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ravagon
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Australia
Sep 1999
time: 13:23
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Originally posted by finbar
Speaking of which -
2. England 31 -d- All Blacks 28
Very entertaining match with some high class rugby. Clive Woodward must be thanking God for Jonny Wilkinson. One of the best #10 performances I've seen for a long time - his chip and re-gather to score the try was pure magic - and England would have been rooted without him. The ABs obviously did lift to make up for the lack of experience, but it was the old hands - Umaga, Howlett, Lomu, Mehtrens in the second half, etc - who lifted the most to do the most damage. Some of their backline work was magical, blowing holes in the English defence. OTOH, no defence in world rugby would contain some of those backs in that sort of form. The England backs, by comparison, seemed to lack imagination and/or invention. But it's a tough comparison. Both teams would crucify the Wallabies in the situation in which they currently find themselves.
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Darnit. I just get back from a well-deserved (  ) holiday and this happens. Sheesh. Your summary though pretty much agrees with both an e-mail I got from a friend in the UK and the planetrugby article, both of whom saw it as an utterly enthralling match that boded extremely well for the upcoming WC. 
(I'm allowing my sense of altruism to rear its ugly head here, rather than looking for a slightly silvered lining to an otherwise cloudy day, ... honest.  ).
I did manage to catch the televised Aus-Ire match though - another shocker of a result although the Wals were pressing for much of the second half.
In hindsight I should probably be glad I wasn't around as my pot of civ gold would certainly have depreciated much further.
Still a nice match to watch if one tends to go for the underdog though.
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BTW, Eddie Jones came up with an interesting statistic yesterday. Apparently close to 80% of Tests are won by the home team. I wonder what that means. |
I would tend to wonder exactly how many matches/countries went into this statistic ... 
Given the traditional differential in the quality of some of the upper echelon nations (NZ, Aus, RSA ... etc) over the rest it would need a rather large sample size to overcome this. I don't know about too many of the others but the AB's have generally been favoured to win against most opponents - whether playing on tour or at home ... and, by and large, have done so. If the same holds true for Wallabies, Boks, Pumas ... against all else but those in the same league then an average 80% win rate at home sounds quite extreme.
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:23
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It must be fun to hear the "Marseillaise" at Twickenham. |
Lets face it is fun to hear that anytime.
The crowd respected the anthem Saturday but as I’m sure Andydog will attest they drowned the Haka with a lively chorus of ‘Swing Low’. Dis-respect? I didn’t read it that way – more as a lively response to the challenge.
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He watches too many re-runs of "Lost In Space". |
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Until, of course, the incessant tweeting deafens you and you can't hear it anymore |
Personally I thought he had lost his whistle on Saturday – and that is your most pedantic official? 
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terrific tactical kicking by their #10 and fierce defence |
Ronan O’Gara. Otherwise known as McCrae’s best mate. he has been struggling to get past Humphries but, given his chance, didn’t he use it well?
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Edit. It turns out Owen Finnegan has dislocated the shoulder that has already been reconstructed. Minimum six months on the sidelines, possibly the end of his career. |
I saw him leave the field, I had no idea it was so serious. I’m sorry to hear that – the odd red mist incident aside he has filled the green and gold shirt well.
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The England backs, by comparison, seemed to lack imagination and/or invention |
Put your finger right on it I think. Compared to the clinical incision we saw from the men in black our backs squandered far too many good positions.
And oh my god – Howlett – I have never seen anyone skin Robinson like that! It was such a relief to see him make the tactical mistake that let Cohen in. He should never have backed your fullback against Cohen – big strong lad that Saints player.
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Havak - you'll be gladdened to hear that, prior to the match, Phil Kearns called England "probably the world's best team - or, if not, right up there". BTW, I was particularly impressed by your #6, a Leicester chap, apparently. |
Lets settle for right up there for now. The game should have been killed off by 60 minutes but there was a mini-choke I’m afraid – they sat back and let the ABs come which lets face it is pretty damn suicidal. Having said that it does appear the lads who pulled on the Black shirts deserved the chance – they were in superb shape and form. I doubt the ‘first choice’ XV is confident in getting the shirts back?
That’s Lewis Moody btw Finbar – I find it terrifying how fearless he is putting his body on the line to be honest. Definitely a bright young thing. And better yet in his absence Kronfeld scores the winning try for Tigers – not a bad weekend for me all round.
