The podcast for Week 8 is now up. Ingredients include:
+ It's Just Dom 0:00:00
+ A New Bit of Jazz (with many thanks to the very cool Twinset) 0:00:10
+ Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:27
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:40
+ Super 14 Round 7 Reviews: Hurricanes versus Sharks 0:02:01; Waratahs versus Blues 0:04:19; Cheetahs versus Reds 0:06:55; Brumbies versus Chiefs 0:10:00; Highlanders versus Cats 0:11:53; Force versus Bulls 0:14:12
+ Sports News: Al Baxter: Dominator 0:16:53; Southern or Eastern Spears? Whatever, they won't be playing Super 14 next year (probably) 0:17:37; Rugby League Rundown 0:18:26; Commonwealth Games 0:19:27
+ Wacky Round the World 0:27:19
+ How to Pronounce Grobler van Wyk Strydom du Plessis 0:33:25
+ Dick of the Week 0:40:20
+ Athlete of the Week 0:41:50
+ Super 14 Round 8 Reviews: Blues versus Bulls 0:43:56; Waratahs versus Cheetahs 0:45:56; Force versus Stormers 0:46:39; Hurricanes versus Crusaders 0:48:34; Chiefs versus Highlanders 0:50:27; Sharks versus Reds 0:52:16;
+ The Last Word 0:53:20
+ Some more Jazz (yay, Twinset) 0:53:34
Total time: 0:53:55
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Rugby Videos
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Week 7 Podcast - Contents
The podcast for Week 7 is now up. But first...
Apologies: This week contains some bad editing and sound quality. Completely Hadyn's fault. Next week will be "way more awesomer".
Sideline Mike here: Persuant to this apology, we have implemented a volume increase initiative that will completely redefine the way the audiophonic pressure gradient will interact with the tympanic membrane, such that the modulated intonations will evoke increased clarity. In other words, it will be "way way more awesomer".
Here is a run down of the Week 7 Podcast:
+ Stats Man 0:00:00
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:08
+ Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:23
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:40
+ Super 14 Round 6 Reviews: Crusaders versus Cats 0:01:00; Force versus Waratahs 0:02:38; Bulls versus Hurricanes 0:04:26; Blues versus Brumbies 0:06:43; Highlanders versus Sharks 0:08:08; Stormers versus Cheetahs 0:09:22;
+ Sports News: the Six Nations 0:11:30; General Rugby - Elton Flatley Retirement 0:13:27; General Rugby - Men Who Show No Merci 0:14:36; General Rugby - South African Controversy, again 0:15:44; General Rugby - The Travelling Bonus Point 0:16:35; Rugby League - Rundown of the Previous Week's Games 0:16:43; Rugby League - The Rabbitohs, A Bargain at Half the Price 0:17:18; Rugby League - In Defence of Hamilton! 0:18:28; Rugby League - Canterbury Bulldogs 0:19:05; Cricket - New Zealand vs Windies 0:19:30; Commonwealth Games 0:20:54; Football - Chelsea Lose to Fulham 0:25:45
+ Wacky Round the World 0:26:22
+ Stat of the Week - Top Tackler 0:33:42
+ Dick of the Week 0:34:25
+ Athlete of the Week 0:37:05
+ Super 14 Round 7 Reviews: Hurricanes versus Sharks 0:43:25; Waratahs versus Blues 0:44:50; Cheetahs versus Reds 0:49:23; Brumbies versus Chiefs 0:51:44; Highlanders versus Cats 0:53:12; Force versus Bulls 0:54:10;
+ The Last Word 0:58:43
Total time: 0:59:40
Apologies: This week contains some bad editing and sound quality. Completely Hadyn's fault. Next week will be "way more awesomer".
Sideline Mike here: Persuant to this apology, we have implemented a volume increase initiative that will completely redefine the way the audiophonic pressure gradient will interact with the tympanic membrane, such that the modulated intonations will evoke increased clarity. In other words, it will be "way way more awesomer".
Here is a run down of the Week 7 Podcast:
+ Stats Man 0:00:00
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:08
+ Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:23
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:40
+ Super 14 Round 6 Reviews: Crusaders versus Cats 0:01:00; Force versus Waratahs 0:02:38; Bulls versus Hurricanes 0:04:26; Blues versus Brumbies 0:06:43; Highlanders versus Sharks 0:08:08; Stormers versus Cheetahs 0:09:22;
+ Sports News: the Six Nations 0:11:30; General Rugby - Elton Flatley Retirement 0:13:27; General Rugby - Men Who Show No Merci 0:14:36; General Rugby - South African Controversy, again 0:15:44; General Rugby - The Travelling Bonus Point 0:16:35; Rugby League - Rundown of the Previous Week's Games 0:16:43; Rugby League - The Rabbitohs, A Bargain at Half the Price 0:17:18; Rugby League - In Defence of Hamilton! 0:18:28; Rugby League - Canterbury Bulldogs 0:19:05; Cricket - New Zealand vs Windies 0:19:30; Commonwealth Games 0:20:54; Football - Chelsea Lose to Fulham 0:25:45
+ Wacky Round the World 0:26:22
+ Stat of the Week - Top Tackler 0:33:42
+ Dick of the Week 0:34:25
+ Athlete of the Week 0:37:05
+ Super 14 Round 7 Reviews: Hurricanes versus Sharks 0:43:25; Waratahs versus Blues 0:44:50; Cheetahs versus Reds 0:49:23; Brumbies versus Chiefs 0:51:44; Highlanders versus Cats 0:53:12; Force versus Bulls 0:54:10;
+ The Last Word 0:58:43
Total time: 0:59:40
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Week Six in Review
Well, that was a week the Dropkicks would rather forget. Despite a first rate podcast and excellent enunciation, the rugby gods saw fit to play Twister with our predictions. Suffice to say that anyone who listens to our predictions from now on is not right int' head. By all means listen to our podcasts, because they are bright, breezy and...er...what's another b-word?...uh, binformative. But if you do choose to base your bets on our predictions, we can accept no responsibility should you lose your car, your house and associated chattels or your marbles.
