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**Rugby World Cup 2011**
- Thread starter Krisfield
- Start date
Was it Hore who went on just to come off a couple minutes later? Talk about a bleeding nose!
Wouldn't say it was that bloody, but I guess when you play it it's different, seen a lot of nasty splits on the pitch!
Wouldn't say it was that bloody, but I guess when you play it it's different, seen a lot of nasty splits on the pitch!
But they still have a bunch of veterans (especially in the tight 5), and the experience they have is useful for the rest of the team as a whole. It isn't just Argentina, there are a lot of big players from the home nations retiring too!
Watching NZ - Aus, other than one run, Australia aren't here, they've had one good break, other than that, Aus seem to be playing worse than they were against SA. Unless they get into this, it could be a high scoring semi final for the Blackness.
On saying that, it's a good thing that the ABs don't need to rely on a kicking game
True. Pumas rely a lot on veterans aiding the younger players... today's younger players will have to step up to that in four years' time.
I was quite pleasantly surprised at how Pichot was not really missed inside the field, in spite of him individually being a huge difference, the team as a whole didn't miss him.
And look, Australia lost to the AB by a bigger difference than us!!!
Interestingly;
The 1987 RWC was a New Zealand - France final, and a Wales - Australia bronze final. With New Zealand and Wales winning respectively. Looks like it could end up being the same order of final 4 this time round too.
The 1987 RWC was a New Zealand - France final, and a Wales - Australia bronze final. With New Zealand and Wales winning respectively. Looks like it could end up being the same order of final 4 this time round too.
Well, Australia - Wales was dull as paint.
Half way point of NZ - Fra, pretty even on the pitch and not much on the board.
All Blacks getting away with all sorts of illegal activities, blatant offside entry to rucks and a few blatant obstructions. Weepu, once again, can't kick for ****. I think there'll be some nervous kiwi's at this stage!
Half way point of NZ - Fra, pretty even on the pitch and not much on the board.
All Blacks getting away with all sorts of illegal activities, blatant offside entry to rucks and a few blatant obstructions. Weepu, once again, can't kick for ****. I think there'll be some nervous kiwi's at this stage!
France battled that, but it just wasn't enough.
Closest RWC final score.
Right, time to start getting warmed up for the 6 nations
Closest RWC final score.
Right, time to start getting warmed up for the 6 nations
Damn, what a nailbiter!
Great game, I think the ref kinda helped the ABs along, but they deserved it more than the French.
Great Haka response as well!
Great game, I think the ref kinda helped the ABs along, but they deserved it more than the French.
Great Haka response as well!
missed the game, hope I can watch it later. was it that close?
Regarding the ABs' illegal activity, how much would you say it was the refs fault, or the Abs being "smart"? Sometimes the players get the right timing when the refs just can't see them, but when the refs just let them pass, that's a different thing...
Regarding the ABs' illegal activity, how much would you say it was the refs fault, or the Abs being "smart"? Sometimes the players get the right timing when the refs just can't see them, but when the refs just let them pass, that's a different thing...
I didn't really notice the ref at all, so I guess that's a good thing. It was a very tight match, lots of defence (to be expected really).
I think the home nations will need to do some serious retooling to get back up.
I think the home nations will need to do some serious retooling to get back up.
Very close, I'd say France were the stronger looking team for most of the match.
It was a bit of both, tho mostly the ref missing things.
-They regularly entered the ruck from an offside position.
-They collapsed the front of a scrum yet France got pinged for it (very clear who twisted in in the replay).
-There were a lot of high tackles.
-A French player got tackled while in the air jumping for the ball.
-There were a lot of parts where you saw AB players grabbing French players who didn't have the ball.
There was a lot of dodgyness about that.
It should have been a bigger margin, but they squandered 8 points before getting a player that could kick onto the field.
Disagree with that tbh. I still think the strongest looking southern hemi team was South Africa, who got knocked out by a very lucky (and not very good) Australian team.
-Wales were looking very strong for most of the tournament.
-Ireland were looking very strong for most of the tournament.
-England were slow out the blocks, and that was their downfall.
-Scotland were your standard underdog team, but IMO they are certainly on the rise, and got knocked out by poor ref-ing and two missed tackles
-And France, well, France were hit or miss, they were either pretty terrible or pretty good. I think that Lievremont stepping down/France getting a new coach, is going to help them greatly in terms of continuity.