Wilkinson is really coming of age isn’t he? We should be savouring the meeting of styles with Larkham really. I’ve also seen enough of Australia to know when they seem most vulnerable is when they are most dangerous so you will not find me taking anything for granted!!
I have to say as well I am counting my lucky stars that I still made a net gain despite losing my England bet!!!
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It's a pity it doesn't happen here because it creates a wonderful atmosphere. |
Maybe a concerted effort by the hardcore fans could change it – but then inertia is a hard thing to overcome.
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both of whom saw it as an utterly enthralling match that boded extremely well for the upcoming WC |
Although most of we die hard England fans have taken on board how much harder it will be to match the ABs in Australia I can assure you. No one who knows the game is getting carried away. I would rather avoid the All Blacks in the second pahse games I think – so it’s essential we beat the Boks well in a fortnight to set a marker.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Personally I thought he had lost his whistle on Saturday – and that is your most pedantic official? |
Yes, I thought he was surprisingly benign, particularly with some of the offside play. It could be, too, that he struggled to keep up with some of the blindingly quick play.
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Ronan O’Gara. Otherwise known as McCrae’s best mate. he has been struggling to get past Humphries but, given his chance, didn’t he use it well? |
That was the guy McCrae jobbed? I'd forgotten the name. Pity he hadn't cut off the bloke's kicking leg.
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I saw him leave the field, I had no idea it was so serious. I’m sorry to hear that – the odd red mist incident aside he has filled the green and gold shirt well. |
Owen was either retiring or toddling off to a club in Ireland - the gag before the game was that half the crowd were his rellies - after the WRC. They're now saying 7-9 months out of the game, which rules out next year's S12. I don't think we'll see him back, sadly.
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Put your finger right on it I think. Compared to the clinical incision we saw from the men in black our backs squandered far too many good positions. |
They don't seem to play with the same assurance as the forwards. There's obviously talent (and speed) there, but I couldn't work out who was managing them.
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And oh my god – Howlett – |
Isn't he terrifying? Give him half a yard and you're history.
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Cohen – big strong lad that Saints player. |
And quick. He looks enormous. How big is he? 6' 2"? (Thank God I can use real measurements instead of this metric twaddle!)
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The game should have been killed off by 60 minutes but there was a mini-choke I’m afraid – they sat back and let the ABs come which lets face it is pretty damn suicidal. |
I don't think England sat back. Those AB backs are impossible to contain when they're given an inch. BTW, it was interesting to watch how they exploited Lomu - apart from one spectacular charge down the wing, mainly within 15-20 yards of the line where his strength more than made up for his lessened speed.
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Wilkinson is really coming of age isn’t he? We should be savouring the meeting of styles with Larkham really. |
Fascinating contest. They both achieve much in entirely different ways.
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I’ve also seen enough of Australia to know when they seem most vulnerable is when they are most dangerous so you will not find me taking anything for granted!! |
Mmmm. As I said, on the form against Ireland, they will be crucified next Saturday. The skill level is dreadful, the confidence must be way down. It's disturbing to see how far back Larkham is receiving the ball from Gregan. It's even more disturbing that Gregan left the ground straight after the match to fly home for the birth of his second child, will turn around and fly straight back again for the match against England. That is not preparation for a Test match.
The whole tour is taking on the form of a kock-up. They left Phil Waugh behind because they thought he wasn't rugby fit (having played 3 rounds of club footy after his injury) and took David Lyons who was bothered by a hip/thigh injury which they hoped would recover. It hasn't, and probably won't by the end of the tour. Matt Rogers - the player Eddie was most keen to test in various possies against international opposition - is likely to return home with his rib cartlidge injury having played once against the Pumas. And two players will have made home and return trips to attend childbirths.
Sometimes I wonder.
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:23
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Yes, I thought he was surprisingly benign, particularly with some of the offside play. It could be, too, that he struggled to keep up with some of the blindingly quick play. |
That’s understandable, it was hard to keep up with it just watching at times.
I have to ask the obvious – who did you feel were the worst offenders on the offside laws? I do feel that the men in black were aware of all the variants of offside but had decided they clearly applied only to other teams.
I also admit I saw us infringe offside several times. We weren’t quite as blatant at flying into the sides of rucks though?
