Scratch

Here you will find older scratches, musings and other detritus that once were located on the front pages, but have now faded.

Filed away here to collect dust and cobwwwebs in perpetuity, links may break, facts may change and data may corrupt.

On occasion I may come down here to tidy, but for the most, I prefer to leave the past where it lies.

Monthly Archives

01/09/2007 - 30/09/2007 01/08/2007 - 31/08/2007 01/07/2007 - 31/07/2007 01/06/2007 - 30/06/2007 01/05/2007 - 31/05/2007 01/04/2007 - 30/04/2007 01/03/2007 - 31/03/2007 01/02/2007 - 28/02/2007 01/01/2007 - 31/01/2007 01/12/2006 - 31/12/2006 01/11/2006 - 30/11/2006 01/10/2006 - 31/10/2006 01/09/2006 - 30/09/2006 01/08/2006 - 31/08/2006 01/07/2006 - 31/07/2006 01/06/2006 - 30/06/2006 01/05/2006 - 31/05/2006 01/04/2006 - 30/04/2006 01/03/2006 - 31/03/2006 01/02/2006 - 28/02/2006 01/01/2006 - 31/01/2006 01/12/2005 - 31/12/2005 01/11/2005 - 30/11/2005 01/10/2005 - 31/10/2005 01/09/2005 - 30/09/2005 01/08/2005 - 31/08/2005 01/07/2005 - 31/07/2005 01/06/2005 - 30/06/2005 01/05/2005 - 31/05/2005 01/04/2005 - 30/04/2005 01/03/2005 - 31/03/2005 01/02/2005 - 28/02/2005 01/01/2005 - 31/01/2005 01/12/2004 - 31/12/2004 01/11/2004 - 30/11/2004 01/10/2004 - 31/10/2004 01/09/2004 - 30/09/2004 01/08/2004 - 31/08/2004 01/07/2004 - 31/07/2004 01/06/2004 - 30/06/2004 01/05/2004 - 31/05/2004 01/04/2004 - 30/04/2004 01/03/2004 - 31/03/2004 01/02/2004 - 29/02/2004

 

Spanking. And Not In A Good Way.

'England's biggest spanking in world cup history' - Jim Rosenthal approximately 1 minute ago. ITV1.

And to be fair that pretty much sums it up. 36-0. I am so glad we didn't manage to get out into West London where there is the highest density of South Africans this side of JBerg.

I will now try to numb the pain. I hope Billy Whizz is doing the same.

RWC

Three days into the Rugby World Cup I have established several things. First, credit id due to Argentina. Second, NZ look pretty damn formidable and are the team to beat. Third, we are in need of nothing short of a miracle. Fourth, my liver is in considerable pain and I am sure its not going to get any better in the foreseeable future.

Woot

Liverpool 3-3 West Ham (aet)
Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties

Nerve wracking to say the least, but for a cup final would you want it any other way?

BBC Sport's article.

A weekend of Sport

My moneys on England, Ireland, France for the Rugby Union and for the big one, the Steelers. Look out love handles, I've got beer, nachos and pizza heading your way. I hope I've got nothing important on Monday morning.

Darwinism

Darwin's theory of natural selection at work I think.

Another Grand Slam Down The Pan...

...as Wales secured their first win against England in Cardiff for 12 years. Oh well, I supose its all preperation for 2007.

On a not so entirely unrelated note, watching Superbowl XXXIX last night/this morning was more enjoyable, and I am relieved to see Paul McCartney didn't expose his breasts. I wonder whether now Wilkinson's body is failing whether he will end up in the NFL as a kicker...

RWC 2007

At a Dublin City Centre Restaurant ysterday, the draw was made for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In a repeat of the 2003 Cup we are once again drawn with South Africa in the Pool stages as we begin the defence of our title. From the qualifiers, we are also most likely joined by the Samonans or possibly Fiji. Thrown in the mix will also be the third place Americas team, probably the USA and the second place from a repechage competition, possibly Tonga.

Looking forward to it already...

Pool A
England
South Africa
Oceania 1
Americas 3
Repechage 2

Pool B
Australia
Wales
Oceania 2
Americas 2
Asia 1

Pool C
New Zealand
Scotland
Europe 1
Europe 2
Repechage 1

Pool D
France
Ireland
Americas 1
Europe 3
Africa 1

RWC Winning Turf

A once in a lifetime moment captured on a 30cm x 30 cm piece of turf.

"To celebrate the launch of World Championship Rugby, the official video game of the England Rugby Team, a piece of turf from the pitch where Jonny Wilkinson scored the winning drop goal for England in the Rugby World Cup is available for auction! All money raised will be going to The Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Following England's heroic win against Australia in the nail-biting final of the Rugby World Cup, the precious ground of Telstra stadium has been heavily guarded to preserve the sacred turf. Now, under tight security, rugby's finally coming home! You can now bid for this unique piece of rugby history along with a certificate of authenticity signed by the Telstra head groundsman, Graeme Logan. A copy of World Championship Rugby signed by Ben Cohen will also be given to the luckily recipient.

The piece of turf measures 30cm square, and is the only piece in existence to be auctioned. All proceeds from the sale of the turf and signed video game will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital. World Championship Rugby is available on Xboc, PC & PS2 from April 8th. "

Darn it

England 13-19 Ireland.

There are simple concepts that lead to one of two states after a game of rugby, and subsequentially happy beers or the drowning of sorrows. The first is to win the ball, the second is to retain it. If the these hold true, then odds on you win and at least half those involved are happy. Today, our lads were outplayed in the front, and no matter how dynamic the backs are, with no ball they can't score, world champions or not.
At club level, missing two throws to a jumper meant throwing to the front for the rest of the game and pinging throws off the floodlights for the next six nights with a hangover. Losing ball, or being pushed back meant eating mud and bleeding shoulders for the next six days. Throwing the ball over the back to the opposing fly half led to chastisement, substitution and a good kicking.
In this professional era, I see a fortnight of going back to basics from now until they meet wales in a fortnights time, and I suspect the drowning of sorrows won't even figure...

Sport

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