Rugby World Cup 2003 - Crunch Time!

[academia]

Now, I can't wait to see NZ - Italy.

And i can´t wait to see Fiji´s victory over France

[Tamerlin]

I have found the opening game very poor from both sides though the Argentinan team is clearly the author of the worst performance. I have not found Larkham very good and I would say that the only two positive things for the Wallabies are Georges Gregan (quicker than in the previous test matches though not really influencing the game) and their new ability (though not very efficient I agree) to do something other than bumping into the defence close to the scrums and mauls.

Mr Paul "lenient" Honiss has not really influenced the game though I found him a bit too tolerant with the Aussies and a bit too inflexible with the Pumas particularly if we consider the scrums. The argentinan forwards have been much less efficient than usual but Mr Honiss has not helped them. But with the Half-Scrum they played with this afternoon they did not need anyone's help to lose this game.

My worst fear is that the scrums and mauls will be tied up by the referees for the whole World Cup and this is not this game that will put my mind at rest.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by academia
And i can´t wait to see Fiji´s victory over France

I was about to say that Corletto has been rather impressive but I think I will only write about Lyons and his very good performance.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
The best case for him then is an automatic three week lay off with concussion.

The news this morning is that he's been cleared of neck and spinal damage. The concern is his shoulder - which, along with the side of his head, took the brunt. I heard Eddie on the wireless this morning and they're worried about the shoulder. They're seeing a specialist today.

Were I married by Monday I could have been divorced.

I'm obviously lucky I married an understanding woman! This morning we're taking the espresso machine over to Leichardt - Sydney's Little Italy - for a service. She's happy.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I have not found Larkham very good

Open your yeux! He was almost singlehandedly responsible for your next paragraph -

their new ability (though not very efficient I agree) to do something other than bumping into the defence close to the scrums and mauls.

It wasn't his fault that they kept coughing up the ball, usually under no pressure at all, when in position to score tries.

Mr Paul "lenient" Honiss has not really influenced the game though I found him a bit too tolerant with the Aussies and a bit too inflexible with the Pumas particularly if we consider the scrums.

The Puma scrum was too busy trying to be smartypants and paid the price. They particularly tried to target new kid Al Baxter - boring in and up and sideways on him - rather than just using their technique and strength.

But with the Half-Scrum they played with this afternoon they did not need anyone's help to lose this game.

Yes, I haven't seen such a lack of organisation at this level for a long time.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


I was about to say that Corletto has been rather impressive but I think I will only write about Lyons and his very good performance.

Lyons' performance pleased me the most. He's still only about 23, but a very big man, with surprising speed and skills for a man his size. I always thought he would make an ideal #8. He's been used as a stopgap blindside, lock and #8 before this. Now, with Kefu gone, he has his opportunity. Last night was an impressive start, now it's up to him to do it consistently.

[finbar]

Hey, Tamerlin, I just bought two tins of Graisse de Canard! Now I can get on with making you-know-what!

[LDiCesare]

And i can´t wait to see Fiji´s victory over France

Yeah, the problem is the Fiji can win...

As expected, the NZ-Italy match was very entertaining. I think Carter and Marshall have made a very good game, and the pack has been very good, both in scrums and open play. As for the Italians, I believe they have shown some good things. Their try was well deserved, but they just spend too many players in the fight phases so they left themselves open to counters. With their best side, they may make it out of the pool stage.

[finbar]

All Blacks 70 -d- Italy 7

All very predictable:

1. The Italians tried hard but were outclassed.

2. Carlos is the worst goalkicker playing Test rugby. Daniel Carter, taking over after Carlos missed 3 of the first 4, gave him a kicking lesson.

The concerns for the ABs:

1. Umaga's knee. Hopefully it's not serious.

2. Rokocoko's hammy. Hopefully it's not serious.

3. Carlos' goalkicking.

[Andydog]

In fairness to Carlos, he took a very big hit that saw him limping for the rest of the game. Before that hit, he'd only had one conversion, a moderately straight forward one which he just missed. After that hit though he didn't look comfortable at all, just as well Carter was able to step in, and what a great game he had.

NZ seemed to lack a bit of structure in the first half. Italy defended admirably, really taking it to NZ and forcing errors.

On the positives, as I hoped Mitchell gave our subbies a good run, and boy did they step up to the task. The depth of our reserves is quite remarkable. Nonu, who stepped in for Umaga, had a blinder - being just as effective as Umaga he could have been his twin brother.

Richie McCaw had a fantastic game, I still don't know how he manages to be in every place at once. Mealamu played superbly, NZ winning every lineout except for one at the start of the game. And how about that NZ scrum! Our forward pack were all over the Italians, our mauling should have impressed even Mr !

[LDiCesare]

Umaga's knee. Hopefully it's not serious.

Apparently, they said here it was serious and he might be out for the rest of the Cup.

Ireland - Romania 45 - 17.
Expected Irish victory but Romanians behaved better than most expected. Hickie on the Irish wing showed a lot of class, as usual.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Andydog
Our forward pack were all over the Italians, our mauling should have impressed even Mr !

I have not seen the game as it was broadcasted at 6:30 am in France (too early for me), I have recorded it and I will watch it this afternoon. I have seen the last 20 minutes of Ireland vs. Romania and I must admit the Romanians behave surprisingly well.

About the scrums and mauls of the AB though, remember you faced Italia, a team that has only won two 6 nations tournmanent games at home against Wales and Scotland.

[Tamerlin]

Girlies are currently singing the Marseillaise too slowly...

Please, remove those pitiful singers and give us back orchestras...

[Andydog]

About the scrums and mauls of the AB though, remember you faced Italia, a team that has only won two 6 nations tournmanent games at home against Wales and Scotland.

Heh. The best England did in the 6 Nations was beat Italy 40-5 at Twickenham, so the ABs did pretty good to put 70 past them.

[Tamerlin]

Half time:

France 24 - Fidji 8



Still too many handling erors but the French rear lines have discovered they can act together with some coodination.

Something unusual in the SH, Mr Roland is penalizing the Fidjian scrum under pressure... better late than never!

Needless to say I find him too lenient, both teams could have been more sanctionned.