WRC
- Thread starter Firefly
- Start date
As a kid I used to love the All Blacks - they just had this mistique about them and they seem to always bring something new to the games. Now, really, they are just a corporate. I hope we get to the semis and even further, but I wouldn't rule out England either. 6 or 7 weeks of rugby....bliss!
All Blacks always play "on the line"... they have a huge weight behind them & that always seems to plays on ref's mind (thinking of the way France were robbed in last WC).
Wondering with the level of expectation, on England, hamper them - there is HUGE pressure on them to not only do well, but to go all the way...
Whatever happens, just hoping it'll be an exciting few weeks & Ireland do themselves proud...
Wondering with the level of expectation, on England, hamper them - there is HUGE pressure on them to not only do well, but to go all the way...
Whatever happens, just hoping it'll be an exciting few weeks & Ireland do themselves proud...
interesting (long) article about NZ here...
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/bl...ks-how-new-zealand-sustains-its-rugby-dynasty
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/bl...ks-how-new-zealand-sustains-its-rugby-dynasty
Daniell is an affable man, intelligent, with a thick French streak in his soul. He likes to live well. We drink far too much wine and my notes from the evening do not amount to much. A few things stick. Daniell explains that in New Zealand, “catch” and “pass” have almost come to be conflated into one word: “catchpass”. This is the fundamental skill, the first thing learned by kids, and still practised hard by the professionals. Daniell says a conspicuous difference between the teams he played with in Europe and those in New Zealand was the time spent drilling catching and passing.
My mind turns back to the conversation with Henry. We were discussing New Zealand’s famous win against Ireland in 2013, 24-22, sealed with an impossible try in injury time. “That great try,” Henry says. “I don’t know how many passes it took to make it. 25? Catch-pass. Catch-pass. Catch-pass.” If one pass had been misplaced, if one catch had been fumbled, the ball would have gone dead and the game would have been over. A simple skill, perfected.
Don't we all remember the pain, knowing that their composure with the ball would get them over the line!
My mind turns back to the conversation with Henry. We were discussing New Zealand’s famous win against Ireland in 2013, 24-22, sealed with an impossible try in injury time. “That great try,” Henry says. “I don’t know how many passes it took to make it. 25? Catch-pass. Catch-pass. Catch-pass.” If one pass had been misplaced, if one catch had been fumbled, the ball would have gone dead and the game would have been over. A simple skill, perfected.
Don't we all remember the pain, knowing that their composure with the ball would get them over the line!
What are you talking about man; this isn't golf!
Duke of Marmalade
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We don't meet Japan until the semis
Put on the SA / Japan game yest after 20 mins or so just to check out SA and see what they were upto. WHAT A GAME. The whole lot of us were screaming for Japan at the end. The small one started jumping up and down "I know where Japan is on the map of the world"!
Like Munster v All Blacks but on the biggest stage of all. So great for the game and hope Japan get the WRC now after coming so close against NZ before!
Like Munster v All Blacks but on the biggest stage of all. So great for the game and hope Japan get the WRC now after coming so close against NZ before!
South African coach [broken link removed] apologised to his country....
Speaking to reporters after the Pool B match at Brighton Community Stadium, Meyer said: “I have to apologise to the nation. It was just not good enough. It was unacceptable and I take full responsibility.”
It must be some sport in SA!!
Speaking to reporters after the Pool B match at Brighton Community Stadium, Meyer said: “I have to apologise to the nation. It was just not good enough. It was unacceptable and I take full responsibility.”
It must be some sport in SA!!
While I'm not a fan of rugby, I have joined the rest of the population in hoping Ireland will perform well. Listening to the Paul O'Connell interview after the match on Saturday I reckon the Irish players know of the weight of support for them. Great to see underdogs Japan beating South Africa. I saw nothing in Argentina V New Zealand to have us fear the All Blacks. I saw enough though for us to fear Argentina (I understand if we qualify from our group we should be playing one or the other).
As for yer man above offering apologies to the people of SA for the defeat; it's pass-the-bucket stuff, afterall it's only a game. If we lose sight of this we might as well not participate. But for "investment" I backed Scotland at 7/1 to win their group and I backed Wales at 25/1 to win the competition.
As for yer man above offering apologies to the people of SA for the defeat; it's pass-the-bucket stuff, afterall it's only a game. If we lose sight of this we might as well not participate. But for "investment" I backed Scotland at 7/1 to win their group and I backed Wales at 25/1 to win the competition.
Japan's victory was the biggest upset in international Rugby history.
It was a fantastic match and it's worth noting that Japan won it, South Africa didn't lose it. The Springboks didn't play that badly. Japan just showed great intensity, handling skills, decision making and line speed.
Edit; I was also delighted to see a Referee handling New Zealand correctly. They richly reserved their two yellow cards. McCaw probably should have got one earlier. The best team in the world should not have to play off side and be so cynical and deliberate in now they fowl.
It was a fantastic match and it's worth noting that Japan won it, South Africa didn't lose it. The Springboks didn't play that badly. Japan just showed great intensity, handling skills, decision making and line speed.
Edit; I was also delighted to see a Referee handling New Zealand correctly. They richly reserved their two yellow cards. McCaw probably should have got one earlier. The best team in the world should not have to play off side and be so cynical and deliberate in now they fowl.
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Anyone feel that the TMO consultations were a bit much, ref's assistants on the side lines seemed to be afraid to make decisions at times - although I thought Barnes used it very efficiently yesterday (hurts to say it, I'm not a big fan of his).
so true - hopefully other refs won't be afraid to make the tough decisions...
Good strong Refs are fine. The problem is when the TMO thinks they are the ref. They should not interrupt play.
It's a fine line with the TMO. To be honest, I think that unless it's used excessively then I think it's a good thing. Generally so far the TMO has been right and the stakes are so high with it being a world cup.
Japan were great - never say die. I was screaming for them to take the 3 points at the end, but fair play, they backed themselves. Also fair play to Stewart Barnes for standing up to NZ. Was watching it on ITV as the picture was better and they mentioned that with Conrad Smith and Ritchie McCaw both out for 10 mins, it was the most-capped Sin Bin of all time!
Japan were great - never say die. I was screaming for them to take the 3 points at the end, but fair play, they backed themselves. Also fair play to Stewart Barnes for standing up to NZ. Was watching it on ITV as the picture was better and they mentioned that with Conrad Smith and Ritchie McCaw both out for 10 mins, it was the most-capped Sin Bin of all time!
I'd be worried about the Argies too - they were outplayed by NZ for sure, but they stuck it out to the end. Clear message for Ireland will be to not concede penalties, on ITV they were saying Sanchez had a higher conversion rate than Carter at something like 86%....
Argentina were never pushovers & there is never any love lost between themselves & Ireland in rugby terms. Since they joined the old tri-nations, they are getting stronger & stronger.
Whoever Ireland get in the knock outs (of course we'll get out of our group!), it'll be tough games all the way! But before we get there, some exciting games ahead...
Whoever Ireland get in the knock outs (of course we'll get out of our group!), it'll be tough games all the way! But before we get there, some exciting games ahead...