The glory that is the British & Irish Lions!....Bring on the All Blacks!

[99call]

 

[99call]

 

[99call]

 

[99call]

Some say that New Zealand is the greatest rugby nation ever!.....................I would hope so...............they've contributed nothing else to the world. 

Can't bloody wait!!

[Rustyman]

21 minutes ago, 99call said:

Some say that New Zealand is the greatest rugby nation ever!.....................I would hope so...............they've contributed nothing else to the world. 

Can't bloody wait!!

Them's fighting words them is!!! 

(Not that I am a Kiwi but I am hiding in shame due to the Waratahs' abysmal performances.)

 

[99call]

4 minutes ago, Rustyman said:

Them's fighting words them is!!! 

(Not that I am a Kiwi but I am hiding in shame due to the Waratahs' abysmal performances.)

 

Yep, sad to see the Aussie franchises in such a bad place. Is could be worse, you could be Welsh, like me.

I was feeling pretty confident that although the dirt tracker midweek teams would likely lose a few against the likes of the Cains, we could stand a chance of a historic series win.  That said, we've just lost Big Billy Vunipola, and thats massive!, if we were going to out muscle the AB's he was going to be key.   James Haskell is his replacement, and excuse my french, he's a shower of s**t.    If it was on a knife edge, that blade, may have just tipped the AB's direction.

[Rustyman]

11 hours ago, 99call said:

Yep, sad to see the Aussie franchises in such a bad place. Is could be worse, you could be Welsh, like me.

I was feeling pretty confident that although the dirt tracker midweek teams would likely lose a few against the likes of the Cains, we could stand a chance of a historic series win.  That said, we've just lost Big Billy Vunipola, and thats massive!, if we were going to out muscle the AB's he was going to be key.   James Haskell is his replacement, and excuse my french, he's a shower of s**t.    If it was on a knife edge, that blade, may have just tipped the AB's direction.

I think the Kiwi's might be ready for the taking as they have a LOT of injuries/underdone players, especially in the backrow.  I think if the Lions can jump on them in the first test match then an upset might be on the cards.

I just don't think a full on physical assault is going to do it for the Lions, I think they have talent in the backline to exploit what I see as some lumbering wingers for the Kiwi's, however, I don't think Gatland is planning to use any of his more dynamic players in the tests.

[David88]

12 hours ago, 99call said:

Yep, sad to see the Aussie franchises in such a bad place. Is could be worse, you could be Welsh, like me.

I was feeling pretty confident that although the dirt tracker midweek teams would likely lose a few against the likes of the Cains, we could stand a chance of a historic series win.  That said, we've just lost Big Billy Vunipola, and thats massive!, if we were going to out muscle the AB's he was going to be key.   James Haskell is his replacement, and excuse my french, he's a shower of s**t.    If it was on a knife edge, that blade, may have just tipped the AB's direction.

Billy Vunipola would have been a key player without a doubt. I have never rated Haskell but his performances for England last summer and in the grand slam 6 Nations were head and shoulders above any back row in the Northern Hemisphere.

Although I'm looking forward to the series there are some highly questionable selections in the Lions squad, including Warburton as captain. I'm predicting a 3-0 whitewash in the tests sadly but I hope the Lions can put in some decent performances.

[Ken Gargett]

i think the ABs will thump them 3-0. as much as i detest the thought, a 2nd string AB team could just about beat any other team in the world at the moment on most days.

i'm heading over for the 2nd test in wellington (given the teams are two, well swap england for great britain, i normally want to see beaten, i'm hoping for a 0-0 draw) which should be great fun.

last time i saw the Lions in nz was way back in 83 when they play orcland. brilliant game which orcland won - i think it might have been only the second time the lions had ever been beaten by a non test team. the first, no surprise, the glorious qlders (before we were called reds) in 1971. although more surprising was that this was back when we were also crap. we did not become that legendary qld team for another 4-5 years.

what was notable about that game in orcland was that it was the debut for a young flyhalf called fox and i think the 2nd or 3rd game for a young winger called kirwan. not a bad couple of youngsters.

[Rustyman]

Ken, are you on assignment or you just going for fun.  Either way, take lots of pictures.  

[Ken Gargett]

Just now, Rustyman said:

Ken, are you on assignment or you just going for fun.  Either way, take lots of pictures.  

it is all work!

going over to have a look at some regions with one of the wine producers and we finish in wellington. they have a box (bit surprised i got a return invite given a small incident last time when there was a little discussion with the neighbouring box occupied by a number of kiwis who were not, say we say, the best advertisement for themselves, their families or their country and i may have taken the opportunity to point this out).

being a family forum, perhaps i might leave it at that.

[Rustyman]

Nah, give it back to them!

I travelled through the North Island for a couple of weeks in September/October last year and did have a couple of interesting interactions with the locals.

