Rugby World Cup 2011

[anglocelt39]

It seems the Aussie cult of glorifying gurrierism in sport isn't confined to the Rules game.

The Aussie sports media are always going on about "the biff".

Sure look at the Cronulla Sharks scandal a few years back and the cyclist banned from the Olympics. Gurrierism and thuggery is a huge part of the Australian sports mentality.

And there I was thinking your capacity for idiotic comment was limited to politics. Seem to remember some Smith bird getting into a bit of trouble over some pool antics at the Olympics a few years ago but hey, we're the cuddly loveable Irish. Hardy, ain't you got any sense of Irony at all, at all.

[Declan]

Thought Rolland was spot on with his decision myself. If only all the referees I saw this week were as correct and decisive  >: (A certain man from Slane  yesterday)

Anyone else think the booing of Coope by the NZ crowd was completely OTT and also the TV director sticking his face up a couple of times near the end of the game? Apparentely Henry was asked during the post match press conference about it and said he brought it on himself and said there was nothingn wrong  with it - Hope the French beat them.

[mc_grens]

Before the tournament when asked what my ideal final would be I said New Zealand vs France. They've aged out some crackers in recent years. Of course I didn't know the French would be as up and down as they have been, or that Carter would be missing. If both play to their potential it'll be an absolute cracker.

Also, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned McCaw's performance at the weekend. Two incidents stood out to me:

1) Pocock turning the ball over on the all black's right wing, with McCaw going straight in on Will Genia and turning the ball straight back over.

2) On the Aussie left wing late on McCaw thundering into a ruck from about five yards out, driving over the ball and turning it over after a sustained period of pressure. I watched him the whole 5 or 6 minutes before it- he was just waiting for his chance. Controlled aggression at its finest.

Thought Kaino and Reid were superb too. One of the best back row displays of the tournament.

[Dinny Breen]

Before the tournament when asked what my ideal final would be I said New Zealand vs France. They've aged out some crackers in recent years. Of course I didn't know the French would be as up and down as they have been, or that Carter would be missing. If both play to their potential it'll be an absolute cracker.

Also, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned McCaw's performance at the weekend. Two incidents stood out to me:

1) Pocock turning the ball over on the all black's right wing, with McCaw going straight in on Will Genia and turning the ball straight back over.

2) On the Aussie left wing late on McCaw thundering into a ruck from about five yards out, driving over the ball and turning it over after a sustained period of pressure. I watched him the whole 5 or 6 minutes before it- he was just waiting for his chance. Controlled aggression at its finest.

Thought Kaino and Reid were superb too. One of the best back row displays of the tournament.

The biggest problem I have with NZ is that generally a team adopts to how a referee is taking charge of the breakdown, too many refs adopt to how the NZ are playing the breakdown.

Weepu's performance showed you that demons run deep in this NZ side, if France are in with 20 mins to go, a big IF, then I think France will win it.

McCaw apart from 1 or 2 moments against Oz was poor and I really didn't think that much of the NZ back-row performance, it was their back three that were simply brilliant.

[screenexile]

Before the tournament when asked what my ideal final would be I said New Zealand vs France. They've aged out some crackers in recent years. Of course I didn't know the French would be as up and down as they have been, or that Carter would be missing. If both play to their potential it'll be an absolute cracker.

Also, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned McCaw's performance at the weekend. Two incidents stood out to me:

1) Pocock turning the ball over on the all black's right wing, with McCaw going straight in on Will Genia and turning the ball straight back over.

2) On the Aussie left wing late on McCaw thundering into a ruck from about five yards out, driving over the ball and turning it over after a sustained period of pressure. I watched him the whole 5 or 6 minutes before it- he was just waiting for his chance. Controlled aggression at its finest.

Thought Kaino and Reid were superb too. One of the best back row displays of the tournament.

As far as I can see the French played a bit against England and not at all in any other game.

I would like to see the French win it as the whole New Zealand being the best team in the world then bottling it thing intrigues me. It's just one of those unexplainable phenomena I guess but I really can't see it happening on this occasion.

The AB's look well up for it and their performance on Saturday night was as good as I have ever seen. Having said that you just don't know with the French.

What is disappointing though is that such a weak side can get through to the Final of the biggest tournament in the world. I've been very disappointed with the quality on show from all teams. Only Wales, the AB's and to a lesser degree Ireland have played well in the tournament so far which for a World Cup is just not good enough.

[mc_grens]

Before the tournament when asked what my ideal final would be I said New Zealand vs France. They've aged out some crackers in recent years. Of course I didn't know the French would be as up and down as they have been, or that Carter would be missing. If both play to their potential it'll be an absolute cracker.

Also, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned McCaw's performance at the weekend. Two incidents stood out to me:

1) Pocock turning the ball over on the all black's right wing, with McCaw going straight in on Will Genia and turning the ball straight back over.

2) On the Aussie left wing late on McCaw thundering into a ruck from about five yards out, driving over the ball and turning it over after a sustained period of pressure. I watched him the whole 5 or 6 minutes before it- he was just waiting for his chance. Controlled aggression at its finest.

Thought Kaino and Reid were superb too. One of the best back row displays of the tournament.

The biggest problem I have with NZ is that generally a team adopts to how a referee is taking charge of the breakdown, too many refs adopt to how the NZ are playing the breakdown.

Weepu's performance showed you that demons run deep in this NZ side, if France are in with 20 mins to go, a big IF, then I think France will win it.

McCaw apart from 1 or 2 moments against Oz was poor and I really didn't think that much of the NZ back-row performance, it was their back three that were simply brilliant.

