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Shayne

11-15-2005, 05:17 AM

What are the odds of AB's thrashing the Poms this weekend? Bloody high i tell you. Its going to be an easy grand slam this year.

As for my team Aus, they are sucking hard cock recently. Time for Eddie Jones to be sacked. I do hope that Greegan sticks around for the world cup though. Edited by: Shayne

TiGeR

11-21-2005, 04:44 AM

Bit close y/day for the ABs what?!...they should have enough left in the tank to give Scotland the brave a spanking on their way home... pity England dont get a crack at the Boks this time as that would have been a cracker!...having said that, i think the bokke might get a pasting from the poms on y/days performance...Glad the aussies have FINALLY got Fitter in at tighthead...now they just need the rest of their injured boys back....

Shayne

11-21-2005, 05:08 PM

That has the be the worst case of refereeing i have ever seen in my life. Normally i never complain about them but do northern hemisphere refs actually understand the game?

Thirteen men and the Poms still couldnt beat the AB's. AreSA playing the Poms shortly?

TiGeR

11-22-2005, 07:24 AM

Northern hemisphere refs are VERY conservative...SA dont play the lily whites this year so their next clash should be quite intruiging if both sides continue to improve as they are...

Shayne

11-24-2005, 05:52 AM

What was the name of that famous SA ref that did like two world cups? He was quite good. Same as Paddy O'Brian.

Both as i recall are retired.

TiGeR

11-24-2005, 10:28 AM

Andre Watson...yeah he was excellent...CHEEKY bugger tho'..he reff'ed a few U20 currie cup & SA uni.s games i was involved in & isnt shy to abuse the players- i remember being SMASHED by Corne Krige & then rucked over by Cobus Visagie & Selborne Boom in SA uni. trials* & when he blew for the scrum, he says to me "go ahead- you can rub it because it hurts" smileys/smiley36.gif... he also reffed the St John's1st XV i coachedat the world schools festival last yr...but he has a great rapport with the players (Him & George Gregan have SUCH humour on the park!)& most importantly, he allows the game to FLOW...something those pompous NH refs need to learn!

* The Stellenbosch U21 side at SA Uni. trials in 1996 had former boks: Gaffie Du Toit, Bobby Skinstad, Corne Krige, Cobus Visagie, Selborne Boom, Dave Von Hoesslin, Gus Theron all in the team...lets just say they hammered EVERYONE at the tournament!...we got THUNDERED 107-7 & we gave them their 'closest' game!

Shayne

11-24-2005, 03:39 PM

"go ahead- you can rub it because it hurts"

nearly made me shoot water through my nose!Only Andrew Watson could say something like this. Damn thats funny.

Stellenbosch is legend for their uni sides. That sideis almost a replica of the damn Sprinkgboks a few years agoand its no wonder the buggers were thrashing everyone. What i wanna know is who scored the try against them? smileys/smiley32.gif

Talking about thrashing's. I remember Sports Club's second team was playing a side like Mvurwi or something to that effect and come match time there were only 12 players for Sports Club. The ref thought the game should go ahead and Mvurwi won it 130-0. smileys/smiley29.gifEdited by: Shayne

TiGeR

11-24-2005, 03:56 PM

Well it wasnt me, i was probably at the bottom of a ruck getting the crap kicked out of me or hiding from Krige whose whole purpose was to kill the opposition flyhalf! A guy called Tim Iraka scored our try he was a winger...apart from being an SA athletics rep in 200 & 400m plus triple jump, he played SA U19 rugby & was contracted to the Bulls & destined to be a Bok (but he enjoyed the giggle weed too much! He actually played a game at SA uni. trials SO high on mbanj that we may as well have played with 14 men! smileys/smiley36.gif) A great character! He used to run with John Mammous in Jhb...

TiGeR

11-24-2005, 04:00 PM

...geez dude there isnt even an U21 league in Zim anymore...hasnt been since 1999! & as for Mvurwi...well, MCDs now play out of OGs (who have folded!) because all the farmers that are still in Zim live in Hre now! 130-0 OUCH! I feel your pain mate...107 was like a watermelon up the poop chute with no lube! smileys/smiley11.gif

What a lovely game...

Shayne

11-24-2005, 04:08 PM

Hang on. I was in the U-21 side and watched the second team get thumped. Thankfully.

I felt their pain.

TiGeR

11-25-2005, 05:43 AM

Now you all know why BOD was gang tackled & manhandled by Tana & Keven M. - he showed disrespect & got rugby's equivalent of a hot poker up the arse...smileys/smiley36.gif...not justifying the "spear tackle" or indeed saying whether it was or wasnt..just that BOD got served up for disrespecting the Haka by two of the brown brothers...http://www.planetrugby.com/mediastore/graphics/spacer.gif

<DIV id=contentAreaInnerBorder>

<DIV =storyLayout>
<H2>How to deal with a haka</H2>
<DIV =storydate>Wednesday November 23 2005</DIV>Carlos Spencer explodes myth of young warriors and grass-throwing

A lot has been written about the haka over the past few months. Debates have raged over whether it has a role in the game, the ostentatiousness of the performance, the new throat-slitting routine, the lack of respect shown by host teams by placing it before the home anthem, how to react to it and so forth.

<DIV =inlineads>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%">
<T>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top align=middle>http://www.planetrugby.com/mediastore/images/editorial/New_Zealand/Carlos_Spencer_Gillette200.jpg

<DIV =storyPicCaption>AB Saint: Spencer surveys Franklin's Gardens

</DIV></TD></TR></T></TABLE>



</DIV>

Not being ones to assume too much, we asked someone who has led the haka on a number of occasions precisely what it is about and what to do with it.

In the midst of a promotional event with Gillette - the official male grooming partner of England Rugby and the Premiership - Northampton Saints star Carlos Spencer ducked out and told us a bit about it.

"The haka has been a part of our rugby culture for years," said the former All Black.

"To lead the haka is a huge honour. It means different things to different people, but it is an honour to all who are a part of it.

"Certainly if you are from a Maori family like me, it means more perhaps, but it is something that every All Black will learn and treasure."

One of the most controversial reactions to the haka occurred during this year's British & Irish Lions tour when Brian O'Driscoll and Dwayne Peel faced the challenge at the front of a huge semi-circle of players before O'Driscoll tossed a handful of grass into the air at the end of the performance.

O'Driscoll claimed to have researched the process and found it to be the traditional cultural reaction, but the New Zealand public saw it as simply disrespectful.

The usual way has been for the opposition to simply link arms in a line and front up to the pop-eyed All Blacks in a line.

O'Driscoll may have simply taken his research too far though, according to Spencer.

"It's up to the opposition what to do," he said.

"They can stand up and look you in the eyes if they want. They can go off in a huddle if they want - although they might miss a psychological trick if they did that.

"There is no rigidly set way to react to it. It is a tradition, and it pumps you up.

"I wouldn't really say it gives you an edge, but it makes you focus."</DIV></DIV>

Shayne

11-25-2005, 03:31 PM

I'm not too sure if i agree with the new haka. Not exactly the sort of image you want to beam across the world to millions of kids.

TiGeR

11-28-2005, 10:40 AM

Well, apparently the ABs will 'look' at the throat slitting gesture so maybe that will go...personally, i think in its context te new haka is fine & then in terms of sports entertainment, the stuff kids are seeing & hearing in WWE for example make kapa o pango tame by comparison!

What a w/end of rugger- the taffs pulled off a famous win in Cardiff, the ABs got their slam & the french pulled off a stunning win over the bokke...England Vs Samoa was a boring slugfest....& so the curtain closes on the autumn international series...roll on S14! (i back France to do the business in the 6 Nations & England should be a force again, provided they are able to get some decent backs & actually create stuff out wide...

Shayne

11-28-2005, 09:23 PM

Boks losing against the French is just wrong. I just put the international standings on my main page http://zimbo.bounceme.net and they will probably change dramatically over the next week or so.

biffon

11-28-2005, 10:34 PM

& the willibies were woeful as usual.

Only Wallaby i enjoyed wating was Tuiqiri, he was the only one making the breaks and creating chances, as for the forwards... ooo boy i shudder to think of the lambasting they got after the game!

Gregan is too predictable - wheres the flair gone? - in the last 7 games ive seen him run the ball once and kick it twice...

we needpocket rocketGiteau or Henjak in that pozzy to give it more meaning to the game cause at the moment No9 seems just a link to the backline from the scrum and nothing else.

I hark back to the heyday of Jooste & gregan

that was always an entertaining tussle - they were always worrying each other at the breakdown, scrums.. looking for the inside past or flick off the boot etc... were a joy to watch.

not anymore... smileys/smiley18.gif

TiGeR

11-29-2005, 04:25 AM

Ja, i agree...barring the frenchmen Yachvilli & Elissalde, the no.9s currently starting test matches at international level for England (Dawson) Australia (Gregan) NZ (Weepu & Kelleher) & SA (Classens) are pretty ordinary... the days of big tussles between Marshall, Gregan & Van der Westhuizen are DESPERATELY missed... the woeful wallabies will need to rethink their gameplan & i believe IF Eddie keeps his job, he has to let Gregan & Whitaker go (barring HUGE form & an AWESOME S14 performance from George, whose leadership qualities would be an asset..Whits...bad luck boet, you ARE the weakest link!) & let Henjak take on the big job with Phibbs from the Brumbies as the understudy...with the injured okes returning & form permitting, here is my 30 man wallaby squad for 2006 & the 2007 world cup (names in brackets are guys who can cover other positions)-

Front rows: Fitter, Baxter (if he can develop/ Oz candevelop another) (Tightheads) Holmes, Hardy (both youngsters but i rate them ahead of Dunning/ Young ONLY because there isno one else at the moment even REMOTELY at the required level & they can develop for the future (Looseheads) Paul,Polota-Nau (hookers) & if they can develop a prop who can play on both sides of the scrum, then that would be my 30th man...

Locks- Vickerman, Chisholm, Sharpe, McMenniman& Kanaar.

Loosies- Waugh, Smith, Roe, Fava, Elsom, Lyons

Half backs- Henjak & Phibbs (Giteau)

Fly half- Larkham, Norton-Knight (Giteau)

Inside centres- Giteau, Turinui (Mortlock)

Outside centres- Mortlock, Johanssen, (Rathbone) (Turinui)

Wings- Rathbone, Tuquiri, Mitchell (Mortlock) (Rogers)

Fullbacks- Latham, (Rogers) (Mitchell)

Comments?Edited by: TiGeR

Shayne

11-29-2005, 05:08 AM

Nice picks there Tiger and i agree with pretty much all of it.

Australia are in deep shit in the front row. All they require is parity up front because, like New Zealand, Australia have a back division capable of inflicting serious damage.

Aussie have some great backs. Mat Rogers, Chris Latham and particularly Lote Tuqiri were a constant danger to Wales.

