: I think you could be right.

Well the Boks generally just don’t win away anymore in the 3N? Much rests on whether the Aussies can turn over the ABs twice therefore. So lets hope the Wallabies have all read the latest stinky tripe from Laurie Mains then (“the players dislike Eddie” – how would he know this?)? He appears to have become the Stephen Jones of the NZ press?

quote: And he's pretty much carrying England at the moment, with bat and ball.

Plus claims this morning that he has given up alcohol for the duration of the series. Now that is dedication!

quote: For the most part, he thinks them out these days.

At least the ‘Straussbuster’ has made horse happy.

I see Brett Lee is in hospital now? Good job old Trafford is a spinners playground I guess. I will admit it worries me what Warne might do there – he may have to think them out these days but he has a psychological hold over the England top order.

quote: We might also even see Stuart MacGill in tandem with Warne.

Has Ponting named his side yet? England went unchanged though I would have been sorely tempted to swap Bell for Collingwood. It must be Bell’s last chance. GO Jones (the Aussie raised Welsh wicket keeper) is at the last chance saloon too.

Popping back to rugby Robinson named his Elite squad for the upcoming season yesterday and finally both Smith and Deacon have been called into it (rather than the Academy squad). Nine Tigers make this humungous list of 61 players – that will make a nice hole in the side on some international weekends!

Most bizarre, if somewhat predictable, inclusion is Andy Farrell, former GB skipper in the *cough* other code. The new Saracens signing has yet to play a single game of Rugby Union so his inclusion would be an interesting one to try and justify?

	09-08-2005 13:54									#249
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Were I to pick on an aspect of play where the Wallabies currently get away with murder (and why not?) I would say it’s the scrum. They have become adept at fooling referees in the scrum. It’s admirable in a way. edit.......

something the english have a 1st dan in too

The Boks beat NZ - i missed the match, but was it a full streangth NZ side? Anyway i'm not massivly surprised the boks have been in good home form. Still do you think people are maybe taking them too lightly. They've put in some good aggressive perfomances against some of the current best sides in the world? A South African world cup coming up is looking a possibility now?

	09-08-2005 14:02									#250
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Both the Boks and the ABs have the same question mark over them that hung over England until the 2003 summer tour - can they take their A game on the road with them (the ABs game with France not withstanding as it was their A++ game!).

A strong autumn tour from the ABs will do much to convince me of the justification for their inevitable favourites tag in 2007.

At the moment I still rather fancy France. They were truly shocking against the ABs last autumn but they will be smarting to set that right and they are a younger side. They also seem to have an endless supply of quality centres and loose forwards coming through.

Time will tell.

Naturally I disagree with you about the scrum - only UK sides know how this set piece should work properly and England are the purest practitioners of this cunning art of course.

	09-08-2005 14:22									#251
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Bad game that. We lost patience and started to panic when the offside boer defence rushed at us constantly taking away our space. The ABs don't like their space being stifled do they.

We should have just pumped the corners for field position and taken it from there. The boers didn't really offer much with the ball in hand and so if we had only kept our composure and played intelligently, then the boers would have had to do the running and be the ones making the mistakes.

Also, my greatest fear, a shoddy NZ lineout, became reality. Why were we not competing when the boers were 5 yards from the line for frigging sakes.

Hats off to the boks though, they played intelligently to their strengths and their patience won out. To beat this side we need to play for field position and bring in some variation for when the Boers rush all day - more runs from around the ruck/maul, inside balls from the first receiver to the blindside wing, and kick, long, with the wingers chasing like demons.

	09-08-2005 21:28									#252
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Difficult to counter defence that's on your doorstep yards quicker than they legally ought to be.

	10-08-2005 12:32									#253
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Wayne Smith suggested - and I believe he is right - that kicking the ball deep behind them (and a few grubbers too) would have paid dividends because they were so far up on the ABs all the time.

It will be interesting to see if the ABs counter the rush defence a bit better at home?

The Wallabies side has a new look - interesting test for Mitchell and Gerard? And who is this Loe character who has consigned the bulldog to the bench??

Surprised to see Mortlock there - assumed he would be dropped after Laurie Mains said he was rubbish in the Kiwi press.

