The Rugby Thread

[dtaai-maai]

Just spotted this:

However, Sweeney said the investment from Allianz will "enable us to make Twickenham an even better experience for fans and players".

No it won't, mate, but it might help you make the Allianz Stadium an even better experience for fans and players.

[pharvey]

Well, I suppose that's sporting life these days, and let's face it, the RFU could probably put £100 million to good use, but I doubt you'll hear many people say they're off to watch England at the Allianz stadium...

I think it's 2 years to go until the "Principality's" (£10 million ) 10 year deal with the WRU ends. It was originally built in 1999 and named the "Millennium Stadium".... Many Welsh will always refer to it as being "Taff's Acre" or the "Arms Park" - both of which are actually the Cardiff Rugby ground next door!

What I'm trying to say (badly), is that you'll refer to stadium names as you know/remember them - to my nephew it's the "Millennium", to others it's the "Principality", to me..... Well, it should be the National Stadium, but the "Arms Park" always sounds better!!

[pharvey]

The 2024 version of "The Rugby Championship" kicks of this Saturday with Australia playing host to SA and the Pumas travelling to NZ. I doubt many will be betting against the back-back World Champions South Africa this year especially as they will be hosting the "Blackness" in the Rainbow Nation, but one thing's for sure - you never right off the All Blacks!!

ROUND 1 (ALL TIMES UK): -
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[pharvey]

Damn, the things I do for rugby - and to see the Aussies have their backsides handed to them!!

Not many hours kip, but hopefully the opening matches of the "Rugby Championship" will be worth it!!

Could have managed a few more minutes kip it seems - KO 15 minutes late for some reason......

[PeteC]

Robertson won't last the season with the All Blacks. He was a poor choice, and perhaps a desperate choice. I mentioned earlier on the thread IMO he's not fit for purpose at the All Black level, and he's proving it unfortunately. His success with the Crusaders in Christchurch for so many years was because of sheer player talent and availability. Nothing to do at all with his managerial skills.

He used to bench 1st string players on the Crusaders after petty arguments where he felt "Slighted". He bypasses people with his All Blacks selection like Hoskins Sotutu. The MVP of all Super Rugby last season!! As Robertson didn't think he was working hard enough on his defense?!

At the same time he's recruited no name un-capped players from the Christchurch area because he feels, "they have potential" ?! Perhaps, 5 years from now.

The man is an empty suit and All Blacks local fans are about to cut him a new AO. They won't put up with this type of performance.

Sack him now and try to save the season!

[pharvey]

^ Far from a classic AB's performance it seems - I had to have a cheeky 10 minute kip after the Australia vs SA match, which unfortunately lasted 2 hours!! I certainly picked the wrong one to miss....

From what I hear, it was an exciting match where perhaps the Pumas had the rub of the green, but you certainly couldn't take anything away from them (Dai_L was in awe of their Backrow). The "Blackness" don't stay down for long and I've no doubt they'll bounce back despite misgivings over the coach - seems you called that one PeteC!!

Hopefully I'll get to see the highlights at some stage.

Australia did indeed have their collective arses handed to them by SA. Australia came into the game on a 3-match winning streak - unfortunately 2 of those wins came against a very poor Welsh side and the 3rd against Georgia (no offense to the latter). They now had to face back to back RWC Champions...

SA seemed to take this as a bit of a "Trial Match" - a few new'ish faces, different tactics, some new and exciting plays. They were 21-0 up at HT and it could and honestly should have been more. The Halfbacks were a mixed bag, the 9 was far from good and the 10 blew (very) hot and cold - utter brilliance at times, poor decisions and execution on others. The Boks butchered a few scoring chances and their lineout faltered at times - these issues will no doubt be addressed and improved....

Australia were quite simply pummelled - their only score came in the 75th minute when SA were down to 13 men, SA's indiscipline something else that needs working on! The only positives the Wallabies can take away from this is that their defence improved in the 2nd Half and their Lineout/"Spoiling" in the loose did cause SA the occasional issue.

Even the die hard completely biased Australian commentators were clutching at straws.... Many Aussie fans left early from an already less than full stadium - good job the empty seats were Yellow/Gold in colour!!

Advantage SA after Round 1.

HHF/SUPERBRU PREDICTION LEAGUE: -

Hmmm... Not a lot to say so far - though it's funny BigBoy (and Oz) get the "Wooden Spoon"...
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On to next week then.....

[Big Boy]

Always proud to win something

[PeteC]

..."The "Blackness" don't stay down for long and I've no doubt they'll bounce back despite misgivings over the coach"....

They may, and indeed doubt it with that manager. It's like sunset years for the All Blacks, and it's been sliding in that direction for at least 2 seasons not counting this one.