TiGeR

11-29-2005, 06:23 AM

Ja- they need some REAL scrummagers in the front row to give them the platform from which to unleash those awesome backs...IMAGINE for example that England had had Aussies back against NZ....smileys/smiley5.gifbye bye Grand slam!

TiGeR

11-29-2005, 07:27 AM

Check out no. 46 below! smileys/smiley32.gifat least we're in the top 50! smileys/smiley36.gifWhen i took the U19s to U19 World Champs earlier this yr, we were ranked 23 out of 24 & at end of tournament we were ranked 15th so the talent IS there...(& in typical Zim style, we had 4 days in camp to prepare, while the least prepared team apart from us had been in camp for 2 wks & played against their U21 side...smileys/smiley2.gifFORTUNATELY i'd seen it happening 'before it happened' & had given each guy a position specific program & tests which they had to get done by their uni/ school coaches & faxed to me, so i could monitor their progress)...ANYWAY!...

World ranking as at 28/11/2005:
(Last week's ranking in brackets)
1 (1) New Zealand 93.32
2 (2) South Africa 88.76
3 (4) France 86.10
4 (3) Australia 83.93
5 (5) England 83.27
6 (6) Wales 82.54
7 (7) Ireland 80.03
8 (8) Argentina 78.16
9 (10) Scotland 73.60
10 (9) Fiji 73.11
11 (11) Italy 72.40
12 (12) Samoa 70.97
13 (13) USA 68.31
14 (14) Canada 67.42
15 (15) Romania 66.47
16 (16) Uruguay 66.27
17 (17) Portugal 65.93
18 (18) Japan 65.93
19 (19) Georgia 63.88
20 (20) Tonga 62.04
21 (21) Morocco 61.51
22 (22) Korea 60.44
23 (23) Russia 59.25
24 (24) Chile 59.22
25 (25) Czech Republic 58.78
26 (26) Namibia 58.52
27 (27) Spain 55.80
28 (28) Germany 55.60
29 (29) Hong Kong 54.08
30 (30) Paraguay 53.63
31 (31) Ukraine 53.08
32 (32) Netherlands 51.86
33 (33) Poland 51.82
34 (34) Tunisia 51.32
35 (35) Brazil 50.98
36 (36) Croatia 50.87
37 (37) Belgium 50.84
38 (38) Kenya 48.97
39 (39) China 48.79
40 (41) Ivory Coast 48.57
41 (42) Arabian Gulf 48.31
42 (43) Chinese Taipei 48.28
43 (44) Moldova 47.76
44 (45) Madagascar 47.70
45 (46) Sri Lanka 47.52
46 (47) Zimbabwe 47.32 smileys/smiley32.gif
47 (40) Switzerland 47.07
48 (48) Singapore 46.70
49 (57) Latvia 46.46
50 (49) Denmark 46.41

biffon

11-29-2005, 08:26 AM

thats just sick

how the @#!@ does madagascar & polandget ranked higher than zim? is this a XV's ranking or rugby in general

I would have thought our sevens team would be ranked at least in the top 15 in the world? possible top 10?

TiGeR

11-29-2005, 09:08 AM

Our 7s are up there in top 15 but XVs...well, lets just say between politics in Zim & our top guys playing outside the country (Kennedy Tsimba, David Maidza, Leon Greef to name a few, plus lots of the guys who should be seniors in clubs/ provincial teams not being there having emigrated & youngsters at uni./ emigrated with their families has played HAVOC with the national team...THEN comes the issue of coaches...when we've had a decent one, the union has buggered them around & they've quit leaving USELESS people to coach...

Shayne

11-29-2005, 03:34 PM

Poison

11-29-2005, 03:38 PM

Zimbabwe really suck. 47th that is shocking.

Now what is there to do? smileys/smiley5.gifNo more rugby until the Super 14 really.

But hang on, now we have a summer of great cricket..smileys/smiley4.gif

Starting off this weekend at Eden Park with Aussies vs Kiwis for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

Definitely have to make a plan to go to the game..Edited by: Poison

TiGeR

11-30-2005, 08:55 AM

<H2>WorldXV from Planet Rugby</H2>
<H2>Monday November 28 2005</H2>

We choose our World XV after the November trials

For four weeks, the world's best have been playing in their trial matches, all trying to attain the ultimate accolade.

15. Chris Latham (Australia). 'If you can keep your form, when all around you are losing theirs...' So might Rudyard Kipling have paid tribute to Latham's terrific performances for Australia during this test series. An inspiration to his team, and dare one suggest, a natural successor to George Gregan?

14. Rico Gear (New Zealand). He may have been wonderfully served by his team-mates, but Gear just could not stop scoring, from the hat-trick against Wales, through to his brace against Scotland. Lethal, and with an effortless gliding running style that was a pleasure to watch.

13. Tana Umaga (New Zealand, captain). Right the way through the series, and even from the stands, Umaga has been the figurehead of this magnificent All Blacks team. Direct, honest, immensely talented, and not afraid to confront difficult situations, Umaga is, and always will be, a credit to the game.

12. Yannick Jauzion (France). One of Bernard Laporte's mainstays of the November Tests, Jauzion is the spearhead of the penetrating Toulousain contingent constituting the large part of France's back-line. Unbelievably strong in the tackle and with silky smooth handling, Jauzion is a must in any set of three-quarters.

11. Cédric Heymans (France). A harsh call to leave out any other New Zealander perhaps, but Heymans' all-round game - attack, defence, kicking, handling - coupled with his power and flair for a gap, win the blond bomber the vote.

10. Dan Carter (New Zealand). Currently the most accomplished player strutting any pitch in the world. The IRB's Player of the Year single-handedly destroyed the Lions during June, notched well over half his team's points against Wales, and was the key to New Zealand's victory over England. Can anyone find a weakness?

9. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (France). The performance against South Africa confirmed that Elissalde still has the nip, cheek, and buzz that messrs Gregan and Dawson have lost from their game. Elissalde has the fastest hands in the business, and is always good for a quick tap, or snipe, or kick through or...

8. Martin Corry (England). Has finally matured fully into the mantle of England captain - not before time either. He may not quite have the handling of Owen, or the speed of So'oialo, but Corry will have your forwards on the front foot every single time, and puts in a huge number of tackles.

7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand). We are currently spoiled for choice in the world list of flankers, with the likes of Bonnaire, Smith and Charvis all queuing up for the top spot, but Richie McCaw is still the best in the business.

6. Jerry Collins (New Zealand). A simply towering performance against England nets the Hurricanes' players with the boxer's biceps the other back-row spot. Anybody who claims to have seen a performance with more running and tackling in it this November is lying through their teeth.

5. Victor Matfield (South Africa). An extraordinary performance at the line-out against France in Paris puts Matfield head-and-shoulders above the rest. Magnificent running away from the set piece also stood him out from the rest of his pack.

4. Chris Jack (New Zealand). Has maintained the high standards he set during the Lions tour, including his work at the rucks and mauls. The safest hands of any lock in the game.

3. Carl Hayman (New Zealand). Was perhaps overshadowed by Andrew Sheridan at Twickenham, but nobody else even came close to unsettling the hirsute Kiwi prop.

2. Dimitri Szarzewski (France). The young blonde hooker has been a revelation since he broke into France's first team ahead of Sebastian Bruno. He is exceptionally fast - to the point that one of us mistook him for Heymans during this series - and outside of the scrum, plays often like an extra loose forward. Just what any team could do with.

1. Andrew Sheridan (England). Will Matt Dunning or Al Baxter ever forget the mess that the brick of Sheridan made of the wallaby scrum? Will Carl Hayman relish the next encounter with him? We thought not....

What do you think lads?- I would have to disagree with the No. 8 (Maybe Schalk Burger, George Smith OR Rodney So'oaiolo there?) & i'd have Rokokoka on the other wing...12...i agree but i'd be as happy to see Conrad Smith there...

TiGeR

12-03-2005, 05:20 AM

Hey klads, its official- Eddie Jones has been sacked as Wallabies coach...comments?

Shayne

12-03-2005, 07:29 AM

Yeah i just saw it on BBC. I dont think Eddie was to blame this time. His players are the ones on the field and they should take the stick.

Whats the bet of Eddie leading a Super 14 side this year?

Shayne

12-03-2005, 07:31 AM

What do you think lads?- I would have to disagree with the No. 8 (Maybe Schalk Burger, George Smith OR Rodney So'oaiolo there?) & i'd have Rokokoka on the other wing...12...i agree but i'd be as happy to see Conrad Smith there...

WTF? No Sterling Morlock? Whats this world coming to? I agree with Burger. Have seen that number 9 for France. Is he any good?

TiGeR

12-03-2005, 08:03 AM

THe Reds need a coach for 2007 cos their doing a Brumbies & booting their coach nxt yr irrespective of results...but i think Eddie will go to Japan...sad because i think he is the right guy, but he had many lives & made some mistakes & his boys underperformed& let him down...Mortlock on form yes, but he had a quiet S12 by his standards & then being left behind from the last tour means he isnt match fit at the mo',...The french no. 9s (both of 'em!) are better than anyone else in Intl. rugger at the mo'...they pass, they run, they kick, they flick passes...they are just sharper & quicker than anyone else in the game...maybe Pichot of Argentina is better but for the talent of the pack he is playing behind he's been producing a shit show!

TiGeR

12-13-2005, 11:23 AM

Anybody see Jonah's come back? The big fella is BACK! He played 60 mins & showed glimpses of his old self...will be interesting to see if he has what it takes to break into a S14 & ultimately the 2007 AB squad...i think he could make it as a blindside flanker, but not as a winger...just remember, you heard it here first! smileys/smiley36.gif

Apparently Taine Randell is retiring at end of this yrs Guiness Prem. @ age 31 ...remember him!? Too much too soon i say...poor bugger got shafted BADLY...i hope he goes back to NZ & plays for Hawks Bay in NPC & maybe gets a short contract to play S14 & add depth & experience to one of the sides...if i was an SAS14 coach i'd be hunting him down to add depth to my side...one day when i'm coaching at that level i'll pull off stuff like that...watch this space! smileys/smiley36.gif

Shayne

12-13-2005, 03:46 PM

Taine Randell is still around? No way!

I believe the Force's new captain is Nathan Sharpe. I think their first season is going to be interesting and they have a shot at the top eight for sure.

Laurie Fisher, ex Brumbies coach is one of the people being considered to replace Eddie Jones as the Australian coach. Jones has approached the Reds to take over from Jeff Miller interestingly enough.

