Rugby World Cup 2007 - Twiddling Our Thumbs!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Yes but think how daft Cal will feel when England beat Australia in the QF. In 2011.

Is the Womens Rugby World Cup being played in 2011 too?

[LDiCesare]

Quoting a French journalist (Benezech, a former prop) about the English:

The lack of speed in the 3/4 was really impresive. But it's somehow logical : Andy Farrell is a former rugby league player, Mike Catt is 35, Jason Robinson (...) is 34, Jamie Noon is not, I hope, the current best English center. (...) [the error was to capitalise on] experience rather than on the youth of Geraghty or Hipkiss. There was something else to do with the English potential.

I suppose Havak might agree with that.

I hope the Italians will play well this evening since I go watch them.

[Havak]

Yes I would happily agree with that. The selection of Noon in particular is something I cannot explain on any level.

As Finbar pointed out we actually have ball playing centres against Samoa - and another ball playing centre with pace on the bench. I hope it makes a difference.

[Joe Kick Ass]

UNDER-FIRE Gareth Jenkins today claimed he has the support of the Welsh people.

...

He also insisted that:

If Wales played like South Africa they would be “booed off the park”.

...


“The one thing I do believe is that Welsh rugby is behind us and the supporters are behind us,” he said. “If you did a survey at the moment, you’d find the general public were upset with the Press.”

---

Blues also got confirmed a new stadium today. 25,000.

[Joe Kick Ass]

“To suggest the coaches tell the players how to play is a load of b******s.”

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

I hope the Italians will play well this evening since I go watch them.

Wear something distinctive so you'll stand out in the crowd - face paint, perhaps - and don't forget to wave to us.

He also insisted that:

If Wales played like South Africa they would be “booed off the park”.

... in fact, there aren't enough s in the known universe or even the the known universe combined with the unknown universe to do justice to that piece of claptrap.

[Havak]

The man JKA calls Gypo has a long history of incoherent ramblings.

Thinking about it he could have been England coach.

*edit* Good news about Blues new stadium - but don't you think they should spend a little more than that on it?

[Joe Kick Ass]

Blues will spend plenty on it, what with the substantially increased rent on the place. I'm not sure if switching to a new stadium is really going to make Magners League matches more attractive; a case of "build it, and they will come", I guess...
And at 25,000, they may still switch to the Mill Stad for bigger matches anyway - Tigers drew 26,000 for the HEC last year.

Supporters up in arms ( ) about it...

[Havak]

Not surprised (even about the pun).

Tigers won that game didn't we?

[Andydog]

NZ to face Scotland:

15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Chris Masoe, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Reuben Thorne, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Anton Oliver, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Nick Evans, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Any thoughts on what this selection tells us? No Rokocoko, Sommerville or Collins. Is McAlister/Smith the #1 centre pairing ahead of Mauger/Ice? or is the 13 being held for Mils?

Key thing for the ABs in this game is accuracy. I didn't like some of the sloppiness I saw against Portugal.

I'm heading up to watch this game, very much looking forward to watching the ABs give the haggis munchers a face full of kiwi mutton.

[finbar]

As usual with that lot, I don't think it tells us much. They're rotating. I have a hunch, though, that they'd like Conrad Smith at #13 for the real deal. They've never come to grips with the possie post-Tana. Personally, I'd take Aaron Mauger in front of Luke McAlister. McAlister is, at best, a work in progress, IMHO.

[Caligastia]

I heard that Henry wanted to ensure that each player in the squad got at least one run-on. Did that already happen or that that part fo the thinking with the selection of the side to play Scotland?

[Caligastia]

We're only 20-odd posts away from the end of this thread...any suggestions for the new thread title?

Rugby World Cup 2007 - Rule Britannia!

[finbar]

Everyone's had a run, I'm pretty sure. They're just rotating.

I've been wondering about a new title, too. Like you, I was thinking of something along the lines of:

Rugby - Champs to Chumps!

[LDiCesare]

Saw Italy Portugal. A poor victory from the Italians. They started and ended well, but such a lack of imagination and stereotyped game! Their winger (11) kept asking for a kick from his 10 in the first half because the defenders were very very badly positioned. Never did De MArigny kick for him. All he did was send his centers run sideways into the line. On pure strength they progressed, but it was really a pitiful tactic. Italy needs a real 10, a center who passes the ball( Mirco Bergamasco?) and a captain who doesn't spend every other match being yellow carded.
Purtugal, on the other hand, played a nice game but were so much weaker in scrums and strength in mauls that they didn't stand a chance. They were cheered by the crowd much more than ITaly, in part because there were more portuguse in the stadium, and in part because the game they showed was more pleasant.