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lightblue
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L'Boro, UK
Oct 2001
time: 05:31
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Hmm, until this weekend I hadn't really switched from my POV that rugby union is a fairly dull game with some bizarre esoteric rules (though that still hasn't changed yet, why are so many infringements awarded with penalties, which by the looks of things at international level mean about a 80% chance for 3 points if it is within 40 yds of the try line).
I really enjoyed watching both the Aus-Ire and the Wales-NZ games this weekend though, and i suppose that with the QF being slightly more balanced than some of the arse kickings that have been handed out in the goup phases, it'll probably stay more entertaining as well now.
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Drogue
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Omnipresent conscience
Oct 2002
time: 05:31
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quote:
Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
England, New Zealand and Australia look OK, but certainly all have their own flaws that some other "lesser" teams have been able to exploit.
France, Ireland and South Africa must all very much fancy their chances of reaching the final, if not winning it. |
Ireland won't at all. I'd give them a 25% chance of beating France and a 5% chance of beating England. So a 1.25% chance of getting to the final. France should beat Ireland, as long as they play at least OK, but unless they really pull out the stops, they won't stop England. South Africa have a very hard run in, however I would put them in with the top 3 as ones that could well get to the final. I can't see the Wallabies beating SA, NZ or England, unless they really pull up their game. I think NZ/SA clash will give us the other finalist, and that either will run England pretty close in the final.
quote:
Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
if England play like they did against Samoa and Wales play like they did against NZ then Wales will win. Hopefully that won't happen....  |
I doubt it. Wales played well to cotnrast the NZ style, but England play in a completely different style. If they play like that, they will be overpowered. I can't see Wales having a chance against England actually, however the teams play.
I love the whole Northern Hemisphere/Southern Hemisphere run in too.
However with the peaking early, sadly true. We've yet to caputre that invincibility we had a few months ago, where we trounced all, and where our B team was considered by many to be favourites against France. If we get that kind of form, looking at the other teams, when we'll win regardless, IMHO. However we look way to shaky at the moment. If it wasn't for NZ and Oz lookign shaky too, we wouldn't have much hope left.
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LDiCesare
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La Ferté sous Jouarre France
Jan 2001
time: 05:31
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quote:
It is looking like it will be easier to get to the final than to qualify top of the group, since I can't see a match as hard as the South Africa game until the final. |
Don't underestimate the French if england meets them. I still see England as favourites, of course.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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Who would want to be Eddie Jones this week? This morning's press features every expert and his dog's version of the Wallaby team for the rest of the tournament.  The consensus? That the Flatley-Burke centre pairing is totally uninspiring, meaning room has to be found for Matt Giteau; that Lote Tuquiri has to be given a chance in front of Wendell; and that our tight 5 is beyond help because there are simply no better players available.
Of course, one of our major problems with our lineout stems from playing two openside flankers. In the past, with Finegan at blindside, we've had another lineout option. Now, we only have two lineout options, every other team knows that, thus our lineout has turned into a sitting duck. The simple solution is to play a bona fide blindside who is also a bona fide lineout option. Except, perhaps Matt Cockbain aside, we don't have a bona fide blindside alternative.
Eddie's mood at the post-Ireland press conference was surly. He knew what was coming in this morning's media.
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Andydog
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London
Jan 2001
time: 05:31
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Awesome effort from Wales, they played with courage and passion. Certainly they made the AB’s appreciate that you do have to work for wins every now and then. Their No. 6 was man of the match for me – what a blinder he had. Their hooker played outstandingly also.
The Positives for NZ:
Thank goodness for Justin Marshall. He took the bull by the horns and displayed real leadership. Who was the VC again?
Solid return from Mauger. It will be easier to re-introduce Tana now that Mauger has a game under his belt, although Mitch doesn't seem too unhappy with Leon’s game though, including his kicking, so Tana may yet remain on the bench.
Mils was a brilliant last line of defence, regularly making crucial one on one tackles. What a tournament he’s having, he really is developing a fantastic all-round game at the back.
