Rugby World Cup 2003 - Finals!

[finbar]

I don't think the All Blacks necessarily forgot how to play rugby, they just weren't allowed to play their preferred style. And, as the Welsh proved, if the All Blacks aren't allowed to play their preferred style, they struggle. They don't have any Plan B or back up. Tonight, the Wallabies finished - via different means - what the Welsh started.

The ABs' lineout misfired - Justin Harrison had his best game since he pinched J****'s ball two years ago - and their forwards were, as LDiCesare observed, constantly in retreat, meaning Carlos never had the space or opportunity to do his thing. And even when he did, apart from his setting up of the try, he was always under pressure.

Obviously I'm pleased with the Wallaby effort. My question is, why has it taken so long? They were committed, they cut down their error rate, and they stuck religiously to their game plan. It's not as if they've been building to this. They just did it. I had no doubt they would lift for tonight's match, I just didn't expect it to be by so much. I'm sure Andydog feels the same way.

My next question is, yet again, why were Mortlock and Tuquiri left out of the team for so long?

Oh, and it was 29C at kick-off. It will be the same or even hotter tomorrow night.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Well done the Wallabies – a performance well beyond anything shown so far in the tournament. A rock solid defence, looseys in total control (freezing McCaw out of the game),

Our looseys were as good as ever, and I thought McCaw was their best forward.

Larkham looking like he was two years ago

And Gregan getting his ginger back.

and as for Mortlock – I think he was possessed?

No, he only knows one way to play and that's it. As I've asked a number of times, why was Eddie ever preferring Matt Burke in front of him? Mortlock wasn't available for the first match through illness, but played half a match against the Namibians and was replaced at half time by Burke, was left out against Ireland, and was selected against Scotland. And why hasn't Tuquiri been selected in every match? Mortlock and Tuquiri supply exactly what the team has been lacking.

Here’s the question though Finbar – what has that taken out of the boys? There looked to be some troubling injuries?

Ben Darwin is in hospital for observation for either neck or spinal injury. The first report is that he has movement in fingers and toes. Sharpy never recovered from Collins' shoulder charge but should be all right. I think Mortlock's problem was severe cramp, and Gregan said his ankle wasn't a problem.

Oh, and we get one day more to recover from the heat than either France or England will.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
And I still don't get why they played McDonald instead of Carter.

Sorry, I missed this one. I agree. Carter has kicked superbly and played very well apart from that, too. Unfortunately for McDonald, he had a pretty ordinary game all round tonight. But then he wasn't on his own in the backline.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

Tamerlin, you saw the half final in preview?
Australia 22 - 10 New Zealand.

YEEEEEEEEES!

Australia defended well. New Zealand forgot how to play rugby.

I am in a hurry so I will reply quickly. As I am saying it since the beginning of the tournament the All Blacks' game is based on the individual qualities of their players and their physical power. I have also said that they would not be able to react as a team if they were prevented to take advantage of the said individual qualities. The Aussies have managed to block the AB players and the later forgot they could use their forwards to take advantage of a well known Australian weakness.

Should the Australian had an efficient half-scrum the score would have been higher in favour of the winner of the day.

For me, Tuqiri, Mortlock and Rogers are the players of the day... Is there a forward on the field?

[EDIT]I don't agree with you Finbar, I have found Gregan very bad though I agree Larkham has played from time to time as if he were back in 1999. [/EDIT]

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Sorry, I missed this one. I agree. Carter has kicked superbly and played very well apart from that, too. Unfortunately for McDonald, he had a pretty ordinary game all round tonight. But then he wasn't on his own in the backline.

I asked myself in the middle of the game why Carter wasn't in the team? Each time I saw him he was very good.

[flipside]

well played Aus.
To me , they had a greater commmitment than the blacks, and , a greater sense of what makes a team work.
Mortlock WAS IMMENSE.
It was a boring game, but who cares.
Tuquri's catch was up there as the "champagne moment.
'
How did they do it?
I wish England well tomorrow as an Eng-Aus final would be a really tough test.
Oh, and there was a forward in George Smith.
He should be called "Predator"for the style and the play.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
[EDIT]I don't agree with you Finbar, I have found Gregan very bad though I agree Larkham has played from time to time as if he were back in 1999. [/EDIT]

Sorry, Tamerlin, you're wrong. Yet again. While it wasn't the Gregan of two or three years ago in terms of skills, he was at the centre of things, driving things, helping the ref run the game, getting in the ABs' faces - all the things he hasn't been doing this year. Perhaps most importantly, because his forwards were going forwards for once, he wasn't retreating a couple of steps with the ball before passing. That was one of the keys to the win.

