Rugby World Cup

[Chariot of Fire]

Wales were brilliant. After that game I said to a mate I hope they go on to win it - even at the expense of England. As it transpires I need not have mentioned it - England were shite. Boring, useless & gutless. Hopefully a wake-up call.

Go Wales!!!

[Lootifer]

Picks: NZ/SA/Ire/Eng, then, NZ/Eng, then, NZ.

of the 2 games played today you got both of them wrong. hopefully your form continues tomorrow and the Aussies get up.

Haha, yer, though in my defense I did day France might have one good game in them, thurns out they may even have more!

And Wales v Ireland was always going to be hard to call. Not on the field though, the far better team got the result they deserve.

Semi-wise: Even if France continue their newly foound form, their last 20 minutes were terrible; they dont have the fitness for this level of rugby. Wales on the other hand are made up of 15 marathon runners; my pick would be France lead at half time, Wales to roll them over in the last 40. 20-odd plays ~12 imo.

Also... /sigh at New Zealand... Jesus we dont make it hard for ourselves...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-c ... d=10757700

[Lootifer]

Man after that game I am so much more confident of ABs winning...

[Chariot of Fire]

Me too now. I think the Springboks were the only team capable of giving the ABs a tough game. Feel really sorry for them - they played the much better rugby yet lost to the Aussies who barely launched an attack. Pocock got away with murder in the 1st half and the ref just wasn't seeing it.

NZ v Wales final do you think? Should be a great game with some fast ball and good running in the backs. Those Welsh are fitter than anyone!

[tyche73]

NZ v Wales final do you think? Should be a great game with some fast ball and good running in the backs. Those Welsh are fitter than anyone!

I hope it is i gotta say i'm really impressed with the argies defence esp cover defence
I'll be rooting for the taffy's

[Gypsys Kiss]

After watching the NZ/Arg game I think its still up for grabs. The All Blacks havnt looked that impressive today.

[Gypsys Kiss]

After watching the NZ/Arg game I think its still up for grabs. The All Blacks havnt looked that impressive today.

[denthefrog]

After watching the NZ/Arg game I think its still up for grabs. The All Blacks havnt looked that impressive today.

no they havent but they kept the presure on all the time
not many teams will be able to resist that
just cant believe that we beat england after the poor show Vs tonga
semi against the welsh should be inteesting

[Lootifer]

Wow, amazing defense from the Argies, they earned their place in the trinations tonight. They were lucky to keep 15 on the field for as much as they did (as bias as I am they gave a penalty EVERY time we went into the 22) but even saying that, I havent seen a team shut down the ABs backline as effectivley as they did in a long time.

To the semis, first cut predictions: NZ vs Wales final; NZ raise the cup.

[greenoaks]

Wow, amazing defense from the Argies, they earned their place in the trinations tonight. They were lucky to keep 15 on the field for as much as they did (as bias as I am they gave a penalty EVERY time we went into the 22) but even saying that, I havent seen a team shut down the ABs backline as effectivley as they did in a long time.

To the semis, first cut predictions: NZ vs Wales final; NZ raise the cup.

you have overlooked one thing.

this is a world cup. nz will choke next game. after all, they are playing the number 2 side in the world.

[Lootifer]

Wow, amazing defense from the Argies, they earned their place in the trinations tonight. They were lucky to keep 15 on the field for as much as they did (as bias as I am they gave a penalty EVERY time we went into the 22) but even saying that, I havent seen a team shut down the ABs backline as effectivley as they did in a long time.

To the semis, first cut predictions: NZ vs Wales final; NZ raise the cup.

you have overlooked one thing.

this is a world cup. nz will choke next game. after all, they are playing the number 2 side in the world.

We're playing Wales in the semi? News to me.

...

OH...

You mean IRB worrld rankings... lol! Yeh, they're hugely relevant at the moment.

I'd go as far to say we will have an easier time beating Aussie than we did beating Argentina.

[Leehar]

I'm just completely crushed by the Aus loss, we really were better for so long. Rossouw will get a lot of heat for that last penalty, but we really should've converted our advantage into points, tho it did feel like some crucial decisions went against us. (in the breakdown, that last forward pass was marginal at best etc).
But in the end I guess it was just perhaps that Aus had the greater desire to win with us containing so many members who've already achieved almost everything there is to win in World Rugby. We've got some great guys coming up now with the likes of Hougard, and Du Plessis likely to finally get his chance for full game-time with Smit's retirement. Frans Steyn also still has a long way to go in front of him, it was a bummer that he missed the game and I truly think he could have made the difference to convert some of those long-range penalties morne missed (2 come to mind both sides of half-time when he dragged it both sides of the poles )

Nonetheless, we do have a cracker of world cup semi's coming up for us, and I really think NZ have a great chance since this is almost like history repeating itself from 1987? exact same semi-finalists isn't it?

For SA though, it really has been a horrible weekend, with us just missing Afcon qualification as well :'(

[Lootifer]

I'm just completely crushed by the Aus loss, we really were better for so long. Rossouw will get a lot of heat for that last penalty, but we really should've converted our advantage into points, tho it did feel like some crucial decisions went against us. (in the breakdown, that last forward pass was marginal at best etc).
But in the end I guess it was just perhaps that Aus had the greater desire to win with us containing so many members who've already achieved almost everything there is to win in World Rugby. We've got some great guys coming up now with the likes of Hougard, and Du Plessis likely to finally get his chance for full game-time with Smit's retirement. Frans Steyn also still has a long way to go in front of him, it was a bummer that he missed the game and I truly think he could have made the difference to convert some of those long-range penalties morne missed (2 come to mind both sides of half-time when he dragged it both sides of the poles )

Nonetheless, we do have a cracker of world cup semi's coming up for us, and I really think NZ have a great chance since this is almost like history repeating itself from 1987? exact same semi-finalists isn't it?

