Rugby World Cup

[backinthetrees]

No one here watches rugby?

England vs Australia just ended

Oz was waaaaaaaaaaay too hot headed for the game.. even George Gregan who is usually pretty calm was owned by his emotions..playing the ball off side? WTF.

England deserved to win, and im glad to see wilkinson back on the field.

if France beats NZ later (the whole N. Hemisphere will laugh at the South).. im pretty sure it'll be a NZ vs England final tho.

thoughts?

[backinthetrees]

No one here watches rugby?

England vs Australia just ended

Oz was waaaaaaaaaaay too hot headed for the game.. even George Gregan who is usually pretty calm was owned by his emotions..playing the ball off side? WTF.

England deserved to win, and im glad to see wilkinson back on the field.

if France beats NZ later (the whole N. Hemisphere will laugh at the South).. im pretty sure it'll be a NZ vs England final tho.

thoughts?

[simcoo]

I swear its a Northern Hemisphere Conspiracy

I'm still in disbelief that NZ is out

I hope Argentina wins the world cup

[plongin]

No one here watches rugby?

England vs Australia just ended

Oz was waaaaaaaaaaay too hot headed for the game.. even George Gregan who is usually pretty calm was owned by his emotions..playing the ball off side? WTF.

England deserved to win, and im glad to see wilkinson back on the field.

if France beats NZ later (the whole N. Hemisphere will laugh at the South).. im pretty sure it'll be a NZ vs England final tho.

thoughts?

looks like the whole N hemipshere is laughing at the south.

so much for the non black all blacks. what an anti climax.

im actually upset, cause nz played beautifully.

fiji to win.

[thinkfilm28]

Not in the States -- spoke to the family in NZ -- not too happy about the loss.

[backinthetrees]

well............... i think the north and south play rugby very differently.. it has come to a point where the south plays it more sevens style, with 15 players across the breadth, constantly looking for gaps in the defence. trying to keep the ball alive, etc

as a result, we see alot less typical forward play, 3Q line runs, which i personally enjoy, and the north has been doing that for me, so im in support..

having said that, the southern style is more "effective" in winning games.. and i am so surprised that NZ won... shits gone insane.

[simcoo]

having said that, the southern style is more "effective" in winning games.. and i am so surprised that NZ won... shits gone insane.

Nz lost

haha

The Southern Style makes the game much better to watch

but saying that

The Northern Style uses more of the entire team as an attacking unit

as opposed to the south which is more about individual moments of brillance

[backinthetrees]

much better to watch?!

i prefer keeping fwds and backs as 2 separate entitites.

instead of reducing the whole team to a more or less homogenous state.

[backinthetrees]

strange.. out of 4 people posting, 3 are from singapore.

WEIRD TIMES.

[jf30]

fuck england

[ardeetee]

I caught the last half of the crazy NZ FR game... to say the least Paris was an absolute madhouse last night!

[Double D]

Fucking hell I was euphoric yesterday, though the mass quantities of beer may have helped in that respect.

As to the NH vs SH style of play yesterday, the two SH sides showed severe tactical naivity, particularly New Zealand who France suckered into playing a game based around territorial kicking and pick-and-drive attacks which, nearly 180 tackles later, France were still completely adept at dealing with.

While NZ were undone by playing straight into the hands of a French side with their tails up, I think any of the top 6 sides would have dismantled Australia's pack yesterday... from 1 to 8 Australia were a frail bunch of weaklings that any of their major rivals would have torn to shreds, not just England's bruisers. George Smith, supposedly the second best back-rower in the world was made to look like a muppet by a back 3 completely inferior to England's 2003 lineup of Hill-Back-Dallaglio (the first two admittedly being perhaps the best flanker pairing in rugby history, to give some credit to the present players).

On evidence of the Saffas performance just now, and considering the fact that the French will be playing in Paris from now on I suspect it will take a hell of a performance to stop Les Bleus.

[Double D]

if France beats NZ later (the whole N. Hemisphere will laugh at the South).. im pretty sure it'll be a NZ vs England final tho.

How the hell would it have possibly been an NZ-England final? Did you actually look at the fixtures list?

[backinthetrees]

fuck england

dont be so sore.

How the hell would it have possibly been an NZ-England final? Did you actually look at the fixtures list?

i did.. saw wrongly, fooool.

i like it that england really managed to keep their composure, repeatedly agitating australia into giving away penalties, etc etc.

what a sexay world cup.

[watchman]

fiji made a decent run for it today, i was impressed. Lots of upsets and near upsets.

[backinthetrees]

Argentina is playing much better than i had anticipated..

[ardeetee]

fiji made a decent run for it today, i was impressed. Lots of upsets and near upsets.

definitely, i thought fiji was going to pull it off... great game

[Cue]

More painful than the loss is the fact everyone at work is banging on about it ...

bah!

[iamstarwars]

I watched the France/NZ game today, though American TV sucks at showing rugby. Commercial breaks every 5 minutes, 2 minutes here and there disappeared for no reason and the game was not in direct, but I really enjoyed it. It was a great game. I haven't seen any of the others, but I'll have to find a way to watch England/France.

[its swanny]

Watched most of the All Blacks vs. France.

Actually the first time I've ever sat down and watching rugby and...I'm in love!

[plongin]

I still say france won only cause of that forward pass that lead to their try. dammit.

[backinthetrees]

^^ you wanted NZ to win?!

i just don't like the SH style. : \

[Double D]

Argentina is playing much better than i had anticipated..

A quick look at the teams they've beaten over the last 12 months would have put paid to that... they're not ranked 4th in the world for no reason!

[Gem_art]

I still say france won only cause of that forward pass that lead to their try. dammit.

The pass to Michalak was a mile forward...

Wayne Barnes had a shocking game, English conspiracy???

[Double D]

Picking up a forward pass that went only a couple of yards between 2 players running at full tilt is pretty damn hard.

Asides from that, it should have been the touch judge on the near side's call. The referee has more to worry about than running in line with the ball to call forward passes.

[Gem_art]

I take your point but if the touch judge can keep pace with Michalak then he should be playing not officiating...

Though I'm English I've always admired NZ rugby and found myself screaming at the TV (and Barnes) on Saturday.

[Double D]

Well, you've just proved exactly why the forward pass wasn't picked up. When players are running that fast and passing such short distances shit like that gets missed every game.

[seraphim]

fuck, ten minutes to go and it's not looking promising..

[seraphim]

I take it back. I take it all back. fucking quality.

[backinthetrees]

HAHA.

well, looks like your team came up on top.

the french have too much flair for their own good.