Rugby - formerly 6Nations, formerly WRC

Keg - what cup did you win in 98? Tri-nations or Bledesloe?

I think the refereeing in that game today was appalling. The amount of infringements at the breakdown was beyond belief. Then despite NZ having the better share of possession and an even penalty count, he sin binned Hayman for a nothing offence in the middle of the field. Two tries and a resurgent Australia later, NZ lost. as a neutral I don't particularly care who wins but a level playing field isn't too much to ask for.

I think the problem with NZ, especially against Australia for some reason, is they are prone to switch off for periods - like they get lulled into a familiar rhythm. Just after Rodney bombed that try in the first half NZ almost went to sleep, like they thought they had it in the bag. Carter was very disappointing, why he didn't hand the kicking duties off to McAlister after missing two in a tight game I don't know.

U-Borat don't know what game you were watching but Mortlock was man of the match to me, some storming line breaks through the midfield, tackled well, kicking was a little iffy but his leadership was good. I think Giteau needs to do more, he doesn't seem to take on the defense any more and switching between 9 and 12 doesn't help, perhaps all that money has made him soft. Tuqiri isn't a 13, they just need to get him involved some more and he also needs to go looking. I'm amazed NZ didn't test Huxley more. Let's hope SA don't put out a second string for their last matches, that would be bang out of order.
 
Semantics aren't a part of sport Kater, you know that. 'Passion' says the man doing the spastic robot.

Refereeing? Crap at the breakdown, but where was the advantage when Australia lost 40 yards on two supposed plays for the betterment of the game in the first half? Crap on both sides. NZ were infringing in the 22 consistently enough for joubert to send someone off and unfortunately he didn't give a warning. Doesn't have to, that's a players fallacy. (I, like half a million Aussies told Heyman he was a doag. Scrum still looked weak against seven guys.)

Kater, don't tell me you're not excited after that game. Transitive properties state that Wales, pushing Australia with a second string team, watch as we beat teh AB's, are thinking to themselves, 'why not?'

Mortlock was man of the match. The guy is a talisman against the AB's. 4 million people screaming for Tana. (I'm one of them.)

Giteau? Wasted at twelve as he is cut out a lot for the barnstorming Mortlock. Put him either to thiteen and mortlock to twelve, or run him off the bench as an impact player and start Staniforth. Two runners bashing the line would be magnificent, with Gits being the 40 minute man, covering every position. (With the exception of Hooker. i don't think he can throw. Ah Jeremy Paul, where art thou.)

Not only Latho to come back, but the only man to make Heyman look like a johnny come lately to come back. Rodney Blake v teh Highlanders not only held the scrum, but made Heyman look pathetic around the field. Put him in the loose.

It's sad when Australia's weakness is their backline.

Muggleton.

I just hit my head.

In 1998 we won the 1999 WC at the 'G.' The MCG. 'I'm Victorian,' he said with a wig and powder ruining his disgusting looks.

Kater, Hook versus Jones... and gareth Jenkins' facial expressions?

Only nation to twice win three of the four major world cups? Australia baby, and only one of them our major sports.

And as an after thought, How weak is the South African scrum?

Also, Argentina to win the cup.

Vickerman to be made president of anything he damn well wants.

Jethro Tull rocks (it is a passion play.)
 
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Did you hear me at the G last night?

The whole last three minutes I was screaming "Get off the ball! Give the ball back! Why don't you underarm bowl it?" Damn smothering tactics.

It was hilarious up till then tho. The ref had one arm and it kept pointing at the Aussies. And everytime the Wannabies got the ball we'd yell, "Kick it away!" and they did! :D

Had to hide the black gear at the bar afterwards tho... damn cocky aussies. Still, the night was a blast and the game was so close. Shame it wasn't three minutes longer... ;)
 
Yeah, then the score would have been 27-15. :D

Mortlock had a great game....but he's past his best as a whole.
And his kicking is woeful- we need some help in that department.
 
Except he kicked 6 out of 6 when you should have won against SA ;)

Refereeing is crap full stop at the moment, the best referee in the world at present is English - which says it all :)

I'm excited about Wales vs Oz, I think we're very evenly matched and hopefully the French conditions will suit us both. It's just annoying the tournament is so damn expensive and poorly timed, post summer holidays in the NH means I haven't got any holiday left to take. The TV will be my friend :D

I've never rated Heyman as highly as most people seem to, he seems more of a solid presence than a destructive scrummager like Woodcock can be. SA also disappointing in that facet, I think their loosies just lean on because their front five is as good as anyone's. Look to a full French frontrow and the Argies to give teams a lesson in the nasty scrums.

You're backline isn't running straight enough, they seem to either cut angles close to contact which isn't any good or drift too close to touch. Tuqiri coming back on a short pass from Giteau with Mortlock drawing the defense away to touch is a dream move ... that never gets used. Also haven't seen Giteau run the arc and challenge the 12-13 channel lately. Reliance on only using one wing makes thing predictable and Latham will change a lot of this if he returns 80%+ fit. Larkham needs to take on the line and Palu needs to run more at the fringes to tie in players to create space out wide. The scrum for you is the same as us, a way to restart the game, with stupid subs on after 50 mins you can't wear people out and dominate like you used to, 60+mins into a game is when props blow up but now they don't have the chance.

