Rugby - not set pieces
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Not this year. They are too far back to finish 1 or 2, they've already played the Saders and miss the Stormers this year, so no ten point turn-arounds. They had to win last week to be a chance and basically win every week from there. It all really went to custard against the Cheetahs, we just didn't have the coach to turn it around after the Saders loss.
Z
Zeno
Guest
Forum members: you've probably all seen the blog post last week that used content from this thread. It's planned to be a weekly thing, ideally going up on the blog on Wednesdays. Lee Grant's stuff will be the mainstay of the blog content, but please keep posting here anything that you think could be of interest. If it fits, it will be used. Thanks in advance.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
There were some interesting things in some AP and Top14 games last weekend.
Newcastle v Northampton
• Saints lock Christian Day has the ball at the back of a maul and commentator Ben Kay says:”Good patience by Northampton: Newcastle have tried coming in at every different angle.....Just stayed at the back ….. - now Day breaks”. A pity that neither team had a Knight playing in the match. Chances are he would have had a fall.
• 8. Ally Hogg of Newcastle deliberately knocked the ball forward near the base of a scrum going for an intercept that failed. Penalty – but Hogg knocked the ball up, palm up. Referee Greg Garner said: “One hand is a deliberate knock on”. Commentator Ben Kay said: “If you go with one hand for an interception and you don't get it, it's a penalty”. Now we know.
• Well done to “up and comer” referee Garner for penalising Saints lock Courtney Lawes for administering the Bakkies Botha choke hold with his arm to the throat of Falcon lock Tim Swinson in a maul and pulling him back. I don't like this action and no doubt it stuck in Swinson's craw also.
• Next Saturday Northampton will play their 4th game in 13 days. The first was a Heineken Cup game against Ulster and the others were/will be, Premiership games. Incidentally 6/lock Callum Clarke has played in 30 of their 31 1st XV matches to date. A tough way to make a living, Callum.
Stade Français v Clermont
• The starting pack of Clermont in this match in Paris last Saturday were all 30 years or over. The SF youngsters had only 5 of their 8 in this category.
• Clermont, my favourite French team, are the Top14 champions from last season but their victory in Paris was their first away win in the 2010/11 competition. Never mind: the top 6 make the finals and they are in fifth place and could possibility get to 2nd (I think) if they win their last 2 matches of the season with bonus point sprinkles and the rugby planets align. Winning every home game helps.
Incidentally, their win in the Top14 final last year was after ten unsuccessful attempts. The first was made in 1936.
• Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne, to give the full title of the Clermont team, was started up in 1911 by Michel Michelin, son of the founder of the tyre business. There are only two main activities in the area: making tyres and rugby. The team colours are yellow and blue. Yep, you guessed right: those are also the colours of the Michelin company. Their nickname is Les Jaunards – the Yellows. Doesn't quite work in English, does it?
• Players - Clermont have 37 listed but have used others doing the year for one reason or another. Of those 37, all but 6 are capped test players. New players next season include Lee Byrne of Wales, David Skrela of France, plus Siviteni Sivivatu and Regan King of New Zealand.
Toulon v Toulouse
• Toulon won this must win game at home against Toulouse who are shoo-ins to finish top of the league and so didn't have to field their best team.
• Players
- Fotu Auelua, of Toulon, who is heading for the Brumbies next year, by way of Japan, came on for a cameo at the end. They lifted him for a lineout take and then later, as the ball came back from the middle of the field, he made a half break at goodish speed and dished out the ball to his fullback, Rory Lamont. Aulea picked himself up, ran forward and was in perfect position to go over for a try but the pass was a tad too high and behind him.
He'll be handy if he can lose some weight. He's principally a no.8 but Toulon have played him at 12 and 13 this year also.
- Gavin Henson, ex-Ospreys and ex-Dancing With the Stars, was given a gig by Sarries this season but it didn't work out and he ended up in Toulon. In his bid to be considered for the Wales RWC squad he played OK in this game but after the match he was suspended for breaching the code of good conduct of the club. Goodbye RWC Gav, methinks.
- Jonny Wilkinson kicked a 51 metre field goal for Toulon. He's still got it.
