Rugby World Cup 2003

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Originally posted by Schumi
If Horan plays against Argentina, our scrum will be in trouble. Is Corrigan's injury bad? I thought it was just a precaution to leave him out of the Namibia game.

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Absolute RUBBISH. Horan has proved himself time and again to be a top class prop. Corrigans shoulder is still keeping him out of contact training it said on RTÉ last night.
Argentina might have the heaviest pack in the WC but, IMO, it's far from the best. Be disgusted if we didn't at least break even with them up front as there's a whole lot of hype, no substance talked about their scrum.

Me no expert but Horan ain't up to scrummaging against Argentina. If you can match the Argentina scrum then Ireland halfway to winning.

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Originally posted by Conor74
Has he no ambition greater than holding up mineshafts?

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Conor, how're things? Did you not even watch the Namibia game? Horan is an absolute expert at chasing, and occasionally retrieving, lost causes. His work rate is monstrous and the 'fact' that he's not built like 'a prop should be' is an entirely moot point. If people look at front row players in the Southern Hemisphere, very few, if any. of them carry ANY excess weight whatsoever. Horan is built like a Southern Hemisphere front row, and noone has ever expressed any doubts about their ability to perform. I'd pick him for the Argentina game, where I'd put money on it that he'd do a great job as well as adding some much needed mobility to our front row.
Btw, anyone know the scotland-USA result, plus the result of todays game???

I know rugby a minority sport 'n all but TV coverage seems at best crap.

RTE basically just cover the irish games plus a few more thrown in & ITVs coverage is woeful for a station coverage basically 4 teams in their country (they get part of Ireland). Will Carling :eek:

If you've got Sky Digital, go to channel 189(I think) the Welsh Channel S4C is the best station.....if you can tolerate the Welsh language commentary!:D :D

Can a world cup where a team wins 143-0 really have any credibility.

I know its Ireland and we should care but I've probably met too many Dublin rugby a r s e h o l e s in my time.(not saying there all knobs but just don't like the whole rugby culture[in Dublin anyway])

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Originally posted by Beavis

I know its Ireland and we should care but I've probably met too many Dublin rugby a r s e h o l e s in my time.(not saying there all knobs but just don't like the whole rugby culture[in Dublin anyway])

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I must say the Paul Howard books on Ross O'Carroll-Kelly take off the south Dublin rugby culture to a tee. Some of those idiots who go around with their collars up, beige chinos and deck shoes could do worse than read them (assuming they can read) and maybe realise how utterly ridiculous they appear.

I like so wouldn't go north of Tara Steet on the Dort, roight, they so wouldn't be able to serve me like bottles of Heino there.

Rock on Ross.

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Originally posted by Beavis
Can a world cup where a team wins 143-0 really have any credibility.

I know its Ireland and we should care but I've probably met too many Dublin rugby a r s e h o l e s in my time.(not saying there all knobs but just don't like the whole rugby culture[in Dublin anyway])

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Which just goes to show, if you want real rugby come to Munster.;) Maybe the Oz-Namibia match was a farce, but, the real business is starting tomorrow morning. Here are my predictions to make the semis:
New Zealand- because they're SO bloody good going forward
Australia- because Scotland are s***e
England- because Wales aren't good enough to beat them
Ireland- because...........don't ask, I just have a good feeling about this one!!

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Originally posted by Shed End John
New Zealand- because they're SO bloody good going forward

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They'll probably beat SA but Wales really made their defence look poor so I don't think they'll get past Australia in the semi; maybe Ireland v Australia again in the final? :)

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Originally posted by Schumi
maybe Ireland v Australia again in the final? :)

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schumi Ireland have NEVER played Australia in the final before
:cool:

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Originally posted by James
schumi Ireland have NEVER played Australia in the final before
:cool:

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Didn't say they had. :p

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Originally posted by Schumi
maybe Ireland v Australia again in the final? :)

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you're right schumi
you never said that
:rolleyes:

Ireland v Australia again in the final = Ireland v Australia again (i.e. Ireland playing Australia not for the first time) in the final (i.e. this particular game between Ireland and Australia will be in the final).

What you seem to think I said was
Ireland v Australia in the final again which would mean Ireland playing Australia in a final not for the first time.

