The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

Opening matches.......

CW1.JPG (27.58 KiB) Viewed 878 times

[pharvey]

Bumping this one in case anyone still wants to join - tournament kicks off tomorrow with a new look Wallabies side hosting the Blackness.......

There is now a league set up, and those who wish to join, simply follow bellow.....: -

http://www.superbru.com/rugbychampionsh ... p=11123644
Pool name: HHF - Rugby Championship

Pool code: etnaalas

[Big Boy]

Sorry pharvey, I missed the post where you created a pool. The last I read was that you were waiting to see if it could run alongside the opening week of Wendyball.

[pharvey]

Sorry pharvey, I missed the post where you created a pool. The last I read was that you were waiting to see if it could run alongside the opening week of Wendyball.

Not a problem - all up and running and now up to 8 members.

Oz and Lindosfan - don't forget to make your picks for Round 1 !!

[pharvey]

Well, certainly an enjoyable game so far! 44 points in 40 mins - can't be bad!!

HT and The Blackness lead by 25-19...... although NZ looking far the more dangerous in attack, taking advantage of all opportunities. 3 tries to one to NZ with Genia scoring a superb solo try for Aus in the dying minutes of the 1st half to give a better look to the scoreboard!!

The Crims will certainly not be giving the AB's an easy time of it in the 2nd half, but they need to cut down on the basic errors......

[pharvey]

OUCH!!! The Blackness outscore the Crims 6 tries to 2, Australia's 2nd try coming very much as a consolation score in the final minute. Final score Aus 29 v 47 NZ....... Once again, the Blackness set the standard.

Australia's sporting woes continue it seems...

Next up, Jaarpies vs Argies.........

[ridgeydidge.au]

OUCH!!! The Blackness outscore the Crims 6 tries to 2, Australia's 2nd try coming very much as a consolation score in the final minute. Final score Aus 29 v 47 NZ....... Once again, the Blackness set the standard.

Australia's sporting woes continue it seems...

Next up, Jaarpies vs Argies.........

it was a dignified loss...btw congrats on picking the margin and the win...can't take a trick in oz right now!
All blacks will be hard to beat

[pharvey]

it was a dignified loss...btw congrats on picking the margin and the win...can't take a trick in oz right now!
All blacks will be hard to beat

More luck than judgment picking the margin!

Can't say Aus played particularly badly, but made a lot of silly errors. However, Genia and Ashley-Cooper again showing flashes of absolute class - and a big hand for Hooper who made a sterling effort in the loose at Openside.

Indeed, NZ are again going to be hard to beat....

[pharvey]

South Africa 73 vs 13 Argentina

Dear oh dear oh dear..... I was expecting way, way more from Argentina after a pretty competitive 1st season in the Championship last year. Didn't manage to watch the game as the Internet speed was dire last night.... yet again However, did manage to follow the "Live Scoreboard".

Appears Argentina were holding on (albeit by the skin of their teeth) until the half-hour mark when their Hooker was sin-binned. 2 tries for the Boks quickly followed before half time and a complete collapse by the Argies in the 2nd half - during which they also lost their Number 8 to the sin-bin.

All in all - big display from SA (9 tries to 1), but a very disappointing start from Argentina....... certainly missed their captain Lobbe. Could be a very painful tournament for the Pumas if they don't improve dramatically.

[dtaai-maai]

Just watched the 2nd test between NZ and Australia, and I have to say that it makes me question just how significant the Lions series win in Australia was. As a team the Wallabies were so appalling, making so many unforced errors and so totally overwhelmed in the scrum, that it was difficult to assess how good the ABs were.
Looks like NZ have come up with yet another excellent no.10 in Tom Taylor, who was - unbelievably - their 4th choice!!

[pharvey]

Unfortunately was working yesterday, so didn't get to see the Blackness vs the Crims match, but despite a much tighter result, seems a little worrying from Australia's point of view from your report DM...... Silly mistakes also cost them dearly last week. And yes..... New Zealand's strength in depth is indeed frightening.

Also a much better result for the Argies at home to the Bokke...... again missed that one, but was not lasting for a 3am kick-off.

[pharvey]

An interesting one regarding salaries - especially with the expected move of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for a reputed 90+ M GBP and an annual salary of 8m GBP!!!

In rugby and the professional era, the French "Top 14" League is where the money is. Some of the top names in the sport are there (including Johnny "One Kick" ) earning their bread and butter..... but how do they compare to Wendyball's top earners......?

Top 14 Pay League

1) Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon) – (£48,155) per month

2) Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro) – (£44,711)

3) Bryan Habana (Toulon) – (£42,991)

4) Morgan Parra (Clermont Auvergne) (£39,555)

5) Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse) – (£36,975)

6) Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing Metro) – (£35,254)

6) Carl Hayman (Toulon) – (£35,254)

6) Bakkies Botha (Toulon) – (£35,254)

9) Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro) (£34,394)

10) Matt Giteau (Toulon) (£34,394)

Remind me what the tossers like Rooney and Suarez are on.....

On a side note, I'm dropping young Gareth a line - his GBP 8m a year equates to GBP 666,666.66(6) per month For anyone who has watched the "Omen", I'm suggesting he makes himself look good by taking a pay cut!!

[jingjoe]

interesting tonight,the first time 4 brothers will play in the same A grade rugby league team in a hundred and 7 years.
the four burgess brothers will take the field for souths who are currently second on the nrl ladder.
Oh and they are englishman as well....history in the making for australian rugby league.

[Big Boy]

What's happened to our captain in the Rugby Championship pool we've got running?

[pharvey]

^ Back in the UK and was supposedly on holiday until called back into work......... Could have sworn I made my picks for this week, but yet another couple of matches missed

I shall however be back!!

Congrats to ridgeydidge.au on leading the pack thus far...... an to Dai_L on this week's Yellow Cap.