This isn't full time week in and week out rugby, but tournaments only a few times a season. The old guard has faded, or is fading, and who they're being replaced with isn't impressive so far.

Many All blacks don't even play in New Zealand in the off season but on Japan/France/Fiji etc. Savea is going to Fiji, Peranara to Japan, I think one of the Barretts to France.

The old guard more than ever need to make their money before their bodies fall apart, and I don't blame them. There is no bonding whatsoever between them and the young upcoming so what happens when they're thrown together and told to play as an All Black team? Move the flag to half mast in NZ for probably the next 3 years.

[pharvey]

Always proud to win something

Now if Wales were in the tournament, that "win" would be mine!!

[pharvey]

..."The "Blackness" don't stay down for long and I've no doubt they'll bounce back despite misgivings over the coach"....

They may, and indeed doubt it with that manager. It's like sunset years for the All Blacks, and it's been sliding in that direction for at least 2 seasons not counting this one.

This isn't full time week in and week out rugby, but tournaments only a few times a season. The old guard has faded, or is fading, and who they're being replaced with isn't impressive so far. Many All blacks don't even play in New Zealand in the off season but on Japan/France/Fiji etc. Savea is going to Fiji, Peranara to Japan, I thinjk one of the Barretts to France. The old guard more than ever need to make their money before their bodies fall apart, and I don't blame them. There is no bonding whatsoever between them and the young upcoming so what happens when they're thrown together and told to play as a team? Move the flag to half mast in NZ for probably the next 3 years.

Ooooh, a tad harsh, but understandable PeteC - Rugby however is a religion in NZ (it is in Wales, but we're cr@p at the moment ).... There is huge support and infrastructure for rugby in NZ, unfortunately not the money that the likes of France or Japan can offer or the money and power of the (English) RFU. I certainly don't blame players in their twilight years going for the money and experience of playing and living overseas - and let's be fair, the money offered in rugby is nothing in comparison to that offered in certain "other sports".... These guys have their families and futures to think about.

It may be true that the AB's have fallen back perhaps due to coaching and the failure to bring new and fringe players through - but these players are there and available. After all, we may be having the same conversation regarding SA next season....

[pharvey]

And up tomorrow (UK time).....
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Don't forget your picks!

[pharvey]

Well, it wasn't to be a repeat of last week's victory for Argentina. The "Blackness" notch their 50th match without loss on the bounce at Eden Park (48 wins, 2 draws) - an incredible record.

They scored 42 points in the first 42 minutes to the Pumas solitary penalty. Argentina had a far better second half, but the game was long over as a contest - NZ unsurprisingly went off the boil somewhat and didn't add to their total. Argentina finally crossed the line after 71 minutes - final score 42-10.

Very wet conditions, but NZ totally dominated every facet of the game in the first half silencing many critics - at east for this week! The Pumas made a lot of handling errors hardly surprising considering the weather, more surprising was how good NZ's handling was (at least in the first half).

Next up Aus vs a much changed SA side.

[pharvey]

Dire weather again, swathes of empty seats in Perth which wasn't the best advert for Rugby...

Many will say it was a big improvement from Australia, but at the end of the day SA brought on their bench, forward power and raised the game at will. This despite Australia's very "Professional" tactics with (for one) a blatantly tactical move in their prop going off for an HIA, a Hooker replacing him and further scrums therefore being uncontested. The "Feeding" of Scums is a joke and something that annoys me beyond belief - the "Crims" have taken it to another level by feeding uncontested Scrums (Damn, that is an embarrassment)!!

SA butchered a couple of try scoring chances, but took others well. Australia will not fair any better against NZ and Argentina will be one hell of a test away. SA vs NZ will be the match to see - far different weather, played at altitude (Jo'burg/The City of Gold) and no doubt two fully packed sides!! I'm looking forward to that one!!

Final Score: - Australia 12 - SA 30

[EDIT] Just a bit of useless information - I was asked what the 46664 number on the sleeve of the SA Shirt meant. For anyone interested, it's Nelson Mandela's Prison Number.

[dtaai-maai]

[EDIT] Just a bit of useless information - I was asked what the 46664 number on the sleeve of the SA Shirt meant. For anyone interested, it's Nelson Mandela's Prison Number.

It really is useless - I've tried that number several times and keep getting the engaged tone.

[pharvey]

As for the HHF/Superbru Prediction League.... Why would I ever extract the urine for BB's "Wooden Spoon" in Round 1 (it's bitten me on the @rse ) - though bizarrely, he's being shown as having both the "Yellow Cap" and dreaded "Spoon" this week... Of course, congrats must go to "BigBoy" and commiserations to "Oz"
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More to come!!