The Rugby Thread

[Lost]

Aww the English. Be it football, rugby or ping pong they just can't control themselves. The costumes add a little ironical comedy value.

[Big Boy]

I thoroughly enjoyed my first game of rugby for several years. I'm really looking forward to the semis (hoping its a later kick-off).

Bring it on.

[Lost]

I thoroughly enjoyed my first game of rugby for several years. I'm really looking forward to the semis (hoping its a later kick-off).

Bring it on.

Me too. Watched a few of the previous games but the four quarter finals were outstanding entertainment. Gutted for Wales (and Pete, he's well overdue a little good fortune!). The France Vs South Africa was something else! England will have to up their game considerably for any chance in the semis.

[Big Boy]

Being the underdog isn't always a bad thing. Nobody expects England to win, so how embarrassing for the South Africans when they do. Most people have already written England off.

I'm actually wondering what has happened to our resident rugby pundits. I expect pharvey is hiding under a rock still, but DM, you should be making hay while the sun shines.

[dtaai-maai]

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As you can see, I've been a tad busy.

Wales 17 - 29 Argentina

Bit of a strange game in many ways. Wales went charging off to a 10 point lead and dominated in the first half an hour, then seemed to forget how to play. Adams was maybe a bit lucky not to get a yellow card for a no-arms tackle, but how the Argentinian forward got away completely scot-free with a head contact is quite beyond me. At least a yellow and probably a red IMO. But there wasn't even a penalty! I don't know if the criteria for refs have been changed mid-tournament, but when I think back to Curry's red and others, I simply don't understand.

Anyway, the better team won in the end.

Ireland 24 - 28 New Zealand

A game that many said should have been the final, and what a cracker it turned out to be! Loads of great rugby from both teams and it went right down to the wire.

England 30 - 24 Fiji

Another cracker that went right down to the wire. Got a bit tasty on occasion, but that's hardly surprising. Probably England's best performance so far, and it needed to be. They'll have to up their game a few more notches if they're to have any chance against Sth Africa.

(I'm glad we won this, because the cricket was a chuffin' disaster!! )

France 28 - 29 Sth Africa

Blimey, I thought the Paddies-ABs game was a cracker, but this was on a different planet. Fantastic play from both sides throughout, though the French undoubtedly deserved to lose. Not for any particular reason other than being French... (sorry Joelle x)

Let's hope the semis produce a couple of good competitive games, but let's face it you wouldn't bet against a NZ-SA final.

[pharvey]

I'm actually wondering what has happened to our resident rugby pundits. I expect pharvey is hiding under a rock still

Apologies, I've been trying to escape the clutches of the medical fraternity - I did manage to watch the QF matches though

Some seriously good rugby and more to look forward to with the Semi's coming up this weekend Unfortunately Wales won't be there.....

As for the QF's: -

Wales vs Argentina

A travesty, a conspiracy from start to finish

Pre-tournament we tried to support local businesses and put our trust in local printers in Marseille - what happens? Shirts sabotaged, players "numberless" and forced out of position, who knew where to play? Confusion reigned!!
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Aside from that ... Far too many players were below par quite frankly. Soft penalties given away, ball not going to hand, way too many turnovers conceded and a faltering lineout. The latter, calls from Adam Beard must take a fair portion of the blame rather than simply the throwing of Ryan Ellias - that in itself cost us. Two penalties in particular put the Pumas right back in the game from 10-0 down to 10-6 - as DM mentioned, a brainless Adams was lucky not to have been yellow carded for a late no-arms tackle. God only knows however how the hell the Pumas escaped absolutely Scot-Free when Tompkins was cleared out from a ruck with obvious head contact..... There were "mitigating circumstances" with Tompkins dropping, so no Red IMHO, BUT......??!

Obviously very disappointed that we're not going any further in the tournament, but fair to say the Pumas deserved the win <Gritted Teeth>

Ireland vs NZ

A game that many said should have been the final, and what a cracker it turned out to be! Loads of great rugby from both teams and it went right down to the wire.

Certainly worthy of a final!! Great rugby indeed - both attack and defence. How many phases was the last Irish attack, 30, 40, more?! Incredible stuff. It was a masterclass from both teams, but to say NZ were down to 14 men for 20 minutes says something for the Kiwi performance.

England vs Fiji

Nobody expects England to win....

No, no, no BB, you've got it all wrong. We just don't WANT you to win!!

Fiji had been poor in their last two matches, but certainly raised their game for this one - exciting to say the least especially in the last quarter, with the Lillywhites just scraping through. A couple of questionable refereeing decisions at the breakdown, but nothing that changed the result. Talking of the breakdown, I thought Lawes, Curry and Earl were immense - match winning performances put in.

