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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Six I think - including two of the first choice back row forwards. The ABs should exploit that nicely. |
Oh well, I suppose they're trying to blood new players. Though, as you note elsewhere, the way the coach is reacting, it's the new players' blood ... I won't go on, it's terribly contrived.
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I could have sworn Smithy didn’t feature against Wales.  |
Yes, sorry, I'd had a long day. He was B.O.G. against the Paddys.
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I admire the stand. I’m just surprised by it that’s all. An Aussie coach making a decision to the detriment of the sporting perspective. Eddie has hidden depth. |
Frankly, the slagging he's getting for it here is giving me the sh*ts. Those who are slagging him the most are those who baked him the longest for his supposed leniency when he was with the Brumbies where Player Power ruled.
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Did he? Well if that’s true it is indeed unforgiveable.  |
I note later on that you quote him talking about the Wallabies. That must have been in one of the interviews for the English media. With the Australian media, he declined to do so. The tenors of the interviews are completely different which is the basis of my point about pettiness and churlishness. It costs absolutely nothing to be a gracious winner and only adds to one's standing. I reiterate that I don't buy for a second that he was led by the Australian media. He's a pro. He knew exactly what he was doing.
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Eddie’s praise might look good in print. On TV it was the same old Eddie – that sarcastic smile fixed on his face and eyes that scream “none of this is sincere” at you. |
You've been reading too many Readers' Digest articles on body language.
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And I guess England have done what they always seem to do – provide the Aussies with another hate figure ready for October. |
It's a pity, because the team's performance earned them enormous respect. Remember it's the first time the vast majority of us have seen England on the go. So, essentially, the team is now enormously respected and the coach isn't. He, of course, would probably argue that doesn't matter a fig. In the grand scheme of things, he's wrong.
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You are slightly wrong by the way – the current Bok incumbent does not always praise opponents either – |
That's true. But he still has one foot in the Bronze Age.
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and Laporte is too busy threatening his boys with the guillotine to find time to praise opponents.  |
I've been under the impression that Laporte had appointed Tamerlin his spokesperson on opposing teams - S.H. teams in particular.
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But only showing features of ABs play. It therefore only implied that the Wallabies were also as guilty as sin. |
That immensely insipid side step would earn you a Loosey rib-smasher.
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One loss to you boys and he’ll mix and match everything again. What both your sides probably need now is stability. |
He's quoted this morning saying the French game will be another try out with the aim of finalising the team for the first Tri-Nations match against the Boks. It seems to me he's mainly not sure about his #8, about a centre partner for Umaga, and whether Howlett is a winger or a full back.
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To be fair I tried to think of something the coal face did well – and couldn’t. I’m afraid Noriega in particular looks a spent force to me. Are there no alternatives? Dunning? |
As I said, the alternatives are all on a par with the incumbents. Yes, Noriega isn't the force he once was. I remember noting a long time ago that we simply don't breed the size and strength the NH does. I don't know why. Jeremy Paul is also capable of much better than what he's producing at the moment. He's never been quite the same since his terrible injury last season.
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Clive, if guilty as accused, has been very naughty and let us down. I just want to be absolutely sure that selective editing by your media isn’t at work here.
And the absolute quickest of scans of the BBC website turns this up from his post match comments on the Aussies:
“They know how to peak at the right time, they're the team to beat come the World Cup”
Hardly the rudest thing I have heard if not specifically in reference to the game itself? |
See what I said earlier. Different interviews, different attitudes.
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Has this storm come from his interview with 7? I would suggest that lacks too much credibility unless you saw it live. I don’t trust them at all with a VT edit (yes from Lions days). |
It was print media.
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Greenwood by the way gets married in a fortnight and when the BBC interviewed them from Perth this morning (our time – they are checking out the city, ground and hotel for later in the year) he explained that he and most of the boys were on a two week stag! They may turn up for training looking like beer barrels. |
Checking out Perth? That should take them all of a nano-second, leaving plenty of boozing time.
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Tamerlin
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Toulouse (South-western France)
Apr 2002
time: 06:29
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quote:
Originally posted by finbar
I wish you hadn't made reference to this pattern that is emerging with Tamerlin's posts. I've been keeping tally of his grizzles and was going to wait till France won a game and he didn't grizzle before posting the obvious. OTOH, maybe you were right to mention it. We could all be long dead and buried before Les Grenouilles win another game. |
You are right on both count.
