Rugby

And - Ian McGeechan. Get him in. Dignity, experience, proper understanding of the game and serious gravitas. Pretty much everything everone else at the RFU lacks...

But he's Scottish..

"Born in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds..."

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_McGeechan[/ame]

He may have played for Scotland, but I'd take him in an instant over Eddie Jones/Jake White etc...

Scottish....

^ +1

Scotland have Andy Robinson, why can't England have one of theirs?

Seems like a fair swap ;)

Also, if you haven't seen Mike Bassett and wonder what to make of that Venter interview..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzZ2cf-3R7Q

Messr's Malinder and West for me.

Andrew is such an odious little twat

Just you leave Mallinder and West where they are please, until they've won one major trophy at least.

Some southern hemisphere outfit took Wayne Smith away after stewarding Saints to victory in the Heineken Cup in 2000. We were screwed for years after that. I thought Toby Booth wanted the job anyway. He can have it.

Anyone just catch the debabte on Sky with Sir Clive - great insight i thought for all Stuart Barnes bombast.

On a different note anyone watching the 4 Nations Rugby League final on Saturday - best chance we have had of putting one past the convicts in a while, and also the last game ever for Darren Lockyer, probably the greatest footballer of either code along with Dan Carter over the last decade.

I am a big fan of League, their are some incredible players, especially out of oz. Jonathon Thurston who is the scrum half, and heir apparent to Lockyer, has the most metronomic boot of either code, makes Wilko look like a schoolboy - check out this vid taken during a recent training session at Sale, to prove it wasnt a fluke he then went and did it from the opposite corner flag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd7mEq7a6ec

For years that was Wilko's pre-match kicking warm-up.

I've kicked one from the 5 metre line on sideline.. First time at a training session. I wasn't foolish enough to try again.

Ive seen Jonny warm up on many an occasion, but dont think i have ever seen him do that.

Thurston has a 90.8% success ratio on conversions,i cant think of anyone who comes close to that. He has a pretty unique style, Banana kicks where the ball swings in late - you can see it in this vid, which is worth watching for the try alone.

Anyway well worth watching the 4 Nations final this weekend, 6pm Saturday, if your at a loose end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk-H_T6drqg

^ Not too sure of the exact success rate but I reckon Chris Paterson would come close to that (certainly maintaining a 100% success rate for 18 months would put him in contention)

Wilko doesn't do it anymore but any time I saw him pre-injuries, that's what he started off with pre-match.

I remember that try, very impressive. I also remember a long and fruitless search for that Australian comemorative shirt.

@bobbo - Paterson is a solid kicker (was it 28 out of 28 in the 6 Nations a couple of years ago?) but he never really took them on from range.

As for banana kicks, there can be only one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXomOLcaJM

Agree with you about Paterson's range wibble however I would say that he knows his limitations and sticks within them until recently you were pretty much guaranteed both him and Parks on the pitch together and Parks, despite the fact that I hate the guy and would have preferred pretty much anyone else to be in his jersey, is much better at distance. But seriously Paterson had an 18 month spell without missing a single kick even if he doesn't take them on at range that still makes him a pretty special kicker.

Not denigrating him, a 100% record is amazing.

I just love a ridiculous kick though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWBZjWRGvvg

^ I remember that, fantastic kick, however that video mainly just reminds me that their used to be good commentators for rugby not Eddie Butler and Brian "the most impartial commentator of all time" Moore. God I miss Bill McLaren.

That Thorburn kick is all the better because of the ball he had to hoof.

Wasnt their some kiwi kicker in the 50's who had an insane boot and percentages?

That Carter kick is something else, though i often wonder if he really meant to swing it that far out.

^ You may be referring to Don Clarke. Not sure of his kicking percentage, but he averaged just under 9 p/p/g as an AB. In the 50's / 60's, that's not bad. He used to practice his kicking bare foot as well.

..."the most impartial commentator of all time" Moore.

I have on occasion had to turn off the commentary during the 6 nations, due to this arse clown.

God I miss Bill McLaren.

Legend.

^ You may be referring to Don Clarke. Not sure of his kicking percentage, but he averaged just under 9 p/p/g as an AB. In the 50's / 60's, that's not bad. He used to practice his kicking bare foot as well.

Yup Don Clarke it is

@vv - the Carter kick was mainly due to insane winds I think.

Also, totally agree with you bobbo.. As a wee lad caught the tail end of Mclaren's career and have watched more than a few matches from the past with his commentary. Also, who can forget the original Jonah Lomu rugby?

The ESPN commentary team works surprisingly well given that Austin Healey and the uncharismatic Ben Kay form part of it. Their double act makes it a lot more enjoyable.

who can forget the original Jonah Lomu rugby?

"The pack are rampaging down the pitch like a heard of migrating wildebeest!" classic

Any predictions on this weekends Heineken cup matches? Gloucester vs Quinns ought to be good, it'll be interesting to see if the Scottish teams can win again, not too optimistic though

Favourite tries ever people (not counting that try for the BaaBaas)?

My nomination:

Carlos Spencer classic try in Super 12 - Blues vs Crusaders - YouTube

Not just an amazing try in isolation but in the last minute, to win the game, from behind their own tryline.

Probably one of the most talented backlines to have played together. Carlos Spencer at his ridiculous best, Caucau before he got fat, Rokocoko and Howlett in their primes. If I remember correctly they had to play Muliaina at outside centre because he wasn't good enough to get in the back three. Howlett mostly played 15 because he wasn't quick enough to start on the wing.

^Would be alright if the tackling hadn't been non-existent...