Understand? :)

Victor Costello is not up to the big occassion. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...he can't tackle for nuts, and he doesn't have the nerve in big games.
We will be beaten...not by much, and it will be because Foley will be wearing a suit, and the gorrilla will be wearing 8.
Before the catcalls come, I acknowledge Foley hadn't a good game against Australia, but that was based on three silly knock-ons. His tackle count was MASSIVE and his lack of match practice up to that point won't have helped.
I think its a bad bad move and one that will cost us in the end...:( :(

Was disapointed this morning but not so much from the the fact we were wacked by the better team. It was the ITV commentary that drove me nuts.
Apparently we all call Keith Wood "the raging potato"
Brian O'Driscoll is aka "God"
when we went 2 tried behind the he talked about the need for some "Paddy Power"
and even when Ireland were about twenty points behind he was talking about what a great semi England V France would be.

Was always gonna be tough without Hickie but with O'Gara getting clobbered as soon as he did, us not winning the line outs the way we did, the scrum being crushed the way it was and conceding a try so early on, we were never winning it.
Just hope they can play the same against England and win the tournement now.

Eddie O'Sullivan is a bottler to rival Shels.

When the shít hits the fan and a big decision is to be made he fúcks it up. Yesterday we were "treated" to the sight of the Easter Bunny and Costello in place of Wallace and Foley!?! Im mean wtf?

Against England too in the Grand Slam decider he played Humphries when it was oh so clear to all that the type of game suited O'Gara much more.

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Originally posted by niamh
Was always gonna be tough without Hickie but with O'Gara getting clobbered as soon as he did, us not winning the line outs the way we did, the scrum being crushed the way it was and conceding a try so early on, we were never winning it.
Just hope they can play the same against England and win the tournement now.

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Couldn't argue with a word of that. Still, it's annoying that we never got in their face like we did against Australia. IMO, after seeing the remaining contenders NZ will tear Australia to pieces and will win by at least 15-20 points; England likewise will find the going WAY too tough against Les Bleus and their very impressive counterattack. France v NZ will be a great Final with the outcome a genuine 50/50 call.

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Originally posted by Shed End John
Couldn't argue with a word of that. Still, it's annoying that we never got in their face like we did against Australia. IMO, after seeing the remaining contenders NZ will tear Australia to pieces and will win by at least 15-20 points; England likewise will find the going WAY too tough against Les Bleus and their very impressive counterattack. France v NZ will be a great Final with the outcome a genuine 50/50 call.

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I'd agree with that. France look the best team in the tournament and I really hope they win. Rugby needs a Northern Hemisphere winner.

Crawl out of bed at 7.25, match starts 7.35, match over 7.50am. :rolleyes:

If the irish football team pertformed like the rugby crowd on sunday morning they'd never hear the end of it for years.

Quote of the week from Matt Williams when taling about beating England A a few years ago. Apparently french official told him "...nothing unites the world like beating the English" :D

I must say I quite enjoyed the sound of wailing and gnashing of teeeth emanating from the bugger clubs over the Phil Coulter fifteen being sent home with their tails between their legs.

Shocking to think though that a civilised country such as France, which has given Zidane, Platini and so much art and beauty to the world, should have a mudf*cking team...:eek:

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Originally posted by pete
If the irish football team pertformed like the rugby crowd on sunday morning they'd never hear the end of it for years.

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They DID only a few weeks back.......how quick we'vw all been to forget the utter shambles that was Basle 2003.

Schumi, you're spot on, though it may not happen this time around. Rugby also needs Wales, which made it so sweet to see them rediscover some of their long-lost pride.

Some corrections to the post by patsh:
for 'shocking' read 'amazing' or 'inspiring'; and
for 'mudf***ing team' read 'one of the most entertaining rugger teams on Earth' (bar Munster, of course :) ).

Ahh, John, John, John will you ever learn?
Tis far from egg-chasing that the likes of Renoir, Lautrec, Gounod, Satre, Hugo, Bardot and Mondrian were reared.
They were never face down in the mud, but kept their heads amongst the heavens......:p

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Originally posted by patsh
Ahh, John, John, John will you ever learn?
They were never face down in the mud, but kept their heads amongst the heavens......:p

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Of course, but, it might be a MAJOR slight on the people of France, esecially in the rugby strongholds of the south, to refuse to acknowledge the part their erennially entertaining rugger team has played in the country's history. The way they're playing at the moment they might just become the first Northern Hemisphere team to lift the William Webb Ellis. A scenario FAR more desirable than listening to the English bleating on about having won it for the next 4 years.

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Originally posted by Conor74
But anyway, hope the result sees a reduction in the number of Munster and Ireland rugby jerseys infesting the place.

