Rugby World Cup - is your team playing?
#141
poor cold. I think he's gone into hibernation to lick his wounds after Canada lost all 4 of their matches.
Commiserations, Cold.
the burning question here is whether England can beat mighty Uruguay!
Commiserations, Cold.
the burning question here is whether England can beat mighty Uruguay!
#142
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#143
and there I was thinking that you were referring to the Wales v Australia game, Sheila.
today I am Scots and Welsh! [and as a cornishman will be playing for England, I'm cornish too].
today I am Scots and Welsh! [and as a cornishman will be playing for England, I'm cornish too].
#145
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Indeed.
I genuinely feel for England. I have not joined in (much) with the anti-English stuff floating around. I did see one thing on FB which said "Not sure if the Rugby World Cup has been cancelled or it it's just that the London based media has stopped covering it"
For me, that summed it up. It's the fans with typewriters/mikes who cause the problem. To read/listen to the London media a month ago, you'd have though the only question was how many points England was going to win by. Anne, you can believe me how tough that is to listen to, day in, day out.
If Wales win today, that makes a Wales-Scotland quarter (assuming we win, which is never a given). Wales is, right now, the better team, but anything can happen on the day. If Wales lose and we win, we meet Oz. Curtains, I fear.
I think the Blacks will win the Cup (I always think the Blacks will win the Cup), but, if they don't, then, discounting Scotland, which I pray for, but would take a genuine miracle, and I think God's got bigger problems on his hands, I hope, in this order, for Ireland, Wales, France, Argentina, Australia.
Small boast follows. I'm hosting a table at a dinner on the 29th, and the guest of honour (at my table, not the dinner) is Michael Lynagh. Am I excited, or what?
I genuinely feel for England. I have not joined in (much) with the anti-English stuff floating around. I did see one thing on FB which said "Not sure if the Rugby World Cup has been cancelled or it it's just that the London based media has stopped covering it"
For me, that summed it up. It's the fans with typewriters/mikes who cause the problem. To read/listen to the London media a month ago, you'd have though the only question was how many points England was going to win by. Anne, you can believe me how tough that is to listen to, day in, day out.
If Wales win today, that makes a Wales-Scotland quarter (assuming we win, which is never a given). Wales is, right now, the better team, but anything can happen on the day. If Wales lose and we win, we meet Oz. Curtains, I fear.
I think the Blacks will win the Cup (I always think the Blacks will win the Cup), but, if they don't, then, discounting Scotland, which I pray for, but would take a genuine miracle, and I think God's got bigger problems on his hands, I hope, in this order, for Ireland, Wales, France, Argentina, Australia.
Small boast follows. I'm hosting a table at a dinner on the 29th, and the guest of honour (at my table, not the dinner) is Michael Lynagh. Am I excited, or what?
#146
To read/listen to the London media a month ago, you'd have though the only question was how many points England was going to win by. Anne, you can believe me how tough that is to listen to, day in, day out.>>
funny, Sheila, I wasn't aware of that! What I was aware of was endless analysis of where England might go wrong and yay verily, it shall come to pass, and all too soon too. I think that one is always more aware of one's own teams shortcomings, all too accurately in this case.
I would love Wales or Scotland to get through to the semi-finals, but am not holding my breath; anyone coming up against that aussie team is going suffer problems. As for the All Blacks, they have not impressed me - last night they were a penalty try away from going in 14-10 against Tonga, who could rightly claim to have been robbed of that position by some confused refereeing. how do you give a yellow card against the defending team right in front of the posts and NOT give a penalty try? How then do you give two more penalties against them in the scrum and not give a penalty try? IMO the Man U affect was in evidence - we can't give a penalty try 'cos it's NZ. Not saying that it's deliberate favouritism, but they have this aura which affected refs as well as opposing teams. After that it was all downhill for Tonga, but it might have been a very different match if they'd gone in less than a try behind.
i'm sure that you are thrilled about Michael Lynagh being on your table - I certainly would be. Even though he's an Aussie he was a great player and is a great ambassador for the game. give him my love [if you dare!]
funny, Sheila, I wasn't aware of that! What I was aware of was endless analysis of where England might go wrong and yay verily, it shall come to pass, and all too soon too. I think that one is always more aware of one's own teams shortcomings, all too accurately in this case.
I would love Wales or Scotland to get through to the semi-finals, but am not holding my breath; anyone coming up against that aussie team is going suffer problems. As for the All Blacks, they have not impressed me - last night they were a penalty try away from going in 14-10 against Tonga, who could rightly claim to have been robbed of that position by some confused refereeing. how do you give a yellow card against the defending team right in front of the posts and NOT give a penalty try? How then do you give two more penalties against them in the scrum and not give a penalty try? IMO the Man U affect was in evidence - we can't give a penalty try 'cos it's NZ. Not saying that it's deliberate favouritism, but they have this aura which affected refs as well as opposing teams. After that it was all downhill for Tonga, but it might have been a very different match if they'd gone in less than a try behind.
i'm sure that you are thrilled about Michael Lynagh being on your table - I certainly would be. Even though he's an Aussie he was a great player and is a great ambassador for the game. give him my love [if you dare!]
