Yet, Scotland came into this tournament as the home nation with the shortest odds of going home first. Yet it's Ireland and wales which are in utter disarray.
Though the Irish definitely seemed to be off-form all month, they were handed a tough group. Certainly tougher to emerge from than what Scotland and Wales faced. The Welsh clearly are the big flop in this group.
Looks as if the Boks are dropping like flies. Both tight-heads are out and, in country where most of the front rowers are loose-heads, that can only be a worry, no?
Yeah, its definitely a concern. I think, however, that we still have the quality and matching toughness to get past Fiji. Maybe this injury bug will temper our urge to act overconfident?
Well, well, well. If that ain't the mother of all turn ups. Not in my wildest dreams had I given England a chance against Australia, who admittedly talked a good match but could walk the walk. I have never seen a team so afraid of a set-piece as were the Australia forwards. Now, I'm not even sure about the match between the All Blacks and France. The tournament is coming alive!
England does Australia again?!?! How about it! Reminds me of the upset they pulled off in the '95 quarterfinals. Good stuff.
It is ALIVE. France edge New Zealand out of world cup. http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/f...114/report.html#france edge new zealand world OMG! Who is the favorite to win it all now?
This was a Saturday to remember. Felt a tad sorry for the All Blacks as, in my own view, they were undone by some dubious officiating but England were worthy winners against Australia. I've never seen a team so scared of the scrum or line-out as the Aussies were today. Now, if this form continues, Scotland will beat South Africa in the semi and they will beat France to clinch it
Just watched the Engerland Ozzie match....Excellent, what intensity from England a good win by keeping their composure and sticking with the plan. Going to seem strange watching Oz in future without Creigan (S) on the team. Too bad I caught the Kiwi / Frog result, I'm going to watch that now. Damn and I was looking forward to a Kiwi / Engerland final......Sorry Bok! Funny I used to watch quite a bit of pointy ball, but I quit on the Seahawk / Steeler game today. Three and a half hours with 60% of that blather and adverts, couldn't handle it.
Well England won the scrum/kicking game. I thought rugby was about all skills though, and isn't scoring a try a skill? Honestly, how can anyone get excited about a game where the team who scored a try loses and the team that didnt score a try wins? Thats just wrong. Well at least no-one down here really expected the Aussies to win it, although I still hate the rules that allow a team who scores a try/s to still lose the game. Those Kiwi's were atrocious, did anyone see if they put jandals on for the second half? Greg Norman must be laughing in Chris Evert's breasts after that performance. They are taking the mantle away from him as THE BIGGEST CHOKER in world sport. That wasnt choice bro. Now we may miss out on Dean, as he'll go for the kiwi job before us, which means we'll end up with a dodgy coach and no success again for a while. Tell me, if they actually took time off for any stoppages for scrums, lineouts, kicks etc for a Northern Hemisphere rugby game, it would take over two days to complete a match. Its beautiful weather over there, not a mud patch, no wind, no rain, no sleet, no storm. Why arent they playing the games ball in hand, playing actual running rugby? So with no Aussies or Kiwis, Go the Argies- at least they actually play!
Grapes a little sour today...? I've just got off the phone with my son-in-law in Auckland....what fun! I told him to get ready for an Engerland / Scotland final... Don't the Argies play the Boks next? That should be interesting.
Not really- England won fair and square, there's no denying that- the Aussies were crappola. It doesnt mean my points weren't valid though. Being a league man, I cant get into a game that rewards mediocrity over skill, and kicks over tries. After reading Jake White's comments about how the Springboks had more bottle than the Aussies and Kiwis after just getting over Fiji, and remembering how they went in the tri-nations this year, I thought that was fairly unneccesary. Go the Argies, go the French in the other semi, Argies to win it all to turn the whole world upside down.
A bit like a team coming to Anfield, stifling the life out of us and galantly defending for 90 minutes and then, at the death, punt a long one up the pitch, there's panic in the box and a penalty is awarded which they duly convert. Not exactly the same thing but Australia didn't help themselves by having no plan B. I wasn't entirely enthused about England's tactics, to be honest, but needs must. Scrummaging is a vital part of rugby, after all. Thought the All Blacks were at the wrong end of 2 dodgy decisions but, like Australia failed to swicth tactics when plan A failed. A bit like Liverpool sometimes, or maybe too often these days.
Down to the last 4. Frogs, the home team. The old enemy. Crapaurds vs the goddamned Italians, sorry, I meant Argies. Boks, Got to be fav now Engerland, Sat, 13 Oct 2007 WC. Semi. France v England Stade de France 21:00 local time Sun, 14 Oct 2007 WC Semi South Africa v Argentina Stade de France 21:00
Well, I have to say, I'm a bit miffed that there isn't more of an uproar about NZ getting the shaft on that go-ahead try by the French -- what with that blatant forward-pass and all. As much as I'd like to consider the Boks to be favorites at this stage, you cannot deny the French at home. South Africa may be the better side, but I think they have a tougher semi against the Argies than the Frogs do against England, and you have to factor in the home field advantage. Hopefully, for my sake, there are less surprises in the semifinal round. Although if England wanted a rematch with the Boks so badly that they upset France, I'd be happy about that.
Credit to them, they have accdepted that they also contributed to their own downfall. When they were a man down, they had the ammunition and possession to cross at leat twice but instead tried to run down the clock. It can't help also having you two first choice fly halves off the pitch. I have cleared my schedule for Saturday. Go Engerlend!
The frogs have got to be favs with home team and home crowd in Paris. A big plus of course is the intimidation factor they have those two ugly, big girt, bastard, refugees from horror movies on the team.
I'd have thought so. Except there will be 40,000 Englishmen singing "swing low, sweet chariot ..." and drowning them. A close contest though. I reckon England's set-piece play will undo the French-- if they can get the ball back quickly, there is enough pace on the wings and in midfield to engineer a try or two. As for the cavemen, Kay and Shaw will equal them at the line-out and Sheridan and Vickery at the scrum. Nah, not worried at all
its huge in NZ, Barnes is the most hated person at the mo they are ripping his performance to bits still if the ab had played their normal running game they would have won this easily their fault at the end of the day
Watched a bit of news from the UK today. They're talking about the amount of supporters heading for Paris from there, one way or another.....going to be a few there to represent us. Now if they'd let us take our longbows into Stad de Paris.....! We few, we happy few, we band of brothers....WoooooHooo. Love that Swing low, Sweet Chariot, especially with the hand motions.. I googled in for a photo to post........and got this...
The invasion has started. I'm already in couch potato mood. The Guinness is chilling in the fridge and count down to kick-off has started.
