Is there still a gap between NH & SH rugby?

[Thomond78]

Nick Mallett is, for once, talking through his arse here. For one thing, he could do with taking a look at Ireland's record in NZ, where we've been - achingly - close over the last seven years or so. 20-30 points losses, my plums.

Pity about your record against NZ in Ireland. 30 or 40 point whippings the last few times by B Teams isn't it?

I firmly hope you're not an accountant, Spook. Biggest margin the ABs have had in NZ over Ireland in NZ in the last five years has been 10 points. Which, so far as I can see, isn't 30 or 40 points.

Or, to put it another way; epic fail.

Wow, can't wait for Thommo to get his back up about that one.

I left it to LG. I'm still wondering what the hell "to been to" means. :nta:

Spook was talking about the ABs in Ireland; you are talking about the ABs in NZ. I think. What is the biggest margin in AB v Ireland in Ireland? I wouldn't have a clue, so a genuine question for you.

Actually, it was more Spook was choosing to ignore what I was saying; Mallett's original point was about those margins in the SH.

Biggest margin, from memory, was against the 1997 ABs. Something like fifty points. Keith Wood single-handedly drew the first half with them, despite snapping a calf muscle with ten minutes to half time. And they then came out and put together the best half of rugby in the worst conditions I will ever see. It was a privilege to watch.

Last game in the NH in 2008, we lost by nineteen points; however, the key there was a harsh-enough sin-binning and penalty try double. Evens enough apart from that, to be honest.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

Major

I don't mind your mentioning Will Greenwood as being recent, but which Gibson were you talking about? Surely not Mike?

I mean Jamie Roberts! I believe I was doing something at work involving a client named Gibson at the same time, hence wrote that!

Conditions play a part of it for sure, but game plan more so. Look at the Lions tour this year when the game plan was a bit more open - 3 great games of rugby. The players can do it, they just don't.

 

[Godfrey]

There is still a pretty big gap, its called the ocean.

 

[Pfitzy]

Mention that display only in reference to what is possible, not what is likely, except every decade - or so.

Fine - a display like that is not possible by any NH team, barring probably France once a millennium