Rugby World Cup 2003 - Finals!

[LDiCesare]

Walsh is really trying very hard to be the worst referee.
I think it was a mistake when he whistled the devoy runner. He must have whistled something else otherwise he couldn't let go these many.

[LDiCesare]

Australia 33 - 16 Scotland
Pitiful match.
Australia wins because the Scots gave them the ball. If anyone looks at the handling errors made in this match, I'm sure they exceed those made by teams of my level. Forward passes between Paterson and his centers, balls thrown randomly towards the scrum half or fly half, balls frogotten in the field. All kinds of errors have been made by the Scots.
And yet Australia manages to end the game with an advantage un points not half waht France scored against the same Scotland.
I think I can see the All Blacks in final already.

[Andydog]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
The AB have sometimes shown that they are able to play with their forwards albeit not consistently. As far as I am concerned I have found the game played by both teams rather poor, the AB game is still based on individual feats and few actions were really built and thought ahead of time by Spencer and Marshall whose job is mainly to pass the ball to the backs or the forwards.

Typical Tamerlin types again!

What a fantastic performance by the forwards. The pressure was on, we responded, and what a response! A complete shutdown of another recognised forward pack in a complete and utterly demoralising manner. Beautiful stuff.

I still laugh at Rokocoko and Marshall picking that juggernaut of a Springbok up (can't remember his name) and dump him two metres into touch.

Carlos, absolutely brilliant. He did one or two silly things, but he also did a lot of amazing stuff, as did most of the team.

I expect the Aussies won't be as dumb on attack as the South Africans were, so another step up is required for next week.

So much for the weak pack we're supposed to have!

[finbar]

All Blacks 29 -d- Springboks 9

Wallabies 33 -d- Scotland 16

Amazingly similar games. Very ordinary first halves by the eventual winners - well, Australia's first half was abysmal - with improvement in the second halves, but neither the All Blacks nor the Wallabies could be anywhere near satisfied with their efforts.

I was very disappointed by the Boks. Where was the power? The energy? And the All Blacks made a meal of putting them away. As did the Wallabies make a bigger meal of putting away Scotland. Our lineout is now beyond a joke. Only when Cockbain appeared after halftime did we look remotely like getting near to winning our own ball. Such is the price we pay for having only two jumpers. Unfortunately, either Smith or Waugh has to make way for the extra one. And the backline handling errors, particularly in the first half - like the All Blacks' - were beyond belief. And Steve Larkham continues to be a shadow of his former self.

Still, I was pleased by David Lyons' continued progress, and very pleased to see Lote Tuquiri finally allowed to prove he's more talented than Wendell Sailor. The big worry is an ankle injury to Matt Giteau. He should have started in front of Larkham tonight and did some very nice things before turning his ankle.

[Tamerlin]

Two poor games in a row, I really hope tomorrow quarter-finals will be from a far better vintage.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Andydog
Typical Tamerlin types again!

Perhaps, but a nonetheless very classical answer from the SH. I have not seen any great performance from the AB be it from the forwards or the backs. The Springboks have not put any pressure on your forwards as they did before against the British and the Samoans, as far as I am concerned this is not the best team that has won but the least bad. Though I agree the All Blacks have played with their forwards yesterday their performance was nowhere as brilliant as you believe it. I am still waiting for the All-Blacks to face a real opposition and I fear the Aussies will be nothing more than sparing partners.

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by finbar
Amazingly similar games.

Blame Rupert

Very ordinary first halves by the eventual winners - well, Australia's first half was abysmal - with improvement in the second halves, but neither the All Blacks nor the Wallabies could be anywhere near satisfied with their efforts.

The All Blacks were lucky to win has it been a good Bokke side.

I was very disappointed by the Boks. Where was the power? The energy?

Away with where they hopes of winning the RWC are. At home.

And the All Blacks made a meal of putting them away.

Or at least a messy snack

As did the Wallabies make a bigger meal of putting away Scotland. Our lineout is now beyond a joke. Only when Cockbain appeared after halftime did we look remotely like getting near to winning our own ball. Such is the price we pay for having only two jumpers. Unfortunately, either Smith or Waugh has to make way for the extra one. And the backline handling errors, particularly in the first half - like the All Blacks' - were beyond belief. And Steve Larkham continues to be a shadow of his former self.

They will not make the final and are lucky to be playing, IMO, the fourth weakest side of the remaining 6.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Two poor games in a row, I really hope tomorrow quarter-finals will be from a far better vintage.

Me too.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Frozzy
The All Blacks were lucky to win has it been a good Bokke side.