Bernard Laporte has asked a rendez-vous with Mister Cole who has admitted he "forgot" to signal something like fifteen fouls against the Argentinians (I suppose he says fifteen because it was actually thirty). Before the era of the video assistance, Christian Labit would have scored a try that has been refused, though there was no reason to refuse it, by the video checking referee. The video was actually a source of confusion... 
Beyond the fact that a referee can hamper a team, I am angry against the referees because they are not good, because in the SH they are not applying the rules (thanks to the pressure of the money grabbers) and are threatening to change our beloved game into a Rugby Union/League stodgy pudding.
This year in France, I have seen too many games (whether they were lost or won by the Stade Toulousain or the Frogs is not important) that were spoiled because of a bad referee. I go to the stadium for the pleasure of watching a good game of Rugby and I don't like it when a little man with a whistle stuck in the throat is adding confusion to the game. 
Once again, I think the fight between the NH and the SH is not fair as the rules are not the same. England has adapted its game to the SH, decoy runners for example, and I deeply regret it because the NH is loosing its identity in the process. William Web Ellis must turn himself round in his grave ("se retourner dans sa tombe") as we say in France...
The Northern referees (especially in the United Kingdom) also have the tendancy to change they way of helming a game to match the practices of the SH thus furthering the changes in the game...
All in all I am becoming less and less interested in the international games...
About the last week-end games England deserved to win as Argentina did and I am afraid the Grenouilles will be skinned by the All Blacks as I have the feeling France is now playing in a kind of second division. Fabien Galthié is not playing at his top level (is he afraid of a wound?) as Georges Gregan who IMO has not been very good against England and suffered the comparison with Bracken.
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Give MikeH a chance. He's new. I'm sure he has it in him to be as petty, spiteful and childish as the rest of us. |
This is only a matter of time... 
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Everyone struggles against a good rolling maul. No one could have stopped that first half effort. |
England's maul was impressive but what stroke me was the inability of the English players to cross the try line when the Australian players were hopelessly dominated...
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England now, statistically, has to be favourites for the RWC. The unknowns at this point are the respective degrees of improvement between now and then. |
My main concern about England would be: aren't they ready or at their top level too early?
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Tamerlin
I don't like it when a little man with a whistle stuck in the throat is adding confusion to the game. |
Agreed.
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Once again, I think the fight between the NH and the SH is not fair as the rules are not the same. England has adapted its game to the SH, decoy runners for example, and I deeply regret it because the NH is loosing its identity in the process. William Web Ellis must turn himself round in his grave ("se retourner dans sa tombe") as we say in France...
The Northern referees (especially in the United Kingdom) also have the tendancy to change they way of helming a game to match the practices of the SH thus furthering the changes in the game... |
 
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Georges Gregan who IMO has not been very good against England and suffered the comparison with Bracken. |
I don't think George has ever been under as much pressure as he was on Saturday night. That's the problem when your pack is being murdered by the opposition. He was hardly given time to breathe after he put the ball into the scrum. Bracken, OTOH, by comparison, was operating in fairly luxurious circumstances.
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My main concern about England would be: aren't they ready or at their top level too early? |
I suppose the question is whether they can come back from their break in the same form. Obviously they will need to. There's no reason why they shouldn't. It will be essentially the same team. OTOH, some of the older players will be that little bit older, and the weather is going to be much warmer next time they're here. My point was that I would expect vast improvement from the ABs between now and WRC, and I would hope for vast improvement from the Wallabies between now and then.
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:29
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Weekends are for rugby.
Contrived indeed Finbar – but nicely done with that in mind.
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Yes, sorry, I'd had a long day. |
Nice to know you are human too.
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Those who are slagging him the most are those who baked him the longest for his supposed leniency when he was with the Brumbies where Player Power ruled. |
Coaches can’t win on this one. Damned if you do…
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I reiterate that I don't buy for a second that he was led by the Australian media. He's a pro. He knew exactly what he was doing. |
It is a problem with him – occasional strange behaviour. I will say for my part it caught me off guard – he has been tipping the Wallabies consistently and very positive about the players. I knew he didn’t like Eddie, and a personal attack on Eddie would not have worried me at all (Eddie has board shoulders and brings such things on himself anyway). I agree it was churlish and inappropriate to not praise the Wallabies to your press – they played out their skins after all.
I see that Bill Young has launched a defence of your front row saying he felt that they performed a real step up from the corresponding fixture last November. I can’t agree with that to be honest.
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You've been reading too many Readers' Digest articles on body language. |
I’ve been around the block – I can spot someone oozing insincerity a mile away.
