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Andydog
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London
Jan 2001
time: 05:20
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quote:
Andydog I should give you a red card for mentioning *spit* rugby league, but considering it was a good dig at the aussies Ill award you a penalty try. |
Cheers mate, yes it seems I coped a bit of a hammering for that quote by the Aussie posters. I've tried for the last 30 minutes to find the link again, but I'm buggered if I know where I stumbled across it. I will confess that at the time I did think it was breaking news. I've just done a search and found that in fact it happened around March 2000, which was when I was travelling around... wait for it... Italy!!!
Anyway, as I have the opportunity... It is still disgusting you horrible Australian poo pushers! 
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I'm not sure that a pub is any sort of realistic context. I've never attended one of those sessions and I wouldn't. The booze - and its effects - just gets in the way of watching the game.  |
You can't be serious? A pub is simply the second best place you could ever hope be to watch a rugby game! Not so much for the alcohol (that comes after the game), but just for the atmosphere and opportunity to take the piss out of the opposition fans during the game! Finbar you'd be in your element.
Havak, I must say to your credit, I've found the English rugby fans to be the most embracing of all toward the opposition fans. After the '99 RWC when NZ beat England in Twickenham, the surrounding pubs were full of disappointed but happy Englishmen, all congratulating the Kiwi supporters on a fine game of rugby. They gave credit where credit was due, and it was a pleasure to drink with them. One or two were even so kind as to offer advice on the local bitters (avoid them at all costs!!)
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:20
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do you have that paragraph permanently locked into your Cut/Paste option? |
It’s actually etched directly onto my brain.
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Because it's simply a different culture. People here tend to go home, win or lose. |
I greatly prefer our way.
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New Years Eve, New York, 1997, -14 degrees. Blissful. |
Not the word I would have chosen!
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I really think there's more to this than the dates. |
I suspect the hidden involvement of the RFU this end – they dislike O’Neils little games. What possible harm could it have caused the ARU to release this player early??
Sadly it’s the player who suffers as ‘piggy in the middle’.
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You realise it's bloody America that's to blame |
Not until you mentioned it. You know me, I just naturally blamed the Australians.
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"We live at the arse-end of the world". |
I can’t help but feel that’s a little harsh
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To criticise Australia is un-Australian. |
Yes this is an aspect that worried me over there. To disallow criticism of one’s own country can lead down some very dangerous roads indeed. I do wish your countrymen could relax a little more on this front – even saying I didn’t like Tooheys New got me a lecture on the virtues of Australian beer in Sydney – mind you that was from the same lad who when I tried to toast both team captains said “naa mate, not yours – he’s a thug”. Can you picture my reaction to that? 
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a certain large NH country |
Oh Canada is not so bad you know.
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Remember Waterloo? Does Battle of Trafalgar ring any bells at all? |
How old do you think Tamerlin is?
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I don't know what you are speaking about ! |
And rightly so – we are focused more on the Entente Cordiale are we not?
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"The Game They Play In Heaven". How's that for a compromise? |
Could you add a rider – you see it sounds a bit Welsh that (Bread of Heaven etc). How about adding (which does not mean Wales) on the end?
Would anyone agree it is very clear Caligastia is lacking the experience of seeing his team lose live?
Come over in November and we will put that right for you – no 12th straight win for you guys.
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sentences like this one are coming out of my little mind naturally in a moment's notice. |
That they didn’t take long to think of does not reduce their worth at all in my eyes 
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As I told it earlier, I won't let you down ! |
Much appreciated – I hope you can catch and evaluate Saturdays game – paying close attention to rucks and mauls?
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Isn't language a terrific thing? |
I’m actually glad you fielded that one. It’s a weird one.
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A pub is simply the second best place you could ever hope be to watch a rugby game! Not so much for the alcohol (that comes after the game), but just for the atmosphere and opportunity to take the piss out of the opposition fans during the game! Finbar you'd be in your element. |
I would second that on both counts!