Big Bad Brad has found his niche, winning ball when required, making the hits, and proving a devastating runner with ball in hand. Williams was solid too but would have to make way for Jack.
The Negitives:
Our tight five didn’t perform, the scrum was ordinary and our lineout was left wanting. A real pity considering how positive it was looking against the weaker sides. Clearly they can’t handle real pressure and if they don’t improve drastically for next week’s game, we can kiss bye bye to Web Ellis!  I can hear Straeuli clapping his hands with glee from here.
The one area of Thorne's game that normally stands out is his defence around the fringes, but we saw none of that yesterday. He turned the ball over which resulted in a Welsh try, and didn't do enough with the ball in hand. As our captain, he should have played the sort of game Marshall did, there was a distinct lack of leadership from him. I wouldn't quite drop him just yet, but he certainly needs a rocket up his jacksy.
As a team, defence obviously needs to be worked on along with ball security and our set piece frailties.
Looks like So'oialo is finished. Another Mitch back-up who clearly no longer has a role to play. If Collins' injury keeps him out this week then expect to see McCaw at 8 with Holah on the openside.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
And the Wallabies showed old weaknesses - could not scrummage and the line out looked ripe for the picking. |
I've already vented my spleen on these things. If you recall, I've been venting my spleen on these things for twelve months or more.
quote:
With Sailor they did their homework - pop the ball behind him and turn him and he looks a headless chicken in defence? |
Yes, but that's been known for quite a while. It was done to him in S12. Lote Tuquiri is a far more skilled player, but Eddie has preferred Wendell. I can only think it's because Wendell can sometimes make those shattering busts. But that's not enough.
quote:
Most worringly the fly half looks a shadow of the man he once? What say you Finbar? |
Yes, but that's been known for quite a while too. He turns in the occasional good effort, but he's no longer the playmaker he was. Unfortunately, as in other areas on the field, Eddie hasn't been able to look beyond the loyal old hands. The fresh, young talent is there in the squad. They've just been overlooked. And he might as well give them a try now, because the current team isn't up to winning the tournament.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Tamerlin
I have just seen the Australia - Ireland game and the Aussies can be happy to have won this game. Though it does not qualify as a theft, it is not far from it. With a "real" referee and the bit of luck they have lacked the Irish would have won. |
They had their opportunities regardless of the ref and bad luck. Apart from the first ten minutes, we didn't play well enough to deserve to win.
quote:
Larkham and Gregan are nowhere the halves they used to be and the Australian game is thus lacking imagination. |
Yes, and that's the problem that actually has a solution. Chris Whitaker and Matt Giteau are the alternatives, but Eddie Jones is far too conservative - and loyal to his old hands - to give them a chance. They might not win the tournament for us - in fact, they won't, because of our problems in the forwards and the lineout - but at least they, along with Mortlock in place of Burke, and Tuquiri in place of Sailor, would offer some spark and imagination.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Tamerlin
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:biggest angry smilie in the history of the universe!:
quote:
Though I can understand Dimitri's parents blindness when you consider the performance of their tadpole, I don't understand Peter's Fitzsimons one. |
To be perfectly honest, given the context of the article, I suspect Fitzsimons couldn't say much else. Given the long, involved, emotional history that he details, how could he call Dimitri a total failure? It might be the truth, but it wouldn't suit the tenor of the article.
quote:
In France, at least in the educated areas where Rugby is played, just say Yachvili and you will see everybody's eyes looking towards the sky with a worried gaze silently saying: "Why?". |
I watched the France -v- USA game. I thought he played quite well, but his skills didn't match his ambitions.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Thanks for posting the Tigers scores every week Finbar – and you think Australia have problems? |
If I'm going to be miserable, I'm not going to be the only one! Wasps this week? Mmmmm. No wonder you championed Rotheram's promotion.
quote:
Who is “the nose” by the way? |
That chap in a white jumper with number 8 on the back and purveyor of professional fouls who used to be quite a good player.
quote:
I wasn’t stealing your thunder – you pointed them out first. I just thought it became very noticeable in this game as you finally came up against a side capable of exploiting both points? |
It's been noticeable for 18 months! Ireland did it to us last November! The Boks and All Blacks did it to us in the first legs of the Tri Nations!
quote:
It will be against your next opponents – but as for the semi you are quite right. |
That's my big fear. A good effort against Scotland will delude some people into thinking the problems are solved. Let me clarify that. There's simply no solving the problem of the front row. We don't have anyone other than the incumbents - or their immediate replacements, who are not much better. There's nothing Eddie can do about it.
