Rugby World Cup: And the Winner is...

[Havak]

..and in any case we are only cheering the NH sides on. Because someone has to.

Then again Scotland, Fiji, France and England for the SF would be interesting (because it means the Haggis munchers or Fijians in the final).

It's about as likely as Andydog buying the AB change strip of course.

[Andydog]

Luke McAlister talks up the All Blacks

Knuckles: "You know what McAlister thinks? He thinks his boys are the best in the world!"

Mortlock: "hardly surprising he would have that opinion though coach, isn't it an inevitable by-product of an elite team culture and egocentric tendencies of the young?"

George: "I concur Sterling, one would question the depth of critical self-analysis employed by young Luke in arriving at that conclusion. I suspect his easy success with the ladies and over application of hair products has resulted in his youthful exuberance getting ahead of himself. One would be extremely dubious that the comments merit too much discussion in this particular forum."

Dunning: "Any more donuts?"

Vickerman: "I need a referee for my citizenship application, any of you blokes up for it? Hold thumbs for me"

Giteau: "Did he mention me?"

[MikeH]

I'm going to Cardiff. Woo!

[kittenOFchaos]

Some things have been great this World Cup.

The French hosted games, so many exciting games and upsets, but there has been some needless bilge:

1. The games in Cardiff and Edinburgh, so far from the people that'll be really excited about the World Cup.

2. The dismal slaughter that was SA Vs ENG.

3. The strips fiasco. Scotland (can't be arsed string 2) versus butterfingers, scrum obsessed New Zealand was atrocious. Nearly impossible to distinguish. Heads should roll for such rubbish and if they make the NZ use that **** strip against France, then my already low respect for the mangerial aspect of Rugby Union will be absolutely confirmed as fact.


Well, cross fingers, lets hope for at least one upset this weekend, otherwise it'll be abit boring.

[kittenOFchaos]

HELL YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

We deserved to win by more, but Jonny is no Paterson.

Amazing job England forwards!

YES!

[Krill]

Owned.

[Agathon]

Not a big rugby fan, but I just game to gloat at Australia.

At least England saved them from being beaten by the All Blacks.

[kittenOFchaos]

England Vs France in the Semis

SA must be pissing themselves with laughter, everything has gone right for them this World Cup. The draw, what has happened to their opponents, wish I had bet on them.

[Dauphin]

Oh this is good.....

[finbar]

Can't say I'm awfully surprised. Wallabies played like haunted favourites. They've talked and thought so much about the events of four years ago that it's deep in their psyches. England, the World Cup bogey. They were nervous, never relaxed, and they choked in the face of England's pride, enthusiasm and endeavour. Who, along the way, reminded the world - and Knuckles - that M. Dunning isn't a world-class prop and that the Wallaby front row remains third-rate.

Along the way, G. Smith had a shocker, I think he made two tackles, neither of them legal. And while B. Barnes' deft dummy set up the first try, he wasn't up to threatening and confusing the defence the way S. Larkham once did.

Barring further, even more extreme choking, England won't go any further. The Wallabies wouldn't have either.

Oh, and I thought T. Flood showed more in his brief appearance than either O. Barkley or M. Catt in the whole tournament.

[Havak]

I think he probably did Finbar yes.

Well that was a surprise. I might have hoped for it but I didn’t truly expect it.

Dunning is not International standard. Frankly I am amazed he copes with S14. He got a huge lesson in the scrum today. When I saw him having a go at Sheridan I knew he was in big trouble.

Were you aware Knuckles cornered the ref before the game – Mr Lynagh was not very impressed with that. It didn’t work anyway – Rolland had a pretty good game (and I don’t say that of him often!)

And I also surprised myself at the end – because when I saw the tears on Latham’s face I actually felt sorry for an Australian! His class was very obvious but he was given no platform.

England played perfectly to their limited strengths. The forwards were at the contacts and the breakdowns with enough gusto to throw Smith and Gregan right off their games. Some of the counter rucking was quite brilliant. What a strange game rugby is as I’d written them off, let alone the more partisan parties on this thread doing so.

ITV showed some of that bizarre Wallaby press call where knuckles tried to psych his boys up by painting England as a ‘dirty’team – ill advised in hindsight as it played right into England’ hands in terms of motivation.

Bizarre sight of the game? The Aussie hooker kicking a clearance laterally into English hands (he had time to offload the ball to a girlie!).

The very real down side of this is, my happiness at knocking the Aussies out aside, it could prevent the still much needed change after the tournament.

I agree with Finbar that next week will be our high water mark but for today I am happy enough. Now bring on NZ-France tonight.

[kittenOFchaos]

Age will cause the much needed change.

Poor Dunning, no donuts tonight.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by kittenOFchaos
England Vs France in the Semis

[Agathon]

Ha and New Zealand got beat.

Have to say it will be fun to gloat about that in front of the rugby morons at home. No one is better than our journalists at poor excuses. At least England weren't beaten by the French!!!

[TheStinger]

England France, hoe the **** is that gonna go.

France must be favourites because of home advantage but no one thought this would happen