One thing I thought Kaplan was poor at was policing straight throws in the line out – some (both sides I concede!) we absolutely shocking. It’s pure irony that the AB ball stolen by Kay was their best throw of the entire afternoon.
It is very difficult to spot offside reliably on a TV screen it has to be said – but lineouts are easier – and generally if the man is reaching behind him to take ball it probably was not straight?
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Pity he hadn't cut off the bloke's kicking leg. |
Further irony in the fact he has struggled with his form since that tour – and came good for your visit.
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I don't think we'll see him back, sadly. |
If it needs a second re-construction then for his own sake he might be better calling it. A third might cripple him permanently.
It’s going to be a real scratch set of loose forwards for you on Saturday then?
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They don't seem to play with the same assurance as the forwards. There's obviously talent (and speed) there, but I couldn't work out who was managing them. |
You have a knack of fingering the problems. Wilko is becoming a fairly good midfield general but the back line oftens looks like it has no cohesion. I was also surprised Robinson was kept quite so quiet in such an open match. I feel Stimpson might have been the better option – definitely not as fast but he reads the game better defensively – he may well have been in better position for the Howlett break-away as Robinson was looking for the offensive option on the other wing.
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Isn't he terrifying? Give him half a yard and you're history. |
Utterly terrifying. He impressed me far more than Jonah did despite the tries the giant scored.
And hell I have to mention it but grounding the ball on the opposing players leg generally doesn’t score you know.
Before anyone pounces on me I stated to the partisan crowd in the bar at the time that the move deserved the try despite Jonah messing up the actual grounding of the ball.
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And quick. He looks enormous. How big is he? 6' 2"? (Thank God I can use real measurements instead of this metric twaddle!) |
Spot on – 6’2” and very nearly 16 stone. Huge for an English wing, if somewhat smaller than the odd All Black.
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I don't think England sat back |
Perhaps just my paranoia – but I watched them after squandering a couple of good field positions around 60 minutes and I thought I saw the mental click into ‘choke’ mode. I wonder how the forwards felt at 60 mins – they had secured the lions share of possession at that point (about 65%) and the backs were not really exploiting it – the “English disease” still alive and well there?
You are right about Lomu – he was used to draw in defenders in the 22, and it worked very well.
I’ve just read Larkham is a doubt for the weekend because of a hamstring injury. The butchers bill for this tour is becoming very costly?
I see Gregan arrives back late Wed so he gets to attend one training session and the Captains run? As you say not ideal preparation. Perhaps he is good enough to ride it however. And that is terrible news about Rogers – the chance to contrast him and Robinson was an enticing one.
I’m starting to wonder what kind of line up we will see to be honest?
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
I have to ask the obvious – who did you feel were the worst offenders on the offside laws? I do feel that the men in black were aware of all the variants of offside but had decided they clearly applied only to other teams.
I also admit I saw us infringe offside several times. We weren’t quite as blatant at flying into the sides of rucks though? |
I don't recall one team being offside any more than the other, I just think they approached it differently. You're right - the ABs were entering from the side, but the English line often seemed to be up earlier than it should have been.
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One thing I thought Kaplan was poor at was policing straight throws in the line out – some (both sides I concede!) we absolutely shocking. |
I think we've kicked this around before. There's crooked throwing in just about every match played these days. How often do you see the jumpers leaning and stretching a mile sideways to catch their own throw? The throw must, by definition, be crooked. A straight throw - or even a straight-ish throw - would, I'd've thought, be taken around the line of the shoulder or just outside. I'm not sure what inspires the refs to jump on it when they do, but it seems to me that the penalised throws are often a lot straighter than the crooked throws they allow. It's beyond me why it happens. The ref is positioned watching for four main things - the tunnel, the direction of the throw, numbers and the defence staying back the required distance. Yet the first two - probably the easiest calls to make - are the ones they most often get wrong. I think it has to boil down to ref laziness.
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It’s going to be a real scratch set of loose forwards for you on Saturday then? |
As far as I can tell, the available (fit) talent amounts to:
Locks: Harrison, Giffen, Vickerman
Flankers: Smith, Cockbain, Croft
This is where the David Lyons/Phil Waugh selection decision comes back to bite. Shades of the English touring Ashes team. Waugh was fit but not, they believed, rugby fit, and left behind; while Lyons wasn't fit but selected in the expectation he would overcome his injury problem. Which he hasn't. And, while Lyons was selected mainly to be groomed to take over Finnegan's flanker role, he was also to be the back-up for Kefu at #8. Thus we have no back-up #8. It's Kefu or no one.
