Rugby - not set pieces
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Chilla Wilson (44)
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Heard in the commentary of the Cardiff v Montpelier HEC game today. Just after the tackle which resulted in Lloyd Williams being shown a red card players from both teams rushed into a big melee this prompted one of the commentary team to say
"You'd think they were giving something away free the way all the Welsh boys were rushing in there".
"You'd think they were giving something away free the way all the Welsh boys were rushing in there".
Antony
Alex Ross (28)
This is a bit different to a lot of the funny anecdotes etc. in this thread, but I didn't know where else to put it.
I've been on a wee bit of a world tour for the last six months, and - to the eternal consternation of my girlfriend - whenever we meet someone I inevitably bring up rugby. This leads to a lot of great talks with travelling kiwis, aussies, saffas, Irish and poms (and the citizens of other traditional rugby nations) but the really rewarding moments have been meeting people who found and love rugby despite it being a genuine minority sport.
So in no particular order, here are the people I've met from the coal-face of the global game.
- The development officer of the Polish rugby union (great bloke - I'm still in touch with him if anyone wants to bring out a few polish players to their club or something. Huge bastards, not sure how well they go in the backs though).
- A female Canadian rugby player. I'd always heard the women's game was pretty big in Canada, but nice to see that it's true.
- An open side flanker in Guatemala. Didn't speak a word of english, and my Spanish doesn't extend to ruck interpretations, so we had to use a seriously unimpressed and disinterested American girl as a translator.
- An ex junior national rep halfback from Spain. Threw a coconut around with him for a while. Snappy pass, lots to say, short fuse. A halfback, in brief.
- An ex-American footballer from "Not Chicago" Illinois. Watched a game during the world cup (USA v Russia, I think) loved it, so found himself a rule book and a hundred odd hours of game tapes and set about learning the game. Interesting to see the effect of the world cup, but also to see how some Americans approach sport. Very analytical.
- The Argentine schoolboys squad. It's obviously a major sport for them, but I was interested to note just how big it was outside of BA. Interestingly, JOC (James O'Connor) is a really big deal over there, which I found strange since he was injured for the one RC they were involved in. Shows they go out of their way to watch other countries' international stuff.
- A super-aggressive French women's flanker. And I mean a proper French girl. This was like listening to Audrey Tatau talk about ripping someone's head off, it was surreal. Girlfriend wasn't such a fan of that one.
- A brick outhouse of a loosehead prop on copacabana beach in Rio, on new year's eve. I think he might have been about to mug us, but he changed his mind when the game came up. Rugby just paid itself off.
The one thing I consistently got from these guys is that they would love to have the resources (either in their national games or in women's rugby) that many of us take for granted. Still, it's encouraging to see the game has the potential for growth.
The quote of the trip for me goes to Tomasz, the Polish guy.
"We're getting better, but we still struggle to play against the good teams."
"What, like France?"
"No, like Belgium."
It's a different world out there.
I've been on a wee bit of a world tour for the last six months, and - to the eternal consternation of my girlfriend - whenever we meet someone I inevitably bring up rugby. This leads to a lot of great talks with travelling kiwis, aussies, saffas, Irish and poms (and the citizens of other traditional rugby nations) but the really rewarding moments have been meeting people who found and love rugby despite it being a genuine minority sport.
So in no particular order, here are the people I've met from the coal-face of the global game.
- The development officer of the Polish rugby union (great bloke - I'm still in touch with him if anyone wants to bring out a few polish players to their club or something. Huge bastards, not sure how well they go in the backs though).
- A female Canadian rugby player. I'd always heard the women's game was pretty big in Canada, but nice to see that it's true.
- An open side flanker in Guatemala. Didn't speak a word of english, and my Spanish doesn't extend to ruck interpretations, so we had to use a seriously unimpressed and disinterested American girl as a translator.
- An ex junior national rep halfback from Spain. Threw a coconut around with him for a while. Snappy pass, lots to say, short fuse. A halfback, in brief.
- An ex-American footballer from "Not Chicago" Illinois. Watched a game during the world cup (USA v Russia, I think) loved it, so found himself a rule book and a hundred odd hours of game tapes and set about learning the game. Interesting to see the effect of the world cup, but also to see how some Americans approach sport. Very analytical.