TiGeR

12-14-2005, 02:20 AM

Laurie's a good coach & well respected by the players but had a shyte S12 due to the same injuries effectively that blighted the wallabies...i see him in the job in future, with Ewen McKenzie as his deputy, but their time is not yet here...i'd have to say my front runners for the Oz job are John "Knuckles" Conolly (ex Q\land & Bath coach) with Pat Howard to do the backs & one of Andrew Blades/ Mick Foley to do the forwards...

i think the Force will be ok as long as they dont have injuries...their depth looks suspect...i also think it'd be great to have Eddie back in S14 coaching at the Reds...i would like ANYONE but Ewen McKenzie to coach the wallabies...he's a PRAT!

biffon

12-14-2005, 03:51 AM

i agree - a NSW coach is all we need right now

i think Laurie has a good chance mainly due to the politics, not really
too much to do with his ability, though im not questioning that at
all... anyone at that level should be good enough to coach a national
team. IMHO

TiGeR

12-14-2005, 04:12 AM

Ja oz rugby politics at the moment is holding the country back BADLY & of course the whole scrumming thing starts at jnr level where refs & state legislators have made it SO damn safe for lighties to scrum that there is reallyno contest there...the guys at national level have become quite good at coaching their front rows to cheat without getting caught, but they were found out badly these last two yrs in the tri nations when the IRB changed the scrum laws to make the scrum a real contest again...the media went MAD about Jake White's comments about the wallaby scrum in general& Bill Young in particular at loosehead...then Andrew Sheridan & England happened to the Wallabies (although if you watch the French test, they also ate the wallabies alive up front) so there is BIG work to be done...

I think the head coach needs to be someone with experience of both the more open attacking SH game as well as the NH forward play & thats where John Conolly stands head & shoulders above all the other contenders, especially since John Mitchell has stood down as a contender... (imagine, he would have been England, NZ & Australia coach all within 10yrs of each other! smileys/smiley32.gif) But ja, a NSW coach would definitely spell the end of the wallabies chances at even a semi final birth at RWC 2007...

Shayne

12-14-2005, 04:26 AM

John Mitchell was crap as the AB's coach.

TiGeR

12-14-2005, 06:12 AM

I agree he didnt do a great job with the ABs, but then again he won back to back tri nations & his test record as coach isnt bad so...he is also the reason England won the 2003 RWC & were so awesome...Clive never 'coached', he just came up with a gameplan, selected the players & managed the system...John Mitchell, then Andy Robinson were the guys who actually did the 'coaching'...

Shayne

12-14-2005, 04:03 PM

Ah ok. Mitchell's record doesnt seem ot be that bad.

Politics seem to be holding a number of countries back and one of the reasons why South africa dont have a chance of winning the world cup again IMHO. NZ is politics free and one of the main reasons why they are doing well.

Greenballs

12-15-2005, 03:03 AM

ABs are king this season... Usually an avid Aus supporter (my boys have been disapointing lately)... have a look at Naas' new hounds:

Uploads/Greenballs/2005-12-14_200131_www-zGOz-com-0511165300.jpg

TiGeR

12-15-2005, 03:23 AM

Ja, politics in sport (as in piss poor management) is a lot of GOBSHYTE & is always effing things up for us spectators...smileys/smiley7.gif

SA rugby gets things right on the field & the small Unions (Bulldogs, EP, SWD are broke, okes are fighting for power or having investigations into financial mismanagement)& SARFU exec is a FUCK UP! (big boss is a crook but they keep him there!)

England win RWC in 2003, & are now ranked 5/6 in the world? The clubs are fighting with RFU & their team is taking pipe on the field...

Australia have handled the whole losing streak badly...you dont bunt a coach 18 months out from a world cup...ESPECIALLY when 14 of the best 22 players in the country are out of action injured...then of course there was the heat from NZ for Oz voting Japan in the RWC bid process...so the Union execschange the focus by firing the coach...FUCKING IDIOTS!

All is not well in the world of rugby...i call a NZ Vs France final in 2007...SA & one of Eng/ Aus to play 3rd/4th place play-off...

Greenballs

12-15-2005, 03:31 AM

Don't know about France- they're so inconsistant. One day hot as hell and next cold! SA & Aus have some reasonable depth and I think this will be an advantage come '07... some really tallented youngsters who by '07 will be playing with a lot more experience and finese. It'll still be a goodie and ABs are yet to prove themselves in RWC over last decade- they're always there but pipped at the post by the more consistant teams.

TiGeR

12-15-2005, 03:45 AM

I think Bernard Laporte has found the formula with France in terms of consistency (they've certainly been good the last 18 months & are improving with every game) & certainly while the ABs seem to have cocked up over the last 20 yrs in RWC (they last won it in 87 & made one final in 5 RWCs since then...but Graham Henry & co. are canny coaches & they've developed a team with EVERYTHING...speed, power, mental toughness, depth, forward power, backs that'll tear up any defence & probably most frightening (if you're not a die hardAB supporter) is that by rugby standards in terms of what they're trying to do, they're not even NEAR peaking yet...smileys/smiley5.gif....just hope my Boks can find a world class 9 & 10 & a decent no. 8...

Greenballs

12-15-2005, 03:49 AM

Did you watch any of the Rugby League recently... fuck those boys are power. Aus has an awsome side and if they could get their hands onto a couple of those lads for their backs... potent!

TiGeR

12-15-2005, 09:04 AM

Ya, those leaguies are strong lads...but they are a gamble in terms of bringing onboard to rugby union...the games are SO different...& also they dont get the same slary switching to union as they would command in league...Oz needs frontrows, not backs...they have backs APLENTY, but are SERIOUSLY short of front row players...

On league, NZ beat Oz in the Trinations/ World cup final this yr...both a series & tournament win for first time in 32 yrs!...think i mentioned this before ina post earlier...smileys/smiley5.gifOLD AGE! smileys/smiley36.gif

Shayne

12-15-2005, 04:30 PM

What the smileys/smiley35.gif???

Henson's hair scoops top honours
Tuesday December 13 2005
Another accolade for the Welsh wonder

We recently brought you the happy news that Gavin Henson picked up Heat Magazine's 'Torso of the Week' award. But that's absolute piffle compared to his latest gong.

http://www.rugby365.com/mediastore/images/editorial/Lions/henson_autograph_200.jpg

Yes, it's official - the Welsh wonder has the Best Male Celebrity Hair of 2005. Bravo, Gav!

Brylcreem questioned over 1,000 people from across the UK as to which male celebrities have had the best and worst hairstyles of the year and Henson came up trumps.

The Ospreys centre and part-time author beat off stiff competition from the likes of actor Daniel 'Harry Potter' Radcliffe and some bloke/thing called Journey South.

http://www.rugby365.com/COUNTRY_BY_COUNTRY/Wales/Country_New (http://www.rugby365.com/COUNTRY_BY_COUNTRY/Wales/Country_News/story_47961.shtml) s/story_47961.shtml

TiGeR

12-15-2005, 05:48 PM

Just proves once again the NH are a bunch of powder puffs & deserve every arse kicking they get fromthe SH...what a fairy!smileys/smiley36.gif

Shayne

12-15-2005, 10:24 PM

At least the NHwon some trophies for the cabinet this year smileys/smiley36.gif

TiGeR

12-16-2005, 06:13 AM

What trophies are those? England won Cook cup from Oz, France & Wales won the cups Vs Oz & thats all...ABs got the slam, Boks only dropped to France & ABs & Oz beat Ireland & French Baabaas...

Autumn tests- NH- 4 SH- 7 ...& would have been MORE if SA & Oz had played Scotland & SA had played England & Ireland...

...but i know, i know...England are the current holders of the World cup...smileys/smiley19.gif

Shayne

12-19-2005, 05:20 AM

2006 TRI-NATIONS -FIXTURES:
(Kick-off times to be announced)

July 8: New Zealand v Australia, Christchurch
July 15: Australia v South Africa, Brisbane
July 22:New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington
July 29: Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane
August 5: Australia v South Africa, Sydney
August 18/19 (tbc): New Zealand v Australia, Auckland
August 26: South Africa v New Zealand (venue tbc)
September 2: South Africa v New Zealand (venue tbc)
September 9: South Africa v Australia (venue tbc)

Adam

12-19-2005, 05:30 AM

Can't wait to watch this tri nations series, hopefully australia will have sorted there shit out and put some pressure on both SA and NZ.

TiGeR

12-19-2005, 06:33 AM

I think 2006 will be another tight affair between the ABs & Boks..Oz will come close & challenge both sides but their injured boys will be coming back into the game & they'll be a new side with a new coach so i cant see them actually winning the whole thing...

Poison

12-19-2005, 08:22 PM

All Blacks '06 Tests Confirmed

All Blacks 2006 Test Schedule

Sat 10 June: New Zealand v Ireland , Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Sat 17 June: New Zealand v Ireland, Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 24 June: New Zealand v Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina

Philips Tri Nations

Sat 8 July: New Zealand v Australia, Jade Stadium, Christchurch
Sat 15 July: Australia v South Africa, TBC, Brisbane
Sat 22 July: New Zealand v South Africa, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sat 29 July: Australia v New Zealand, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sat 5 August: Australia v South Africa, TBC, Sydney
Fri 18/Sat 19 Aug: New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 26 August: South Africa v New Zealand, TBC
Sat 2 September: South Africa v New Zealand, TBC
Sat 9 September: South Africa v Australia, TBC

http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12416-5154169,00.html

TiGeR

12-24-2005, 12:59 PM

Too many Tri nations matches...getting EFFING boring! smileys/smiley7.gifneeds to be expanded into5 nations with the inclusion of Argentina & Pacific Islands teams (whoever wins a tri tournament between Fiji, Samoa & Tonga in previous yrfor inaugural tournament & then thereafter they play each other in qualifiers as part of their prep for overseas tour atyrs end...

TiGeR

12-29-2005, 03:15 AM

<DIV =storyLayout>
<H2>The many mouths of 2005</H2>
<DIV =storydate>Wednesday December 21 2005</DIV>Have you been paying attention?

The past year will be remembered as one of the most vocal rugby years on record, but can you match mouths to men?

<DIV =inlineads>



</DIV>

- scroll down for answers -

1: "I was disgusted with the first half. I was fuming and embarrassed by our defensive display. We just missed tackle after tackle, or were not there to make the tackles, and it was totally unacceptable."

2: " absolutely spitting. I'm livid. There's two tries we've been cost. We've got to go back to technology. I don't know why we didn't. We are upset now, but the referee is in charge and he has called it his way and we have got to be able to cope with that."

3: "We ambushed a few people this year and caught them by surprise, perhaps because we were written off. They have done the business, a minimum of 10 players and I would think a lot more could make the trip [to New Zealand with the Lions]."

4: "I've told the players to enjoy these moments and to soak it all up after all the sacrifices they have made. We were under pressure you cannot understand."

5: "The trick for us is to find players who are going to be better than what we've got at the moment. Clearly the players we've got aren't good enough."

6: "When Clive read out the team for the Southland game I was absolutely devastated. I take my game very seriously and this will take me a while to get over. I didn't sleep at all well."

7: "I was playing in the jersey I respect the most and with a great bunch of guys. This is a great way to finish."

8: "The whole of New Zealand now know how to beat this squad. Play at pace, hustle them at the breakdown and eventually the cracks appear."