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I've found the English rugby fans to be the most embracing of all toward the opposition fans |
I’m glad you got to soak up the twickers (and post twickers) atmosphere, it is good isn’t it? I have to be totally fair and say the Irish may just beat us on this one though. The Scots are polite if not friendly post match and the French, if you can persuade them to join in the party, are great fun too. If you catch Wales on a bad day it can be touchy but normally even the valley boys will stay and drink with you around town after losing and there will be very little trouble.
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the surrounding pubs were full of disappointed but happy Englishmen, all congratulating the Kiwi supporters on a fine game of rugby. They gave credit where credit was due, and it was a pleasure to drink with them. |
It is really hard to get this across to anyone who hasn’t sampled it. Most opposition fans have this picture of English soccer thugs in their mind and the Twickers experience catches them totally by surprise. You do get the odd idiot (generally just aggressive verbals) but one thing I really like about English crowds is we largely police ourselves – opposition fans will find themselves thoroughly protected from such idiots. Long may it continue. 
Anyone of you guys could be my guest at Tigers, a fiercely English club (as you may have gathered), and stand on the terrace supping a beer and wagging on about the need for SH talent to teach the boys how to play – and all you would get is friendly banter in return. It’s a precious aspect of rugby to me – I’ll ‘fight’ tooth and claw to keep it that way.
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One or two were even so kind as to offer advice on the local bitters (avoid them at all costs!!) |
You have no idea what you are missing.
Any and every Englishman will always be happy to offer advice on booze. They say we have a drink problem you know.
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Tamerlin
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Toulouse (South-western France)
Apr 2002
time: 06:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
How old do you think Tamerlin is? |
At least 200 years old. But I was a kid at this time and there are things I don't remember very well.
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And rightly so – we are focused more on the Entente Cordiale are we not? |
Yes, we are. 
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I’ll ‘fight’ tooth and claw to keep it that way. |
So do I, the day the Rugby fans behave like those soccer fools I stop going to the stadium. 
There are Policemen around our Stadiums, but they are mainly here to direct the flow of cars heading to the stadium and they don't look as if they were about to prevent someone to make any harm. Some of them even enter the stadium when the game has begun to watch the game, certainly not the crowd.
Someone, I think it's Caligastia, wrote the bad attitude of some Rugby fan can be explained by the fact they have never played Rugby themselves. This is a tricky sentence.
Though I regret it, I've never played rugby myself. My physical build makes me more suitable to play games like Tennis or Volley-ball, two sports I've practiced a lot when I was young at the beginning of the 19th century.
I greew up in a small village (5,000 inhabitants) near Toulouse where Rugby had more to do with a streetfight than a gentlemen's game. The first time, and last one, my father took me to "St-Sulpice's" Rugby field a player was looking at his teeth on the ground with people shouting all around. "St-Sulpice's" has always been more interested in soccer than in Rugby.
My father was born in Béziers (does it mean something to you Havak ? ), a town with a very strong Rugby tradition and a team which dominated the french rugby for a whole decade (in the 80's). I was thus raised in a Rugby atmosphere where the french championship final and the Five Nations Tournament had a kind of holy value.
When I settled in Toulouse, which Rugby tradition can be traced back to the 19th century, I went to the stadium more and more regularly and I have now a season ticket since the 1995-1996 season. The people sitted around me are all old Rugby Fans and some of them have even seen matches before the second world war. Needless to say, It's a real pleasure to hear their comments.
I have always been delighted by the good-natured mood of the rugby crowd and I believe that those that are acting badly are rather people that have not understood the spirit of the game. Of course, understanding the spirit of the game is easier when you have played the game yourself, but does it mean you can't if you have never played the game ?
I don't think so, even if I believe a non-player like me will never have the same vision of the game as a former Rugby player.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
I suspect the hidden involvement of the RFU this end – they dislike O’Neils little games. What possible harm could it have caused the ARU to release this player early?? |
There were a number of players heading off - Connors, Bond, Edmonds, and someone else I can't recall. They were all in the same position with the ARU enforcing the contract. Edmonds is going to France so he doesn't enter into this discussion, but there's no problem with Graham Bond's English contract and he's still here playing out his contract. That's why I think the Bath situation is so odd. Particularly given that the ARU contract situation was perfectly clear months ago. That's the basis of Connors' complaint now, and his talk of legal action. Essentially, Bath, knowing the ARU contract was in place, has now broken the agreement.