Sale v London Irish
• This match was played at the Reebok Stadium, the home ground of the Bolton Wanderers Football Club and not too far from Manchester. Sale have played home games there before but the ground staff must have lost their notes from the last one. The Sales flyhalf, Charlie Hodgson, was running around the park the day before the game and thought the 22 area was too big.
Sure enough: they had marked the 22 line 22 metres away from the 5 metre line which would have made it the 27. Good spotting Charlie.
• Samoan capers About 5 minutes into the game Charlie takes a penalty kick for Sale but nobody notices Exiles winger Elvis Seveali'i crouching on one knee, off the pitch but near the 22 metre post. The kick misses and Exiles captain Seilala Mapusua rushes up with the ball to the 22, ostensibly for a dinky drop-kick for himself. Sale is awake to that and one of their worthies goes to mark him close, but as this was happening Seveali'i steps back onto the field, Mapusua passes the ball to him and Elvis does the dinky drop-kick for himself unopposed.
Elvis was tackled soon after but he won the ball for Irish. They tried it again after another Hodgson miss but Elvis got Sale all shook up the first time and they had suspicious minds.
• Referee JP Doyle marches the tune of a different whistle. He used teenager talk to gnarled forwards who were getting stroppy. “Chillax” he said. This is a combination of “chillout” and ”relax". A few seconds later he called pale-faced Exiles scrummie, Paul Hodgson, “Bro”. Later still, when Mapusua was discussing a point with Doyle and he wouldn't go away, he told the skipper: “Shut up, go away please”. It was done it friendly way, believe it or not, but he could get into hot water from the reffing mandarins all the same.
• David Paice, Exiles hooker, scored his third try in 3 games. He played for BSHS and the Souths club in Brisbane before going overseas and arriving in London. He lobbed at the Exiles 8 years ago with his rucksack and has been playing for them since. Made the England A side too.
• Commentator Nick Mullins was waffling on to Austin Healey in a break of play and talking about his old England and Lions teammate Will Greenwood, who had written an article in the Telegraph that day, explaining the benefits of holding the ball in both hands. The cheeky Healey said: “I put a copy of that by the toilet for later”. For reading, I hope.
• “Andy” Tuilagi, one of the lesser known of the brothers playing in Europe did not wear Sale socks. He seemed to have some strapping on both legs, about sock length. No, I didn't think it was that important either.
Leicester v Gloucester
• After a military medium 1st half and 13/17 to the visitors at oranges the 2nd half erupted into Super Rugby try madness. There was some lose defensive play but now the northern grounds are hard and dry we are seeing some expansive rugby. The final score was 41-41, which was the highest scoring draw in Premiership rugby and the highest scoring game of 2010/11.
There were 3 tries in the 1st half and 7 in the 2nd, including 3 to Alesana Tuilagi of Leicester in 14 minutes. Gloucester were undermanned and surprised the Welford Road faithful, especially with an interception try on the buzzer, but they were full value for the draw.
Newcastle v Northampton
• Saints lock Christian Day has the ball at the back of a maul and commentator Ben Kay says:”Good patience by Northampton: Newcastle have tried coming in at every different angle.....Just stayed at the back ….. - now Day breaks”. A pity that neither team had a Knight playing in the match. Chances are he would have had a fall.
• 8. Ally Hogg of Newcastle deliberately knocked the ball forward near the base of a scrum going for an intercept that failed. Penalty – but Hogg knocked the ball up, palm up. Referee Greg Garner said: “One hand is a deliberate knock on”. Commentator Ben Kay said: “If you go with one hand for an interception and you don't get it, it's a penalty”. Now we know.
• Well done to “up and comer” referee Garner for penalising Saints lock Courtney Lawes for administering the Bakkies Botha choke hold with his arm to the throat of Falcon lock Tim Swinson in a maul and pulling him back. I don't like this action and no doubt it stuck in Swinson's craw also.
• Next Saturday Northampton will play their 4th game in 13 days. The first was a Heineken Cup game against Ulster and the others were/will be, Premiership games. Incidentally 6/lock Callum Clarke has played in 30 of their 31 1st XV matches to date. A tough way to make a living, Callum.
