Rugby World Cup

[keaton]

Is it right Australia are like 10-1? That's gotta be worth a tenner.

Yeah, that's why i bet on it.
england's mistake is having no full-backs or anyone with any spark.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Is he not or has he not been injured?

he had picked up an injury in the newcastle match, but appears fit now.

 

[Simster]

Our biggest mistake is only taking one open side.

Rees will be a big player for us but if he gets injured we have no natural replacement in what, in modern rugby, is a vital position. Magnus Lund should have been taken as well.

It's a bit like people clamerouring for a 4th striker being taken to Germany last year. The obvious argument is that we were never going to win the WC if Defoe was required in any case. Same here with Magnus Lund - he is too slow, and inconsistent IMO.

 

[Dr Q]

Barkley and Catt together could be quite productive, both also play inside centre and can swap, and both kick well out of hand.

Ollie plays too much of the Bath style sometimes, selfishly taking the ball into to the tackle. When he does break though he can be awesome.

 

[BensGrandad]

Johnny Wilkinson injured again withdrawn from the team fior Saturday and no more news bulletins on him until after he has had a scan on his ankle later today.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Sake....

 

[cheeseroll]

Our biggest mistake is only taking one open side.

Rees will be a big player for us but if he gets injured we have no natural replacement in what, in modern rugby, is a vital position. Magnus Lund should have been taken as well.

Cant have everyone, Moody and Worsely are cover for open side.

 

[GNF on Tour]

In New Zealand there is massive massive expectation for their team to win the cup. If they don't then the players might as well stay in France. TV here has been banging on about it often for the last 18 months and the last few months have been intense. It will be considered a national disaster if they don't win it. NZ see France and SA as the main threats, if you mention England they laugh at you, which is fair enough.

Personally, I think it would be a better world cup if all the Fijians, Samoans and Tongans in the All Black side actually played for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. New Zealanders never get why that pisses off the European rugby fans, most who consider it no better than cheating, they see it as their right and privelege to pick and choose the best players from the Pacific nations!

I have never heard a reasonable and legitimate response on why this should be allowed.

 

[Gwylan]

Personally, I think it would be a better world cup if all the Fijians, Samoans and Tongans in the All Black side actually played for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. New Zealanders never get why that pisses off the European rugby fans, most who consider it no better than cheating, they see it as their right and privelege to pick and choose the best players from the Pacific nations!

I have never heard a reasonable and legitimate response on why this should be allowed.

And the Europeans don't do this? I see that England have picked that well-known Englishman Mike Catt.

Wales have got Sonny Parker and Englishmen Colin Charvis and Chris Horseman in their team and Scotland have boasted an assorted variety of Kiwis and South Africans over the years. Why should we be pissed off because NZ do the same thing?

 

[e77]

And the Europeans don't do this? I see that England have picked that well-known Englishman Mike Catt.

Wales have got Sonny Parker and Englishmen Colin Charvis and Chris Horseman in their team and Scotland have boasted an assorted variety of Kiwis and South Africans over the years. Why should we be pissed off because NZ do the same thing?

The difference being they never played a full game for their country of birth.

 

[Gully]

Might watch the England games on the TV, despite having little knowledge or interest in the game, haven't a clue what our chances are though. One of the three rugby games I have been to was in the 99 World Cup, in Scotland, where I saw S Africa take on Spain...bit of a dour affair and the Africans were lucky to win.

If England or Ireland can't win then I would love to see the Italians win (are they actually competing?), they seem to play with a passion and then their country could brag about holding two World Cups at the same time...forza azurri!

 

[Robbie G]

New Zealand should win it

Though i reckon South Africa or France can beat them on the day.

The thing with the all blacks, as shown in the tri-nations, is that they have such great fitness, that they play explosive rugby right up until the last minute of the game. Often they pounced on the oppositions tiredness in the last ten mintues.

 

[Cian]

And the Europeans don't do this? I see that England have picked that well-known Englishman Mike Catt.

Wales have got Sonny Parker and Englishmen Colin Charvis and Chris Horseman in their team and Scotland have boasted an assorted variety of Kiwis and South Africans over the years. Why should we be pissed off because NZ do the same thing?

Theres a difference between the small amount of imported players (we have Isaac Boss, who's a kiwi; Simon Easterby who's English; and ROG was born in the US) on European teams and the MASSIVE amount of stolen talent the NZ team.

 

[e77]

Theres a difference between the small amount of imported players (we have Isaac Boss, who's a kiwi; Simon Easterby who's English; and ROG was born in the US) on European teams and the MASSIVE amount of stolen talent the NZ team.

As i said, none of them played for their 'native' country first. The Fijian and Tongans played for their countries before playing for New Zealand.

Big difference, IMHO.

 

[terrymendez]

I am off to Lens Saturday morning to watch the first England game....then off to Paris next week for the SA game then off to Nantes on the 22nd.....shame i have to keep coming back to work in between really, but then again it is France.

Come on England.......

SWING LOW.........i looked over Jordan and what did i see,,,,,,DWIGHT YORKE, .......

Classic line....

 

[rrruss]

Vamos Argentina!

The build-up to the RWC seems a bit low key over here. All the players play professionally in Europe as the game is still amateur in Argentina. There are some thoughts that a good showing could revolutionise the game here, maybe even make it go professional, but in reality it simply cannot compete with football in the hearts and minds of the Argentines.

I will be supporting the Pumas unless they play England. And it's not just because I hate the French!!

Russ

 

[keaton]

I'm off to Cardiff next saturday to see Wales v Australia, i'm well looking forward to all this, tomorrow's opener should be a brilliant match