9: "I am absolutely convinced more than ever we've got a team who can do something special in the first Test."

10: "I think they cheated like buggery, and they got away with it so good on them."

11: "I wonder if [the media's] 16th-man approach helps New Zealand? Might it not just be a reflection of a nation's desire for the Lions to be beaten and so simply serves to compound the already enormous pressures on Graham Henry and his players?"

12: "Have you heard the latest from the Lions camp? Clive Woodward is sending Andy Robinson to a fancy-dress party tonight. He's going as a pumpkin. They're hoping at midnight he'll turn into a coach."

13: "I have worked so hard for so long to get to this and to have it taken away by such a cheap shot leaves a really nasty feeling - they could have quite easily broken my neck."

14: "There wouldn't be enough wall space for all that crap, so why bother?"

15: "He has a bad-news story that he must damp down. He'll go to any lengths to divert attention from the pathetic Lions' performance on Saturday night. For him, the 'spear-tackle' is manna from heaven."

16: "There's a big wide open country out there that some of them would love to see at some stage. I guess they'll have to come back after the tour to visit."

17: "I was called a Judas or something like that. It was fun, I guess."

18: "He was God, wasn't he?"

19: "I don't think there is a gulf. I'd say to all New Zealanders just to be reflective. The only time you can really judge teams like New Zealand is in a World Cup when everyone arrives in the same preparation. Who holds the World Cup at the moment?"

20: "I think this is it for me - I will look back on six wonderful tours, lots of highs and lows, but great enjoyment."

21: "I'm still a Lion too, I have great affinity for the idea of the Lions and there's a bit of me that's still with them."

22: "The criticism seems to be pointing in a lot of different directions but as a player you have to be better than your opposite number, and from 1-15 we weren't. There's a lot of guys who went over on that tour with big reputations. Quite frankly, they haven't lived up to those reputations."

23: "I am very disappointed and very angry with everyone, including myself. We are trading on our reputation of the last two or three years, and we have got no divine right to win any game. It is down to hard work, effort and energy. At the moment, one or two are putting it in, and one or two aren't. We got what we deserved today."

24: "Jean is not the villain here. Borges could have broken his neck - Jean might have saved his life."

25: "To my mind we are not far from being a good side. If I could use a cricket analogy it is the difference at the moment of being caught at first slip and edging just wide of first slip. I will enjoy seeing how that can be translated into French."

26: "They hung in there, showed a lot of tenacity and scored a try at the end. They were back in defence very often and we feel for them."

27: "If you take the scrum out of the equation, we played well."

28: "If you take the assassination out of the question, the President and Mrs Kennedy quite enjoyed the drive from Dallas to the airport."

29: "I can picture line-outs that didn't quite go where we wanted them to go and I can picture two instances when players were running onto the ball and falling over and the ball rebounding elsewhere."

30: "We are England, we are at home and we expect to win all the time."

31: "It's one of those games you never want to end."

32: "We will now put this in the hands of our lawyer Richard Smith, and we don't want to prejudice this any more."

33: "I guess we always expect perfection and at times we didn't achieve that."

34: "I have always felt my best game is my next game or in the future, and I still feel that way."

35: "Professional rugby is a result-based game - one win in nine matches is far from satisfactory."

36: "Results have not been as they should have been and I certainly take full responsibility for those, but we've set the base for the World Cup in 2007."

37: "I won't change my style because I like to excite people. I like to think of myself as rugby's equivalent of Eric Cantona or Cristiano Ronaldo."

38: "It's fair to say that if [Gavin] Henson plays against us again, he's in trouble."

[i]ANSWERS

1: Former Scotland coach Matt Williams let's his players have it following their 46-22 loss to Wales in the Six Nations.
2: England coach Andy Robinson fails to buy referee Jonathan Kaplan a beer following England's 19-13 Six Nations loss to Ireland in Dublin.
3: Wales coach Mike Ruddock reflects on his side's Gland Slam triumph and predicts how may Welsh players would be included in the original Lions squad of 44. His minimum prediction was bang on.
4: South Africa coach Jake White hails his side after their 40-26 Tri-Nations win over New Zealand in Cape Town.
5: Former Australia coach Eddie Jones reflects on a winless Tri-Nations campaign.
6: Lions tourist Gavin Henson after being told he would miss the first test.
7: Former AB pivot Carlos Spencer bids farewell to New Zealand rugby for the Maori against the Lions.
8: Former England lock Paul Ackford forecasts doom as early as the Maori game.
9: Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward reacts to the loss to the Maori.
10: Otago captain Craig Newby on the Lions' tactics at the breakdown.
11: Lions spin doctor Alastair Campbell tries to switch on the blowtorch ahead of the first test.
12: 2001 Lions tourist Austin Healey kisses his England career goodbye.
13: Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll airs his feelings on 'spear-gate'.
14: NZ coach Graham Henry when asked if 'spear-gate' headlines had been pinned up for motivation.
15: Former British Labour Party MP Bryan Gould, now Waikato University vice-chancellor, assesses Alastair Campbell's gameplan.
16: Otago coach Wayne Graham takes a pop at the hotel-bound Lions tourists.
17: Former Wales and Lions coach Graham Henry on his welcome to Jade Stadium for the first Test.
18: NZ centre Luke McAlister on Daniel Carter's performance during the second Lions Test.
19: Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward bowls a spinner in the wake of the Lions tour.
20: Lions legend Ian McGeechan signs off.
21: A magnanimous Graham Henry on his 'dual-citizenship'.
22: Former England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio gives his fellow Lions a kick up the bum after a dismal tour.
23: Former England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio gives his fellow Wasps a kick up the bum after a dismal 21-13 defeat to the Dragons in the Heineken Cup.
24: South Africa coach Jake White defends Bok centre Jean de Villiers who pushed Argentina wing Lucas Borges over advertising hoardings in Buenos Aires before catching the stricken Puma by the sock as he disappeared into a concrete-floored moat.
25: Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones after defeat against France in Marseille.
26: New Zealand coach Graham Henry is just a touch patronising after his team dished out a hiding to Ireland in Dublin.
27: Former Australia coach Eddie Jones following the Wallabies' loss at Twickenham.
28: Australian broadcaster Mike Carlton offers his version of the Wallabies' loss at Twickenham.
29: Scotland coach Frank Hadden paints a desperate picture following his side's 19-23 loss to Argentina.
30: England captain Martin Corry reflects on his side's defeat to the All Blacks at 'HQ'.
31: Wales skipper Gareth Thomas reflects on victory over Australia.
32: England coach Andy Robinson confirms the death of the handshake-and-a-beer culture after Lewis Moody is sent off for fighting during the game with Samoa.
33: NZ coach Graham Henry's eternal quest goes on, even after a 'grand slam'.
34: Australia captain George Gregan still hungry after all these years.
35: ARU boss Gary Flowers after giving Eddie Jones the boot.
36: Former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones contemplates the can.
37: Wales star Gavin Henson explains himself.
38: Leicester Tigers flyer Austin Healey sends out a warning after a fiesty encounter with the Ospreys at Welford Road.</DIV>

Shayne

12-29-2005, 05:39 AM

I only got like 2 of those.

TiGeR

12-31-2005, 03:06 AM

Ha ha ha...pretty funny some of em...'Lord Bald' aka SCW takes the cake tho'...that Lions tour was SUCH a shit show....

Shayne

12-31-2005, 06:40 PM

Hah hah ha hah

Lewis's card in NZ museum
In a famous collection

When England played New Zealand at Twickenham in November, Irish referee Alan Lewis showed three New Zealanders yellow cards, which signified their departure for the sin bin.

The players dispatched were props Tony Woodcock and Neemia Tialata and loose forward Chris Masoe.

Despite the serious shortage in manpower the All Blacks hung on to win 23-19.

Lewis has donated the card he used, the whistle he used and the IRB jersey he wore to the famous New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North.

In his message to the museum, Lewis said: "People are still talking about the game. It was raw rugby and genuine rugby people loved it. It is an honour to be part of that history."

http://rugby365.com/Laws_And_Referees/story_48110.shtml

TiGeR

12-31-2005, 08:59 PM

Another wanker NH rugby official...smileys/smiley7.gifThe sooner he retires from rugby refing the better...

Adam

12-31-2005, 10:33 PM

He though he was clever by trying to screw the AB's but it fired back on him and England got beat, im so glad about thatsmileys/smiley32.gif

TiGeR

01-02-2006, 09:41 PM

Ja...anyway, heres an interesting bit of news...

Reds not rushing for Eddie</LINE>http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/images/clear.gif<BR clear=all>
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<DATE>Thursday, December 22, 2005</DATE> </SMALL>
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Eddie Jones
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Queensland are not rushing to offer Eddie Jones their Super 14 coaching job despite glowing endorsements for the ex-Wallabies mentor from Reds players.

Jones, who was sacked as Australian coach earlier this month, has officially applied to replace Jeff Miller at the Reds following the inaugural Super 14 season.

Reds players have embraced news of Jones's interest in taking over at Ballymore and he has boosted his cause by stating that Queensland has the potential to again be title challengers.

"I don't think Queensland could get anyone better for the coaching job," said prop Greg Holmes, who made his Test debut against France on the Wallabies' ill-fated European tour.

"I think he is a really good coach and personally I know I would be rapt if Eddie got it."<BR clear=all><ISLANDAD>

</ISLANDAD>

Reds flanker David Croft has also declared that Jones would be "fantastic" at Ballymore.

At least eight candidates, including four from overseas, are believed to be vying for the Reds' head coach role.

Queensland Rugby Union CEO Theo Psaros said a selection panel including current Reds international Ben Tune, former Wallabies Dan Crowley and David Codey plus high performance manager Bob Murphy would interview all applicants.

"He [Jones] has officially applied but like every other applicant he's just now part of the process," Psaros said today.

"We expect to make a decision before the start of Super 14.

"We've got a lot of excellent applicants and it's going to be a tough challenge for our panel.

"We've just got to look at the candidates and we're looking for the best available coach for 2007.

"We're not rushing it because it's such a crucial appointment."

The Reds play a pre-season match at Ballymore on January 21 against the Auckland Blues, who will be in a training camp that week at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland will travel to New Zealand for another trial game against the Highlanders before the opening Super 14 match with the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on February 11.

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TiGeR

01-05-2006, 02:11 PM

<DIV =storyLayout>
<H2>How did i MISS THIS!? smileys/smiley36.gif</H2>
<H2>Campbell's Law</H2>
<DIV =storydate>Saturday December 11 2004</DIV>Limbering up for the Lions with rugby's newest fan

News that former government spin doctor Alastair Campbell has accepted the position of media advisor to the British and Irish Lions left rugby hacks quivering in fear.

<DIV =inlineads>The man made mincemeat out of Fleet Street's finest, so who knows what he will do to the moth-eaten old whingers who will make up the tour's press entourage!</DIV>

To test the waters ahead of next year, we sent Tony Blair's favourite news hound our report of the final Test of the Lions' tour of Australia in2001 and asked him if he would be so kind as to add a few editorial pointers...

