Rugby World Cup 2007 forum?

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Voltman

A second-string NZ Maori team put 50 points on them. I'll be surprised if the ABs don't put a ton on the Canucks.

What side is being put out though? Imagine it will be the fringe ABs wouldn't it?

[Perm]

Originally Posted by Craig

What side is being put out though? Imagine it will be the fringe ABs wouldn't it?

Not with the Junior All Black's competing in the Pacific 5 Nations at the same time. The Maori are basically a third string New Zealand side.

[Smudge]

Originally Posted by Perm

They can compete with teams like Japan, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji etc so they aren't that bad.

"aren't that bad" is different from "decent".

Originally Posted by Craig

What side is being put out though? Imagine it will be the fringe ABs wouldn't it?

Well, Craig, I just plucked the phrase "second string" out of my head without having ANY idea who was in the Maori team. No, really.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Voltman

"aren't that bad" is different from "decent".



Well, Craig, I just plucked the phrase "second string" out of my head without having ANY idea who was in the Maori team. No, really.

Settle down mate, that is clearly not what I meant. Of course you have the first choice fifteen, and then you have your seven reserve players and the players on the fringe of that first XV, and if I had meant the bloody Moari team or the Junior All Blacks, then I would have friggin' have said so. In what I meant, I didn't expect Richie McCaw or Dan Carter to play, instead give somebody else a go, that is what I was asking.

Don't go around and speak like that to me because it won't work.

[Perm]

Originally Posted by Craig

Settle down mate, that is clearly not what I meant. Of course you have the first choice fifteen, and then you have your seven reserve players and the players on the fringe of that first XV, and if I had meant the bloody Moari team or the Junior All Blacks, then I would have friggin' have said so. In what I meant, I didn't expect Richie McCaw or Dan Carter to play, instead give somebody else a go, that is what I was asking.

Don't go around and speak like that to me because it won't work.

Haha, go Craig.

[Smudge]

Originally Posted by Craig

Don't go around and speak like that to me because it won't work.

Waddaya gonna do? Cycle across the Tasman Sea and beat me up?

[Perm]

Big loss of respect for Volty here, tis sad to see.

[Smudge]

Originally Posted by Perm

Big loss of respect for Volty here, tis sad to see.

Oh no - woe is me. Perm is taking a dim view of me.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Fiji and Samoa would be decent, nay pretty good teams - if all their best players didn't defect to the All Blacks at the first sign of a rugby contract.

If William Ryder ever defects to the All Blacks, I will be very disappointed. Great to watch in the Sevens.

[Smudge]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

If William Ryder ever defects to the All Blacks, I will be very disappointed. Great to watch in the Sevens.

Now might be a good time for you to brush up on the international rugby eligibility laws.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Originally Posted by Voltman

Now might be a good time for you to brush up on the international rugby eligibility laws.

I'm more than willing to admit that I know nothing of the rugby eligibility laws. I haven't played the game since it entered the professional era. I'll watch the game, and 99% of the time, that's enough for me - just looking for something to talk about has steered me into discussing rugby which is guaranteed to set me up for a fall.

Either way, if the best XV Fijians and best XV Samoans in the world played together, they'd be a pretty good team - that's all I was trying to say.

PS: I've lost all respect for Alf from Home n Away due to his association with you

[Smudge]

William Ryder cannot defect to the All Blacks. Since about 2000, there has been a one-country ruling. Rupeni Caucaunibuca clearly didn't understand this in 2003 after the RWC when he decided he'd switch to the All Blacks, and it had to be publicly explained to him "well, Rups, this isn't actually possible."

And you're opening up a can of worms I am well-known for not liking the taste of on here. Which Samoans and Fijians playing for NZ should be playing for the Islands and why?

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Either way, if the best XV Fijians and best XV Samoans in the world played together, they'd be a pretty good team - that's all I was trying to say.

That's all I'm saying; regardless of eligibility, there are people playing for the All Blacks who have Samoan or Fijian blood in 'em. And with them, Fiji and Samoa would be pretty good teams. No more, no less. Didn't realise there'd be controversy in saying that if some darn good players joined a decent side they'd be a better side. I am not making any comment on whether they should be playing for the All Blacks or not.

[Smudge]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

That's all I'm saying; regardless of eligibility, there are people playing for the All Blacks who have Samoan or Fijian blood in 'em. And with them, Fiji and Samoa would be pretty good teams. No more, no less. Didn't realise there'd be controversy in saying that if some darn good players joined a decent side they'd be a better side. I am not making any comment on whether they should be playing for the All Blacks or not.

No, you said this, which is quite different:

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Fiji and Samoa would be decent, nay pretty good teams - if all their best players didn't defect to the All Blacks at the first sign of a rugby contract.
.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Fiji and Samoa would be decent, nay pretty good teams - if all their best players didn't defect to the All Blacks at the first sign of a rugby contract.

What you say in haste, you repent at leisure.

**** it I say, I've already said I know little about rugby, so pin me to the mast for it. (EDIT: Naughty Heath, another slap on the wrist there.)

If you won't even allow someone to backtrack on their original comments, what am I going to do? I've tried to backtrack gracefully, but you go back to my original post. Big whoop. Now, I'm old enough not to get in a bad mood about such things, but is there much point of nailing a self-confessed not-rugby obsessed person to the mast?

Last time I dare to voice an opinion on rugby, that's for sure.