Rugby World Cup

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originally posted by ME!

France will beat Englad by at least 15 points, and NZ should trounce Aus by a bigger margin.

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And in one fell swoop, my microscopic knowledge of this game is exposed!

I'll get my coat.

ag

John,
I somehow KNEW you would mention this embarrassing match, but that is history. Just wait until tonight, we are playing France, one of the favourites for next year.
Cheers
Uwe

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Originally posted by Patrick Dixon:
Last night I dreamt England led NZ by two clear tries with less than 20mins to go.

Looks like it must have been for third place.

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So far you've got it right.

The Wallabies really did not give the All Blacks a look in.
And the fourth referee - Gregan - was tops.

It would have been good to see the All Blacks play at their best but it just did not happen.

Sorry all you Kiwis out there.

1995 - food poisoning
1999 - The Frenchies
2003 - The Western states of New Zealand

And the last team to beat Australia in a World Cup was ....

Down to the wire soon now boys and girls. And England have a fully fit team - surprise surprise...

At this point it is interesting to go back and read some of the early post.

If he was true to his word, Campese should be slating his own team in the press tomorrow for relying on rock solid defence and only winning because they had a better kicker. Somehow though, I don't think he will.

Some six hours on and I am still genuinely shocked that the All Blacks lost. It must be hard for the Kiwis to reconcile their belief, on one hand, that they are the greatest rugby playing nation in the World with their record in the WC. How can a team that won the Tri-nations so easily this year beating Australia by nearly 30 points in Sydney in the process not repeat it today? Why are Australia just so damn good when it really matters???

Unfortunately for the All Blacks, all the frailities that were there early in the year when they played England came back to haunt them. Their success in the Tri-nations I think blinded people to the fact that they did not look like a World Cup winning team six months ago. Back then I remember comments that the ABs would not win the WC with Carlos Spencer at fly half. His lack of consistency, poor kicking and decision making under pressure all made him a liability in a big game. Today that proved to be painfully true. Having the "best back line in the World" is no good if you can't get your hands on the ball and when you do the distribution from the fly half is so poor.
John

Well the AB's won't be playing anyone in the final, having been given a sound thrashing by the team that just about everyone had written off as a bunch of has-beens and inept code-jumpers.

Although only two tries (both opertunistic) were scored this was an epic match, probably the best of the tournament, whatever happens next week. The sheer commitment of the Wallabies was awesome; the look on Stirling Mortlock's face as he urged on his teammates from the bench said it all. They were all over the Blacks like a cheap suit. This was the team of a few years ago with a devastaingly effective game plan: keep possession and tackle as if your life depended on it.

This result pleases me immensely, not only because I'm a Wallaby supporter, but also as a finger to the arrogant and aloof Mitchell. I mean, hello, John, did you forget you had abench? Subbing on some replacement inside backs in the final quarter might have been a smart move, since neither Mauger nor McDonald were doing anything useful. Gosh, wouldn't it have been useful to have, say, that guy Cullen you shafted, coming on as impact player and running on to the ball at pace? Plan B? There wasn't one!

Whether the Aussies win next week or not, I don't care, thaT win was enough to ensure hero status, and to prove Eddie Jones is a lot smarter than he may seem. Sure as hell smarter than that bald twit.

Completely agree RustyB. Mitchell is an arrogant Cnut and for me the silver lining is that he will (hopefully) now get the arse.

Plan B. Unless anyone has any objections I will now move my NZ passport from the top of the stack in favour of the pretty red one underneath it. GO ENGLAND !

So!
What price on an England Win now then....

The odds will be considerably shorter if Joe Cole gets the nod.

Channing has just phoned me from a pub and was quite clearly pissed. Appalling behaviour for so early on a Sunday morning.

Matthew

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The odds will be considerably shorter if Joe Cole gets the nod.

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LOL

The England pack/kicker/defence will see us throught next saturday, and how sweet that will taste in Oz'z back yard!

