23-07-2003 12:42									#361
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George Smith is going to start at blindside, with Waugh at openside, on Saturday night. It's going to be fascinating to watch.

Burke retains fullback, Steve Kefu is out of the centres - fair enough, he hasn't been cutting the mustard - replaced by Elton Flatley, who moves to inside centre to make room for Larkham at fly half. So we have a line-up from scrummy to outside centre of Gregan, Larkham, Flatley and Rogers. Well, they're all talented players with very good, quick hands. And with Tuquiri starting on the wing, we've got a long line of talented ball-handlers. If our forwards can give them some protection for once, we could see some t'riffic movement of the ball.

Stirling Mortlock aside, I'd say it's about the best team we can put on the park.

	23-07-2003 12:45									#362
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quote: If you were not talking about my english friends I would have laughed to tears.

Finbar is using rose tinted glasses anyway. I have pointed out several times in your absence how strong the English forwards are and how the French are the nearest to them in that regard.

What I forgot to mention is that I’ve got a chance to go to the RWC warm up game in Wales in August.



Sadly whilst one of my mates is going to Paris I couldn’t swing that one – although I’m still working on making Tigers fixture there in December.

quote: Strangely enough this is the kind of fouls that is closely watched at in the French championship and the French referees signal them, and they are right to do so.

Strangely it is only targeted very occasionally in the English Premiership – a similar level of incidence to the one Finbar remarked on at International level in fact.

Tony Spreadbury? Hmmm. He’s pretty picky in my opinion. Last time I saw him he over reffed the scrum – the last thing Saturdays game needs. Not a natural choice for a free running old-SH-Firm clash. He’s no spring chicken either so Eddie may talk about fitness a bit. Caligastia will hate him and he is likely to pick up the occasional abuse of the offside laws. He’s also fairly keen on players returning to their feet quickly.

Of course his redeeming feature is he is English of course – so he must be pretty perfect, all the above simply qualifying as minor flaws.

I’m not sure on my thoughts about the margin. I don’t expect the ABs to be rampant – they have a poor record in Sydney and the Wallabies are coming off an awfully disappointing showing last time out – and we all know that means we could see a totally different side?

Interesting to see Frozzy expect the Maori’s to rout Canada. Don’t think it will happen myself. Sure England’s third side beat them on the way to lifting the Churchill cup in June – but England’s second string beat a Maori side expected to trounce them too.

Canada have a fairly solid pack, a decent scrummy as I recall and a winger who can score from anywhere on the park. They lack playmakers behind the scrum. Maori’s by twenty I would guess – but expect Canada to register tries and don’t be totally surprised if the Maori’s mess up.

	23-07-2003 15:22									#363
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Finbar is using rose tinted glasses anyway. I have pointed out several times in your absence how strong the English forwards are and how the French are the nearest to them in that regard.

Serge Blanco declared in the Midi Olympique that England or France will win the RWC...

quote: Sometimes, coping with Tamerlin, I know how he feels.

	23-07-2003 15:29									#364
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What Finbar didn't tell us is that Steve Lander is running the line for Spreadbury. Expect a highly visible intervention in front of the cameras at some point from a man we call 'superstar' up here. In an ironic depreciating way of course.

	23-07-2003 18:09									#365
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Finbar is using rose tinted glasses anyway.

With wide-angled lenses if I wanted to see the porcine chaps lounging on their banana lounges in their cheap Spanish resort.

quote: I have pointed out several times in your absence how strong the English forwards are and how the French are the nearest to them in that regard.

Odd. I must have had a spot of glaucoma that posting day.

quote: What I forgot to mention is that I’ve got a chance to go to the RWC warm up game in Wales in August.

Celebrating a trip to Wales? You need to get out more.

BTW, where is Lincolnshire? It's where Bernie Taupin - Elton John's lyricist - was born.

quote: Sadly whilst one of my mates is going to Paris I couldn’t swing that one – although I’m still working on making Tigers fixture there in December.

Now that would be something to dance about. Well, not Paris, but anywhere else in the country.

quote: Strangely it is only targeted very occasionally in the English Premiership – a similar level of incidence to the one Finbar remarked on at International level in fact.

I shall be watching closely again on Saturday night. I would bet 5 Civ Gold now that someone will beat the ball across the line without penalty.

quote: Tony Spreadbury? Hmmm. He’s pretty picky in my opinion. Last time I saw him he over reffed the scrum – the last thing Saturdays game needs. Not a natural choice for a free running old-SH-Firm clash. He’s no spring chicken either so Eddie may talk about fitness a bit. Caligastia will hate him and he is likely to pick up the occasional abuse of the offside laws. He’s also fairly keen on players returning to their feet quickly.

