Editor's Blog

Editor's Blog tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174 2011-12-24T00:15:03Z Movable Type 3.34 Festive Countdown - December 24 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26655 2011-12-24T00:00:15Z 2011-12-24T00:15:03Z

It's that time of year again and in what is now surely a tradition to rival the turkey, the tree and all the trimmings, we're delighted to herald the return the ESPNscrum Festive Countdown for your amusement. Once again, we'll...

Huw Baines Take, take, take Christmas is a time for giving, unless you’re Peter Stringer. Then it’s just take, take, take. Just ask James O’Connor. Quote Unquote ”I would say the referee was a joke but I'd probably get fined for it so I won't.”
- The biggest mouth of 2011 - Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu - can’t quite get his head around when he’s overstepped the mark. Even when he’s trying not to overstep the mark. Trivia Time Q. Richie McCaw has played 103 Tests for the Alll Blacks. How many has he won? (Yesterday's answer: Twickenham has staged the Heineken Cup Final on three occasions.) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

Alain Rolland has a quiet word with the Harlequins bench. What is he saying?© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 23 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26649 2011-12-23T00:00:30Z 2011-12-23T00:05:03Z

Huw Baines Bum rushed If you will insist on pulling off great hand-offs in your own in-goal, Horacio Agulla, we’ll be forced to pull your shorts down on live TV. Which, of course, your mum might be watching. Quote Unquote ”He was a prick to coach.”
- Piri Weepu’s mum on, Piri Weepu. Trivia Time Q. Twickenham will host the Heineken Cup Final in May - how many times has the big one been staged there in the past? (Yesterday's answer: New Zealand have failed to win the IRB Sevens World Series on three occasions: in 2005-06 (Fiji), 2008-09 (South Africa) and 2009-10 (Samoa).) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

Shane Williams gets fired up at the Millennium Stadium© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 22 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26648 2011-12-22T00:00:40Z 2011-12-22T00:10:06Z

Huw Baines Snatching defeat from the jaws of defeat You know when you kick the winning drop-goal, and it turns out that it’s not the winning drop-goal? That. Only happening to Felipe Contepomi. Who’s no mathematician. Quote Unquote ”I told them they are a bunch of spoiled brats. Undisciplined, disobedient, sometimes selfish. Always complaining, always whingeing.”
- France boss Marc Lievremont rolls out another famous motivational speech. Trivia Time Q. On how many occasions have New Zealand failed to win the IRB Sevens World Series? (Yesterday's answer: Toby Faletau missed precisely zero tackles during the Rugby World Cup.) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

England Sevens’ Dan Norton has something to smile about. What?© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 21 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26647 2011-12-21T00:00:19Z 2011-12-21T00:08:22Z

Tom Hamilton www.espnscrum.com What would you say if Jesus was sat next to you? Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton has had to vie with the best of them over the past year. He played a key role in Leinster's epic comeback against Northampton Saints in the Heineken Cup final while also keeping the scoreboard ticking over during the World Cup for Ireland. But when faced with the question - among others - 'what would you do if Jesus was sat next to you?'..watch how he copes with that pressure. Quote Unquote ”The one thing that is consistent about Gavin Henson is that he's still pretty orange.”
- London Irish's Toby Booth provides his take on the tangoed Henson. Trivia Time Q.How many tackles did Toby Faletau miss during the World Cup ? (Yesterday's answer: Shane Williams scored 22 tries in the Six Nations.) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

What is going on in this picture?© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 20 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26633 2011-12-20T00:00:42Z 2011-12-20T00:05:03Z

Huw Baines Flying (one-cap) Fijian With Leinster showing their class by thumping Bath at Lansdowne Road last weekend, why not rewind to one of the best moments in last season’s Heineken Cup - Isa Nacewa’s stunning solo try against Leicester at the same ground. Quote Unquote ”You are only allowed to wear coloured boots if you've played over 50 times for the Ospreys or over 15 times for your country.”
- The quote that broke hearts at the Ospreys. For shame, Sean Holley. For shame. Trivia Time Q. Shane Williams played 41 Six Nations games. How many of his 58 tries for Wales were scored in that tournament? (Yesterday's answer: David Barnes holds the Premiership appearance record for Bath.) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

What has caught Eoin Reddan’s attention?© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 19 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26599 2011-12-19T00:00:01Z 2011-12-20T08:05:27Z

Tom Hamilton www.espnscrum.com Check this out While the temperature plummets in Europe ahead of Christmas, the All Blacks showcased their vast array of skills around the barbecue. Their outrageous video has been reproduced, replicated and attempted the world over, but there's only one team who can really do it justice. Quote Unquote "I would pay to watch Nick Evans train."
- Harlequins' Conor O'Shea lauds his Kiwi fly-half. Trivia Time Q. Which Bath Rugby player holds the club record for the most appearances in the Premiership? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: New Zealand beat England 33-22 in final of the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

