Originally posted by sjegMaybe the other nations have just stepped back a notch?
What does anyone think?
It seems the Allblacks have moved the game on a notch. The boks can play some cracking stuff too.
Can the North catch up? If so, when? Or are the French already there?
The way the beeb plug this odd shaped game as being some massive sport is just infuriating.
Association Footballs little cousin - always will be. Mind, I'm fed up of the media coverage around football... it comes as a shock to actually hear about a match these days.
Roy Keane to Celtic anyone? WGAF (apart froma Manure and Celtic fans)?
George Best - let the guy go in peace for flips sake! This has had more coverage than Princess Diana... will we get a days mourning when he finally meets the Reaper?
Mourinhio vs Wenger 😴
How about that for hijacking a thread? 😛
Originally posted by sjegThere's not that much in it now. They really were lucky to beat England. And they knew it too.
What does anyone think?
It seems the Allblacks have moved the game on a notch. The boks can play some cracking stuff too.
Can the North catch up? If so, when? Or are the French already there?
What was it 4 points difference or something like that.
Originally posted by Dr StrangeloveThey played with 14 men in the second half!! Yeah, they were lucky to win.
There's not that much in it now. They really were lucky to beat England. And they knew it too.
What was it 4 points difference or something like that.
Anyone associated with English rugby is so far up his own arse, he gets to eat his black pudding twice.
Originally posted by KalsenThe reason they played with 14 for parts of the second half was because some of them were caught out cheating, and hence were sent off.
They played with 14 men in the second half!! Yeah, they were lucky to win.
The fact is, they struggled to beat a mediocre England side. By 4 miserable points.
Originally posted by KalsenOK I'm English so heres an honest reply and view of English rugby.
They played with 14 men in the second half!! Yeah, they were lucky to win.
Anyone associated with English rugby is so far up his own arse, he gets to eat his black pudding twice.
The dominance England had in the 4 years leading up to the 2003 RWC ended with that match. Through a few injuries and various players retiring english rugby went very sharply down hill. On the plus side the team was ageing and had peaked so it was an ideal time to start the rebuilding phase to build towards the next RWC. After an extremely bad 6 nations and 2 average clashes and losses against Australia, England are starting to look a better side. At the moment though this is by no means world class. The english forwards started to show some of the old forwards dominance against Australia last week but hey Australia is also a severely struggling side at the moment also. Compared to the RWC2003 side the forwards are at 75% (could be generous) and the backs are way below that maybe 30-40%. The backs just dont look creative and have very poor field position especially when on the back foot after a quick turnover. So currently I would put NZ, SA, France all above the English side on current form........ but good to see we can still give the Ozzies a sound beating.
The individual talent is still there but the team has a long way to go if they are to defend there title in France 2007 RWC. Have the All blacks peaked between world cups again?
The ABs are still blooding new players too they are also rebuilding.
Must have been a record for yellow cards in the last 20?
I've never seen so many dropped balls from an ab side (wet ball bolliks)
The English are playing as a unit again .. going well in the forwards..backs?? do england have some of those hahaha.
It's been a good season for the abs but don't think this is it..
One player for me has to go..Mauger!!! It cost the last world cup when Mitchell didn't have the guts to play young Carter at the crucial time opting for the more solid Mauger. He is a hard tackling second five...but thats all.
France v NZ .. woo hoo tanty lizing stuff
England's certainly up there but only in the tight stuff. Their backs are abysmal at the moment and they desperately need a game breaker. I must say that it looked all NZ against Eng - but their first try came from a forward pass (don't argue with me on this - I've seen the highlights a couple of times). Take away 7 points from the final score and it looks different, but NZ were the better team on the day, no question. And what a player is Dan Carter! If he can stay injury free (unlike Johnny Wonderboy), he's going to be a great.
I rank France who are playing SA this weekend. This is a tough one with France at home. They've got strong, powerful forwards and inventive backs. Of course, you can expect SA to be physical upfront, so this should be a titanic battle. SA could have a problem with the new halfback pairing who both made their debut last weekend against Wales. On Saturday, we'll see if they're made of the right stuff. Nice to see Breyton Paulse back on the left wing. He's spent this season playing in France, so knows the players and styles. Of course, don't forget that SA's record against NZ this year is 1-1, but this will mean nothing on Saturday.
NZ play Scotland, which will be a walkover.
Originally posted by rhbPretty impressive hijacking.
