Rugby World Cup

[Monte Carlo]

Hello.

 

Have just finished watching England's first game versus the USA. Some thoughts.

 

1. Our forwards are too old. Experienced, yes, but the Eagles clearly had a more dynamic team up front. The score really didn't reflect the performance (not uncommon in Rugby I think). England won because we have been doing this longer than the Americans, nothing more and nothing less. Vickery's foul was disgraceful, he deserved ten minutes in the Sin Bin and the Eagles deserved a try.

 

2. Our backs are our strength. The US has the right idea, but need more discipline and technique. It will come, bejaysus they have some big players. Not surprising from the land of American Football and Ice Hockey. Ditch those pads and hockey sticks!

 

3. My beloved England, who I have supported man and boy for thirty years (I am nearly forty) will get their arses handed to them on Friday by the South Africans if they don't buck their ideas up. It will be a grisly grudge match and I commend it to you all. We are not playing like the world champions, the English curse across our team sports is teams relying heavily on one player's exceptional talent (I remember Rob Andrew playing a similar role to Wilkinson in the 80's / early 90's). Look at football... Rooney and before him Beckham (etc).

 

4. I don't really follow American rugby, but my friends who are still operational tell me that it has a cult following, not surprisingly in the military. The Eagles clearly have the potential to be a world-class team who could (eventually) seriously challenge southern hemisphere hegemony in the game. They should rise to the challenge and I implore Americans to adopt the game and see it as another way to forge relations with Europe and beyond. Your team did you proud today, despite losing. I know that might seem strange to Americans, but losing with honour is possible.

 

5. Usually, Italy is my 'second team' after England. After today's performance, The Eagles will vie for that place. Good luck, USA!

 

Cheers

MC

Edited September 8, 2007 by Monte Carlo

[Pidesco]

I'd just like to say go Portugal, the best amateur rugby team in the world!

[Tigranes]

Australia beats Japan 91-3... and here I thought NZ-Italy 76-14 was bad.

 

Geez.

[Walsingham]

I was stuck at a rural train station at the time.

[Laozi]

America has a rugby team?

[Kelverin]

America has a rugby team?

YES

[Walsingham]

America has a rugby team?

 

And one capable of scoring, no less.

[Daaave]

Are Argentina in this? If so do they have any chance of doing anything of note?

 

I know nothing about Rugby but Argentina doing well is always good in my book.

[Yuusha]

Look no offense ok guys, but RUGBY SUCKS!!!!

 

I mean what's the point of that game anyway? Is it anything like American 'Football'? You know, a game where you try to steal the other team's umm... land while wearing that stupid looking tights. Kinda resembles the US's foreign policy. LOL!!!!

 

The greatest game in the world is soccer! The real football! Go Man United!

[Daaave]

Look no offense ok guys, but RUGBY SUCKS!!!!

 

I mean what's the point of that game anyway? Is it anything like American 'Football'? You know, a game where you try to steal the other team's umm... land while wearing that stupid looking tights. Kinda resembles the US's foreign policy. LOL!!!!

 

The greatest game in the world is soccer! The real football! Go Man United!

 

I'd just like to add a disclaimer that not all Football/Soccer fans are like this guy here...

Edited September 9, 2007 by Daaave

[Yuusha]

I'd just like to add a disclaimer that not all Football/Soccer fans are like this guy here...

D'ya think?

 

Oh, and for the record son, it's Manchester United Football Club, not Man United/Man U/Man Utd or any other such abbreviation. Manchester United is acceptable but that's it.

[Walsingham]

Whereas football, and particularly Manchester Inc are a bunch of ballet dancers hoofing a bag of hot air about. Um... rather like the Duma.

 

Rugby is NOT american football. For starters it doesn't involve wearing 20lbs of armour. Nor does it involve tight leggings (or at least it doesn't at any decent level). Rugby is a game of raw violence, like putting a pig and a walrus in a box and shaking it. But most importantly it is a rare opportunity to see large violent men picking on each other for a change.

[Tigranes]

Come now, Wals. I had desperately hoped that after the last three posts the thread would die a good death.

 

I live in NZ so there's this big rugby thing going on, never got into it myself, but then I like a few sports and really don't like the rest. Like Boxing or Netball.

[Guest The Architect]

91-3.

 

That'll teach the Japs not to **** with our whales!

 

And by whales I mean our players, of course.

[Meshugger]

Eurosport has coverage as usual, but they seem to be broadcasting it at middle of the night. Where is it held this time?

[Guest The Architect]

France.

[Gorth]

Having lived some years in New Zealand, I can only say: Go The All Blacks!

 

[Guest The Architect]

****in' traitor, Gorth!

 

Pfft, the Haka. Makes me think Kiwiland is chock full of tards.

[Gorth]

I am very careful not to let any Wallabies fans find out where I live... :ninja10:

[Walsingham]

Come now, Wals. I had desperately hoped that after the last three posts the thread would die a good death.

 

Im stilll pleased by my realisation that I enjoy watching it because finally big muntas are having to face others their size.

[Guest The Architect]

Sorry to revive this almost one month dead thread, but...

 

How could we let those ****in tea drinking, crumpet eating, wrinkly old Pom {or is it Pome?} or however the heck you spell it fatties defeat us? Then the Kiwis go and get turfed out by the ****in frogs. Our Maori brothers over here aren't too happy 'bout that.

 

I'm tipping France to beat South Africa in the final now.

[Tigranes]

Trust me, there were massive roars here in New Zealand over that. Apparently the ref was a Frenchie lover or something.

 

And the All Blacks continue their decades of underachievement.

[Shryke]

i must be in the minority here in NZ

 

i really didn't care about the All Blacks losing. in fact, i kinda expected it

 

they've beem remarkably mediocre for years

[SteveThaiBinh]

How could we let those ****in tea drinking, crumpet eating, wrinkly old Pom {or is it Pome?} or however the heck you spell it fatties defeat us?

Trust me, we're as mystified as you are. This England team is bad. Very very bad. Historically bad. Bad bad bad bad bad.

 

And still they beat you.

[Guest The Architect]

Yeah, we really did suck badly.

 

And about the Kiwis, well, they've underachieved for so long. I'm sure they'll do a Geelong, though, in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which is in New Zealand. As in, they'll finally live up to expectations and end all those years of disappointment, so in other words, they'll win it.