What is being said between Morgan Parra and George Chuter?© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 18 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26587 2011-12-18T00:00:14Z 2011-12-18T00:20:04Z

Graham Jenkins graham jenkins "Can you believe it?!" The globe-trotting HSBC World Sevens Series often provides a feast for the eye - both on and off the field. And the finale of the 2010-11 season was no exception with South Africa claiming a stunning last-gasp triumph over Australia at the Murrayfield 7s. The Blitzbokke trailed 28-7 and 35-19 but conjured a late rally with Sibusiso Sithole the hero with the title-winning score. Simply phenomenal stuff. Quote Unquote " I love rugby! Soccer is a bit boring for me but this game is off the hook. It is nuts."
- Britain's Got Talent judge and one-time Baywatch star David Hasselhoff is taken with rugby union whilst working in the UK. Trivia Time Q. Who won the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship Final and who did they beat in the title-decider? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: New Zealand beat France 37-17 in the pool stages of this year's Rugby World Cup) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

Saracens' Andy Saull and Tom Ryder pack down with The Saturdays© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 17 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26585 2011-12-17T00:00:39Z 2011-12-17T00:05:05Z

Graham Jenkins graham jenkins "Nice little right hand there" All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams caused a bit of a stir during the Rugby World Cup when he lost his shirt and he'll be stripped to the waist once again in a couple of months when he resumes his boxing career. The multi-talented SBW will tackle Richard Tutaki for the New Zealand heavyweight title on February 8 having recorded four straight wins in the ring - the latest of which was against the not-so-formidable Alipate Liava'a. Re-live this 'classic' below... Quote Unquote "Believe me, if you've played an hour and half of rugby and you've really enjoyed it, you're not going to want to go off and get involved in some gang fight."
- Mayor of London Boris Johnson offers his support to the RFU's touch rugby initiative. Trivia Time Q. New Zealand only just edged out France in the Rugby World Cup Final - but what was the score when they beat them in the pool stages? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: The most-capped non-Tier 1 international is Romania's Cristian Petre who has 85 Test caps to date) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

Leicester's Manu Tuilagi and Northampton's Chris Ashton share a word after their infamous punch-up earlier this year© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 16 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26570 2011-12-16T00:00:45Z 2011-12-16T00:10:04Z

Graham Jenkins graham jenkins "The greatest recovery of all time in this competition" Sky Sports' Miles Harrison makes another appearance in our countdown having been behind the mic for a truly epic Heineken Cup Final back in May. Trailing 22-6 at half-time, Leinster defied the odds, thanks largely to an inspiring speech from fly-half Jonathan Sexton, to claim an astonishing 33-22 victory. Re-live the drama one more time... Quote Unquote "There was a seminar on quantum physics and not only did Jonny give a speech at that conference, but he gave it in French."
- Jonny Wilkinson's long-term mentor Steve Black offers an insight into the mind of the England fly-half. Trivia Time Q. Who is the most-capped player from a non-Tier 1 nation? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: Richie McCaw has been on the losing side just 12 times in his 103 outings for the All Blacks) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

Bill Beaumont and Bernard Lapasset pictured in happier times - but what are they saying?© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 15 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26557 2011-12-15T00:00:23Z 2011-12-15T07:55:39Z

Graham Jenkins graham jenkins "He's spending more time in the backs than he is in the forwards" You wouldn't need too many guesses to identify the player Sky Sports' Miles Harrison was talking about when he used the phrase above. Saracens' Schalk Brits is so often the driving force behind his side and was a key figure in their run to the Aviva Premiership title last season - and along the way he scooped the Try of the Year award for this effort. Quote Unquote "For a quick throw-in, the player must use the ball that went into touch. A quick throw-in is not permitted if another person has touched the ball apart from the player throwing it in and an opponent who carried it into touch."
- Law 19.2 (d) of the International Rugby Board's Laws of the Game that escaped the officials during Wales' Six Nations victory over Ireland in March. Trivia Time Q. Richie McCaw has played 103 Test matches for the All Blacks - but how many times has he finished on the losing side? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: The Rugby World Cup clash between New Zealand and Japan featured a Williams (Sonny Bill), a Webb (Shaun) and an Ellis (Andrew) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

Quins' Danny Care has come clean about his recent arrest but what is he saying here?© Getty Images

]]> Festive Countdown - December 14 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26528 2011-12-14T00:00:05Z 2011-12-14T00:05:03Z

