[Closed] Rugby world cup

DD I reckon it's because some posts got deleted but the count doesn't recognise that so the pages and posts are out of sync.

as to plastique, maybe, maybe not. I've got dual nationalité. Always lived in England but French mum. Dad and Grandad half English by virtue of growing up in England like me. All bilingual, often speak French when together. Oh and we all smell of garlic 😉

...and will be longing for the glory days of Serge Blanco next Sunday... 😉

Ah right, half plastique then. 😀

probably but I can live with that. I'll still be hoping that the world champions of choking don't let me down 😀

I shall be cheering on Les Bleus too clubber. I have no idea why but I just want to see them win it.

Celtic thing isn't it. historically everyone against les rosbifs 😉

Google the "Auld Alliance" Our reason for favouring the French over our colonial masters. However 'mon the Scottish Exiles! NZ live and breathe the game, taking into account the French use of "le plastique" in the hull of boats,and use of "le Nuclear" in the Pacific,and most importantly how gash they have been so far,I want NZ to win,ideally by a lot, after the French have had THEIR entire back row red carded.(JUST FOR YOU A-A) I then hope Mr Livremont has a dodgy bulb of garlic at the post match wake and spends the entire flight home crapping himself.

Not that I am sitting on a fence.

[img] [/img]

Dirty litter bugs the Welsh 🙂

Lol at duckman. NZ supporter here, because I hope to see some exciting rugby in the final. And hoping for third place obviously, as AA says we NEED to step up and actually start winning games.

I want to see a NH team beat one of the three big SH teams (once more anyway) 😀

zokes you do type some shit and seem to have a complete inibility to read.

Well, you seem to have spent most of this thread being quite offensive towards anyone who dares mention England, so why stop at that when you can resort to personal insults? I pity the kids you teach... (I am aware of the irony of this, but you're getting more than slightly tiresome).

The main reason most of the sporting world dislike England teams (as you have so eloquently put yourself before) is because they are cocky, boorish and feel they deserve to be there. This is a given. What is puzzling me is why is it ok when you're Welsh to yabber on all week about how you'll be tonking the Aussies in the final. Then, when it all goes wrong, there's 6 pages of crying and anguish about the ref - very similar to an English football thread actually.

And now, it seems the ABs are going to 'smash' the French. Well, we'll see on that one.

I would suggest it is you who needs to take your blinkers off and look at what has been written on this thread.. No, not [i]all[/i] Welsh or Kiwis are behaving like this, but i think you'll find that contrary to your hateful prejudices (and you used that word), neither do all the English.

Laughs at Zokes trolling,until this bit.

I pity the kids you teach... (I am aware of the irony of this, but you're getting more than slightly tiresome).

I think you owe him an apology for that, or is it ok for you to complain about insults, but question somebody's ability to teach? Or does he have to like the English team as a requirement for GTC registration?

Bravo only took 4000 posts to bring this thread to the usual level.

Just one thing that I don't think has been mentioned much is France's remarkably low penalty count in both the England game and the Wales game. I can't find any stats but I don't think they gave away a single kickable penalty in the first half of the England game.

Given the amount of time they spent defending in the Wales game they gave the Welsh few opportunities to kick for goal. Of course it doesn't help that the ones they did give away weren't kicked between the posts.

France's discipline in the last two games has really surprised me.

Wales should have won the game regardless of red card, should have beat SA too but failure to close out these games will be a question mark over their claim to being a great side. Loads of ability and some very exciting young players they could develop into the best team in the world.
It does seem that because of the ABE attitude that lots of the northern hemisphere sides just view beating England as being a great team, and performances are not consistent enough.
Refs and coaches were informed that they want to stamp out the dangerous tackle so could have just been yellow but don't think red was totally unjustified. Feel for him because he has been magnificent and would like to see how he coped with RM.
AB were very good, incredibly physical and hope they bring this game to the final. They are the best team in the world, have been for a long time and deserve another world cup.

Bruce Wee - stats galore on
http://www.espnscrum.com/2011-rugby-world-cup/rugby/match/93502.html

France 6 penalties against Wales - but Wales only 8

France 12 penalties against england, england only 6
http://www.espnscrum.com/2011-rugby-world-cup/rugby/match/93499.html

Zokes - you really do do what you complain of others doing - and are one of the worst. Maybe you don't feel that way but you come over very bitter, angry and one eyed

Interestingly for the England game, even though France gave away twice as many penalties England never attempted to kick any of them. This suggests to me that in defence they are very good at avoiding getting pinged.

They gave away far more kickable penalties against Wales but given the amount of time the Welsh spent in the French half on the attack I still think they were far more disciplined than many teams in the tournament.

Either that or they didnt compete very hard for the ball at the break down 😉

They gave away far more kickable penalties against Wales but given the amount of time the Welsh spent in the French half on the attack I still think they were far more disciplined than many teams in the tournament.

Yup, both are valid points, I just find it interesting that France who have a reputation for being temperamental and prone to moments of madness are proving to be keeping a very level head these days.

By the way, during this years 6N, France was the only team to go the whole tournament with no yellow cards. Wales got three, Scotland and England two, and Irealand and Italy one. Not conclusive at all but interesting.

[i]France who have a reputation for being temperamental and prone to moments of madness are proving to be keeping a very level head these days.[/i]

This French team are lacking a lot of things that French teams from the past had. Including their lack of discipline.

In theory the ABs should win at a canter. Les Bleus have been hopeless despite getting this far. If only Tonga had beaten Canada we wouldn't be in this mess. 🙁

However, anybody remember the last RWC? Powerhouse in-form team annihilate hapless clods in group phase only to meet them again in the final and barely scrape past them (aided by some dodgy refereeing).

