09-05-2002 17:49									#151
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quote: Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt The sheer amount of advertising appearing on rugby matches televised in NZ is getting really old, really fast.

They dont interrupt the game for it do they? That would be sacrilege!! All the games I watch on Fox Sports World over here are uninterrupted for each 40 minute half.

	09-05-2002 17:53									#152
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quote: Originally posted by finbar You're right about American football. How they could take a great game like rugby and destroy it as they have is - well, with great respect to your missus, typically American. And baseball? With all that music and crap they go on with whenever the action stops for a millisecond - well, again with great respect to your missus, we know Americans have short attention spans, but that's ridiculous.

She doesnt mind anyone trashing american sports, she hates them. One of the worst things about american football is the amount of ads they play. Watching the game ends up taking twice as long because of all the ads they play during time-outs.

I would say the only american sport that is half-decent is basketball. I dont watch it though.

	10-05-2002 05:42									#153
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Isn't that why gridiron takes so long? Simply for the ad breaks?

We have an NBL here. Every team has its imports - usually 3rd-grade US rejects from their leagues. For some reason, despite all the hype and marketing, the game struggles to reach an audience beyond the already converted. It's marketed here very much like it is over there with the razzle-dazzle, hoopla, caps worn backwards and trash-talk. I suspect, in fact, that it's perceived by Australians to be "too American".

Frankly, I think it's a tedious game. A triumph of style over substance.

	10-05-2002 12:56									#154
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You really do have a way with words - style over substance it is.

US Football - incidentally can anyone explain why it is called football - and why true football has been labelled 'Soccer'?

US Football was briefly popular here a decade ago but it has just disappeared from the radar these days. It has the same affect on me as cricket.

	10-05-2002 16:41									#155
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I hope I have a way with words; I'm a writer.

Brumbies 46 -d- Blues 25

Scrappy first half. Blues gave away 3 penalties in the first 90 seconds. They worried the Brumbies by getting in their faces but the lack of discipline brought their good work undone. Second half was essentially a Brumbies blitz, including two intercept tries. Mortlock played another blinder - steamrolling the advantage line time and time again - and retired early to rest his ankle. The Brumbies' bonus point means that the Reds will have to win and pick up a bonus point tomorrow against the Highlanders to take third place.

	10-05-2002 17:32									#156
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quote: I hope I have a way with words; I'm a writer

Well I'd totally forgotten that - of course the two don't always go together do they?

So the Brumbies sneak into the cut - well, well. They may defend their title yet - the jammy sods.

The big news here is a debacle over the club that blew away Division One being denied promotion to the premiership over a technicality - failing the same criteria on their ground that five clubs already in the top flight also fail!

Once again ERL and the RFU make themselves look like total morons, still we are used to that.

	10-05-2002 19:20									#157
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What's the technicality? The criteria?

We can only assume that Caligastia is winging his way across the pond blissfully ignorant of the fact that his beloved Blues completely and utterly buggered it up.

	10-05-2002 19:55									#158
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Yeah but, if he avoids the result, just think of him sitting down to that 7 hours of rugby on his return, watching the first game and then sulkily turning the TV off?

Super-12 certainly won't make the French or Dutch sports pages.

Yes the First Division winners, Rotherham, were asked to meet 85 Criteria for promotion. The ones they failed have not been made fully public, but the rumour is it is because they had not signed a firm agreement for use of their town's football ground next season, and would not be the 'principle tenants' of said ground.

In the existing top flight Wasps are currently totally homeless with no deal in place for a ground share next season, and London Irish, Bristol, Saracens and Leeds are all junior tenants to other clubs.

In other words double standards are in place - and I think it is disgraceful. Promotion is won on the field, lets keep it that way?

	11-05-2002 12:23									#159
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Highlanders 40 -d- Reds 26

The Highlanders lost halfback, 5/8th and hooker before and during the game. Their forwards overpowered the Reds and dominated possession something like 70-30 for the game.

So the final four is complete:

Crusaders
NSW
Brumbies
Highlanders

So next week it's Crusaders -v- Highlanders and NSW -v- Brumbies. Thus a NZ-Australia final is guaranteed.

	11-05-2002 12:58									#160
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Mmmmmmm. Progress score, Crusaders -v- Waratahs.

Crusaders 28
Waratahs 0

After 17 minutes.

	11-05-2002 13:20									#161
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Halftime.

Crusaders 63
Waratahs 0

More of a demonstration game, really.

	11-05-2002 13:24									#162
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A proving ground, if you will.

On topic here - but instead of RACIAL quotas, SA should have quotas of decent players. Maybe they'd reach a final once in a while then.

	11-05-2002 14:50									#163
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Final score:

Crusaders 96 -d- Waratahs 13

Serves Bob Dwyer right for starting with a lot of his second-stringers. Not that that explains the result. The Crusaders simply played awesome - I don't think that word even describes it - football, and the Waratahs helped out by playing their worst match ever.