Stade Français v Clermont
• The starting pack of Clermont in this match in Paris last Saturday were all 30 years or over. The SF youngsters had only 5 of their 8 in this category.
• Clermont, my favourite French team, are the Top14 champions from last season but their victory in Paris was their first away win in the 2010/11 competition. Never mind: the top 6 make the finals and they are in fifth place and could possibility get to 2nd (I think) if they win their last 2 matches of the season with bonus point sprinkles and the rugby planets align. Winning every home game helps.
Incidentally, their win in the Top14 final last year was after ten unsuccessful attempts. The first was made in 1936.
• Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne, to give the full title of the Clermont team, was started up in 1911 by Michel Michelin, son of the founder of the tyre business. There are only two main activities in the area: making tyres and rugby. The team colours are yellow and blue. Yep, you guessed right: those are also the colours of the Michelin company. Their nickname is Les Jaunards – the Yellows. Doesn't quite work in English, does it?
• Players - Clermont have 37 listed but have used others doing the year for one reason or another. Of those 37, all but 6 are capped test players. New players next season include Lee Byrne of Wales, David Skrela of France, plus Siviteni Sivivatu and Regan King of New Zealand.
Toulon v Toulouse
• Toulon won this must win game at home against Toulouse who are shoo-ins to finish top of the league and so didn't have to field their best team.
• Players
- Fotu Auelua, of Toulon, who is heading for the Brumbies next year, by way of Japan, came on for a cameo at the end. They lifted him for a lineout take and then later, as the ball came back from the middle of the field, he made a half break at goodish speed and dished out the ball to his fullback, Rory Lamont. Aulea picked himself up, ran forward and was in perfect position to go over for a try but the pass was a tad too high and behind him.
He'll be handy if he can lose some weight. He's principally a no.8 but Toulon have played him at 12 and 13 this year also.
- Gavin Henson, ex-Ospreys and ex-Dancing With the Stars, was given a gig by Sarries this season but it didn't work out and he ended up in Toulon. In his bid to be considered for the Wales RWC squad he played OK in this game but after the match he was suspended for breaching the code of good conduct of the club. Goodbye RWC Gav, methinks.
- Jonny Wilkinson kicked a 51 metre field goal for Toulon. He's still got it.
Sale v London Irish
• This match was played at the Reebok Stadium, the home ground of the Bolton Wanderers Football Club and not too far from Manchester. Sale have played home games there before but the ground staff must have lost their notes from the last one. The Sales flyhalf, Charlie Hodgson, was running around the park the day before the game and thought the 22 area was too big.
Sure enough: they had marked the 22 line 22 metres away from the 5 metre line which would have made it the 27. Good spotting Charlie.
• Samoan capers About 5 minutes into the game Charlie takes a penalty kick for Sale but nobody notices Exiles winger Elvis Seveali'i crouching on one knee, off the pitch but near the 22 metre post. The kick misses and Exiles captain Seilala Mapusua rushes up with the ball to the 22, ostensibly for a dinky drop-kick for himself. Sale is awake to that and one of their worthies goes to mark him close, but as this was happening Seveali'i steps back onto the field, Mapusua passes the ball to him and Elvis does the dinky drop-kick for himself unopposed.
Elvis was tackled soon after but he won the ball for Irish. They tried it again after another Hodgson miss but Elvis got Sale all shook up the first time and they had suspicious minds.
• Referee JP Doyle marches the tune of a different whistle. He used teenager talk to gnarled forwards who were getting stroppy. “Chillax” he said. This is a combination of “chillout” and ”relax". A few seconds later he called pale-faced Exiles scrummie, Paul Hodgson, “Bro”. Later still, when Mapusua was discussing a point with Doyle and he wouldn't go away, he told the skipper: “Shut up, go away please”. It was done it friendly way, believe it or not, but he could get into hot water from the reffing mandarins all the same.
• David Paice, Exiles hooker, scored his third try in 3 games. He played for BSHS and the Souths club in Brisbane before going overseas and arriving in London. He lobbed at the Exiles 8 years ago with his rucksack and has been playing for them since. Made the England A side too.