That being said, we are hardly ever wrong, and last week's incorrect picks were an aberration. (OK, we do seem to be involved in more aberrations than is strictly allowed by the OED definition of "aberration", but if you pretend you never just read this, then everyone is happy.)
Therefore, without any ado, and to get them out of the way as quickly as possible, what we said would happen in the week just been and what did happen:
- We'll start off with an easy one. We predicted the Crusaders would beat the Cats by 13+: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). The Crusaders rested their entire team for the first 55 minutes, with the Cats up against tackle bags. In an indictment of how well the Cats are playing at the moment, it was 12-all at half-time. The Crusaders decided not long after the break that seeing as they were already at the ground, they may as well throw the ball around for 20 or so minutes. So they replaced 7 of the tackle bags with humans and ran out convincing winners 43-15.
- Bad as the Cats are playing at the moment, we would still back them against the Force. The Waratahs, unbeknownst to all but the most learned rugby observer, actually played the game facing the other way. Even running backwards they still managed to win by 32-7, or 13+, which was the margin we picked: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points).
- Someone who doesn't like the Dropkicks obviously paid off the South African Television Match Official (TMO) in the next match: the Bulls versus the Hurricanes. We picked the Bulls by 1-12, but in what can only be described as a suicide bid by the TMO, a certain try was ruled out and the Hurricanes sneaked in by 3. We therefore got the game totally incorrect (0 Virtual Rugby points). Big ups for the 'Canes in coming through for the win, however; it wasn't as if the TMO, as well as ruling out the try, called the game off there and then and gave the Hurricanes a few extra points for the hell of it - the Hurricanes actually had to work for the win.
- Blues coach David Nucifora must have found "Rugby for Dummies" whilst browsing at the library on their week off, because something happened to the Blues and they turned up a different team on Saturday. Against the Brumbies they played, god darn it, rugby. We thought the Brumbies would have too much nous and run out winners by 13+. As it was, we were totally incorrect (0 Virtual Rugby points). Why did the Blues have to pick that game to remember that they do have talent and that the core of their team didn't win last year's NPC for nothing?
- The Sharks made the Highlanders cry into their Speights and/or poetry books by winning 26 points to 11 at the "House of Pain". Which is apparently now known as the "House of Champagne" to South Africans. Boom boom. We can handle being wrong with our pick (we had the Highlanders to win by 13+), but the bad pun tipped us over the edge. We joined the Highlanders in crying into our beers. It made it taste all salty. Yech. And no, we don't read poetry. Except ones that start "There once was a man from Nantucket". 0 Virtual Rugby points. Bleeh.
- And finally, the Cheetahs continued the Stormers inglorious home run by knocking them on the head by 31 to 25. We appealed to the great Law of Averages in thinking that the Stormers couldn't possibly keep on losing at home and therefore had them to win by 1-12. 0 Virtual Rugby points. Stupid Law of Averages. It's as if it doesn't exist.
- It was the turn of the Reds and the Chiefs to sit out this week with a bye.
Pick accuracy this week was again 2 out of 6 (or 33%). Grade: E. Bloody terrible. So we won't dwell on it.
Coming up in podcast number 7:
A review of Week 6 of the Super 14
A review of other sport
Six Nations. General Rugby. NRL. We don't like cricket. Oh no. The Australi...Commonwealth Games.
Usual stuff
Wacky Round the World, Athlete of the Week, Dick of the Week.
A preview of Week 7 of the Super 14
- The Hurricanes return home from a reasonably successful safari in Africa to face yet another team from the dark continent. The Sharks were impressive in repressing the Highlanders in Dunedin last week. Can they continue that form and come up with an equally bad pun for the Caketin?
- Will the Blues continue down the road of playing this old-fangled "rugby" lark, or will they revert to their early season form and play whatever it was they were playing back then? Will it be good enough to push the Waratahs, who have only really been tested once this season so far, against the Bulls in Pretoria, where they suffered their one and only loss?
- Why are the Reds even bothering to go to South Africa? Don't they know the Cheetahs will rip them a new one?
- In a showdown of the most boring cities in Australasia, who will be stupefied first: the Brumbies (home advantage) or the Chiefs (possibly the only team who are immune to the "attractions" Canberra has to offer)?
- The Highlanders will be angry after last week, and the Cats will be desperate to get home. Could get messy.
- And can the Force overcome the Bulls at Perth for their first win of the season? A ha. A ha ha ha. A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha heeeeee hooooooooooooo heeee. Oh, that was a good one.
Virtual Super 14 Update
The Dropkicks lived up to the "Drop" part of their names and fell a staggering 23,609 places. Ooomph. We are now 58,166th.
