Mountains of world rugby

First topic message reminder :

Metaphors for difficult tasks are often constructed around the ascent of a mountain.
 
"Scotland have a huge mountain to climb here" for example.
 
On world rugby terms, the rugby World Cup might be likened to Everest. The highest peak in the world (popularly) and most obvious choice. (And notably first scaled by a kiwi, captain David Kirk or Edmund Hillary - take your pick). Some might even suggest the odd team who have reached the summit may have had a certain degree of assistance from the odd Sherpa or two.
 
Likewise, the Southern Hemisphere's Rugby Championship might be equated to K2. Not as popular a conquest, only open to the worlds elite mountaineers. Technically not as altitudinous at its peak, although a more difficult ascent than Everest.
 
The World Cup might also be equated with Everest in that whilst the highest peak, a large portion of the mountains height is beneath water and hence nobody actually scales its full height - an analogy for the pool stages - most summit contenders bypass the pool without any thought or much effort expended.
 
So, in mountain metaphor terms, which peak might the six nations equate to?

GloriousEmpire wrote:

Cyril wrote:Nobody is trying to claim Hillary. He claimed he was British himself

As I too claim publically I am British Cyril (travel and tax reasons). Although by this time next year, I shall be a Swiss person residing in America. You can still claim me as your own though.

Ah thats why... never knew Hilary was another one who went to the UK on a 2 year working visa, working in various bars, going on contiki holidays, signing up for medical research etc like the rest of you chaps.

fa0019 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Whether someone not born in Britain is British or not rests solely on whether they are sucessful or not. Hillary reached the top therefore sorry Kiwis he is British.

You guys are worse than the Aussies with Phar Lapp and Crowded House! Get your own famous people! Next you'll be telling me Ernest Rutherford was British.

Who are you calling you guys?

I imagine the Irish are quite well versed in these debates anyhow... I imagine few Irishmen would claim the Duke of Wellington to be Irish for instance. Lots of famous anglo-irish people in history.

He was born in Ireland wasnt he? Is he worth claiming? Did he ever scale Everest?

GunsGerms wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Whether someone not born in Britain is British or not rests solely on whether they are sucessful or not. Hillary reached the top therefore sorry Kiwis he is British.

You guys are worse than the Aussies with Phar Lapp and Crowded House! Get your own famous people! Next you'll be telling me Ernest Rutherford was British.

Who are you calling you guys?

I imagine the Irish are quite well versed in these debates anyhow... I imagine few Irishmen would claim the Duke of Wellington to be Irish for instance. Lots of famous anglo-irish people in history.

He was born in Ireland wasnt he? Is he worth claiming?

Beat Napoleon, not only on the field but I understand he was "in a relationship" with Napoleon's mistress at the time too. Irish born and bred, family had been in country for a long time by the time he was born.

Nah you can have him and Bob Geldof.

It's all fine as long as you promise to keep Bono. Please.

Yeah, turn it up. British in the same way that Flutey and Maitland are British. At least the scots have the dignity to call Maitland a "kilted kiwi".

It's ok. We realise that Britain is challenged in producing citizens capable of attaining world class standards, so we are happy to help with our surplus of talent.

Cyril wrote:It's all fine as long as you promise to keep Bono. Please.

Why dont you do us all a favour and send him to space with Bob Geldof.

Cyril wrote:It's all fine as long as you promise to keep Bono. Please.

If they gave him and Geldof the nobel peace prize would they then shut up. "Mr Africa".... well outside of the 1bn people who live their sure.

fa0019 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Whether someone not born in Britain is British or not rests solely on whether they are sucessful or not. Hillary reached the top therefore sorry Kiwis he is British.

You guys are worse than the Aussies with Phar Lapp and Crowded House! Get your own famous people! Next you'll be telling me Ernest Rutherford was British.

Who are you calling you guys?

I imagine the Irish are quite well versed in these debates anyhow... I imagine few Irishmen would claim the Duke of Wellington to be Irish for instance. Lots of famous anglo-irish people in history.