• Commentator Nick Mullins was waffling on to Austin Healey in a break of play and talking about his old England and Lions teammate Will Greenwood, who had written an article in the Telegraph that day, explaining the benefits of holding the ball in both hands. The cheeky Healey said: “I put a copy of that by the toilet for later”. For reading, I hope.
• “Andy” Tuilagi, one of the lesser known of the brothers playing in Europe did not wear Sale socks. He seemed to have some strapping on both legs, about sock length. No, I didn't think it was that important either.
Leicester v Gloucester
• After a military medium 1st half and 13/17 to the visitors at oranges the 2nd half erupted into Super Rugby try madness. There was some lose defensive play but now the northern grounds are hard and dry we are seeing some expansive rugby. The final score was 41-41, which was the highest scoring draw in Premiership rugby and the highest scoring game of 2010/11.
There were 3 tries in the 1st half and 7 in the 2nd, including 3 to Alesana Tuilagi of Leicester in 14 minutes. Gloucester were undermanned and surprised the Welford Road faithful, especially with an interception try on the buzzer, but they were full value for the draw.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Commentators
• Tony Johnson is one of the few Super commentators who knows how to pronounce Halangahu's name correctly: Har-lar-NGAR- hu. Maybe some Saffers can confirm that Gary and Bakkies surname is not pronounced BOY-tar and tell Greg Clark, if so. Mark Robson may not have been absolutely correct when he said a while back: “Waqaseduadua is the best player in the world with 11 vowels in his name”, but it was a good line.
Referees
• Dave Pearson, recently appointed to the RWC panel, is not shy to issue a yellow card. In his first Premiership game he binned Martin Johnson.
• Jonathon White and Vinnie Munro must have different views on whether the ball can be slapped out of a scrummies' hands at a ruck. White could not have missed Alby Mathewson, of the Blues, slapping the ball (not forward) out of the scrummies' hands against the Rebels as there seemed to be nobody in his line of sight. But Munro, who saw James Horwill, of the Reds, doing the same thing against the Lions, dished out a yellow card.
Trivia
• Neilson family: Between 1891 and 1900 four brothers: William, George, Walter and Robert Neilson all played for Scotland though not more than two played in the same test match. George and William, who was still at high school at the time, made their debuts in the 1891 game against Wales. All but Walter became Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union.
• Dai Young coach of the Cardiff Blues has a claim to fame. He is the only player who played for the British and Irish Lions 3 times over 3 different decades. He also played for Northern Suburbs in Sydney as a youngster in 1987 and, being in the area, was called into the Wales squad for the RWC when somebody was crocked in the tournament. He also captained Wales in a rugby league world cup.
But wait, there's more. He was the butt of a classic threat. When he was a young prop playing for Wales against England and causing mischief in the scrummage, as you do, England prop, Gareth Chilcott, told Dai Young: “If you don’t calm down you’ll live up to your name.”
Not a bad sledge that Gareth.
• Tony Johnson is one of the few Super commentators who knows how to pronounce Halangahu's name correctly: Har-lar-NGAR- hu. Maybe some Saffers can confirm that Gary and Bakkies surname is not pronounced BOY-tar and tell Greg Clark, if so. Mark Robson may not have been absolutely correct when he said a while back: “Waqaseduadua is the best player in the world with 11 vowels in his name”, but it was a good line.
Referees
• Dave Pearson, recently appointed to the RWC panel, is not shy to issue a yellow card. In his first Premiership game he binned Martin Johnson.
• Jonathon White and Vinnie Munro must have different views on whether the ball can be slapped out of a scrummies' hands at a ruck. White could not have missed Alby Mathewson, of the Blues, slapping the ball (not forward) out of the scrummies' hands against the Rebels as there seemed to be nobody in his line of sight. But Munro, who saw James Horwill, of the Reds, doing the same thing against the Lions, dished out a yellow card.
Trivia
• Neilson family: Between 1891 and 1900 four brothers: William, George, Walter and Robert Neilson all played for Scotland though not more than two played in the same test match. George and William, who was still at high school at the time, made their debuts in the 1891 game against Wales. All but Walter became Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union.