Looking at the Southern teams:
-All Blacks, always a great team, but they certainly aren't up to their usual spectacle. Injuries may have been one issue, but some internal politics and wierd team selections is another (seemed to be starting the lesser players).
-Australia, they've been on the downward spin a bit of late, their play in this RWC hasn't been much more than shambolic.
-South Africa, just damned unlucky!
-Argentina, looking strong as always, but still a bit behind the rest. IMO one of the teams to watch for RWC 2015, I'd say they are likely to be the favourite or second favourite Southern team by that point (given a few rounds of 4 nations).
PS. Though Scotland have a diabolical record against New Zealand (to the point that I think it's become somewhat of a given, where our players walk out expecting to get beaten), the last time we played Australia and South Africa, we beat both, Australia (2009, 9-8), South Africa (2010, 21-17), and Scotland are one of the weaker Northern teams.
I think South Africa were very strong and better than the Aussies, but were unlucky.
Australia had good and bad sides to their play, but they always seem to pull something out of the bag even on their worst days.
The All Blacks are the All Blacks, and I'd never feel comfortable betting against them.
They always seem to be a "team", if you see what I mean.
I think Argentina are getting better. Faster certaintly.
England need to cut out the dead wood, the poor performers in both the team and the administration, but with so many entrenched personalities there I can't see how they will manage this.
Will Scotland keep their current set up? I hope not, or I see dark days ahead.
Wales look the strongest of the home nations. At least they seem to be moving in the right direction. Still quite "slow" though.
Ireland were strong this time out, quite a bit better than I thought they would be to be honest.
France must be one of the most infuriating teams to play against, as you never know what you're going to get - inspired play or something out of amateur hour.
All just my halfpenneth's worth of course.
Incidentally, I watched the final with a group of people who had never seen a Rugby match before, and so spent a fair amount of time trying to explain the rules. They did agree that it was better than watching football (soccer), though.
Australia had good and bad sides to their play, but they always seem to pull something out of the bag even on their worst days.
The All Blacks are the All Blacks, and I'd never feel comfortable betting against them.
They always seem to be a "team", if you see what I mean.
I think Argentina are getting better. Faster certaintly.
England need to cut out the dead wood, the poor performers in both the team and the administration, but with so many entrenched personalities there I can't see how they will manage this.
Will Scotland keep their current set up? I hope not, or I see dark days ahead.
Wales look the strongest of the home nations. At least they seem to be moving in the right direction. Still quite "slow" though.
Ireland were strong this time out, quite a bit better than I thought they would be to be honest.
France must be one of the most infuriating teams to play against, as you never know what you're going to get - inspired play or something out of amateur hour.
All just my halfpenneth's worth of course.
Incidentally, I watched the final with a group of people who had never seen a Rugby match before, and so spent a fair amount of time trying to explain the rules. They did agree that it was better than watching football (soccer), though.
While I agree that the ABs are always the ABs, in that they will always be a team to be reckoned with, the current lot just don't seem up to the scratch of previous years. Time will see how they get on, but the ABs always have a fairly high turn around anyway, so that could be a bit of a null point.
I think that could be said about most teams atm, that a lot of deadwood needs shifted.
The main problem Scotland have had is the constantly changing lineup, the team was changing (drastically) with each game in the RWC and a lot of players were being played out of position (with mixed results), the RWC is not a time to do such things! On any given day, I think we could give anyone a run for their money.
You comment on things being fast and slow, but the slower game is the way Rugby is played in the North. If you want a fast running game, play 7s
Of course it would be more interesting than watching football
I think that could be said about most teams atm, that a lot of deadwood needs shifted.
The main problem Scotland have had is the constantly changing lineup, the team was changing (drastically) with each game in the RWC and a lot of players were being played out of position (with mixed results), the RWC is not a time to do such things! On any given day, I think we could give anyone a run for their money.
You comment on things being fast and slow, but the slower game is the way Rugby is played in the North. If you want a fast running game, play 7s
Of course it would be more interesting than watching football
the slower game is the way Rugby is played in the North. If you want a fast running game, play 7s
...or the love that dare not speak it's name
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