The Independent and Fa-Fa Land

[jgriffin]

The Independent's Chris Hewett has ne'er a good word for Tigers - can live with that. But his man-love for FaFaFazlet reaches sublime heights in this match report.
http://tinyurl.com/cnf3pck
Try the end of paragraph halfway through where he conjoins 'Farrell' and 'playmaker'.

Or perhaps he meant Will Ferrell.......


PS this related to media reports and bias not the Farrell thread.

[Smurphswillgetya]

Only read these articles if you feel in need of a good laugh!

[youngtiger]

HAAA! oh dear! "The outside-half's opening penalty...was as perfect an example of the rugby marksman's art as could be imagined."-wow, just wow...And here's me thinking Gary Neville's live on-air orgasm was bad...

for those of you who are unaware, have a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Njjay1h5Ew try 40 seconds in)

Such dross (the article not the video ) is unfortunately symptomatic of the journalism that we get, which, in the vast majority, is full of london-favoured bias. If anyone else had to listen to the Prem final on radio i hope they'll agree that 2 of the 3 commentators (brian moore was actually pretty good) were dreadfully biased, one even started shouting at the referee about an (alleged) infringement by Leicester with about 5 minutes to go. He was clearly nervous his team wouldn't win...

[ajs37]

not just dross, but poorly written
"...to the manner born..."
I thought journos were supposed to be good at English?

[BJ.]

I thought journos were supposed to be good at English?

Obviously you've never read the Belper News.

[Johnnyg]

not just dross, but poorly written
"...to the manner born..."
I thought journos were supposed to be good at English?

Well, with respect AJS37 I personally believe that "to the manner born" is perfectly correct and good English. It means something rather different to "to the manor born", although most people use the latter.
Either way, a ridiculous article.

[ajs37]

yes Johnnyg - having looked it up, you are right - I am mistaken . Rubbish article though - was he watching a different match?

[Johnnyg]

It is sometimes hard, as I am clearly so lacking in objectivity, but I thought Farrell was rubbish. And then I read a huge number of views online suggesting Youngs had a terrible game, and disagreed with that, so wondered if in fact I may indeed be seeing things! The bottom line is that if you are a number 10 who has no running game, your technical abilities of kicking and passing have to be exceptional and I just cannot see that Farrell is exceptional at anything other than place kicking. If an international class 10 (never mind a great 10) needs exceptional place kicking, kicking, passing, running and defence, how can our correct choice only be above average in perhaps 2 of those? Save for the try at the end, when Flood was at the sharp end, his distribution was appalling. He will never be a running 10, and his kicking from hand was poor.

[jgriffin]

It is sometimes hard, as I am clearly so lacking in objectivity, but I thought Farrell was rubbish. And then I read a huge number of views online suggesting Youngs had a terrible game, and disagreed with that, so wondered if in fact I may indeed be seeing things! The bottom line is that if you are a number 10 who has no running game, your technical abilities of kicking and passing have to be exceptional and I just cannot see that Farrell is exceptional at anything other than place kicking. If an international class 10 (never mind a great 10) needs exceptional place kicking, kicking, passing, running and defence, how can our correct choice only be above average in perhaps 2 of those? Save for the try at the end, when Flood was at the sharp end, his distribution was appalling. He will never be a running 10, and his kicking from hand was poor.

It often puzzles me that even on repeated viewings of a game that my analysis - and that of others who have also played - does not relate to the report of a match whether in a newspaper or the Rugby press.

[Mo Leicester]

It's very dificult to be impartial as a Tigers fan. It's almost like critisising one of your own children (for those of us old enough to have them). Its ok to do it yourself, but you don't want to hear it from others!

If I try to be neutral - I think both Youngs and Farrell had 6 out of 10 games. Both kicked poorly from hand. Youngs' pass was often poor and Farrell posed no threat in attack and kicked away posession to regularly. His goal kicking is very good, but we need much more from an international Fly-half.

Having read the Independent article - I don't think it is as bad as is being suggested here. Farrell's kicking is "Ever dependable" but that all he has. I don't thing the writer suggested too much else.

My critisism of the media would be that they rarely see beyond the number of points scored by the "kicker". Farrell is the current media golden boy and - like Jonny before him - rarely gets critisised for poor attacking play as long as he kicks his goals.

[Smudge]

Having Welsh outlaws for many years I suffered numerous taunts in the days
of JPR, Edwards and Barry John.

They always used the term "Fly half" to describe John and those who played at ten.
Max Boyce claimed there was a factory under the mountain that produced them.
I always point out that in England (Leicester) 10 is referred to as the
"stand off".
In other parts of England we call him the "out half".

I am sorry therefore that now so many posters (stand fast the Taffs) on here
use the Welsh term.
Likewise so many pundits.
Be true to your traditions chaps. We have two very fine stand offs in Flood and Ford.

[MJ Chairman]

But Smudge surely the position is five eighth.

[jgriffin]

I always thought stand-off was a League term.....

[Bill W (2)]

"out half" is an atrocious missuse of English.

"Stand off half" is a perfectly respectable RU descriptor.

"5/8" is from the Southern hemisphere.

"Fly half" is also OK

Farrel (Jnr) ain't any of them IMHO

[Smudge]

Bill W wrote


"

out half" is an atrocious missuse of English.

"Stand off half" is a perfectly respectable RU descriptor.

"5/8" is from the Southern hemisphere.

"Fly half" is also OK

Farrel (Jnr) ain't any of them IMHO

"Fly half" is OK to my Welsh friends but please let's not copy them.