manu et manu
May, 18th 2011 20:27 PM

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The rugby bit:

Published 19.5.11

 

Manu et manu

 

Super 15’s: (round 13)

Lions win in Canberra was the first in 16 years; in fact you’d have to go back to when they were just plain old Transvaal, which to be honest is much better, as too is Bloemfontein and Pretoria, but that’s another story and this one is focussing on the Lions 29-20 win over a Brumbies side that dropped off its game in the final run to the whistle. The Git didn’t have much to write home about on his 100th game and nor it seemed were the crowd too interested either, as the lowliest turn out of 10,000 odd was a 12 year low. Reeling off a four try deficit Brumbies boss Tony Rea said both players and management are taking too many soft options, ‘We have just too many people and an organisation that makes too many soft decision too often, and now they’re the bulk and the norm, it is in the wood now.’ – Asked if they could turn it around – ‘no, no chance. These blokes are not going to find something that is not there.’ John Mitchell on the other hand was pleased as punch with his boys, who hold no world class players, no Test players but as he says, ‘We’ve been fighting all this competition.’/ Bulls crushed the Rebels 47-10 – Wynand Oliver got a hat trick as the Pretorian’s secured four tries and bonus points in the first 28 minutes. They finished up with 7 tries with Zane Kirchner getting two and Bjorn Basson and Fourie du Preez bagging the others/ Cheetahs beat Crusaders in Bloemfontein 33-20/ Chiefs had to dig deep from 17 points down to beat the Stormers in Waikato 30-23. Mils Muliana earned his 100th game and Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard and Liam Messam are all knocking on the All Blacks door/ Blues were out gunned 37-31 to the Reds in Brisbane but stay top of the table, despite being 24 points down in this game – the Super 15’s is now officially an 8-team comp/ And Highlanders beat the ‘Canes 13-6.

 

 

Heineken Cup;

In case you missed it last week - Leinster v Northampton is on 21st May, Cardiff, 5p.m. local time, which with the Welsh could be anytime, as they live in perpetual darkness underground anyway. Held at the Millennium Stadium it is billed as the world’s biggest club rugby final. For a platinum hospitality ticket you could get; a suite kitted for 16 people on the half way line with its own private balcony, glass of Champagne on arrival, 3 course pre-match scoff, post match snacks, complimentary bar consisting of Heineken, cider, house wine and soft drinks - all served three hours before kick off and up to hour and half after final whistle, a programme and ref radio for each guest, staff and Sky TV – all for 349 – sheep come extra.

 

 

Aviva Premiership;

Saracens beat Gloucester 12-10 thanks to the boot of 19 year-old Owen Farrell, and will meet Leicester in the final on 28th May. The Tigers beat Northampton 11-3 with an out-weighted display of superiority in all areas – even Manu Tuilaga’s left, left, right combination on Ashton’s face was a winner, albeit a yellow for both players, which he can thank his lucky stars it wasn’t a red. Ashton didn’t see stars, but he did need stitches– watch Manu in England’s third game of the World Cup – that’s when he’ll make his debut!

  

 

Magners:    - why am I still on this page?

It’s a Munster – Leinster final at Thomond Park on 28th May, as the Reds beat Ospreys 18-11 with two tries from Danny Barnes – a Kiwi born 21-year-old from Tralee. Leinster beat Ulster 18-3

 

Top 14:

Montpellier’s win over Castres, 18-17, made coach Fabien Galthie cry and set them up a semi with Racing Metro 92/ whilst the other semi will see Toulouse v Clermont, as the latter beat Biarritz 27-17 coming back from 14 points down.

 

fool says:

Is there room for the Rebels in this comp?

 

Some shorts:

*Matt Stevens has made it back in the Saxons Churchill Cup squad where Jonno says there’s a place for him in the World Cup should he continue his form. Matt took a two year cocaine induced sabbatical and says he is now raring to go.

 

*Rugby is the third fastest growing sport in USA – up 7%. Fastest, is fast pitch softball up 13.8% then Ice Hockey up 12% - it’s good to see, but do we really care…! – Of course we do.

 

*Taine Randell is upset that next year’s Super rugby will be stopped half way through by the arrival of ‘meaningless Tests’, as he puts them – Ireland play three against the All Blacks, whilst Wales will head to Australia and England to South Africa. He’s fed up with Northern hemisphere sides sending second rate teams, which will inevitably disrupt the continuity of the Super 15’s. But then I suppose if a second rate England continues to beat a first rate Australia then yes, he has a point.