 

[Ken Gargett]

7 minutes ago, Rustyman said:

Nah, give it back to them!

i was so livid about these tossers - amongst their crimes, they refused to stand for the aussie national anthem and yelled abuse throughout it being played - i complained when back here. it was a multi-national corp, a very large one, and a few days later, i had a call from the chairman (which truly stunned me, but good on him). profuse apologies and a promise that those responsible were going to be severely dealt with (i really hope they lost their jobs - i would think if the chairman was going to take the time to ring me that they were taking it rather seriously). this was actually their 2nd box. the main one was elsewhere. this one was apparently used for those perceived to be up and comers in the corporation. some of them might have been up and gone.

[gweilgi]

5 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

i was so livid about these tossers - amongst their crimes, they refused to stand for the aussie national anthem and yelled abuse throughout it being played - i complained when back here. it was a multi-national corp, a very large one, and a few days later, i had a call from the chairman (which truly stunned me, but good on him). profuse apologies and a promise that those responsible were going to be severely dealt with (i really hope they lost their jobs - i would think if the chairman was going to take the time to ring me that they were taking it rather seriously). this was actually their 2nd box. the main one was elsewhere. this one was apparently used for those perceived to be up and comers in the corporation. some of them might have been up and gone.

Up and comers getting their comeuppance?

Eden Park is so on my bucket list, but I doubt that I will ever go.  I have never heard a single positive comment from friends and family (English and Aussie) about the behaviour and attitudes of the AB fans on their home ground.  If I wanted that sort of treatment, I could just go to any old Premier League match and save myself the airfare.  

[Ken Gargett]

5 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

i was so livid about these tossers - amongst their crimes, they refused to stand for the aussie national anthem and yelled abuse throughout it being played - i complained when back here. it was a multi-national corp, a very large one, and a few days later, i had a call from the chairman (which truly stunned me, but good on him). profuse apologies and a promise that those responsible were going to be severely dealt with (i really hope they lost their jobs - i would think if the chairman was going to take the time to ring me that they were taking it rather seriously). this was actually their 2nd box. the main one was elsewhere. this one was apparently used for those perceived to be up and comers in the corporation. some of them might have been up and gone.

you are not wrong. the abuse one cops is horrendous at times. even when australia played ireland in the world cup, kiwis were spitting at any aussie they could see. it is impossible to go to those games and not think that one giant earthquake might be a good thing. much better a few years back before they won the cup, finally.

we are normally, but not always in a box. this time we were not and copping the usual whomping. crowd screaming abuse. i used to just stand up and ask, 'and how many of you are old enough to remember nz ever winning a world cup?' there would then be a wonderful period of near silence for a while.

[99call]

Kiwis are a very odd bunch, I count some amongst them as being very good friends, but bless them they are very confused about themselves.

I've never met a bunch so deluded before who genuinely think one one hand they are open to seeing fault in themselves (or their team), but on the other hand have not the first clue on how to be open to failings or self deprecation.

I love it (like many) when they lose, many because Kiwi's come out with statements like  "Ye'p well its tough to take, and all credit to them, were not going to take anything away from them at all. I mean, the fact that we didn't have enough time to train, had a bad pre match meal, the hotel didn't leave the right chocolates on our pillows, has got nothing to do with it............etc etc.

This video is fantastic, it highlights how institutionally deluded they are. Kieth Murdoch who kicked players in their gentials, until they bled out of their anus, kicked hotel doors in, and was both physically and verbally abusive to members of the general public whilst on tour, was god forbid sent home.  Check out this hack job, cover up my NZ Journos. Laughable

Pathetic!

[99call]

I think the biggest issue that will be against the Lions this year, is that for some unknown reason, when NZ are either at home, or on tour, the officials decide to ref the game in a southern hemisphere approach, i.e see the set piece as solely a method to restart the game, and void of any merit. 

I have no idea why we either turn a blind eye, or continue in naivety, but the Premiership in England and the Pro12 are ref'd in a completely different style to SH, all aspects of the game are adjudicated upon, then when we go down South, it's like 'Super Touch'.   Don't get me wrong, I'ts less wingeing, and more stating how bloody stupid we are!. this is how I see it.

1st,  NZ look at the rule book, and spend the whole super rugby season, pushing at the fringes of the laws, and effectively changing them

2nd, We tour down south, get comprehensively beaten, and think, "hmm we're going to have to learn this new adaptation of the laws)

3rd, We spend a whole season playing 1.2 play book,   meanwhile in NZ they are playing the newly released (by them) 1.3 play book.

It's not sour grapes, it's more a case of being annoyed with how limp wristed and paranoid the international refs are to follow suit with evolution of the NZ game. Personally I am impressed my "super touch rugby" but it's by no means the perfect form of the game, just as NH rugby isn't free flowing enough. Ultimately rugby has to mirror the merits of different body shapes, this is what makes it great. Allow a big lanky 2nd row to excel, allow a nippy scrum half to excel, allow a barrelling prop to excel etc etc. It's what makes it the ultimate team game

I hope the lions tour gets ref's in a wholistic manner, and the officials don't just whore themselves out for world cup/super rugby allocation.

[SirVantes]

I was on holiday in Christchurch in 2003, and watched the All Blacks-Wallabies semi final of the RWC in a bar. I will always remember the stunned silence when Spencer threw that intercept to Mortlock. Much sobbing into their Speights later that night.