Edit. The interesting thing with Larkham was that, while he was up attacking the AB line like he used to, and he broke their line on a number of occasions, the Larkham of old had the pace to keep going, either scoring a try or setting up someone else. Last night, without that pace anymore, they were catching him. If only just.

[finbar]

Originally posted by flipside

Oh, and there was a forward in George Smith.
He should be called "Predator"for the style and the play.

Tamerlin was just being his usual perverse self.

[finbar]

Originally posted by flipside
a greater sense of what makes a team work.

Yes, that's been Tamerlin's concern about the ABs for quite a while. As the old saying goes, a team of champions isn't always a champion team.

Tuquri's catch was up there as the "champagne moment.

Very talented player. He will end up in the centres. And, without wishing to labour a point, why has he spent most of the season on the bench?

How did they do it?

It wasn't dissimilar to the return Tri-Nations match between them which resulted in a narrow ABs' win after completely stuffing us the first time round. The Boks also pushed them hard in their return Tri-Nations match.

The common factor in both those return matches was getting in the ABs' faces, harassing them, giving them no room. They won both matches, but they weren't convincing. In fact, the Boks played them the same way they played England in their pool match. Unfortunately, the Boks couldn't repeat the effort against the ABs in their QF match. There were a handful of vital differences between our return Tri-Nations match against the ABs and last night:

1. Last night, our defence was even tighter and more aggressive;
2. Last night, we rarely kicked the ball away, giving their backline a free run at us;
3. And we had Mortlock, Tuquiri, Rogers and Sailor as bona fide threatening attacking options, whereas, in the return Tri Nations match, the backline were passengers because our attack consisted of hitting the ball up and turning it back inside, running into a wall of black jumpers.

So the seeds were there. And it has been every Wallaby supporter's ongoing frustration that, despite having the ingredients, the recipe never looked like coming together.

[finbar]

A cool change is creeping into Sydney a day early! It won't be anywhere near as hot tonight as it was last night! Havak's and Tamerlin's dancing around naked in front of their respective pagan weather idols has worked!

*digs own pagan weather idol out of back of cupboard, dusts it down, takes off own clothes*

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Tamerlin was just being his usual perverse self.

Thanks...

A cool change is creeping into Sydney a day early! It won't be anywhere near as hot tonight as it was last night! Havak's and Tamerlin's dancing around naked in front of their respective pagan weather idols has worked!

*digs own pagan weather idol out of back of cupboard, dusts it down, takes off own clothes*

You filthy heretic shall know the gods of Rugby are by our side and that your black magic is useless against the keeper of the true faith.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Thanks...

You filthy heretic shall know the gods of Rugby are by our side and that your black magic is useless against the keeper of the true faith.

Your choice of smilie is apposite. It's a good ten degrees cooler than yesterday!

But if you beat England tonight, I shall forgive you every one of the outrageous sins you've committed in the time I've known you.



Up until tonight, of course. From tomorrow, I shall recommence persecuting you for the new ones!

[finbar]

Two and a half hours till kick off and there's a massive storm building over Sydney. The clouds are so dark and heavy that it could be nighttime now.

Oh, and the rain has just started.

[LDiCesare]

Rain is bad news.
I think the Australians would play better against the English than the French, because English don't seem able to play well under pressure, and they will have problems making the same comebacks as they did against the Welsh.
Hopefully, the French will win despite the rain.

[LDiCesare]

England 24 - 7 France
England played better, putting a lot of pressure on the French who made silly mistakes (Dominici cost a lot to the team, as the French had to weather the English during 10 minutes with one less player, and Betsen later). The English probably also teased them a bit (Magne, Dominici) which was very clever and very English. The French kicked poorly too, finding bad lineouts when the English kicked less and better. Wilkinson made a very good match, particularly with his drop-goals. Johnson also made a good game.
I hope there won't be rain for the final, but that would probably be good news for the English, as their pack has been very strong. It's a pity there was so much rain, because we could have seen a more beautiful game.