RWC 19

[Bombadil]

I hesitate to point you to your original post in this thread. I think it's basically all your fault.

I plead under duress.

Just hand yourself into your local police station although, as someone noted and not, but not not, to be condescending.. NZ are always the underdogs given population size and general success.

Next time.

I guess this perks up SA but also makes them think 'what if Wales manage the same..'

Should be a good game tomorrow too.

[Forsher]

Hah! Take that All Blacks... rugby can at least develop the illusion of being a competitive international sport.

On the other hand... this loss might make the next world cup unbearable. The last two have been very easy to avoid. (Contrast the cricket world cups... 2015 saw all the bastard fair weather fans that had abandoned the Black Caps come crawling back and, well, this year doesn't really need explaining.)

[Flanderlion]

NZ collectively bricking themselves right now with just over 24hrs to go before the semi-final.

Jackson said there had been no definitive studies linking poor mental health outcomes in fans if their favourite teams lose, though there was strong anecdotal evidence that more violence could occur in homes and pubs, and moods could dip for days following a significant loss.

Hopefully it will be a good game.

I mean, collective mood is pissed off, and many many sirens in town atm.

All Blacks were completely outplayed. 4 more years I guess.

[Fartsniffage]

NZ collectively bricking themselves right now with just over 24hrs to go before the semi-final.

Jackson said there had been no definitive studies linking poor mental health outcomes in fans if their favourite teams lose, though there was strong anecdotal evidence that more violence could occur in homes and pubs, and moods could dip for days following a significant loss.

Hopefully it will be a good game.

I mean, collective mood is pissed off, and many many sirens in town atm.

All Blacks were completely outplayed. 4 more years I guess.

You lot must be hating England this year. First the cricket world cup and now this.

[Costa Fierro]

I mean, collective mood is pissed off, and many many sirens in town atm.

All Blacks were completely outplayed. 4 more years I guess.

You lot must be hating England this year. First the cricket world cup and now this.

Cock blocked twice, and with Kiwis on the English side as well.

[Wopruthien]

Starting to feel sick with nerves. Really hope we put in a better performance than we did against France.

[Bombadil]

Definitely on the line, will SA strength start to tell or can Wales hold the line.

[Bombadil]

ENG-SA it is and I wouldn't place a bet.

[Forsher]

ENG-SA it is and I wouldn't place a bet.

This is exactly what I mean... all sports are a lot better without favourites.

In any knockout tournament, for any sport, the best finals are two dark horses, two pre-tournament faves or, when there is a dominant player, the second favourites.

[Bombadil]

ENG-SA it is and I wouldn't place a bet.

This is exactly what I mean... all sports are a lot better without favourites.

In any knockout tournament, for any sport, the best finals are two dark horses, two pre-tournament faves or, when there is a dominant player, the second favourites.

I'm originally from England but brought up in South Africa so I'm actually relatively easy on this one and don't mind too much who wins.

Having said that i do think there needs to be a clear mechanism for bringing in lower tier countries. It wasn't too unpredictable to think that one of NZ, SA, France, England or Australia would be in the finals. I could see a case for a Northern and Southern League Two competition where the winner gets to join the 6 Nations or The Rugby Championship respectively.

[Bombadil]

Relatively straightforward game yesterday for NZ to take third.. but today's the biggie..

I'm off windsurfing first to relax and then it's over to a friend's place to watch the match. Here's hoping it's a good one.

Rising Sons of England

[Bombadil]

England look nervous..

[Bombadil]

Well.. kudos to SA's defence.. they were monumental but surely helped by England's incessant mistakes. Ultimately I think there were certain problems:

1. England errors - handling, kicking, passing out to the backs.. just a poor game plan
2. Scrums - I think if one team has a tactic of forcing a collapse to gain a penalty there's an issue

Still, well deserved to South Africa for simply playing incredible defence, wearing England down and scoring a couple of awesome tries as a result.

So that's..

NZ/SA - 3 world cups
AUS - 2 world cups
England - 1 world cup

I think NZ would rather England won that game..

[Fartsniffage]

I honestly thought we'd win that game. But we got fairly destroyed.

Fair play to the Saffers, they beat us mostly fair and square.

Fuck scrum penalty points though.