He was born in Ireland wasnt he? Is he worth claiming?

Beat Napoleon, not only on the field but I understand he was "in a relationship" with Napoleon's mistress at the time too. Irish born and bred, family had been in country for a long time by the time he was born.

Not exactly a republican though was he? I mean I know they are all in favour of reconciliation now but its a bit like claiming that Ming the Merciless was a Hawkman.
Havent you seen that episode of Sharpe where the Irish betray him to the Spanish?

fa0019 wrote:

Cyril wrote:It's all fine as long as you promise to keep Bono. Please.

If they gave him and Geldof the nobel peace prize would they then shut up. "Mr Africa".... well outside of the 1bn people who live their sure.

That would make Bono the second person to have an oscar and a nobel prize. Who is the other?

GunsGerms wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

Cyril wrote:It's all fine as long as you promise to keep Bono. Please.

If they gave him and Geldof the nobel peace prize would they then shut up. "Mr Africa".... well outside of the 1bn people who live their sure.

That would make Bono the second person to have an oscar and a nobel prize. Who is the other?

Jack Nowell

Haha. No Gavin Henson I think it was.

I got it ...Nelson Mandella...he played the lead role in the Long Walk to Morgan Freeman didnt he?

Morgan Freeman and Nelson Mandella were both British of course. As were Ghandi and Einstein.

My theory is that Britain attempts to appropriate any vaguely connected notable person in the same way that America likes to pretend they invented martial arts. Cultural Envy I like to call it.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Morgan Freeman

Common mistake, youre thinking of Martin Freeman who isnt a Kiwi despite living in a hole there.

I'm waiting for the claim that the Black Caps are British now that they've beaten South Africa and India in a series in the same year.

Lucky Team NZ were pipped by Oracle racing or Dean Barker would be the greatest British sailor ever.

Wow, no wonder the Scotts want independence after claiming twice the aggregate medal haul of England for the "British" olympic team.

SecretFly wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Erebor, its been held by a Dragon for far too long.

That merciless dragon that hates dwarves??????????????  "I am going to eat you, and chew you, and crunch your bones, and lick my lips and................ eh up! - no I ain't, now that I have yiz all boxed into a corner I think I'll go off and kill some lake people instead - nicer crunch "

That is a very big meal for a Fly too eat.   

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:I got it ...Nelson Mandella...he played the lead role in the Long Walk to Morgan Freeman didnt he?

No you probably will never get it. Clue: In Britain he is considered British but he is actually Irish.

GunsGerms wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

Cyril wrote:It's all fine as long as you promise to keep Bono. Please.

If they gave him and Geldof the nobel peace prize would they then shut up. "Mr Africa".... well outside of the 1bn people who live their sure.

That would make Bono the second person to have an oscar and a nobel prize. Who is the other?

I know Obama has a grammy (for his voice over book) and a nobel prize. Don't think he has an Oscar?

George Bush perhaps???

majesticimperialman wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Erebor, its been held by a Dragon for far too long.

That merciless dragon that hates dwarves??????????????  "I am going to eat you, and chew you, and crunch your bones, and lick my lips and................ eh up! - no I ain't, now that I have yiz all boxed into a corner I think I'll go off and kill some lake people instead - nicer crunch "

That is a very big meal for a Fly too eat.   

Tying in with above youll find Freeman is due to team up with a bunch of not yet fully developed chums to take on the mighty dragon in a few weeks. Its the dragon who seems to have recruited the white orcs on steroids now though.

GunsGerms wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:I got it ...Nelson Mandella...he played the lead role in the Long Walk to Morgan Freeman didnt he?

No you probably will never get it. Clue: In Britain he is considered British but he is actually Irish.

Spike Milligan?

Pierce Brosnan.

Nope.

Graham Norton?
Brian Odriscoll?
Lord Mountbatten?

GunsGerms wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:I got it ...Nelson Mandella...he played the lead role in the Long Walk to Morgan Freeman didnt he?

No you probably will never get it. Clue: In Britain he is considered British but he is actually Irish.