	10-08-2005 13:01									#254
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I think you mean John Roe. Queensland backrower, bigger than Waugh, but in the same playing mould. Usually plays #8 for the Reds. I don't know why he has been preferred to Waugh, unless he's going to join in the lineouts. The changes are all the result of injuries but it's as good a time as any to see what the younger brigade is made of. Mitchell is very, very talented. Can play almost anywhere in the backline. Gerard would have started before this but for ongoing hammy problems. I wonder what has prompted this sudden reapparance of Laurie Mains after all this time?

Anyway, what are you doing post before 9am? Couldn't sleep? Got to work early? Worked late? Didn't bother going home?

	10-08-2005 14:59									#255
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I'm in at 8am every morning. I would normally have a coffee and chill before posting though.

Roe indeed. No idea where I got Loe from to be honest.

Lauries Mains has resurfaced thanks to a lucrative newspaper column I suspect. He seems intent on stirring people up and attacked little glum Eddie last week as an appetiser to the Wallabies upsetting the form books again this weekend (possibly?).

I LMAO at Horse cautiously conceding in the Ashes thread that Freddie might make the Aussie side. The Aussies are the best team in the world still - but not as far ahead as they have been accustomed to being. A (very) few of the England team might pip their Aussie counterparts to a World XV right now. Just possibly.

Have you heard of Paul Franze at all Finbar? The Exiles have signed him from Aussie RL side Penrith. As far as I can see The Exiles will once again be the only top flight team not troubling six nations selectors again this season as they remain a primarily Foreign Legion (although a lot of the squad are there on tenuous EC connections and hence not counted as 'foreign').

	10-08-2005 21:16									#256
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quote: Originally posted by Havak I'm in at 8am every morning. I would normally have a coffee and chill before posting though.

Gee, I'm hardly ever up before 8 these days. I wait till the Tuscan sun stirs me through the bedroom window. The dogs, of course, are already awake and keen to go out for their walk. But they know to keep their heads down till I'm ready.

quote: A (very) few of the England team might pip their Aussie counterparts to a World XV right now. Just possibly.

On form displayed against lesser sides, perhaps. Not on form displayed in this series. Flintoff would most definitely be in. Not that there are many about, but he's the best all-rounder in the world by a mile.

quote: Have you heard of Paul Franze at all Finbar? The Exiles have signed him from Aussie RL side Penrith.

Never heard of him. Then again, I could probably only name half a dozen players in the entire Australian L***** competition.

	11-08-2005 12:49									#257
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*studiously avoids jealousy over Tuscan sun rises*

quote: But they know to keep their heads down till I'm ready.

Now why does that sound like a lesson they learned the hard way?

quote: Not on form displayed in this series

Pietersen? Highest batting average by a country mile in the series so far. And as much as it might pain you with the clear exception of McGrath the Aussies seamers might all have to give way to their England counterparts. Harmison and Jones are not finding consitency but Gillepsie is well out of form, Lee has had one good session and the late replacement Kaprowicz – well is he a bowler at all in actual fact as there has been little evidence of it?

The contest between skipper is being edged by Ponting simply because I think he has more of a clue in the field so far. Warne and Gilchrist are shoe ins. The rest is a lottery really.

Could all change today of course.

quote: Never heard of him.

Fair enough. I knew it was an off chance.

I enjoyed laughing at Graham Henry and Richie McCaw claiming rustiness was a factor last weekend. Fourth test in under two months is rustiness eh? What is even funnier is I suspect the kiwi boys might even defend them on it!

	11-08-2005 13:33									#258
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Mais oui, bien sur.

Its been a while since they had any quality competition afterall ...

Nuts. That little dig is all I have time for unfortunately.
The nice thing about Japanese clients in-house is that they're unfalteringly polite.
The not so nice thing is that they actually want me to do things besides posting here, for some reason ...

	11-08-2005 16:56									#259
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quote: Originally posted by ravagon edit..... The not so nice thing is that they actually want me to do things besides posting here, for some reason ...

the mind truely boggles! I've read their comics

	11-08-2005 17:55									#260
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A points win to Ravagon.

Shame about the work.

Finbar must be listening to the cricket thinking "the collpase must happen soon". And he might well be right.