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Wilko is becoming a fairly good midfield general but the back line oftens looks like it has no cohesion. |
It makes for an odd but interesting spectacle. I'm exaggerating slightly, but it was as if there were two England teams out there - backs and forwards. With the ABs - and the Wallabies when they're playing well - there's a seamlessness. Or, if truth be told, the forwards are setting up for the backs. Which, I suppose, was always one of the definitions of SH rugby. If England finds the glue that welds the two outfits together, they'll have a mighty team because there's so much talent in the respective outfits.
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I was also surprised Robinson was kept quite so quiet in such an open match. I feel Stimpson might have been the better option – definitely not as fast but he reads the game better defensively – he may well have been in better position for the Howlett break-away as Robinson was looking for the offensive option on the other wing. |
Frankly, my idea of a waking nightmare would be having to mark any of that AB backline in the form they were in.
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Utterly terrifying. He impressed me far more than Jonah did despite the tries the giant scored. |
These days, I suspect, Jonah needs the situation set up for him. Howlett can just burn you from anywhere.
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And hell I have to mention it but grounding the ball on the opposing players leg generally doesn’t score you know. |
That was an interesting one. It seemed to me, from the myriad replays, that the ball had been grounded before the momentum took Jonah's arm - and the ball - onto the oppo's leg.
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I’ve just read Larkham is a doubt for the weekend because of a hamstring injury. The butchers bill for this tour is becoming very costly? |
The extent of the injury - if there is one - is unknown at this stage. He felt a twinge. It wasn't why he was replaced against Ireland - he just wasn't achieving anything on the field. And he wasn't on his Pat Malone in that regard.
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I see Gregan arrives back late Wed so he gets to attend one training session and the Captains run? As you say not ideal preparation. Perhaps he is good enough to ride it however. |
His class isn't the problem. The team's performance is the problem, and, as I indicated in one of the earlier posts, their apparent inability to adapt their tactics within a game boils down, I think, to decision-making which amounts to leadership. The important work this week, I'd've thought, would have been done off the field.
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I’m starting to wonder what kind of line up we will see to be honest? |
Take out Finnegan - Harrison replaced him as lock last weekend - and subject to Larkham's fitness, probably a very similiar team to that which lined up against Ireland. They were the best, fit players available.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Now you know those tricky Aussies – all the injuries and the lost game might be psychological ploys by Jones? |
 While Eddie is conceding they're not playing well - and expressing disappointment in certain (unnamed) players - he's also, unfortunately, criticising referees. We've had large penalty counts against us in both games - by Kiwi refs on each occasion - and Eddie is suggesting the refs have abandoned their usual SH methods.
Sorry, Eddie, not good enough. Classic example. In the Pumas match, Noriega was warned a number of times for not binding properly. He was hanging onto the oppo prop's arm. He continued to do it. He was penalised. He kept doing it. He was penalised again. On one occasion, it cost us the put-in within reach of the try line.
I watched Poido's commentary against the Irish and he found most of the penalties warranted, which is saying something.
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The margin would be better kept inside a converted score for me – after all we don’t know if we will see the same Australia, or indeed the same England. |
Well, indeed, but inside a converted try is ridiculous, and you know it. Apply your own guidelines - history, rankings, home ground, form. What margin do you come up with?
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:23
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You're right - the ABs were entering from the side, but the English line often seemed to be up earlier than it should have been. |
I can’t disagree with you there. It has very much crept into their play. I very much trying they are being coached to emulate the teams they aspire to compete with.
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I think it has to boil down to ref laziness. |
You may have a point. At the very least they decide early in a game what they will look for – and more crucially what they won’t.
As an aside I was absolutely gob-smacked Saturday when the ABs gave away a free kick for numbers in the line out – that’s so basic it is just silly?
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Locks: Harrison, Giffen, Vickerman. Flankers: Smith, Cockbain, Croft |
That’s not a bad line up. Is Giffen match fit? I think he and the Bok are a decent pairing. Justin as ever is a nicer las than he appears on the field but I am not convinced he is up to a re-union with the Englihs locks on current form.
Smith – well pure quality of course – but it will be Moodys role to drive him off the ball so that may be a rather tasty little scenario? Cockbain is a decent jobbing forward isn’t he? But Croft is an unknown quantity.