Unfortunately that doesn't narrow it down, in Britain most of the world's population is considered British, unless they're in prison, in which case they're considered foreigners who need to be deported.

Oh wait its Warren Gatland isnt it

It's Al Gore - although I'm sure he is British by prior criteria for Britishness.
 
And Geroge Bernard Shaw.

If the World cup is Everest... then

The 6 Nations is K2 - while not quite as high (and mighty) as Everest, but one of the hardest to climb and subject to some terrible weather

The 3 - 4 Rugby Championship? is a little like the 'Mountains of Moria' - made up of three main peaks and a support cast member who gets killed off early - climbed over by hobbits, elves and a few others from far away lands, although they all feel part of the band - home and away, makes it seem to feel over long for what it is

The AP - like Kilimanjaro - sounds like it is really quite impressive, until you realise that everyone including your gran has been there for charity. Easy to get to, but still a tough to reach the peak

The Pro12 - The three peaks - could be considered easier by some snobby mountains, but made more difficult by the participants desire to do them all in 24hrs - without a big support cast

The 14 - The rockies - has some good high peaks, but is full of over paid -show boats sporting expensive ski and walking equipment - has good coffee though

The HC - Montes (on Mars) - a range of mountains that could be reachable, if we all worked together, but political and greed means likely not to be walked upon in our life time

Good guess GE but Gore didnt win an Oscar the documentary he was in won an Oscar.

George Bernard Shaw considered himself British. I seem to remember he liked to be referred to as a Yorkshireman.

Riskysports wrote:If the World cup is Everest... then

The 6 Nations is K2 - while not quite as high (and mighty) as Everest, but one of the hardest to climb and subject to some terrible weather

Hmmm, no. Let me tell you why K2 is the RC.

The winner of the RC could make legitimate claim to being the best in the world. Perennially the winner is either the #1 ranked team, or has beaten the #1 ranked team. Any climber reached the apex of K2 could have legitimate claim to currently be the worlds best climbing team.

Now, if you win the 6N, you might be considered the world's 4th best team - assuming you hadn't won on points difference after having lost to the worlds 4th (or possibly 5th) best team.

So all in all, K2? 6N? no way.

Ian Paisley?

Cyril wrote:George Bernard Shaw considered himself British. I seem to remember he liked to be referred to as a Yorkshireman.

I love this trend for British people to lecture the world on how other nation's nationals "considered themselves" to be, after they're too conveniently dead to contest it.

How has this fun thread descended into the usual drivel......

GloriousEmpire wrote:

Cyril wrote:George Bernard Shaw considered himself British. I seem to remember he liked to be referred to as a Yorkshireman.

I love this trend for British people to lecture the world on how other nation's nationals "considered themselves" to be, after they're too conveniently dead to contest it.

Another thing you love about Britain. Hooray!  

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Ian Paisley?

He deserved an oscar for some of the acting he did alright.

Riskysports wrote:How has this fun thread descended into the usual drivel......

Yes Risky, the Ususal Suspects arrived and derailed it. I hear the mods are on high watch, so perhaps they might finally take action against some of these characters.

I'm thinking it won't be long before another GE 'sabbatical'.

You've got a back up account surely GE for when you push too far?

I actually thought htis was a good light hearted article - of course GE is wrong on K2 :-) but now people start the usual boring fights

SHame

Thanks Risky, it was supposed to be some light hearted diversion, but unfortunately some of the more small minded and vitriolic have used it as a launching pad for more inter-clan bickering.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Thanks Risky, it was supposed to be some light hearted diversion, but unfortunately some of the more small minded and vitriolic have used it as a launching pad for more inter-clan bickering.

I havent actually seen any Welsh on here yet GE

The six nations is like the Norwand.

Cmon SBW, you don't need to sink to this level. Please, consider moderating yourself!

the six nations ON here is like grange hill . is the answer Daniel day lewis

The answer was given ages ago!!!

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:the six nations ON here is like grange hill .  is the answer Daniel day lewis

George Bernard Shaw

didnt read it all   .