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bundy · 07-05-2004, 04:19 PM

while i think its a good idea to have the combined Pacific Islands team... Eddie Jones clearly does not.

watching 4 of his top players get thumped out of action for 6 weeks made him absolutely furious... and if he gets his way, don't expect Australia to be taking PI seriously any time soon (meaning that in the future we'll prob not play our top team).

i think thats a bit of a shame... because i think the more powerhouses in world rugby, the better. i mean, its great that Australia and New Zealand have this great rivalry going on, but it would be good to have rivalries with a few more countries (or almalgamations in the case of PI).

as for the upcoming games against NZ... well, no Gregan, Roff, Mortlock or Rathbone might mean we see some fresh new faces... as is Whitaker (finally getting a run on spot), Henjacke (sp?), Gerrard and others... maybe even a return of Chris Latham and Matt Burke... who knows...

you're right about the legal hits on the Aussies, arch, apart from that gregan smashing, they were all good, hard and legal hit ups... nasty... every time Rathbone got the ball i winced.

i'd be worried if i were him, since i think that his getting smashed every time in that game exposed his weakness... ie/ that he can only sprint straight, and not move, step and dance.

it'll be VERY interesting to watch the PI vs NZ match, since half of the PI team were probably knocked back by the AB's when they tried to play in NZ. the inherent problem with this combined P.Islands team is that the best players from the islands are still holding out for AB jerseys (and others ie/ Wallabies etc). with the right backing, this new PI team could attract players like CauCau and Vinebaka (sp?) back and they would be very fucking dangerous.

07-05-2004, 04:19 PM	#23 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	while i think its a good idea to have the combined Pacific Islands team... Eddie Jones clearly does not. watching 4 of his top players get thumped out of action for 6 weeks made him absolutely furious... and if he gets his way, don't expect Australia to be taking PI seriously any time soon (meaning that in the future we'll prob not play our top team). i think thats a bit of a shame... because i think the more powerhouses in world rugby, the better. i mean, its great that Australia and New Zealand have this great rivalry going on, but it would be good to have rivalries with a few more countries (or almalgamations in the case of PI). as for the upcoming games against NZ... well, no Gregan, Roff, Mortlock or Rathbone might mean we see some fresh new faces... as is Whitaker (finally getting a run on spot), Henjacke (sp?), Gerrard and others... maybe even a return of Chris Latham and Matt Burke... who knows... you're right about the legal hits on the Aussies, arch, apart from that gregan smashing, they were all good, hard and legal hit ups... nasty... every time Rathbone got the ball i winced. i'd be worried if i were him, since i think that his getting smashed every time in that game exposed his weakness... ie/ that he can only sprint straight, and not move, step and dance. it'll be VERY interesting to watch the PI vs NZ match, since half of the PI team were probably knocked back by the AB's when they tried to play in NZ. the inherent problem with this combined P.Islands team is that the best players from the islands are still holding out for AB jerseys (and others ie/ Wallabies etc). with the right backing, this new PI team could attract players like CauCau and Vinebaka (sp?) back and they would be very fucking dangerous. __________________ Ohayo!!!