• Dai Young coach of the Cardiff Blues has a claim to fame. He is the only player who played for the British and Irish Lions 3 times over 3 different decades. He also played for Northern Suburbs in Sydney as a youngster in 1987 and, being in the area, was called into the Wales squad for the RWC when somebody was crocked in the tournament. He also captained Wales in a rugby league world cup.
But wait, there's more. He was the butt of a classic threat. When he was a young prop playing for Wales against England and causing mischief in the scrummage, as you do, England prop, Gareth Chilcott, told Dai Young: “If you don’t calm down you’ll live up to your name.”
Not a bad sledge that Gareth.
D
Dunnman
Guest
Eric Rush is a lawyer.
Z
Zeno
Guest
Pronouncing Islander names
This Jamie Pandaram article covers the basics regarding consonants.
When it comes to vowels, remember to pronounce all of them as distinct syllables. Examples:
This Jamie Pandaram article covers the basics regarding consonants.
When it comes to vowels, remember to pronounce all of them as distinct syllables. Examples:
- the last part of Polota-Nau is Na-oo, not Now.
- Saia Fainga'a: the TV commentators like to say Sy-er Fay-inger, but it's more like Sa-i-a Fa-ing-a-a.
- work up slowly to the seven syllables of Afusipa Taumoepeau's surname.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
And he's a funny after dinner speaker. One of his oldies but goodies, maybe not original, goes something like this:
"When I arrived at Sydney airport yesterday from New Zealand they asked me if I had a criminal record.
I said that I didn't know that you still needed one to get in."
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Yes every syllable should be pronounced in Polynesian names and sometimes the vowels in the written name should be separated by an apostrophe especially if two adjacent vowels are the same. Thus it should be "Leali'ifano" and "To'omua".
The name Taumoepeau has troubled non-Islander commentators around the world. It is a common family name in Tonga and means, literally, "Fight with the wave". The ethnic Islander commentators of the Oz A matches a few years ago were the best at pronouncing Islander names but the ethnic European Kiwi commentators are not bad at all.
Oz and Saffer commentators corrupt the pronunciations but the players themselves are probably used to it after families have lived away from their homeland for a while.
Afusipa's dad pronounces his own surname more like "Tummer-pee-ow" though that may have more to do with the listener's ear than the speaker's mouth.
The name Taumoepeau has troubled non-Islander commentators around the world. It is a common family name in Tonga and means, literally, "Fight with the wave". The ethnic Islander commentators of the Oz A matches a few years ago were the best at pronouncing Islander names but the ethnic European Kiwi commentators are not bad at all.
Oz and Saffer commentators corrupt the pronunciations but the players themselves are probably used to it after families have lived away from their homeland for a while.
Afusipa's dad pronounces his own surname more like "Tummer-pee-ow" though that may have more to do with the listener's ear than the speaker's mouth.
Z
Zeno
Guest
Lee Grant said:
My understanding is that the apostrophe calls for a glottal stop between the vowel sounds. It's the soundless catch of breath in the throat — a standard sound in nearly all Islander languages and dialects, along with the ng sound as heard in "singer", without the hard g following as in "finger". Lee, I think that's the distinction you're indicating with Har-lar-NGAR-hu above. Both rules probably apply in for Fainga'a.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
This probably belongs here. I watched the Lions, Chiefs game last night and the the commintators were saying how the son of the Chiefs team doctor was diagnosed with cancer last week. Several Chiefs players shaved their heads as a show of support to him and his son. Great jesture from the boys and worthy of a mention in this thread.
I am sure the entire rugby community wishes the doctor and his son all the best in the fight that faces them.
I am sure the entire rugby community wishes the doctor and his son all the best in the fight that faces them.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Referees
• Mark Lawrence Force v Bulls - asked the front row to crouch “Temple to temple”. I hope it becomes one of those ref created sayings that are easily understood and observed like: “Use it or lose it” because it may get tall props who hinge down too much a bit closer before the crouch. LHPs Alexander and Oosthuizen, take note.
