France v Wales, 09/02/13

[Big Ewis]

^ didn't know all that...

say, you think our defeat to the AB's in the pools was "disgraceful" ?...they were plotting RWC revenge since the 2007 exit, were at home and more than prepared for it...17-37...it's......."bearable", no ?...

And you think the Lions' tours are THE highlight of the Rugby world ?!...more than RWC ?..you may have knowledge I don't, and I know the Lions are way way older than the RWC, but still, isn't that too far-fetched ?

 

[Tony Manx]

And you think the Lions' tours are THE highlight of the Rugby world ?!...more than RWC ?..you may have knowledge I don't, and I know the Lions are way way older than the RWC, but still, isn't that too far-fetched ?

...............depends upon where in the world you come from and what your priorities maybe!

The Lions tour gives the supporters and the players of the British Isles countries, most of whom could not match the SH teams on their own, a reasonable chance to beat the SH countries away and the SH countries a huge financial bonus based on the support that travels with the Lions.

Whether it should rank higher than a RWC or not is highly debatable but that, probably, comes down to your chances of winning it (and the levels of your ambition) I guess!!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

^ didn't know all that...

say, you think our defeat to the AB's in the pools was "disgraceful" ?...they were plotting RWC revenge since the 2007 exit, were at home and more than prepared for it...17-37...it's......."bearable", no ?...

And you think the Lions' tours are THE highlight of the Rugby world ?!...more than RWC ?..you may have knowledge I don't, and I know the Lions are way way older than the RWC, but still, isn't that too far-fetched ?

Losing against the All Blacks is hardly a disgrace. Throwing away the game before playing it, saving players for the QF, on the other hand, is a disgrace.

And about the Lions, I said "for some". I do think it is kind of the last remaining "old school" feature in the calendar, so I'm quite fond of it despite it not involving France, though nowadays argueing it to be above the World Cup is rather farfetched, I agree.. Australians are going mad about those tickets now, much more than for the last WC they hosted. (also, for the 2001 tour, there was a bigger madness about tickets for the tests than for the 2003 RWC, also in Australia).

 

[Big Ewis]

hmmm yeah ok, coz personally I never even thought of the idea that the Lions Tour would be above the RWC, or even the 6N...in fact, personally, and without any resentment, I don't think highly of it at all. Sorry I know it's awfully off-topic, but hey, we're talkin about it aren't we.

I like two things:
* gives the SH teams a chance to show how excellent they really are, that the entire British Isles put together can't win a series against them. It helps add some mystique to the Big 3 (well, esp. the big 2 honestly...unfortunately, coz I'm a Green n Gold fan). Remember 2005, the AB (and Dan Carter notably that match !!!) put 50 on them ?? That's epic Rugby.
* it brings the Celtic populations together with England, and togetherness is always a plus in my book, as cheesy as it sounds. They're all cheering like crazy over the same team, when usually it's always "I like whoever beats England" from the Celts, or "Wales are sheep shaggers" etc...

But besides that, it's a fake contest of course. If in a few years, France+Italy+Argentina joined forces (as, like, the "Latin Horses", or "Roman Empire"....or "Centurions" or smt ) against, say, the AB or the Boks and won, I wouldn't make any sort of a big deal out of it, I mean, we're 3 fokking GOOD nations put together, what do you expect here ffs ?!...
So to me it's always had that kitsche, cheap cheap aura around it, like...we can't beat you on our own, so we'll invent this nation-fusion concept (that's been immediately accepted) and try to beat you that way (and their record still is miserable against the AB...).

 

[Tony Manx]

hmmm yeah ok, coz personally I never even thought of the idea that the Lions Tour would be above the RWC, or even the 6N...in fact, personally, and without any resentment, I don't think highly of it at all. Sorry I know it's awfully off-topic, but hey, we're talkin about it aren't we.

I like two things:
* gives the SH teams a chance to show how excellent they really are, that the entire British Isles put together can't win a series against them. It helps add some mystique to the Big 3 (well, esp. the big 2 honestly...unfortunately, coz I'm a Green n Gold fan). Remember 2005, the AB (and Dan Carter notably that match !!!) put 50 on them ?? That's epic Rugby.
* it brings the Celtic populations together with England, and togetherness is always a plus in my book, as cheesy as it sounds. They're all cheering like crazy over the same team, when usually it's always "I like whoever beats England" from the Celts, or "Wales are sheep shaggers" etc...

But besides that, it's a fake contest of course. If in a few years, France+Italy+Argentina joined forces (as, like, the "Latin Horses", or "Roman Empire"....or "Centurions" or smt ) against, say, the AB or the Boks and won, I wouldn't make any sort of a big deal out of it, I mean, we're 3 fokking GOOD nations put together, what do you expect here ffs ?!...
So to me it's always had that kitsche, cheap cheap aura around it, like...we can't beat you on our own, so we'll invent this nation-fusion concept (that's been immediately accepted) and try to beat you that way (and their record still is miserable against the AB...).