- The Argentine schoolboys squad. It's obviously a major sport for them, but I was interested to note just how big it was outside of BA. Interestingly, JOC (James O'Connor) is a really big deal over there, which I found strange since he was injured for the one RC they were involved in. Shows they go out of their way to watch other countries' international stuff.
- A super-aggressive French women's flanker. And I mean a proper French girl. This was like listening to Audrey Tatau talk about ripping someone's head off, it was surreal. Girlfriend wasn't such a fan of that one.
- A brick outhouse of a loosehead prop on copacabana beach in Rio, on new year's eve. I think he might have been about to mug us, but he changed his mind when the game came up. Rugby just paid itself off.
The one thing I consistently got from these guys is that they would love to have the resources (either in their national games or in women's rugby) that many of us take for granted. Still, it's encouraging to see the game has the potential for growth.
The quote of the trip for me goes to Tomasz, the Polish guy.
"We're getting better, but we still struggle to play against the good teams."
"What, like France?"
"No, like Belgium."
It's a different world out there.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Excellent post Anthony thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I've always felt that the IRB or the Tier 1 nations as a group should set aside a portion of the revenue from the big competitions, HEC & 6Ns up here and S15 & TRC down south for development in their hemisphere. Developing the game outside of Tier 1 will be to the long term benefit of the game world wide as it will make Rugby a truly global sport and much more marketable resulting in much bigger TV deals for those competitions.
I've always felt that the IRB or the Tier 1 nations as a group should set aside a portion of the revenue from the big competitions, HEC & 6Ns up here and S15 & TRC down south for development in their hemisphere. Developing the game outside of Tier 1 will be to the long term benefit of the game world wide as it will make Rugby a truly global sport and much more marketable resulting in much bigger TV deals for those competitions.
• Munster v Saracens – Heineken Cup, Rd 3 - when the Sarries' reserve hooker came off the bench to throw the ball into the lineout:
Mark Robson: “Let's see what John Smit can do because so far in this game the Saracens lineout has been about as effective as the Elvis diet.”
• Toulouse v Clermont – Top14, Rd13 - when Luke McAllister of Toulouse signalled to the referee that he was taking a penalty kick from 57 metres out with his weary team 5 points ahead with 6 minutes to go, and Clermont on the comeback.
Anthony Hill: “Read his lips: he just said everybody is very tired – with a capital 'F'.”
[Hill, one of of the Aussie mafia at the Pro D2 Narbonne club, and its President, was doing a guest co-commentator stint with Robbie Nock.]
Mark Robson: “Let's see what John Smit can do because so far in this game the Saracens lineout has been about as effective as the Elvis diet.”
• Toulouse v Clermont – Top14, Rd13 - when Luke McAllister of Toulouse signalled to the referee that he was taking a penalty kick from 57 metres out with his weary team 5 points ahead with 6 minutes to go, and Clermont on the comeback.
Anthony Hill: “Read his lips: he just said everybody is very tired – with a capital 'F'.”
[Hill, one of of the Aussie mafia at the Pro D2 Narbonne club, and its President, was doing a guest co-commentator stint with Robbie Nock.]
London Irish Aussies
Harlequins v London Irish – Rd 12 - In front of a crowd of 82,000 at Twickenham just before Christmas:
• Prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa from Sydney University and the Brumbies stable was about to come off the bench for an injured Exiles team mate, and looking as wide as he was tall:
Commentator Nick Mullins: “Imagine playing Twister with him on Christmas Day – Right hand, yellow.”
• Later in the game the referee had a whinge to Exiles captain Declan Danaher about his hooker chirping too much. He would get penalised next time. Danaher didn't get the answer he expected when he asked: “Both sides?”
Greg Garner: “No; just your side Declan – I haven't heard them yet.”
The guilty hooker was Aussie David Paice who had played for England in 6 games, all from the bench. Paice was no stranger to Twickenham: he got on the park earlier in December in England's victory against the All Blacks.
As I have mentioned before: from Darwin, Paice played for the BSHS school in the Queensland GPS, and for the Souths club. Ten years ago he showed up at London Irish with a backpack - and stayed there.
• Patrick Phibbs, who as a young bloke filled in for Saracens around the time of the 2003 RWC, played for Exeter last season and did a stint for Leicester earlier in 2012/13; but when London Irish scrummie Tomas O'Leary was injured Phibbs was called in. He played OK too from the bench in his first game for the Exiles until he got a yellow card.
