Rugby - See You In Ten!

[academia]

Obviously I will be supporting Ireland. But will look at the Argentine results closely as, IMHO they are very similer in play to the northern hemisphere teams and the best chance this time of encouraging a smaller rugby playing nation that they may compete with the best

I couldn´t agree more with you. Only playing against the best teams in the world will help us to improve our national team. It´s a shame that we don´t face stronger domestic competition in our continent

BTW, after that game in france in 1999, a feeling of "strong rivalry" with Ireland was born (at least in Argentina).
We really enjoy playing against Ireland. i don´t know... i can´t explain it... but seeing that green shirt in front of us... it force us to play in a higher level

Really! i love the Pumas-Ireland games!!!

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by academia

I couldn´t agree more with you. Only playing against the best teams in the world will help us to improve our national team. It´s a shame that we don´t face stronger domestic competition in our continent

I suppose Uruguay doesn't present much of a challenge. What other South American countries play rugby anyway?

[ravagon]

Sadly for the pumas, their cause won't be helped by the loss of the captain during training yesterday.
Damaged knee ligaments will rule him out of the WC.


Go All-Blacks!

[academia]

Apart from Uruguay... Chile has a "decent" team.
By decent i mean: Argentina don´t score more than 100 points in the matches with Chile

Seriously, apart from Uruguay and Chile (USA and Canada in north america) the rest of the countries suck.

[academia]

Sadly for the pumas, their cause won't be helped by the loss of the captain during training yesterday.

Yep. Poor Arbizu
But what really pissed me off is that we weren´t playing an international test match!! it was a mere game against a provincial team

[finbar]

Originally posted by academia
Mmm... nobody has faith in Australia? they are locals... (and the reigning world champions) let´s give them some credit

You obviously haven't seen them play this season. The pack is average at best, and, most puzzling of all, there is absolutely no connection with the backline. Puzzling because that's always been one of our strengths. I think we can probably make it to the semi-finals, but to go any further will mean the management has found answers to problems that have plagued us for more than 12 months. Bear in mind, too, that playing at home can often be a curse rather than a blessing. The pressure to perform can be a killer.

[academia]

The pack is average at best, and, most puzzling of all, there is absolutely no connection with the backline. Puzzling because that's always been one of our strengths. I think we can probably make it to the semi-finals, but to go any further will mean the management has found answers to problems that have plagued us for more than 12 months. Bear in mind, too, that playing at home can often be a curse rather than a blessing. The pressure to perform can be a killer.

So... are you suggesting me to place a bet on the pumas in the opening match?

[academia]

BTW, are you going to organize a predictions tournament for the world cup 2003?

[Caligastia]

We probably could. It's a lot of games though, so we would have to start organising the margins on most of them now.

[flipside]

It would be a long shot. The lovely thing is though is that they have the type of game that could do it. The Argentine forwards are easily the best of the lower ranked teams and are, on their day, more than capable of competing in any tight game (except against Eng).
Yeah, in the right circumstances they could do it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by academia

So... are you suggesting me to place a bet on the pumas in the opening match?

Why not? As long as you don't mortgage your house to do it. Our biggest problem will be against teams with strong packs who shunt ours around. If you've got the game elsewhere on the paddock to take advantage of the forward superiority, anything could happen.

[finbar]

Originally posted by academia
BTW, are you going to organize a predictions tournament for the world cup 2003?

As Caligastia said, there are a lot of games. We could probably organise to bet on selected games - making sure we include everyone's favourite teams at least once.

[ravagon]

And, in what may be my last contribution for a while, and before the late-thread-spam wars begin anew ...

Have we used Rugby - Hands in the ruck! before?

or perhaps something to do with a lineout (can't remember the call for that offhand)?

[finbar]

Or something to do with the World Cup?

Like Rugby - Watch The Fat Old Pom Forwards Melt!

[Havak]

Ignoring that "humming as high as a hippy" bait - how about Rugby - the World in Union