For SA though, it really has been a horrible weekend, with us just missing Afcon qualification as well :'(

I really feel for the Safas, I live in Wellington, and believe me theres a lot of green shirts wandering around aimlessly with their heads down

But like you say they did it to themselves. 80% territory and 9 points on the board? tsk tsk.

However saying that Lawrence didn't know what the hell was going on, if he gets another game i'll be dissapointed in IRB, that was some terrible reffing. Hands everywhere in the breakdown, and a lot of simple mistakes... Either team would good reason to bash him regardless of result (as it was Safas got hard-done by in some cruical moments).

And SA rugby in the future, yer you guys are pretty set; Du Plessis is streets ahead of anyone in the world right now and you have some really good solid talant. Trinations next year will be huge! But for now it's all about next weekend.

edit: And as far as history goes, yes it is the same semi finalists, but different matches: in 1987 NZ played Wales and Australia played France, with NZ meeting France in the final. Close but not the same

[Begbie]

Yes - Bryce Lawrence was awful and for once DeVilliers was on the money with his post match comments ie. Lawrence cost them the match. While we NZers love a good openside flanker making pest of himself and getting away with it (a la McCaw) Pocock got away with absolute murder at the breakdown and the Boks ball was slowed incessantly. Unfortunately for SA, they failed to take chances that they were allowed by the ref and were a little exposed in their lack of flair and ability to break the line. That said one of the finest defensive performances in recent memory by the Aussies.

Over ther weekend i changed my mind several times as to who i would rather have NZ face in the semi final, and ended up wanting the Boks to win as i feel they are old and would have been tired from their pool and run in to semi. At least we know what we will get from the Boks - not so Australia.... I'm feeling OK about next weekend tho as the wallabies must be tired after that defensiive effort and i think Quade cooper at 10 is well and truly spooked now. i think the ABs will build on their forward effort against the Argies and keep it very tight and direct for 60 mins before trying to find some holes out wide. Can Aussie get up for another one?? Hopefully not!!

The English got what they completley deserved for being arrogant and useless both on and off the field, and playing awful rugby.

Wales were very proficient in dismantling Ireland and are playing a NZ style of rugby (fancy that with the coach....) attrition through superior fitness and ball skills. They should be way too good for France methinks and must be close to favourites for the tournament at this point....

Must go and look for my anti choke incantation book.............

[Chariot of Fire]

The English got what they completley deserved for being arrogant and useless both on and off the field, and playing awful rugby.

Useless yes, but 'arrogant' both on and off the field? I think that's hardly a justified remark. Acting like children on a few occasions sure, but the squad as a whole did quite a bit in/for the communities they visited - though of course that makes for unsensational press.

Don't believe all you read.

[Lootifer]

Useless yes, but 'arrogant' both on and off the field? I think that's hardly a justified remark. Acting like children on a few occasions sure, but the squad as a whole did quite a bit in/for the communities they visited - though of course that makes for unsensational press.

Don't believe all you read.

Haha, yer.

I did like this thought:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-c ... d=10758013

[Begbie]

The English got what they completley deserved for being arrogant and useless both on and off the field, and playing awful rugby.

Useless yes, but 'arrogant' both on and off the field? I think that's hardly a justified remark. Acting like children on a few occasions sure, but the squad as a whole did quite a bit in/for the communities they visited - though of course that makes for unsensational press.

Don't believe all you read.

I know a number of senior people in the hospitality field in Dunedin and from what they say 'arrogant' was a perfectly accurate description of their behaviour. I accept that it's a bit rough to tar the entire team this way however they have not been impressive on or off the pitch. That said enither have the ABs on occasions in the past - guess young highly paid sportsmen the world over can get it wrong. Peace brother

[Lootifer]

Refs for the semis are up:

http://www.irb.com/mm/document/tourname ... -appts.pdf

[Leehar]

Kaplan and Joubert are from SA aren't they? Guess it's okay now to drop Lawrence out, they shoulda done it earlier >_>

[Chariot of Fire]

OK that's weird, coz on Monday the IRB announced it would be Joubert & Rolland, which seems to make good sense when you read this article:

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union ... 1lhb7.html

[Lootifer]

Lol, Joubert and Rolland are the refs... Kaplan is Touchie no1 for first semi...

[Arethusa]

Looks like Rhys Priestland is out of the Semi-Final

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 270308.stm

Who do you think Gatland will go for Hooky, or Stephen Jones? Personally, I think Hook should step up to the mark

[Arethusa]

This must go down as my favourite try of the tournament so far.... Prop Gethin Jenkins fancying himself as a centre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-COiev8N ... re=related

[Lootifer]

Looks like Rhys Priestland is out of the Semi-Final

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 270308.stm

Who do you think Gatland will go for Hooky, or Stephen Jones? Personally, I think Hook should step up to the mark

Anyone else thinks he's leaning over to fart in that pic?

[Lootifer]

This must go down as my favourite try of the tournament so far.... Prop Gethin Jenkins fancying himself as a centre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-COiev8N ... re=related

Lets hope you can repeat this against the French on Sat (try @ 20secs in is my fav)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkGGU9rP ... re=related