Rugby World Cup 2011 - New Zealand

[redzonerocker]

Apologies for harping back to pharvey's beloved wendyball, but I've seen worse crimes than Rooney's go unpunished as well.

Maybe in parks football
You can't lose discipline & kick out at someone like he did & expect to get away with it

I really can't understand why people are so shocked at his punishment & are defending him
If he did that in the PL he gets a 3 match ban, simples

He's a great player but at times, a complete moron

[Jimbob]

Dear Aunty HH Forum, I must be schizophrenic, last week I was English, this morning I was Welsh and now it seems I am an Antipodean. Can you offer any help.

Dear Arcadian,
The good news is that next week you will be normal as previuosly and all non standard English accents will be dropped. Your passion levels will be normal and you can then work towards enjoying the London olympics.
Aunty

[richard]

If BB played rugby they would only need 4 forwards. 2 props, hooker and BB

[pharvey]

Ahhh, the cold light of day..... and a very sore head. A little fired up and somewhat under the influence yesterday. A little hungover and somewhat depressed today

But I still think you're a very bad man BB......

Sticking to my guns that it should have been a yellow card, but the ref's decision is final, Wales lost and we need to move on - so no more bitching or moaning from the Welsh camp from no on.... The ''Bronze Final'' is coming up this Friday where Wales will meet either New Zealand or Australia - in some respects I hope the former as it's the final I wanted to see and I'd love to see this Welsh side have a good crack at the World's number 1.

Wales could very easily have won yesterday had Hook or Jones made better decisions at Fly-half or had kicked better. They certainly need to sort themselves out before Friday should Priestland not be fit - if he is, he'll surely walk straight back into the starting XV.

Warburton's red card hearing is on Monday the result of which I dearly hope does not mean him missing Friday's game...... we'll have to wait and see, but I think he and the Welsh team have been punished enough.

Anyway, on to Semi-Final 2!! It's going to be a brutal contest IMHO, certainly fierce rivalry between the 2 teams and also individual players - McCaw vs Pocock, Cruden vs Cooper, Weepu vs Genia...... all great contests in the making!!

As I said, would love to see Wales vs NZ, but the Blackness will have too much for Australia.

[dtaai-maai]

All IRB referees were issued with the following memorandum in June 2009.

To summaries the possible scenarios when a tackler horizontally lifts a player off the ground

1) The player is lifted and then forced or speared into the ground. A red card should be issued for this type of tackle.

2) The lifted player is dropped to the ground from a height with no regard to the player’s safety. A red card should be issued for this type of tackle.

3) For all other types of dangerous lifting tackles, it may be considered a penalty or yellow card is sufficient.

Referees and citing commissioners should not make their decisions on what they consider was the intention of the offending player. Their decision should be based on an objective assessment as per Law 10.4 e of the circumstances of the tackle

A directive was also issued to referees before the tournament, relating to such tackles, which stated: “Foul play – high tackles, grabbing and twisting of the head and tip tackles to be emphasised, with referees to start at red and work backwards.”

Make of it what you will.

Regardless of the sending off, let's not forget all those crucial missed kicks.
So defeat was self-inflicted to a degree.
I do remember at the time thinking that Phillips (the try scorer?) was too busy showboating as he scored rather than concentrating on getting a bit nearer the posts.

I'll watch the game this afternoon without being quite sure who I want to win.
I'll settle for a great game of flowing rugby won by the best team, but I suppose I'd really like NZ to hit top form in time to pulverise the French into the ground next weekend.

[EDIT: Our posts crossed, pharvey.]

[Big Boy]

But I still think you're a very bad man BB......

Thank you

Sticking to my guns that it should have been a yellow card

I seem to be in the minority on that one. However, it's over criticism of specific incidents (even if it was a mistake) that leads to referees being afraid of their own shadow in the big games.

Wales could very easily have won yesterday had Hook or Jones made better decisions at Fly-half or had kicked better.

England would have done better in all games as well if they had the Wilkinson of old. You've got to face it, players have off days (tournaments) - there will always be a scenario of what ifs.

[pharvey]

HERE WE GO - COME ON THE CRIMMS!!

[EDIT] Apologies to all New Zealanders, but I have a fiver on Aus (good odds) and seriously want to see you play Wales this RWC.....

[PeteC]

I hope it's 5 RMB. Pete

[pharvey]

I hope it's 5 RMB. Pete

Watching the game Pete? The ref is hitting the loose forwards - namely McCaw and Pocock, so this is going to be an interesting 2nd half. NZ look the better, but are making a fair few handling errors and missed tackles........ 40 mins left, Aus down by 8 pts - anything can happen.

[PeteC]

Yeah, the first half...outside now but back in soon. I'm still in shock from yesterday. Why oh why didn't they just do a drop kick in overtime rather than tempting fate trying to ram it forward over and over again. What if's to the moon. Pete

[Big Boy]

[pharvey]

Don't fecking start!!

Yeah, the first half...outside now but back in soon. I'm still in shock from yesterday. Why oh why didn't they just do a drop kick in overtime rather than tempting fate trying to ram it forward over and over again. What if's to the moon. Pete

Yesterday is yesterday........ the Crimms will make a comeback in the 2nd half, and Wales shall tw@t the Blackness in the ''Real Final'' on Friday.

If I could now only find the fridge, I'd grab another beer.......

[dtaai-maai]

I hope it's 5 RMB. Pete

Watching the game Pete? The ref is hitting the loose forwards - namely McCaw and Pocock, so this is going to be an interesting 2nd half. NZ look the better, but are making a fair few handling errors and missed tackles........ 40 mins left, Aus down by 8 pts - anything can happen.

Good post, pharvey, because it demonstrates how even somebody who knows the game can be blinded by hope.

The game I watched was dominated by the All Blacks from start to finish.
Only one team was ever going to win.
The Aussies weren't awful, but they never looked good enough.
Only one side believed they could win, and they weren't wearing gold and green.

It wasn't the thrashing that it might have been because the Dark Lords demonstrated their fallibility from time to time. I do hope they resolve that little problem before next weekend.

Allez les 'kin Noirs!

And well played the MoM, Mr Jane.

[dtaai-maai]

As an obviously knowledgeable Yahoo contributor said : "Le New Zealand Toutes Noir seront demolish le Francais­ en le prochain semain - Zut Alors !"

Can't say plus juste than that.

[MrPlum]

Nice to see a game of rugby, at last. Neither England, France or Wales managed to produce one. Ta very much to the all Blacks. Enjoyed that. Terrific try too.

Now crush Les Frogs with a cricket score!