Some of them aren't as bad as they appear. e.g. 9 out of 11 non Welsh born players qualify through ancestry whereas all of the foreign born Aussies have zero heritage.
Argentina is the only 'pure' team in the tournament with a full compliment of home born players. SA a close second with one Zimbabwean. Fiji represented in five different countries.
Rhodesian! We'll never recognize zimbabwe!
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
So it's not strictly speaking then, an international competition?
So who are the losers here? The Samoans? Fijians? Where's the national pride?
It isn't as easy as saying winners and losers.
This has been an ongoing problem for years and years.
Google Frank Bunce. He was born in NZ, played for Manu Samoa then for the AB's.
Mike Catt is another good example.
Rugby has long been a sport that encouraged travel & touring. It is very common for players to travel and play seasons "abroad" for other clubs.
This player movement in my mind is a result of that culture.
If we look at Henry Speight, there is every chance he could have been in Black instead of Gold. He was signed by the Brumbies after playing ITM/Waikato 4 seasons, and he went to high school in NZ.
The relationship between the PI and Aus/NZ is odd. Many families move back and forth between the Tonga/Fiji/Manu Samoa. It is seen as natural.
What bothers me more are players that have no relationship with a country like Anscombe or Maitland. They moved/were drawn to Wales/Scotland because they were eligible via parents.
In my mind, players like Speight choice Aussie, while players like Maitland/Anscombe were chosen by the nations to play. It may seem pedantic and an splitting of hairs, but to me there is a difference.
I am haven't purchased this movie yet bet think that I will, or at least rent it:
I will say that I love love the way the PI play the game. One of my favourite teams is Manu Samoa. The speed and power is wonderful. I have player with and against many islanders. I loved it. There are uncompromising in their physicality. You can smash them as hard as you want, no complaints.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
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I loved playing with islanders, but against them wasn't quite as fun! They're just hard running and unrelenting for the most part. I was very glad that they were on my team come game time as opposed to having to try to stop one of those rumbling behemoths!
I loved playing with islanders, but against them wasn't quite as fun! They're just hard running and unrelenting for the most part. I was very glad that they were on my team come game time as opposed to having to try to stop one of those rumbling behemoths!
I love playing against them as well.
I learnt early that the best way to approach playing them was to hit them, high and hard early in the game. It was a double edged sword as you could get palmed off, but if you made that hit, they remember it.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
This has been an ongoing problem for years and years.
Google Frank Bunce. He was born in NZ, played for Manu Samoa then for the AB's.
Mike Catt is another good example.
Rugby has long been a sport that encouraged travel & touring. It is very common for players to travel and play seasons "abroad" for other clubs.
This player movement in my mind is a result of that culture.
If we look at Henry Speight, there is every chance he could have been in Black instead of Gold. He was signed by the Brumbies after playing ITM/Waikato 4 seasons, and he went to high school in NZ.
The relationship between the PI and Aus/NZ is odd. Many families move back and forth between the Tonga/Fiji/Manu Samoa. It is seen as natural.
What bothers me more are players that have no relationship with a country like Anscombe or Maitland. They moved/were drawn to Wales/Scotland because they were eligible via parents.
In my mind, players like Speight choice Aussie, while players like Maitland/Anscombe were chosen by the nations to play. It may seem pedantic and an splitting of hairs, but to me there is a difference.
I am haven't purchased this movie yet bet think that I will, or at least rent it:
I will say that I love love the way the PI play the game. One of my favourite teams is Manu Samoa. The speed and power is wonderful. I have player with and against many islanders. I loved it. There are uncompromising in their physicality. You can smash them as hard as you want, no complaints.
That looks awesome! Where can I watch that?
I never played with Islanders, only against them. Its like they have this switch in their brains, one second they're going to kill you and the next second they are the nicest people in the universe.
I will say that about club rugby though, almost everyone was great, they'll tackle you hard and scrape you with their cleats or whatever and then they'll be the first one in line to buy you a beer and show you their scars.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
I never played with Islanders, only against them. Its like they have this switch in their brains, one second they're going to kill you and the next second they are the nicest people in the universe.
I believe it is on iTunes.