It's looking suspiciously like a Crusaders -v- Brumbies final in Christchurch.

	12-05-2002 17:42									#164
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You can imagine what the Sydney Sunday papers did to the Waratahs this morning.

	13-05-2002 10:37									#165
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You'd think Caligastia could've teed up a sub before he went swanning off.

	13-05-2002 13:05									#166
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I couldn't believe that scoreline when I heard it. Lets face it the Crusaders are the form side and should have already sealed the trophy by winning the League stage. You now face the prospect of the Brumbies, whose form has been indifferent at best, still being crowned "champions" but with the word having no true resonance with their actual level of acheivement. You have to feel they will beat NSW now though?

Mind you I do fancy the prospect of a Premiership-Super 12 showdown - Tigers versus Crusaders should be some game. Northern referee essential of course.

It is also with no little amusement that we read up her that Eddie Jones has written to some players 'encouraging' them to improve their standards - those rumoured to have been 'Eddied' include Smith, Harrison and Finnegan?

	13-05-2002 17:51									#167
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The Crusaders-Waratahs game was truly bizarre. One of those freakish combinations of circumstances. The Crusaders are obviously a great team, but not that much - by which I mean the scoreline - better than the rest. The Waratahs are obviously a better team than the result indicates. The Crusaders had a night out from the kick off; Dwyer left a number of his run-on players on the bench; Nathan Gray and Phil Waugh - missed the week before, were very badly missed; and the Waratahs' luck finally ran out and they completely lost the plot. You don't see games like that very often.

Actually, Eddie Jones rang them up. There were a few others on the list, too. The Wallaby coach plays an interesting role in and around the provincial teams. It goes back to the days of Dwyer, Macqueen, et al. Because the Wallaby coach isn't aligned with a particular team, he can - and will - stick his bib in. And it is often resented. Eddie recently suggested to Brumbies coach David Nucifora that Steve Larkham should have a spell from the pressure cooker and a stint at full back. You can imagine what sort of response that got. In fact, it was either Dwyer or Macqueen - I forget which, but it was the Wallaby coach of the time - who suggested moving Larkham from full back to 5/8 in his very early days. Thank God someone listened.

	13-05-2002 18:08									#168
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quote: You don't see games like that very often.

The only similar game I can bring to mind was the ill fated decision to take an English Development squad to take on the Aussies in Brisbane in 1998. 76-0. The shame still burns in us to this day

Phoned them up? That sounds even better - poor blokes. The England coach is slightly further removed than Jones seems to be, a lot of his suggestions about where and who to play/not play are routed through the RFU. The cluibs however resent it just as much.

It's hard to picture Larkham at full back. I'm sure he would be a fairly good one but it doesn't seem the best place for someone with his instinctive reading of the game - he has a far greater effect at fly half I think?

On a side note Mr Johnson had a towering game against London Irish yesterday and got through another 80 minutes without throwing a single punch.

	14-05-2002 05:18									#169
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quote: Originally posted by Havak The only similar game I can bring to mind was the ill fated decision to take an English Development squad to take on the Aussies in Brisbane in 1998. 76-0. The shame still burns in us to this day

There are many precedents. The All Blacks thumped the Wallabies 43-6 in arctic conditions in NZ in 1996 which was a record at the time. Two weeks later, the Wallabies led till the last seconds of the game and the All Blacks scored to squeak home.

quote: It's hard to picture Larkham at full back. I'm sure he would be a fairly good one but it doesn't seem the best place for someone with his instinctive reading of the game - he has a far greater effect at fly half I think?

He started with the Brumbies at full back and a very creative one. I remember the only concern about moving him to 5/8 was his light frame - would he get blown away? Well, he's been targeted, smashed in late tackles, and while he's had his share of injuries, he's still going strong. Eddie Jones only wanted him moved back to full back to rest him (so to speak) before a very long rep season gets underway.

quote: On a side note Mr Johnson had a towering game against London Irish yesterday and got through another 80 minutes without throwing a single punch.

Must've looked a treat playing with his fists tied behind his back.

	14-05-2002 13:48									#170
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quote: I remember the only concern about moving him to 5/8 was his light frame - would he get blown away? Well, he's been targeted, smashed in late tackles, and while he's had his share of injuries, he's still going strong.

Now there's a very interesting parallel with Jonny Wilkinson there. Newcastle moved him from inside centre to Fly Half at 17 years old and exactly the same concenrs were voiced. He has come through it pretty much the same way Larkham has. You have to ask though if the extreme punishment both men are taking is shortening their careers??

quote: Must've looked a treat playing with his fists tied behind his back

He may have looked it, but I wasn't brave enough to tell him so even with the fists tied.

quote: the Wallabies led till the last seconds of the game and the All Blacks scored to squeak home.

