27-04-2002 07:57									#61
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And the Crusaders fell in against the Cats!

	28-04-2002 01:06									#62
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Just finished watching the Waratahs v Hurricanes. THe final score was W - 19 H - 13.

I was flabergasted to see Cullen drop the ball over the tryline totally butchering a try. He was in the clear and all he had to do was put it down, but he fumbled instead!! Unbelieveable! Ive never seen such a ****up!! That undoubtedly cost the hurricanes the game. The Hurricanes looked so close to scoring for the last 15 minutes of the game I really thought they would pull it off. Unfortunately time, and energy, ran out.

	28-04-2002 05:53									#63
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Toss some incredible Waratahs defence into the pot and you have an amazing game. Cullen was showboating. Serves him right. He should also have scored, later, on the left hand side when he knocked on. And Jonah turned over possession at least five times. And fumbled the ball when alone, twenty metres from the try line, with no one near him. Who would have believed it?

And then the Reds turn around and come from behind to beat the Sharks in South Africa!

	28-04-2002 23:12									#64
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Toss some incredible Waratahs defence into the pot and you have an amazing game. Cullen was showboating. Serves him right. He should also have scored, later, on the left hand side when he knocked on. And Jonah turned over possession at least five times. And fumbled the ball when alone, twenty metres from the try line, with no one near him. Who would have believed it?

Unbelievable is right! The Hurricanes are a team with plently of talent but no consistency. They did defend well, but there were so many screwups on attack that they only have themselves to blame. Between Lomu and Cullen they must have butchered at least 4 tries!

Oh well, as long a NZ team win Ill be happy!

	29-04-2002 05:22									#65
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Mmm. And now the Waratahs are paying the price for their lucky win. Phil Waugh and Nathan Gray are out for the season with ruptured ankle tendons and a knee reconstruction respectively. Des Tuiavii will miss at least this week against the Reds with a knee problem, so that's both flankers gone. Oh well, it had to happen sometime.

	29-04-2002 07:10									#66
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Highlanders v Blues should be interesting. I'm not sure who I want to win...I am from Auckland, but I also think the Highlanders have a better chance of getting to the finals, and I want as many NZ teams up there as possible....

Lately the top 2 aussie teams have been suffering from many injuries. The Waratah's win was costly indeed. The Brumbies also had a few casualties after playing the Highlanders.

I bet that guy who bet $100,000 on the Brumbies getting to the semis is sweating right now... They should still get there though.

	29-04-2002 07:56									#67
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Yeah, I think the Highlanders and the Crusaders are the best Kiwi hopes.

The Brumbies are in real trouble now with their injuries. They've lost Jeremy Paul and Justin Harrison for the last two rounds. This week they're also going to be missing Atkinson, Vickerman (which means their two best second rowers are gone) and Julian Juxley. Huxley replaced Atkinson after the first 90 seconds last week, played fullback and is their best goal kicker. With Mortlock still missing, it looks like goalkicking will fall to the unreliable Andrew Walker.

Frankly, given all the injuries, I think the Brumbies could miss out. And yes, that punter - a Kiwi! - will be slitting his wrists. He invested $100,000 at $1.50! They've got the Chiefs in Rotorua this week. Not an easy task.

The Hurricanes face the Crusaders, which should knock the Hurricanes completely out of the race.

The Queensland Reds have the Waratahs in Brisbane. The Reds are basically a one-man team at the moment - Chris Latham. He singlehandedly dragged them to victory over the Cats. The Waratahs should beat them, even with their injury list. The Reds will be missing Kefu Snr - out for a month with a serious medial ligament strain - and Kefu Jnr, along with Daniel Herbert.

The table currently stands as follows:

Crusaders 41
NSW 38
Queensland 30
Highlanders 29

Blues 28
ACT 28
Hurricanes 23

Thus, the Crusaders should extend their lead by rolling the Hurricanes.

Obviously, either the Highlanders will cement their place, or the Blues will move past them.

If the Brumbies lose again, they're going to be a full game - and maybe even bonus points - out of the top four.

If the Reds and the Brumbies lose, the Reds are fourth. If the Reds lose and the Brumbies win, the Reds are out of the top four.

Mmmmmm. Fascinating.

	29-04-2002 13:06									#68
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It is getting interesting in your competition thats for sure.

A small update from the north - Tigers beat Llanelli (in a very poor match) yesterday and now play Munster in the European cup final at the end of May, thus having a chance to be the first team to win it twice (and defend it obviously).

So an England v Ireland final that will be played in Wales - should be a great day out!

	29-04-2002 17:11									#69
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Unless foot and mouth rears its ugly ... um, hoof, again.

	29-04-2002 17:15									#70
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Probably Munsters best chance that.

	29-04-2002 17:31									#71
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Frankly, given all the injuries, I think the Brumbies could miss out. And yes, that punter - a Kiwi! - will be slitting his wrists. He invested $100,000 at $1.50! They've got the Chiefs in Rotorua this week. Not an easy task.

