Rugby World Cup

Nicely done, mate! I knew there was a reason I like the Scots so much!

You know, it's funny. I was at a biz conference over the weekend and was talking with a fella from Kent. The conversation naturally turned to football and then to rugby. I asked him why the English side wasn't better and he said that then there wouldn't be any whinging and for the English, that's what it's really all about. I had to laugh when I read that first one. It jibing exactly with what he told me. Too funny.

 

The Irish looked like they just phoned it in! The French side were not having a particularly good day either (except for that first try)

Scotland showed some good defense, but had no clue about finding the tryline themselves. No Idea what happened to Samoa, mind you the referee calling the game to maintain a Northern Hemisphere pace didn't help their cause.

Tonga were awesome against the Boks! If their first try hadn't been disallowed with that (questionable) forward pass ruling they would have won -- who'd have thought it a few weeks ago. Here's hoping Tonga shows what they can do against England!

 

So now we've arrived at the quarters. We've got:
Oz vs England in Marseille and
South Africa vs Fiji in Marseille the next day
We've got the hosts France against NZ, but in an away game in Cardiff
(a bizarre touch of which only the IRB is capable)
and We've got Argentina vs Scotland (au revoir Ireland!)

Picks Gentlemen?

I'm thinking England, while improving steadily, has little chance based on their form thusfar, Australia, while declining through injury probably has the wood on them
I'm also thinking SA over Fiji, although I'd love to see them get a surprise or two or three
France has been deadly to NZ at this stage before, but it is an "away" game. C'mon ABs...
& Argentina to complete the southern hemisphere sweep.

What say you?

 

And what will the French do to challenge the Haka? Perhaps they will get naked and do suggestive poses, showing off their manly bits.

Seriously, they've done a nekkid calendar for several years now. It sells out, and people actually still buy calendars from years past when they can find them because...um, it's because the photography is really, really good. Yeah, that's it, they buy it because the photographer has created true art.

You can see the calendar for 2008 at http://www.stade.fr/dieuxdustade/

I'm a French teacher, I played the Kamate theme song for my students and (I think) they enjoyed it. At least the female students did. And I did.

 

Sorry to hear the results were shite for you, but at the end of the day it's good for Rugby if there's healthy competition. There's always 2011 (I had to say the same thing when England lost to Portugal in the 2006 FIFA World Cup).

 

Aaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhhh!
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France is too inconsistent
England is too slow
Argentina hasn't the depth
It'll be SA.
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Ok -- what's the difference between the All Blacks and a tea bag?



A: a tea bag stays in the cup longer....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(samiam @ Oct 8 2007, 07:05 PM) [snapback]522888[/snapback]</div>

:lol: :lol:

Ouch!

 

England beat France,
The argies beat SA,

Then the Argies beat England in the final by cheating (again) and give us somthing to complain about for another 20 years. :lol:

I would not at be suprised to see the main photo on the back pages of every newspaper in the UK is a gigantic Agentinian stood over the broken body of Johnny Wilkinson 27 seconds into the match.

 

Found this on YouTube will watch Joe Cole highlights. Thought of you lot. It doesn't look fun. What's the life expectancy of a rugby player?

 

Sent by my Kiwi brother-in-law:

1.What's the difference between an arsonist and the All Blacks?
An arsonist wouldn't waste five matches.

2.What's the difference between the All Blacks and a tea bag?
A tea bag stays longer in the cup.

3. A man's body is found washed up in Wellington Harbour wearing pink panties, fishnet stockings,
high heels and an All Blacks jersey. The police have decided to remove the All Blacks jersey
to save the family embarrassment.

4. After the game Richie McCaw is walking down the tunnel and found a cellphone.
He picks it up and hands it to the referee.
Ref asks, "How did you know it was mine?"
"Because," answers Richie, "there are 15 missed calls on it".

5. Huntley and Palmer's (biscuits manufacturers) are the new All Blacks' sponsor
because they crumble in quarters.

6. What do you call 15 blokes sitting watching the World Cup semi final?
The All Blacks.

7. What about the All Blacks bra?
All support but no cup.

8. Why do the All Blacks always have two to a hotel room when they are on tour?
So one can perform the Heimlich Maneuver when the other chokes.

(insert cymbal crashes here)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Oct 10 2007, 04:54 PM) [snapback]523439[/snapback]</div>

That utube clip is actually from a Rugby League game -- a completely different sport to Rugby Union. Rugby Union (or just rugby), is what the world cup is all about. Compared to union, league doesn't have as much institutionalised violence at the rucks, but perhaps some more biffo off the ball. The clip though says it was posted in response to to the clip of Ritchie McCaw (captain of the ABs) getting spear tackled by Lote Tuqiri (wallaby fullback) which was a Rugby Union Game that I remember very very well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(samiam @ Oct 10 2007, 04:50 PM) [snapback]523883[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the clarification, Sam. The question still stands though. How long do those guys stay at it? Looks like it's pretty brutal. The linemen in the NFL supposedly have a lifespan of about 60 years. Don't know if that's bollocks or not, but seems believable given the amount of abuse they take (and all of the drugs they take to stay fit for a season).