MATCHER: BI v AUS - 14/07/2001

Two tries from Daniel Herbert (Can we get some filth on this bloke?) helped Australia to a 29-23 win over the Lions in Saturday's decisive third Test in Sydney, claiming an enthralling 2-1 Test series win at a tension-filled Stadium Australia. (Bury all these dubious stats somewhere further down the article.)

The scores were tied at 23-23 going in to the last 12 minutes, but fullback Matt Burke stepped up and shrugged off the pressure to become the Wallabies' hero landing two penalties to fend-off a gallant, if at times headstrong Lions' challenge. (Delete: 'headstrong', add: 'courageous'. And get some filth on Burke - is he gay?)

The home side had gone into the half-time interval at 16-13 in front after an early Lions' try from wing Jason Robinson, but Herbert's touch down just before the break set the tone for a see-saw match, which had pulses on both sides of the equator racing as the Lions mounted a failed late challenge. (Must we highlight 'failed'?)

The Lions' other try on the day came from Jonny Wilkinson just after half-time, putting the Lions in front only until Herbert's second in the 49th minute. (Emphasise 'Lions in front' and expand the theme.)

In truth, the series could have swung either way, but it was the Wallabies' tenacity in the 50/50 contests which saw them edging ahead, Justin Harrison in the second row having a debut to remember, stealing (Nice. Use 'steal', 'Aussie thieves', 'convicts' etc. in headline) a memorable late line-out from Lions skipper Martin Johnson with the hooter imminent to drive a further nail into the Lions' coffin. (Delete: 'to drive a further nail into the Lions' coffin', add: 'to leave the Lions within a whisker of a famous victory'.)

The tourists far from disgraced themselves, with the back-row in particular exposing the soft underbelly of the home side in the loose, where they repeatedly drove through the heart of the Wallaby pack with a string of surging rolling mauls. But in the battle on the ground, it was Wallaby openside George Smith who emerged victorious, with team-mates Kefu and Finegan not far behind him. (I'm fine with the first sentence of this paragraph, just ditch the second.)

Without late injury withdrawal Austin Healey, the 84,000 crowd at Stadium Australia were denied the chance to witness the Leicester wing's pre-match slurs against all things Australia being rammed down his throat. (Who's side are youbloody well on? Delete this paragraph, you utter cretin.)

His late replacement was Welshman Dafydd James, but with Healey also due to serve as Matt Dawson's scrum-half replacement, the Lions' management had to take desperate measures and recruit Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol to the bench. (Who the hell are you to accusing the management of taking 'desperate measures'? Kill this part completely, you utter imbecile.)

Nicol had not even been part of the squad, being in Sydney merely as a tour guide, but found himself thrown into the cauldron of Stadium Australia. He was not used in the end, but his inclusion in the squad served as a fitting marker of the drama surrounding the 2001 tour right from day one. (If he wasn't used, why the f... are you telling the world about it? You are testing my patience, mate.)

But the real drama unfolded on the pitch and it was Jason Robinson - one of the shining lights for the Lions - who made the first in-roads to the Wallaby defence out wide when he touched down in the left corner after 20 minutes. (Better. Move this bit higher up.)

It was a move which proved that the tourists - underdogs going into this match - were capable of playing their own brand of 'total rugby', two front row players out wide playing a valuable part in the score.(I like thisbit- expand it.)

Firstly hooker Keith Wood drew in Andrew Walker ten metres out, and then loosehead Tom Smith pulled in the last defender before putting Robinson in for a textbook 2 on 1 overlap try next to the corner flag, with Wilkinson nailing the tricky extras in a mixed kicking half. (I don't know enough about rugby to appreciate this fully, but it all sounds great - move it to the top.)

By this time though Matt Burke had already kicked three penalties to Wilkinson's one, and Herbert's try just before the half-time whistle was the next score as both teams sparred around the fringes of the ruck - the Wallaby front-row again given a rough ride by the Lions as Nick Stiles and Rod Moore looked out of sorts. (Nice. Ham this up - 'Wallabies looked like little girls' etc.)

Herbert's try when it came was a result of constant Wallaby pressure, the marvellous George Gregan in particular back to his marshalling best at the base of every ruck, capitalising on some quick breaks by the three-quarters to set the scene for the try, which eventually came after a quick exchange between Herbert and Andrew Walker on the right flank, Burke hitting the conversion for a 16-13 half-time lead. (Must we mention all this? Scratch 'marvellous' for starters.)

Jonny Wilkinson gave the vast and noisy legions of Lions fans something to cheer when he jinked over from short range just after the break, showing a shimmy to Toutai Kefu before cutting in past Dan Herbert for the try, and then hitting the conversion to snatch the lead. (Why on earth is this paragraph buried all the way down here? Do you know nothing about journalism? Make this the sub-header.)

Herbert made amends five minutes later when he was on the end of a quick transfer through the Wallaby hands, their speedy continuity play creating the stage for hooker Michael Foley out wide to unselfishly offload to Herbert for his second try. Foley could well have gone himself, but made sure of the score by putting in the Queensland centre on the overlap, Burke again converting. (Yeah right, 'selfishly' my backside. Video replays clearly showed he was about to drop it - change this paragraph to reflect these FACTS.)

Herbert's next contribution to the match was not so glorious when his clothes-line tackle on the below-par Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll landed the Wallaby a ten-minute spell in the sin-bin. ('Not so glorious'?! It was barbaric. He should be shot. Get your FACTS rights. Why are you making me do your job? You are an idiot.)

The Lions failed to make the most of the space though, Wilkinson's penalty drawing the scores, but no more points coming in what could have been a crucial ten-minutes. (Haven't I warned you about the word'failed'? Buy a bloody thesaurus, you arse.)

The England man missed his third kick of the day shortly after, the pivot's hit-and-miss kicking day giving heart to the Wallabies, particularly during the enforced absence of Herbert. (Let's just gloss over this, okay. It adds nothing to the report.)

Almost immediately after Herbert's return to the fray, Burke again put the home side in front with a penalty. It was a decisive moment, and the Lions had a mountain to climb as injury-time approached. (What mountain? What are you smoking?Use 'the Lions were ready to fight to the death like the law-abiding heroes that they are'.)

The Lions' rolling-maul got into full swing, and as a Lions' line-out came with seconds to go in Wallaby territory, the visitors knew this was the moment they had to seize the initiative. Keith Wood threw in, and Justin Harrison claimed an awesome take at the front, eclipsing Martin Johnson at the front, leaping across his line of sight, stealing the ball, and shutting the door firmly on the Lions. (What are you talking about? I quizzed a randomstudent on the internet about this, he couldn't recall this moment, soit obviously didn't happen. Remove this misleading piece of fiction immediately.)

Referee Paddy O'Brien pulled the curtain down on a memorable series with the final whistle, Australia on balance deserved victors in a series which had everything, great tries, big-hits, controversy, injury, two well-matched teams and most of all, a true rugby atmosphere. (Australia deserved nothing. The Lions let them off the hook because they were guests in their land, and too polite to offend their hosts. Chance this story to reflect this accurate account of what happened. And check out Paddy O'Brien's past. We can use him a smoke-screen. Was he ever jilted by a British or Irish lover? Is he intimate with Burke?)

Australia were wounded after their first Test humiliation, but the last eight days have seen them stamp their mantle as true champions, obliterating the Lions in Melbourne, and then finding the scrapping spirit to pull out a win under adversity in Sydney.('True champions'? 'Obliterating'? 'Scrapping spirit'? Are you an Aussie? Either that or you are a blind fool. Alter this paragraph completely or I'll have you fired.)

The 2001 Lions may have been only seven points away from emulating their 1997 counterparts, but the Wallabies will be partying away in to the wee small hours, knowing that they have beaten the northern hemisphere's finest. ( Get a reporter out there forthe 'wee small hours' - and a cameraman. Let's lead tomorrow with photos of the Australians being vile drunkards.)

It was a fitting way for the cerebral and dignified Rod Macqueen to end his tenure as Wallaby coach, and sets up a fascinating Tri-Nations series as Eddie Jones takes the reins. ('Cerebral and dignified'? That'sit. You are finished.Change this to 'evil and conniving' - that's the truth. And find me filth on these two muppets.)

So, a day of joy for Australia but disappointment for the many thousands of away supporters who had journeyed across the globe to yell themselves hoarse for their team. No matter, after this epic series, the majority of them will already have begun their plans to play their part in British and Irish rugby's next great crusade - the 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand. (Pull yourself together you idiot - you are party responsible for the defeat. You and just about everyone else. Everyone except me, of course. You have 45 minutes to leave the building or I'll have you killed.)

ENDS (Thank Christ for that.)

In anticipation of a crippling lawsuit, Planet Rugby would like to state that Alastair Campbell had absolutely no involvement in this sorry excuse for a feature - we are just big fibbers with too much time on our hands.</DIV>

Shayne

01-05-2006, 04:57 PM

Hah ha hah thats brilliant! smileys/smiley32.gifsmileys/smiley32.gifNice post.

biffon

01-05-2006, 08:42 PM

eloquent lad isnt he - pity he didnt write it really - would have livened up things im sure

Shayne

01-05-2006, 08:52 PM

Pretty interesting.
<TABLE =table-bg cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width="100%">
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<TD =subMenu align=middle colSpan=10>History of Scoring</TD></TR>
<TR =table-sub-er-bg>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =table-sub-er-bg align=middle width="10%">Year</TD>
<TD =table-sub-er-bg align=middle width="10%">Goal</TD>
<TD =table-sub-er-bg align=middle width="10%">Try</TD>
<TD =table-sub-er-bg align=middle width="10%">Convert</TD>
<TD =table-sub-er-bg align=middle width="10%">Penalty</TD>
<TD =table-sub-er-bg align=middle width="10%">Drop</TD>
<TD =table-sub-er-bg align=middle width="10%">Drop from mark</TD></TR>
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<TD =subMenu align=middle>1886</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>-</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1889</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>4</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>-</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1891</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1893</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>5</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>4</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>4</TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1905</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>5</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>4</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1948</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>5</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1971</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>6</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>4</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1977</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>6</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>4</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>-</TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#f7f7f7>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>1992</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>7</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>5</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>2</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>3</TD>
<TD =subMenu align=middle>-</TD></TR></T></TABLE>

biffon

01-05-2006, 11:06 PM

& whose stats are those?