	12-08-2005 12:14									#261
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When the oppo skipper reaches 150+ (or whatever he made) with the help of dropped catches in addition to having had his castle comprehensively uprooted by a no-ball, one can only shrug.

	12-08-2005 12:53									#262
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Thats true - a shocking perfomance in the field from the Aussie by their high standards. Lee made some dents late on though and 400 will simply not be enough so it's still game on.

Mind you if the Aussies top order collapses again I think it is time to start thinking of asking Ponting some hard questions?

Okay you will think this is bait though I am quite serious - do you think the tri-nations would be more exciting if it adopted a 6N model where you face the challenge of rotating home and away fixtures (it would probably require expanding and letting in Argentina/P. islanders)?

Frankly it is rather boring when the sides win their home games and take the title on points. Unless anyone can argue last seasons tournament was a classic (and equally so if it is decided the same way this year)?

Generally the winner of the 6N has to have performed on the road somewhere to win the tournament - consider the Grand Slam in 2003 where England beat Wales in Cardiff and a rampant Ireland in Dublin, or the Wales Slam just gone where they took out France in Paris. Exceptions prove the rule of course - France's slam in 2004 only required an away win against a rebuilding Wales who were not a force at the time.

It just adds a bit of spice to a tournament for me if you remove that home fixture safety net.

	12-08-2005 23:10									#263
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quote: Naturally I disagree with you about the scrum - only UK sides know how this set piece should work properly and England are the purest practitioners of this cunning art of course.

Naturally, I disagree too. Only latins know what a real scrum is. Argentinans are not that bad, but a bit iited as they tend to rely only on pure strength. But then many of them play in the French championship, where they learn the most arcane arts of the mélée. We called that 'la soule' long before the Brits thought of writing down laws. (For those who don't know, the Soule is the same as rugby but without laws - just put a ball in the middle of the village, have each half of the village try to bring it to the other end of the town and behold).

	14-08-2005 01:12									#264
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Reminds me of the dinner table at home.

Oh, and I'm burning my Australian passport. Crap cricket team, crap rugby team. I'm taking out Italian citizenship. They don't even try to play cricket. Or rugby for that matter.

	15-08-2005 11:39									#265
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Yes, the Italians play soccer.

quote: Originally posted by Havak Okay you will think this is bait though I am quite serious - do you think the tri-nations would be more exciting if it adopted a 6N model where you face the challenge of rotating home and away fixtures (it would probably require expanding and letting in Argentina/P. islanders)? Frankly it is rather boring when the sides win their home games and take the title on points. Unless anyone can argue last seasons tournament was a classic (and equally so if it is decided the same way this year)?

I'm not sure that the absence of your 'safety net' home games would really prove anything to be honest. Afterall, if England had away games against, for example, France and Ireland and lost them both, while winning their others, whereas France had all of their tough games at home and away games against Italy and Scotland, hence ended up winning the 6N, would you still consider it a 'fair' contest?
Perhaps 'balanced' would be a better term ...

Additionally, if the PI's were to be included there is also the matter of gate takings to take into account. Crowds in NZ/Aus/RSA/Arg shouldn't be a problem but the SH second string teams come from much lower populated areas, unlike in the NH's Scotland/Italy.
That said though I would be much in favour of including those other nations in an expanded competition of some sort.

quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare We called that 'la soule' long before the Brits thought of writing down laws. (For those who don't know, the Soule is the same as rugby but without laws - just put a ball in the middle of the village, have each half of the village try to bring it to the other end of the town and behold).

Sounds like a game they used to play in South Africa before they had laws over there. I think they might've called it rugby.


[Edit: Update on Dan Carter. BBC is reporting that he's out for 3 months with something broken. ]

	15-08-2005 13:14									#266
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quote: Sounds like a game they used to play in South Africa before they had laws over there. I think they might've called it rugby.