Beaut. A fat old Pom wheezing his way around the park.

quote: Of course his redeeming feature is he is English of course – so he must be pretty perfect, all the above simply qualifying as minor flaws.

Beaut. A fat old Pom wheezing his way around the park.

quote: I’m not sure on my thoughts about the margin. I don’t expect the ABs to be rampant – they have a poor record in Sydney and the Wallabies are coming off an awfully disappointing showing last time out – and we all know that means we could see a totally different side?

I think it has to be at least 10 points. Bear in mind, too, that we need to make the game a betting proposition. As I said, I doubt anyone would back the Wallabies with 7 points. I wouldn't. Thus there would be absolutely no betting interest for us.

quote: Interesting to see Frozzy expect the Maori’s to rout Canada. Don’t think it will happen myself. Sure England’s third side beat them on the way to lifting the Churchill cup in June – but England’s second string beat a Maori side expected to trounce them too.

The one with the, um, histories?

	23-07-2003 18:12									#366
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin Serge Blanco declared in the Midi Olympique that England or France will win the RWC...

That drunk?

quote:

I notice you've disappeared again. Lying in an ice bath to ease the sunburn blisters? Down the chemist buying a tonne of sunburn cream?

Oh, and I think I've just about talked Mrs finbar into buying a place over there. I'll email you about it.

	23-07-2003 18:15									#367
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quote: Originally posted by Havak What Finbar didn't tell us is that Steve Lander is running the line for Spreadbury. Expect a highly visible intervention in front of the cameras at some point from a man we call 'superstar' up here. In an ironic depreciating way of course.

I would've told you if I'd known. Face it - have you seen a game recently where the chap on the line hasn't blundered onto the field in search of a moment of television glory? Usually for a totally spurious reason? One of the prices we're paying for the expanded television coverage.

	23-07-2003 19:10									#368
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quote: Odd. I must have had a spot of glaucoma that posting day.

Without a doubt.

quote: Celebrating a trip to Wales? You need to get out more. BTW, where is Lincolnshire? It's where Bernie Taupin - Elton John's lyricist - was born.

I haven’t been to a test for a while. And beating Wales in Wales is a special feeling for we English still.

Lincolnshire is North East of Leicestershire. I have friends that live in the North of the county at Scunthorpe so regularly drive North through it. This is not very exciting as it’s a very flat county.

Get an idea of where it isat this site

It's fairly rough as maps go but gives the general idea.

quote: Now that would be something to dance about. Well, not Paris, but anywhere else in the country.

Got no choice really – we have drawn Stade Francais after they beat Tamerlin’s lot in the Championship.

No bet regarding the line – you are backing a certainty.

What is a fair margin? 14 would tempt me to back the Aussies. AB confidence is high and they are playing some good stuff. They have destroyed two sides the Aussies struggled with (Wales and Boks). Yes 14 seems fair – will the AB lads wash it?

quote: The one with the, um, histories?

Us – or the Maoris? Is this a reference to Canada’s policy of no one with past criminal convictions being allowed in?

quote: One of the prices we're paying for the expanded television coverage.

True. But Lander remains a huge primadona. I think we may see him more than once.

	23-07-2003 21:17									#369
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quote: Originally posted by Frozzy I concur... I was just hoping we could all scrounge off Cali's gold again

Yes, I bet that 10 gold you all had to share had dollar-signs in your eyes for a while.

So are we settling on a 7 point margin then?

	24-07-2003 03:16									#370
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quote: Originally posted by finbar That drunk?

Remember he also quoted England in the said sentence thus reducing the risks... certainly a temporary lapse of lucidity.

quote: I notice you've disappeared again. Lying in an ice bath to ease the sunburn blisters? Down the chemist buying a tonne of sunburn cream?

My skin is a bit tanned though, believe me, my exposures to the sun have been limited to the strict minimum...

quote: Oh, and I think I've just about talked Mrs finbar into buying a place over there. I'll email you about it.

Tell me as soon as you can, if there is a game played at the Stade Ernest Wallon it could be the occasion to see a french championship, or Heineken Cup, game along with our brand new Stadium.

quote: Got no choice really – we have drawn Stade Francais after they beat Tamerlin’s lot in the Championship.

Finbar is the one to blame.

	24-07-2003 06:04									#371
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quote: Originally posted by Frozzy I concur... I was just hoping we could all scrounge off Cali's gold again

quote: Perhaps 14 is more worthy

I think it's closer to the mark in terms of making it a betting proposition. Bearing in mind that creating a betting proposition can be a marginally different thing from a deadly accurate forecast.

