What good idea to have a rugby forum to celecbrate and enjoy all that is best in one of the nobler sports.

I say this despite the disappointment in Gloucester's defeat earlier this month.

quote:

I fucking hate rugby.

Deane, you ever read, seen, heard Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?

Sometimes you remind me of Marvin.

"Life? Don't talk to me about Life. Here I am, brain the size of a planet and you have me parking cars for 2 million years. What a waste."

Marvin: [as they are gazing at the wonder of Magrathea] Incredible... it's even worse than I thought it would be.
[Arthur and Ford have each been unexpectedly hit in the face by some unknown flyswatter-like thing]
Zaphod: Zarquon! What was that? Geez...
Marvin: [depressed] I'd make a suggestion, but you wouldn't listen.
[even more depressed]
Marvin: No one ever does.

Trillian: Marvin... you saved our lives!
Marvin: I know. Wretched, isn't it?

The London Wasps run behind Dallagli-lagli-o
Dallagli-lagli-o
Dalagli-lagli-o

Now old man Corry knows where to go-o-o-o-o
Go-o-o-o-o
Go-o-o-o-o

Sorry, took me three days to come up with that...

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
I've done personal cares for a guy witha C5/6 lesion caused by a fracture to the neck that he sustained in 1985 during practice for representative rugby.

He was a front rower.

Was a front-rower...

Every two days a nurse uses his or her fingers to pull this guys shit out through his rectum because his bowels are paralysed along with most of the rest of him. It's called a 'manual' in the trade.

In Christchurch we have a top class spinal injury unit at Burwood Hospital. Every weekend, on average, they get ready for another rugby player. This is because, even though we are a small country, the rate of serious spinal injuries caused by rugby is about 50 cases per year.

Since the scrummaging rules were changed, the seriousness of the injuries have lessened, but the rate at which they happen has not.

I fucking hate rugby.

Come on Deane, clearly your view has been tarnished by what you have seen in hospital, but if we all refrained from doing things because of what 'could' happen, we'd never even get out of bed or cross the road or drive a car, let alone skydive, motor race, white water raft, rock climb, etc, etc.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
The next joy we have to look forward to is the Rugby World Cup. (I imagine it is at this point some of the NZ forum members will join in...)

Any comments, chaps? Or still a bit too early?

James

Still waiting, but the Yappies are loking very strong after the all SA Super 14 final.
Of course you can never trust the Aussies, even though they did a pretty poor Super 14 show - AGAIN.
Maybe it could be a good sign for the All Blacks that they the Kiwi teams did stuff up big time during Super 14. Certainly for most previous World Cups the All Blacks/Kiwi teams very strong favourites, only to totally blow the big games.
My only fear is the All Blacks inability to change a game plan halfway through a game. Dare I say it, but for a lot of those guys, the lights are on but there's no-one home {Deane - a quote for your thread }

Certainly the Tri Nations winner should be odds on favourite for the World Cup once SA have the Poms for breakfast

My 2c worth
Pete

I concede that in the Heineken Cup Final the old boy did quite well to lead, on field, Wasps to a surprise narrow victory over the team of the season, but this is simply madness (or sheer desparation, which may be the same thing).

England hint at Dallaglio recall

James

I suspect that the RWC 2003 England winners mug on my desk will NOT be joined by a RWC 2007 version.

Jono

Good thread idea - shame there's currently not much to discuss. Roll-on September!

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
I've done personal cares for a guy witha C5/6 lesion caused by a fracture to the neck that he sustained in 1985 during practice for representative rugby.

He was a front rower.

Was a front-rower...

Every two days a nurse uses his or her fingers to pull this guys shit out through his rectum because his bowels are paralysed along with most of the rest of him. It's called a 'manual' in the trade.

In Christchurch we have a top class spinal injury unit at Burwood Hospital. Every weekend, on average, they get ready for another rugby player. This is because, even though we are a small country, the rate of serious spinal injuries caused by rugby is about 50 cases per year.

Since the scrummaging rules were changed, the seriousness of the injuries have lessened, but the rate at which they happen has not.

I fucking hate rugby.

Sobering and scary.

I was astonished at just how many people played rugby in New Zealand. I went to watch the Lions get absolutely stuffed in 2005 in all three tests.

It was amazing to see pitch after pitch after pitch full all day Saturday and Sunday as kids and adults lined up for their teams. Almost all to a frighteningly high standard.

I believe that they now split children into weight categories as many of the Pacific Island children who have made their homes in NZ are just so much bigger at a younger age.

So back on to the World Cup. Anyone actually going this year?

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
I concede that in the Heineken Cup Final the old boy did quite well to lead, on field, Wasps to a surprise narrow victory over the team of the season, but this is simply madness (or sheer desparation, which may be the same thing).

England hint at Dallaglio recall

James

Desperation I think, James. As much as I love Lol, I think his time has passed for England and they should be looking to blood the youngsters for a bit of experience in a competition they clearly cannot win.

Mark

See the AB's made their usual dodgy start to the season. Wonder if they'll play any better in the forth coming second test?

I don't know what you're all worried about; I'm Scottish, and boy do we have real worries. Unless we find a way of cloning Gavin Hastings, Roy Laidlaw et al, we're seriously in the mire.

Yours wrapped in the Saltire of despond etc.

quote:

Originally posted by PJT:
See the AB's made their usual dodgy start to the season. Wonder if they'll play any better in the forth coming second test?

Yeah, that was a close one!

Good grief, Charlie Brown!

Bloody hell! ABs 61 France 10!

I know it was a team of reserves for the French but you just know that if it was the AB second string team against the French in France it would not be a 50 point gap. In fact NZ had a few youngsters and squad players in the team as well.

9 tries were scored by NZ and if McAllister had kicked all the points (or Carter had been playing) it would have been over 70 points on the board.

It was an awesome display of power in the first half especially and, apart from Chabal, the French had no answer to the ABs physicality. They destroyed the French scrum and the pressure was relentless with wave after wave of black shirts both in attack and in defence. In contrast when a French player broke through (not often) he was pretty isolated. The ABs were a bit more disjointed in the second half but the French were so demoralised by that point that they still put 31 points on them!

I have to say that I can't see past NZ for this year's RWC, however, they have frequently gone in as favourites only to fail on the biggest stage.

It's going to be fascinating.

Mark

Good summary Mark, you mirror most of my thoughts as well.

It's a pity that it doesn't really mean anything more than a good run around for the AB's and some game time for the 2nd French team. Makes a bit of a mockery of touring.

I wouldn't read a lot into either teams future performance though.

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
Bloody hell! ABs 61 France 10!

Looks the the new combinations are starting to work.

quote:

I have to say that I can't see past NZ for this year's RWC, however, they have frequently gone in as favourites only to fail on the biggest stage.

It's going to be fascinating.

Mark

You're not wrong. That is why most Kiwis look towards the RWC with a lot of aprehension!

Believe me I am not putting any money on the outcome as the AB's have a grand history of choking on the important games

Certainly looking forward to the Tri-Nations are the South Africans are also looking dominant.

So I guess we just have to sit back, and hope there is enough cold beer in the fridge

quote:

Originally posted by PJT:
Believe me I am not putting any money on the outcome as the AB's have a grand history of choking on the important games

I hope they don't this time, it would be good to see them succeed on the biggest stage for the first time in twenty years. I think this AB team is playing the best rugby I have ever seen.

Mark

Got m'Tigers season ticket blurb through the post today.

Yes, it's more excellent value from England's leading Club side. Question is whether REALISTICALLY I would get the usage because of commitments squeezing in... Decisions, decisions...

James