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Rugby World Cup Quarter Final Weekend

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
Eek Now that is a shock. France have pulled off '99 again.

Hopefully like in '99 they fade away after that performance.

It's great to see two northern hemi teams pull off such big shocks.
 

FMA

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2006
5,591
671
McAllister, getting sin binned, was a massive turning point. I loved the scenes at the start, where the French, squared up to the Kiwis, during the Haka. Northern Hemisphere 2 - Southern Hemisphere 0. We've got a game on our hands' in Paris.
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
41,857
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What a day for Rugby! I enjoyed the games immensely.
 

Bonjour

Señor Member
Dec 1, 2003
11,931
30
I thought Non, of Superman fame, did rather well for the French.

non1.jpg
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
47,061
It's a shame that the 4th quarter final has been a poor game but I suppose with these two teams it was to be expected. Quite want Scotland to get a score to make it a bit more lively, but can't see it happening. South Africa v Argentina will be a brutal game.

By the way Barmy in Palmy...who did New Zealand get in the semi-finals?
 

amazon

Member
Jun 16, 2004
283
16
I am going for England, France, S Africa and Argentina semi-finalists. Heart over head with the first choice obviously - I just think we could do a proper number on them up-front.

wow, what a weekend. glad i put money where my mouth was too because it earnt me a few quid.

agree with the sentiments that Argies vs S Africa will be brutal - glad the Argies beat the Scots as at least they will give the Boks a game, which I don't think Scotland would have done.

England vs France is going to be a bit more tactical I think - I said at the start of the tournament that England can beat anyone in a one-off game but I am unsure as to whether they can peak 2 or 3 weeks on the trot - still not sure but buoyed by the fact that we were pretty fucking awesome on Saturday
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
Today's Sun had a good bit from Jimmy Greaves on why he prefers watching international rugby over international football. He made some good points. I'll quote the main parts as it's too long to type all of it.

Football has been part of my life - playing the game, writing about it for the Sun and commenting on it on telly - but I no longer regard it as a passion.

I am probably attracted to rugby because it is a man's game. There is a lot of power and strength.

You need to draw on all your resources and all of your character. You are getting hit really hard.

Can you imagine a rugby player falling to the ground like the AC Milan goalkeeper Dida did when that Celtic fan brushed his face? It wouldn't happen.

This is something I can relate to. The last time I felt passion for an England football game was probably back in Euro 96. Since then its been the same old story - we hype ourselves up and crash out of the tournament with a piss poor performance. As for the falling to the ground, oh god. I hate watching the likes of Gerrard, Ronaldo and at times Zokora do a dying swan act. The way football is going it's not going to be a contact sport.

Football doesn't have the camaraderie that rugby has.

Saturday's Englandf vs Australia game proved that. Football used to have it but not any more.

Maybe the England football team can learn a little bit from it. They should watch how the rugby lads played and try to copy that self-confidence and determination.

It shows what a group of people who believe in themselves can achieve - even when no one else does.

That makes perfect sense to me. The rugby team's performance against the Aussies got my belief back. I can't remember the last time our football team have gone into a match as underdogs and put in a performance that got the fans going.
 

amazon

Member
Jun 16, 2004
283
16
Semi Final weekend - what are the thoughts?

Argentina seem to be struggling with fitness on key players - is this a step too far?

South Africa - yet to be really tested in this tournament - will they cope better than Aus and NZ did?

England vs France - which one played their final last weekend?
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
Semi Final weekend - what are the thoughts?

Argentina seem to be struggling with fitness on key players - is this a step too far?

South Africa - yet to be really tested in this tournament - will they cope better than Aus and NZ did?

England vs France - which one played their final last weekend?

This is why rugby is such a great sport, it can go either way.

My heart says England but my head says France. It's a huge task for England to win but because it's in Paris they've got a chance. The French team hates playing in France because the pressure seems to get too much for them, that's why they loved playing in Cardiff. Watch the national anthems, if the pressure is too much for some of their players it will show when they start singing.

England need to win the scrum and play a better game than they did against the aussies. As always Wilko will have to be on top form because England is going to need his points but also his kicking can keep the French on the back foot.

As for Argentina, they could do it. South Africa seemed to have peaked against England and their performances have been getting worse. It was only a matter of inches that kept South Africa in the tournament. Argentina will struggle at the line out but their pack should be able to hold it's own. The Puma's have great players in Pichot and Hernandez so you can't rule them out.
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,276
is it wrong that i atchaly hoped england would be up against NZ? i thoguht they strugled with pace and we could have caused them alot of trouble :|

agaisnt france in paris you have to say France have the edge, but if england keep improving it could and should be very close! should be one hell of a game!
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,276
and England go to the final!!!!!

such a poor game, too many msitakes from both sides, but who ares... the french lose at home :dance:
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
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Absolutely top stuff from England. Played to their strengths and did it very well. Gomarsall was immense.
 

llamafarmer

Well-Known Member
May 4, 2004
10,775
1,055
What an amazing game! Haven't had a sporting high like that since the final last time round! The whole thing was played at an insane pace and with such brute force, just awesome. The boys did us really proud last night!
 
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