Quote:
I will say that about club rugby though, almost everyone was great, they'll tackle you hard and scrape you with their cleats or whatever and then they'll be the first one in line to buy you a beer and show you their scars.
It is the same all the levels up.
I had a buddy that played 30+ times for Canada. He has a great story about playing the Boks in SA. After the game he and another well known Boks "disappeared" for the night. He said they went all over to different clubs and got VIP treatment. He said all night long his host introduced him as his Canadian Friend.
I have spent many a night on the piss with Jason Leonard (aka The Fun Bus) when he was over playing for the Hornets. Great guy, and you would never guess he was a world class athlete.
I can't think of too many other sports that encourage the sportsmanship Rugby does.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
I had a buddy that played 30+ times for Canada. He has a great story about playing the Boks in SA. After the game he and another well known Boks "disappeared" for the night. He said they went all over to different clubs and got VIP treatment. He said all night long his host introduced him as his Canadian Friend.
I have spent many a night on the piss with Jason Leonard (aka The Fun Bus) when he was over playing for the Hornets. Great guy, and you would never guess he was a world class athlete.
I can't think of too many other sports that encourage the sportsmanship Rugby does.
My first coach was a Kiwi Islander and he always liked to say:
"Footy is a gentleman's game played by ruffians and Rugby is a ruffian's game played by gentlemen."
Maybe that wasnt him, oh no, he said:
"Crack (Pronounced 'Crick'). Dont do crick. Not on my time. On your own time do as much crick as you want."
Yeah, that was more like it.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
Aussie Front Row = NZ Front Row: While Moore has been playing very well, Coles appears to be a freak, he has shown amazing turn of speed in the open. Moore is back to his no nonsense forward smash mouth rugby.
Aussie Second Row < NZ Second Row: Brodie Retallick is better than the other 3 combined. He is just too good, and possesses the skills of a midfielder
Aussie Back Row > NZ Back Row: If this was 2011 then it would be different. But the GOAT of 2011 is not the GOAT of 2015. He is still good, but not at the top of his game. I think that combined Fardy, Pocock & Hooper are greater than the combination of Kano, Reid & GOAT.
Aussie Half Backs < NZ Half Backs: Genia > Smith, but Foley < Carter. So close, the difference between Foley & Carter is greater than the difference between Genia & Smith
Aussie Midfield = NZ Midfield: This is a wash. Giteau offers another first receiver option. He is more inventive than Nonu with the ball in hand. Smith is my choice over Kuridrani. Smith is a mongrel and plays as such.
Aussie Wings < NZ Wings: I am torn. I think if Beale was starting on the wing he would be the better option. I am not a Mitchell fan, and I think Beale would have scored on the run that lead to the 3rd try for AAC. Miler-Skudder appears to be another freak in this game. He is an excitement machine.
Aussie Fullback > NZ Fullback: This is razor thin. I am a big Smith fan, have been since he broke in. I love his lines and smooth running. That being said Folau is so good. On paper he takes it, but I have concerns about his fitness
Aussie Bench < NZ Bench: The Aussies have some good on the bench Beale top of the list, but NZ has a deeper bench. It isn’t just SBW, but Barrett is scary. While is tactically a step back from Carter, his ability to take a gap and accelerate is scary.
There is an old rugby saying “Forwards win matches, backs decide by how much”. I think this will ring true. I just can’t see the Aussie backrow trio being stopped. I think the only defense to Pocock is to break his leg.
Aussies by 3
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
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So for $100 you make $140. That's not great, but if it goes according to plan its free money I guess.
Before the tournament started I put $100 on the Aussies to win at 8.50! I also did the same for Ireland at 12.00 but lets not talk about that
I was thinking of putting some money on the All Blacks to insure the bet but they are favoured by too much to make it worthwhile. I also think betting on the Wallabies at this stage still has good value as they have a much greater chance of winning than the odds suggest.
Yeah I debated betting both today, but if the All Blacks win you lose for sure. I think they win a hard fought game tomorrow, but it should be super close.
On a tangent, this article is amazing. It's from last year, but an interesting read on the eve of McCaws last game.
! I also did the same for Ireland at 12.00 but lets not talk about that 