Maybe the other nations have just stepped back a notch?
The way the beeb plug this odd shaped game as being some massive sport is just infuriating.
Association Footballs little cousin - always will be. Mind, I'm fed up of the media coverage around football... it comes as a shock to actually hear about a match these days.
Roy Keane to Celtic anyone? WGA ...[text shortened]... e finally meets the Reaper?
Mourinhio vs Wenger 😴
How about that for hijacking a thread? 😛
But watching football these days is very frustrating, in my opinion.
A bunch of over-paid sissies jogging around, spitting, swearing, and falling to the ground like a sack of potatoes every three seconds, holding their faces as if someone's just ripped out their innards, and then hopping back up when the ref doesn't give a free.
It's also a non-contact sport now, so there won't be many more Roy Keanes arriving any time soon. Spike Milligan got this one right a few years back, defining it a sport for 'noofters'. And sadly, that's what it is these days. Shame, really.
Originally posted by buffalobillWith that tight 5, I fear for our (Ireland's) scrummaging in the six nations, when we meet the English. It's an impressive set-up.
England's certainly up there but only in the tight stuff. Their backs are abysmal at the moment and they desperately need a game breaker. I must say that it looked all NZ against Eng - but their first try came from a forward pass (don't argue with me on this - I've seen the highlights a couple of times). Take away 7 points from the final score and it ...[text shortened]... ar is 1-1, but this will mean nothing on Saturday.
NZ play Scotland, which will be a walkover.
But I'd like to see some more inventive running before England impressed me as a team. On present form, I would say they'd be about 4th, behing the French, Blacks, and Boks.
Plus, even though we're in a slump, the Welsh and the Irish will have a go too- so write us off at your peril. (although I'm not as quite as confident about our team as I have been the last two seasons... but maybe just when drico gets back... you live in hope!).
Yes... poor old Scotland. We've all been there. Who fancies Italy to avoid the wooden spoon again this year?- I certainly do.
And here's controversy for you.
It might be seen as bad sportsmanship to point out now the All Blacks are in such great form, but there's been a bit of chat lately about how NZ fish players from the islands (Tonga, Figi, and Samoa).
Should this be allowed to go on? Is it fair overall... but especially on those three island nations?
Speaking as a citizen of an island nation on the other side of the world, I can say that it's very frustrating to lose one of your own to a larger force in rugby. What do you all think?
Originally posted by sjegI totally agree. The Pacific islands seem to serve as feeders for NZ, which is wrong, particularly since there doesn't seem to be any residency period required. I'd have supported a move to get the Islanders as a team in the (now) Super 14. The problem at the moment there's no money, so the players have to go overseas - mostly to NZ.
And here's controversy for you.
It might be seen as bad sportsmanship to point out now the All Blacks are in such great form, but there's been a bit of chat lately about how NZ fish players from the islands (Tonga, Figi, and Samoa).
Should this be allowed to go on? Is it fair overall... but especially on those three island nations?
Speaking as a cit ...[text shortened]... t's very frustrating to lose one of your own to a larger force in rugby. What do you all think?
Originally posted by buffalobillThe islands rely on money from jobs in NZ. Thousands of islanders live and work in nz to support extended families back home. The children are often shipped off to nz for a better education and start in life. The extended familes are mostly dual nationals.
I totally agree. The Pacific islands seem to serve as feeders for NZ, which is wrong, particularly since there doesn't seem to be any residency period required. I'd have supported a move to get the Islanders as a team in the (now) Super 14. The problem at the moment there's no money, so the players have to go overseas - mostly to NZ.
Once they get to secondary school it often becomes apparently they are destined to be pro football code players and choose league or union to make a living. At that stage they have to choose who to play for.. if they turn out for say Samoa.. they can't play for the ABs and lose potentially hundred of thousands of dollars. They try there hardest to play for the ABs.
You can't stop this when they have spent most of their lives in NZ and have all there familes here.
Yes lots more money inc IRB money should go to the islands but even if they were in the 14 nations who is going to pay for it..... NZ?
It is not the same for a Scot who wants to play for England he can still make a good living playing ofr scotland... heck enough kiwis play for 6 nations sides.
Anyway.. the latest buzz is that the NZ Union is about to sign big numbers of league players to Union. Something to do with an ethnic "whitening" on League down under to make league a more acceptable game... All BS media reporting but all isn't as well as it should be in paradise.