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I watched both quarter finals today. Wales put on a very brave and spirited performance but ultimately suffered from the absence of many of their first choice players. The All Blacks were simply awesome. Watching prop forwards bursting through the French line with ball in hand and skillfully offloading to other burly forwards was quite something to watch. The French were poor, but I have seen nothing from any other team that makes me think the All Blacks can be stopped from winning this. Australia might be the best chance but they have not yet been properly tested.

Ireland got well and truly humped by the Argies.

Who would have thought that Scotland would be the only northern hemisphere country left in the competition? (even if only for the next 80 minutes )

Forty minutes from the semi-finals and leading by a point - Yikes!

It's like 1978 all over again

...and that, gentlemen, is what glorious defeat looks like. Again.

But wasn't it glorious?

England lost with far less glory.

LGTrotter wrote:But wasn't it glorious?

It was - apart from the moaning at the end which is to be violently discouraged. Suck it up. This is not soccer.

What's the difference between the England rugby team and a tea bag?

A tea bag stays in the cup for longer.

Must admit to being fed up with the expression "glorious failure'. On the way to the Wales game on Saturday I was telling myself please not it be another such occasion as it's happened way too many times to be a coincidence. Some teams are simply better at closing down games and whilst I really felt for Scotland, Australia have done it so many times to us it feels like groundhog day.

However, Derek is right, there's little point in moaning about the ref ( as some of my compatriots did about Wayne Barnes on Saturday), both Wales and Scotland should have showed more composure (and why Scotland went long on that lineout I'll never know).

All Blacks now seem to be hitting their stride and it wouldn't surprise me if they had a repeat game with the Pumas in the final. I for one will continue to watch (unlike the chap in work who sold both his sets of qtr final and his final tickets back the RFU as soon as England failed to qualify).

I bought finals tickets on 11th September with no real expectation of seeing England. A little hope perhaps....

I suspect we will see NZ v. Australia in the final but I think it would be a much more exciting event if the final involved Argentina.


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I am hoping for NZ v Oz - a real grudge match with lots of blood and thunder, followed by the Blacks winning by a bad decision to award a penalty in the final minute

What, no love for RSA? I'd have thought that RSA vs AUS would be the most entertaining...

Glenn E. wrote:What, no love for RSA?

No. Still much to do to earn love from me.

If anyone is in central London today with a little time spare the Trafalgar Square fanzone opens 10-4 with the Webb Ellis cup on display amongst other activities. I'm working there today.


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benread wrote:If anyone is in central London today with a little time spare the Trafalgar Square fanzone opens 10-4 with the Webb Ellis cup on display amongst other activities. I'm working there today.

I'm not in London today otherwise I would have popped along, Ben. I know Daniel is but I don't think he is interested in the fine art of egg-chasing so you are unlikely to see him :rolleyes:

Perhaps he can be encouraged to bring fortification to those in need! Although it seems the official line is that whilst cuddles and kisses are permitted by members of the pack, alcohol is officially frowned on whilst working! ( for the record, 2 cuddles, 1 kiss and 1 rather random fondling of my beard have all been received without encouragement on my part!)


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benread wrote:for the record, 2 cuddles, 1 kiss and 1 rather random fondling of my beard have all been received without encouragement on my part!

Good to hear that Julian has been to visit

My thoughts for the weekend's matches (and not a word about them on the BBC Breakfast sport this morning although plenty on the NFL!):

-Can't see the Boks getting within 10 of the ABs

-Pumas to down the Wallabies

That would create an interesting scenario, Ian.

Will 80,000 Brits, most of them English, bring themselves to cheer on the underdog Argies?

I will be!

DRT wrote:Will 80,000 Brits, most of them English, bring themselves to cheer on the underdog Argies?

I found myself supporting Argentina against New Zealand at one stage during their match a month ago. Time for some déjà vu. Now if only we could have persuaded Marty to bring several just-released '83s back with him, then we could have had an "on release" vs "matured" horizontal tasting...