Adam

01-05-2006, 11:13 PM

the bast part about a game of rugby is the try scoring... from the late 1880's to the early 1890's you would want to be a Daniel carter or Johnny Whilkinsonfor drop coals and convertions rather than a Joe Rokokokosmileys/smiley36.gifDamn messed upsmileys/smiley29.gif

TiGeR

01-06-2006, 01:20 AM

It just keeps getting better! I think its great that the game is promoting try scoring, but unfortunately, in the modern age of professionalism & "win" obsession, scoring tries & losing isnt good enough...certainly fom a coaching perspective, one finds that part of the game plan revolves around manipulating defences to put ones team into positions where penalties can be won, resulting in 3 pointers, which in those tight games are often the difference between winning & losing. I coached a side that scored 5 tries to3 but lost the game because we tried to score tries when we should have gone for posts...a tough lesson for all involved, especially when one considers the fantastic running game we were trying to develop (even if i say so myself!)

TiGeR

01-08-2006, 10:33 AM

<DIV =storyLayout>
<H2>Leicester on an Umaga hunt</H2>
<DIV =storydate></DIV>Decision expected next week

The New Zealand captain Tana Umaga is expected to announce next week whether he has retired from international rugby. Naturally many top clubs are showing an interest in acquiring the great player's services.

<DIV =inlineads>



Umaga, whose names are really Jonathan Falefasa Umaga, born in Wellington, is 32 years of age. He played in 74 Tests for New Zealand, 21 of them as captain, ending leading his team to winning the Tri- Nations, the Bledisloe Cup and a Grand Slam in his last year as captain.</DIV>

Umaga will play for the Hurricanes in the 2006 Super 14 competition but is expected to retire from international rugby after that, which could well be causing excitement in French and English clubs.

The most interested English clubs are thought to be Leicester Tigers and Harlequins who are expected to be back in the Premiership next year.

At Leicester Umaga would be an ideal replacement for Daryl Gibson who is expected to go home to New Zealand at the end of this season, one in which he has been troubled by injuries.</DIV>

TiGeR

01-08-2006, 10:39 AM

"Umaga, whose names are really Jonathan Falefasa Umaga"

smileys/smiley36.gifJon Umaga..he heh he Jonny Umaga smileys/smiley36.gifha ha ha! Jonno Umaga smileys/smiley36.gif

Geez i am wetting myself here!

Adam

01-08-2006, 12:31 PM

cool as

Shayne

01-08-2006, 06:03 PM

NOT A BIG YEAR FOR THE ALL BLACKS IT SEEMS.

All Blacks 2006 Test Schedule

Sat 10 June: New Zealand v Ireland , Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Sat 17 June: New Zealand v Ireland, Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 24 June: New Zealand v Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina

Philips Tri Nations

Sat 8 July: New Zealand v Australia, Jade Stadium, Christchurch
Sat 15 July: Australia v South Africa, TBC, Brisbane
Sat 22 July: New Zealand v South Africa, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sat 29 July: Australia v New Zealand, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sat 5 August: Australia v South Africa, TBC, Sydney
Fri 18/Sat 19 Aug: New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 26 August: South Africa v New Zealand, TBC
Sat 2 September: South Africa v New Zealand, TBC
Sat 9 September: South Africa v Australia, TBC

http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12416-5154169,00.htmlEdited by: Shayne

Shayne

01-09-2006, 03:25 AM

This way old now but i just stumbled across it today again and some of you may not have seen this. The lion haka.

http://www.skivedomain.com/sure/laka/?id=2

sally

01-09-2006, 06:39 AM

TiGeR

01-09-2006, 08:30 AM

smileys/smiley2.gifquite a departure from Tana to Jonathan...

biffon

01-09-2006, 08:44 AM

This way old now but i just stumbled across it today again and some of you may not have seen this. The lion haka.

http://www.skivedomain.com/sure/laka/?id=2

thats piss funny man -good find!

TiGeR

01-09-2006, 09:30 AM

smileys/smiley2.gifsmileys/smiley36.gifgeez that was HILARIOUS!

sally

01-09-2006, 03:56 PM

oh the little things!!!

TiGeR

01-10-2006, 12:17 PM

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0>
<T>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>
<H1>Dont be so hard on us simple men! smileys/smiley36.gif</H1>
<H1>Umaga hangs up his Test boots (http://www.planetrugby.com/Teams/New_Zealand/story_48277.shtml)</H1>http://www.planetrugby.com/mediastore/images/PR_homepage/PR_Homepage2/umaga_t_waves_ABs_120.bmpNew Zealand legend Tana Umaga has announced his retirement from Test rugby, a move that punctuates a glittering international career that spanned eight years and bore 74 caps, 36 tries and many, many honours. He will continue to play for the Hurricanes and Wellington - but there's rumours (http://www.planetrugby.com/Teams/New_Zealand/story_48234.shtml) of a move to England.</TD></TR></T></TABLE>

Shayne

01-13-2006, 10:28 AM

Force forwards won't be pushovers
Thursday January 12 2006
Darwin wants to restore Australian pride

Australian packs, more particularly the tight forwards, are currently regarded as a bit of a joke around the world - something of a pushover. This is based on the hammering that Australian packs took at both provincial and international level in 2005.
<TABLE borderColor=#ffffff cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width=120 align=right border=1>
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< =text/>


</TD></TR>
<TR>
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<TR>
<TD bgColor=#ffffff>http://www.rugby365.com/mediastore/graphics/syndications/rugby365a/spacer.gif</TD></TR>
<TR>
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However, Western Force set piece coach Ben Darwin plans to rectify the matter and restore the reputation of Australian forwards as world class athletes.

Speaking ahead of the Force's first ever match as a team - against fellow Super 14 newcomers the Cheetahs in a warm-up match in Perth next Saturday - Darwin said it is vital to get the set pieces right from the outset

TiGeR

01-13-2006, 11:51 AM

Well, at least he has a great Tighthead prop in David Fitter! 125kg & 6 foot 4 he is a man mountain...smileys/smiley5.gif...& more importantly, he CAN scrum! (just ask Os! smileys/smiley36.gif)

Shayne

01-13-2006, 01:10 PM

<DIV =sh>Umaga's career in photos </DIV>
<DIV =sh></DIV>
<DIV =sh>
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41199000/jpg/_41199936_umaga1997_getty.jpg



24-year-old Jonathan Falefasa Umaga, better known as Tana, makes his international debut as a winger against Fiji in 1997
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200054_umaga_france97_getty.jpg



Umaga makes a real impact for the All Blacks and scores a hat-trick of tries in the 54-7 demolition of France in June 1999
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200084_semifinal99_getty.jpg



In the 1999 World Cup semi-final, Umaga and New Zealand suffer a shock 43-31 defeat to France in a classic encounter
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200180_paris2000_getty.jpg



He is named New Zealand's Player of the Year in 2000 and switches from wing to centre against France in the autumn
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200218_charvis_getty.jpg



He becomes the first Kiwi to win the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy after helping the unconscious Colin Charvis in 2003
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200296_italy2003getty.jpg



The 2003 World Cup in Australia ends prematurely for Umaga as he injures his left knee in the opening match against Italy
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200354_captain_2004getty.jpg



He is made New Zealand captain on 12 June 2004 and guides the team to a 36-3 win over world champions England
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200446_spear_getty.jpg



Controversy follows during the 2005 Lions tour as Umaga faces scrutiny over an alleged spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200402_trinations2005_getty.jpg



After a 3-0 win over the Lions the All Blacks overcome Australia and South Africa to claim the Tri-Nations crown
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41200000/jpg/_41200504_haka_getty.jpg



Umaga leads the Haka for the last time as his side claim the Grand Slam over Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland</DIV>

Adam

01-13-2006, 01:15 PM

smileys/respekt.gifsmileys/respekt.gifsmileys/respekt.gifUmaga (Mr Rugby)the LEGEND, going to be missed, he is the mansmileys/smiley32.gifsmileys/smiley32.gifsmileys/smiley32.gifsmileys/smiley32.gifsmileys/smiley32.gifsmileys/smiley32.gif

Shayne

01-13-2006, 01:18 PM

The Year (2005) in Pictures

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41133000/jpg/_41133148_waleshensonpeneng416.jpg

A momentous year for Wales begins with Gavin Henson landing a late penalty to give them their first win over England since 1999, sparking jubilant scenes in Cardiff
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41133000/jpg/_41133150_waleswilliamsmtryfra220.jpg

Hopes of a first Grand Slam for 27 years gather momentum in the Principality as Wales come from behind to win a thrilling match against France in Paris - Martyn Williams scoring twice

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41128000/jpg/_41128040_slam_getty.jpg

After thrashing Scotland at Murrayfield, Wales duly complete the Six Nations Grand Slam on a memorable spring day with their first home win over Ireland since 1983

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41128000/jpg/_41128722_dall_getty.jpg

In England, Lawrence Dallaglio leads Wasps to a third successive Premiership title at Twickenham, spoiling Martin Johnson's final appearance for Leicester before retirement

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41128000/jpg/_41128838_carter_getty.jpg

Despite promising displays by tour newcomer Ryan Jones and Irish flanker Simon Easterby, the Lions fare no better in the second Test as All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter runs riot

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41128000/jpg/_41128898_woodward_getty.jpg

The Lions misery is complete as the All Blacks complete a 3-0 series 'blackwash' in Auckland, leaving Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward's reputation badly damaged

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41128000/jpg/_41128992_nz_getty.jpg

The autumn Tests see New Zealand complete a 'grand slam'. Only England threaten their dominance, but the All Blacks hold on for victory in a titanic tussle at Twickenham

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41129000/jpg/_41129052_moody_getty.jpg

Wales enjoy their first win over Australia since 1987 but England's autumn ends in ignominy for Lewis Moody who becomes the first England player to sent off at Twickenham

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41133000/jpg/_41133164_newcwilkogloom300.jpg

The year ends in familiar fashion with the RFU and leading clubs still at loggerheads, and Jonny Wilkinson injured again. Will 2006 bring better fortune for the World Cup hero?

TiGeR

01-13-2006, 03:25 PM

GOTTA LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at his face!...what a WANKER!...i wonder why the Jessicas have embraced him into their ranks?!..maybe they DESERVE each other!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41128000/jpg/_41128898_woodward_getty.jpg

The Lions misery is complete as the All Blacks complete a 3-0 series 'blackwash' in Auckland, leaving Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward's reputation badly damaged

biffon

01-14-2006, 02:57 AM

Hey tiger have you met or know Paul Hoffman, played for the sharks currie cup team for a while. i was big buddies with him when i was a little kid before my folks left zim to live in SA, we lost touch with his family but he popped up recently playing ruggers in SA.

Do you know what he might be up to now- dont see his name on the Sharks team list at all.

TiGeR

01-14-2006, 04:49 AM

Cant say i have mate but i can find out- i know the sharks have a few 'unknown' players on their books so he might be one of 'em...going to Ellis Park this pm to watch the Bulls Vs Cats S14 warm up...should be really BORING! Sadly, SA sides (bar the Sharks when Mac was coach & the Stormers when Skinstad was playing) havent grasped the entertainment value/ running rugger concept of S12/14 rugby

TiGeR

01-15-2006, 09:40 PM

Henry drops least subtle hint yet

Graham Henry has dropped the clearest hint yet that Richie MCCaw will take over the All Blacks captaincy from Tana Umaga this season.

http://www.planetrugby.com/mediastore/images/editorial/New_Zealand/mccaw_wales03_200.jpg

Richie McCaw: The next All Black captain

McCaw has been the understudy to Umaga for some time, and led the team against Wales in 2004 when he was just 23 years old.

