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Joined August 2011
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Yep. You just can’t argue with a reasoned argument like that I guess
Pulling the plug on South Africa makes sense
Just so long as he doesn’t sign any more deals for goddam awful TV ads – he’s already given Gruen Transfer a whole new series of material ….
James O'Connor set to sign two-year deal with Reds: reports
Still missing my point. If the Bok’s world changed to where they were playing NH opposition regularly in mid season and rarely playing the higher ranked teams (and probably at times less favourable to their respective seasons), they’d almost certainly suffer in the IRB ranking stakes – it’s just the nature of the ranking points system, sports results and the shape of the rugby ball. No one’s disputing the current W/L record – but the world I’m talking about would be a different one.
For example, you play a much lower ranked team and smash them – there’s no benefit to you ranking points wise. Get pipped by a point occasionally, it hurts your ranking points a lot. This would happen.
I’ll put it another way. Imagine geography, seasons and travel issues didn’t exist and SA and England swapped comps. With the familiarity of playing the higher ranked teams and the boost in performance that gives a team, I’d pretty confidently predict over time England and SA would swop ranking positions.
Pulling the plug on South Africa makes sense
Mate, you’re just not paying attention.
Take Ireland. Since 2000 they’ve lost as many as they’ve won playing in Dublin, and two of the Boks wins were by a single unconverted try or less. If they lost the luxury and familiarity of entertaining Australia and NZ so often, particularly at home, and bagging the odd win they’d slide down the rankings no trouble.
Even a team as crap as Scotland have done them twice since 2000.
Pulling the plug on South Africa makes sense
“There will be a lot of resistance in Europe to SA joining the 6 nations. Lets face they will win a 7 nations every single year.”
Quite the reverse. SA would likely crap themselves about their world ranking. Playing these teams nicely warmed in the middle of their club seasons rather than cold at the start in November would see a whole bunch of potential banana skins for them, even in Scotland.
Pulling the plug on South Africa makes sense
Off your gourd again. Top six European clubs would match their s15 counterparts easily. You just don’t get how these teams are put together – they pick from a broader pool with less restriction. It’s not Japan, no one in the top teams is working their pension. If you think the dynamic of club teams is the same as national selection and that performance is comparable, you just don’t get club rugby. You’re certainly not watching it carefully enough.
Pulling the plug on South Africa makes sense
Toad, hammy and rat also doubtful ………..gimmestrength
Honey Badger in doubt for Force clash
I know mate. Can’t help myself though, always trying to help the afflicted
Abolish yellow cards in Test matches
Gatland’s pick as Lions coach worried many that he would waste the resource and talent available this tour and so it’s played out. Picking talented individuals to suddenly play as a team is no easy ask but this is a comparatively poor Wallaby side with a lot of growing still to do. Even a fully fit English or Irish team would likely give a better account of themselves touring here right now. I doubt he can suddenly change tack with his playing group but hopefully a bit of player power will come through in team discussions this week. Either way, another enthralling weekend looms …..
Lions must chance their arm to win
You do know the chair of the IRB’s a Frenchman, the vice chair’s a Saffer and the CEO is an Aussie right? Bro, your conspiracy theory runs deeper than Spiro’s.
Horwill puts spring in Wallabies steps
Richard, hate coming on here just to level the ‘stupid’ charge but so many of your post above qualify. The fact that in this one you proudly claim to be be bringing balance by being completely unbalanced, only demonstrates further dullness.There is a political career just crying out for your talents.
Andrew Strauss quits all forms of cricket
Couldn’t agree more re Coe. The soon to be Conservative member for Falmouth & Camborne was always the square head of the two. I know who I’d always preferred to have a beer with. Both amazing athletes though.
SPIRO: Look, Thorpie, we can do without that constant 'look' word
Look, I can’t believe you blokes are raisng this now. Ten years ago arriving on your shores from GB (18 Golds and counting) i spent the first several months constantly thinking either absolutely everything was in question (the really annoying rising inflection), or it was all about to kick off. Preceding any comment with ‘Look’ where i come from is generally a sign of significant annoyance and a generally reliable indicator that we are at that point in the debate where if you don’t get my point, I’m about to start punching it into you. Even now when on the receiving end of it, I still find a defensive and precautionary fist forming in my pocket. Please can you all stop it.
Look, while we’re at it, can some of you also please stop butchering words such as ‘known’ or ‘grown’. To clarify, these are single syllable words – always have been, always will be. The abomination of ‘grow-en’ or ‘know-wen’ perpetrated even by national news readers has to stop.
SPIRO: Look, Thorpie, we can do without that constant 'look' word
With due deference to your ‘expert’ tag Tim, i spent 30 years growing up in the UK and the last 10 here and HardcorePrawn has it right – there are far more meaningful and long standing rivalries in the British and English minds, not least amongst their own Isles without even venturing to the Germans, French, Italians etc.
The Anglo Antipodean rivalry is far brighter in Australian minds then it ever is to the Poms old son. Australian preoccupation with things English, not just sport, was a real suprise to me when i moved here – and frankly soon gets dull as it’s generally negative. It’s a shame the Kiwis don’t compete at more than one sport, isn’t it ….
How to make the London Olympics even better
Yeah mickh, saw something similar from Boris – trouble is, he was responding to an Aussie journo’s tired question …which only goes to prove my point. And your point about (one) of the Aussies coaches completely misses my point that i was talking about the Aussie media, not Australia’s coaches or competitors.
The fact you roll out the tired ‘bleating’ charge, probably says more about the camp you’re in than anything else mate.
How to make the London Olympics even better
And you don’t think it might have been rejected as too blatant and obvious a stunt to pull in the circumstances. Or that Gatland wasn’t using the story to have another dig at a ref who made a correct decision he didn’t like?
Come on mate, get real.
Wales coach mulled cheating in Cup semi
“It clearly should be Aus v NZ in the final.”
Why? France getting tonked by NZ is much the same as watching Australia last weekend – difference is, at least the French might try running the ball and give us some entertainment.
Enough is enough! France has a chance
Come on. This is not the occasionally brilliant French stereotype team. The only chance France have here is if NZ completely implode in a way never previously seen. They are awful and have only progressed by meeting teams exhibiting similar shades of awful on the day. There cannot have been a weaker finalist in RWC history. This is not even a two horse race – the second horse went lame months ago, it’s just not aware it’s been shot and is dead yet.
Almost seems scripted – revenge for a perceived four year old wrong and a repeat of the last win all those years ago. In fact is this was cricket, there would have to be an investigation.
France, no chance.
…… jeez would be funny though ………
Enough is enough! France has a chance
Just trying to make it easier for all my Australian friends, I know how forgetful they all get. Bit like believing you play a running game while watching Genia box kick all afternoon in the ‘real’ final.
Five burning questions for the Wallabies
Damien. 20 minutes? Are you for real? And the following 60? This was as ordinary as most served up at this RWC. So many teams must have been watching that shaking thier heads at what could have been.
Wallabies thumped by All Blacks in RWC semi-final
So THIS was the real final was it. Kick, chase, mistake. Dull. Cannot wait for the Zavos spin.
Wallabies thumped by All Blacks in RWC semi-final
Whether I agree with you or not, in terms of skill levels you just described half the recently capped English centres….
Burgess in England Saxons rugby team