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So, essentially, the team is now enormously respected and the coach isn't. |
We’ll have to settle for that. The former will be here long after the latter I hope. I’m not sure why it matters though. In terms of the games to be played it matters not at all surely – and the exact same is true here (Jones is not widely liked as I touched on last week but the team is highly respected for it’s playing quality). What troubles you so much about the grand scheme?
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That immensely insipid side step would earn you a Loosey rib-smasher |
I still think there’s a huge difference between pretending before a game that a referee should take your word as law and pointing out after a match what the referee missed of the opponents cynical play? Clearly a cultural difference. Although frankly both suggest men with huge egos?
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Not that such a thing should be expected to detract from an Englishmans "boozing time" in any way whatsoever mind you. |
I’m sure it won’t.
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Presumably they're trading on urban sprawl. |
It doesn’t really matter where they play as they market the ‘Irish’ not the ‘London’. Every Exile in England seems to follow them.
Having been our last home game last year – the worst game I have seen us play in years – it seems natural they should have been drawn as our first home game next season. I’ll phone the club and ask that the drums are not allowed in this time (they only use them as beer stands and trays most of the game anyway).
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and are threatening to change our beloved game into a Rugby Union/League stodgy pudding. |
I hate to disagree but I think the refs have been somewhat stricter this year across the globe –at least in carefully defined aspects of play. IRB edicts seem to be smoothing a little of the cultural divide in refereeing?
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England has adapted its game to the SH, decoy runners for example, and I deeply regret it because the NH is loosing its identity in the process |
To a certain extent that holds true – but it’s a little unfair. We have learnt from the SH in some aspects of play – but we’ve taken as much from France in some ways. And you really ought to note France can and do use blocking runners when it suits them.
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The Northern referees (especially in the United Kingdom) also have the tendancy to change they way of helming a game to match the practices of the SH thus furthering the changes in the game... |
Now I am intrigued – how many domestic UK games did you see last season? And it might be worth watching Mr Jutge’s performance in the 2002 final again before calling UK officials as being SH influenced Oh and wasn’t it an English official who secured the European cup for a certain side this year. 
Bizarrely I thought Gregan had a fairly solid game. Bracken was okay but rather flattered behind a pack really doing the business and Dawson looked well out of sorts when he came on – of the three I’d pick Gregan on the day.
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England's maul was impressive but what stroke me was the inability of the English players to cross the try line when the Australian players were hopelessly dominated... |
Well…the maul had stopped for the second time, McHugh had clearly signalled it and Gregan (and Lyons I think) had sneaked in on the refs blindside to stop a quick pick and go. Even so had Wilkinson fed it back and let the forwards crash it up again instead of that silly kick I’m sure you would have got your wish.
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My main concern about England would be: aren't they ready or at their top level too early? |
And the answer is – who knows. They will be a settled side and fairly well rested come the World Cup. They’ll be playing teams who are at the end of their season. There are too many variables. All we know is that they are capable of competing.
Even if the ABs sweep the tri-nations that means no more for the RWC than England’s recent wins really. Personally I suspect, with Larkham, Smith and Finnegan all available, that the Wallabies might shock the ABs yet again (at least in Aus).
Civ Gold time?
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Caligastia
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Hopefully we won't keep you waiting for too long...
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Tamerlin
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Toulouse (South-western France)
Apr 2002
time: 06:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Tamerlin you do realise that you made that sound like you prefer SH refs – in total contradiction to the rest of your post? |
Of course I don't prefer those overlenient referees from the SH, but I have noted that the NH referees have the tendancy to change their way of helming a game and that they are getting closer to their SH counterparts which is very worrying as far as I am concerned. 
About Mr Jutge, I am sorry to tell you I am not considering him as a good referee, I know what I am talking about as I have seen him helming, and spoiling, too many games of the French championship.
Mr Méné will be a good referee the day he realizes that the laws have been made to keep the ball alive. To keep it short, he knows the letter of the law perfectly (I am sure he could give lessons to many international level referees that would learn laws they had not the lesser idea of) but is yet to understand their spirit.
IMO, the only good french referee is Mr Joël Dumé though he sometimes miss some games.
Havak, when I am talking about the referees I am generally talking about the International level referees (H-Cup and Tests' referees). I can't say anything about the English championship referees, nor about the way they are managing the domestic games, as I have not seen a single English vs. English game this year.