He also led the team against Ireland on the Grand Slam tour in November.

"It's not set in concrete but a blind man can see what we have been doing," Henry told the Sunday Star-Times.

"McCaw has been vice-captain and filled in for Tana already and that's what we have been grooming him to do.

"Unless something untoward happens in the next couple of months, he will be the front runner."

"There will be ongoing discussions and we will announce the result of those at the appropriate time," Henry said.

"But I think it's reasonably obvious what's happening there isn't it?

"We have been grooming Richie McCaw for some time and there is a bit of water to run under the bridge before that announcement was made.

"But if everything runs well over the next few months it's obvious."

One factor that could count against the Crusaders captain is his intolerance to head injuries which has seen him sidelined three times in the past 18 months.

TiGeR

01-17-2006, 08:53 PM

Should or shouldn't the WaspsNo.8 make the cut?

Wednesday is the day when we can all go back to talking about how lovely and tragic Jonny Wilkinson is, but until then there is a much more significant problem for England rugby fans to ponder.

http://www.planetrugby.com/mediastore/images/editorial/England/Lawrence_Dallaglio200.jpg

Dallaglio: Was this his final England appearance?

'Lawrence' and 'Dallaglio' are the two words puncturing every debate about Andy Robinson's forthcoming Six Nations squad selection. At 33 years of age he has announced his un-retirement from the international game, and is pushing for his England spot in the manner of old.

Except he isn't really. Dallaglio used to be able to let his play do the talking a lot more, but nowadays, all we hear is the ego, underlined by a straw-clutching desire to re-live past glories.

He shone for the first twenty minutes of the Lions campaign, but then this was a Lions campaign in which one tourist was advised to jump into a gin and tonic because he was such a lemon, in which the undisputed player of the tour was an emergency replacement (ironically, the one wearing theNo.8 shirt in the Tests), and which is regarded by all onlookers as the least successful tour ever.

Much is made of that first twenty minutes against the Bay of Plenty before the curse of serious injury struck again, but there is a difference between Colin Bourke and Wayne Ormond, and Rodney So'oialo and Jerry Collins as opponents.

Since his return from injury, and even allowing for the fact that an older player needs time to regain match hardness after a long lay-off, Dallaglio's form just has not been convincing enough despite his own protestations.

The one-dimensional nature of the Premiership game plays into his hands, but the Test intensity of the Heineken Cup has found him out twice now, once in West Wales, and once last Saturday in Toulouse. Desire is one thing. Form is quite another.

All of which makes it seem as though he is playing badly, which is not true, but neither is he producing the form which singles him out as superior to the man currently occupying his shirt in the England team, captain Martin Corry.

But aside from form foibles, Andy Robinson's selection of Dallaglio would be a glaring U-turn on everything that Robinson has been developing in the England set-up since his tenure began.

Robinson has developed an England framework which is largely ego-free, luxury-free, more open, and which looks healthy in the long-term, even if the team is unlikely to defend its Rugby World Cup title.

The insertion of Dallaglio would be the insertion of a super-ego that would be poison to the team-spirit obviously thriving within the Twickenham changing-room walls.

Corry's brand of level-headed captaincy is a crucial ingredient of that particular spirit, but add Dallaglio and you have a player prone to blurting out words such as, "I am very disappointed and very angry with everyone, including myself. We are trading on our reputation of the last two or three years, and we have got no divine right to win any game. It is down to hard work, effort and energy. At the moment, one or two are putting it in, and one or two aren't."

All good team spirit-building stuff. Not. It might work for some youngster-bullying at Wasps, but England team-mates will not be pleased to be on the end of that.

Dallaglio's more recent words have done little to repair the damage caused to the public eye in the wake of that outburst.

"I'm all for development, but a crucial part of development has to be winning," was one such claim, but that simply isn't true. The team that won the 2003 World Cup was fostered through years of disappointment and anti-climax, including the 'tour from hell' in 1998 right through to the multiple Grand Slam disappointments of 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Moreover, that particular sentence suggests that any England team with Dallaglio in has the divine right to winning, which rather goes against the grain of the energetic little tantrum in the wake of the Llaneli defeat.

The most recent interview with Dallaglio has yielded yet more sentences which suggest that Dallaglio's priorities lie more with himself than with the England team.

"My retirement was premature in terms of form and fitness because I was not being deselected," he said in [I]The Guardian.

"I was England captain and I'd finished the domestic season leading both the Premiership and European champions. I then went away with England and in three matches against New Zealand and Australia we lost by 30 points, 40 points and 50 points. I didn't deserve that."

Ah, the perpendicular pronoun! What, then, does he deserve? He had already won the World Cup, having been afforded every available luxury possible to a professional rugby player in the build-up to the triumph.

He had, in fact, won every available winners' medal going, both domestically and internationally, and had had the honour of both captaincy of his country and membership of its empire bestowed upon him. He will deserve more if he moves into coaching and makes a success of it, but there is nothing left to deserve as a player.

"England had been unbeaten for 14 successive games, home and away, against the southern hemisphere," he continued.

"I value that statistic as much as winning the World Cup. To have it blown away in three matches was terrible. I really questioned the motivation of some of those involved with England."

Another blow to team togetherness, even allowing for the fact that Sir Clive Woodward's ambitions were in the process of defecting to the other game. At that point Dallaglio simply missed his World Cup team-mates and their motivation. The winds of change were blowing though, and Dallaglio let them carry him away when he quit as captain shortly after.

England as a team were not at the same intensity in 2004, but then it is debatable whether that intensity will ever be seen again. For the captain of the time to suggest that then there was a lack of motivation, after he quit when the chips were down and is now attempting a return when the chips are fresh and safe in the greaseproof paper is a little oily.

Andy Robinson must now decide whether Dallaglio's brand of inspiration is enough to counter the fact that he simply isn't as fast or as consistently terrifying as he was. It is Robinson's decision, but the inspiration stemmed from the terror.

Robinson must also decide whether Dallaglio's booming confident ego is better than Corry's assured quietness, because there really isn't room for the two of them on the same team in gameplay terms.

Nothing will restore to Dallaglio what he had taken away from him in the most abominable fashion: the England captaincy four years before the World Cup triumph in 2003, when he was framed by the News of the World. Had it not been for that, it is highly conceivable he would have led the team until 2003, until now even. Now he appears to want to aspire to that dream again, but it will never be the same, and to let him try to make it so will make a team mission become one man's quest.

"I want to play, not talk, my way back," said Dallaglio. But there have been more words than man-of-the-match performances recently. He represents everything that is good about England's past, but also what isbad about the post-triumphal blues. England is slowly forgetting the slump, and should therefore forget about selecting Dallaglio.

By Danny Stephens

TiGeR

01-17-2006, 08:55 PM

Get rid of the cocaine junkie i say! ha ha ha!

biffon

01-19-2006, 07:49 AM

front row for the Cheetahs is looking monstrous!!

Os du Randt 128kg,Trevor Leota 122kg,ollie LeRoux 125kg

thats the same as http://impressive.net/people/gerald/2000/07/31/17-14-12-tn.jpghttp://impressive.net/people/gerald/2000/07/31/17-14-12-tn.jpghttp://impressive.net/people/gerald/2000/07/31/17-14-12-tn.jpghttp://impressive.net/people/gerald/2000/07/31/17-14-12-tn.jpghttp://impressive.net/people/gerald/2000/07/31/17-14-12-tn.jpg

or

http://www.thechiefbaboon.com/Forum/Uploads/biffon/2006-01-19_004300_01.1965.jpg

one of these....

or 47 of these http://www.beerforayear.co.za/images/brands/MGD_24-12oz_bottles.jpg

---------

Trevor Leota is not just from Samoa, he is a Sizeable Chunk of Samoa!!!

Rassie Erasmus advises "With a front row like this we'd er, like to win our own ball and make our opponents uncomforable on theirs"

Uncomfortable in the sense of skidding backwards, or being rent asunder?

TiGeR

01-19-2006, 03:24 PM

...SHYTE thats a big unit....but the question is, will their loosies be able to live with the likes of Riche McCaw, George Smith, Warrick Waugh, Chris Masoe, Jerome Kaino etc at the breakdown, win their own throw at the lineout & create enough chances in the midfield for their outside backs to score?...from what i saw of the five SA sides last w/end...NO...but then again, rugger is a funny old game...

TiGeR

01-21-2006, 03:15 AM

So...Lol is back in the England Rugby set up...

TiGeR

02-01-2006, 12:18 AM

Ha haha! Lord Bald in the crap! I LOVE it! :smiley32:

Woodward faces axe at Southampton

Tuesday January 31 2006
'He doesn't seem to have the respect of the players'
The group of investors who are plotting to buy Southampton Football Club from beleaguered chairman Rupert Lowe have warned Sir Clive Woodward that he will be sacked if they are successful.
http://www.planetrugby.com/mediastore/images/editorial/England/woodward_saints_fan_200.bmp
Hard Times: Woodward denies rift with players

The sporting world cocked a collective eyebrow when Lowe employed Woodward during the close season - and surprise turned to astonishment when the former England and Lions coach assumed the role of director of football in December.
But the investors, led by millionaire 39-year-old property broker Andrew Strode-Gibbons, claim the Woodward is an unpopular element of the backroom staff and needs to be removed from the set-up.
"If we take over, Rupert Lowe would no longer be at the club and it's unlikely we would want to keep Clive Woodward," said Strode-Gibbons.
"We don't feel he has anything to offer the club and the way things are working out he doesn't seem to have the respect of the players.
"I've spoken to senior players and they have told me that.
"I'm sure he deserves a chance, but we feel he is best served in rugby, not football.
"The way things are working out at Southampton, he doesn't seem to have the respect of the players and people within the club. That's not peaceful harmony."
Woodward, who lead England to victory at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, was quick to counter.
"I think I've been long enough in football and professional sport to take all these things with a pinch of salt," he said.
"I'm not going to find out who these players are and why they are unhappy because I don't think they are.
"But if you want to it's not too difficult to find player

Shayne

02-01-2006, 03:26 AM

I hope he gets booted. What a useless twat.

Greenballs

02-01-2006, 04:14 AM

Can't agree more... sometimes i try to convince myself that he must have done something good when they won the '03 RWC but I just can't get Johnny outa my head & give any credit to that fuck pig Clive???

biffon

02-01-2006, 04:20 AM

you guys are cruel man - hes just mizzunderstood

& no that wasnt a spelling mistake ..hehe :D

TiGeR

02-01-2006, 11:04 AM

you guys are cruel man - hes just mizzunderstood

& no that wasnt a spelling mistake ..hehe :D

No, he's a PRAT & a useless gobshyte of a coach- his management skills are OUTSTANDING (he's a self made millionaire) but he isnt a rugby/football coach by ANY stretch of the imagination...England won the RWC because they had John Mitchell coach them for 4 yrs in the lead up...just look at the cluster fuck that was the Lions tour to work out what a monkey SCW is...

biffon

02-02-2006, 03:04 AM

JOHN Connolly has been appointed Australia head coach to lead the Wallabies through to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, the Australian Rugby Union announced today.