• Marius Jonker Lions v Chiefs said to promising Chiefs' Queensland born LHP Toby Smith, after one scrum collapse too many: “You're pulling your arse out and going down”. He was too; sometimes defensive LHPs bore in on the opponent hooker on their feed to bother them with their head, or to drive between the hooker and THP. But just as often they can't take the pressure and relieve it by moving their bums out and end up sideways and often as not on the deck.
• Wayne Barnes Wasps v Bath to Bath lock Ignazio Fernadez-Lobbe, a serial whinger: “The more you shout, the less I'll give you; be quiet.” I hope that catches on with refs.
Players
• Nathan Sharpe Force v Bulls – Anybody else notice that the previously vaunted Bulls lineout, with Bakkies and Victor in it, opted out of the contest a few times on their thrown in? It owed some to the problematic throwing of Chilliboy, but bogeyman Sharpe must have scared them when they watched a tape of the Brumbies lineouts against the Force in Round 9.
Incidentally, have folks noticed a distinct absence of carping about Sharpe on this forum since the start of the season?
• Euan Murray doesn't play on Sundays because of his religious beliefs and fair enough, but the big fella started for Newcastle away at Leicester on Good Friday. Just saying.
• Murray left Northampton last December by mutual agreement because Mujati was getting all the game time. He isn't the only elite THP in Europe who has lost his mojo either: Carl Hayman moved from Murray's new club to Toulon this season but is playing behind Davit Kubriashvili of Georgia more often than not.
Eurosports commentators say that he is getting belittling comments in the French press and mentioned that he is: “... struggling come to terms with scrummaging in France. Referees interpret the scrums differently … He's had people getting under him: he's a tall man and in France they allow the props to get under and lift up – and he's had problems with that.”
Poor lamb, but they have a point – there are a lot of short-arsed LHPs in France. If he wants to change clubs and countries again though, we would keep a spot open for him at the Rats. Again, just saying.
• “Billy” Vunipola would be a handy acquisition for a Super team. He was born in Sydney, started for Wasps against Bath last weekend and ran over a few folks and smashed some others in tackles. Did I mention that he is 126kgs but is agile and only 18 years old? He's long odds because his family is in England now and his brother is in the England U/20 team.
You never know though; maybe somebody should ask.
Commentators
• Brett Papworth said during the Randwick v Easts game about Richard Stanford who was in the Brumbies and Force stables and played too young: “Unfortunately in our development system if they haven't made it by age 20 they banish you. But at age 24 and 25 they are at their best”.
Would be nice to see them in an ARC comp at that age so they can be assessed as hard-head players rather than school leavers wouldn't it Brett?
• Greg Martin Force v Bulls about the slowness of delivery of the ball: “We need a sundial to time this”. I thought the sun was down at the time Greg, but you made a good point.
• Andy Nichol Glasgow v Scarlets giving advice to Glasgow 6. James Eddie, who was pinged for being a crawler. "He'll say he's not held but you can not crawl along the ground like that...... He's looking like money's been stolen out of his pocket … but you just can't do that.” So much for the power of the innocent frown.
• Nick Mullins Newcastle v Leicester when the camera shifted to a dissatisfied looking Tigers coach Richard Cockerill just before oranges after an indifferent 1st half from his charges: “Just formulating his half time oratory, I suspect. It won't contain many long words.”
Just guessing that he said “darn” and “gosh” a lot.
Quotes
•Jack Rowell, England 1995 RWC coach, when asked by squad member Victor Ubogu (who he had coached at Bath) “Why did you take an instant dislike to me?” answered: “Because, Victor, it saved time”.
• Mark Lawrence Force v Bulls - asked the front row to crouch “Temple to temple”. I hope it becomes one of those ref created sayings that are easily understood and observed like: “Use it or lose it” because it may get tall props who hinge down too much a bit closer before the crouch. LHPs Alexander and Oosthuizen, take note.
• Marius Jonker Lions v Chiefs said to promising Chiefs' Queensland born LHP Toby Smith, after one scrum collapse too many: “You're pulling your arse out and going down”. He was too; sometimes defensive LHPs bore in on the opponent hooker on their feed to bother them with their head, or to drive between the hooker and THP. But just as often they can't take the pressure and relieve it by moving their bums out and end up sideways and often as not on the deck.