• Another Aussie, London Irish Director of Coaching, Brian Smith, left the coaches box at half time to have a chat to ref Garner as he was walking off for oranges. It didn't do his team any good - they faded at the end of the game and lost their sixth Premiership game in a row.
.
Harlequins v London Irish – Rd 12 - In front of a crowd of 82,000 at Twickenham just before Christmas:
• Prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa from Sydney University and the Brumbies stable was about to come off the bench for an injured Exiles team mate, and looking as wide as he was tall:
Commentator Nick Mullins: “Imagine playing Twister with him on Christmas Day – Right hand, yellow.”
• Later in the game the referee had a whinge to Exiles captain Declan Danaher about his hooker chirping too much. He would get penalised next time. Danaher didn't get the answer he expected when he asked: “Both sides?”
Greg Garner: “No; just your side Declan – I haven't heard them yet.”
The guilty hooker was Aussie David Paice who had played for England in 6 games, all from the bench. Paice was no stranger to Twickenham: he got on the park earlier in December in England's victory against the All Blacks.
As I have mentioned before: from Darwin, Paice played for the BSHS school in the Queensland GPS, and for the Souths club. Ten years ago he showed up at London Irish with a backpack - and stayed there.
• Patrick Phibbs, who as a young bloke filled in for Saracens around the time of the 2003 RWC, played for Exeter last season and did a stint for Leicester earlier in 2012/13; but when London Irish scrummie Tomas O'Leary was injured Phibbs was called in. He played OK too from the bench in his first game for the Exiles until he got a yellow card.
• Another Aussie, London Irish Director of Coaching, Brian Smith, left the coaches box at half time to have a chat to ref Garner as he was walking off for oranges. It didn't do his team any good - they faded at the end of the game and lost their sixth Premiership game in a row.
.
Streaks
• Toulouse played poorly in Rd. 4 of the Heineken Cup when beaten by the Ospreys and weren't a lot better losing in the Top14 to surprise packet mountain team Grenoble a week later.
Grenoble don't have a lot of stars and started with ex-Aussie players Danya Edwards, Henry Vanderglass and ex-Oz Schoolboy Andrew Farley. Later Ben Hand and Anthony Hegarty came off the bench.
That was the first time in 5 years that Toulouse had lost 2 games in a row.
• Leinster, the Heineken Cup winners for the past two seasons, had won 17 HC games in a row but were beaten in Clermont a month ago in Round 3.
• It's tough to play Clermont away. Their next home game after the Leinster win was when they thrashed Bayonne last weekend in the Top14.
In doing so Clermont extended their undefeated home streak in all matches to 52 games.
.
• Toulouse played poorly in Rd. 4 of the Heineken Cup when beaten by the Ospreys and weren't a lot better losing in the Top14 to surprise packet mountain team Grenoble a week later.
Grenoble don't have a lot of stars and started with ex-Aussie players Danya Edwards, Henry Vanderglass and ex-Oz Schoolboy Andrew Farley. Later Ben Hand and Anthony Hegarty came off the bench.
That was the first time in 5 years that Toulouse had lost 2 games in a row.
• Leinster, the Heineken Cup winners for the past two seasons, had won 17 HC games in a row but were beaten in Clermont a month ago in Round 3.
• It's tough to play Clermont away. Their next home game after the Leinster win was when they thrashed Bayonne last weekend in the Top14.
In doing so Clermont extended their undefeated home streak in all matches to 52 games.
.
Wellington Sevens
Day 2 - After the France v Wales Bowl game 32 y.o. Julien Candelon, who had just scored a hat-trick of tries to help win the match, was interviewed.
[He played for USAP in the Top14 up until last season and had represented France in test matches back in the day.]
When asked how his team was feeling the day before when they had missed out on competing for the Cup on Day 2, the old man of IRB Sevens said.
“Yesterday night we had our heads in our socks.”
Day 2 - After the France v Wales Bowl game 32 y.o. Julien Candelon, who had just scored a hat-trick of tries to help win the match, was interviewed.
[He played for USAP in the Top14 up until last season and had represented France in test matches back in the day.]