I wish you could read the articles published in this week Midi Olympique which is usually very kind with the referees. The umpiring has been called incomprehensible, mystic, abracadabrant and so on... After a meeting with the French staff during which they replayed the video of the game, Mr Andrew Cole left the room rather shaken and explained he had missed no less than 15 argentinans fouls as I wrote it earlier. A special mention to Mr Ramage (the referee who had previously refused a valid french try and didn't wait for the good video angle) who never sees a foul but imagines some from the border of the field. We can salute the courage of Mr Cole who recognized he was wrong when other referees would have hidden themselves behind the so called prestige of their role.
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I don’t expect much from our warm up games – though I will save Tamerlin the time and say three months in advance that the refs in both French games will be awful and utterly biased towards the ‘Rosbiffs’. |
Actually I don't care at all about their biased nature, I would be satisfied with referees who simply apply the laws as they are written keeping the spirit of the said laws in mind. But a law is a law and discarding completely the letter to the benefit of the spirit is not good.
Enough!
Last edited by Tamerlin on 24-06-2003 at 22:52
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Nice to know you are human too. |
Don't tell Tamerlin. He sees me as a God.
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I see that Bill Young has launched a defence of your front row saying he felt that they performed a real step up from the corresponding fixture last November. I can’t agree with that to be honest. |
Yes, I thought the exact opposite was the case. They were slightly more effective in the second half on Saturday night but only because England lowered the intensity.
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I’ve been around the block – I can spot someone oozing insincerity a mile away. |
What an unpleasant neighbourhood you must live in. Sorry about ending the sentence with a preposition, but I couldn't be fagged reconstructing to avoid it.
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What troubles you so much about the grand scheme? |
Ultimately, I believe, a person's achievements are no more or less important than the character with which they, um, achieve them. I hasten to add that I think there are exceptions. Supreme gifts can render character redundant. Wagner, amongst others, for example. But back to the mortals. In rugby, for example, for Australians, J**** will join - if he hasn't already - the Sean Fitzpatricks of the world as an opponent who sinks your ship, drives you mad in the process, but, publicly anyway - and that's all we have available to us to judge - displays great character. Maybe Woodward's effort on Saturday night was a one-off. I don't know.
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I still think there’s a huge difference between pretending before a game that a referee should take your word as law and pointing out after a match what the referee missed of the opponents cynical play? |
Sorry, you're spinning like a top. Eddie wan't pretending that the ref should take his word as law. He pointed out the penalties awarded against England in the ABs match and wanted the same laws applied if the same things happened on Saturday night. In Woodward's case, after the ABs match last November, he drew - in spectacular fashion - everyone's attention to what he believed was the SH teams' illegal use of dummy runners. It was more than a comment on the ABs match, it was blatantly obviously directed at the ref for the Wallabies match the week after. And, in fact, Woodward was - as you claim Eddie was doing - telling the refs he was right and they were wrong.
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Although frankly both suggest men with huge egos? |
Part and parcel of modern professional sport.
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I hate to disagree but I think the refs have been somewhat stricter this year across the globe –at least in carefully defined aspects of play. IRB edicts seem to be smoothing a little of the cultural divide in refereeing? |
That's what I said a couple of days ago. The differences these days are a bit of a myth.
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To a certain extent that holds true – but it’s a little unfair. We have learnt from the SH in some aspects of play – |
Yes, England is marrying the two styles, which is why, when they're humming, they're unstoppable. They have the best of both worlds. Other teams, playing a version of one or the other, struggle against them. Their big challenge, though, will come when the powerhouses of the pack retire, because it's the successful pack that sets up everything else.
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but we’ve taken as much from France in some ways. And you really ought to note France can and do use blocking runners when it suits them. |
 They were when they were out here last season. In fact, they were playing a very similiar game to England's. Or trying to.
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Even if the ABs sweep the tri-nations that means no more for the RWC than England’s recent wins really. Personally I suspect, with Larkham, Smith and Finnegan all available, that the Wallabies might shock the ABs yet again (at least in Aus). |
Larkham is back training again. He will return at some stage during the Tri-Nations. Mortlock will still be missing for the Tri-Nations. If he plays in the WRC, it will be without any rugby for about 10 months.
I also notice that John Mitchell has replaced his entire front row with the front row that started against England. Oh, and McCaw is back.
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Civ Gold time?
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We're getting to that time. I'll dig out the Bank A/c.
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:29
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Hopefully we won't keep you waiting for too long... |
Assuming we miss you in the first knock out round I think we can’t meet you until the semi-final stage? I wonder has Finbar analysed the draw in detail yet?
