Rugby World Cup 2003 - Finals!

[TheStinger]

Generally there is an upset in one of the semis.

Prior to this world cup that would have meant the Aussies or French winning.

Now that still holds for the Aussies winning but the. French on current form must be favourites.

I just can't see the AB's losing so England will cause the upset by winning

[finbar]

Most of the local online betting agencies still have the French at $5 or $6 to win the event. I think I might partake ...

[Havak]

Good enough now, in fact, to be playing in front of Larkham in his current form. But, of course, the injury kills that possibility! Not that it would've happened anyway.

Saves Eddie from some difficult questions from the press anyway.

He has gone for the Smith-Waugh combination again. Not sure this is the right type of combination against the ABs – is it down to Lyons to drive McCaw off the ball then?

You hope.

Not hope. Pray.

You can ring them. From work, of course.

Of course.

I do. There are some very good young players in that side. Hope for the future, perhaps.

They have something very solid to build on now at least. Some of their youngsters do look very promising as you say (from memory the lock Sidoli, scrummy Cooper and that new flanker – Thomas, I think – all look the real deal. Stephen Jones may yet make a decent stand off given time).

Key to their long term chances will be who they replace Hansen with in the summer.

Was that who Lomu ran over the top of? I thought it was Catt.

Mainly Underwood – but he probably caught Catt too. Only Carling and the Locks (!) managed to bring the big man down properly that day.

They asked him to spread his cheeks, and, quite appropriately for him, he opened his mouth.

Whereas if they had asked him to speak of course…

But Les Grenouilles play a SH style of rugby anyway

They are far too good in the scrum, ruck and the maul to deserve that kind of insult from you.


O’Briens weaknesses there for you in a nutshell.

He's also probably not far wrong, certainly about the Scotland bit.

We shall see. I cannot see you troubling the All Blacks – but then I thought the Boks might ask questions of them too so what do I know?

They asked what it was. He said a brain. He was fined for signing a false declaration.

The boy has certainly left an impression on you with his silky international diplomacy skills.

Well, I’m supporting England in that game, especially after how the stuck record has continuously bagged our forward pack since day 1.

Yes that Tamerlin has really had it in for your forwards hasn’t he?

With the way the England midfield has been labouring away, the pressure has been piling onto Wilko with no outlet. Catt seems to offer more as a playmaker and also takes some of the responsibility

To be honest I think you have called this exactly right. I’d be very surprised if Catt doesn’t replace Tindall this weekend.

so your boys really need to step it up or I'd have to say the French are going to roll ya...

Very true, although I can’t say the French forwards are quite our equal – certainly not in the tight five. The backs are a worry – but having Balshaw and Lewsey back makes me happier. It’s no secret that the only time these two have had a decent run together with Robinson on his preferred wing we’ve looked most comfortable. Lewsey is also better defensively than Robinson is at 15 – and sadly I suspect we may need that.

anything can happen now and although the frogs are favourites next week you do know what it's like to beat them on a regular basis, so maybe, just maybe.....

We are old sparring partners – and oft times the underdog upsets the apple cart. Just look at the fight going on off the field for ‘underdog’ status right now!

I would assume that you will take Monday off either way. For different reasons.

Already booked in fact. Time to think on defeat – or time to avoid crowing excessively.

They also knew what it was like to thump the serious crap out of Wales on a regular basis.

They actually gave us as hard a physical challenge as France did in the six nations earlier in the year – their best performance in that tournament by far. They would have raised their game for us even without that AB game to spur them on – it’s England-Wales and they never take that lightly.

Our best hope is that the French boys run out thinking of the Final maybe.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
They are far too good in the scrum, ruck and the maul to deserve that kind of insult from you.

Thank you Havak, you spare me the pain to answer this! :contempt:

O’Briens weaknesses there for you in a nutshell.

Is there a referee in the Stadium?

We shall see. I cannot see you troubling the All Blacks – but then I thought the Boks might ask questions of them too so what do I know?

Whatever the finalist, England or France, the AB forwards will struggle against their opponents. We will see if playing with fifteen backs is enough to beat a team playing a real Rugby game.

Have I been good enough Havak?

Yes that Tamerlin has really had it in for your forwards hasn’t he?

Forwards, what forwards?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
He has gone for the Smith-Waugh combination again. Not sure this is the right type of combination against the ABs – is it down to Lyons to drive McCaw off the ball then?

I assume it's to try to harass Carlos. But they have to get near him - past McCaw, et al - first. But, again, it leaves us with only two lineout jumpers. Sitting ducks. The AB lineout was good against the Boks, but it has been dodgy before that. Eddie must be hoping it will be again.

