Rugby World Cup

[Pickle]

"The All Blacks have been dealt further backline injury problems with Richard Kahui and Israel Dagg the latest to be forced out from Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina in Auckland".

Oh dear. Although the replacements aren't too shoddy (Williams, Muliaina), but once again it looks a bit like my team are crumpling at the pressure stage :(

[Alan Medic]

100(tu)

[Alan Medic]

Just in case you wonder what happens if there's a draw. There is then 2x10min. halves. If they are still level there is then another 10 minutes of sudden death i.e first one to score wins. And if they are still level, there is a place kicking competition. That would be fun if any of them got that far.

[taper]

Not enough boorish jingoism on this thread. It's rugger for ruddy's sake.

Come on England. Let 's smash the Filthies!

[Mick Mac]

Oireland.......cmon

[Alan Medic]

I can't sleep. Look out for Sean, my nephew. He'll be at the match. That 'ill be him in the crowd, wearing green.

[Alan Medic]

Well done Wales. Deserved win.

[Otta]

Well done Wales, looks like England may well be following Ireland to the airport!

[maxxi]

maxxi Wrote:

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> Wales, France, NZ, Oz... France-NZ final.

Far be it from me to rub salt into Irish wounds and say 'I told you so' but...

[titch juicy]

wish there was some way i could let martin johnson know what i think of his tenure in charge

so so predictable

[maxxi]

Try 'devoid of any creativity or imagination'.

[titch juicy]

I think the lack of basics is more fundamental

it'd almost be worth us getting knocked out to not have to listen to Vickery anymore.

[maxxi]

Well there's 7 points - if only we could rely on France imploding in the 2nd half like they always used to...

[maxxi]

2 penalties in a row - that's more like the France of old...

[maxxi]

maxxi Wrote:

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> Wales, France, NZ, Oz... France-NZ final.

Ahem... far be it from me to rub salt into English wounds and say 'I told you so' again but -

Well, you knew it was coming.

[Jah Lush]

I think the scoreline flattered England. We were rubbish.

[maxxi]

I think Steve Rider summed it up by saying 'we all expected England to have another gear' but in truth the only convincing win was against a Romanian B team.

[Otta]

Brave attempt in the second half, but so many sloppy schoolboy errors in the first, that we basically gifted them a huge lead in a "tight" match.

You'd think an international rugby forward would know how to scrummage!

[steveo]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> I think the scoreline flattered England. We were

> rubbish.

Was this supposed to be in the football thread?

[Townleygreen]

Wales - SA final.

[Mick Mac]

Soooo disappointed that Ireland did not make it through today. Wales' defence was undoubtedly fantastic but Ireland had a number of players who had a poor game, most importantly O Gara who missed a few key touch kicks.

Mike Philipps try I think was the one that broke the hearts of the Irish team. Was really one where Ireland went to sleep and the Irish forwards, on seeing the backs let him through so easily, must have been a killer especially after they had just got back to 10-10.

Wales third try also resulted from poor Irish defending - so in the end it was the defences that decided it.

[Alan Medic]

Yeah, sorry for O'Gara. May be the last we will see of him in a green jersey. The defending was incredibly poor on Phillips try. Tommy Bowe who you would expect to be there had moved out of position expecting the ball to go wide. I do hope Wales go all the way though. Their pre season conditioning sessions in Poland sounded like hell. It may be paying dividends now as extra fitness in such a long tournament could make all the difference.

[taper]

Maxxi

Damn you and your accurate predictions.

[Mick Mac]

We are agreed then declan. That's a first. :))

I'll take a week to get interested again. But this world cup has offered so much already and has more to offer too. The semi finals are mouthwatering.

[Alan Medic]

Some older rugby fans might be interested in a programme tonight on the Lions 1971 visit to NZ. It's on BBC1 Wales @ 10.35pm. However it is on other BBC channels next week too.

Good luck Wales tomorrow though whoever wins I'd like to see them win it outright. One for the NH.