That being said, we are hardly ever wrong, and last week's incorrect picks were an aberration. (OK, we do seem to be involved in more aberrations than is strictly allowed by the OED definition of "aberration", but if you pretend you never just read this, then everyone is happy.)
Therefore, without any ado, and to get them out of the way as quickly as possible, what we said would happen in the week just been and what did happen:
- We'll start off with an easy one. We predicted the Crusaders would beat the Cats by 13+: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). The Crusaders rested their entire team for the first 55 minutes, with the Cats up against tackle bags. In an indictment of how well the Cats are playing at the moment, it was 12-all at half-time. The Crusaders decided not long after the break that seeing as they were already at the ground, they may as well throw the ball around for 20 or so minutes. So they replaced 7 of the tackle bags with humans and ran out convincing winners 43-15.
- Bad as the Cats are playing at the moment, we would still back them against the Force. The Waratahs, unbeknownst to all but the most learned rugby observer, actually played the game facing the other way. Even running backwards they still managed to win by 32-7, or 13+, which was the margin we picked: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points).
- Someone who doesn't like the Dropkicks obviously paid off the South African Television Match Official (TMO) in the next match: the Bulls versus the Hurricanes. We picked the Bulls by 1-12, but in what can only be described as a suicide bid by the TMO, a certain try was ruled out and the Hurricanes sneaked in by 3. We therefore got the game totally incorrect (0 Virtual Rugby points). Big ups for the 'Canes in coming through for the win, however; it wasn't as if the TMO, as well as ruling out the try, called the game off there and then and gave the Hurricanes a few extra points for the hell of it - the Hurricanes actually had to work for the win.
- Blues coach David Nucifora must have found "Rugby for Dummies" whilst browsing at the library on their week off, because something happened to the Blues and they turned up a different team on Saturday. Against the Brumbies they played, god darn it, rugby. We thought the Brumbies would have too much nous and run out winners by 13+. As it was, we were totally incorrect (0 Virtual Rugby points). Why did the Blues have to pick that game to remember that they do have talent and that the core of their team didn't win last year's NPC for nothing?
- The Sharks made the Highlanders cry into their Speights and/or poetry books by winning 26 points to 11 at the "House of Pain". Which is apparently now known as the "House of Champagne" to South Africans. Boom boom. We can handle being wrong with our pick (we had the Highlanders to win by 13+), but the bad pun tipped us over the edge. We joined the Highlanders in crying into our beers. It made it taste all salty. Yech. And no, we don't read poetry. Except ones that start "There once was a man from Nantucket". 0 Virtual Rugby points. Bleeh.
- And finally, the Cheetahs continued the Stormers inglorious home run by knocking them on the head by 31 to 25. We appealed to the great Law of Averages in thinking that the Stormers couldn't possibly keep on losing at home and therefore had them to win by 1-12. 0 Virtual Rugby points. Stupid Law of Averages. It's as if it doesn't exist.
- It was the turn of the Reds and the Chiefs to sit out this week with a bye.
Pick accuracy this week was again 2 out of 6 (or 33%). Grade: E. Bloody terrible. So we won't dwell on it.
Coming up in podcast number 7:
A review of Week 6 of the Super 14
A review of other sport
Six Nations. General Rugby. NRL. We don't like cricket. Oh no. The Australi...Commonwealth Games.
Usual stuff
Wacky Round the World, Athlete of the Week, Dick of the Week.
A preview of Week 7 of the Super 14
- The Hurricanes return home from a reasonably successful safari in Africa to face yet another team from the dark continent. The Sharks were impressive in repressing the Highlanders in Dunedin last week. Can they continue that form and come up with an equally bad pun for the Caketin?
- Will the Blues continue down the road of playing this old-fangled "rugby" lark, or will they revert to their early season form and play whatever it was they were playing back then? Will it be good enough to push the Waratahs, who have only really been tested once this season so far, against the Bulls in Pretoria, where they suffered their one and only loss?
- Why are the Reds even bothering to go to South Africa? Don't they know the Cheetahs will rip them a new one?
- In a showdown of the most boring cities in Australasia, who will be stupefied first: the Brumbies (home advantage) or the Chiefs (possibly the only team who are immune to the "attractions" Canberra has to offer)?
- The Highlanders will be angry after last week, and the Cats will be desperate to get home. Could get messy.
- And can the Force overcome the Bulls at Perth for their first win of the season? A ha. A ha ha ha. A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha heeeeee hooooooooooooo heeee. Oh, that was a good one.
Virtual Super 14 Update
The Dropkicks lived up to the "Drop" part of their names and fell a staggering 23,609 places. Ooomph. We are now 58,166th.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Week Five in Review
Sorry for the lateness of this review post, but circumstances beyond our control meant that our creative instincts were away for repair this past few days. Fortunately they turned up again this morning looking all new and shiny. Whether they still work, however, will only become apparent in the fullness of time.
Anyway, let's get right into our predictions for Week 5, and see how close we got:
- We predicted the Crusaders would beat the Chiefs by 1-12: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). The best game of the Super 14 so far.
- We just knew the Waratahs would beat the Cats by 13+: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). According to all reports, the Cats played exactly like cats. The domestic kind, we're guessing, as we're pretty sure tigers, lions and their ilk would not let the Waratahs get to 50. More likely they'd just eat them.