	15-08-2005 13:46									#267
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quote: Originally posted by ravagon Yes, the Italians play soccer. I'm not sure that the absence of your 'safety net' home games would really prove anything to be honest. Afterall, if England had away games against, for example, France and Ireland and lost them both, while winning their others, whereas France had all of their tough games at home and away games against Italy and Scotland, hence ended up winning the 6N, would you still consider it a 'fair' contest? Perhaps 'balanced' would be a better term ... Additionally, if the PI's were to be included there is also the matter of gate takings to take into account. Crowds in NZ/Aus/RSA/Arg shouldn't be a problem but the SH second string teams come from much lower populated areas, unlike in the NH's Scotland/Italy. That said though I would be much in favour of including those other nations in an expanded competition of some sort. Sounds like a game they used to play in South Africa before they had laws over there. I think they might've called it rugby. [Edit: Update on Dan Carter. BBC is reporting that he's out for 3 months with something broken. ]

Bone in his leg. And soft tissue damage.

	16-08-2005 13:31									#268
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quote: the Soule is the same as rugby but without laws

There are plenty of examples of the same thing in our history – there is still a place where they have an annual game of this but the place name escapes me for now.

quote: Oh, and I'm burning my Australian passport

Still? What an escape. I cannot remember any other time when an Aussie team needed a huge slice of good fortune against England – nor any other time when they celebrated a draw so wildly. Advantage back to the Aussies perhaps – but they simply are not playing like the number one team in the world right now so an England win at Trent Bridge would not surprise me as much as it might have after Lords.

quote: Perhaps 'balanced' would be a better term ...

You don’t have to disagree with me for the sake of it you know.

I agree balanced is a better term – but then again I do not remember using the word ‘fair’ anyway. You described the circumstances of the French Slam in 2004 to a tee – all the hard games were at home. That’s the luck of the draw – but it does make for ‘excitement’ certainly. Wales went to Paris needing to win and win well this year – they couldn’t rely on a return fixture in Cardiff where their record might be much better.

quote: Additionally, if the PI's were to be included there is also the matter of gate takings to take into account

It is a very reasonable point. Is it really an argument for blocking the development of the Pacific Islanders though? Perhaps the RFU would allow Twickers to be used at the PI’s home ground – although perhaps more practically there are large enough stadiums in Japan to host them. Bottom line is the world game needs developing – England are touring North America every June with an A side because of an agreement with the IRB for this very purpose. The Pacific Islanders series last year was for the self same reason – and we need to find more ways of helping such teams develop.

I simply don’t see any way in the longer term that the tri-nations will be allowed to remain a closed shop. I strongly suspect that within a few years it will see Argentina included at the very least – and if it does grow the two game format may have to change by necessity?

It is worth bearing in mind for 6N gates that Stadio Flaminio though only holds 30000 or so and that half are generally travelling fans. Ditto Murrayfield – it might hold over 60000 but Scots are seldom in the majority when England or Wales come to town. Find the right location for the PI’s to play and the gates will happen when they face the Aussie, Boks and Kiwis (in some ways London would be a great venue for such gate throughput – al the Commonwealth ex pats and then the poms flocking to see the islanders take scalps).

quote: Bone in his leg. And soft tissue damage.

Bad news. Pretty much takes him out the autumn tour I suspect?

Great game last weekend by the way – the Aussies looked like they were doing a job but the All Blacks were patient and juts a little bit too good for the Aussie youngsters in the final reckoning.

And the Wallabies are going to remain in trouble as long as Dunning is in the squad. Dunning an international front row? I don’t think so – lack of depth is finally finding the Aussies out here?

	16-08-2005 16:40									#269
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Still? What an escape. I cannot remember any other time when an Aussie team needed a huge slice of good fortune against England – nor any other time when they celebrated a draw so wildly. Advantage back to the Aussies perhaps – but they simply are not playing like the number one team in the world right now so an England win at Trent Bridge would not surprise me as much as it might have after Lords.

The Australians are batting and fielding badly; bowling, on the whole, quite well, though Gillespie has, unfortunately, been a liability. It's been interesting observing all the hysteria in both the English and Australian press. The reality is that the Australians are underperforming in two vital areas, while England probably can't do a lot better with the team they have. Yet it's a tied series, England were smashed in the first Test and won the second very narrowly. The third Test? The reality is that roughly half of England's first innings runs were gifted. Vaughan and Trescothick, who contributed 225+ to the total, both should have been out - Vaughan a number of times - with roughly 200 fewer runs on the board. The weather saved Australia? Dropped catches and a no ball saved England's first innings from relative medicority. Yes, bad fielding is bad cricket and all that, but there are realities and there are appearances.