Yes, normally I would have picked the Brumbies to easily beat the Chiefs, but with all the injuries in the Brumbies side the Chiefs might actually stand a chance.

quote: The Hurricanes face the Crusaders, which should knock the Hurricanes completely out of the race.[/quotes] I hope so, but I was suprised to see the score of the Crusaders v Cats game was so close...maybe they were jet-lagged or something. We shall see. [quote] The Queensland Reds have the Waratahs in Brisbane. The Reds are basically a one-man team at the moment - Chris Latham. He singlehandedly dragged them to victory over the Cats. The Waratahs should beat them, even with their injury list. The Reds will be missing Kefu Snr - out for a month with a serious medial ligament strain - and Kefu Jnr, along with Daniel Herbert.

Yeah, the Waratahs should definitely win this one, but I am starting to wonder if anything is for sure this year.

quote: The table currently stands as follows: Crusaders 41 NSW 38 Queensland 30 Highlanders 29 Blues 28 ACT 28 Hurricanes 23

Who would have thought the Blues would be on par with the Brumbies at this stage? Not me. Very interesting competition this year.

Finbar, do you know what decides the location of the grand final? I know that the semi-final is at home for the team at the top of the table, but I dont know about the grand final.

	30-04-2002 05:37									#72
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The semis are 1 -v- 4 and 2 -v- 3 at the home grounds of the higher-placed teams. I would imagine that the final is at the home ground of the team that finished highest. In other words, if teams 3 and 4 were somehow to win the semis, the final would be at the home ground of team 3.

	30-04-2002 18:23									#73
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You could be right, the last super 12 final was in Canberra, so I am assuming that the Brumbies were at the top of the table last year.

	01-05-2002 05:24									#75
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia You could be right, the last super 12 final was in Canberra, so I am assuming that the Brumbies were at the top of the table last year.

And isn't that now a distant memory?

	01-05-2002 15:01									#76
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Yeah but look at the bright side, at least Brumbies wimped out of the proposed World Club Championship this year. How embarassing would it be to have the reigning Super-12 Champions handed their tushes by Tigers?

In all seriosuness it fell apart because of the extreme logistics of the travel either way and the traditional north-south arguments about refs.

I note by the way that Super-12 refs are still extremely reluctant to apply the laws of the game, and that when they do the Brumbies complain anyway?

(how about that for a troll?)

	01-05-2002 16:53									#77
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The World Club Championship thing was always a fantasy. It was never logistically possible.

The rest of your post, Havak, I will treat with the utter contempt it deserves.

	01-05-2002 17:10									#78
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Shucks, I was sure that would get a rise.

	01-05-2002 17:36									#79
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quote: Originally posted by finbar And isn't that now a distant memory?

Thank God!

	01-05-2002 17:41									#80
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quote: Originally posted by Havak I note by the way that Super-12 refs are still extremely reluctant to apply the laws of the game, and that when they do the Brumbies complain anyway?

That was classic when the ref told Gregan to bugger off. Gregan gets on my nerves, hes such an arrogant little ****. Damn good player though.

Matt Burke is probably the player I hate the most. I will never forgive him for punching Frank Bunce all those years ago.

Which players really get on your nerves guys?

	01-05-2002 17:51									#81
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia That was classic when the ref told Gregan to bugger off. Gregan gets on my nerves, hes such an arrogant little ****. Damn good player though. Matt Burke is probably the player I hate the most. I will never forgive him for punching Frank Bunce all those years ago.

One shudders to think what Frank did to deserve it.

quote: Which players really get on your nerves guys?

That South African 5/8th who consistently tackles illegally with shoulder charges. One day he's going to kill someone. Him aside, frankly, the All Blacks side of years gone by - not anymore - used to get on my nerves. They got on the nerves of their opponents, too. That was a large part of their success. That's what the current mob have to get back to.

	01-05-2002 17:52									#82
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Shucks, I was sure that would get a rise.

You'll have to get up earlier than that, boyo.

	01-05-2002 17:58									#83
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quote: Originally posted by finbar One shudders to think what Frank did to deserve it.

Do you remember the incident? I dont remember Frank doing anything physical to provoke him, so it was probably just words. Matt punched Frank about 10 times as Frank was running with the ball. That kind of conduct is inexcusable IMO.

	02-05-2002 05:41									#84
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I honestly don't remember it. Still, Matt Burke is one of the least likely players to go the knuckle without provocation. Something must have happened. And why not? They were great rugby days.

	02-05-2002 13:05									#85
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quote: That kind of conduct is inexcusable IMO

It is. Spooky coincidence that over ten punches were thrown. Kind of reminds me of another Australian currnetly having a great season with Dwyer's boys?

Matt Burke has a reputation here as being unsufferably arrogant, and I know most of the Lions squad from last year dislike him because of some ill judged media comments (of the kind you would hang Healey for, but it seems we Brits are expected to take it on the chin?).

There are some players that 'get my goat' however, and I think you will find this is a fairly balanced list.