Personally, I wish the French were not in the final. I'd love to see them get the 50pt thrashing they deserve but there's that tiny bit in me, as a true rugby fan, that will still root for the French if they actually turn on the style and make a game of it.

What namastebuzz said ^^^

The best team won on Saturday.
The best team won on Sunday.
The best team will win and pick up the World cup next weekend.
That is beyond debate in my eyes.

So, what are the welsh options for covering the openside now? Lydiate?

So, what are the welsh options for covering the openside now? Lydiate?

Does it really matter? The prize has gone.

I know it's a game of rugby and it's there to be won but 3rd place play-offs are a waste of time.

The thing is, we have been waiting for the whole cup for France to spark,and they haven't. I don't think they can,certainly off the scraps they will get off the AB's.

Surely wales will start with Ryan Jones/faletau/lydiate as the back row.

or possibly the other way around...as I have no idea how the standard notation goes and I always **** it up...but shewerly it will be a straight swap...Ryan for Sam...leaving Toby and lydiate where they are

Does it really matter? The prize has gone.

Yes. It's still a test match, and the Welsh team still need to prove they can actually win against the big teams. and third place in the world rankings (although obviously meaningless) would be a nice stick to poke zokes with 😈

[i]3rd place play-offs are a waste of time.[/i]

Apart from the fact that it'll likely be a decent game of rugby to watch. Personally, I like watching decent games of rugby.

[i]The third-place play-offs at the past three Rugby World Cups have produced 14 tries in total and averaged more than 45 points a match.

The point is not lost on Cooper’s teammate Berrick Barnes, who predicted there would be plenty of points on offer against the Welsh.

“The best thing about a third-place play-off is you want to see running rugby, you want to see excitement and I think you'll get that," he said.[/i]

3rd place play-offs are a waste of time.

Rubbish. You tell that to this lot,
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Glitchy****ybump

And another

As a passionate Welsh fan, I feel I should make the folowing points:

1. Wales should have beaten South Africa but did not have the neccessary composure during the final 10 minutes.

2. A lucky bounce of the ball gifted Wales a try against Samoa. Had the ball dribbled into touch, it is quite conceivable that Samoa could have won that game. Hence Wales may have failed to qualify from the pool stages.

3. Fiji & Namibia did not field competetive sides.

4. Warburton's sending off was justifiable.

5. Wales had enough ball, territory and kicking chances to best France. See point 1.

Until Wales start winning the pressure games, they cannot be regarded as great. I was convinced that Halfpenny's final kick was going over...as it dropped below the crossbar by inches, it truly reflected where Welsh rugby is at right now. Almost there, but not quite.

Does it really matter? The prize has gone.

I know it's a game of rugby and it's there to be won but 3rd place play-offs are a waste of time.

I think wales will be 2nd in IRB rankings if they beat Oz...possibly down to 6th if they lose. Putting away a southern hemisphere team in the south is still worth doing, and Oz's next 5 games are all against Wales, so as well to start off on a good foot against them.

The best team won on Saturday.
The best team won on Sunday.
The best team will win and pick up the World cup next weekend.
That is beyond debate in my eyes.

Are these assertions based purely on the fact that they won?

boxfish - nail on head

I'm half french, half english and wanted Wales to win - wanted to see Warbuton vs McCaw, Roberts against Nonu, front row battle etc

difference between this Wales team and england 2003 (not commenting on the way they play / style of play etc) was that England found a way to win, pretty or not eg holding on against NZ when down to 13 men, World Cup final when they were getting penalised to the point they had to stop pushing in the scrum, but Wilkinson's drop goal went over - whereas Wales missed opportunities on Saturday

missed penalties, missed drop goals, and why didn't Phillips go nearer to the posts?

and why didn't Phillips go nearer to the posts?

IIRC a player was coming across from that direction.

I dont know why Jones didnt go for a kick a bit later though instead of trying to drive forward.

Are these assertions based purely on the fact that they won?

I dont know why Jones didnt go for a kick a bit later though instead of trying to drive forward.

I take it Adam Jones is out as well for the play-off? Pity we didn't get to see him show his credentials in the semi and final as the world's best tight head.

😆

Well, you seem to have spent most of this thread being quite offensive towards anyone who dares mention England, so why stop at that when you can resort to personal insults? I pity the kids you teach... (I am aware of the irony of this, but you're getting more than slightly tiresome).

Go on then find some evidence of me being offensive to anyone apart from you.

What is puzzling me is why is it ok when you're Welsh to yabber on all week about how you'll be tonking the Aussies in the final.

Then, when it all goes wrong, there's 6 pages of crying and anguish about the ref - very similar to an English football thread actually.

I think you'll find I agreed with TJ's claim that it was perfectly within the rules for him to be sent off.

And now, it seems the ABs are going to 'smash' the French. Well, we'll see on that one.

all the available evidence is that they will, France have been tonked by them once already, lost to Tonga and were hanging on against 14 man Wales.

Oh and my lesson today was graded good with outstanding features today so I dont think you need to pity the kids I teach 😆

I take it Adam Jones is out as well for the play-off? Pity we didn't get to see him show his credentials in the semi and final as the world's best tight head.

would appear so, torn calf muscle could be out for a while, he seems to have been struggling with it all tournament as I dont think he has been up to his usual self. Great srummager but has lacked fitness from what I've seen.

surfer - Member

and why didn't Phillips go nearer to the posts?

IIRC a player was coming across from that direction.

Yeah he was being blocked from going to the centre. Why doesn't Halfpenny kick more though? They give him the massively difficult ones so surely he should be okay at the normal ones?

Oh and once again tune into

[url] http://www.arcrugby.co.nz/ [/url] for brilliant commentary from the Jedi. Sometimes there's a delay but Sky Plus sorts that out 😀