They are far too good in the scrum, ruck and the maul to deserve that kind of insult from you.

I wasn't trying to insult the French team, I was trying to insult Mr . And it worked!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

Is there a referee in the Stadium?

You've caught Havak's Pre-emptive Excuse Disease!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
You've caught Havak's Pre-emptive Excuse Disease!

Nope, this referee will put both team in a paddy.

I wasn't trying to insult the French team, I was trying to insult Mr . And it worked!

"Tu m'escagasses!"

Still no petit ophrys?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

"Tu m'escagasses!"

Still no petit ophrys?

No! I had to buy it from the French Amazon site and they promised 2 to 5 days for delivery! Typical pathetic French mail system!

:very bloody angry:

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
No! I had to buy it from the French Amazon site and they promised 2 to 5 days for delivery! Typical pathetic French mail system!

:very bloody angry:

"On va leur mettre une pâtée."

[finbar]

:even bloody angrier:

[Havak]

Thank you Havak, you spare me the pain to answer this! :contempt:

My pleasure.

Is there a referee in the Stadium?

I’d rather have Nigel Williams at the helm.

Have I been good enough Havak?

Vraiment superbe mon ami

Forwards, what forwards?

There are some superb talents in their pack – and some significant weaknesses (the props for example?).

But they have to get near him - past McCaw, et al - first.

So few words for what is effectively a huge ask of the boys.

The AB lineout was good against the Boks, but it has been dodgy before that. Eddie must be hoping it will be again.

The dodgy line outs before the Boks were probably just complacency on their part. Their line out has looked vulnerable on occasions over the last year - when the more physical sides have got in amongst them and competed. Maybe it is time for Plank to step up and do his stuff? It is certainly where his main strength lies.

Still at least Healey should be flying home today.

I wasn't trying to insult the French team, I was trying to insult Mr . And it worked!

I had to step in – early crawling if you like for the Entente Cordiale effort that will be needed one way or the other next week.

Nope, this referee will put both team in a paddy.

You have literary competition Finbar. This was some Pun by Tamerlin – I know that I couldn’t craft a pun in my second language (I am fluent in “*issedasarat”).

Now Tamerlin is talking about putting them into a pâtée? Amazon or postal workers? You’ve got me totally smock ravelled!



*edit* Have you noticed how the team painted as arrogant by the world (and their dog) has resolutely made sure they have not got involved in pre-match nationalistic jibes. Whilst certain teams and coaches have sprayed like a tomcat in new territory (step forward Eddie) the English squad have been very careful to be respectful of their opponents. So here again is a good example of that:

"I don't think we will be able to pull off a 'we didn't play well, but we still managed to win' game, France are too good a side for that to happen."

"France are always an exciting team. I've grown up watching them play. They're a world-class team with a great World Cup record, you just have to look at the last World Cup.

"They didn't set their Pool alight, but they got to the semi-final and probably produced the performance of the tournament."

And who said this - why Jonno of course. Care to give such a lesson in diplomacy to Mr Harinordoquoy please Tamerlin?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Vraiment superbe mon ami

Merci !

There are some superb talents in their pack

... when they run...

– and some significant weaknesses (the props for example?).

... when comes the real work.

You have literary competition Finbar. This was some Pun by Tamerlin – I know that I couldn’t craft a pun in my second language (I am fluent in “*issedasarat”).

I guess the word "literary" is a bit strong as far as I am concerned.

And now comes the question everybody is waiting for: What is "*issedasarat"?

Now Tamerlin is talking about putting them into a pâtée? Amazon or postal workers? You’ve got me totally smock ravelled!

The goal was to befuddle Finbar before he receives his petit ophrys and it seems it worked as he posted he was "even bloody angrier".
I was not talking about Amazon or the postal workers but about the future opponents of the French team. "Mettre une pâtée" (thrashing?) means "to inflict a sound defeat". This is even not a hope because England is still my favorite ( :cryingallthetearsof mybody: ) and because for the sake of the game a tight score is better.

And who said this - why Jonno of course. Care to give such a lesson in diplomacy to Mr Harinordoquoy please Tamerlin?

Trying to give a lesson to a Basque is like "essayer de pisser dans un violon" ("trying to pee into a violin") as we say in France.

[finbar]

What a lot of twaddle you NH types go on with sometimes!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
"essayer de pisser dans un violon" ("trying to pee into a violin") as we say in France.

Gee, you grenouilles must have a shocking aim.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar


Gee, you grenouilles must have a shocking aim.

Not better than the others hence the colloquialism.