Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Rugby

[TP]

There's probably only me, Andy and Mark (Flanker) that are really interested inthe rugby but anyway ...

This is an excerpt from my reply to Monty in another thread ...

England is looking a bit good at the moment too! Everyone knew that the Canada game was going to be a cricket score but a very solid performance against the Bokke on the weekend! Aus haven't played well, even with a full side. I think it's time we got rid of Eddie Jones and maybe George Gregan. I was looking forward to a really good match this weekend, seeing as I'll be in attendance, but I fear that a spate of injuries in the Wallaby backline means that we've dented our strongest assett.

As much as it pains me I'm tipping England to win on Saturday but I'll be cheering the boys in green and gold. God I hope we win

I just hope I don't get a kicking at the stadium wearing my Wallabies jumper

I forgot to add that we seem to be getting pushed around by everyone's scrum and lose too many lineouts. Our front 5 is ordinary!

Who else thinks England will get up this weekend?

Is anyone else going, besides AndyB? Maybe catch up for a beer? Or 30

[Mark]

The game was top quality, and i thought we played rather well. I like the second half tackle counts! after 20 mins of that half we'd made only 6 tackles to their 25!

Not sure about the Aussie game, and been bitten 2 many times with banter and knocking the other side.

I'm looking forward to watching it, and may the best team win. (england!)

[moto748]

I'm much more interested in the rugby league Tri-Nations final next final, rather than thosre "friendlies" they play at Twickenham.

Do you follow that, tp?

If GB could beat the Kangaroos (ie, the Aussies at their "main" sport), then that'd really be something.


[edit] BTW I expect England to win at union.
I still think the All-Blacks are the real challenge: they looked the best side in the last World Cup, but then just didn't turn up for their semi-final, for some reason.

[Edited on 22-11-2004 by moto748]

[TP]

Originally posted by moto748
I'm much more interested in the rugby league Tri-Nations final next final, rather than thosre "friendlies" they play at Twickenham.

Do you follow that, tp?

If GB could beat the Kangaroos (ie, the Aussies at their "main" sport), then that'd really be something.


[edit] BTW I expect England to win at union.
I still think the All-Blacks are the real challenge: they looked the best side in the last World Cup, but then just didn't turn up for their semi-final, for some reason.

[Edited on 22-11-2004 by moto748]

I do follow RL but not as closely as I did in Oz. Not trying to be controversial or anything but I would list Cricket as the number 1 sport in Australia. By pure participation it would have to be soccer!!

It is a bigger sport in Oz than Union though. As far as the Tri-Nations goes I think it's pretty much even at the moment between Oz and GB (would like to see Oz V Eng though ...) and it could go either way. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see GB get up and win it. Even if Oz win it GB have definitely opened a gap to NZ.

As for the Union, you would have to say that the Bokke were the best team from the Southern Hemisphere after winning a tight Tri-Nations series down there. And to be comprehensively beaten by Eng on the weekend shows that England are definitely back and on form should do Oz this weekend as well. Oz and NZ form on this tour has been pretty bad, very disappointing to see really. AB's seem to choke a little bit in the big games (sorry kiwi's, but it's true! and I support NZ behind Oz in everything ...)

Should still be a good game to go to and tickets are so rare it's one of those things I'll be glad to have done during my life. Another tick in a box. Hopefully we'll win as well and make my night

[misterpink]

C'mon - sounds like you are getting your excuse in early Tp-996 with the injury thing - i'm from the other side of the tasman and knowing the Aussies they will raise the game whoever is playing on the pitch, especially to beat england. Would have to admit that England are a formidable team, but my money is on Australia.
Iam off to paris for the All Black(nancy boys) Vs France game at the end of the week - lucky win against Wales (`70'S lookalikes) at the weekend does not inspire me with confidence - however good chance to get away and enjoy some camaraderie (food, drink, food more drink)
As far as the all blacks/world cup goes - points win prizes as they say and they just weren't good enough - all credit to England (dodgy ref though in that final??) where was he from?

