Rugby World Cup: And the Winner is...

[finbar]

Yes indeed. The fateful moment. Then his foot lifted again before he grounded the ball.

J**** said it wasn't a try. I trust J****. End of story.

I wouldn't mind some photos of the ref's eccentric interpretations of obstruction and offside at the breakdown. That's a different story.

[Hercules]

Well I enjoyed the match. It wasn't pretty but it was an almighty struggle. Some flamboyant tries would have been nice but it wasn't to be.

[kittenOFchaos]

Originally posted by Joe Kick Ass
http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?i...board01bb7.jpg

Benefit of the doubt should go with the attacking team though and there was doubt there.

Well, swings and roundabouts, Moody could so easily have been yellowed for that trip.

[Havak]

He wasn't very consistent in those areas was he Finbar?

We got taken on at our own game and beaten - well done to them. I'm in the camp that found it fascinating rather than 'boring'. But then I have never needed shed loads of trys in order to enjoy a game of Union.

Some TMO decisions go for you and some against. It wasn't crucial in the end as the Boks defence was solid and that damn line out was awesome.

That said Mr Dickinson will never make my Xmas card list - he does seem to be involved in a lot of decisions that go against England.

Well we got further than I ever expected and it wasn't a disgraceful showing in the final - I'm looking forward now to a new year with a new generation donning the rose. Don't let me down on that one Brian!

[finbar]

What's going on with Brian? A week or so ago, R. Andrew seemed keen to sign him to another contract. Now it's all subject to review. I liked Clive's line - he's not sure exactly what R. Andrew does.

I don't know whether J. Wilkinson was carrying an injury, or whether it was just the pressure, but his kicking seemed oddly out of sorts. No length in his touch-finders and too often didn't even find touch.

[kittenOFchaos]

Originally posted by finbar
What's going on with Brian? A week or so ago, R. Andrew seemed keen to sign him to another contract. Now it's all subject to review. I liked Clive's line - he's not sure exactly what R. Andrew does.

I don't know whether J. Wilkinson was carrying an injury, or whether it was just the pressure, but his kicking seemed oddly out of sorts. No length in his touch-finders and too often didn't even find touch.

Not entirely true.

The penalty after he let Flood do the touch finder Wilkinson took and put the ball for an England lineout 5 metres from the Saffers try line and that was from a tight angle and long range.

Pity then the Saffer stole our lineout ball, again. Really Matfield destroyed what should have been a good platform for attack many times last night and saved them losing a try to Tait. He really earnt his MoM award, easily the best lock of the tourney.

[Havak]

Although as it turns out Wilko was carrying an injury - his right ankle.

I'm looking forward to the six nations. Hopefully France can bounce back under a new coach but it is going to be fascinating to see if Ireland can recover from what was a disaster for them at the RWC.

[Andydog]

I thought that was a great final. So there were no tries scored. So it wasn't the most exciting display of running rugby ever. But damn, what an intense dramatic game of trench warfare at its best.

All credit to the Boks, they deserved the win. But England did themselves proud, going from no-hopers to unembarrassed finalists. They gave it every bit of blood, sweat and tears they had.

[MikeH]

The best team won in the end, they took us on at our own game, kept their discipline and beat us. Well done South Africa.

[finbar]

The penalty after he let Flood do the touch finder Wilkinson took and put the ball for an England lineout 5 metres from the Saffers try line and that was from a tight angle and long range.

His goal kicking wasn't a problem, I meant more his field kicking. He never seemed balanced, hence he lacked his usual penetration. A crook right ankle might explain it.

Tragic utterances from the outgoing head of the IRU. He can't wait to implement the Stellenbosch garbage. To make the game easier to play, easier to referee, easier to watch. To turn it into L***** more like!

[MikeH]

The changes do seem to be designed to cripple forward play/England.

[MikeH]

The final may not have been great, but it's been a brilliant tournament. Loads of really entertaining rugby and some incredible matches. Wales vs Fiji was superb.

[Havak]

It wasn't a bad final by any means - I'm with Andydog in that England put body and soul into it but came up slightly short - no disgrace in that.

Now we enter a crucial phase - there must be a changing of the guard for younger players to come in and the club v country issue must be nailed once and for all.

And with a nod to Finbar I would also like someone to find out what Rob Andrew actually does.

The only proposed law change from Paddies think tank that I can see the point of is the one about balls that are passed back into the twenty two no longer being able to be kicked to touch.

[finbar]

I agree that passing the ball back into the 22 is about the only beneficial change. From memory, s***** made a similar change in terms of the goalie not being able to handle balls passed back to him.

Pulling down the maul, apart from destroying one of the great elements of rugby, is only going to create more chaos on the ground. Presumably a pulled-down maul will become a ruck, and the new rules call for hands to be allowed in the ruck, meaning one giant wrestling match on the ground.

The England challenge now is not to repeat the mistakes of four years ago. M. Catt is making noises about playing on. Can't be allowed to happen. Nose will obviously go. Shouldn't have been there in the first place. J. Lewsey should be thanked for his services and sent on his way. Nor do I think the J. Worsleys of the world are up to it. Not sure that N. Easter is either, sadly. They have a real talent in M. Tait. I was so pleased to see him producing the goods in attack, even if his build counts against him defensively. He's the future. And there have to be others like him. For starters, get T. Croft off the Leicester bench!

[LDiCesare]

Is there a fund going on somewhere to hire an assassin to get rid of the collapse-maul enforcers? I'd donate.
Lots of silly laws. Indeed, now they just need to suggest removing the flanklers because there's not enough space for players to score tries...