Tom Hamilton www.espnscrum.com The evolution of the Haka One of the most fearsome sights in world rugby is a fully committed Haka being carried out by an All Blacks side smelling blood. But it was not always this way. Tim Horan casts his eye back to 1973 when it was more comical than fearsome. Quote Unquote " I would say the referee was a joke but I'd probably get fined for it so I won't"
- Samoan centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu starts hitting out at the officials - in May - four months before the start of the World Cup. Trivia Time Q. Which fixture during the 2011 World Cup featured both a Webb and an Ellis? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: Prince Chichibu Stadium will host the Tokyo, Japan, leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

]]> Festive Countdown - December 13 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26525 2011-12-13T00:00:50Z 2011-12-13T00:20:06Z

Graham Jenkins graham jenkins "What a trrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!" "35 years and 49 days and he is running around like a teenager," screamed Fox Sport's Greg Clark. The man in question was Australia's Radike Samo and he had just left the All Blacks' defence in his wake on his way to a superb try in their Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane. The score helped the Wallabies secure the southern hemisphere crown and was later named the International Rugby Players' Association's Try of the Year. Re-live his crowd-pleasing score and Clarkie's great call. Quote Unquote "Alain Rolland's decision to issue a red card was absolutely correct in law and in keeping with the clear instructions that match officials have received in recent years regarding dangerous tackling."
- IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien stands by his man following the dismissal of Wales' Sam Warburton during their Rugby World Cup semi-final clash with France. Trivia Time Q. In which country would you be if you were watching a game at the Prince Chichibu Stadium? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: Sir Ian McGeechan has toured seven times with the British & Irish Lions - five times as a coach and twice as a player) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

]]> Festive Countdown - December 12 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26499 2011-12-12T00:00:11Z 2011-12-12T00:05:05Z

Graham Jenkins graham jenkins Marching to a different beat The recent Rugby World Cup in New Zealand re-set the bar on so many fronts when it comes to hosting the sport's showpiece event - including pre-match entertainment. On this occasion we're not talking about the anthems (with the New Zealand v Australia surely the pick of the bunch?) but the New Zealand Army Band. These guys ripped it up wherever they played with a mix of music, comedy and showmanship including the All Blacks' victory parades where they broke out the crowd-pleasing haka as you can see below. Quote Unquote "'I come up for air and then submerge myself again and scream again. No words, just pure desperation. I carry on screaming as long and as loud as I can and I don't stop until I am hoarse. I cannot find any other way of dealing with this non-stop barrage of thoughts and negativity."
- England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson offers an insight into his personal torment in his autobiography Jonny. Trivia Time Q. How many times has Sir Ian McGeechan toured with the British & Irish Lions as player and coach? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: Saracens' Hugh Vyvyan holds the record for Premiership appearances with 239 as of today) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

]]> Festive Countdown - December 11 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26473 2011-12-11T00:01:02Z 2011-12-11T00:10:03Z

Tom Hamilton www.espnscrum.com Anything the All Blacks can do... We're not sure the All Blacks and Sky Sport realised what they were starting with their epic skills video, but there have been no end of attempts to match and mimic their marketing ploy - with the Waratahs' showcase earlier this year one of the more notable efforts. Quote Unquote " I locked myself in a dark room and didn't eat. I was s**t scared I could die."
- Gloucester winger James Simpson-Daniel on finding out he was facing Jonah Lomu. Trivia Time Q. Who holds the record for the most appearances in the Premiership? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: Stephen Larkham edges Nathan Sharpe on caps with the former fly-half sitting on 102 while the lock is on 101) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

]]> Festive Countdown - December 10 tag:blogs.espnscrum.com,2011:/editorsblog//174.26448 2011-12-10T00:01:52Z 2011-12-10T00:05:03Z

Graham Jenkins graham jenkins "How many Tests did you play for the All Blacks?" We return to the inexhaustible Crowd Goes Wild archives for our latest clip. Three months ago the show said farewell to a certain Stephen Donald following the news he would be signing for English side Bath but little did they know. And they also provide an answer as to why he is nicknamed 'Beaver' - in case you have been wondering... Quote Unquote "We heard you were concerned about security issues, but let me reassure you that half of New Zealand doesn’t know where Whanganui is, so you’re safe from a terrorist attack."
- Radio personality Piri Cribb offers some reassurance to the USA squad on their arrival for the Rugby World Cup. Trivia Time Q. Who has won more Test caps - Nathan Sharpe or Stephen Larkham? (answer to come tomorrow) (Yesterday's answer: Japan have won the Asian 5 Nations title four times - every year since it began) Caption Comp We provide the picture. You provide the caption. Simple. No prizes except bragging rights among our faithful following. Check out the picture below and then click here to give it or check out our Facebook page to give it your best shot and we'll post the best.

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