[Mark]

Roll on the Lions!

[TP]

Originally posted by misterpink
C'mon - sounds like you are getting your excuse in early Tp-996 with the injury thing - i'm from the other side of the tasman and knowing the Aussies they will raise the game whoever is playing on the pitch, especially to beat england. Would have to admit that England are a formidable team, but my money is on Australia.
Iam off to paris for the All Black(nancy boys) Vs France game at the end of the week - lucky win against Wales (`70'S lookalikes) at the weekend does not inspire me with confidence - however good chance to get away and enjoy some camaraderie (food, drink, food more drink)
As far as the all blacks/world cup goes - points win prizes as they say and they just weren't good enough - all credit to England (dodgy ref though in that final??) where was he from?

I'm not sandbagging - honest

But really, if you've seen much of Oz our backline is where it happens. Our front 5 is smart, but not big enough and they don't scrummage well enough. We seem to lose too many lineouts - we need John Eales back

Where we do well is in the loose, strong defence and in the backline. Well, we'll be fielding a second string backline due to injuries (still quality players though, good depth in the backs) but we should still defend well and play strong in the loose. My only concern would be midfield defence with a new 10, 12, 13 partnering. It depends on what Eddie Jones does there. With Larkham out will he put Flatley or Giteau in the 10 jumper. Giteau being seen as the long term replacment for Larkham but Flatley having experience there in Internationals? But who the hell is going to play 13? Mortlock has a cheek fracture so he's out. I'd probably play Rogers in there (if he doesn't get suspended) if not then??? Rathbone is out as well so Sailor will be on the wing (groan!) with Tuqiri and the form Latham in at 15. Could be really good, could go really bad.

On form it would have to be an English win. I'd never write off the Wallabies though, they'll be wanting to break down the recent Twickers hoodoo.

I'm just not being a blind ignorant Ozzie

[Monty]

"I think it's time we got rid of Eddie Jones and maybe George Gregan"-you are having a laugh Tony-get rid of George! He's everywhere, always seems to be in the right place to get the ball and feed it where it's needed. He may be getting on a bit-aren't we all-but he still seems to have plenty of go in those legs.

John

[TP]

Originally posted by Monty
"I think it's time we got rid of Eddie Jones and maybe George Gregan"-you are having a laugh Tony-get rid of George! He's everywhere, always seems to be in the right place to get the ball and feed it where it's needed. He may be getting on a bit-aren't we all-but he still seems to have plenty of go in those legs.

John

Nah, not kidding. His service is slowing down and he's slowing down. Any scrum-half should be behind every ruck and right there behind the flankers cleaning out. He also seems to have this affliction that causes him to run the blind side all the bloody time and shut out our best attacking weapon - the rest of the backline!! I'm not sure if you saw our game against the French but he constantly ran the blindside, sure he scored a try off it but you could see the french defence just queueing up because they knew he was going that way. No more points that game, it was embarrasing!

We need to get Henjak in the side more and get him some experience so he can take over Georgie boy. He's been a loyal servant to Oz rugby but his powers are on the wane - probably still the best scrum-half in Oz but only because Henjak hasn't had the chance to step up. Whits can no longer be considered Georgie's replacement because he's old.

Anyway, in my defence I did say maybe. At the start of the year be played awesome. The Gregan/Larkham halves combo is one of the best ever. But .. if he keeps playing like he did against the Scots and the French he'll have to go. Especially after Jones sent instructions to open the game up against the French and Georgie still ran the blind all the time. If he gets back to his form from the start of the year then he can have the key to Australia and the Wallabies captaincy for the rest of his life. I'm just starting to think he's on the way out. He should get out while he's on top and be remembered as one of the best scrum-halves to have ever played the game. He deserves to be

[Monty]

Got to agree mate, in a long line a bloody good players that Auz has produced he's head and shoulders above the majority-I didn't see the France game, but he always raises his game against the old enemy-as do the rest of the side!
I shall have to set the video since I will be in Rome and I don't rate my chances of finding a bar with it on.

John