- We thought that Canberra might put the Sharks to sleep before they even took to the field at Bruce Stadium and that the Brumbies would thump them by 13+ points: we were only partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points). The Sharks must have had a caseload of V or Red Bull before the match, because they were wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, which is strange for Sharks. It didn't quite help them in the end, unfortunately, as the dozy power of the ACT was able to penetrate even the guarana haze and dull their senses.
- In the battle between two teams hotly contesting the wooden spoon, we thought the Reds would have marginally more idea of where the tryline was than the Force would and would beat them by 1-12: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). We think the contest for the wooden spoon looks an open and shut case. Should any team take that mantle off the Force we fully expect that team to be taken out back, shot, buried, dug up again, shot once more and then rocketed into the sun to prevent any of their taint ever marring this earth ever again.
- We picked the Highlanders to scrape by the Bulls by 1-12: totally incorrect (0 Virtual Rugby points). The Bulls look a likely team (they certainly won't be the ones taken out back come the end of the season), and proved that they will be there or thereabouts. How well they travel will, as always, be the determining factor of whereabouts there is. The Highlanders can be proud of their achievement of 2 wins out of 3 in the Republic, and can look forward to a spell at the House of Pain with some optimism, although the loss of Nick Evans will be a blow. They will hope he doesn't take too long to recover.
- It took a piece of magic by Hosea Gear to even make our guess for the last game of the round even have some semblence of correctness: we thought the Hurricanes would run away against the Stormers by 13+, but the return of Jean de Villiers steeled up the home team and they could be seen to be unlucky to lose by a last minute try: partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points).
- the Blues and the Cheetahs did a spot of fishing, or golf, or bridge, or full-contact tiddlywinks, or something like that. Whatever it was, it wasn't a game of rugby.
Pick accuracy this week was again 5 out of 6 (or 83%). Grade: B+ (about the same as last week). Can still do better.
Coming up in podcast number 6:
A review of Week 5 of the Super 14
A review of other sport
Six Nations. The first week of the NRL. Gaelic Football. And cricket.
A preview of Week 6 of the Super 14
- The Cats limp off to Jade to take on the Crusaders. Even though the Crusaders are giving a few of their backup players a run-on instead of Richie McCaw, Chris Jack et al, does anyone seriously think that the Cats aren't harbouring thoughts of the high veldt and won't just be going through a damage limitation exercise?
- The Force host the Waratahs at Subiaco. The Force haven't been done any favours by the ARU, who've nicked Cameron Shepherd and Scott Fava for Australia's Rugby 7s gold medal bid at the Commonwealth Games. If this was a war, we'd recommend the Force sue for peace and annex itself immediately to NSW just to save the needless slaughter.
- The Bulls will offer a huge hurdle to the Hurricanes. Still, if any team could pull off the impossible, it would be a team that includes Ma'a Nonu, Lome Fa'atau, Hosea Gear, Piri Weepu, Isaia Toeava and the Jerry and Rodney show. It will all come down to how well the forwards can contain the monsters in the Bulls front five. Game of the round.
- The Blues come off the bye to find themselves staring down the impressive Brumbies. Can the Blues turn their season around, or has the hydraulic fluid all leaked out of their power-assisted rack-and-pinion mechanism? We will find out come Saturday evening.
- The Sharks continue their tour of the Antipodes with a trip to the House of Pain that they must really look forward to. Will the fact that the Highlanders are missing their pivotal first-five affect them? We wonder if they are wishing that Tony Brown disappear into a ruck at the start of the game and mysteriously come up wearing a blue-and-gold jumper with a number 10 on the back?
- Will the Stormers continue their resurgence against the fresh Cheetahs? This game is almost too close to call.
What else?
Athlete of the Week, Dick of the Week, No Pun Intended and Wacky Round the World continues to entertain with tales of wonder and what-the-hell-are-they-thinking from all corners of the globe.
Virtual Super 14 Update
The Dropkicks dropped 680 places to be lying 34,557th. Which, perversely, is actually quite a nice place to be lying. Not too high to suffer from a lack of oxygen, but high enough to get nice panoramic views. One day we might come back here, but not before we check out the very top. Rest assured, we will be making it there soon, oh ye of little faith.
Anyway, let's get right into our predictions for Week 5, and see how close we got:
- We predicted the Crusaders would beat the Chiefs by 1-12: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). The best game of the Super 14 so far.
- We just knew the Waratahs would beat the Cats by 13+: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). According to all reports, the Cats played exactly like cats. The domestic kind, we're guessing, as we're pretty sure tigers, lions and their ilk would not let the Waratahs get to 50. More likely they'd just eat them.
- We thought that Canberra might put the Sharks to sleep before they even took to the field at Bruce Stadium and that the Brumbies would thump them by 13+ points: we were only partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points). The Sharks must have had a caseload of V or Red Bull before the match, because they were wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, which is strange for Sharks. It didn't quite help them in the end, unfortunately, as the dozy power of the ACT was able to penetrate even the guarana haze and dull their senses.
- In the battle between two teams hotly contesting the wooden spoon, we thought the Reds would have marginally more idea of where the tryline was than the Force would and would beat them by 1-12: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). We think the contest for the wooden spoon looks an open and shut case. Should any team take that mantle off the Force we fully expect that team to be taken out back, shot, buried, dug up again, shot once more and then rocketed into the sun to prevent any of their taint ever marring this earth ever again.