I have no idea whether the Australians can lift their game. If Ponting has any say, they might. But after the hysteria associated with this Test - the crowd, the media, et al - I shudder to think what will happen if Australia goes on to win the series. I don't know whether the crowds and the media will settle for "Well, we gave them a fight".

quote: I simply don’t see any way in the longer term that the tri-nations will be allowed to remain a closed shop. I strongly suspect that within a few years it will see Argentina included at the very least – and if it does grow the two game format may have to change by necessity?

Whether the T-N remains a closed shop is just about entirely up to the broadcast rights holder. Regardless of what any or all of the rugby controlling bodies want, if the rights holder won't come at it, it won't happen. If there were more than one potential rights holder in the marketplace, it might be a different matter.

quote: Bad news. Pretty much takes him out the autumn tour I suspect?

Yep.

quote: Great game last weekend by the way – the Aussies looked like they were doing a job but the All Blacks were patient and juts a little bit too good for the Aussie youngsters in the final reckoning. And the Wallabies are going to remain in trouble as long as Dunning is in the squad. Dunning an international front row? I don’t think so – lack of depth is finally finding the Aussies out here?

Eddie likes Dunning. I've seen him do good work in S12 but I simply haven't seen him at Test level. And, as you know, lack of depth has been finding out the Wallaby front row for the last five or so years. They survive on cunning.

Eddie is struggling to field a team for this week against the Boks. No Mortlock, no Latham, no Paul, question marks over Rogers, Flatley, Turinui. Tuquiri could finish up in the centres. I'm not sure who the third-choice #10 is, but if Flatley isn't right, whomever it is will get to face the Boks.

	17-08-2005 13:32									#270
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quote: Yes, bad fielding is bad cricket and all that, but there are realities and there are appearances.

And for all that energetic and largely accurate defence the reality is that this is not as good an Australian side as five years ago and that it is not currently playing well.

They may return to form at trent bridge but who knows? I think you over rate the bowling – McGrath has been excellent, as has Warne. But the support bowling has been poor (one innings from Lee aside) – poorer than Englands certainly. And if we have to talk about gifts there were enough dropped catches and missed throws that Australia should have lost by tea on the final day.

I’m not convinced you can write off good innings saying it was because the Aussies dropped catches – that is almost a universal truth after all? And bowling someone with a ‘no ball’ is a ‘no ball’ and not a wicket.

quote: I don't know whether the crowds and the media will settle for "Well, we gave them a fight".

What Hysteria? Everyone here is just happy that the Aussies are not storming away with it in the way they claimed before and after the first test. Combine that with a huge pervading sense of relief that England have managed to be competitive in the last two tests.

Did we touch on the fact that whilst your boys claiming five nil slams (thanks Glen – mind that ankle now son shine) might be seen as realistic in a success-glutted Oz it is simply seen as uber-arrogant here and turns everyone strongly against them? Perhaps this is their motivational tactic?

If anyone is getting carried away however that is their problem – I’m certainly not with them. The Aussies remain the best side in the world when on song so I am just enjoying them showing that they are occasionally human for once.

That said the UK cricket watching public, like the rest of the cricket world, would love to see the Aussies lose the series. This is a normal POV when playing the number 1 in any sport – and mandatory when England play Australia at anything. Plus everyone else wants the Aussies to lose at cricket – you occupy the role in cricket that England do in rugby – others love to see you fail.

quote: Whether the T-N remains a closed shop is just about entirely up to the broadcast rights holder

And when that rights holder has expressed disappointment with the viewing figures things tend to change?

Though god knows how they expected huge audiences from the combined pops of the three countries involved. Perhaps they honestly thought that 8am and 10am kick offs would find an NH audience as well (note: UK bars currently need a special licence for this time – but that changes in November)?

quote: Eddie is struggling to field a team for this week against the Boks

He has also offered his resignation I see. Was he serious?

What bother me with Dunning is I think he lacks the cunning so necessary for the Wallaby front row. I suspect Bulldog would beat him in an IQ test.

I see Flatley has made it.

Wasn’t he a great referee last weekend by the way – star ref of the tournament so far without a doubt? There is just something wonderful about seeing Wallabies and Kiwis b******** in a Somerset accent.