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Ireland yes, Munster...............not on your life. Expect even more in fact. Christian Cullen arrived safe and sound in Cork at 4oc yesterday. Highest profile signing EVER in the Irish game, and possibly the man to bring Munster from a Top 3 berth to the number 1 spot in Europe. Can't wait to see him in action.

its all o'gara's fault. stupid PBC ponce

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Originally posted by Conor74
Wonder did he get a chance to catch up on the All Blacks games on the telly?...

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i hope so conor74
god help him if he didnt

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Originally posted by Conor74
Bardot?

Heads amongst the heavens?

While famous for her charitable stance on animals, Bardot has an extremely right wing outlook with links (through her partner) to Jean Marie Le Pen, and disgusting views on non-French peoples. She may have been pretty once, she now a withered embittered recluse.

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Sounds like she would fit right in with quite a few of your buddies in FF/PD/FF Independents.....:p

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lift the William Webb Ellis

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???
Is that what rugger buggers call it when they go for a p*ss??:D

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Originally posted by patsh
Is that what rugger buggers call it when they go for a p*ss??:D

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:rolleyes: They say you learn something new everyday (or at least you should), so here goes: the William Webb Ellis is the Rugby world Cup trophy named after the founder of rugby union. I could give you a history lesson here, but, it's obviously WAY over your head!!:D :D
Also, are myself and Schumi the only ones brave enough to predict a France-New Zealand Final?? Surely no-one here thinks England are going to do it, do they?? :eek:

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Originally posted by Conor74
Nah, think she'd prefer the opposition benches. Then she'd have worked with a donkey sanctuary in two countries...:)

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Oh I think we can leave donkey sanctuaries, stables, race courses and all things equine in the grubby little paws of McCreevy and Walsh, sure only ask and you'll get as much money as you want. Yet another exhibition of all the accountancy expertise of a donkey on show in Punchestown at present....;)

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They say you learn something new everyday

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:rolleyes:
Well here is your task for today so then:
Look up the word humour in an dictionary........

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Originally posted by patsh
:rolleyes:
Well here is your task for today so then:
Look up the word humour in an dictionary........

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Eh, smilies?? You obviously completely missed them in my post. Don't need to look humour up, I know plenty of people who'll tell you I have a good sense of humour.;)
Said this already, but, any takers on an upset, ie Australia or England to win through, in either semi?

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Originally posted by Conor74
Wonder did he get a chance to catch up on the All Blacks games on the telly?...

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By his own admission he's a bit of a pis shead so I'd say it was straight to his hotel, bed, remote control, and emptying the mini-bar!!:) :)

France 29 England 26
New Zealand 33 Australia 14

3rd Place Play off:
Australia 15 England 22

Final: France 25 New Zealand 34

Vive La France...............:D :D :D......nearly

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Originally posted by joeSoap
England 26

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But that's not a multiple of 3. ;)

You're not suggesting that Old blighty aren't going to score a try, are you???:D :D

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Originally posted by joeSoap
You're not suggesting that Old blighty aren't going to score a try, are you???:D :D

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Considering William Webb Ellis was the last Englishman to run with a rugby ball then Yes. :D :D

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Originally posted by joeSoap
France 29 England 26
New Zealand 33 Australia 14

3rd Place Play off:
Australia 15 England 22

Final: France 25 New Zealand 34

Vive La France...............:D :D :D......nearly

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I'd be EXTREMELY surprised if England get anything like that close to France, and if France are that far off New Zealand at the final whistle. As for the 3rd place play-off, who cares? Once England don't win the damn thing I'll be happy.:D
Reckon NZ WILL do a right demolition job on arrogant Oz, while my reasoning for predicting a 10-15 point win for Les Bleus against England is simple..............their counterattack. Wales got 3 tries off England with an attack nobody would be afraid of, France are WAY better up front and especially in the back line; all points to a torrid 80 minutes for England.
Btw, bad news for us Munster fans - Quinlan's out for 4 months; bad news for the Leinster fans - Hickie's out for 6 months, better kiss bye bye to whatever chance we had in the 6 Nations and it hasn't even started.:rolleyes:

anyone who writes England off at this stage is making a big mistake - their game against France is 50/50 no better, no worse - the close games England have had will more likely stand to them in the latter stages of the semi-final. England are still the favoutites in my mind. Granted they have not been convincing at all in the tournament yet.

England were unbeliveably bad against Wales. A similar performance will not work against France.

Given the aussie not keen on the french or the 'poms' i wonder who they will support.

The Ozzies did i, they beat the All blacks today, to mark this great event Shed End John will be buying me two lovely pints of Miller!


Thanks John
:D

The English are already smug ebnough with their world no. 1 team status so lets hope the aussie beat them in the final.