- We picked the Highlanders to scrape by the Bulls by 1-12: totally incorrect (0 Virtual Rugby points). The Bulls look a likely team (they certainly won't be the ones taken out back come the end of the season), and proved that they will be there or thereabouts. How well they travel will, as always, be the determining factor of whereabouts there is. The Highlanders can be proud of their achievement of 2 wins out of 3 in the Republic, and can look forward to a spell at the House of Pain with some optimism, although the loss of Nick Evans will be a blow. They will hope he doesn't take too long to recover.
- It took a piece of magic by Hosea Gear to even make our guess for the last game of the round even have some semblence of correctness: we thought the Hurricanes would run away against the Stormers by 13+, but the return of Jean de Villiers steeled up the home team and they could be seen to be unlucky to lose by a last minute try: partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points).
- the Blues and the Cheetahs did a spot of fishing, or golf, or bridge, or full-contact tiddlywinks, or something like that. Whatever it was, it wasn't a game of rugby.
Pick accuracy this week was again 5 out of 6 (or 83%). Grade: B+ (about the same as last week). Can still do better.
Coming up in podcast number 6:
A review of Week 5 of the Super 14
A review of other sport
Six Nations. The first week of the NRL. Gaelic Football. And cricket.
A preview of Week 6 of the Super 14
- The Cats limp off to Jade to take on the Crusaders. Even though the Crusaders are giving a few of their backup players a run-on instead of Richie McCaw, Chris Jack et al, does anyone seriously think that the Cats aren't harbouring thoughts of the high veldt and won't just be going through a damage limitation exercise?
- The Force host the Waratahs at Subiaco. The Force haven't been done any favours by the ARU, who've nicked Cameron Shepherd and Scott Fava for Australia's Rugby 7s gold medal bid at the Commonwealth Games. If this was a war, we'd recommend the Force sue for peace and annex itself immediately to NSW just to save the needless slaughter.
- The Bulls will offer a huge hurdle to the Hurricanes. Still, if any team could pull off the impossible, it would be a team that includes Ma'a Nonu, Lome Fa'atau, Hosea Gear, Piri Weepu, Isaia Toeava and the Jerry and Rodney show. It will all come down to how well the forwards can contain the monsters in the Bulls front five. Game of the round.
- The Blues come off the bye to find themselves staring down the impressive Brumbies. Can the Blues turn their season around, or has the hydraulic fluid all leaked out of their power-assisted rack-and-pinion mechanism? We will find out come Saturday evening.
- The Sharks continue their tour of the Antipodes with a trip to the House of Pain that they must really look forward to. Will the fact that the Highlanders are missing their pivotal first-five affect them? We wonder if they are wishing that Tony Brown disappear into a ruck at the start of the game and mysteriously come up wearing a blue-and-gold jumper with a number 10 on the back?
- Will the Stormers continue their resurgence against the fresh Cheetahs? This game is almost too close to call.
What else?
Athlete of the Week, Dick of the Week, No Pun Intended and Wacky Round the World continues to entertain with tales of wonder and what-the-hell-are-they-thinking from all corners of the globe.
Virtual Super 14 Update
The Dropkicks dropped 680 places to be lying 34,557th. Which, perversely, is actually quite a nice place to be lying. Not too high to suffer from a lack of oxygen, but high enough to get nice panoramic views. One day we might come back here, but not before we check out the very top. Rest assured, we will be making it there soon, oh ye of little faith.
Week 6 Podcast - Contents
Here is a run down of the Week 6 Podcast:
+ Ooops 0:00:00
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:07
+ Ola: Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:20
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:50
+ Super 14 Round 5 Reviews: Chiefs versus Crusaders 0:01:14; Waratahs versus Cats 0:03:26; Brumbies versus Sharks 0:05:11; Reds versus Force 0:08:07; Bulls versus Highlanders 0:11:01; Stormers versus Hurricanes 0:12:36;
+ Sports News: the Six Nations 0:16:08; General Rugby - Richie McCaw: Have You Seen This Man? 0:19:52; Rugby League - First Week of the NRL 0:20:33
+ Special Interview: with Jackie McCully, captain of the Wellington Women's Gaelic Team 0:22:48
+ More Sports News: Cricket - Best Cricket Week in the History of Cricket Weeks 0:31:57; Cricket - Dom's World Record and Nathan Astle's Marathon Run 0:38:33
+ Redondo Wacky el Mundo 0:41:12
+ No Pun Intended 0:49:26
+ Dick of the Week 0:53:00
+ Athlete of the Week 0:54:07
+ Super 14 Round 6 Previews: Crusaders versus Cats 0:54:41; Force versus Waratahs 0:56:10; Bulls versus Hurricanes 0:56:51; Blues versus Brumbies 0:57:53; Highlanders versus Sharks 0:59:24; Stormers versus Cheetahs 1:00:03;
+ The Last Word 1:01:32
Total time: 1:02:23
+ Ooops 0:00:00
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:07
+ Ola: Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:20
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:50
