My source maintains that the latest “plasma” test on Carter was performed to specifically verify he could be categorised as human The triple checked (trust but verify) results clearly support this supposition showing he is now 51.38% human & so Biggles contestation that Dan enjoys an unfair advantage has no merit & therefore will not be entertained by the IRB despite poor old Biggles protestations for an investigation

There is also a story (of dubious veracity) doing to rounds that DC’s poor kicking performance at Newlands was merely a feint to support the notion that he was indeed “one of us” until the human component of his molten-magma-plasma could be nudged above the 50% mark

there is also an unconfirmed and seemingly outrageous rumour that both of them might be human and, therefore, prone to error. Eeek !

I have come across a bizarre little “statistica obscura” in which I believe Cipriani & Carter may indeed be equals I must preface this information with the acknowledgement that as your statistical knowledge is clearly of a far superior depth than mine you may want to verify with your own sources … Anyway … here goes … nothing ventured, nothing gained … according to my informant, who wishes to remain anonymous for obvious reasons – they both wear boots when playing rugby, two of them in fact. Please do not hold me to this, as stipulated previously, this is NOT a confirmed fact, merely an allegation. Phew … big risk putting that kind of dodgy little unsubstantiated factoid out there … might not be true … how embarrassing

Nuclear Testing ? – shucks, here was stoopid little ole me thinking we were talking rugby, not International politics.

NZ is the 1st name on the RWC, check it out you dimwit.

England has never beaten NZ at a RWC. Nor for that matter as any British or Irish team.

Who said I didnt know about EDF tournament ? oh – you.

Who said I didnt know Cipriani wasnt in the Wasps squad when they won the HCup ? oh – you, again. All I said was he has only had 1 full season for Wasps.

Yes, your allegiance to Jones is clear. Its like the blog-version of Joness articles. Biased and subjective to the point of the ridiculous and, therefore, no credibility. He has figured out early controversy sells papers, esp in the internet/World medium. How pathetic.

Wayne Barnes as being one of the best refs in the World – on the basis of what ? He was in his 20′s and had NEVER refereed an International before February 07 (ie 7mths prior to RWC 07). On what basis he was given the match between the TriN Champions (and RWC favourites) and the 6N Champions (and RWC Hosts) is beyond any reasonable comprehension. Chris White was clearly the better option, a good ref if not 1 of the best. Barnes was clearly out of his depth, only you bitter Jones-disciples see it any other way. Oh tee-hee, lets mock the Kiwis and ignore a referee of unfathomable incompetence.

#68 BlackPanther: It was both of them, its quite clear.And yes it was shameful both of them should’ve been banned for 6months minimum.

#66 BlackPanther: Strange how you criticise Jones yet he is an award winning rugby writer who does article for the top paper in the country just as you slate Wayne Barnes despite him being one of the best refs in the world. lose the bias and ex-pat emotion and maybe someone will take you seriously.

the tackle on BOD was no less than shameful, lets not let patriotism get in the way of logic here. But the Brits made the mistake of blaming Umaga – thats what happens when you hire a Govt Spin Doctor on a rugby tour – when it was clearly Mealamu who did the lifting and the driving. It was a thuggish tackle, off the ball and after that phase. Mealamu should have atleast been cited, not Umaga, but to any objective eye he should have received a RC. Either way the Blacks would still have won despite the incident being in the opening minutes. That Lions team was woeful or, as Sir Clivey put it “something special is about to happen here”. Oh yes Clive, you were right for once !

correction – 1994 ‘the try from the end of the Earth’. The 2-0 series sweep by the Tricolors in NZ, the last time NZ lost in a Series at home. Also the same series when Laurie Mains selected Jonah Lomu from being a loose-fwd for Counties to being a winger against the best backs in the World, France. He lasted 1 Test before being dropped. He was also only a last-minute selection for the following 1995 RWC squad. The rest, as they say, is history.

for the sheer hypocritical enjoyment of it all ! If ever there was a journo who has comprimised his credibility, then it is he. And you just lap it all up, some of your entries are almost word-for-word.

Correct. Its all in the attitude – we respect the French in every rugby way because they play rugby, with expression and personality, the way it should be played. Thats why when we lose to them in a 1-off RWC match, we dont see it as ‘choke’, we see them as an imposing opposition who can be dangerous on any given day despite previous history. France are NZs nemesis. It has been this way, always, and will continue to be. 1979 (Bastille Day @ EP). 1984 ‘the try from the end of the Earth’ (@ EP). 1999 RWC Semi. 2007 RWC Qter. I have been there for all of them and my respect is endless.

And Ive been in UK 15years, have watched oodles of GP and European rugby and feel qualified to speak about UK rugby. Ive been to many games at Wasps from Loftus Rd days to H.Wycombe, so also feel qualified to comment on Cipriani. Which is why you preaching to the less-well-informed is hilarious. Your ability to bullsh*t knows no bounds.

pull the other leg – Flutey is a Maori. Vainikolo a Tongan. Perrywater is born in NZ and plucked from obscurity in France. van Gisenberg qualified only via residency. And if youre relying on the rest having an English parent, then go ahead, embarrass yourself in the doing.

You have repeatedly discounted S14 as a competition of any value. Why not – thats what your journos are telling you to think, arent they ?!

Edinburgh ? I think you mean theyre competitve COMPARED to what they were. They are distinctly average in every other respect. Ive seen them play, live, and it aint pretty.

I actually DO watch GP and I coach at a English ex-GP club. In England they coach players to go-to-ground in the tackle, in NZ its about staying on your feet. Enough said.

#60 BlackPanther: Flutey got player of the year ahead of McAlister and numerous other top players, he was excellent, there’s no denying it. The registered players stat is misleading as most are amateur and don’t take the game seriously. Better to look at the schoolboy figure where most players are signed from. Also most of the players you mention had an english parent.

#58 BlackPanther: I never said the S14 was a non-competition, I think its on a similar level to the HEC. I didn’t boast about attendances but I will defend a point if you’re going to mislead. Those Magners teams are below par, I’m not arguing but Leinster, Munster, Ospreys and Edinburgh are competitive. Also Worcester play expansive rugby, if you actually watched some GP you’d know this. Wasps, Harlequins, Bath and London Irish also play wide rugby.

Flutey gets rave reviews here because the Poms suddenly realised they could ‘buy’ him. He does nothing starry for Wasps, just does the basics well. No more, no less.

Flutey, Vainikolo, Stevens, Perrywater, van Gisenberg, Allot, Catt….

30% more senior registered players than NZ and STILL they need to BUY their team. How sad. Atleast the Kiwis have the decency to educate their Polynesian brothers 1st.

forgive me for not placing as much weight on Heinken Cup victories as you do. Altho youve been noted as stating S14 as a non-competition. Why ? Well, its the fashion innit.

Magners League is not ‘poor’, its horrendous ! Take out Munster and Ospreys and the remainder would struggle to compete in the Heartland trophy (NZ Div II). Connacht, Ulster, Glasgow, Newport – these teams are seriously below-par !

The Premiership is no more than a grind. It was and remains 10-man rugby. The sooner they embrace rugby in Summer and conditions and attitudes improve with it, the better. Rico Gear doesnt shine at Worcester, Twit, because he doesnt receive the ball.

Top 14 rugby in France IS the real deal. I watch it every week and the games are fast, skillful and passionate. But their crowds are over-inflated by gimmicks (Stades new jersey is not pink anymore, its an Andy Warhol-type pop-art moment of multi-colours), giveaways and players receiving telephone number salaries not reflecting crowd numbers. Toulon, for example, have a 10mEuro+ budget yet still only pull crowds at home of 10-12,000.