After that, I made a point of asking at every bar, cafe and eatery "Would you know where I can catch the rugby...or is that a dirty word?" It takes them a heartbeat before they break into laughter and then proceed to give me actual directions. Bless em, but they do genuinely care about their rugby.

Sport brings out the best and the worst, wherever and whoever you are.

[Ken Gargett]

16 minutes ago, SirVantes said:

I was on holiday in Christchurch in 2003, and watched the All Blacks-Wallabies semi final of the RWC in a bar. I will always remember the stunned silence when Spencer threw that intercept to Mortlock. Much sobbing into their Speights later that night.

After that, I made a point of asking at every bar, cafe and eatery "Would you know where I can catch the rugby...or is that a dirty word?" It takes them a heartbeat before they break into laughter and then proceed to give me actual directions. Bless em, but they do genuinely care about their rugby.

Sport brings out the best and the worst, wherever and whoever you are.

i was at that game. i think i was more exhausted from screaming support as hurtled down field than mortlock was from running.

[Rustyman]

Following on from what @99call says above, I do hope that set pieces are allowed to be properly contested.  There is something visceral about a properly contested scrum or a lineout where you are actually allowed to contest the ball.

[99call]

20 minutes ago, Rustyman said:

Following on from what @99call says above, I do hope that set pieces are allowed to be properly contested.  There is something visceral about a properly contested scrum or a lineout where you are actually allowed to contest the ball.

Ultimately world rugby wants to sell the game to new markets of thick people, whom with their attention deficit disorder, just want to see games of touch rugby with scores like 50-57. Now if it's a case that rugby was an endangered sport, I would say "oh well if we have to", and the Lions as a product is definitely endangered (rumours suggesting this will be the very last proper tour). 

Sadly, for those of us who enjoy 'real' rugby, i.e. that which allows all body shapes to shine equally, couldn't give a Flying F about actually turning up for matches, or weather the provincial clubs are in financial dismay.  Sadly, with increasing player pay packets and the increased commercialisation of rugby, it will cease to become a sport which i will derive any joy from, we already have rugby league, and it bores me to tears (apart from state of origin games). 

Ref's like Wayne Barnes, Nigel Owens and the preening wonder that used to be Steve Walsh, are trying to become characters within the game, this is a very worrying trend. Refs, should be like the best waiters, there when you need them, but otherwise invisible. Sadly, I think their increasing profile, and pay have made them increasingly lured by the limelight of SH styles.

[99call]

Knowing how much of an talented, but obnoxious s**t Austin Healy was, I would of loved to have been in the dressing room, for this

 

[99call]

The back story

 

[99call]

God this was entertaining,

 

[Ken Gargett]

i must say that you have a much higher opinion of healey as a player than anyone i've ever met - or perhaps i should say anyone from south of the equator. we always thought he was a moderately talented, at best, tosser.

but that might be a fine example of the last word and costing your team the ultimate prize. i believe that was the tour where it was 1-1 going into the 3rd game. wallabies had a narrow lead as we hit full time and the lions had a lineout on the wallabies line. the entire world knew johnson was calling for a drive to take the lions over for a try to win the series. eales apparently called for no challenge in the lineout but all on deck to try and repel the lions forwards. harrison was apparently still pissed by the lions and especially that tosser healey (who, i think, had come out in the press that week and called him a plonker?), so he decided bugger that and pinched the lineout throw and the wallabies won the series. i believe that may have been mentioned to healey on numerous subsequent occasions.

i should also say that notwithstanding visiting a game in nz can be entering the pits of hell, the way a large percentage carry on, i have many very close kiwi mates who act nothing like that.

good to see the northern hemisphere getting in a little early whinging - yes, i know what you all said. but as someone who would rather see both lose i can sit back and watch with impartiality.

the scrums are a blight on the game and the northern hemisphere do take them more seriously but not to the extent you suggest.

the kiwis are world champions when it comes to influencing a ref, but if you can get away with it, why not? sir clive was not bad. not sure we have had better than gregan (cam smith in league) but he was not in the class of mccaw or fitzpatrick (who off the field is the most genuinely decent human you could hope to meet).

the scrums are killing the game here, amongst numerous other reasons, not least the most truly inept group of administrators any sport has ever had inflicted on them). if one is called in super rugby, you know that 5 out of 6 times, it will be reset. they'll move it, try again. it will collapse and they'll speak to the front rows. a nightmare. so much time lost to this. if rugby and league are on at the same time, as soon as a scrum called, flick to the league and you can comfortably watch a set of 6 tackles and then go back to the league and you'll have missed nothing. any wonder rugby is losing people here in droves (well, i'm not sure that they still have enough supporters to continue to lose them in droves - more dribs and drabs of the remaining few). i could also talk about the skill level between the games, not just in origin but compare basic club games to so-called rugby internationals and super rugby outside the kiwis. league is streets ahead. this season, for the first time in forty years, i am not bothering to go to rugby games (and i have a 30 year ticket so cost has nothing to do with it). why, when you can watch a far better game of league on tv. or take up knitting.