I think the lack of cover may tell Saturday – it’s going to be hard up front and it would be nice to have replacement options in the pack.
Having said that I am grateful Waugh is missing – a tenacious physical little pit bull he is. A shame I will miss seeing Lyons though.
For our part I believe Dallaglio is a doubt. He took a very hard knock is the frantic melee at the end of the game Saturday. The team will be announced later – I’ll let you know
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If England finds the glue that welds the two outfits together, they'll have a mighty team because there's so much talent in the respective outfits. |
Again the point is excellent. Yourselves and NZ play XV man rugby when you get it right. England play ‘eights’ and ‘sevens’ at the same time even when they are getting it ‘right’. I find it hard to understand. I’m fingering the current centres slightly because, whilst talented, neither is an organiser in any way. If we hard a Kafer or a Howard there it might be more cohesive. Who are your incumbent centres this tour? Do they have English blood?
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These days, I suspect, Jonah needs the situation set up for him. Howlett can just burn you from anywhere. |
Tell me about it. I think I’m still in shock!
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It wasn't why he was replaced against Ireland - he just wasn't achieving anything on the field. And he wasn't on his Pat Malone in that regard. |
But to say that is unusual for him is rather an understatement? Perhaps he was carrying something uncomfortable.
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their apparent inability to adapt their tactics within a game boils down, I think, to decision-making which amounts to leadership |
Hmm that is rather worrying as you sound like you are describing a Dallaglio or Dawson led England. That’s not good. Trust me.
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I suppose it means the capacity to be able to do what you're doing while, at the very same instant, spotting an opportunity, weighing it up and deciding. Oh, and pulling it off. |
I love the casual way you added the qualifier there.
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If England can do it twice in a row, and unless the Wallabies lift themselves about 75%, I can see England winning by 15 or more. |
Well it is possible England can perform like that again but by no way assured. I do find it hard to believe the Wallabies can be that bad again however – that is not in the Aussie nature.
It sounds like you caught the French try I was tipped to. I still haven’t seen it.
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I watched Poido's commentary against the Irish and he found most of the penalties warranted, which is saying something. |
It speaks volumes!!! Eddie really needs to be careful going for the refs – he does it a little too often I think. It’s rather a classic suggestion as not only is he adding to Aus-Kiwi angst he is suggesting no senior referee in the NH would have been acceptable – all you have to do is read between the lines. I hope the IRB, with a sense of humour, give him McHugh several times in the world cup.
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What margin do you come up with? |
Am I allowed to include the Luger ‘try’?
I will run the little analysis I use and post later – may I please exclude the 1998 fixture down there (or England will get a generous start!!!)?
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And Leeds continue to hang in there. Good grief. |
They were losing 20-3 at one point. I guess when it is going for you it gets on a roll?
We take on your boys this Friday night at our place and I’m not at all confident about it strangely enough.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
At the very least they decide early in a game what they will look for – and more crucially what they won’t. |
That would explain the situation, as ridiculous as it sounds. I can understand the odd mistake in the hurly burly of play, but something as fixed and basic as a lineout can't be hard to police.
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As an aside I was absolutely gob-smacked Saturday when the ABs gave away a free kick for numbers in the line out – that’s so basic it is just silly? |
It's amazing how often it happens. Someone can't count. More likely, someone just isn't paying attention.
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That’s not a bad line up. Is Giffen match fit? I think he and the Bok are a decent pairing. Justin as ever is a nicer las than he appears on the field but I am not convinced he is up to a re-union with the Englihs locks on current form. |
The Irish was Giffen's first hit out on the tour, so his first game at better than club level since his injury. He got through it, did some nice things, but didn't put anything like a stamp on the game. No Wallaby did.  But it would have been a lot to ask of him anyway. So he's fit, but not top rugby fit. Vickerman has terrific potential and Justin remains - well, an enigma. He has the ability to be very good but has a problem producing it consistently.
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Smith – well pure quality of course – but it will be Moodys role to drive him off the ball so that may be a rather tasty little scenario? Cockbain is a decent jobbing forward isn’t he? But Croft is an unknown quantity. |
Smith tried his hardest last week, as always. I wouldn't want to try to drive him off the ball. Cockbain is never really more than solid and Croft has a big future though whether he's ready for this standard of oppo is moot.