This actually brought to my mind what has been the strength of the Tri-nations. You have not had any whipping boys in that tournament in the way that we have, say, Wales and Italy. It has helped maintain the standard of your games at an extremely high level, whilst the opposed training runs England get against the Azzuri or taffs help to take away their focus or 'edge' if you prefer.

I'm worried that with South Africa losing players every which way you are about to end up with a bi-polar system between Wallabies and All Blacks - what do you think about this?

Montgomery is the latest player who has said he doesn't want to be considered at national trials - which can be pretty much taken to mean he is Europe bound?

	14-05-2002 15:46									#171
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Now there's a very interesting parallel with Jonny Wilkinson there. Newcastle moved him from inside centre to Fly Half at 17 years old and exactly the same concenrs were voiced. He has come through it pretty much the same way Larkham has. You have to ask though if the extreme punishment both men are taking is shortening their careers??

Quite possibly. Larkham's knee is dodgy. Though the original problem was more your usual injury than anything else. I'd've thought JW would've copped more in the centres than fly half.

quote: This actually brought to my mind what has been the strength of the Tri-nations. You have not had any whipping boys in that tournament in the way that we have, say, Wales and Italy. It has helped maintain the standard of your games at an extremely high level, whilst the opposed training runs England get against the Azzuri or taffs help to take away their focus or 'edge' if you prefer. I'm worried that with South Africa losing players every which way you are about to end up with a bi-polar system between Wallabies and All Blacks - what do you think about this?

Good point. The Boks will always have an edge when they play at altitude, but - unless something extraordinary happens - they're going to struggle elsewhere. The ongoing Oz-Kiwi scenario should keep the standards up, though. What amazes me over there is how well the Frogs seem to do most of the time.

quote: Montgomery is the latest player who has said he doesn't want to be considered at national trials - which can be pretty much taken to mean he is Europe bound?

Percy won't be any huge loss. He can often be a liability. I've seen his own team's fans jeer him.

	14-05-2002 20:24									#172
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quote: I'd've thought JW would've copped more in the centres than fly half.

Well he did play outside Rob Andrew when a centre so he probably never received a ball from the drop goal king.

Ah the French - a strange side indeed. We will see how good they are as they take you on in a two match series down there in June. ;-)

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see you bury them to be honest. They have had their good game for this year (against England ,the damn frog party poopers!)

Just been checking out the latest Bok signing/rumours in the various Leagues here.

Signed - Swanepoel (Worcester), Kempson (Ulster) Rossouw (London Irish), Vos (Harlequins)

Rumoured - Delport (Gloucester), Montgomery (unknown)

I know Van Straaten, Venter and Drotske are already here.

Okay some of these are like our venerable Wallabies in the premiership - players making retirement cash after their Intl days are over - but some are prime Bok candidates, Roussow for example - it has to be harming their national side considerably.

	15-05-2002 04:29									#173
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Without a doubt. The Bok admin needs a boot up the date.

	15-05-2002 12:44									#174
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And check out the neutered England squad to face McQueens Barbarians Sunday week - 12 uncapped players.

Woodward's selection has been crippled by the European finals and Sevens tournament being the same weekend and a late flood of injuries. This is not an England team to trouble the Barbarians at all.

Thanks goodness I'm spending that weekend in Cardiff catching the European cup final.

	15-05-2002 13:13									#175
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Actually, I'm in mourning. I have to go away for a week's holiday. Leaving this Saturday morning, returning Sunday of the following weekend. So, unless they show the Super 12 semis and final on free-to-air - the main platform is Fox Sports - I'll miss them!

	15-05-2002 14:58									#176
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So unless a Rupert Murdoch owned network suddenly decides to wave it's exclusive rights and let a free to air broadcaster show the game you are going to miss it?

My commisserations on your inevitable miss in that case.

	15-05-2002 17:45									#177
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Actually, the S12 broadcast rights are spread between Fox Sports and the free-to-air 7 Network. Fox Sports has the rights to broadcast live, the 7 Network has replay rights, which, typically, has amounted to showing the games at about 2 o'clock the next morning. For the last few weeks, though, for some reason, the 7 Network haven't been showing anything. I can only hope and pray that they get it together again for the finals. Even at 2am!

	15-05-2002 18:24									#178
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Fingers crossed for you then.

Murdoch's Sky does a similar deal with the BBC here but highlights and excerpts only. Still I have the full Sky package and I can program my video so I should get to see the S12 final one way or another.

Please forgive me for personally getting more excited about my weekend on the lash in Cardiff - sorry I mean the European cup final.

	15-05-2002 19:02									#179
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You're forgiven. And don't forget - as of your Friday night, for a week, it's up to you to keep this thread from disappearing into the cellar.

	15-05-2002 20:14									#180
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I will do my level best to have a conversation with myself.