Rugby World Cup 2007 - Twiddling Our Thumbs!

[finbar]

What's quoted doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, which is either the journo's or sub-editor's fault. The piece about touch judges was obviously part of a broader thought. I suspect he was saying that touch judges should get their policing of the touch lines right, first and foremost, before they start worrying about charging onto the field to report things to the ref. Fair point, too. Too many touchies are glory seekers.

Good point about the Bok armguards, though. Dangerous things.

[Havak]

Whilst I am sure you are right it is also possible that Paddy just didn't explain himself very well?

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Well, you know Kiwis and the English language. They're distant acquaintances. Andydog, living where he does, has an outside chance of rehabilitation. Ravagon, living in Western Australia - well, there's being behind the 8 ball and being behind the 8 ball.

[Havak]

Now if that doesn't bring Ravagon out of the woodwork again we may have to wait until the RWC final?

The IRB have got all the fixtures in French local time - don't they know all rugby fixtures should be in GMT only so old stagers like myself can understand them and book pub tables accordingly?

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At this particular point in time, GMT +2 rules. Obviously, from around November, GMT +1 will rule. You lost an empire, how can you expect to control time?

Apart from that, why do I have this niggling feeling that the Argies will roll les grenouilles?

[LDiCesare]

don't they know all rugby fixtures should be in GMT only so old stagers like myself can understand them and book pub tables accordingly

Book for 2 hours before till 2 after the end if it starts on time. 2 hours in advance, you'll just start drink early. 2 hours after the end of the match, you'd still be drinking anyway, wouldn't you?

the Argies will roll les grenouilles

Because they count more French champions in their starting team than the French do?

[Havak]

You are quite right - I'll be drinking before and hopefully long after.

How can I expect to control time? How can I travel anywhere in the world and expect them to speak English? Because I'm British dagnammit! George III said 'Make the World England' and I'm still obeying (even though he said it in German between psychotic episodes).

Not sure about the France-Argentina game but I am really hoping for opening wins for Italy, Portugal and Japan.

England were under huge pressure to deliver in 2003 - but has any side ever been under the pressure to win that NZ are this time? They have played by far the consistently best rugby in the last four years - been a total joy to watch at times - but they do finally need to lose that 'choker' tag (whether it is a fair one or not).

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In all honesty, I can only see the Boks beating them, and that's with the proviso that the Boks play a 15-man game. They showed ominous signs in their last outing. I suspect Eddie is going to be very useful to them.

[Havak]

I have a strange feeling that Eddie will end up England coach you know. Ashtons time is almost over already.

Zinzan has already given the ABs the cup so the RWC is all over anyway.

The only thing he gets really right in his latest column is when he talks about the self delusional nonsense the England camp is spouting.

Except for LDiCesare we should root for a Pumas victory as that probably makes the ABs meet France in the Semi. That kind of historical match up would be tasty for the neutral.

[LDiCesare]

I think if the French end up second, they meet the AB in the quarter final. Otherwise, they may meet in the final.

We don't have any track record against the AB in quarter final, so I'd rather the French won all their pool games. Losing to either Argentina or Ireland, or worse to both, would be very bad for French rugby.

[Havak]

My mistake - you are right it would be the quarters.

I don't see you losing to Ireland - I think this RWC is at least two years too late for them. But the Pumas do have a chance I think. France were not tested against England and hardly tested by Wales - they could still be caught cold.

[finbar]

Well well. Me and my niggling feelings.

I doubt the Argies have ever played better - and tried harder even when they were running out of steam late in the game. I suppose the French have played worse, but I've never seen it. A specialist fullback might help.

While I'm on a roll - why do I have a niggling feeling that the USA will roll England?

Maybe that's just wishful thinking.

[LDiCesare]

A specialist fullback would definitely have helped. And a fly half who can stand the pressure too.
A pity when you look at the game produced. The Argentinans game was totally devoid of attack or imagination, they just countered the French, and did this very well. This match will hurt French rugby a lot, as it was the most advertised rugby game ever here and it's a defeat that many didn't expect I suppose. We can still manage to get out of the pool if we beat Ireland, but that is far from being done. And then we might play a quarter final in Wales and end up the World Cup there when the competition is supposed to happen in France.

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Think you're being a bit tough on the Argies. They always looked dangerous when they spread the ball, and their simple but very effective strategy - the up and under - worked a treat. Because they chased the kicks like demons and put enormous pressure on the French. The problem was, the French could never get off the back foot. On the odd occasion that they tried, they flubbed it. Opening night nerves, presumably.

Both French halves were invisible.

EDIT. Actually, what bothers me about the Argie win is that, given where their coach is going next season, he seems to know what he's doing because (a) he had them primed; and (b) he'd worked out a strategy.

[LDiCesare]

The Argies didn't spin the ball wide. They kicked it almost systematically, and then charged inside the French attack (defense?) intercepting balls. Their try was a masterpiece of cleverness. The Argies were well organised on the wide, so one of them decided he could try something and did so very well. Still, their game plan was to rely on the opponent's errors rather than producing play themselves. It was clever, well executed, and a deserved win. It's also not what I find entertaining to watch.
The French backs were bad, with the exception of Rougerie, and the halves were, as you say, invisible.
But that doesn't matter. I'll support Italy this afternoon, and they'll sure win. Mmmm... Well, the only match I'll see live I expect the Italians will win easily (no disrespect for Portugal).