When asked how his team was feeling the day before when they had missed out on competing for the Cup on Day 2, the old man of IRB Sevens said.
“Yesterday night we had our heads in our socks.”
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Overhead on the ref mike on coverage on Italy v France in today's 6Ns game. Referee Owens admonition of a play for shouting while trying to charge down a kick.
"Don't shout when you go for the charge down. You may be in a football stadium but don't have to act like it." or something to that effect.
"Don't shout when you go for the charge down. You may be in a football stadium but don't have to act like it." or something to that effect.
He was at it in the Glasgow v Ulster Rabo game too when the Glasgow scrummie, Matawalu, did a dive.
Nige got him close in and almost whispered to him:
"It's not a round ball; we don't dive for penalties, OK? If you're running and you can go through, go through; don't dive."
Commentator Oisin Langan (laughing): "Soccer bashing again, Nigel Owens; you'll remember when he said to the Treviso player - 'This is not soccer, don't shout at me.' "
Nige got him close in and almost whispered to him:
"It's not a round ball; we don't dive for penalties, OK? If you're running and you can go through, go through; don't dive."
Commentator Oisin Langan (laughing): "Soccer bashing again, Nigel Owens; you'll remember when he said to the Treviso player - 'This is not soccer, don't shout at me.' "
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Nig is a legend, his reffing of that game in Glasgow was as close to faultless as you will see IMHO.
Lions v Southern Kings warm-up game
Marius Jonker wasn't happy with Tomas Leonardi, the backrower who played for Argentina against the Wallabies last year, and is currently in the Southern Kings Super team. He called him over to give him a yellow card.
Kings captain: “He's Spanish, he can't understand; you'll have to speak to him in Spanish.”
Jonkers: “I know he's from Spain. They play the game in English as well. He knows the laws quite well.”
Well, the captain and referee were both wrong about where he was from, but you can't argue with the ref: Leonardi had to go to the bin.
Italy v Wales
Just before the 4 minute mark BBC play-by-play commentator Andrew Cotter mentioned: “.. carried in there by Canale.” and was silent thereafter.
Apparently he had eaten some bad food the night before, got food poisoning and couldn't carry on. His co-commentator “Jiffy” Davies struggled on alone manfully until Shane Williams came "off the bench" to help out a few minutes later.
It wasn't your typical play-by-play call and the two great Wales' players had a good old time yarning about the game for the best part of 35 minutes. After oranges Huw Llewellyn Davies from the Welsh language channel did the play-by-play commentary – fortunately in English.
But Cotter soldiered on and fronted up at Murrayfield the following day to do commentary on Scotland v Ireland.
.
Marius Jonker wasn't happy with Tomas Leonardi, the backrower who played for Argentina against the Wallabies last year, and is currently in the Southern Kings Super team. He called him over to give him a yellow card.
Kings captain: “He's Spanish, he can't understand; you'll have to speak to him in Spanish.”
Jonkers: “I know he's from Spain. They play the game in English as well. He knows the laws quite well.”
Well, the captain and referee were both wrong about where he was from, but you can't argue with the ref: Leonardi had to go to the bin.
Italy v Wales
Just before the 4 minute mark BBC play-by-play commentator Andrew Cotter mentioned: “.. carried in there by Canale.” and was silent thereafter.
Apparently he had eaten some bad food the night before, got food poisoning and couldn't carry on. His co-commentator “Jiffy” Davies struggled on alone manfully until Shane Williams came "off the bench" to help out a few minutes later.
It wasn't your typical play-by-play call and the two great Wales' players had a good old time yarning about the game for the best part of 35 minutes. After oranges Huw Llewellyn Davies from the Welsh language channel did the play-by-play commentary – fortunately in English.
But Cotter soldiered on and fronted up at Murrayfield the following day to do commentary on Scotland v Ireland.
.
I just want to see a picture of Dan Palmer popping a wheelie on his postie bike.
rugbysmartarse
Alan Cameron (40)
I only read Palmer's article because someone posted it on twitter.
Tangawizi
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Palmer is doing some outstanding work!
"If it hasn't previously had a heartbeat, it is not worth eating."
http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby...for-a-future-on-the-field-20130314-2g3t9.html
"If it hasn't previously had a heartbeat, it is not worth eating."
http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby...for-a-future-on-the-field-20130314-2g3t9.html
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