Rugby World Cup 2003 - Finals!

[Havak]

Has Eddie been taking happy pills Finbar? The following is from him:

"They're playing in howling wind, pouring rain, and people expect them to shift the ball around - it's impossible. It doesn't matter how much you train, you can't play running rugby in those conditions. You've got to play field position and they did that expertly. The way they controlled the game was first class. And to suggest that style is boring is really quite rude and disrespectful to rugby in general."

Oh and Finbar - check out this link to the SMH that has definitely been got at by switched on Poms.

the result is rather amusing right now

[NeoStar]

Actually the crowd figures are at 1.7 million, would you believe. The best for any Rugby World Cup (duuh)

I'm extremely happy the final is the way it is - we have beaten so far all the teams that are above us in rankings

The Irish (slopply, I know)

The All Blacks (in the game of the tournament in my biased eyes, I say biased because looking back that ref was shocking..)

And now England is the last challange - no mistakes, this game will decide whose the best and that's the whole point.

BTW - Any of you guys watch Roy and HGs commentary on the England France game? Big fat blokes waddling around up front while a slim, skinny fellow kicks them over Bloody hilarious. And I thought they'd lost it.

Not that I hate Wilkinson or anything - well, only for this week

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

Multiple phases of controlled possession driving us back – would work like a dream. It’s a huge ask of your forwards to control ball consistently for you like that – they will need to be at 100% all game. I’ve seen enough Aussie magician jobs in rugby not to rule it out!

It was the key to stopping the ABs. Then again, it's probably the key to beating anyone. If you have the ball, they haven't got it. As I said, the Wallabies showed they're capable of it. Can they do it again? And sustain it?

That still ranks up alongside Greenwood running out without grounding the ball as “truly bizarre moments in Rugby”. What was going on in the head of Campo?

There are different versions of the story. Campo once claimed that Martin called for the ball, which Martin denied. Even if he had called for it, the pass was a shocker anyway. Martin's version is that it started out as a fairly classic Campo manoeuvre - throw the dummy, then run. Campo threw the dummy, successfully confusing the Lions player, but then, for some reason, instead of running, he threw the pass. Yes, it goes down in history. Hopefully Dan Luger's wide-eyed terror and his kick that almost went backwards will join it.

(big casino near Darling Harbour – name escapes me).

It's had many names, one of them Star City. It's one of Packer's cash cows.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Has Eddie been taking happy pills Finbar? The following is from him:

Yes, and Clive has been equally glowing in praise. I wonder how long it will last.

Oh and Finbar - check out this link to the SMH that has definitely been got at by switched on Poms.

the result is rather amusing right now

Or one switched on Pom with enough idle time to sit there hitting the vote button. You can vote endlessly. Online polls with no control over multiple votes are just another means of boosting the site's hit numbers for advertising revenue purposes.

Interesting stats in this morning's paper for the tournament thus far:

LINEOUTS WON ON OWN THROW:
England 70
Australia 73

LOST ON OWN THROW:
England 16
Australia 13

% WON ON OWN THROW:
England 81.4
Australia 84.9

WON ON OPPOSITION THROW:
England 18
Australia 23

PENALTIES CONCEDED IN BOTH HALVES:
Own half:
England 42
Australia 33

Opposition half:
England 18
Australia 20

TOTAL FLY HALF KICK/PASS/RUN STATS:
Larkham - 50/124/36
Wilkinson - 99/97/17

The lineout stats probably reflect Thompson's erratic throwing and Cannon's improved throwing. In fact, if I had to nominate a most improved Wallaby this year, Brendan Cannon would probably get my nod.

[NeoStar]

Speak of the devil. It seems Wilkinson has got player of the year. Funny - that they give that before the final. Like you can put any more pressure on one player.

Originally posted by finbar
In fact, if I had to nominate a most improved Wallaby this year, Brendan Cannon would probably get my nod.

Yeah... but Phil Waugh has come along in leaps and bounds as well. Bit of a quiet achiever.

[finbar]

Originally posted by NeoStar
Speak of the devil. It seems Wilkinson has got player of the year. Funny - that they give that before the final. Like you can put any more pressure on one player.