+ Super 14 Round 5 Reviews: Chiefs versus Crusaders 0:01:14; Waratahs versus Cats 0:03:26; Brumbies versus Sharks 0:05:11; Reds versus Force 0:08:07; Bulls versus Highlanders 0:11:01; Stormers versus Hurricanes 0:12:36;
+ Sports News: the Six Nations 0:16:08; General Rugby - Richie McCaw: Have You Seen This Man? 0:19:52; Rugby League - First Week of the NRL 0:20:33
+ Special Interview: with Jackie McCully, captain of the Wellington Women's Gaelic Team 0:22:48
+ More Sports News: Cricket - Best Cricket Week in the History of Cricket Weeks 0:31:57; Cricket - Dom's World Record and Nathan Astle's Marathon Run 0:38:33
+ Redondo Wacky el Mundo 0:41:12
+ No Pun Intended 0:49:26
+ Dick of the Week 0:53:00
+ Athlete of the Week 0:54:07
+ Super 14 Round 6 Previews: Crusaders versus Cats 0:54:41; Force versus Waratahs 0:56:10; Bulls versus Hurricanes 0:56:51; Blues versus Brumbies 0:57:53; Highlanders versus Sharks 0:59:24; Stormers versus Cheetahs 1:00:03;
+ The Last Word 1:01:32
Total time: 1:02:23
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Week 5 Podcast - Contents
Here is a run down of the Week 5 Podcast:
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:00
+ Bonjour: Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:13
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:36
+ Super 14 Round 4 Reviews: Chiefs versus Reds 0:00:57; Brumbies versus Cats 0:02:55; Waratahs versus Sharks 0:06:11; Crusaders versus Blues 0:08:27; Stormers versus Highlanders 0:12:07; Cheetahs versus Hurricanes 0:13:36
+ Other Sports News: the Six Nations 0:15:04; General Rugby - Dallaglio v Corry 0:15:25; General Rubgy - Sevens 0:18:04
+ Wrestling: Rundown of the Wrestling at the Wellington Westpac Stadium - Special guests Jose Barbosa and Mike du Grande 0:19:21
+ More Sports News: Cycling - Sarah Ulmer 0:27:48; Cycling - Vanessa Quinn 0:32:51
+ Wacky Round the World 0:33:49
+ Stats 0:41:23
+ Dick of the Week 0:44:36
+ Athlete of the Week 0:47:34
+ No Pun Intended 0:50:43
+ Super 14 Round 5 Previews: Chiefs versus Crusaders 0:54:14; Waratahs versus Cats 0:56:16; Brumbies versus Sharks 0:56:56; Reds versus Force 0:59:20; Bulls versus Highlanders 1:00:27; Stormers versus Hurricanes 1:01:40;
+ The Last Word 1:04:30
Total time: 1:04:54
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:00
+ Bonjour: Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:13
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:36
+ Super 14 Round 4 Reviews: Chiefs versus Reds 0:00:57; Brumbies versus Cats 0:02:55; Waratahs versus Sharks 0:06:11; Crusaders versus Blues 0:08:27; Stormers versus Highlanders 0:12:07; Cheetahs versus Hurricanes 0:13:36
+ Other Sports News: the Six Nations 0:15:04; General Rugby - Dallaglio v Corry 0:15:25; General Rubgy - Sevens 0:18:04
+ Wrestling: Rundown of the Wrestling at the Wellington Westpac Stadium - Special guests Jose Barbosa and Mike du Grande 0:19:21
+ More Sports News: Cycling - Sarah Ulmer 0:27:48; Cycling - Vanessa Quinn 0:32:51
+ Wacky Round the World 0:33:49
+ Stats 0:41:23
+ Dick of the Week 0:44:36
+ Athlete of the Week 0:47:34
+ No Pun Intended 0:50:43
+ Super 14 Round 5 Previews: Chiefs versus Crusaders 0:54:14; Waratahs versus Cats 0:56:16; Brumbies versus Sharks 0:56:56; Reds versus Force 0:59:20; Bulls versus Highlanders 1:00:27; Stormers versus Hurricanes 1:01:40;
+ The Last Word 1:04:30
Total time: 1:04:54
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Week Four in Review
So, Podcast Four has come and gone. And it wasn't without it's technical hitches. Sorry, we're doing things on the cheap here (we won't even tell you how we record our sessions, because it's too embarrassing; suffice to say Thomas Alva Edison called and wants his dictaphone back). Consequently, Podcast Number 4 suffered from some, shall we say, volume issues. You could hear everything (one point to us), but if you got scared when we shouted "Wacky Round the World", be comforted in the fact that we got scared too, and we knew it was coming. Suffice to say, we are refining our techniques (yes, we have techniques) and Podcast Number 5 will be better, bigger, stronger, faster in every way. That's not to say Podcast Number 4 was weak. Oh dear Lord, no. The content was as strong as ever.
That content, of course, included our predictions for Round 4 of the Super 14. And without any more ado, here is what we got right, and what we got almost right:
- We predicted the Chiefs would beat the Reds by 1-12: partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points). The fourth time in a row we picked the Chiefs to win by 1-12. One of these days they are going to do it too, and we'll be away laughing. With a strike force as potent as the Chiefs have got (Anisi, Sivivatu, Lauaki, Muliaina, etc) they are always going to be dangerous. As the Reds found out.
- We thought the Brumbies would hand the Cats a whomping by more than 13 points: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). Despite going to sleep in the second half and the Cats waking up from their Canberra stupor, the Brumbies had done enough in the first half to ensure the win.
- After the Sharks gave the Crusaders a scare the previous week, we thought they might do the same to the Waratahs in Sydney. We didn't think they'd win, but we thought it might have been closer than it was: we picked the Waratahs by 1-12 (partially correct: 5 more Virtual Rugby points), whereas the Waratahs ended up cruising out past the 13 point margin.
