Living the dream...Wife and kids off to MIL tonight, vegs roasting,home made chill/squash/sweet tattie mash and chilli bangers in oven, bottles of Orkney Blonde in mitt/fridge....Just settling down to engerland game...Methinks a lot of pupils may be watching dvds in class tmw... 😈
Glaws really should have come away with a win, there. So close at the top now.
If I remember correctly, you don't rate a lot of the England 2003 team and every single one had a higher "achievement" than any welsh player has.
Dan Luger and Ballshaw apart they were all pretty good to outstanding but by 2005 and onwards some were seriously over the hill. I think you need to work on your memory.
I also agree Lawes has potential but its still just that, he's gone backwards this year, due to injury I would imagine. But that doesnt stop Tom picking him ina Lions side, when he cant get in the england team and if memory serves has often been on the flank for Northampton. AW Jones is a far better player when fit so is Grey and Launchbury and D Ryan of those who played in the autumn games.
Great news about 1/2p
That is so classy from the engl.....sorry Samoan 😉
I didn't know Barritt was a saffa until they interviewed him today.
Yeah but I'm not really taking my position as stw lions team pickerer that seriously a_a....I've done several over the last few pages, mainly picking players that I like and playing them out of position (much like Stuart Lancaster) 🙂 It's all a bit of fun innit-jeebus you had Cipriani at 10 a few weeks ago. Now that is 'barking mad' to quote your good self 😀
It's all a bit of fun innit-jeebus you had Cipriani at 10 a few weeks ago. Now that is 'barking mad' to quote your good self
I think you may have fallen into the sarchasm with that one.
Noooooo glitchybumping required won't you think of flashy!
Edit: Possibly so a_a. Are we both doing the embra defence here BTW?!
A big emotion for me was the tiwickers crowd drowning out the Haka, even over the TV mikes with a rendition of Swing Low. A beautiful moment of clean sports patriotism that must have lifted the team a bit. It warms me that this country still has that in it, despite the negative connotations of the other national ball orientated team.
The last time I saw the Hakka drowned out was 2002 at twinkenham and I remember the newspapers the next day saying how disgraceful it was.
Seemed alright to me then and pretty damn good yesterday.
I'm a huge Tuilagi fan (as I was / am of is 4 brothers) but I wish he'd make that try scoring celebration meaning clear - it's not very sporting!
Got to say I dont like the Tuilagi celebration I'd not like a welsh player to be as arrogant, but then maybe thats part of the reason why we havent beaten NZ since 1789 or whatever.
Got to say I don't like the Tuilagi celebration I'd not like a Welsh player to be as arrogant,
Agreed.
Also, I cannot wait for the day that Ashton drops the ball or injures himself with his stupid dive.
Celebrations are all a bit 'footballer' for my liking. Farrell looked just like a footballerist when celebrating Ashtons try yesterday.
transapp - Member
The last time I saw the Hakka drowned out was 2002 at twinkenham and I remember the newspapers the next day saying how disgraceful it was.
Seemed alright to me then and pretty damn good yesterday.
The Haka wasn't particularly drowned out on Saturday, the crowd sang sweet chariots during the first part but then went quite, last visit the Haka was booed for it's entire length (due in my opinion to the Umaga spear tackle on O'Driscoll during the lions tour), the time before that the crowd sang much more loudly and for the whole thing
Also, I cannot wait for the day that Ashton drops the ball or injures himself with his stupid dive.
@CFH - agree totally, the guy is a prat with that "dive"
Best England performance I have seen at Twickenham in 25 years of going - bettered only by RWC QF win against Australia in Marseilles and that was because it was the WC so really counted for something and the 2003 WC win which I wasn't at
We were joking after the game that those were the first two passes we'd every seen Twiggy throw
NZCol - Member
Just catching up with the England game, not overly surprised really but we were well and truly shut down. Had to happen. Not sure heard any excuses coming forth from NZ other than they were beaten ?
[b]
@NZCol - honestly we all went along hoping England wouldn't be embarrassed and to show our respect to the World Champions. NZ never really got going, England played pretty smartly to establish a cushion. Was looking a bit shaley to say the least when NZ stormed back but a quick bit of brilliance with our first try and the momentum was back with us and we closed it out
the Haka was booed for it's entire length (due in my opinion to the Umaga spear tackle on O'Driscoll during the lions tour),
And well done to the Cabbage Patch crowd for that.
The [i]Maori[/i]* Haka is a challenge. It should be responded to. How you do that is up to you. We need to stop this pussy footing around it, it's a challenge. Challenges deserve a response, as many of the Maori elders have said. If that response is crossing the half way line and going nose to nose, deal with it. If that response is kicking a ball around in the dead ball area, deal with it.
Went to watch Oxford Welsh beat Irish with my old man, a dreadful game but I sort of enjoyed it.
Watched the first half of Wales v Oz in the Kassam (which incidentally has a shite projector TV thing, hence leaving) then headed into town, but missed the rest of the match.
Which again I was short of pleased about as I didn't see the end so I can pretend it didn't happen.
Jesus, just watched Leicester vs bath. 3 red cards and 2 yellows! Not a high scoring game, but well worth watching.
Watched the England match, now just Wales vs oz, is it worth watching from enjoyable rugby pov?
