QuoteI think France have the best chance for a shock.
I´ll be cheering for England against Australia, not with any expectations though. I see Mike Catt is playing, some athlete at the age of 36.
o/t definitely but did anyone read the part serialisation of trevor brennan's autob? Gave one very funny anecdote of Michelak getting wound up by some of his team mates.
Apparently he's a part-time builder, and had started to build a 5 ft wall in front of a team mates front door, realised he was at the wrong house then trapsed across the garden to the house next door and proceeded to build a 6 ft wall inf ront of that house!
GAs stuff.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
I think France have the best chance for a shock.
I´ll be cheering for England against Australia, not with any expectations though. I see Mike Catt is playing, some athlete at the age of 36.
England beat Australia.
Fair play to them I suppose. Just goes to show the difference between them and us. On the big stage, they can do it.
I think I should the parachute, because I'm great.
In fact, I think I should get both parachutes, in case one doesn't work.
Fully deserved victory I thought.
Good, structured rugby, good in set-pieces, mauled the Aussies in the scrum, the forwards were fantastic.
One tactic that surprised me was that England kept it close at every opportunity. 22 drop outs and so on, never kicked down field, Wilkinson kept it close, they clearly fancied themselves at the breakdown.
Australia were poor, too many turnovers, and they need a better goal kicker.
Last edited by osarusan; 06/10/2007 at 3:04 PM.
Australia were abismal. England killed them in the forwards but far too many mistakes from Australia. Depressing to see them in the semi final. Have to hope NZ win now as I think England could take France.
I'm praying for a kiwi victory tonight for that very reason!!!!Originally Posted by pete
Australia were dreadful. Looked ok going forward but as we find out if you can't get good quality ball and your pack is going backwards your screwed.
I don't think England were anything special today but they competed well at the breakdown and had the Aussies in all sorts of trouble in the scrum. Their 6,7 and 8 won a lot of ball and deserve a lot of credit. England have to pray they rack up the penalties because when they meet the big guns (New Zealand/France) they don't have the quality to take their try scoring opportunities. They had a good bit of ball in the oppositions 22 today but couldn't do anything with it. I bet Ashton buys Rolland a pint or two tonight!!!
"If God had meant football to be played in the air, he'd have put grass in the sky." Brian Clough.
You'll NEVER beat the Irish.......you'll just draw with us instead!!!
Although it grieved me to see England win I thought Rolland was excellent today. Gave the Aussies every opportunity to sort out their scrum before penalising them. Nor did he allow Gregan to referee he game as he usually like to. All the other penalties for both sides were clear cut. Some of the Auusie indiscipline was unbelievable and it cost them in the end.
I'd say there is a good chance of Rolland getting the final, although if France didn't make it could be Joel Jutge.
Honest! I am not a secret Tim nor a closet Sham - I really am a Seagull.
I thought so too, I wasn't having a go at him. It's just a pity he is Irish and couldn't have reffed some of our games. Would he be allowed to ref England again in the Semi?
"If God had meant football to be played in the air, he'd have put grass in the sky." Brian Clough.
You'll NEVER beat the Irish.......you'll just draw with us instead!!!
NZ look to be struggling. Wouldn't be surprised to see France shade it.
Honest! I am not a secret Tim nor a closet Sham - I really am a Seagull.
bloody hell the kiwi's choke again. Remember the first two weeks of the world cup when the northern hemisphere teams were supposed to be light years behind their southern counterparts? If Scotland beat Argentina the WC semi finals will have 3 teams from the 6 nations!!!
"If God had meant football to be played in the air, he'd have put grass in the sky." Brian Clough.
You'll NEVER beat the Irish.......you'll just draw with us instead!!!
The biggest surprise was the lack of depth NZ had on the bench. None of their replacements made any impact where all the French replacements contributed positively.
The other surprising aspect was their lack of composure particularly when the mounted their last few attacks, typified by the ridiculous drop goal attempt at the end from the worst field position they had in that last five minutes.
England must be laughing tonight and unless France can string together good back to back perfomances, something they don't often do, it could be well be England in the final.
Honest! I am not a secret Tim nor a closet Sham - I really am a Seagull.
diid they not have an advantage that they thought would come f he missed but they were too late and the advantage was gone? im not sure though.
I was surprised the all blacks chocked because france weren't particularly good. Carter was quite poor, he tred 2 of the stupidest kicks when he was in his own 22 but got lucky both tmes.
France were 9/1 when they were 13-0 down, i was gonna bet on them but i didnt bother. argh! It was a definite forward pass for the jauzion try.
I also felt sivivatu ws completely anonymous.
Great to hear a rendition of the fields in the 1st half!
Im guessing it will be a france south
France thoroughly deserved the victory.
Painful to watch the world´s nr 1 try to batter their way to try line. And then they knock on or get turned over with inches to goI loved that bit.
Sorry, I just don´t like the All Blacks teutonic rugby.
I thought France were magnificent. A victory for the team with some flair.
They withstood the battering ram of NZ Rugby, reminded a bit of Ali's rope a dope, popping out now and again with the killer blows.
They aren't. They are representing the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.Wrong thread for you perhaps?
ok so why not play the two then, the Irish and british anthems together? i wouldnt have a problem with that!
no im sorry its not the wrong thread........i follow all sports (as a gambler i have to!), but i didnt give a toss about Ireland and was more than happy to see them beaten
anyway.................great to see my bet France (at 6/1) still in it, even if they are not the best French team i have ever seen
and i fancy Scotland to beat the Argies today, esp with all the frees they will be giving away
Great! I watched it on tv last night, the Haka was great up close. As usual Michalak
Glad France won, they deserved it
I thought Chabal is a stand in for Gérard Depardieu
I thought the All Blacks didn't deserve to lose, but neither did they deserve to win. Make sense?
Another good game between Fiji and south Africa. 20-20 with 20 mins to go, but the big South African pack cleaned up late on, winning 37-20. Some great running from Fiji though.
Last edited by osarusan; 07/10/2007 at 2:53 PM.
The turning point today was at 20-20 when Fiji were on the SA line until they knocked on. A few minutes later SA scored a 7 point try.
The 2nd try by Fiji was maybe try of the tournament although Fiji have a few other contenders too.
Its always great to see NZ lose
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