Apparently Larkham will play. Jeremy Paul (hammy) and David Lyons trained lightly, whatever that means. I can't see them risking starting Jeremy Paul and I doubt Lyons is even ready for the bench.
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Having said that I am grateful Waugh is missing – a tenacious physical little pit bull he is. |
How we're missing him. Hindsight, I suppose, is easy.
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For our part I believe Dallaglio is a doubt. He took a very hard knock is the frantic melee at the end of the game Saturday. The team will be announced later – I’ll let you know |
I have to say, I didn't think Snorter did a great deal against the ABs.
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I find it hard to understand. I’m fingering the current centres slightly because, whilst talented, neither is an organiser in any way. If we hard a Kafer or a Howard there it might be more cohesive. |
It hadn't occurred to me - and it should've, because they're the middle men - but the centres could well be a key to the dislocation. You can get centres thinking and playing more like forwards, you can get centres doing the same as backs. Our best centres in recent times - Timmy Horan and Jason Little - were out and out backs. Stirling Mortlock - our best centre now - is another pure back. Umaga of the ABs is yet another. Indeed, Kafer and Howard think and play like backs. Very interesting food for thought.
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Who are your incumbent centres this tour? Do they have English blood? |
We're down to two - Dan Herbert and Stirling Mortlock - because our other option - Matt Burke - has returned to fullback in Matt Rogers' absence. Rogers, of course, was going to be tried at inside centre. Scary when you've only got two credentialled centres left on tour.
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But to say that is unusual for him is rather an understatement? Perhaps he was carrying something uncomfortable. |
Even his kicking - terrific against the Pumas - was ordinary. He had an off day. Everyone did.
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Hmm that is rather worrying as you sound like you are describing a Dallaglio or Dawson led England. That’s not good. Trust me. |
Tell me - why would a team that runs into an Irish brick wall for 60 minutes of a game continue to run into the brick wall for the rest of the game? Where does responsibility for onfield decision making lie?
The media here has been interesting. Greg Growden of the SMH, the best rugby writer, called them one-dimensional and uninspired. Which is a fair description. Another writer blamed the ref, claiming it's all a Celtic conspiracy on the basis that the Celt influence on the IRB is forcing SH refs to adopt a NH approach. God knows what his evidence might have been because he didn't produce any. As I said earlier, if Poido can't find fault with a penalty against the Wallabies, there isn't one.
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I love the casual way you added the qualifier there. |
I've seen that chip over the top and re-gather tried so many times only to fail. That's the fundamental difference.
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Well it is possible England can perform like that again but by no way assured. I do find it hard to believe the Wallabies can be that bad again however – that is not in the Aussie nature. |
Remember last time? The parallels with this time are terrifying.
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It sounds like you caught the French try I was tipped to. I still haven’t seen it. |
It's a doozie. [cone of silence mode]I'm sure we can wind up Tamerlin till his eyes pop by suggesting that the player who gathered the kick was offside[/cone of silence mode]
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It speaks volumes!!! Eddie really needs to be careful going for the refs – he does it a little too often I think. It’s rather a classic suggestion as not only is he adding to Aus-Kiwi angst he is suggesting no senior referee in the NH would have been acceptable – all you have to do is read between the lines. I hope the IRB, with a sense of humour, give him McHugh several times in the world cup. |
I've heard the full interviews with him. I actually don't think he's targeting the NH refs this time. His argument was simply that the SH ref interpreted differently in the NH to the way he had in the SH. In fact, it was related to his statistic about the number of Tests won by home teams - he was suggesting that refs, wherever they're from, interpret according to where they're refereeing, ergo advantaging the home team. Regardless of the bona fides of that argument, I think he should worry more about the way the team is playing - and he's very worried - and less about the refs.
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Am I allowed to include the Luger ‘try’? |
Interestingly, our telecast of the England - AB match was English with English commentary. I don't know which broadcaster, but one of the commentators, *** the Lomu try question, made reference to the Luger try that, he said, wasn't a try.
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I will run the little analysis I use and post later – may I please exclude the 1998 fixture down there (or England will get a generous start!!!)? |
My thoughts on your historically-based system are already well known. I'll leave it at that. 
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We take on your boys this Friday night at our place and I’m not at all confident about it strangely enough. |
Your first home loss since single-cell amoebae ruled the earth? Goodoh. I could do with a new sig. 
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11-11-2002 11:53
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