arcticchris Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 18 hours ago, Damien said: Listening to Terry O'Connor say that they were told to ease off at half time and only played the 2nd half with 11 men. If I recall correctly they played with 12 for a good chunk of the first half too. Similarly the way Bath took it easy in the scrums etc too. Both teams could have won by far more if they wanted to in their respective games. I remember at the time watching it and being very disappointed that we took pity on them and artificially made it harder for ourselves by playing short sided without any cards being the reason. Should have stuck a ton on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17 stone giant Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 18 hours ago, EastLondonMike said: I wonder if they'll mention Guscott bottling it and sitting out both games. i remember him being on Question of sport not long after, and being asked why he didn't take part. His excuse/reason being he didn't agree with the concept and thought it pointless. Yeah right. From what I'm reading though, he was pretty much correct, wasn't he? I mean - assuming that others on here are correct with their assertions - on the one hand there's Bath taking it easy in the scrums, and on the other there's Wigan playing with less than the usual number of players, with the end result being that both teams could have won by even more at their respective codes, but effectively decided not to bother doing so. It is a bit difficult from the above to see what the point of it was. Perhaps that's why in the 25 odd years since, it hasn't been repeated (at least not to my knowledge, and certainly not regularly). Neither can I recall teams from any other two sports making a regular habit of playing each other at both sports. I'm not here to defend Jeremy Guscott, but maybe he was concerned about getting injured, or concerned that someone else might get injured by playing in such a contest (e.g. during a scrum). Not that you can really call it a contest if both teams aren't trying their best anyway. I actually would have thought that Guscott might have been one of the RU players who could possibly have been suited to RL. Am I wrong with that opinion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 3 minutes ago, 17 stone giant said: I actually would have thought that Guscott might have been one of the RU players who could possibly have been suited to RL. Am I wrong with that opinion? I too thought that Guscott might have done well in RL. Particularly having watched him play for the RU Lions on their 1989 tour Down Under. However I was always dubious about his defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticchris Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Re Guscott it would be fascinating to hear off the record what his Bath teammates thought his true reasons for refusing to play in those games was. The Union game would have been a lot closer if Shaun Edwards had been fit to play as it’s worth remembering he was schoolboy Captain for England at both league and union so would have been very handy in the second game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 22 hours ago, wiganermike said: I agree with you, the RL game was a one sided slaughter and though the RU score was closer even as a Wigan fan I have no desire to watch either game. A documentary on the games like the BBC did for the Watersplash final would have been a better bet than repeating the two games. Particularly when Sky told everyone the scores in their pieces promoting the re-showing. Such a documentary would have been better to show next year rather than this (I appreciate they are filling time but even so) as that will be the 25th anniversary. As you say there have been many great and dramatic/historic games they could have shown instead of the Wigan v Bath games. Your fairy godmother must have been checking your posts - Sky are beginning a "Retro" series from next Friday, including SL, CC, Magic, Bash and Test games. https://www.rugbyleagueontv.com/ Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticchris Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 12 minutes ago, Futtocks said: Your fairy godmother must have been checking your posts - Sky are beginning a "Retro" series from next Friday, including SL, CC, Magic, Bash and Test games. https://www.rugbyleagueontv.com/ I would like to see the 2003 Ashes series again. Great close games but able to appreciate them with a touch of detachment rather than the agony of us getting so close but getting nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 1 minute ago, arcticchris said: I would like to see the 2003 Ashes series again. Great close games but able to appreciate them with a touch of detachment rather than the agony of us getting so close but getting nothing. You're kidding yourself - it'll hurt all over again! Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticchris Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 23 minutes ago, Celt said: Craig Murdock....a Wigan reserve.... scorer of the greatest ever try at Twickenham. Correction - scorer of the two best tries ever scored at Twickenham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 1 hour ago, arcticchris said: I would like to see the 2003 Ashes series again. Great close games but able to appreciate them with a touch of detachment rather than the agony of us getting so close but getting nothing. I would like to see those tests again. With the loose forward being a position that lacks specialism now it would be good to see a team made up almost exclusively with them. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPosh Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 I've enjoyed rewatching these. Played in good spirits. Isn't Stuart Barnes a horror, though. People called Romans they go the house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 59 minutes ago, MrPosh said: I've enjoyed rewatching these. Played in good spirits. Isn't Stuart Barnes a horror, though. A vile individual with a vitriolic hatred of RL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 51 minutes ago, Wigan Riversider said: A vile individual with a vitriolic hatred of RL. Much like his almost-namesake Stephen Barnes. Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 10 minutes ago, Futtocks said: Much like his almost-namesake Stephen Barnes. Forgive me but I don't recognize Stephen Barnes. Please enlighten me. Remember Simon Barnes used to cover sport in The Times a while ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 14 minutes ago, Futtocks said: Much like his almost-namesake Stephen Barnes. Do you not mean Stephen Jones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 40 minutes ago, Wigan Riversider said: Forgive me but I don't recognize Stephen Barnes. Please enlighten me. Remember Simon Barnes used to cover sport in The Times a while ago. Oops yes, Simon Barnes. A wretched old fraud with a heart full of hate. Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 37 minutes ago, Damien said: Do you not mean Stephen Jones? A mix-up, but let's not give Wiggy the oxygen of publicity, just in case he's still alive and drivelling behind the Times paywall. Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Kind of remember Stuart Barnes was quietly seething in his commentary when Wigan won the Middlesex Sevens at Twickers that year. Apologies for drifting off topic of this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleD Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 23 hours ago, arcticchris said: I remember at the time watching it and being very disappointed that we took pity on them and artificially made it harder for ourselves by playing short sided without any cards being the reason. Should have stuck a ton on them. I agree. It was a shame that Paul went off early for Wigan as if they’d carried on playing seriously they could easily have scored another 40 points. The Aussies would never have let up like Wigan did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleD Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 On 08/05/2020 at 20:01, dkw said: Him and Mike catt did well, the forwards were embarrassing. Steve Ojomah wasn’t, I thought he was standout. He’d have made a good second row forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rioman Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Always a pleasure to see the posh boys getting their 'arris handed to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbruce Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Think Wigan made a mistake in the Union game playing Lydon and West. No disrespect to them as both did their best especially West at 42 playing the minutes he did Would’ve been better though playing a current player of the time as I don’t think either added much even with their union experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 32 minutes ago, bobbruce said: Think Wigan made a mistake in the Union game playing Lydon and West. No disrespect to them as both did their best especially West at 42 playing the minutes he did Would’ve been better though playing a current player of the time as I don’t think either added much even with their union experience. I'd agree, although I think West was there as much for his height in line-outs as much as his RU knowledge. Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbruce Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 2 minutes ago, Futtocks said: I'd agree, although I think West was there as much for his height in line-outs as much as his RU knowledge. I’m sure that was the thinking but Wigan’s line outs were so poor (understandably) he never really affected them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Frightful Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 I was working on a Barratts' site in Scarborough when Wigan hosted Bath at Maine Road. The chargehand joiner on the site, Roger Skelton, agreed to meet me in the Rosette pub to watch the game, I think it might have been a Wednesday evening but not looked it up to check. Although a Scarborough lad through and through, Roger had a keen interest on RL and we had a great night. Aside from the desire to watch Wigan thump Bath, I had added interest with a bet on the game. I bunged a fiver on the Pies to win by between 71 and 75 points and another fiver on them to win by 76 and 80 points. The longer odds was obviously the greater margin bet and I have a feeling it was at least 20/1. So, I'd like to thank Mike Catt personally for the wonderful try he scored... Hull FC....The Sons of God... (Well, we are about to be crucified on Good Friday) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Just watching the League game now. I thought the Bath tacking was ok, it was their movement and organisation in defence that lacked, they simply couldn't keep up with the speed of the play (until Wigan eased off). They were much better than modern Rugby League players at playing the ball though. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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