Owen Finegan - sorry Finbar but he is the word you used earlier in the thread for Johnson - a total thug. he should never have played rugby again after the attempt to cripple Richard Hill in Melbourne last year.

Matt Dawson - his is just so mouthy and yaps at refs so much he drives me nuts.

Craig Quinell - a sometimes Welsh lock but always a total animal - excessively violent and not a patch on his brother as a player.

Richard Arnold - veteran Kiwi flanker playing for Newcastle here but very much from the Finegan mould - far too handy with his fists.

Justin Marshall - no denying he is a great player but he seems to have something in his head about England - he just can't stop being rude about them, and that shows a definite lack of class to my mind?

Don't read anything into the 3/5 being tri-nations players, it's just the names of most of the celts and frogs on my list would mean nothing to you both.

Martin Johnson of course is whiter than white in my eyes.

	02-05-2002 17:24									#86
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Matt Burke has a reputation here as being unsufferably arrogant,

Yeah, thats another reason I dont like him. I cant even stand to look at him - especially just after he slots a kick or scores a try.

quote: Justin Marshall - no denying he is a great player but he seems to have something in his head about England - he just can't stop being rude about them, and that shows a definite lack of class to my mind?

Never noticed this about him, but Ill take your word for it. My main beef with him is that he can be an inconsistent player sometimes. Lately he seems to have remedied that though.

quote: Martin Johnson of course is whiter than white in my eyes.

Okay, while we are waiting for the next game to discuss we need another trivial rugby topic....hmmmmm



Which rugby players hair do you love/hate?

I used to like Tana Umaga's and Goerge Smith's dreadlocks, but they seem to be the worse for wear lately. They must have had a few ripped out while playing.

Jonah still has that ridiculous tuft, thank God it was bandaged over at the beginning of the Hurricanes/Waratahs game.

Justin Marshall seems to have gone for the ****gy blond look...get a haircut ya hippy!!

	02-05-2002 17:32									#87
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Matt Burke has a reputation here as being unsufferably arrogant, and I know most of the Lions squad from last year dislike him because of some ill judged media comments (of the kind you would hang Healey for, but it seems we Brits are expected to take it on the chin?).

I don't think arrogant is a hanging offence. For crying out loud, look at Sean Fitzpatrick. I loved him. Even when he was carving us up. There's nothing wrong with arrogant in my book - providing you've got something with which to back it up. That's why I don't mind Georgie Gregan. I'll worry more about him if he costs the Wallabies with his hissy fits.

quote: Owen Finegan - sorry Finbar but he is the word you used earlier in the thread for Johnson - a total thug. he should never have played rugby again after the attempt to cripple Richard Hill in Melbourne last year.

For an intelligent man, Owen can be an utter idiot.

I'll take your word for the rest.

quote: Martin Johnson of course is whiter than white in my eyes.

Mmmm. Thus everything that precedes this comment is rendered meaningless.

	02-05-2002 17:35									#88
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Austin Healey's has to be seen to be believed - he has had some sort of hair weave and now advertises for the company concerned. It's a bit sad really.

Jonno himself had been cultivating a wild man mane but had a nice sensible crew cut before the last game.

Freddie Tuilagi is a good one - bigger locks than Tana and George but recently he has been tying them back presumably for the same reasons.

Hmm most of the players I know don't actually have that much hair come to think of it

*edited - my spelling really sucks these days*

	02-05-2002 17:46									#89
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quote: I don't think arrogant is a hanging offence. For crying out loud, look at Sean Fitzpatrick. I loved him. Even when he was carving us up. There's nothing wrong with arrogant in my book - providing you've got something with which to back it up.

I really want to ask you here why Healey annoyed you so much last year then - his taken-out-of-context jibes at the Aussie are almost identical to Burke's taken-out-of-context jibes at the Brits but for some reason your countrymen really did want to hang him!

Arrogant he sure is, but he does have the ability behind it to be so.

I've gone on record before as saying Jonno is handicapped by his red mist factor. He just does not take backward steps and it is the flaw in his game. The only small defence here is that his violent foul play tends to be reactionary rather than pre-emptive.

He is still a colossal lock however, I really do rate him up there with Eales as the best to have played the game in the last decade (with an honourary mention to Jones).

	02-05-2002 18:45									#90
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Oh, Havak, old friend, old chum, old mate, old cobber! There's no comparison between Matt Burke's and Austin Healey's mouths. Or, in Austin's case, his pen. Though he seems, off and on, to claim that he didn't actually write any of it. He's claimed more than once that he put his name to a column someone else wrote.

Be that as it may - Healey went on and on and on. Stupidly. To the extent that even his own management said he was working against the team's interests by firing up the opposition. There was nothing to take out of context. It was a poultice of idiocy and it was relentless.

Burke said a couple of stupid things. Which he later happily conceded were stupid.

You should see the stuff that's flying backwards and forwards this week between the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds leading up to Sunday's match. Some of it's very funny, most of it is incredibly offensive. There's a long, long history of antagonism between them. If you get a chance to watch the match, grab it. Should be great fun!