I agree CFH, however any time someone does, I understand that bollockings, fines and complaints follow. Utter rubbish. Why shouldn't you challenge back?
Wales aus game was a bit of a shite whistle fest to be honest.
As someone who is prone to disliking England players i have to sat ashtons dives dont bother me. They are an expression of joy. Shane used to do better ones. Ashton is however very over rated and a bit of a **** who likes to pull hair.
Lighten up, Tuilagi was having a bit of fun. Would I do it? No , but I think it was all good fun and he was having a laugh, and if it upset the AB's a bit more , even better.
As for responding to the Haka in some form or other , I say it is almost a necessity. The AB's are showing you how they are going to rip your balls off and shove it down your throat ...
But yesterday I thought they looked like a bunch of mime artists clumsily trying to escape from an imaginary box, very funny and not intimidating at all.
I understand why Celts dislike the English and some of our players in particular (being an Englishmen who's lived in Jockland most of his life) but moaning about try scoring celebrations is a bit two-faced.
Nobody ever complained about any of Shane Williams' celebrations or any others by Irish/Welsh players. Scottish players tend not to celebrate as they seem to score one try roughly every 4-5 years and when they do it's probably too much of a shock to do anything else.
A_A - I don't think Ashton's that overrated. His try on Saturday was a great example of his work off the ball and his eye for a chance. Sure, he pulled Alesana Tuilagi's hair but on the plus side he took all those punches from Manu on the chin without going down like a footballer or complaining really.
Cockerill is a wee copycat, it was big Willie Anderson that was the original!
The three Kiwi's that normally work in our office have all decided to work from home today.
Can't think why.
(Well done to England Ladies also)
Whats the betting on Wales, England and NZ all in the same world cup group then? Wales turn to be screwed with short turn rounds between games next time. Samoa will be pleased.
The three Kiwi's that normally work in our office have all decided to work from home today.Can't think why.
Got the s*&ts as well? 😉
Does A-A has an english cousin who writes a column in the Times under the pen name Mark Souster?
His choice for the Lions 1-15 is the England team from Sat...looks strangely familiar 😀
Whats the betting on Wales, England and NZ all in the same world cup group then?
Hmmmmn - almost certain to happen if sod's law is invoked. 🙁
Stephen Jones Lions picks in the Sunday Times were interesting - he stressed Sat result did not change much for him, although injurues to the likes of Sinbad did. No Manu, no Ashton.
Steven Jones is mad as a box of frogs anyway! Bowe is miles better than Ashton at 14 though. I'd rather have cuthbert or Lamont too. Ashton is a liability in defence and offers little in attack other than an ability to run support lines.
The Irish Times takes a slightly different approach.....
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1201/1224327341974.html
Not too much to argue about with that other than seems odd that Sheridan may miss out due to playing for Toulon but Wilkinson wouldnt.
No one has mentioned Sean Maitland for the Lions.
I predict that if he gets a few good run outs for Glasgow and makes the 6N he'll be in the mix.
Not too much to argue about with that
Fancy a side bet a_a? 😀
I'll wager that Tuilagi goes (barring injury)
Lions Tourists - these are the Autumn internationals not tournament rugby. That's why they pick squad after the 6 Nations.
As a proud Englishmen I can say there are more than a few Welsh and Irish names I'd have in the squad and probably in the starting line up too.
I'll wager that Tuilagi goes (barring injury)
The Irish Times piece was written before the w/e but yes Tuilagi has to be in the squad.
I scoffed when I saw ROGs name mentioned as a squad player, but then maybe as a mainstay of the midweek team, you never know
I'll wager that Tuilagi goes (barring injury)
You must have a very accommodating bookie, accepting wagers with get-out clauses. 😉
Would you still "win" if he went on tour whilst rivals like J Davies and BOD were injured, or is it a one way offer?
FWIW, I see him going myself covering centre and possibly wing. Would make a great impact sub too to send at knackered ozzies.
Interesting that Nathan Sharpe won't be there. As much as I don't like him, he's a bit of an Aussie talisman.
Would make a great impact sub too to send at knackered ozzies.
I was thinking similar. Let BOD run them ragged, then let Tuilagi run directly at them. I wouldn't like to be in a line with roberts and Manu bearing down on me that's for sure, especially when I'd been turned inside out by BOD all afternoon.
You must have a very accommodating bookie, accepting wagers with get-out clauses.
I don't have a bookie but I'd accept this if the roles were reversed.
I'll wager that Tuilagi goes (barring injury)
I agree with you. I meant that in the context of it being an irish paper. Beeb has four lots of lions picks from its pundits. Funny how they are picking so many injured players.
Personally, I reckon Manu (and probably JDavies) could benefit massively from playing outside BOD. He draws players and times passes better than anyone, and they could be more effective with a bit of space. Both better "finishers" than continuity players.
How about starting Roberts and Manu/Davies and letting them batter away for an hour - then stick BOD on at inside C when the game gets a bit looser to find the gaps or one-on-one's.
He's not gonna manage 3 lots of 80 minutes so it's about managing his time to make it effective. I reckon he's more dangerous in the last 20 mins when others tire,
psa, World cup drawer, live from 3:
http://live.espn.co.uk/Event/2015_Rugby_World_Cup_draw
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/dec/03/rugby-world-cup-2015-draw-live
Bettter link. Live coverage rather than text