He's certainly goal kicker of the year.

Yeah... but Phil Waugh has come along in leaps and bounds as well. Bit of a quiet achiever.

I'm basing my judgement on relative abilities. Waugh has always been very talented and he's maturing superbly. Brendan Cannon started life as a back-up hooker with dodgy throwing ability and average performance around the paddock. When Jeremy Paul was injured, Cannon was handed the job. He has improved his throwing enormously - a lot of our lineout stuff ups this year have been jumping rather than throwing problems - and his work around the paddock is now impressive.

[Alexander's Horse]

I just thought I'd drop in briefly to point and laugh at any New Zealanders.

[ravagon]

**DELETED**

[This post to be deleted before any particular Englishman uses it against me. ]

[Alexander's Horse]

What disappoints me about the Kiwis is if New Zealand had beaten Australia most Australians would have got right behind New Zealand for the final.

But they're so screwed up about Australia most Kiwis will support England.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon


On that note - "Swi-ing low, sweet chariot ... "

[This post to be deleted before any particular Englishman uses it against me. ]

I'd get in quick and edit it yourself. You know He will never let you forget it.

[finbar]

Entirely predictable team selections. Baxter in for Darwin and Giteau returning to the bench for Nathan Gray. Tindall in for Catt to try to nullify Mortlock. So who's going to hold Wilkinson's hand?

[Alexander's Horse]

I'm more interested in who is going to take out Wilkinson in the first 10 minutes, preferably stretchered off.

[Havak]

And now England is the last challenge - no mistakes, this game will decide whose the best and that's the whole point.

It’s a one off cup game in essence and therefore means no such thing. I’m absolutely certain even if England win that the Aussies will not concede that point anyway!

How the hell the Aussies have risen to two in the rankings on the basis of one win over the ABs god only knows?

Amazing how those fat guys are going to roll all over the young Aussie pack.

If you have the ball, they haven't got it. As I said, the Wallabies showed they're capable of it. Can they do it again? And sustain it?

It’s a huge question. But our forwards will put you under more pressure than the ABs did.

Have you read Stephen Jones latest on PR? He lays about an old favourite of his again. The thing is was he right about Spencer I wonder – I noticed Carlos was out of position several times but it didn’t sink in any deeper than that for me.

Yes, it goes down in history. Hopefully Dan Luger's wide-eyed terror and his kick that almost went backwards will join it.

It was quite something wasn’t it?

Have you noticed how Luger has disappeared without trace since?

Star City – I think that was it yes.

So Catt has dropped to the bench and Tindall is back in – well that’s a clear signal that it’s going to be route one rugby.

Yes, and Clive has been equally glowing in praise. I wonder how long it will last.

No longer than kick off that’s for sure.

I see the sainted one has waded in as well picking the Wallabies (I would expect no less from Captain Wallaby) but saying it’s unfair to call England boring as they can and do play any kind of game they need to on the day to win. Very gracious of him. But apparently he can’t be named these days without his employers getting a plug as his full name seems to be “John Eales - Special Ambassador for…”. Has he actually changed it by deed poll?

Speak of the devil. It seems Wilkinson has got player of the year

Players player of the year. Player of the year is announced Sunday and will inevitably come from the winning side.

Kicker of the year? Very droll.

Whilst those stats are interesting I would be more interested in the semi finals only – given that’s been our only good showing so far as well as your best game. You haven’t faced forwards like ours at any point so far so your penalty count is likely to increase dramatically. We on the other hand have faced the Boks and French packs on our way to meet you. Oh and Wilko sat out the rout of Uruguay.

I'd get in quick and edit it yourself. You know He will never let you forget it.

Thanks Finbar – I have seen it.

Surely AH knew full well to drop in and stick two fingers up was hardly going to engender a pro-Aussie reaction? Isn’t that the nature of trolling?

My appeal to the Kiwis and indeed all indeed non Australians is this. Whatever you have read about us being arrogant isn’t true. It’s all Australian press bile. Given the option which side do you think will rub the worlds nose in it the most? Us – or the team that has done so before ad nauseum? Who is your more natural enemy and who historically have you got on much better with?

