The 2011 Rugby Thread - The thread which will send Hound to the bottle

[Hound55]

Well, with the Super 15 competition (Major club rugby for the Tri-Nation countries of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) about to kick-off in two days and a World Cup due later this year I thought this place could do with somewhere for me to complain about Richie McCaw constantly being off-side, pine that Mark Gerrard signed with the Rebels for the cash rather than return to the Brumbies where he belongs and laugh when New Zealand chokes in the World Cup like they always do (honestly, I doubt they will this year).

So lace 'em up while we talk the game they play in heaven...

Touch. Pause... Engage!

 

[Kaleb]

Looking forward to it , Im a season ticket holder for the Natal Sharks (South Africa) I hope we do well this season, after last yrs forgettable season. As for the world cup I hope New Zealand choke badly, obviously I would like to see South Africa retain, but I wouldnt mind if a team like France, Argentina or some county that hasnt won it before.

 

[Hound55]

Obviously a lot can happen in a year, but I was very surprised with how poorly the Bokkies went in Tri-Nations last year considering the quality of players they have in key positions.

Be interesting to see how much they can turn that around as it gets closer to the World Cup and how some of the older statesmen for the South African team pace themselves through the Super 15 season in preparation for it.

 

[Kaleb]

What do you think of the new super 15 format? I have mixed feelings about it .its good as it will ensure that the best team go through,however I'm not keen on watching a whole month of local derby games before the team faces a team from overseas.also the 4 month schedule is going to be torture. On the boks,Aussies and all blacks prepping for the. World cup.They should have rather introduced it next year.

 

[Hound55]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I felt that the previous schedule format did a pretty good job easing the stress and tension from the ordeal of major travel between the nations (particularly difficult with travel to and from South Africa) whilst generally providing a decent amount of time for preparation.

 

[Hound55]

Well, we just lost to the f***ing Melbourne Rebels and I now feel physically ill...

I'll say again, as I did two years ago, Mark Gerrard is COMFORTABLY the best fullback in Australian rugby and probably the world.

 

[Hound55]

I'm disgusted... If you told me it was possible for a team with only 29 total rucks/mauls and 35 missed tackles to beat a team with 118 rucks/mauls and only 5 missed tackles I wouldn't believe you...

68% of possession... For f***s sake, we shot ourselves in the foot.

That's the kind of difference Mark Gerrard makes though... if you're stupid enough to kick to him you've just bought your team a NET loss...

 

[chamber-music]

Everyone wants England to lose in the six nations against France apperantley so same old same old.

 

[Kaleb]

Im off to see the Sharks vs Aukland Blue tommorow .

 

[Iceman]

Could be a grand slam for England! Feels like ages since we used to do well in this competition.

 

[chamber-music]

Funny when the Camera man tripped and the whole stadium cheered

 

[Hound55]

As un-Australian as it is for me to admit this... The Queensland Reds really, REALLY miss Danny Braid. And I'm having trouble coming to terms with why he's not starting blind-side for the All Blacks. IMO he's better than Kano...

The Reds got manhandled by the Tahs last night and it just highlighted how valuable he is...

 

[chamber-music]

Italy Beat France 22-21 in Six Nations. Thats amazing. They will be partying in Rome tonight

 

[Hound55]

That's France though... Ridiculously inconsistent. One of the few teams capable of bringing down the All Blacks on their day, but are able to lose to just about anyone...

I'm recording the Irish/Welsh match.

Mark Gerrard is still the best fullback in Australia and probably the world. There's only two things keeping the Rebels competitive and his boot is one of them. Every 70 yard, perfectly weighted touch finder is a dagger in my heart.

If Deans doesn't take him at 15 I'll lose my goddamn mind...

 

[Hound55]

Matt Tamua - How do you have a job...?

 

[Hound55]

Highlights from the Reds/Bulls game for anyone interested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oppcqhyz8VY

 

[Hound55]

Opening Tri Natons test in twenty minutes...

Guess I'll keep a running commentary of swearing and celebration as I did for the NBA Finals... except I have a stake in this.

I bottled up most of my cursing in the Samoan test last week... but no more!

Heh, Brendan Cannon's pre-game run-down of the starting forwards for both teams just consisted of him saying each player's name and "expect a big performance from him" every other name.

 

[Hound55]

Bennie Alexander! Scoring tries! AAC and Pat McCabe making the hard back tackles and plays... Just like with the Brumbies! Except they're healthy!

 

[Hound55]

Well... I wouldn't say we're positioned to win the world cup, but I feel a lot better about the Wallabies being able to put in a decent showing than I was 3 hours ago...

Three Brumbies players scored tries... a little poetic there since we've proven orselves virtually incapable of getting 4-try bonus points over the years...

 

[Hound55]

Ticking down to the kickoff of one of the biggest tests before the World Cup... This one shoud give us a better indicator as to where exactly Australia and South Africa really are leading into the World Cup.

A bunch of quality players are bac in for the Bokkies, but our oen field game breakers like Quade Cooper and Beale play their best against South Africa (mainly because he's so different from what they usually see).

 

[Hound55]

Twenty minutes in and we're giving up too many cheap penalties and James O'Connor's made a pair of big mistakes.

 

[Hound55]

Jesus Quade... If you're going to do that at fullback where the hell are we going to hide your soft arse..?

 

[Hound55]

I can only assume that the Super Soldier Serum was reverse engineered from David Pocock's blood...

 

[Hound55]

Adam Ashley-Cooper's value, like Pierre Spies, is measured in "palms to the face"...

 

[Hound55]

That game filled me with despair...

I don't know how we won that one...