Rugby World Cup 2015

Just saw the recordi g of the match, wow this was a tense game. For me as a Black Fan I was very nervous until the end.

Seems like we have the final the tournament deserves.

I really enjoyed the second semi-final. A bit more poise and concentration early on and Argentina could have been very much in the mix but Australia played very well and deserved the win.

I hope it does not rain Saturday as the potential is for a free-flowing game. I find myself not actually minding who wins. I have really enjoyed watching both teams.

Thinking about RWC with one game to go I came up with the following

Best game: SA v Jap or Aus v Wales.

Biggest disappointmentt: Semi lineup S Hemisphere 4 N hemisphere 0 (I don't count Eng performance as I never had high hopes).

Best player-Pocock by a country mile.

In general it has been great, helped by fantastic crowds and the fine weather.

Yes, the 2 most consistent teams are in the final and it will be a battle royal.

From a New Zealander point of view, I feel an Australian win would be both unthinkable and unbearable.

There is nothing worse than a triumphant, arrogant Australian. We must win at all costs. So no pressure then! 

I think the right teams are in the final.  Based on the playing NZ should take it, but it's not over until the final whistle.  

I hope it rains as people make mistakes and it makes for a more interesting game - just like the F1 when it rains...

Wow! An All Black on the forum! What position do you play?

FWIW I watched the tape yesterday of the 2003 RWC final (when England were good).

Some striking things in comparison to 2015;

Scrums really were vicious with the engagement! They also seemed to take less time. A totally different challenge.

Set pieces in general seemed to take less time, players forming line outs and scrums etc far quicker and just generally getting on with it.

Tackling was no less hard but more 'classical'. Far less of the RL inspired upright challenges.

Both sides seem to create faster ball from breakdown-much less of a shoving match. They also seemed to try to avoid contact a bit more rather than just slugging into each other, especially after 2 or 3 phases.

Jonny W was pretty good, and utterly fearless.

Bruce

Yes Bruce, the slowness of the scrum engagement these days is a real pain. There also seems to be a greater tolerance these days of players avoiding line outs by just throwing the ball from the sideline to a single team-mate.

the English team of 2003 was a truely great one. I remember watching them in Wellington a few months before the World Cup that year. Despite being 2 men down in the sIn- bin in the second half they held out the Allblacks to win convincingly. They were the complete package and JW was majestic. It is interesting how everyone seems to be copying his hunched praying position before they kick these days.

As for this impending final it is the "Establshment" (NZ) vs the "Up and Comers" (Aus). Both teams have wonderful playmakers and great flair Should be a very tight final. In the eternal static that is sports journalism, the local feeling is the all blacks have the edge in terms of experience, but Australia are never short of self confidence and have nothing to lose, so that could make a big difference.

Evenly poised I think.

I have been very impressed by the way Australia have played. They seem a very tight unit, confident and committed. They have had tough games and played just as well under pressure. NZ have really not had quite the same examination; which could be good or bad. They destroyed France but it was clear the cheese-eating surrender monkeys had already booked flights home!

Both have good depth in the squad, I think NZ would have more experience on the bench (and Sonny-Bill is a great asset).

I just wonder of the weight of history (and age) on some of the NZ stalwarts may weigh them down so I am going to go for Australia in a tight one provided Foley kicks all his goals. The back row battle is going to be huge part if they do win.

Bruce

It's definitely going to be tight. I just hope it doesn't become a dead game due to the pressure and the small difference, rather would like to see a open game, with of course th All Blacks winning.

When I moved to NZ from South Africa I was determined to support the AB's but was eventually put off by disparaging and patronising comments from many All Black supporters and as a result switched allegiance to the Springboks (who I had never previously supported).  I have always been more of a football fan and was told that the great thing about rugby is that the best team always wins but soon discovered this statement does not necessarily hold if the All Blacks lose; in which case it was a waitress named Susie or the ref's fault (both stories are regularly regurgitated by local media) etc.

Anyway the current All Blacks team is playing some fantastic rugby and I was surprised the Springboks got as close as they did last weekend.  Australia have also come on leaps and bounds under Michael Cheika and, when they turn it on, are also very impressive to watch.  After six weeks the two best, most deserving teams are in the final and, even though it pains me a little to say it, I do hope the All Blacks win.

The New Zealand media and society in general is very All Blacks focused. In the old days New Zealand   had not so much a culture as an economy. The chief entertainment being rugby, racing and beer- the beer of poor quality, poured out of plastic hoses into glass jugs and sculled down rapidly before the 6 O'clock closing time.

The macho male culture has persisted with good old Anglo-Saxon binge drinking, misogyny and racism, although perhaps watered down a bit with a greater acceptance of Maori and Pacific Island culture. Given rugby is the one sport we seem to do consistently well at, it gets very dominant TV and media coverage, and if ever we lose, my god, it's the Slough of despond with widespread grieving and anger,  gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair. Hopefully we will take it in our stride if we lose and not have a alcohol fuelled wife beating rampage. Go the All Blacks!

"The New Zealand media and society in general is very All Blacks focused."

My uncle took me to my first rugby game in '71, Canterbury vs the Lions. My mother was pleased I wasn't big enough to play in case I got hurt. A loss by the ABs made her happy as she thought they skited too much if they won, and lots of excuses if they lost. The only team she wanted them to beat were the French as they were 'dirty players'.

I am so sad that's over. This is better then soccer.......especially as the Dutch National Team didn't qualify for the coming summer.....

It was indeed a great game, Australia coming back to within 4 made the last 15 mins even more interesting, but well done to the All Blacks.

Sad it's over for another 4 years, role on the Vancouver 7's in the interim.

A good final for sure. Nothing seemed quite to go Australia's way really with key injuries during the game and nit quite getting the bounce or the 50:50 decisions maybe but they gave it a really good go in the second half and I don't think could have any issue with the result.

All Blacks indeed very classy, seemed to deliver on the day. The best team in the tournament but a good distance; much for the N Hemisphere to absorb!

I have really enjoyed this RWC; England's non-participation has been no problem for me. 

Although a thoroughly entertaining final it was upstaged by one of the kindest gestures ever when Sonny Bill Williams gave his World Cup Medal to a kid who ran on the pitch and was bundled over by a security guard. Hat's off to him. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34692025

In terms of sad news, World Cup rugby great Jonah Lomu just passed, so young, too soon. RIP

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/34853536

Yes very sad.  A gentle giant who gave so much of himself to various charities and good causes. A great ambassador for the game, and much loved around the world. He will be missed. 

Very very sad, a great legend...