The Silver Fern

Nick, you're a prop - or have been. So - strength and no technique, a la Andrew Sheridan, or technique and less strength - which would you rather have?  :coolsmiley:

That ten-metre retreat is exhausting; it's one of the reasons we use it - very successfully - as a "Learn to make correct decisions while about to puke your lungs" exercise.<br />
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That said, lifting isn't about grunt, it's about timing. Catch your jumper just right, it's all momentum, and they weigh nothing. John Hayes' party trick is his solo lift of POC. Now, the Bull's Ms. Thomond's second cousin, and a mighty man for one man, but not even he can get the weight of POC up that high on his own on raw strength - it's timing.<br />
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I was over 100kg when weighing in at 93 kgs weight back in April. Then things got busy-busy and haven't been benching since. It's so bad, and I've lost so much muscle, I almost don't want to go back to find out how bad it is... 

Thought it sounded like it. May I be permitted a small  :afro: for remote diagnosis? <br />
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It can be a pain in the arse - literally. Mind you, Ms. Thomond nursed in Sydney and has pretty high opinions of the neuro nitwits there, so how bad.

Not if he's sensible. A break's end-of, unless you're a pro, and even then...  <br />
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I've had two, one compression one when 17 which left me permanently slightly shorter, one when a super-fast engage from a looshead caught me on the crown of my head at 20 and over-extended. And like Bart said, that moment of wondering is about the slowest, most ghastly way to spend a second and a half known to man.

Specifically, MRI or CT to check for nerve root compression. There may be no bony bodies, spicules or osteophytes, but we all of us have degenerative changes in the L4/L5/S1 area, and it wouldn't do any harm. Mention it to the quack, see if there's any follow-up recommended.

From the sound of that, may be worth getting in to get it checked out. Numbness higher up the limb and loss of function lower down are the sort of things that you'd need checked.

The Powerball gyros are good fun as well, more for wrist strength than just grip on its own. They do work, as I can lock out a 505 monster kite on my wrist now, and can play the jib upwind, which is a fark-load of sheet-load.  :nta

This, let it be noted, from a man whose mugshot can best be described as "Keith Wood - The Elephant Man Years"...  :whistle:

[quote name='NTA']<br />
Yes, well.... just remember you've pushed me to this. I removed the heads for the sake of those whose children might accidentally walk past - now you can take down that other photo Red Bull!<br />
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Its also worth noting that while the shirt is the same, the pants in the second photo are actually a size smaller than the ones in the first. And I've STILL got room in the bastards!<br />
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[b]But I STILL look like a FUNT[/b]!<br />
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Don't all let's rush in with the explanation, lads. it's only fair to let Phooey have first crack at him.  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Got measured for a new suit today with tailors I haven't gone to in three years, and am delighted to be able to say that my waist is 2 inches less and my chest two inches more. Neck up an inch as well.  :happy:

[quote name='Red Beard']<br />
Get you kit off, Get your kit off... Get your kit off for the Fern!!! Keep your kit [i]on[/i], Keep your kit [i]on[/i], Keep your kit on for Christ's saaaaake!!!(to the tune of youre not singing anymore) <br />
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Fixed it. RB, get a grip, FFS!<br />
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[quote name='Red Beard']<br />
[quote name='Thomond78']<br />
RB, I was about to say that the dark-red head/ginge-beard two-tone head plus sow-belly white skin could only come from one place on earth. Forgot about out little offshore colonies.  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Disturbingly like my brother, in fact.  :nta :shifty:<br />
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[/quote]<br />
Dont be offended bro, but I probably wont be asking you to write any speeches in my honour or be my perosnal life coach & motivator anytime soon!  Dont call us, we'll call you.   <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
[b]You make it sound as if I could slip in undercover in Munster with great ease.[/b]<br />
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You're ginger, three-quarters mad, hate backs, and you're happiest in cattle-obsessed parts of the shticks [sic]. You'd fit right in. 

[quote name='NTA']<br />
I've got some spare weight if you want it Oirish. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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I had a look through photos encompassing the span of the last 3 years, and can't really find two comparable ones :nta Despite being 15kg lighter now than three years ago, [b]I still look like a funt so not much point posting anything![/b] <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> I'll just keep it here for motivational purposes :whistle:<br />
[/quote]<br />
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Never stopped you over the last 21,000 posts...  :whistle:

Never been north of 93, and I still ended up playing a few games as a Senior Seconds tighthead at 82. Simply because I could and there was an injury run on. Best way to learn technique but fecking fast!  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Need to be 79 to sail Lasers and 94 to sail 505s. I need a detachable belly.  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

RB, I was about to say that the dark-red head/ginge-beard two-tone head plus sow-belly white skin could only come from one place on earth. Forgot about out little offshore colonies.  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Disturbingly like my brother, in fact.  :nta :shifty:<br />
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Bart, I presume the tape worm went off to uni shortly after the 18yr old photo?  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Same here, size twelves and as broad as they go. Asics are just comfortable as. Also, great bounce out of them while running.

I'm using Asics ones at the moment, and they're bloody brilliant. I'd be a bit heavier than you, but similar height, so they may be worth looking at. If I get the chance, I'll post the individual make later.

Interesting thing is, your cholesterol and BP aren't that bad - BP I think is within normal enough limits? You should be able to get them right fairly fast, which will be another nice little landmark. <br />
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Good luck, boss.

Kicking. <br />
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A prop, and now you're place-kicking.<br />
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You sold out, man.  :knubble:

I just got the image of Bart in a corset and I want it out of my head [i]right now.[/i]  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> :shifty:<br />
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They're wearing them on TNZ as well, I've noticed.  :nta<br />
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(Armourfit tops, that is, not corsets. Although I'd put nothing past bowmen, to be honest...)

That's the thing, Nick; they do a hot version as well, designed for when it's over 20 degrees, to keep you cooler. 

The pads are more or less neoprene-based, and will stink - I'm not kidding about this. Don't machine wash them too much, as it'll eventually knacker them. About once a week, fill a basin with warm water, give it a good squirt of washing-up liquid, and gently rub it clean. It'll cope with the stink admirably, plus getting rid of the other unfortunate side-effect of stinky, sweaty neoprene and lycra - namely, pimply rashes. <br />
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If it's cold enough, get one of the Canterbury Armourfit tops to wear under the pads; in fact, consider getting two, one cold, one hot. They're bloody amazing, and one of the best things I've ever bought (I have long-sleeve and short-sleeve). Our pitch is 150m up, about 1.5 km from open Atlantic, so training weather is a bit interesting in an Irish November or January. Wearing an Armourfit, you don't notice it, as you just stay warm. And, best of all - the moisture, be it rain or sweat, wicks away from the inside to the outside, so that if you're away between training days and can't clean the top (frequently the case for me), when you pull it out of the bag, it's not too stinky and it's [i]dry[/i] inside. [i]Dry[/i].  :happy: :happy: :happy: :happy:<br />
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I use them sailing as well when I'm sailing hiking boats, under the hiking shorts. Rash vest on top over the lifejacket, and you're toasty warm in early April. With a dry-top over all that and my diving hood, reckon I could just use that all year around, even for frostbite sailing. And you can get ones for when it's too warm as well. Bloody great things, and worth ever penny. Nice one, Canterbury.