No, I missed that, but did anybody see the documentary last night by the ludicrous Donal MacIntyre about Manc "gangland boss" Dominic Noonan?

The odd thing about it was that Noonan's "fixer" brother Dessie was killed last Friday and no mention was made of this pertinent fact either before or after the documentary. In fact, all references to and film of Dessie seemed to have been simply deleted. The postscript just referred to Dominic getting off another charge. Most peculiar.

Played snooker and got pleasantly pissed on Norwegian Aquavit last night. Your boys did well in the Six Nations.

I played Snooker last night, but got slughtered in another way!

BTW, Any Boxing fans on here? Watch the Morales vs Paquicao fight on Sky Sports on Friday. It was fought last Saturday in the US and is already being spoke about as 1 of the best Super Featherweight fights of all time. DONT MISS IT.

It's just the beginning for my boyos. England are jolly lucky that the World Cup came when it did and they were just able to fluke their way past Wales. Another 18 months and they'd have had their hides tanned.

And yet for a Gavin Henson penalty you'd have been beaten by a very average England side. Wales fully deserved the Six Nations, but don't get carried away, the World Cup is still over 2 years away.

England weren't lucky in 2003, the team had been built towards the sole purpose of winning that year.

There is no doubt that Wales have a strong team at present that should get better. There is also no doubt that, come 2007, so will England, France, Australia and New Zealand.

And without Crocky Wilkinsons' drop goal England would have been beaten by Australia and without a little luck they'd have been beaten by an embryonic Welsh team in the quarters. Such is professional sport. But whereas Wales walloped the Irish and devastated a rejuventated France, England lost miserably to them both.

I'm not convinced that England will get better. Why should they? Australia and New Zealand maybe, but there is more reason to suppose that this young Welsh team will improve with experience. You're right to suggest that the Welsh should have buried the mediocre England outfit in the first 20 mins as they created about 5 clear try-scoring opportunities. At "HQ" next year, I doubt they will be so generous to their hosts.

"And without Crocky Wilkinsons' drop goal England would have been beaten by Australia...". And if the England forwards had worn high-heeled leather boots they would have been pushed back and the ball would never have reached Wilkinson for his moment of magic. Can't quite see your point. The fly half did exactly what he should have done after great work from the forwards. Strange to see you of all people following the "if such and such a thing had been different then the outcome would have changed" school of thought.

I think you may have been working too hard Sgr Lavafiume. Your point is identical to the one I was attempting to make (in response to Curva's curious observation about the Gavin the Boot's heroics). If buts were maybes, we'd all be world champions. Or I would be at least. You'd still be trying to eliminate me on a technicality.

You can catch Gavin the Shaver on A Question of Sport tonight if you can manage half an hour of Ally McCoist laughing at his own jokes, Dawson okay-yahing and Sue Barker flashing her eyelashes like some tuppenny slapper.

quote:

Originally posted by Sir George:
(in response to Curva's curious observation about the Gavin the Boot's heroics

There was nothing curious about my observation at all, it was a fact, Wales were that kick away from losing to a mediocre England team. Had England lost the World Cup final it would have been to a far better team in Australia than the English are at present.

England will improve, injured players such as Hill, Vickery and (perhaps) Wilkinson will come back, and the new talent coming through will mature over time, in much the same way as the present Welsh team have.

Not even the opportunity to hear Gav's words of wisdom was worth the torture that is the Suenally Show.

Afternoon

Don't know if andy (signori) still reads these pages. If you do, you're famous! Me and the old man performed the annual ritual of purchasing the playfair cricket annual. Didn't realise your brother was on lancs's books either, or that you were an aussie! Also read the interview with your brother in 'all out cricket' magazine. Best wishes for the season mate. By the way, any tips for an aspiring off break bowler?

bad news, ferrari are back.

Worcester 43 - 34 Leeds

We might even get some silverware this season although I'll settle for not getting relegated.

good news ferrari aren't back. (although Fisichella's car blew up which wasn't great-and he made up a few places at the start)

That was a very enjoyable GP. De la Rosa made for good watching, Alonso showed a bit of a masterclass after Schumacher went (which was also great!) and it was at a reasonable hour. More of the same please.

I'd like to have watched today's Grand Prix but, unfortunately, it fell victim to Italian state TV company RAI's wall to wall mourning all weekend.

Surely people should be entitled to choose how and when to mourn. Why the need for every channel to show essentially the same programme or some "religious drama"?

They just don't want to run the risk of being seen disrespectful, but not showing Shoemaker dropping out because of mechanical failure for the first time in 58 races is more disrespectful. It's such a damaging shock to the system to see no scarlet cars on the points list. Mwahaha! Hope Fisichella puts in some consistent displays this year. He's always been a quick driver, and has finally this year got his chance to showcase himself, let's hope he doesn't blow it.

Meanwhile, Federer nearly got toppled. Could've easily embarrassed himself to 18 year old Nadal, but fought back from to sets down in Miami. And it's exciting to see that in the women's, Clijsters won on her return (though she's not as good looking as Henin-Hardenne or Sharapova).

Just a shame that we've got bloody golf trying to force it's way onto our screens all this week.

quote:

Originally posted by internazionale:
(though she's not as good looking as Henin-Hardenne or Sharapova).

Man, you shouldn't even put these 2 in the same sentence! You really think Henin-Hardenne is good looking?

I cant believe they didnt show the F1..the first one on at a descent time and I had to get my mum to text me updates! I couldnt even see it on sky.

The Federer game was great!I think Nadal could win the French Open this year..I think he ran out of energy against Federer..ive never seen a guy run so many shots down.

FORZA ROMA!