- We picked the Crusaders to pound the Blues by 13+: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). Richie McCaw proved, yet again, that he is a berserker machine who waylays the opposition team much as we waylay the chippie crumbs that fall onto our chests during our rugby watching sessions.
- We picked the Highlanders to sneak past the Stormers in Cape Town by 1-12: partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points). The Stormers were, by all accounts, pretty dire, so the Highlanders actually won quite handsomely by 15 points.
- We thought the Hurricanes would find a higher gear (he he he, inside joke) against the Cheetahs and win by 1-12: totally wrong. In the end, the Hurricanes managed to ping a throstlesprocket and seize up, leaking 17 points in the last 20 minutes to the Cheetahs, who landed a tense conversion to take the game by 2 points. Hopefully the Hurricanes find the right lubricant for their next game against the Stormers (and no, that lubricant isn't alcohol, Jerry and Lome).
- The Bulls and the Force had a week off, so we didn't predict anything for them, and we were right.
Pick accuracy this week was an improving 5 out of 6 (or 83%). Grade: B+ (marked down slightly because of we picked some wrong margins). Can do better.
Coming up in podcast number 5:
A review of Week 4 of the Super 14
A review of other sport
Rugby, perhaps. Maybe some cycling. Oh, and we can't forget the wrestling.
A preview of Week 5 of the Super 14
- The Chiefs are still at home, although the Crusaders decide to stop by. Will we still pick the Chiefs to win by 1-12?
- The Waratahs host the Cats in Sydney. The Cats looked good against the Hurricanes a couple of weeks back, and won the second half against the Brumbies last week by 7-3 - have they enough to slip past the Waratahs?
- The Brumbies take on the Sharks in Canberra. Will Canberra put the Sharks to sleep before they even hit the field at Bruce Stadium? Or will it just numb their senses?
- The Force travel to Brisbane to play the Reds. Who wants the wooden spoon the most?
- The Bulls take on the Highlanders in Pretoria. Game of the round.
- The Hurricanes (minus Tana and possibly Jerry and Lome, but with Rodney and Tito back) face the underperforming Stormers in Capetown.
- The Blues and Cheetahs sit out this round.
What else?
Athlete of the Week, Dick of the Week, No Pun Intended, some stats perhaps and the ever popular Wacky Round the World (now with extra warning!).
Virtual Super 14 Update
The Dropkicks picked up 9,988 places to be 33,877th because we got 31 points. Slowly, but surely, we are assuming our rightful place.
That content, of course, included our predictions for Round 4 of the Super 14. And without any more ado, here is what we got right, and what we got almost right:
- We predicted the Chiefs would beat the Reds by 1-12: partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points). The fourth time in a row we picked the Chiefs to win by 1-12. One of these days they are going to do it too, and we'll be away laughing. With a strike force as potent as the Chiefs have got (Anisi, Sivivatu, Lauaki, Muliaina, etc) they are always going to be dangerous. As the Reds found out.
- We thought the Brumbies would hand the Cats a whomping by more than 13 points: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). Despite going to sleep in the second half and the Cats waking up from their Canberra stupor, the Brumbies had done enough in the first half to ensure the win.
- After the Sharks gave the Crusaders a scare the previous week, we thought they might do the same to the Waratahs in Sydney. We didn't think they'd win, but we thought it might have been closer than it was: we picked the Waratahs by 1-12 (partially correct: 5 more Virtual Rugby points), whereas the Waratahs ended up cruising out past the 13 point margin.
- We picked the Crusaders to pound the Blues by 13+: totally correct (8 Virtual Rugby points). Richie McCaw proved, yet again, that he is a berserker machine who waylays the opposition team much as we waylay the chippie crumbs that fall onto our chests during our rugby watching sessions.
- We picked the Highlanders to sneak past the Stormers in Cape Town by 1-12: partially correct (5 Virtual Rugby points). The Stormers were, by all accounts, pretty dire, so the Highlanders actually won quite handsomely by 15 points.
- We thought the Hurricanes would find a higher gear (he he he, inside joke) against the Cheetahs and win by 1-12: totally wrong. In the end, the Hurricanes managed to ping a throstlesprocket and seize up, leaking 17 points in the last 20 minutes to the Cheetahs, who landed a tense conversion to take the game by 2 points. Hopefully the Hurricanes find the right lubricant for their next game against the Stormers (and no, that lubricant isn't alcohol, Jerry and Lome).
- The Bulls and the Force had a week off, so we didn't predict anything for them, and we were right.
Pick accuracy this week was an improving 5 out of 6 (or 83%). Grade: B+ (marked down slightly because of we picked some wrong margins). Can do better.
Coming up in podcast number 5:
A review of Week 4 of the Super 14
A review of other sport
Rugby, perhaps. Maybe some cycling. Oh, and we can't forget the wrestling.
A preview of Week 5 of the Super 14
- The Chiefs are still at home, although the Crusaders decide to stop by. Will we still pick the Chiefs to win by 1-12?
- The Waratahs host the Cats in Sydney. The Cats looked good against the Hurricanes a couple of weeks back, and won the second half against the Brumbies last week by 7-3 - have they enough to slip past the Waratahs?
- The Brumbies take on the Sharks in Canberra. Will Canberra put the Sharks to sleep before they even hit the field at Bruce Stadium? Or will it just numb their senses?