	24-07-2003 06:13									#372
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Lincolnshire is North East of Leicestershire. I have friends that live in the North of the county at Scunthorpe so regularly drive North through it. This is not very exciting as it’s a very flat county.

Ironic, really, because Bernie Taupin's lyrics are some of the most, um, picturesque - well, loaded with imagery - in modern music.

quote: Get an idea of where it isat this site It's fairly rough as maps go but gives the general idea.

Gee, it's interesting looking at that map. It's so long since I've seen one. For some reason, I had a mental image of you being closer to the coast. And most of the other counties, relative to each other, aren't where I remembered them. One of the benefits of living in a cartographically interesting country. Unlike this cartographically tedious place.

quote: What is a fair margin? 14 would tempt me to back the Aussies. AB confidence is high and they are playing some good stuff. They have destroyed two sides the Aussies struggled with (Wales and Boks). Yes 14 seems fair – will the AB lads wash it?

Minimum 12, I'd've thoughgt.

quote: Us – or the Maoris? Is this a reference to Canada’s policy of no one with past criminal convictions being allowed in?

I meant the Maori. The Canadian reference would have been too sophisticated for me.

	24-07-2003 06:19									#373
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia Yes, I bet that 10 gold you all had to share had dollar-signs in your eyes for a while.

I can assure you we are all still dining out. On breadcrumbs.

quote: So are we settling on a 7 point margin then?

It's going to be more than that. Somewhere around 12. Has to be, otherwise no one will back the Wallabies - I certainly wouldn't, and I'm sure you wouldn't - meaning we don't have a pool. It would be money back if the ABs won by more than 7. If the Wallabies finished within 7, meaning everyone who backed the ABs lost, I suppose the pool would jackpot till next time.

	24-07-2003 06:21									#374
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin Remember he also quoted England in the said sentence thus reducing the risks... certainly a temporary lapse of lucidity.

Here's a bumper sticker for you: "Old French rugby players don't die, they just embalm themselves in Absinthe".

quote: Tell me as soon as you can, if there is a game played at the Stade Ernest Wallon it could be the occasion to see a french championship, or Heineken Cup, game along with our brand new Stadium.

Re-read my post!

quote: Finbar is the one to blame.

Not anymore! Not after I got the recipe!

	24-07-2003 06:47									#375
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quote: Originally posted by finbar I can assure you we are all still dining out. On breadcrumbs.

Scraps from my table.

quote: It's going to be more than that. Somewhere around 12. Has to be, otherwise no one will back the Wallabies - I certainly wouldn't, and I'm sure you wouldn't - meaning we don't have a pool. It would be money back if the ABs won by more than 7. If the Wallabies finished within 7, meaning everyone who backed the ABs lost, I suppose the pool would jackpot till next time.

12 sounds fair to me, I'll put down 20 on the All Blacks.

	24-07-2003 06:52									#376
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I propose that any poster who doesn't post for six months forfeits his civ gold. What say the rest of you?

	24-07-2003 07:02									#377
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That the poorest gamblers should inherit their Civ Gold.

Finbar: do you really have to prepare your wife so long in advance?

	24-07-2003 07:11									#378
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin That the poorest gamblers should inherit their Civ Gold.

No, I propose equal distribution of the wealth. It's only fair.

quote: Finbar: do you really have to prepare your wife so long in advance?

All wives require preparation for rugby. God forbid that they find themselves with nothing better to do than watch the game. There's interior decorating magazines to be read!

	24-07-2003 08:13									#379
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia 12 sounds fair to me, I'll put down 20 on the All Blacks.

It will have to be a fraction figure, so we might as well call it 12.5.

Bet recorded.

	24-07-2003 12:24									#380
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20 on the black here, too.

	24-07-2003 12:55									#381
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I stumbled across the BBC piece by Zinzan where he says the ABs should be good for a ten point win so the spread sounds about right.

Hmm the AB lads are pouring the gold in aren’t they?
Right – purely as a pragmatic choice of bets (we cannot all back the ABs) I have to say 10 on the Wallabies please Finbar. Luvvly Jubbly.

I’ve now backed the Wallabies twice in a lifetime – civilisation must be shaking to its very foundations!
Zinzan also had this to say:

quote: The Australian front row is a weakness and I think New Zealand can really apply pressure on them.

Well okay yes – that is true. We’ve discussed it here. But is he trying to say the AB front three are better? Don’t think so – they have to be the weakest link in that side as well!?