#147
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Canadians don't like to make excuses. So I won't mention that most of our best players stayed home. It's deer hunting season.
I see South Africa is now listed at 7:1 to win the Cup. After their start that would be quite the story. I have a few Scottish quid lying around after a recent trip. Might be a smart wager.
I see South Africa is now listed at 7:1 to win the Cup. After their start that would be quite the story. I have a few Scottish quid lying around after a recent trip. Might be a smart wager.
#148
Nice try, Cold. or in this case, perhaps not!
SA winners? - my money is on Australia. I heard a theory the other day that a country can't be good at all sports all the time, so this year, as England won the Ashes, they can't expect to win the RWC too. The Aussies lost - therefore it's their turn to win the rugby.
SA winners? - my money is on Australia. I heard a theory the other day that a country can't be good at all sports all the time, so this year, as England won the Ashes, they can't expect to win the RWC too. The Aussies lost - therefore it's their turn to win the rugby.
#150
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I know everyone knows this but well, just in case, betting is about risk versus reward. Who wants to bet on NZ at 6:5? Well I suppose millions do which is why they are 6:5. I'm not saying SA will win - just that they represent good betting value.
I agree that NZ have not looked impressive until you look at the score. So they won't win. And Australia can't beat the AB's in an important game - so they can't win.
There are two English teams left - Wales and Scotland. Surely Scotland can't lose to Samoa? I mean, where is Samoa?
I agree that NZ have not looked impressive until you look at the score. So they won't win. And Australia can't beat the AB's in an important game - so they can't win.
There are two English teams left - Wales and Scotland. Surely Scotland can't lose to Samoa? I mean, where is Samoa?
#157
The TV was on in the clubhouse but we spent most of the Scotland v Samoa watching our own team trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; we finally beat mighty Chinnor 34-32, after their no 3 inexplicably kicked the ball out when they had just won the last scrum of the match and looked set to score.
He claimed that someone in the crowd called out "kick it out" so he did! [what us? Never!]
Stupid, even for the front row.
anyway, well done Scotland. As my maiden name is Scots I suppose that I should now be supporting them; as it is, we are rooting [sorry] for Wales as nothing on earth would get me to support the Aussies. [i suppose that if they were playing a team from Mars I might just manage it]
Eddie Jones was on the radio this am making a very impressive bid for the England job without actually committing himself to doing so.
We're out this evening at a friend's 60th birthday party so we will have to resign ourselves to watching a recording of he England v Uruguay match. England's premature exit from the tournament has had a devastating effect on the fortunes of small rugby clubs like ours. Loads of people turned out to watch the first two matches v Fiji and Wales; hardly anyone for the Australia match and very few for any of the rest of them. Such a shame when the RFU relies upon teams like ours to supply their "seed corn" - Jack Nowell who is in the starting 15 tonight played for our club about 3 years ago, and Phil Vickery, of blessed memory, did the same in the early 1990s.
He claimed that someone in the crowd called out "kick it out" so he did! [what us? Never!]
Stupid, even for the front row.
anyway, well done Scotland. As my maiden name is Scots I suppose that I should now be supporting them; as it is, we are rooting [sorry] for Wales as nothing on earth would get me to support the Aussies. [i suppose that if they were playing a team from Mars I might just manage it]
Eddie Jones was on the radio this am making a very impressive bid for the England job without actually committing himself to doing so.
We're out this evening at a friend's 60th birthday party so we will have to resign ourselves to watching a recording of he England v Uruguay match. England's premature exit from the tournament has had a devastating effect on the fortunes of small rugby clubs like ours. Loads of people turned out to watch the first two matches v Fiji and Wales; hardly anyone for the Australia match and very few for any of the rest of them. Such a shame when the RFU relies upon teams like ours to supply their "seed corn" - Jack Nowell who is in the starting 15 tonight played for our club about 3 years ago, and Phil Vickery, of blessed memory, did the same in the early 1990s.
#158
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That one one of the most ... Worrying Scottish games I've every seen. But we're through. And it looks like we'll be playing the Wallabies next weekend. If they play like they're playing now, it'll be tatties.
#159
Hard luck Wales, but if you can't score against 13 men when you are camped on their try line you aren't going to score at all. wonderful defence by Australia, and you're right Sheila, Scotland are toast.
#160
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Two tough matches coming up then. Wales against SA could be thrilling, but will more likely be a repeat of tonight. Scotland against Oz? We can hope for a wonder.
On a brighter note, in the round ball game, thankyou Cyprus. Not the way we would have wanted it but in the end who cares? History was made this evening
On a brighter note, in the round ball game, thankyou Cyprus. Not the way we would have wanted it but in the end who cares? History was made this evening