• Wayne Barnes Wasps v Bath to Bath lock Ignazio Fernadez-Lobbe, a serial whinger: “The more you shout, the less I'll give you; be quiet.” I hope that catches on with refs.
Players
• Nathan Sharpe Force v Bulls – Anybody else notice that the previously vaunted Bulls lineout, with Bakkies and Victor in it, opted out of the contest a few times on their thrown in? It owed some to the problematic throwing of Chilliboy, but bogeyman Sharpe must have scared them when they watched a tape of the Brumbies lineouts against the Force in Round 9.
Incidentally, have folks noticed a distinct absence of carping about Sharpe on this forum since the start of the season?
• Euan Murray doesn't play on Sundays because of his religious beliefs and fair enough, but the big fella started for Newcastle away at Leicester on Good Friday. Just saying.
• Murray left Northampton last December by mutual agreement because Mujati was getting all the game time. He isn't the only elite THP in Europe who has lost his mojo either: Carl Hayman moved from Murray's new club to Toulon this season but is playing behind Davit Kubriashvili of Georgia more often than not.
Eurosports commentators say that he is getting belittling comments in the French press and mentioned that he is: “... struggling come to terms with scrummaging in France. Referees interpret the scrums differently … He's had people getting under him: he's a tall man and in France they allow the props to get under and lift up – and he's had problems with that.”
Poor lamb, but they have a point – there are a lot of short-arsed LHPs in France. If he wants to change clubs and countries again though, we would keep a spot open for him at the Rats. Again, just saying.
• “Billy” Vunipola would be a handy acquisition for a Super team. He was born in Sydney, started for Wasps against Bath last weekend and ran over a few folks and smashed some others in tackles. Did I mention that he is 126kgs but is agile and only 18 years old? He's long odds because his family is in England now and his brother is in the England U/20 team.
You never know though; maybe somebody should ask.
Commentators
• Brett Papworth said during the Randwick v Easts game about Richard Stanford who was in the Brumbies and Force stables and played too young: “Unfortunately in our development system if they haven't made it by age 20 they banish you. But at age 24 and 25 they are at their best”.
Would be nice to see them in an ARC comp at that age so they can be assessed as hard-head players rather than school leavers wouldn't it Brett?
• Greg Martin Force v Bulls about the slowness of delivery of the ball: “We need a sundial to time this”. I thought the sun was down at the time Greg, but you made a good point.
• Andy Nichol Glasgow v Scarlets giving advice to Glasgow 6. James Eddie, who was pinged for being a crawler. "He'll say he's not held but you can not crawl along the ground like that...... He's looking like money's been stolen out of his pocket … but you just can't do that.” So much for the power of the innocent frown.
• Nick Mullins Newcastle v Leicester when the camera shifted to a dissatisfied looking Tigers coach Richard Cockerill just before oranges after an indifferent 1st half from his charges: “Just formulating his half time oratory, I suspect. It won't contain many long words.”
Just guessing that he said “darn” and “gosh” a lot.
Quotes
•Jack Rowell, England 1995 RWC coach, when asked by squad member Victor Ubogu (who he had coached at Bath) “Why did you take an instant dislike to me?” answered: “Because, Victor, it saved time”.
dobduff11
Trevor Allan (34)
I played against Billy Vunipola this year and last year. The kid is a freak. He is 6ft3 and as lee said about 130 kgs.
Goes to Harrow on a scholarship and when we played them in a sevens tournie he was the star player. Great tries, touchline conversions and a massive hand off. Gave my best mate a concussion with one of his monster stiff arms haha
Goes to Harrow on a scholarship and when we played them in a sevens tournie he was the star player. Great tries, touchline conversions and a massive hand off. Gave my best mate a concussion with one of his monster stiff arms haha
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Missed this on the first read. Thanks for that.
Z
Zeno
Guest
Clichéwatch — Kurtley Beale.
From a Rugby Heaven article last month:
From a Rugby Heaven article last month:
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