Wow in fact the article is full of gems – get these:

“I expect the New Zealand second rows, Ali Williams and Chris Jack, to snaffle a lot of ball. I think Williams is a little bit short of form at the moment and he needs to get stuck in a bit more - he needs to take a leaf out of Martin Johnson's book.”

Finbar hates him already.

“George Smith can carry the ball OK but he's not top class and Phil Waugh is not going to get over the advantage line - he is just going to burrow round like a rabbit.”

Finbar now thoroughly detests him?

Sure I’ve been a little selective but these bits kind of grabbed my attention!

Incidentally Finbar from my front door to the nearest point of the Lincolnshire coast is only 70 miles. The map looks a whole lot smaller now? Thats why we have interesting boundaries - the place is so small they couldn't draw long straight lines like they did in Oz.

	24-07-2003 13:24									#382
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So we're scrounging off Havak's gold now are we?

	24-07-2003 15:25									#383
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quote: Originally posted by Frozzy 20 on the black here, too.

Quelle surprise!

	24-07-2003 15:32									#384
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quote: Originally posted by Havak Hmm the AB lads are pouring the gold in aren’t they? Right – purely as a pragmatic choice of bets (we cannot all back the ABs) I have to say 10 on the Wallabies please Finbar. Luvvly Jubbly.

Thank you, Jamie W*nker.

quote: Well okay yes – that is true. We’ve discussed it here. But is he trying to say the AB front three are better? Don’t think so – they have to be the weakest link in that side as well!?

Are they better than our three? You, your postman and his greyhound would be better than our three at the moment.

quote: Finbar now thoroughly detests him?

No. Great footballer, sh*t for brains. Hullo Campo.

quote: Incidentally Finbar from my front door to the nearest point of the Lincolnshire coast is only 70 miles. The map looks a whole lot smaller now? Thats why we have interesting boundaries - the place is so small they couldn't draw long straight lines like they did in Oz.

You're quite right, I remember how small it is. I think I might have told you that I once drove from Scarborough down to Chester in a day and the locals didn't believe it.

	24-07-2003 15:34									#385
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Hey Tamerlin, I've found some very nice properties for sale around Béziers and a wee bit inland from it. What's it like around there? I have no massive recollection of it.

	24-07-2003 15:37									#386
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quote: Originally posted by Frozzy So we're scrounging off Havak's gold now are we?

At 12.5 points, I'll probably have something on the Wallabies. Zinzan will too, obviously, if his cauliflowered brain remembers the game's on.

	24-07-2003 16:19									#387
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Hey Tamerlin, I've found some very nice properties for sale around Béziers and a wee bit inland from it. What's it like around there? I have no massive recollection of it.

The Département de l'Aude is a beautiful area though the town of Béziers in itself is not very pretty. Béziers is 30 kilometers away from Narbonne and close to Montpellier where you have an airport and other modern facilities.

Béziers, Narbonne and Montpellier teams are all playing in the Top16 this year though I think only one will remain at this level (possibly Narbonne) in the years to come.

The countryside is where Aude shines, there are plenty of small villages lost in the middle of a beautiful landscape made of rocky hills, vineyards, small trees and an ochre soil.

If I were rich enough I would buy a house in Aude's countryside provided I could also buy a swimming pool as the weather is really hot in the heart of the summer.

	24-07-2003 19:19									#388
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There are a couple of splendid places - judging from the photos on the internet - around Lamalou-les-Bains. What sort of towns are you talking about?

Oh, and is it just me, or has this site been down more than it's been up recently? Particularly after their downtime for "maintenance" the other day?

	24-07-2003 19:39									#389
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quote: Are they better than our three? You, your postman and his greyhound would be better than our three at the moment.

.

Better? Maybe. Good? Not really. I don’t think the coalface will dominate proceedings Saturday.

quote: No. Great footballer, sh*t for brains. Hullo Campo.

With the distinction in his coaching career of matching Michael Foley’s level of achievement as well.

quote: I think I might have told you that I once drove from Scarborough down to Chester in a day and the locals didn't believe it.

You did indeed. Nobody rational should be that amazed by a 150 mile journey though – even in England. And of course our speed limits, that we consider draconian, are somewhat more generous than those in NSW.

What you came across here was that you committed the cardinal sin – you crossed from one coast to t’other and I very much doubt either Chester folk or North Yorks types could believe anyone would want to spend time in the other place? Complex regional politics here – but you’ll be excused normally on account of being Aussie.

	24-07-2003 19:50									#390
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Can't wait for the game this weekend, it'll be the last one I get to see before heading off to London, England for a week.

I don't suppose you will be anywhere near there next week Havak? I know you live a fair distance away...