Consider the answers to these points carefully then for the salvation of world rugby get behind our sweet chariots.

*less is more Finbar – a little more subtle that time?*

So who's going to hold Wilkinson's hand?

Well we have to hope he is finally weaned off that particular need. I can see the problem – whilst George and Waughy might both be scavengers rather than clearers Lyons is not something I want hitting Jonny too often that’s for sure!

I'm more interested in who is going to take out Wilkinson in the first 10 minutes, preferably stretchered off.

Wrong player –target Jonno. Let Finbar crunch the stats for you as he is far more crucial to England than Jonny in terms of winning games. After all Neil Back can kick drop goals for us.

My money is actually on someone from your front row getting seriously hurt early doors in the scrums. Canon will do because if Paul comes on you can forget Finbar’s line out stats. How many props on the bench Finbar?

Then again I don’t really wish serious injury on anyone – a series of concussions amongst your boys will do.

*edit* Al Baxter and Matt Dunning? yes we need to target the scrum all right. Isn't Dunning the guy from Waratahs who likes to lurk on the wing?

[Andydog]

Well, I can't say it any other way... Australia thoroughly deserved to win that match, they played like men possessed (funny that, after every one bags the ****e out of them), they pressured the ABs into errors, cut down room, contested every inch of grass, every molecule of air space, and defended like their lives depended on it - not altogether surprising considering their media has bagged them all week. I have to take my hat off to a team that plays with such commitment, and passion.... we were not on the park. We just were not on the friggin park. Simple as that.

I don't think we can blame Mitchell for this one. I don't think we can blame the players for this one. I don't think we should do a '99 and go ape**** either.

Why? We were beaten fair and square. We didn't have a lead that we squandered (which was why I was really pissed off in 1999), we just didn't get into the game. All the players that were good enough to be there, were there. All preparation that was needed to be done, was done. We knew the Wallabies would come out fired up, and we knew they would be smarter than the Springboks. This was always going to be a massive step up from the previous week for all those reasons. The Aussies did their homework, and we just couldn't handle the heat.

It just goes to show that whatever form the opposition team is in means diddly squat. It happened in 1991, happened again in 1995, again in 1999, and ladies and gentlemen, it happened again on Saturday. What matters is the here and the now. It also doesn't help when the Aussie media do their best job of motivating the Wallabies all week - by poking a cornered and pissed off tiger with sticks.

PS - How cheeky were those pom supporters with their sing low? ...laughed at that!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


It’s a one off cup game in essence and therefore means no such thing.

My point exactly from a long time ago. Whomever wins on Saturday becomes "World Champion", which lasts until the next match. All Saturday will prove is that one team was better on the day. Or night.

How the hell the Aussies have risen to two in the rankings on the basis of one win over the ABs god only knows?

Say no more. Stupid system.

Players player of the year.

Okay, players' kicker of the year.

Kicker of the year? Very droll.

It's how I rank him. He's a wonderful goalkicker and a very fine flyhalf. Whether he's the best rugby player running around is a different matter.

*less is more Finbar – a little more subtle that time?*

A purple call to arms worthy of a B Grade 1950s Hollywod sandal and toga epic. Not to put too fine a point on it.

Well we have to hope he is finally weaned off that particular need. I can see the problem – whilst George and Waughy might both be scavengers rather than clearers Lyons is not something I want hitting Jonny too often that’s for sure!

And while Tindall, et al, are building the human wall around the bub, what are Mortlock, Tuquiri and Sailor doing?

*edit* Al Baxter and Matt Dunning? yes we need to target the scrum all right. Isn't Dunning the guy from Waratahs who likes to lurk on the wing?

Yep. He's possibly a player of the future, but this is a big ask. Still, there's no one else.

"Bargain Hunt" was back in Leicester tonight. They toured the Guild Hall, pointing out the stained glass windows that were removed for safekeeping when Cromwell - I think - was laying seige and replaced later in the wrong order. I prefer to think that you had one too many whiskies in the back room, reeled against the stained glass, smashed it, shat yourself, and tried to put it all back hoping no one would notice.