The only way of starting to solve the lineout problem is to create another target option. Even if it means starting Cockbain - who's quite a good jumper - on a flank and breaking up Smith and Waugh starting together. So that problem can be addressed. I'm just not sure what the solution is.
The problem that must be addressed, as I've banged on about endlessly, is the moribund midfield. It's set up entirely defensively, as though Eddie has privately conceded that we're going to lose in the forwards and lineouts, therefore it's damage minimisation elsewhere. Okay, but what happens when we do get the ball? Nothing! (See below)
quote:
I can’t see it – it partially requires him to admit to an error in his approach so far – not the mans style at all? |
Clearly not, unfortunately. It looks like Mortlock is going to replace Burke at outside centre - Burke is said to have a dodgy knee and Mortlock fronted the media yesterday - so that's a start. Now we need Whitaker, Tuquiri and Giteau in place of Gregan, Sailor and Larkham. Tuquiri is a possibility, Giteau less so, and Whitaker, I'd've thought, a total impossibility.
quote:
By the way the Uruguayan tight head props try was very well taken don’t you think – |
He did well. Your defence in that case was just about on a par with the All Black defence. Particularly that which let Charvis pop over the top and plant the ball.
quote:
(though why the Producer showed an Aussies reaction one can only guess). |
It was for posterity. A happy Australian reaction these days is a rare thing.
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:31
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quote:
Wasps this week? Mmmmm. No wonder you championed Rotheram's promotion. |
Rotherham away the week after as well – their first win of the season no doubt. Serious problems at the club – good young lads in the forwards but far too ‘Green’ still. Clueless backs NONE of whom are missing on world cup duty (excepting Mr Murphy and his broken leg thanks to Ireland - boy do we miss him). I think Deano, great success that he has had, is in trouble.
Yes we have eight players at RWC (one Eagle on his way back) but Bath and Wasps have five each and are weathering it far better – the malaise runs deeper than RWC duty.
And I am so embarrassed I missed the Dallaglio reference. 
Joe Worsley by the way has been severely reprimanded for acknowledging the crowd after his yellow card – I understand this did not stop an Aussie TV pundit (no name given to me) from suggesting he be executed and England stipped of the win?
In addition Steve Smith (ITV summariser for Uruguay) says he caught an Aussie TV trail for the Uruguay game saying “who is the best XVI man team in the world?”. Just love that Aussie sense of humour – if only they could turn it on themselves more often?
quote:
Now we need Whitaker, Tuquiri and Giteau in place of Gregan, Sailor and Larkham. Tuquiri is a possibility, Giteau less so, and Whitaker, I'd've thought, a total impossibility. |
The BBC report Eddie as saying now is not the time to experiment and that he will continue to play his best XV – this was specifically in response to being asked about Larkham and Gregan.
quote:
Particularly that which let Charvis pop over the top and plant the ball. |
At which point Marshall looks at the ref as if to say “surely that is not legal sir?”. It was even funnier when in the dying minutes Watson pinged Howlett for being ahead of the kick – given England has drawn Kiwi criticism for this and yet Howlett is regularly guilty of it. And as for the game breaking try…
It was nice to see that they, like England, are fallable at times. I expect Mitchell will rocket them now and sort it out though?
quote:
It was for posterity. A happy Australian reaction these days is a rare thing. |
Now that is the sense of humour I want your TV guys to buy into!
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02-11-2003 19:20
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