04-02-2003 03:54									#481
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia Kiwis and Aussies are known to be travellers, and as beautiful as New Zealand is, you can't live on scenery.

Added to which, Australia and New Zealand are both achingly dull, self-absorbed backwaters, and, in the case of Australia anyway, anti-intellectual. Just my opinion.

	04-02-2003 04:16									#482
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin There should be no domestic competitions, but on the other hand the clubs will loose more money without games and thus they want to play...

My original thought was that the domestic comp would only be suspended while the internationals were being played, with the domestic comp resuming where it left off after the players are back from the national team. The flaw in that thinking, obviously, is that, with so many internationals, the domestic comp would end up running for 12 months.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Perhaps the compensation should be calculated on a sliding scale tied to the number of players a club loses to the national team. It won't help the affected team's performance on the field without its best players, but it's probably the next best thing.

quote: Don't you remember I am a poor lonesome unemployed man (I know it does not sound as impressive as "cowboy"), I don't have a spare room but I have a sofa-bed (don't know the english word for "Canapé-lit") that which may unfortunately not meet the standards of living you might be used to. But I would be glad to meet you, guide you through the area and give you the hospitality if you come to Toulouse (even if you come with your wife and as long as you don't bring any kid).

I'm only joking about the spare room! Good grief, if I suggested staying in Havak's spare room if we visit Leicester, he'd have me doing the painting and wallpapering that Mrs Havak's been hounding him about since last rugby season!

No, we'd stay in a pensione or similar. There are some wonderful little pensiones dotted all over the place. And fear not, Tamerlin, there will be no rug rats in the vicinity. I thought I'd made my thoughts on them very well known - children are an unfortunate byproduct of our species' need to survive.

	04-02-2003 04:20									#483
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quote: Originally posted by Havak We would love to see you at rugby's spiritual home.

Speaking of rugby, it's going to play a part in the timing of the trip. My preferred time to trip around Europe is mid-late autumn and even into winter. I'll have to check out the WRC dates. I'd hate to be sitting with one of you lot watching a WRC final featuring the Wallabies!

	04-02-2003 06:19									#484
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quote: Originally posted by finbar I'm not sure what the answer is. Perhaps the compensation should be calculated on a sliding scale tied to the number of players a club loses to the national team. It won't help the affected team's performance on the field without its best players, but it's probably the next best thing.

This is the kind of system that would be logical but whatever the country the compensations are the same for every club regardless of the number of international players in each team.

quote: I'm only joking about the spare room! Good grief, if I suggested staying in Havak's spare room if we visit Leicester, he'd have me doing the painting and wallpapering that Mrs Havak's been hounding him about since last rugby season!

I would have thought you would be glad to help a comrad in distress. I can easily imagine you in a sofa while Havak is painting and wallpapering. You would discuss Rugby and make him mad about various Rugby topics only to tell him he should better watch at the wallpaper he would have badly glued because you would have distracted him.

quote: And fear not, Tamerlin, there will be no rug rats in the vicinity.

quote: I thought I'd made my thoughts on them very well known - children are an unfortunate byproduct of our species' need to survive.

You did, thus my little sentence about kids...

	04-02-2003 06:58									#485
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin I would have thought you would be glad to help a comrad in distress. I can easily imagine you in a sofa while Havak is painting and wallpapering. You would discuss Rugby and make him mad about various Rugby topics only to tell him he should better watch at the wallpaper he would have badly glued because you would have distracted him.

M-hm. Like, for example, pointing out to him how many of the England line were so often offside against the All Blacks at Twickenham. And how the All Black backline so often carved up the vaunted England defence. I watched a replay of the match last night.

quote: You did, thus my little sentence about kids...

I tried to be as polite as I could about them. I have no idea why.

	04-02-2003 06:59									#486
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin I can easily imagine you in a sofa while Havak is painting and wallpapering. You would discuss Rugby and make him mad about various Rugby topics only to tell him he should better watch at the wallpaper he would have badly glued because you would have distracted him.

I can just picture that now.
Methinks however that Havak may be better advised to put finbar to work in the kitchen - if any of the recent MP threads are anything to go by ... [insert salivating smiley here]

Btw - Does anybody know when the rwc draw is going to be posted? [If it hasn't already - I may have missed it. ]

	04-02-2003 07:17									#487
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quote: Originally posted by finbar M-hm. Like, for example, pointing out to him how many of the England line were so often offside against the All Blacks at Twickenham. And how the All Black backline so often carved up the vaunted England defence. I watched a replay of the match last night.

You could also talk about the beautiful and intelligent game played by the SH teams, it would make him laugh which should produce the same result with the wallpaper.

quote: I tried to be as polite as I could about them. I have no idea why.