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Havak, when I am talking about the referees I am generally talking about the International level referees (H-Cup and Tests' referees). |
I see. Well there are one or two weak UK links – Nigel Williams and Steve Lander spring to mind. And I know you don’t like Chris White but he is showing signs of recovery from his tri-nations tainting – the last time I saw he was only going with the IRB favourites (back foot, line out tunnel, releasing after the tackle etc) and, shock horror, even pulled a couple of offsides.
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After a meeting with the French staff during which they replayed the video of the game, Mr Andrew Cole left the room rather shaken and explained he had missed no less than 15 argentinans fouls as I wrote it earlier. |
Well firstly this make Laporte as guilty as Woodward of the referee bullying charge Finbar countered to my accusation of exactly that by Jones. And also similarly the French edited the footage. Call me cynical but I wonder how many French infringements never got shown to the poor hen-pecked guy?
A private meeting to bully a referee post match – come to think of it that is way worse than Woodwards open press conference. What on earth made him agree to it. I think refs need protecting from this myself.
I do wonder if Laportes setup spends too much time crying ‘foul’ these days and not enough correcting the problems you have on the field? Great teams adjust to poor referees don’t they?
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We can salute the courage of Mr Cole who recognized he was wrong when other referees would have hidden themselves behind the so called prestige of their role. |
If he has admitted it publicy I suspect he will now have another meeting due at the IRB as he has undermined the whole of refereedom by doing so. The ref is never wrong. He may be a blind idiot but he is never wrong.
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I would be satisfied with referees who simply apply the laws as they are written keeping the spirit of the said laws in mind. |
Finbar should be over this like a rash asking for a definition of ‘spirit’. It’s a complete intangible and leads us right back to ‘interpreatation’.
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Don't tell Tamerlin. He sees me as a God. |
And poor Mr Cole gets the role of ‘Devil’ then?
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What an unpleasant neighbourhood you must live in. Sorry about ending the sentence with a preposition, but I couldn't be fagged reconstructing to avoid it. |
Doing so would have been wasted on me anyway.
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for example, for Australians, J**** will join - if he hasn't already - the Sean Fitzpatricks of the world as an opponent who sinks your ship, drives you mad in the process, but, publicly anyway - and that's all we have available to us to judge - displays great character. |
I bet it still surprises you to be writing such things? I'm sure you thought I hugely oversold him before?
I honestly don’t think you will find Woodwards was a one off. He occasionally speaks without the brain in gear. It surprised me he did what he did to snub the Aussies as he normally reserves his ire for our media and his domestic critics.
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He pointed out the penalties awarded against England in the ABs match and wanted the same laws applied if the same things happened on Saturday night. |
And you are spinning like Ali Campbell. Eddie said he would be ‘encouraging the referee to be strict in those areas’ implying very clearly the referee should do what Eddie tells him.
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And, in fact, Woodward was - as you claim Eddie was doing - telling the refs he was right and they were wrong. |
He probably thinks he is – just like Eddie.
I’m fed up defending him – I would like to see a real statesman like Richards or Evans (as a sop to MikeH) in the role soon after RWC anyway. I can see Clive staying too long.
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That's what I said a couple of days ago. The differences these days are a bit of a myth. |
You may be right. I think it’s more a case that the SH simply has more poor refs right now rather than the ‘interpretation’ being at fault?
Now that bait should land a Marlin?
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Their big challenge, though, will come when the powerhouses of the pack retire, because it's the successful pack that sets up everything else. |
It’s also fair to say the backs have a huge way to go yet as well. They are better than they were even seven months ago but it’s still a forwards dominated side by a long way.
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They were when they were out here last season. In fact, they were playing a very similiar game to England's. Or trying to. |
They would have turned you over but for them damn referees on the day?
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I also notice that John Mitchell has replaced his entire front row with the front row that started against England. Oh, and McCaw is back. |
Not surprised – last week he played a prop who got his first cap in four years – menaing he last played in the AB ‘dark times’. They didn’t beat Wales by pummelling them up front – it was an object lesson in beating a team with fast backs running at lumbering forwards.
McCaw back and no Betsen to counter – I really thing the French need their heads totally in gear to avoid a thrashing. 
I wonder are they saving everything for us in the warm up games?
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We're getting to that time. I'll dig out the Bank A/c. |
I have a sizeable bet riding with you anyway.