If, if, if. Who knows what would have happened if the Boks who scared the poo out of England had turned up to play? As it was, if the ABs hadn't flubbed so many chances in the first half, the match would have been well over at half time. That it took until the final 10 minutes to clear out is the problem.

They will not make the final and are lucky to be playing, IMO, the fourth weakest side of the remaining 6.

Fourth or fifth, given their performance against Ireland.

[ravagon]

Well I have to say it. Havak was right (Please let this be the first, last and only time I ever say that ) about Spreadbury.
Does the guy not know the meaning of the word advantage? Perhaps he is also in need of a petit ophrys? He wouldn't need to read it, open it or even know how to open it - he could just give it to whichever side wants to hit him over the head with it more at a particular moment.
A big for Mr Spreadbury. And another.

What was the story with an advantage ceasing the moment a player takes a shot at a field goal?
The players obviously didn't know about it in advance (although I guess it had permeated its way down through the ranks by the Aus-Scotland kickoff) so what was the point of implementing it - beyond getting everybody even more fed up with the refereeing than they were already?
I really felt rather sorry for the Bok who took a shot at a field goal from just inside his own half only to see the ref lower his arm before the ball was half-way there.
Furthermore, yes, those AB's passes pinged as 'forward' were indeed forward (or two of the three I saw properly were anyway) but you can hardly blame them for trying it if the opposition has been getting away with it for the whole tournament.

Now, before I catch a case of terminal Tamerlinitis, I have a ton of shopping to do and < 3 hours in which to do it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
What was the story with an advantage ceasing the moment a player takes a shot at a field goal?

I was wondering whether anyone had bothered to tell the teams that attempting a drop goal now meant the advantage was over. I only heard about it from one of the commentators. About time they closed that loophole.

Furthermore, yes, those AB's passes pinged as 'forward' were indeed forward (or two of the three I saw properly were anyway) but you can hardly blame them for trying it if the opposition has been getting away with it for the whole tournament.

The number of unpenalised forward passes - by all teams - has been ridiculous. The question is, when Les Grenouilles continue to get away with them, as they have thus far, as have all teams, will the French posters complain? What's more, when Les Grenouilles run their decoy runners - as they have all tournament - will the French posters complain?

Now, before I catch a case of terminal Tamerlinitis

Its technical, medical name is itis. There is an innoculation available. I've emailed it to you.

[LDiCesare]

ALLES LES BLEUS!
Half time score: France 27 - 0 Ireland
This is half time score. Could someone remind me how many points Australia scored against Ireland?

[LDiCesare]

France 43 - Ireland 21
Good second half from the Irish. Humphreys did them some good.
The French played well in first half but struggled in the second. They never seemed able to attack well. Rougerie and Brusque made too many handling errors, though Brusque was useful with his kicking. O'Driscoll made a nice second half but could have played less individually.
There were not that many decoy runners in this match, were there?Maybe a few forward passes on both sides after receiving a kick.

And now...
Half time England 3 - 10 Wales.
Can someone call a doctor? A retired tightheead near Leicester is feeling bad.

[LDiCesare]

England 28 - 17 Wales
England won thanks to a better lineout in the second half, a nice run by Robinson, better kicks at goal and, of course, a player from Bath named Catt.
A pity though that the Welsh center forgot his winger several times.

(edit mistyped the score )

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
France 43 - Ireland 21
Good second half from the Irish. Humphreys did them some good.
The French played well in first half but struggled in the second. They never seemed able to attack well. Rougerie and Brusque made too many handling errors, though Brusque was useful with his kicking. O'Driscoll made a nice second half but could have played less individually.
There were not that many decoy runners in this match, were there?Maybe a few forward passes on both sides after receiving a kick.

Very impressive French effort, I thought. I think the second half comeback by Ireland came in two stages - first, they actually used some imagination in attack, unlike the first half which was utterly devoid of imagination; second, the French lost some concentration, and, particularly some discipline, with the yellow card entirely warranted. On the whole, though, I think the French have been the standout performers of the weekend, and if they watched England tonight, I think they would be licking their lips.

Yes, there were decoy runners. Yes, there were forward passes. In fact, I think Ireland's first try involved a forward pass. They didn't show a replay from the wide angle to confirm it, but it looked dodgy to me.

And now...
Half time England 3 - 10 Wales.
Can someone call a doctor? A retired tightheead near Leicester is feeling bad.

I think we should pass the hat around for a new TV for Havak. Unless he wants to watch next week through a brick-shaped hole.