No need to as far as I am concerned.

	04-02-2003 07:23									#488
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quote: Originally posted by ravagon Methinks however that Havak may be better advised to put finbar to work in the kitchen - if any of the recent MP threads are anything to go by ... [insert salivating smiley here]

I have already heard about Finbar's cooking skill, he seems to be what we call a "cordon bleu" in France.

quote: Btw - Does anybody know when the rwc draw is going to be posted? [If it hasn't already - I may have missed it. ]

As far as I know the pools are already known, the only things that are yet to be defined are the minor teams as they are currently playing qualification games.

	04-02-2003 07:29									#489
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Good heavens you're still awake???
My internet clock thingummy shows about 3am (unless I've broken it ) - although thats in Nice by the looks of things.
You should be

	04-02-2003 08:14									#490
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Yes, I should be!

	04-02-2003 08:20									#491
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Tamerlin suffers from insomnie.

	04-02-2003 08:28									#492
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quote: Originally posted by ravagon Methinks however that Havak may be better advised to put finbar to work in the kitchen - if any of the recent MP threads are anything to go by ... [insert salivating smiley here]

Feeding the Oz Civvers again? Talk about a challenge. The only time most of them see a knife and fork is when they come here for dinner.

quote: Btw - Does anybody know when the rwc draw is going to be posted? [If it hasn't already - I may have missed it. ]

Try this link. As Tamerlin said, some of the spots - the minor teams - are yet to be decided. They're still playing qualification games.

Edit. I just tested the link. It didn't work. Most bizarre, because I cut and pasted it. I'll look into it.

Try this one:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rug...stm#full%20draw

	04-02-2003 08:31									#493
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin I have already heard about Finbar's cooking skill, he seems to be what we call a "cordon bleu" in France.

I channel into my cooking the passion that others channel into their children. I do some French, but my real interest is - surprise, surprise - Italian! One thing I'm really looking forward to in France, though, is a bona fide Cassoulet! I've had some magnificent ones there.

	04-02-2003 13:47									#494
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Given that my spare room is actually a tiny box room I couldn’t see Mrs Finbar, sainted lady that she no doubt is, putting up with it.

And the idea of Finbar correcting my impressions of a rugby match in real time – good grief Tamerlin is quite right there.

Seriously though hope you make it over and look forward to seeing you should you do so. At Welford Road as well?

quote: M-hm. Like, for example, pointing out to him how many of the England line were so often offside against the All Blacks at Twickenham. And how the All Black backline so often carved up the vaunted England defence

Put it down to nerves – the Wallabies also carved that much vaunted defence in a 20 min period of course. But the NZ game? Howletts try was superb but it started from an offside position in any case. And I’m sure I recall Mr Wilkinson and Mr Cohen embarrassing the much touted All Black defence as well?

Having said that no test is bigger than a week on Saturday. Having been strangely labelled the IRB ‘team of the year’ (despite two losses and a draw to SH opposition) I am sure France fancy it. We must rise to the challenge and not freeze mid-game again.

	04-02-2003 15:17									#495
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Given that my spare room is actually a tiny box room I couldn’t see Mrs Finbar, sainted lady that she no doubt is, putting up with it. And the idea of Finbar correcting my impressions of a rugby match in real time – good grief Tamerlin is quite right there. Seriously though hope you make it over and look forward to seeing you should you do so. At Welford Road as well?

No, I can't see Mrs finbar in a tiny box room. As sainted as she truly is. Putting up with me, she'd have to be a saint.

I'm deadly serious about getting over there this year. It's been about 2 1/2 years since we last escaped this a*sehole of a country and I'm starting to go stircrazy. With the WRC Final at the end of November, it looks like the trip will have to be December.

And Welford Road would be a definite subject to dates, fixtures, et al.

*finbar regrets the years of psychotherapy undertaken to expunge the memory of the taste of Bitter*

quote: Put it down to nerves – the Wallabies also carved that much vaunted defence in a 20 min period of course. But the NZ game? Howletts try was superb but it started from an offside position in any case. And I’m sure I recall Mr Wilkinson and Mr Cohen embarrassing the much touted All Black defence as well?

Having watched the game in its entirety last night, I suspect my memory is slightly clearer. Howlett's try was a stunning one-out effort regardless of how or where it started, but there was much much more to the AB backline's work that day than just that try. Jonah's try - the so-called controversial one - saw the England defence all over the shop. Oh, and having now seen another dozen replays of the try, I'm even more convinced it was legitimate. The defender's leg came under Jonah's arm after he'd grounded the ball.