- The Force travel to Brisbane to play the Reds. Who wants the wooden spoon the most?
- The Bulls take on the Highlanders in Pretoria. Game of the round.
- The Hurricanes (minus Tana and possibly Jerry and Lome, but with Rodney and Tito back) face the underperforming Stormers in Capetown.
- The Blues and Cheetahs sit out this round.
What else?
Athlete of the Week, Dick of the Week, No Pun Intended, some stats perhaps and the ever popular Wacky Round the World (now with extra warning!).
Virtual Super 14 Update
The Dropkicks picked up 9,988 places to be 33,877th because we got 31 points. Slowly, but surely, we are assuming our rightful place.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Bull Suspensions
Here is the news about the Bulls as we promised in our Week 4 podcast.
Two Bulls players suspended
Bulls prop Jaco Engels and flanker Johan Wasserman have been suspended after incidents in last weekend's Super 14 rugby match against the New South Wales Waratahs.
Engels was banned for three weeks for punching while Wasserman received a two-week suspension for rucking an opponent.
"After careful consideration of all the evidence, including clear video evidence of the incident, and submissions made on behalf of the players, the committee found that the two players were clearly guilty of the offence," the SANZAR disciplinary committee said in a statement.
Two NSW players were also handed suspensions on Sunday for their part in the same skirmish shortly after the match began in Pretoria.
Prop Matt Dunning was banned for one match for punching while flanker Rocky Elsom was suspended for four weeks for running in to join the altercation, although he has appealed against the severity of his sentence.
Two Bulls players suspended
Bulls prop Jaco Engels and flanker Johan Wasserman have been suspended after incidents in last weekend's Super 14 rugby match against the New South Wales Waratahs.
Engels was banned for three weeks for punching while Wasserman received a two-week suspension for rucking an opponent.
"After careful consideration of all the evidence, including clear video evidence of the incident, and submissions made on behalf of the players, the committee found that the two players were clearly guilty of the offence," the SANZAR disciplinary committee said in a statement.
Two NSW players were also handed suspensions on Sunday for their part in the same skirmish shortly after the match began in Pretoria.
Prop Matt Dunning was banned for one match for punching while flanker Rocky Elsom was suspended for four weeks for running in to join the altercation, although he has appealed against the severity of his sentence.
Week 4 Podcast - Contents
Here is a run down of the Week 4 Podcast:
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:00
+ Mahalo: Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:13
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:41
+ Super 14 Round 3 Reviews: Hurricanes versus Cats 0:01:13; Force versus Chiefs 0:04:05; Stormers versus Brumbies 0:07:14; Crusaders versus Sharks 0:07:33; Reds versus Blues 0:08:15; Bulls versus Waratahs 0:09:34; Cheetahs versus Highlanders 0:10:39
+ Other Sports News: the Six Nations 0:12:39; IRB world rankings 0:14:23; South African scandal 0:15:28; Best and Worst of Downunder 0:17:01; Kenya v Madagascar 0:20:48; Troy Fla-vell 0:21:14; the Warriors salary cap trouble, again 0:22:04; Winter Olympics review 0:23:15;
+ Wacky Round the World 0:27:00;
+ Special Guest: Donald Murray 0:33:14;
+ Stats 0:39:57
+ No Pun Intended 0:44:13
+ Dick of the Week 0:46:10
+ Athlete of the Week 0:50:05
+ Super 14 Round 4 Previews: Chiefs versus Reds 0:52:35; Brumbies versus Cats 0:53:15; Waratahs versus Sharks 0:54:55; Crusaders versus Blues 0:55:38; Stormers versus Highlanders 0:56:10; Cheetahs versus Hurricanes 0:56:58; the Dropkicks' predictions rundown 0:57:49
+ The Last Word 0:59:17
Total time: 1:00:08
+ A bit of Jazz 0:00:00
+ Mahalo: Introducing the Dropkicks 0:00:13
+ Rundown of the Show 0:00:41
+ Super 14 Round 3 Reviews: Hurricanes versus Cats 0:01:13; Force versus Chiefs 0:04:05; Stormers versus Brumbies 0:07:14; Crusaders versus Sharks 0:07:33; Reds versus Blues 0:08:15; Bulls versus Waratahs 0:09:34; Cheetahs versus Highlanders 0:10:39
+ Other Sports News: the Six Nations 0:12:39; IRB world rankings 0:14:23; South African scandal 0:15:28; Best and Worst of Downunder 0:17:01; Kenya v Madagascar 0:20:48; Troy Fla-vell 0:21:14; the Warriors salary cap trouble, again 0:22:04; Winter Olympics review 0:23:15;
+ Wacky Round the World 0:27:00;
+ Special Guest: Donald Murray 0:33:14;
+ Stats 0:39:57
+ No Pun Intended 0:44:13
+ Dick of the Week 0:46:10
+ Athlete of the Week 0:50:05
+ Super 14 Round 4 Previews: Chiefs versus Reds 0:52:35; Brumbies versus Cats 0:53:15; Waratahs versus Sharks 0:54:55; Crusaders versus Blues 0:55:38; Stormers versus Highlanders 0:56:10; Cheetahs versus Hurricanes 0:56:58; the Dropkicks' predictions rundown 0:57:49
+ The Last Word 0:59:17
Total time: 1:00:08
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