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#1
30-10-2006, 03:20
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Union......... Autumn Internationals
Well the time is on us for the usual Autumn internationals for the home countries.
Next weekend Wales v Australia on Saturday and the defining moment for England ,v All Blacks. I fear for England to be honest. Although Rob Andrew has joined the staff,its still Andy Robinsons side, and I really hope he puts out a side that will TRY to play an expansive game, I feel NZ will catch us out and give us a bloody nose. It will give us some idea if we have any chance at all, although I think I already know the answer to that.
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers 
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#2
30-10-2006, 03:45
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I think England have two chances against New Zealand, slim and none..... and slim just left town! We have been making hard work of turning posession into points, and any team who wants to beat NZ needs to take every chance that comes along.
If Rob Andrew can make a case for Jamie Noon and Matt Tait in the centres, with a fit Josh Lewsey at fullback and Cueto plus A N Other on the wings then England have the backs to play an expansive game. The problem is that the forwards won't be able to give them a platform, and the likes of Tait and Cueto will get smashed by the NZ backs. I can't see the England selectors taking 'risks', so am expecting a pretty conservative, plodding pack and safety (defensive minded) backs. Damage limitation will win the argument. I think the South Africa game will be tighter, SA are not what they were and England have a chance there. The Wales Australia game should be a cracker, I think Wales are a match for anybody at home.
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#3
30-10-2006, 08:50
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I hope to god UBC wakes up this year or I am getting cable fitted.. Didnt even show tri nations !! They have 8 odd channels showing non stop football, repeats of 'classic matches' and dont show live internationals of rugby lately..
I know Thais are football mad but for a service that targets a farang audience its pretty poor. I agree with above assessment.. AB's looked powerful and on form in Tri nations (what I saw) and England has looked confused and disjointed..
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Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#4
30-10-2006, 23:06
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Were almost back to full strength now in Wales after the injury problems of last year only Michael Owen is out at No 8 and we beat the Aussies last year but i think they are a much imroved outfit this year.
Only concern i have is Gavin Henson I have allways backed him as he has the potential to be an one of the Welsh greats, but i do question his commitment to the sport. He wanted last summer off and not go on the tour to Argentina saying he wanted to have a rest and get a full pre season training under his belt, then in a television interview he was asked if he was going to watch the football world cup and he replied yes it was one of the reasons he stayed at home and not tour Argentina. Sorry but in Wales if you play Rugby you have to be 100% committed to the sport not a wannab footballer. Big day for Gareth Jenkins Saturday, he needs a good result, a win or a close loss with us playing some attractive rugby will do.
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 Played 5 Won 5 Grand Slam 2008
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#5
31-10-2006, 05:19
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I think most of you know my opinions before I write....
 ABs by 20+.....can't see it being much of a match really......no firepower in England team should be a good game between Wales and Wallabies......with a narrow win to Wallabies......I think they are pretty evenly matched really with Wales + France the two best Northern Hemisphere teams I think the southern hemisphere teams are ahead at this point but SA can't play well away from home.........anyway I always back any team playing them....can't stand the boks......used to really hate them....but now I just can't stand them.....should be able to tolerate them just before I die at age 106.......55555
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 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#6
31-10-2006, 05:26
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Can't disagree with that Nels'. Had the Home sides played a game or two together, I might have taken a Welsh win, but 20+ points to NZ seems fair. I just can't see where England will get any possesion,and if they do what they'll do with it  Never liked the Boks since the England tour of '95. Filthly lot of forwards who don't mind using the rough stuff when they are losing 
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#7
31-10-2006, 07:50
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spot on Rog.....same same me........ I think that if I had seen Wales put a couple of decent games together even against poor teams I might have picked them over the wallabies at home.....but without any warm up matches i think the Northern Hemisphere teams are gonna struggle..... As I said tho' they could do OK against Boks after playing AB's + Wallabies.........Boks just can't travel...... and I've hated the boks from my anti apartheid protesting days....never warmed to them....their behaviour during that time and there arrogance afterwards has been appalling.....until very recently when they embraced Mandella and came to realise that black people are humans (better humans than the racist bigots hat made up the SA team at the time.....that's for bloody sure) and with a bit of teaching and experience can be damn good rugby players........ My hope that some day soon blacks will dominate that team..and the whole rugby world will be better off for it.......and I hope it is before I am 106 yo..........55555
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#8
31-10-2006, 15:23
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Which set of forwards are you talking about? As England under Robinson, are pretty much forward power based. But ok, SA are the team who developed these tactics to a new level!