Connolly would head a "more streamlined" and yet to be named coaching management team, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said.

The coaching team will have a new structure – consisting of an attack coach, a defence coach and a restarts coach – designed to address key areas identified for improvement.

Connolly, 54, replaces Eddie Jones, who was sacked in Decembeh after the disastrous 2005 season in which the Wallabies lost eight of their final nine Tests.

He coached Queensland from 1989-2000 before guiding leading European clubs Stade Francais, Swansea and, most recently, Bath.

ARU chief executive Gary Flowers said negotiations with candidates for the assistant coaching positions were continuing.

"Over the past two months, we have identified where we need to go," Flowers said.

"I am very pleased to announce today that John Connolly will head the coaching team to take us there.

biffon

02-02-2006, 03:07 AM

No, he's a PRAT & a useless gobshyte of a coach- his management skills are OUTSTANDING (he's a self made millionaire) but he isnt a rugby/football coach by ANY stretch of the imagination...England won the RWC because they had John Mitchell coach them for 4 yrs in the lead up...just look at the cluster fuck that was the Lions tour to work out what a monkey SCW is...

btw - was being sarcastic man i dislike him almost as much as i dislike Johnny "twinkle toes" wilkinson :D

TiGeR

02-02-2006, 12:30 PM

THATS why i like you! :smiley36: no worries mate, SCW is easy to dislike...that smarmy grin of his & his antics as England coach were enough to rub ANYONE up the wrong way! John Connolly wil be good for the wallabies as a stabilising coach, but he has nothing NEW to teach the guys & so the days of Aussie sides being seen as 'innovators' at Int'l level are over for a bit...

TiGeR

02-05-2006, 11:08 PM

:smiley3: Scotland stun France - and the world :smiley32:
Sunday February 05 2006
France battered into submission Scotland tore up the form books at Murrayfield on Sunday afternoon, recording an astonishing 20-16 victory over France to get their Six Nations campaign off to the best possible start.

http://www.planetrugby.com/mediastore/images/editorial/Scotland/lamont_s_fra06_200.bmp
Try Time: Sean Lamont leaves France standing

Northampton Saints wing Sean Lamont grabbed both of his side's tries as the resurgent Scots recorded a famous victory in front of a jubilant home crowd. But it would be wrong to single out one man from what was a splendid team effort.
The Scots, led by 50-cap winning skipper Jason White, believed they could shock the traditionally slow-starters, especially after giving them a scare on the opening day of the last campaign in Paris, but precious few outside the Scotland camp shared this view. After all, France arrived in Edinburgh as tournament favourites - and departed black and blue and bowed.
It is a game played with mind and heart as well as sinew and skill. It is an oval ball. It is unpredictable. That's why rugby football is a great game. That's why this match as such a thriller. And what a turn-up for the books.
Before the match there was a moment's silence for Guy Basquet, the former French international who played a remarkable 33 Tests for France as a No.8. He had died in Agen on 31 January. The silence was broken with the firing of a cannon.
Back to the match, and all bets were on France. Never mind their injuries, they were still favourites to win the whole Six Nations, let alone this match against the also-ran Scots. An hour and a half later their ambitions were in tatters. It was back to the Eighties for France and their bête noire at Murrayfield. They lost there seven times in succession between 1980 and 1992.
When Jean-Batiste Elissalde missed the conversion of Sébastien Bruno's late try it left France needing a try to win and just three minutes to do it in. They did not look remotely like doing so as the confident Scots clamped down on them again. In the end a four-point margin of defeat flattered the French.
The Scots played second fiddle only in the scrums - but then the French had only five put-ins in the whole match because the Scots were not nearly as error-prone as the French were. But the French did manage that rare rugby feat - a tighthead.
The line-outs were generally sloppy and the French may have been better off here. But the Scots were certainly much better at the tackle. They cleaned out well and provided quick ball.
They were also better with ball in hand, especially their passing in the tackle. There was hardly a Frenchman who did not make a handling error.
No doubt the French missed Yannick Jauzion in the centre. He broke his toe and the French brought Ludovic Valbon to inside centre where he looked right out of his depth. It must have been a nightmare afternoon for him as he wandered about in uncertainty, gave no direction to his backs at all, knocked on and ran across the field. Surprisingly he played the whole of the match.
But most of all there was a great difference in the levels of confidence. France started with insouciance enough but gradually it flagged until they looked planless. On the other hand the confidence level of the Scots rose. Their heads were up, their eyes were glinting and their hearts fearless as they rushed to tackle the jittery French.
That France was so close at the end may have been due to good fortune and the obvious virtues of the few - Cédric Heymans, Florian Fritz, Rémy Martin and Yannick Nyanga.
That said, the try count was still two-all.
The Scots ended the half 13-3, which flattered France. France had started with their usual calm elan but the Scots were unyielding. There was just under two minutes before the first whistle went, when Hugo Southwell kicked the ball into touch. It was another two minutes before the next whistle went, a penalty when Cédric Heymans use his hands in a ruck. It was played at a great pace, as was the whole half on cropped Murrayfield.
The first crack in French composure came when Dan Parks hoisted an up-and-under into the French 22. Under pressure, Nicolas Brusque fumbled and Marcus di Rollo dived on the ball. Suddenly the Scots were attacking but, with a four-against-two overlap, Jason White ran on a diagonal. Dimitri Szarzewski felled White and the French won a turn-over to clear. In fact France won three vital turn-overs in the half when they were in trouble - and they were in lots and lots of trouble.
A line-out to Scotland became a maul where Szarzewski was penalised. It was kickable but the Scots tapped. Their brave intentions were an anticlimax in a mess.
But the Scots got the score they so richly deserved. They battered on the right and then came left with an overlap. Sean Lamont checked and straightened inside Frédéric Michalak and past Pieter de Villiers for a try at the posts. Paterson converted and the Scots were in a well-deserved 7-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Florian Fritz broke but the pass to Brusque was forward. Mike Blair had a break and Gavin Kerr was there to bound on with it. Paterson then goaled a penalty at a tackle. 10-0 after 20 minutes.
Blair broke and gave to Paterson who chipped. Christophe Dominici was penalised for an early tackle and Paterson kicked the goal. 13-0 after 32 minutes and France looked right our of it.
France did get some attaching going but met Scottish aggression on defence and capitulated for Michalak to try a drop, which missed.
On the stroke of half-time Bruce Douglas was penalised and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde goaled to make the score 13-3.
After five minutes of the second half, Scotland got their second try - an astonishing try. A long kick down the left by Hugo Southwell, who must surely have had his best match ever for Scotland, resulted in a line-out on the French 22. On the French 22. It is worth noting. Scotland won the line-out, made a maul and scored a try.
Those are the simple facts until they actually sink in.
The Scottish forwards had taken on the powerful French pack, which had none of the excuses of injury that the backs had, and beat them. In this maul they licked them. They marched the maul down 22 metres and there was big wing Lamont to plunge, stretch and score. Paterson converted to make the score an incredible 20-3.
France's try came five minutes later and was a brilliant moment of interpassing that went down the right with Fritz running well and then came back to the left.
Two on two, Heymans sold a little dummy to fix the Scots and then sent Julien Bonnaire over in the left corner. Elissalde's conversion came back off the bar. That was an important strip of wood in the scheme of the match.
Dan Parks tried a drop and missed. Paterson missed his easiest penalty of the afternoon, but still the Scots led 20-8 and the clock was plodding along as if covered with treacle.
With 20 minutes to go Andrew Henderson tackle high and Elissalde goaled easily. 20-11.
But Scotland kept the ball with many passes. The French dropped the ball with fewer passes.
With three minutes to go, France scored a copy of their earlier try with lots of interpassing before going wide to the left. This time replacement No.8 Thomas Lièvremont was the one to sell a little dummy and pop a pass to replacement hooker Bruno on his inside for a try in the left corner. The conversion was wide.
With a tense minute and a half to play, France got the ball inside their own 22 and Heymans hoisted a kick into touch. The French did not get possession again.
The Scots won the line-out and played keep-ball until, with half a tense minute left, France were penalised at a tackle-ruck. It was kickable, but intent on limiting French options, Paterson kicked the ball out for another Scottish line-out, deep in French territory.
France's only hope was to win the line-out. The Scots won it, and replacement scrum-half Chris Cusiter kicked the ball into touch. The referee did a bit of tense checking and then blew the final whistle for euphoria to break out all over the field and in the stands as the blue and white flags of St Andrew took on colourful life, all over Edinburgh and all over Scotland. And coach Frank Hadden allowed himself a smile - a gentle, satisfied smile.
And in the royal box, with a courteous bow, the president of the French Rugby Federation, tall Bernard Lapasset, shook the hand of the patron of the Scotland Rugby Union, the Princess Royal, and gave her a congratulatory thumbs up.
The Scots had had trouble selling tickets for the match. There must be many a Scot who would regret not being there and be beating his way to a source of tickets for the next match, when the Sassenachs come north on February 25.
Man of the Match: There were only Scottish candidates - 22 of them, but if you whittled it down you would mention Hugo Southwell, clever Chris Paterson, two-try Sean Lamont, all-round scrum-half Mike Blair and the tackling of the forwards. The forwards really laid the victory on and so you would look for your man of the match there, and our man-of-the-match is veteran lock Scott Murray, so good in the line-outs, so unwaveringly strong when making a tackle, and so clever with the ball in hand.
Moment of the Match: That maul - that second half maul that shunted the might of France 22 metres for the try. The first score of the second half was going to be vital and Scotland did it with that remarkable maul.
Villain of the Match: Nobody - why taint such a memorable day of rugby?
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Lamont 2
Cons: Paterson 2
Pens: Paterson 2
For France:
Tries: Bonnaire, Bruno
Pens: Elissalde 2
The teams:
Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Chris Paterson, 13 Marcus Di Rollo (Simon Webster, 28), 12 Andrew Henderson, 11 Sean Lamont , 10 Dan Parks (Gordon Ross, 64), 9 Mike Blair (Chris Cusiter, 55), 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Allister Hogg, 6 Jason White (captain) (Jon Petrie, 73), 5 Scott Murray, 4 Alastair Kellock (Scott MacLeod, 75), 3 Bruce Douglas (Craig Smith, 41) , 2 Dougie Hall (Scott Lawson, 63), 1 Gavin Kerr.
France: 15 Nicolas Brusque (Guillaume Bousses, 78), 14 Christophe Dominici, 13 Florian Fritz