The New Zealand pack destroyed the Aussies, particularly in the breakdown. The old saying about forwards winning games and backs deciding by how much was very apt.

Yes New Zealand live on the line in the breakdown and often over it, but their physicality, counter rucking, and sheer opportunism in that area is superb.

[Dinny Breen]

Before the tournament when asked what my ideal final would be I said New Zealand vs France. They've aged out some crackers in recent years. Of course I didn't know the French would be as up and down as they have been, or that Carter would be missing. If both play to their potential it'll be an absolute cracker.

Also, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned McCaw's performance at the weekend. Two incidents stood out to me:

1) Pocock turning the ball over on the all black's right wing, with McCaw going straight in on Will Genia and turning the ball straight back over.

2) On the Aussie left wing late on McCaw thundering into a ruck from about five yards out, driving over the ball and turning it over after a sustained period of pressure. I watched him the whole 5 or 6 minutes before it- he was just waiting for his chance. Controlled aggression at its finest.

Thought Kaino and Reid were superb too. One of the best back row displays of the tournament.

The biggest problem I have with NZ is that generally a team adopts to how a referee is taking charge of the breakdown, too many refs adopt to how the NZ are playing the breakdown.

Weepu's performance showed you that demons run deep in this NZ side, if France are in with 20 mins to go, a big IF, then I think France will win it.

McCaw apart from 1 or 2 moments against Oz was poor and I really didn't think that much of the NZ back-row performance, it was their back three that were simply brilliant.

The New Zealand pack destroyed the Aussies, particularly in the breakdown. The old saying about forwards winning games and backs deciding by how much was very apt.

Yes New Zealand live on the line in the breakdown and often over it, but their physicality, counter rucking, and sheer opportunism in that area is superb.

Yea but that was more to do with the work-rate of their tight 5 in particular Thorn and Mealamu, both made as many or more tackles than Reid. The New Zealand back-row could struggle in the final, they were out-played by Argentina I thought.

I just want New Zealand to earn the World Cup and I to f**k France just give it a lash, they don't have the players, the commitment or the nous to play a negative game.

[mc_grens]

Before the tournament when asked what my ideal final would be I said New Zealand vs France. They've aged out some crackers in recent years. Of course I didn't know the French would be as up and down as they have been, or that Carter would be missing. If both play to their potential it'll be an absolute cracker.

Also, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned McCaw's performance at the weekend. Two incidents stood out to me:

1) Pocock turning the ball over on the all black's right wing, with McCaw going straight in on Will Genia and turning the ball straight back over.

2) On the Aussie left wing late on McCaw thundering into a ruck from about five yards out, driving over the ball and turning it over after a sustained period of pressure. I watched him the whole 5 or 6 minutes before it- he was just waiting for his chance. Controlled aggression at its finest.

Thought Kaino and Reid were superb too. One of the best back row displays of the tournament.

The biggest problem I have with NZ is that generally a team adopts to how a referee is taking charge of the breakdown, too many refs adopt to how the NZ are playing the breakdown.

Weepu's performance showed you that demons run deep in this NZ side, if France are in with 20 mins to go, a big IF, then I think France will win it.

McCaw apart from 1 or 2 moments against Oz was poor and I really didn't think that much of the NZ back-row performance, it was their back three that were simply brilliant.

The New Zealand pack destroyed the Aussies, particularly in the breakdown. The old saying about forwards winning games and backs deciding by how much was very apt.

Yes New Zealand live on the line in the breakdown and often over it, but their physicality, counter rucking, and sheer opportunism in that area is superb.

Yea but that was more to do with the work-rate of their tight 5 in particular Thorn and Mealamu, both made as many or more tackles than Reid. The New Zealand back-row could struggle in the final, they were out-played by Argentina I thought.

I just want New Zealand to earn the World Cup and I to f**k France just give it a lash, they don't have the players, the commitment or the nous to play a negative game.

Ditto. I just want them both to bring their A game. After that whoever wins, wins.

[screenexile]

I understand they feel down and a bit hard done by but this is a bit OTT isn't it?!

I know we were way OTT about the Henry incident but it was a lot more clear cut than this incident!

[trileacman]

Can't stop kicking it wide in a WC semi? Don't worry it's just because your Welsh.

[sans pessimism]

I understand they feel down and a bit hard done by but this is a bit OTT isn't it?!

I know we were way OTT about the Henry incident but it was a lot more clear cut than this incident!

Rolland was right on the spot .Very clear cut-He SAW the incident

[Hardy]

They missed a few there.

Can't wait to ask Stephen Jones how he feels about bottling the chance to win a World Cup semi final.
Can't imagine why everybody is blaming the referee and nobody is blaming Warburton, like the kind of people who go round to the school and attack the teacher when their kid is given lines for misbehaving.
Can't find "empathy for the players, the occasion and the game" in the index of the rulebook.

[Billys Boots]

They missed a few there.

Can't wait to ask Stephen Jones how he feels about bottling the chance to win a World Cup semi final.
Can't imagine why everybody is blaming the referee and nobody is blaming Warburton, like the kind of people who go round to the school and attack the teacher when their kid is given lines for misbehaving.
Can't find "empathy for the players, the occasion and the game" in the index of the rulebook.

Oh Hardy, clean out your mouth before Dinny takes you up on that - there are no rules, but laws!

[trileacman]

Can't stop addicted to the shindig?

[Dinny Breen]

France won the toss for the Jersey allowing them to wear their dark blue but are allowing NZ were the All-Black jersey. Nice touch!