 

*In & outs: Steffan Armitage is off to Toulon and Hendrie Fourie is also on the cards for a spot; he’ll replace George Smith, whose three years are up/ Israel Dagg’s out for three months after falling off his quad bike… I’m sorry for a sore quad – he hopes to squeeze in a few games in the ITM prior to regaining his spot in the World Cup/ And Northampton’s Chris ‘Rocky’ Ashton will have surgery after Saturday’s Heineken Cup final on his knee, with plans of returning to the WC.

 

*Martyn Williams is the frame for a World Cup spot if he plays well for the Baa Baa’s v Wales next month. The 35 year-old said, ‘If you’re going to get judged on one game for the Barbarians after playing for the kind of time I have, it does seem a bit strange.’

 

*Chabal received a 60 day ban for criticising referees saying they are ‘useless’ – his punishment is to become a ref, as part of his ‘re-hab’.

 

*Ben Cohen is to quite rugby and will concentrate on his charity in the fight against bullying. The 32 year-old must have tonnes of cash stashed away somewhere/ Piri Weepu shaved his beard off for charity – why someone wants to buy his hair, he’s not sure, but it’s for a good cause and if you’ve got a few quid spare to send to a wee girl who is battling cancer in Poriura, please do – Princess Millies Treasure Chest acc/no. ANZ 01 1159 0163930 46

 

For the latest news ‘see’ crazy fool’s Radio Show – click on red icon, top left of home page.

 

Some competitions now: If you’d like to take part in fool’s rugby comps check out the comps & results page –win a prize! – I should probably check it myself, as I can’t remember what comps are up for grabs.

 

Send your team(s) to cf.crazyfool@gmail.com – argh yes, teams, that was it - teams.

 

end rugby here!

 

 

 

Tapas & Bodega: bodega, oh baby when you dance like that… Sangria, mojito’s, plenty, plenty, plenty of wine and beer; Plus, The best Spanish cuisine in Saigon this side of Spain - Which is just to the right of Vietnam, and perhaps a little off centre of Phuket. Cracking live music too.

 

A willow the wisp of cricket now:

 


 

And now ladies and gentlemen a thribble on the light side:

 


 

No mention of Tony Grieg here; going on about how corrupt the Indian’s are as fat controllers of the BICC…

 

The Windies sealed a 40 run win over Pakistan to clinch their first Test win in 17 consecutive defeats.

 

Skipper Darren Sammy ran out MoM with his 5-29, he snared 7 wickets in total. Hot on his heels was Ravi Rampaul’s 4-48 and Devandra Bishoo’s 4-68, which the leg-spinner clinched on Day 2.

 

13 wickets fell on that Day 2 in sunny Guyana as Pakistan capitulated from 49-1 to 113-6 and 160 all gone.

 

By Day four it was all over with the visitors 178 all over.

 

*In the IPL; Rajasthan Royals are logging an official complaint, which carry criminal charges no less, against Warney for his public outburst with secretary Sanjay ‘fixit’ Dixit.

 

Warne claims their last two home games were played on inappropriate wickets, which scuppered their chances of making the semi’s.

 

Meanwhile former Pakistan Test player Akram Raja has been arrested for making illegal bets.

 

*Craig McDermott has taken the reigns of Australia’s bowling attack with Justin Langer in the batting seat/ South Africa are still to appoint a coach but Gary Kirsten is hot favourite, as long as his family agrees. Apparently the man who led India to the world cup final and No.1 test side has had enough of swanning all over the globe, living it up in 5 star hotels and watching sport all day!

 

*ICC have met, talked and allowed Ireland et co to run for the 2015 World Cup in a qualifying process.

 

*Sri Lanka are to host their own premier league, and although the bunty is not as high as in India, players like Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi can earn £35k for three weeks work.

 

…told yer.

 

It’s early now and… - I’m done

 

The team that likes roll mops and partying and belts and rum and temptations and feathers and Steve Finn and proverbs and coordinates and pigeons and tiddly winks and Jessie’s! And spin and the Beatles and Buddy Holly and side-show Bob and Ant and Dec and capes and japes and basketball and indoor cricket and psyche and a good rib-dig and loose ends and first balls and a good roasting, and triple tons and whoa-ha-ha’s and cooking and cradles and Yorkshire puddings…and 2010/11 Ashes, and the Gods

 

Till next week…

 

 

GTM: Probably the best set of garden and leisure furniture in the world. See the *classified section under business opportunities for more details.

 

 

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