|
I settled down in Waterstone's bookshop this afternoon with a leisurely coffee and a book on quips made by people. One that tickled me was an exchange between an Irish rugby player and England's legendary rugby hooker Brian Moore.
The Irish player asked him "What are you going to do for a face when Saddam wants his arse back?"
Moore replied "I'll smear it with sh*t first like he did when you used it."
"I do not have to forgive my enemies, I have had them all shot." — Ramón Maria Narváez (1800-68).
"I don't need to shoot my enemies, I don't have any." - Me (2012).
|
|
|
|
|
Moore is indeed a legend. The only man I've ever seen win an otherwise unwinnable match by deliberatly setting out to get punched in the face.
England were 2 points down to the French with seconds on the clock and French had the ball, Brian has a 'quiet word' with the French captain who responds by punching him full in face right in front of the Ref. Penalty to England, the match in the bag and there's Brian Moore, blood running down his face, laughing like a drain. I've no idea what he said to the French captain but he knew exactly what he was doing and exactly how to make him explode right on que. I've not read his bio 'Beware of the Dog' but it could just as easily have been called 'Winning Ugly'. He was the master of that.
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage."
Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew Faithfull wrote: laughing like a drain
Perfect. I can just picture it. 
I might be wrong but I think he was also the player who opened up and made public that he'd been sexually abused when he was a young lad.
Now that I've read more about him I'll look for his bio when I'm at the library next.
When he played with Jason Leonard and Jeff Probyn I don't think there was a better front row in rugby at that time in the world. It would be fair to mention the three of them with the same respect as the Pontypool front row that played for Wales in the 70s.
They were bloody tough blokes for sure.
"I do not have to forgive my enemies, I have had them all shot." — Ramón Maria Narváez (1800-68).
"I don't need to shoot my enemies, I don't have any." - Me (2012).
|
|
|
|
|
I have supped ale with that front row. Moore is an amazing guy, so clever and articulate yet full of rage especially on the pitch.
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done.
Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H
OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre
I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer
Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew Faithfull wrote: He was the master of that.
Well, is this not the general way of playing of England ? Panache is something long forgotten.
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus
Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
|
|
|
|
|
Things have changed a lot since those days when panache was not forgotten simply despised. These days all international teams are more similar and the players perhaps less crazy than they were in the amateur era. It's still the oldest and one of the most successful English tactics to do as they did against Ireland 2 weeks ago and 'bring on the beasts' which always reminds me the way Probyn and Leonard used to play. They sub in huge men who may not have the fanciest skills but can simply crush the opposition, batter them into the ground. It works best in heavy rain of course like much that is English. As a tactic it has seldom failed except against South Africa and Argentina who do it even better than we do. You may remember Brieve had great success for a couple of seasons some years ago playing in the same way. It's is surely not pretty but still great to watch.
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage."
Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