I'll take Jones-Hook-Shanklin as 10, 12, 13 please - better balance and less responsibility on Hook straight away. Gareth Jenkins won't last much longer in the job imo, he had all the best players etc at Llanelli and barely cut it, now at international level he's been exposed as a words-only coach, nice ideas but no stamp of authority or ruthlessness.

Final thought: Ireland, Argentina and France all in one group, Ireland vs Argentina as the last group game, can you say intensity. Samoa as dark horses and still no surprises in the semi-finalists.
 
^^It's not like they were all 40 metre kicks from the sideline.

Is there anywhere you can pull out kicking percentages?
Because he'd be a long way below other 1st options like Montgomery/Carter etc.

Australia's front row is going to be mauled unless changes/improvements are made, by pretty much every decent rugby nation.
But oh snap, smith, vickerman, sharpe, elsom and palu is a damn good back row. and waugh as well.

I think there needs to be more tactical kicking in rugby in general; something they should steal from rugby league....
 
Sheepie, I heard you all through out that match and let me tell you, I was a confused Wallaby. 'We used to be friends' Dandy's was going through my head, but I fought it with my Little black school Jumper. Eden Park, the battle for Eve. Bring it.

No Ryan Jones Kater. For me, it's like Umaga retiring, you just don't know now. The guys a force like Kefu was for us. It gives me hope.

Jones over Hook? Jones the grand slam winner... Hook the incumbent... i think I have to agree with you here, Jones is your Larkham, you don't get rid of that sort of player. Plus Wlaes hasn't solidified 12.

Shanklin? The guy for me, as well as Ryan Jones, are the two who put Wales over the top in that Grand Slam year. Any team without Shanklin is a travesty. If I were to pick a world team, Shanklin would be in there. Next to Giteau.

As for Heyman. Around the ground he's average. In teh scrum, he holds it when Woodcock drops off, or when the ref's on the other side, he pulls out. Quality scrummager, around the ground.... Questionable.

U-Borat, Hoiles is easily our best 8 and with Vickerman and Sharpe pushing, he isn't a factor. Run on ball, still not a factor as Australia is a League country, so we know how to exploit lines and defend them.

France to crumble and Argentina, Ireland to get through. The French public will pay for chanting All Blacks after the shut out.

Final thought: Fairbanks to question life after Latho gets injured winning the game for Australia at Eden Park.
 
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Double post.

By the bye Sheepie, where are we watching the cup final?

Sorry, positioning the impetus.

But now that I can't go to the cup, where are we watching the final?
 
Nah Ryan Jones has been underperforming for months (think he was rushed back from his last shoulder op) instead we will use mop magic to get all the way. Charvis is in the form of his life, big man, good in the tackle, snaffles lots and adds some bosh to our defence with Popham. Trouble is our season has gone and the boys have to get into a WC on the back of limited playing time and a break, whereas the smart southern hemisphere schedule means the tri-nations are coming in with a wet sail - sensible planning me thinks. France in France can go one of two ways, all the way or out in the group stage. Until they start playing I bet even they don't know what kind of form they are in, I've got a sneaky wager on them making the final.
Aus vs NZ is a coin toss, I'll wait until the 81st minute before making a prediction ...
 
Colin Charvis.... the man who gave Australia there home final in the last cup. I remember the game, Wales starting big and heavy, but not able to carry teh full eighty minutes.

Charvis at six, Popham at seven over Martyn Williams and Jones at eight. It's the only team that matches Collins, McCaw and So'iallo, who are the worlds best back row.
 
My place, foxtel, big screen, party straight after around the corner... let's hope we're still smiling! :D

I dunno how you heard me over my pommy friend next to me. When poms turn into Wallaby supporters they're loud! Top swearers too. :D
 
I'll be there. Bells and whistles.

('Yes, I am serious,' he said after applying the make up.)
 
I see you've got your little black rugby jumper on, and a big smile... you'll need to wear those too. :D
 
I've just noticed that I have my black jumper on now. It's lucky, as an Australian, I'm yellow all over. Wait a sec, Canary yellow... Aussie Gold and don't you forget it. Aussie Gold. Yep, Aussie gold. With bits of green. Green with envy. Aussie Gold. I think we need new jumpers.
 
A Loss....bummer.
Chris Latham looked ok...but I didn't watch the last 10 minutes.
Mortlock was great attacking NZ's center pairing.
 
Can I just say: :D :D :D :D :D

Keg, maybe you should lay off the ciggies and beer at least until the yellow clears up.
 
I'd like to Sheepie, but, well you know... I like that liver tinge. You'd better tell me where we're watching that cup, as seriousness is a clothed leper.

Mr Borat sir, we've got hte WC. It's ours, don't worry about the scoreline. It's ours.
 
You mean it'll be yours on the radio the next morning. 3 points for a hissy fit, 3 points for a bad ref call, etc, etc, etc.

Shall we talk about the netball then? No?

Okay...

Go Socceroos!
 
Yeah, but yours are all skinny and sunburnt so the ref won't see them. It's just a technical 3 points, won't change the game score.
 
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