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"WILL WORK FOR BEER AND BG'S"
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#9
31-10-2006, 18:10
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The Springbok forwards have history, there is a difference between fronting up like the England pack do and the biting, gouging, butting, elbowing brutality that SA fall back on when they are losing the argument. The 2002/03 game at Twiickenham springs to mind
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#10
01-11-2006, 03:34
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agreed........the Boks have always been the dirtiest b'stards when it comes to intimidation.........glad those nasty cheap shots have basically been red + yellow carded out of the game over the last 10 years or so........ I really admired England's forwards in the last world cup final......sure they bent the rules to breaking point the way they were killing play on the try line......but guys like Johnson + Delaglio really put their bodies on the line to do this......it's a wonder they are still walking afterwards...... Can't see anyone in the English team these days who would be prepared to do that.........
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#11
01-11-2006, 04:09
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I think Corry and Moody would,but is Corry even worth a place in the starting 15?? I see he has been moved to blindside to let in Sanderson. Cueto is out of the match with an injured ankle, and Paul Sackey of Wasps is replacing him. Looking forward to seeing how Bristol scrum half Shaun Perry performs,also new centre 20yr old Anthony Allen. I just hope he doesn't get the "Matthew Tait" tratment if he has an indifferent game. These new guys have to be given a chance in all autumn internationals and the 6 nations if a settled side,barring injuries, is to be chosen. Back to your quote Nels, in that tournament, Dallaglio and Johnson were the cornerstone of a great forward display. Its really hard to replace them both.
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#12
01-11-2006, 05:59
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Impossible Roger......and I don't see any team in the world at the moment including the AB's...... with forwrads of the toughness + willingness of these guys to do what it takes to win matches.......it truly was a magnificent effort and lifted the rest of the team to play at a level they would not have been capable of without them....... It is only reasonable to expect a long rebuilding process........but it has been 3 years so far and still doesn't ever look like getting there.......unfortunately
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#13
03-11-2006, 07:39
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I'm finding it almost comical now, the England back 3 is a joke. Martin Corry, Leicester's No8 and England's captain is starting at No6. Worcester's No6 is starting at No8, and he is not even the best No8 in bloody Worcester never mind England, though there were loud cries for him to start at No7 in the last internationals.
Of course, the No7 shirt is unavailable because Lewis Moody, one of the best blindside flankers in the country, will be busy wearing it for his trips to the sin-bin. We are about to start our preparations for the defence of the world cup with all three back row players out of position. Andy Robinson? Anne Robinson could have picked that line up and gotten at least one of them in the right spot.
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#14
03-11-2006, 10:42
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what's this......ERU is embroiled in "weakest link" slurs on Thai Message Board.....55555....shoot stevie....you have lost faith my son!!!!
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#15
03-11-2006, 15:32
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I've not lost faith mate, but it's pretty clear who the weakest link is and the sooner the RFU say goodbye to him the better.
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#17
03-11-2006, 22:21
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Only four heavy defeats against SA (twice?) NZ AND Argentina in the Autumn Internationals will get those old farts in RFU to ditch Robinson. Its too close to the WC to change now. Agree with Steve that those back row selections are a farce. Maybe this is one of Robinsons tactical ploys that he thinks will fool NZ
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#18
03-11-2006, 23:21
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Fool them? I bet they are still laughing now. I agree about the RFU too, they will stick with him through WC 2007.
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#19
05-11-2006, 02:31
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Wales v Australia
Great match this afternoon from Cardiff. Ended 29 - 29 and a pretty true reflection on the game.
Australia started really well and I thought Wales were dead and buried after 30mins. But a determined 10mins before half time and only 1point behind at 16 - 17. The second half was pretty even with Wales going into the lead,then Aus ahead with 10mins to go. Wales scored a penalty and both teams held on for the draw. Real end to end stuff,and James Hook played well for Wales coming on for injured Stephen Jones. Also openside flanket Martin Williams had a stormer. For Aus, Chris Larkham stood out at full back and Matt Giteau was a success at scrum half. Not the same team though when Larkham is not stand off. He really pulls the strings and Matt Rogers is no No10 All in all a great afternoons rugby. If the rest of the matches are as good as this then we have some great rugby to look forward to.
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#20
05-11-2006, 05:22
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I caught the last 30 mins and thought the draw was a fair reflection.
It will be interesting to see what, if anything, England have learned in this latest get together. I call NZ by less than 10 points but that would be flattering us, I think England are currently the 4th best team in Europe and I can see us not progressing from the group stages in WC 2007. On the upside, Sale had a handsome win at Wasps last night and they have traditionally suffered during international breaks.
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#21
05-11-2006, 23:28
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England Vs New Zealand
Much better than expected, robbed of a try! NZ opening things up a bit now, showing true class.
England have a lot of work to do for the world cup though, But the performance encouraging. Is it me, or does Charlie Hodgson look like Dan Akroyd?
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#22
05-11-2006, 23:30
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looks like a big hammering for them......
there coach is rubbish..i suppose the players a re no better.. England 5 - 28 New Zealand
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ROLL ON OCTOBER........
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