Guess this thread's just for England supporters now. Don't suppose we will get any more visits from NZ.

Great victory this morning over the best looking side in the tournament so far . Not that pretty, but difficult conditions and too important a match to throw the ball around in your own half and risk a handling error and giving a good attacking position to the opposition. I'd rather be playing NZ in the final, but we'll just have to beat those Aussies in their own back yard (again). Apart from the fact that it's alway nice to see the Haka (one of the great sights and traditions in world sport), NZ would be easier opposition I reckon.

Just shows how easy it is to play great attacking running rugby when the opposition's not too hot and there's nothing at stake, and how difficult when you're up against the best sides in the world. Only three tries total in the two semi-finals , and two of those opportunistic, rather than brilliantly creative.

I think England will be far too good for Australia, but don't expect a pretty performance. It's all about winning it now. Veni, vidi, vici. Can't wait.

Poor conditions spoiled what could otherwise have been a good game. Both teams seemed to have real problems handling the ball, but France were justly punished for some really, really awful kicking - especially given Wilkinson gave another fine performance.

Not a good game for the neutral to watch so I'm hoping we actually get to see some Rugby played in the final.

Regards
Steve

Obviously very disappointing weekend for some of us. The AB's completely failed to fire in a sudden death semi (again).
Kudos to the Wallabies though. A champion team through and through. They deserved the win.

England grind on remorselessly in their own uniquely turgid fashion and will probably win the final.

Yuck

Redeye...

Boo hooo hoooo (said crying)....

andy c is obviously a highly intelligent lifeform but one would hope not typical of England's supporters


red

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I'm hoping we actually get to see some Rugby played in the final

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I do hope that was tongue in cheek.

England's performance today, in those conditions was superb rugby.

It's a shame but I won't see the final as Man Utd are playing Blackburn next Saturday.

Chris

redeye,
only joking...

As a neutral with a (clearly and demonstrably) limited knowledge of the sport, I am looking forward to the 3rd/4th place playoff, if there is such a thing?

Given my 100% accuracy(**) on forecasting so far, I forecast that the final will be A DRAW!

ag

(**) 100% wrong so far.

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Originally posted by Chris Dolan:

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I'm hoping we actually get to see some Rugby played in the final

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I do hope that was tongue in cheek.

England's performance today, in those conditions was superb rugby.

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It's all a matter of perspective - I accept that the way England played was the way to win in those conditions but it was desperately dull to watch.

Regards
Steve

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It's all a matter of perspective - I accept that the way England played was the way to win in those conditions but it was desperately dull to watch.

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Not from my sofa, it wasn't.

France were not exactly riveting and dynamic either. Last time England played Australia they ran the ball, scored very good tries, and won. England can play in different styles to suit different oponents/conditions-and they have the tactical nous and leadership on the field to change course during a game (NZ take note).

Really looking forward to the final now!


I reckon with almost half the team playing their last Internationals (Leonard/Back/Dallaglio/Johnson/Dawson/Catt plus ?Greenwood and Hill) we will be totally comitted and very hard to beat.

Bruce

I hear a lot of anti English comment from those who's teams are already flying home. I have to question the motives and understanding of anybody not considering Englands performance on Sunday a high quality one.

Roll on Saturday, by the end of the 80 minutes we might get to see some humble pie being eaten, (to go along with the sour grapes).

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Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
I hear a lot of anti English comment from those who's teams are already flying home. I have to question the motives and understanding of anybody not considering Englands performance on Sunday a high quality one.

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In my case it's not particularily anti-English sentiment, I just want to see some entertaining rugby being played. Given the conditions yesterday then kicking was going to be critical - England's was near perfect, France's was shockingly bad (plus the France try was fairly lucky as well).

It's always different as a neutral though - if my team was able to get to this stage doing what they needed to get wins then I'd be more than happy with the situation.

Regards
Steve

Yes, it's mildly amusing to be critised for 'boring' play by a Scot, when Scotland's only sucesses have been achieved by 'spoiling' the other sides' game.