Anyway, it was a treat to see the match again. It only further convinced me that the ABs have to start clear favourites for the WRC.

quote: Having said that no test is bigger than a week on Saturday. Having been strangely labelled the IRB ‘team of the year’ (despite two losses and a draw to SH opposition) I am sure France fancy it. We must rise to the challenge and not freeze mid-game again.

I only hope to God we get it live here. There's bound to be a replay, but if there's no live coverage, I'll have to avoid hearing the result before I see the replay.

	04-02-2003 17:51									#496
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Sometimes I struggle to remember that the ABs actually lost that game.

They still don't have a Wilko though. They may have a Jonno - I think Jack might reach that height.

(with apologies to Caligastia - I'm not setting out to wind him up honest, I just think Larkham and Wilko get in my squad before mehrts anyday)

I'll pick up the other bits in your post later but I thought you kight like this - in Killarney last week I spent an hour arguing with a Kerry solicitor (in a pub naturally) about the relative merits of John Eales and Mr J. he backed Eales of course - not for his qualities as a player, great as they were, but for his lack of red mist issues.

	04-02-2003 18:49									#497
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Sometimes I struggle to remember that the ABs actually lost that game.

Along with a few other things. Like playing at home at full strength and struggling against second-string All Blacks and undermanned, out-of-form Wallabies!

quote: They still don't have a Wilko though. They may have a Jonno - I think Jack might reach that height.

They don't have a Wilko. No one else does. Jack might reach the heights. We'll see.

quote: (with apologies to Caligastia - I'm not setting out to wind him up honest, I just think Larkham and Wilko get in my squad before mehrts anyday)

Me too, without apologies. I've said it before - he's a great tactical kicker. The rest of his game, by comparison with the other two, varies between inadequate (his defence) and good (the rest of his game apart from his kicking). And by good, I mean at least half a class below the other two. Enough said about his mouth.

quote: I'll pick up the other bits in your post later but I thought you kight like this - in Killarney last week I spent an hour arguing with a Kerry solicitor (in a pub naturally) about the relative merits of John Eales and Mr J. he backed Eales of course - not for his qualities as a player, great as they were, but for his lack of red mist issues.

That will always be a fundamental difference between them. And an important one. In fact, here, for a long time, it was thought that Eales lacked the "mongrel" that everyone thought it took to be a great lock and team leader. He was far from an acclaimed choice when he was first appointed. His character won out.

	04-02-2003 19:13									#498
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Added to which, Australia and New Zealand are both achingly dull, self-absorbed backwaters, and, in the case of Australia anyway, anti-intellectual. Just my opinion.

I wouldn't necessarily say "achingly dull", but there are definitely fewer economic opportunities. Nowhere is dull if you have enough money, that's why Mrs Caligastia and I plan to retire in NZ.

	04-02-2003 19:27									#499
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Is it a short or long term plan?

	04-02-2003 20:09									#500
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quote: Putting up with me, she'd have to be a saint.

You cannot beat a bit of healthy self mickey taking.

quote: it looks like the trip will have to be December.

Tricky timing – European cup rounds take place then and getting home tickets will not be easy (unless it is a Welsh side visiting)

quote: *finbar regrets the years of psychotherapy undertaken to expunge the memory of the taste of Bitter*

Bitter = Ambrosia.

quote: Jonah's try - the so-called controversial one - saw the England defence all over the shop.

The one where Wilko slipped and left the gap in the pattern?

Your memory is almost certainly clearer as you say though.

quote: Like playing at home at full strength and struggling against second-string All Blacks and undermanned, out-of-form Wallabies!

Let me suggest every SH side that ever loses always has an excuse along those lines.

Bottom line = England 3 Cream of the SH Nil

I hope you appreciate how nicely I am setting things up for the six nations and RWC?

Yes I won’t keep on about Mehrts mouth. But talking of mouths has it been reported down under that Austin is targeting scrum half for his England future? He is actually out injured until at least early march, the lad is having a terrible season for injury as it happens and has worn club colours very little. The lad has character issues I may not like but I’ll tell you this – Tigers miss him. His skill and pace in mid-field would be a real boon right now, especially if we got him at scrummy rather than ten (okay technically not mid-field as such but with Austin it would be).

I’ll be watching Jack in the new S12 season. What little I have seen of him was very promising.

Eales was a great player – no two ways about it. I would always pick Jonno slightly before him because I favoured mongrels as my locks. If it all kicks off I don’t want a tree hugger offering round the pipe of piece.

I think it is sad he retired so young (body done in?) and I still regret that we never saw them pull on a Barbarians shirt together.

	04-02-2003 20:34									#501
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Well... this makes 500 posts.

Time for Caligastia to start a new one...