I think rugby's answer to the wendyballer Marcus Smith had a few "moments" in defence, and this will need some work before facing the Boks, who will be another level.

The stand out "black, kettle, pot" moment had to be Farrell bitching to the ref about Fiji's no-arms tackles - seriously!!

France vs SA

WOW, Just WOW!! What a game of rugby!! To all that watched, you've just witnessed something very special. The debates will no doubt go on for many years - was Kolbe's charge down of the conversion legal, did Etzebeth knock the ball on, was a clear penalty against the boks at the breakdown missed? Yes, there were certainly some controversial decisions/non-decisions, but ultimately this was a game for the ages that neither side deserved to lose - rugby certainly won!!

A message from Shaun Edwards to those Muppets who find rugby boring......
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[pharvey]

With the QF's down and the Semi's this coming weekend, the current Superbru/HHF League Table is as follows: -
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Next up are the Semi's, which let's be fair have a lot to live up to after the QF's!!

Friday October 20th 20:00 BST - Argentina vs New Zealand

Saturday October 21st 20:BST - England vs South Africa

[pharvey]

Aww the English. Be it football, rugby or ping pong they just can't control themselves. The costumes add a little ironical comedy value.

Truly don't need this let alone at a global tournament when rugby is in urgent need of support both with viewing figures and financially. To add insult to injury, there are reports of 2 English supporters being arrested in Marseille for an attack on 2 Welsh supporters.

Keep the aggression on the pitch and ban these Muppets from sporting events - whatever their nationality.

[dtaai-maai]

France vs SA

The debates will no doubt go on for many years - was Kolbe's charge down of the conversion legal

It never occurred to me at the time that it wasn't legal - I presume there's some question about whether he set off too soon.
But I intended to refer to it in my previous post, as you don't see that many conversion chargedowns these days, and I certainly can't remember the last time I saw a successful one.

[pharvey]

Missed this.... As did Ramos

I presume there's some question about whether he set off too soon.

But I intended to refer to it in my previous post, as you don't see that many conversion charge downs these days, and I certainly can't remember the last time I saw a successful one.

I corrected the spelling (and this from a Welshman)

Indeed, the question is his timing/position of his run-up/starting point. There was a much clearer video (but not conclusive) that I saw, but can't seem to find now.

The major points were - the definition of the run-up or starting point there-of. Ramos hadn't actually moved forward it seems, but had brought his right foot across to begin (?) his run-up. Kolbe began his charge down at this point.

If the timing of Kolbe's run was correct, his starting position wasn't - i.e. foot in field of play/over the try line. Again, nothing clear on video, but looks very close.

Another factor is that Kolbe and Ramos are former team-mates at Toulouse so Kolbe was familiar with Ramos's "preparation" before a kick and timed things to perfection.

At the end of the day, the TMO/"Video Ref's" have far more information and camera angles to look at than we mere mortals do... That said, errors are still made. Personally, I'm going with Ramos taking a little too long for a difficult kick and Kolbe timing his run perfectly.

But feck it - it was a cracking match!!

AND NOW FOR THE SEMI'S!!

[Lost]

Wales would have made this semi much less one sided. Argentina excellent on that day, Wales not at their best I'm assuming.

[pharvey]

Wales would have made this semi much less one sided. Argentina excellent on that day, Wales not at their best I'm assuming.

Well thanks for the support blue Wales were far from their best against Argentina and I'd love to say we would have put up a far better showing against the AB's (of course we would ), but the "Blackness" were in control throughout. They'll certainly have a different game come next weekend's Final though.

England vs SA tomorrow should be a far better game, but the Boks will be far too strong IMHO. SA vs NZ in the Final will be quite something - SA to edge it!!

That's my "Gypsy-like Prediction" anywho!!

[dtaai-maai]

England vs SA tomorrow should be a far better game, but the Boks will be far too strong IMHO.

Well, at half time, England appear to be edging it. Why do I still find that worrying?

[Big Boy]

Have faith DM. Just sit back and enjoy. We're the underdogs, the rest of the world has already written us off and we've scored twice as many as the South Africans at half time.

If we lose, the rest of the world was right, we agree, but we did went further than anybody gave us a chance to. If we win, we get HUGE bragging rights. Whatever happens, England are winners.

[pharvey]

We're the underdogs, the rest of the world has already written us off....

Oh come now BB - "Dry Your Eyes".... Isn't there a song about that?

Whatever happens, England are winners.

Nope.... You lost.

In all seriousness, far from the game (or result) I was expecting. I'm happy to eat humble pie - massive display from the Lillywhites, but ultimately SA deserved winners.