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Tamerlin
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Toulouse (South-western France)
Apr 2002
time: 06:29
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quote:
Originally posted by finbar
Don't tell Tamerlin. He sees me as a God. |
Nor God, nor master... 
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Their big challenge, though, will come when the powerhouses of the pack retire, because it's the successful pack that sets up everything else. |
This is the problem that must face all the great teams in the world, the Stade Toulousain have dealt with it when a full generation retired from the ranks, Leicester is facing it now and so will England.
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They were when they were out here last season. In fact, they were playing a very similiar game to England's. Or trying to. |
The current French team is the shadow of what it was last year and I am afraid Bernard Laporte is not making the good choices... 
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I also notice that John Mitchell has replaced his entire front row with the front row that started against England. Oh, and McCaw is back. |
Three new players are starting the game against the AB,
Mas (USAP), Clément Poitrenaud (Stade Toulousain) and another third line player I have forgotten the name. (  )
Frédéric Michalack (Stade Toulousain) will be fly-half...
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Assuming we miss you in the first knock out round I think we can’t meet you until the semi-final stage? I wonder has Finbar analysed the draw in detail yet? |
Caligastia already has a bit further back up the page. It seems pretty logical. Barring the extraordinary. I wonder if we should run a special WRC Sweepstakes on how early Les Grenouilles will bomb out? No bets will be taken on them catching a plane to Austria by mistake on the basis that, the way they're going, it's highly likely.
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Call me cynical but I wonder how many French infringements never got shown to the poor hen-pecked guy? |
Put it this way - Tamerlin was operating the VCR.
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A private meeting to bully a referee post match – come to think of it that is way worse than Woodwards open press conference. What on earth made him agree to it. I think refs need protecting from this myself. |
It sounds very odd. How private was it? I mean, was it set up through channels or did Laportes just get on the eau de cologne and invite the ref around for a chat? I'm surprised the IRB let it happen. Then again, I'm probably not.
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I do wonder if Laportes setup spends too much time crying ‘foul’ these days and not enough correcting the problems you have on the field? Great teams adjust to poor referees don’t they? |
Fair point. Though a coach just to the West of Laportes - and another one a very long way South-East - have been known to indulge themselves on the odd occasion from time to time.
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Finbar should be over this like a rash asking for a definition of ‘spirit’. It’s a complete intangible and leads us right back to ‘interpreatation’. |
Yes, I noticed that particular canard floating blissfully in its barrel and contemplated emptying an AK-47 into it. I took pity.
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Doing so would have been wasted on me anyway. |
Yes, but these threads are my, um, practice ground. Or even, occasionally, target range.
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I bet it still surprises you to be writing such things? I'm sure you thought I hugely oversold him before? |
Not at all. My constant, utter contempt for J**** - increasing as I saw more of him - should have been indicative.
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I honestly don’t think you will find Woodwards was a one off. He occasionally speaks without the brain in gear. It surprised me he did what he did to snub the Aussies as he normally reserves his ire for our media and his domestic critics. |
No, I don't think it was one-off either. I think he has an unfortunate streak within him, probably exacerbated by the pressures and expectations. Some handle such things better than others.
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And you are spinning like Ali Campbell. Eddie said he would be ‘encouraging the referee to be strict in those areas’ implying very clearly the referee should do what Eddie tells him. |
It's amazing what you can read between lines if you try hard enough. Heavens above, I found the latest Harry Potter tome between the lines of Tamerlin's last post. (And, angry at the number of typos, he called a meeting with a ref who admitted missing 15 typos)
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I’m fed up defending him – I would like to see a real statesman like Richards or Evans (as a sop to MikeH) in the role soon after RWC anyway. I can see Clive staying too long. |
I don't know those guys, but I thought our Rod Macqueen trod a reasonable line.
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You may be right. I think it’s more a case that the SH simply has more poor refs right now rather than the ‘interpretation’ being at fault? |
More a case, I think, that the standards, worldwide, are low. Certainly if you and Tamerlin are to be believed, and you have both, over time, vis a vis refs and your opinions of same, set standards of absolute objectivity that Koffi Anan would struggle to equal.
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Now that bait should land a Marlin? |
Contemplated it, dismissed it as unworthy.
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They would have turned you over but for them damn referees on the day? |
Yes, according to Tamerlin, whose only vision of the matches was on the plasma screen of his cerebellum.
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I have a sizeable bet riding with you anyway. |
Yep. Did we double it from the original 50? I remember suggesting it.
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23-06-2003 19:54
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