Daily Post - The Egg Chasers

Interesting times ahead

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:32:03 +0000

The season is just around the corner again and I'm already looking forward to the new campaign, both locally and internationally.

But it doesn't seem as though the season actually ever ends any more.
No sooner has the curtain come down on the season then the summer tours - disastrous as they often are - come knocking on the door and then also this summer we were treated to the IRB Junior World Championships.

So it honestly feels as though the game is becoming a 12-month spectacle, especially seeing as though I've been getting out of bed at silly times in the morning on a Saturday to watch the recent tri-nations encounters.

But this season promises to be one to remember for a number of reasons.

Not only do Wales go head-to-head on home soil with the three tri-nations this autumn, but the Celtic League looks to be heating up already with a number of new and exciting signings for the four regions, and then of course there's also the added prospect - or burden in some cases - of the new ELVs.

These ELVs will prove to be a real shake up to the game, not one I'm sure it necessarily needs, but it will at least make the game a lot more interesting as players and referees get to grips with them, and also myself sitting on the sidelines.

At the moment I'm going to sit on the fence on the issue of the ELVs and I'm going to wait and see how they pan out before deciding whether they are necessary. Should be interesting whatever happens on and off the field this campaign.

Next generation

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:50:27 +0000

In what can only be described as a 'rare' day off I had a few options yesterday with how to fill my time.
Chester races were on, while a game of golf also loomed large, but in the end the chance to watch the next breed of young rugby stars in Wrexham was just far too tempting.
The first match at Wrexham saw Samoa take on the USA in what has to be described as well not exactly a snooze-fest, but hardly a game that will see fans flock back for the next round of matches.
Samoa were too good for the Americans - as you would no doubt expect - but it took them far too long to hit anywhere near top gear and show the flare that they are so capable.
However, the second match of the night was one to savour. South Africa put 100 points on USA in their opener and threatened to so the same to Scotland. It's not that Scotland were particularly that bad, it's more that the Baby Boks were simply that good.
I hate it when people see a junior match - in any sport - and then come out with the cliche 'remember the name...he's going to be a really big star', but the Boks have a number of players who have certainly got a huge future ahead of them.
I would name them all, but I've been limited in my word count and to be honest I could actually just name the whole squad.
South Africa were simply awesome at Wrexham and it kind of fills you with a little bit of dread. The Boks proved on Saturday that the gap between the two hemispheres was as big as its ever been and now with this group of players set to step up any time in the next four years, they have a strength in depth that could see the Webb Ellis trophy remain in South African hands for a long time to come.

A heavy weekend away

Thu, 29 May 2008 16:26:04 +0000

Following what can only be described as a heavy weekend away in deepest darkest Ireland, I am back and reday to continue blogging.
First of all I want to make special mention of Munster claiming the Heineken Cup at the Millennium Stadium. I watched the match - well as much of it as possible through the bottom of a Guinness glass - and have to say I wasn't exactly over enthused with either side.
It wasn't that it was a bad game, or that either side played particularly badly, more that it just nver caught fire the way it should do between these two sides, and therefore left me feeling somewhat disappointed.
But I also couldn't help thinking what it would have been like had either the Cardiff Blues or Ospreys managed to make the final against Munster. As a proud Welshman and also a Welsh rugby writer I would have found it quite difficult to hold my tongue for so long even surrounded by a host of mad-cap Munster fans.

While I've been away I've been an avid reader of my fellow bloggers Celtic League combined player of the season, and I'd like to offer my own opinion on a couple of aspects.
I know Dan said he had no interest in the hair of the player, but honestly you can't really overlook Colin Charvis or either of the Hair-bear bunch boys Adam and Duncan Jones.

But I'm going to look at the best rugby brain and after careful consideration the award has to go to Martyn Williams.
I know he's got a few miles on the clock, and it starting to slow in his old age, but when it comes to speed of mind against speed of body I don't think anyone in world rugby let along the Celtic League, comes close to our nugget.

Heineken Cup

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:58:33 +0000

I have to admit that I actually don't mind the play-offs too much. A controversial statement I know and one that I am sure will not be taken well by my fellow blogger.
But play-offs do add that little bit of spice to a competition that otherwise can often be sown up long before the end of the tournament.
Now I'm not saying they are particularly a fair way of conducting your business, and I am fully aware they are often seen by many as simply a way of the higher ups exploiting a competition and making more cash for their ever growing coffers.
And I am also pretty sure that the team which works hard over the course of the season and finishes in top spot will also not be keen on the idea, but they do add something extra to a competition. And while many will not like them, they are unfortunately here and don't look as though they're going anywhere.

But putting play-offs to one side, this weekend sees the final of the Heineken Cup and pits two of Europe's heavyweights going at it tooth and nail for the coveted trophy.
Toulouse are easily the most successful team in the competition, but Munster are no mugs and if anything have the class and experience not to choke on the big occassion - and let's face it they don't come an awful lot bigger than this.
And I will also be watching the final from inside a pub somewhere in deepest, darkest Ireland while on a joint stag-do. So in that case all I can say is come on Munster!