Anyway, the reason for enforcing the contracts was pretty simple. If you release one, you have to release them all. Thus what's the point of a contract in the first place? And these aren't bum players. They're all experienced S12 regulars, all with Test experience.
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I can’t help but feel that’s a little harsh |
You try living here. You've already nailed several of the problems yourself. As in the next paragraph:
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Yes this is an aspect that worried me over there. To disallow criticism of one’s own country can lead down some very dangerous roads indeed. I do wish your countrymen could relax a little more on this front – even saying I didn’t like Tooheys New got me a lecture on the virtues of Australian beer in Sydney – mind you that was from the same lad who when I tried to toast both team captains said “naa mate, not yours – he’s a thug”. Can you picture my reaction to that? |
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How old do you think Tamerlin is? |
Regardless of his age, he can't be allowed to forget what your great great great great grandfather did to his great great great great grandfather. Regardless of who started the scrap!
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And rightly so – we are focused more on the Entente Cordiale are we not? |
*Wellington and Nelson turn from watching The Game They Play In Heaven (home game) and gape, aghast, at each other*
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Could you add a rider – you see it sounds a bit Welsh that (Bread of Heaven etc). How about adding (which does not mean Wales) on the end? |
How does this sound? Rugby - The Game They Play In Heaven (Minus The Western Suburbs Of Chester)?
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Would anyone agree it is very clear Caligastia is lacking the experience of seeing his team lose live? |
My only thought was that he obviously hadn't been to an ABs match for several years. 
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That they didn’t take long to think of does not reduce their worth at all in my eyes |
*Wellington and Nelson turn up the volume on Poido's and Buddha's commentary*
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Anyone of you guys could be my guest at Tigers, a fiercely English club (as you may have gathered), and stand on the terrace supping a beer and wagging on about the need for SH talent to teach the boys how to play – and all you would get is friendly banter in return. It’s a precious aspect of rugby to me – I’ll ‘fight’ tooth and claw to keep it that way. |
I must try to get there. When does your season start? I'm trying to con Mrs finbar into another trip later this year.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:20
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quote:
Originally posted by ravagon
 Australian beer??!! As if the motivation for an AB victory wasn't already there. |
"Good as gold!". (Completely lost on anyone who hasn't been to the South Island of NZ!)
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*ahem*
While I hate to be picky (actually its one of my great joys in life ) I think you'll find, after consulting the rules on page (god only knows what), that red cards are to be given out for intelligent statements only.
Andydog's post mentioned RL thereby eliminating that possibility right from word go. |
It could be said - not by me, I hasten to add, but by someone who was being less than charitable, which couldn't - by definition - be me - that, in fact, under this thread's Disciplinary Rules, Kiwis are probably pretty safe from red cards.
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Ouch. The Andrew Golotta of the rugby thread strikes again. |
He resents that!
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Is there an updated betting list out yet? I wanted to back the AB's but from reading through this it looks as though that would return about 10% of the stake.
I might have to consider a tactical bet on the *spit* Wabbalies *spit* |
I was going to post it in the morning in case LDiCesares, academia or any of our other chums turned up with a bet. But you can back both teams if you like. Currently, 5 out of 5 have backed the ABs for a total of 110 Gold. I'll be backing the Wallabies. I just have to find an electron-microscope with which to find my kitty.
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Its funny how it seems to be everybody against finbar and everybody is still outnumbered. ] |
Sticks and stones!
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Caligastia
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
I wonder if Finbar and Caligastia were/are backs |
I was a back even though my size is more suited for a forward position. I play best as a back because I can run fast and defend well.