Amateur Rugby was rich in tradition and the Lions tours epitomises that just as the Barbarians tours used to before falling foul of the professional era....no doubt the Lions will in due course also fall foul of it as their tours robs some nations of the money that comes with major tours reduced in quality by the inclusion of the better players in the Lions squad viz, the tour to Argentina this summer when (and should say if) England go there this summer!

If France Italy and Argentina tried to emulate the Lions it would take decades for it to be seen as "traditional" and could never have the same history and reputation as that of the Lions which came from the amateur era where the touring players drank and behaved like (and mixed with) the travelling supporters!

 

[big ginger 8]

hmmm yeah ok, coz personally I never even thought of the idea that the Lions Tour would be above the RWC, or even the 6N...in fact, personally, and without any resentment, I don't think highly of it at all. Sorry I know it's awfully off-topic, but hey, we're talkin about it aren't we.

I like two things:
* gives the SH teams a chance to show how excellent they really are, that the entire British Isles put together can't win a series against them. It helps add some mystique to the Big 3 (well, esp. the big 2 honestly...unfortunately, coz I'm a Green n Gold fan). Remember 2005, the AB (and Dan Carter notably that match !!!) put 50 on them ?? That's epic Rugby.
* it brings the Celtic populations together with England, and togetherness is always a plus in my book, as cheesy as it sounds. They're all cheering like crazy over the same team, when usually it's always "I like whoever beats England" from the Celts, or "Wales are sheep shaggers" etc...

But besides that, it's a fake contest of course. If in a few years, France+Italy+Argentina joined forces (as, like, the "Latin Horses", or "Roman Empire"....or "Centurions" or smt ) against, say, the AB or the Boks and won, I wouldn't make any sort of a big deal out of it, I mean, we're 3 fokking GOOD nations put together, what do you expect here ffs ?!...
So to me it's always had that kitsche, cheap cheap aura around it, like...we can't beat you on our own, so we'll invent this nation-fusion concept (that's been immediately accepted) and try to beat you that way (and their record still is miserable against the AB...).

You really don't get the Lions do you?

 

[Big Ewis]

Tony Manx : right yeh. Thanks for the explanation.

big ginger 8 : I dunno, enlighten me. I'm not being cute, literally: enlighten me, what am I missing ? (briefly)

 

[Bluemoon]

Terrible terrible pitch out there. Cutting up really badly. It seems to be causing Adam Jones to look uncomfortable at the scrum.

 

[dullonien]

Gethin Jenkins has looked to be under a little pressure in the first couple of scrums. The pitch is terrible though, so that might not be helping.

 

[Tony Manx]

Terrible terrible pitch out there. Cutting up really badly. It seems to be causing Adam Jones to look uncomfortable at the scrum.

<ethinks thee is getting your excuses in early!! Pitch is not good but same for both sides!!

More worrying for Wales is the number of handling mistakes?

 

[dullonien]

Neither team has managed to string together more than a couple of phases before a mistake. Hope the game picks up, because it's been a terrible opening 10min.

 

[Bluemoon]

<ethinks thee="" is="" getting="" your="" excuses="" in="" early!!="" pitch="" not="" good="" but="" same="" for="" both="" sides!!

More worrying for Wales is the number of handling mistakes?

Agreed. Although it seems to be an issue for both teams at the moment. Wales need a set piece though.</ethinks>

 

[Tony Manx]

Great penalty kick to ear the close range penalty but it appears to me that the Welsh are diving in at the breakdown (rather than clearing out) and killing the ball but Clancey is more concerned about the rolling away??

 

[Bluemoon]

Worrying for Wales, finally a few phases put together without the handling errors, but fantastic French defence and Wales fail to break the gainline...

 

[Tony Manx]

Can the ref please get a grip....two knock on not given, welsh scrum going forward before the ball was going in but get penalty, offsides and diving at the break down!! Spoiling what is promising to be a close fought game.....

ps get Michalak off!!!!!

 

[dullonien]

At least we're getting a little possession now. Not looking very creative in attack though. Great French defence though.

 

[Joseph14]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[dullonien]

Lovely turnover by Gethin. That's more like the Gethin of old.

 

[Bluemoon]

I think Clancy is actually being quite consistent in what he is looking at and what he is missing. He is ignoring players falling off their feet. Perhaps he is being lenient due to the ground quality?

France look much more dangerous in attack. Luckily both defences are holding up. This game will open up eventually.

 

[Joseph14]

NO FULLBACK!!!!

:lol: