Rugby

[Shaz]

As John Motson would say: "Interesting, verrrry interesting!" Andy Farrell's been picked at fly-half...

It's one of those moments that could be completely crucial in a tournament. If it works (and sometimes these moments of desperation do work out somehow), then it'll be a brilliant decision, and Ashton will be on his way to the Palace for his knighthood. But to be honest it looks more like the England team are in deep, deep trouble. Ok, they've been unlucky with injuries, but they're now going into potentially the most important game of the tournament for them with a No. 10 who's hardly played at that position. A back three who, I think, have never played in a match together, including a full-back who doesn't play regularly in that position. A back row who've hardly played together. A captain who was rejected and relaced as captain earlier this year, and who didn't have a place in the last starting XV. And no regular goalkicker. Blimey. As regards Farrell, the England management have never known what to do with him. It may be that Cousin Shaun is talking sense (though I seem to recall he was saying Farrell was a born inside-centre not so long ago), but I fancy he is talking through his arse.

Yes, I think it's pretty much desperation. But I think I might have chosen Catt at fly-half and put Farrell in the centre. Might not make too much difference if they do end up sort of interchangeable. And as one of the summarisers pointed out last night, Farrell's likely to stop anyone who comes at him!

The place-kicking is a problem. One of the papers mentioned that a lot of rugby league conversions are the converting a try from in front of the posts sort, rather than the three-pointers in rugby union which can be from virtually any position. I'm not a huge RL fan (I watch it if nothing else is on) so that hadn't occurred to me.

[firehazard]

I'm old enough to remember Romania in the 1980s where they beat some of the big sides and looked good enough to join the then Five Nations. Then the Revolution came, their captain for one got killed, and the whole thing fell apart.

Yes, I was thinking about that while watching the match last night. There was talk of them being invited to join the Five Nations, but nothing ever came of it. It seemed a shame at the time. Then after the revolution the state funding collapsed, and that was it.

[firehazard]

... I think I might have chosen Catt at fly-half and put Farrell in the centre. Might not make too much difference if they do end up sort of interchangeable. And as one of the summarisers pointed out last night, Farrell's likely to stop anyone who comes at him!

The place-kicking is a problem. One of the papers mentioned that a lot of rugby league conversions are the converting a try from in front of the posts sort, rather than the three-pointers in rugby union which can be from virtually any position. I'm not a huge RL fan (I watch it if nothing else is on) so that hadn't occurred to me.

I thought they'd do the same with Farrell and Catt, Shaz. But thinking about it now, Farrell hasn't exactly been a success at centre, so it might be worth a try. If he can be as strong in the tackle as Wilkinson -- but less fragile -- it might be just work. It's just a shame that they've ended up with a totally experimental team to play such a formidable SA team (though they will miss Burger). I'm beginning to think the SA game is less crucial to England's progress (or lack of it) in the World Cup than the ones against Samoa and Tonga.

The kicking is potentially a real problem, though.

[Shaz]

Interesting feature in The Times about professional rugby's first openly gay referee:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... mment=true

Ironically, it ran the same day as the paper used another serialisation of Graeme Le Saux's autobiography where he talks about the gay insults that followed him through his career.

I thought Owens had a good game in the Argentina v Georgia clash. And he doesn't witter on as much as Tony Flipping' Spreadbury.

[Billie]

Italy's done shite against Romania. We were lucky to get a win.

I was surprised Italy played so badly -- maybe a left-over from the weekend? If Romania hadn't been so indisciplined and given away so many penalties (and if their kicker had put over the ones he missed) they would have won.

I'm old enough to remember Romania in the 1980s where they beat some of the big sides and looked good enough to join the then Five Nations. Then the Revolution came, their captain for one got killed, and the whole thing fell apart.

State professionism. They weren't "professionals", but were guaranteed they could just think about their playing as long as they served the state in the army and made it glorious. It was an usual thing in East Europe with sports at the time (for example, read "Under the frog" by Tibor Fischer).

Italy would have lost had Romania been more disciplined and hadn't number 9 Paul Griffen gone out of the pitch. The halves were a bleedin' disgrace until Troncon came in. I save only Troncon and Masi, the others were woeful.

That was unexpectedly tough for Italy last night, Billie. Are they still suffering a hangover from the All Blacks game? The fixture scheduling for this tournament seems mighty unfair.

It's always been a problem for us. I think that there's not only the AB's hangover, but a big mental problem we have. Now we're in the Six Nations, we think we cannot be beaten by Romania, being them out of it. But in 2004, the last time the two teams had met, Romania beat Italy 25-24. And the other problem is: too much pressure on the Scotland game. They are thinking at it, and concentration on the others is low. But there's three games before that one.
We must grow up, in the head. Otherwise we aren't ready for the quarters. Everybody's talking about the quarters, but before you have to beat Romania. And it's not THAT easy.
Romania did many mistakes, but Italy wasn't able to exploit them, and went in confusion as the game became confused.

i think argentina had their big game against france, i dont think they can repeat that again

I don't agree. The Pumas are a great side, and I think this year they will show it to the world. Hope for Ireland I'm wrong

[Shaz]

Italy's done shite against Romania. We were lucky to get a win.

I was surprised Italy played so badly -- maybe a left-over from the weekend? If Romania hadn't been so indisciplined and given away so many penalties (and if their kicker had put over the ones he missed) they would have won.

I'm old enough to remember Romania in the 1980s where they beat some of the big sides and looked good enough to join the then Five Nations. Then the Revolution came, their captain for one got killed, and the whole thing fell apart.

State professionism. They weren't "professionals", but were guaranteed they could just think about their playing as long as they served the state in the army and made it glorious. It was an usual thing in East Europe with sports at the time (for example, read "Under the frog" by Tibor Fischer).

Italy would have lost had Romania been more disciplined and hadn't number 9 Paul Griffen gone out of the pitch. The halves were a bleedin' disgrace until Troncon came in. I save only Troncon and Masi, the others were woeful.

Under the Frog is an excellent book! What was true of Romanian rugby in the 1980s was happening elsewhere in the old Eastern bloc. In Moscow, Dynamo Moscow was (I think) the police side and one of the others (Spartak, maybe) was army officers.

I was surprised Troncon didn't start, but then I missed the beginning of the match. Was he being rested initially?

[Welshie]

Interesting feature in The Times about professional rugby's first openly gay referee:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... mment=true

Ironically, it ran the same day as the paper used another serialisation of Graeme Le Saux's autobiography where he talks about the gay insults that followed him through his career.

I thought Owens had a good game in the Argentina v Georgia clash. And he doesn't witter on as much as Tony Flipping' Spreadbury.

Nigel Owens has been a good ref for a while,i also reckon he's pretty brave. He appears on a Welsh language TV programme with JOhnoathon Davies who on more than one occasion rips the crap out of him, he just throws it back, and with interest!
By the way, Is Charlie Hodgson injured? I thought he was the unluckiest player on the lions tour of 2005, which from a Welshman in praise indeed!
Cheers
Aled

[Billie]

Under the Frog is an excellent book! What was true of Romanian rugby in the 1980s was happening elsewhere in the old Eastern bloc. In Moscow, Dynamo Moscow was (I think) the police side and one of the others (Spartak, maybe) was army officers.

If you look at the names of all those teams, every team of them was something. In the Soviet Union
* Dynamo was the society of militia, KGB
* Vodnik — society of workers of water-ministeries (fishery, merchant fleet, port workers)
* Trudovye Rezervy — society of students of professional-technic schools
* Burevestnik — society of students of high schools
* Lokomotiv — society of workers of railroads
Spartak was the society of trade-unions, it united the workers, the teachers and many other groups. CSKA was the army team. and so on and so forward

I was surprised Troncon didn't start, but then I missed the beginning of the match. Was he being rested initially?

I think he was just being rested. He's his age, and we'll need him a lot for the crucial matches (though I think that was a crucial match). Some thought he was on the bench because he had a ragey reaction when being subbed vs the All Blacks. But I don't think so.

[firehazard]

Nigel Owens has been a good ref for a while...

By the way, Is Charlie Hodgson injured?

Good to read the article about Owens.

Charlie Hodgson, I think, has been injured for a while. I understand he's fit again now, but at the time the England World Cup squad was announced they weren't sure if he would be in time. He'd certainly be lacking in match practice.

[Shaz]

Interesting feature in The Times about professional rugby's first openly gay referee:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... mment=true

Ironically, it ran the same day as the paper used another serialisation of Graeme Le Saux's autobiography where he talks about the gay insults that followed him through his career.

I thought Owens had a good game in the Argentina v Georgia clash. And he doesn't witter on as much as Tony Flipping' Spreadbury.

Nigel Owens has been a good ref for a while,i also reckon he's pretty brave. He appears on a Welsh language TV programme with JOhnoathon Davies who on more than one occasion rips the crap out of him, he just throws it back, and with interest!
Cheers
Aled

Yes, kudos to him for speaking out! I read in another interview that he's also a singer and stand-up comedian, so is presumably never short of a quick riposte.

Interesting background on those teams, Billie!

[Shaz]

Or maybe Catt will play fly-half. Ashton's obviously keeping the South Africans guessing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 990581.stm

Might be one of those cases where any English fans going to the match would be well advised to chuck their boots into the back of the car, just in case.

[firehazard]

Or maybe Catt will play fly-half. Ashton's obviously keeping the South Africans guessing...

Might be one of those cases where any English fans going to the match would be well advised to chuck their boots into the back of the car, just in case.

Well, well, well. Perhaps they'll toss a coin for it in the dressing room before kick-off.

And I'd just convinced myself that it was a brave and potentially brilliant decision to have Farrell at No. 10.

Will Greenwood was interviewing the England squad for ITV yesterday. I think someone asked him if he'd packed his boots.

[Shaz]

And I'd just convinced myself that it was a brave and potentially brilliant decision to have Farrell at No. 10.

So had I! I'd convinced myself that they'd finally found his ideal position in union and that the whole thing was going to be a huge success.

I was trying to blank the place-kicking from my mind, though.

[firehazard]

I was trying to blank the place-kicking from my mind, though.

And the trouble is that, however much they swap Catt and Farrell's positions, one of them will have to do the kicking...

From the BBC website: "As an educated guess, Catt will play 10 and Farrell 12," said Ashton.

"An educated guess"!!? Ashton's the coach... doesn't he know?

[Shaz]

I was trying to blank the place-kicking from my mind, though.

And the trouble is that, however much they swap Catt and Farrell's positions, one of them will have to do the kicking...

From the BBC website: "As an educated guess, Catt will play 10 and Farrell 12," said Ashton.

"An educated guess"!!? Ashton's the coach... doesn't he know?

He'll change his mind five more times between now and tomorrow night!

I know Catt gave up place-kicking to protect his dodgy back, so presumably he's even more out of practice than Farrell might be.

I covered a team some years ago where one of the locks was the place-kicker. Maybe there's a hidden talent in the England scrum.