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LDiCesare
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La Ferté sous Jouarre France
Jan 2001
time: 05:20
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Tamerlin, there is no such thing as "physical build not suited for rugby"! I am 1,63m (5'5'') for 60-65kg (140lbs?) and I have played everywhere except prop and lock (obviously lock). Although not in 1st div, mind you. At best I played winger in reserve 2nd div, and now play in "folklo", most often scrum half or hooker... The fact I have never been afraid of tackling people twice my weight or more probably explains why I often end up in the first row... that and the fact our president likes to play scrum half, too.
By the way, did I say I wanted to bet 20 civ gold on the ABs against the wallabies?
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Caligastia
Once again the wallabies pull a houdini... |
Well, yes, but they totally dominated the last 10 minutes. The Matt Rogers try came on the 15th phase. It was only brilliant AB defence that kept the Wallabies out. I'm also wondering how long it will be before Rogers starts a game. His speed, stepping and gift for picking the angles are outstanding.
It seemed to me, over all, that the ABs' strategy was too limited. Turning the opposition around with kicks is fine, but I suspect it was overdone. Umaga made a couple of magnificent runs and really threatened when he did so. More of that, I reckon, would have put more pressure on the Wallabies. As it was, the Wallabies pretty much knew they were going to be bringing the ball back. Running at the defence, putting it under pressure.
The really worrying thing for Eddie Jones would have to be the turnovers. The last stat I saw had 19. Sure, some of them were from massive AB pressure, but there way too many simple handling errors.
And the wind must have been appalling at ground level. I've never seen both Mehrtens and Burke kick so - by their standards - badly. Although Burke's missed conversion from almost right in front was just bad kicking. He really has had a couple of ordinary kicking weeks by his standards.
Regardless, it was a classic Bledisloe match. Well, when aren't they? Tough and hard, but played in terrific spirit.
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Now its down to bonus points to decide the winner of the tri-nations. Who ever does the best against SA will win it. |
That's what it boils down to. I must check where they're being played. I wonder if either of them are at altitude?
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Caligastia
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quote:
Originally posted by finbar
Well, yes, but they totally dominated the last 10 minutes. The Matt Rogers try came on the 15th phase. It was only brilliant AB defence that kept the Wallabies out. I'm also wondering how long it will be before Rogers starts a game. His speed, stepping and gift for picking the angles are outstanding. |
Agreed, I will be suprised if he doesnt start in SA. For a rugby league player he has adapted to union very well.
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It seemed to me, over all, that the ABs' strategy was too limited. Turning the opposition around with kicks is fine, but I suspect it was overdone. Umaga made a couple of magnificent runs and really threatened when he did so. More of that, I reckon, would have put more pressure on the Wallabies. As it was, the Wallabies pretty much knew they were going to be bringing the ball back. Running at the defence, putting it under pressure. |
Yep, there were defintely a few occasions when they seemed to be just kicking away possession. They really got nowhere with that strategy (except for Cullen's kick which led to the McCaw try). Every time they kept the ball in hand they dominated.
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The really worrying thing for Eddie Jones would have to be the turnovers. The last stat I saw had 19. Sure, some of them were from massive AB pressure, but there way too many simple handling errors. |
The ABs also had their share of errors, but they forced the Wallabies into more.
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And the wind must have been appalling at ground level. I've never seen both Mehrtens and Burke kick so - by their standards - badly. Although Burke's missed conversion from almost right in front was just bad kicking. He really has had a couple of ordinary kicking weeks by his standards. |
I could see just by the way their hair and uniforms were whipping in the wind that it would be a tough night for kicking. So much for perfect conditions in Sydney eh?
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Regardless, it was a classic Bledisloe match. Well, when aren't they? Tough and hard, but played in terrific spirit. |
It was a great match, but it would have been better if NZ had won...
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That's what it boils down to. I must check where they're being played. I wonder if either of them are at altitude? |
IIRC Durban (where NZ is playing) is at a high altitude, whereas Johannesburg (where Oz is playing) is closer to sea level.
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02-08-2002 04:46
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