| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| holidaysong |
Posted - 03/06/2004 : 11:54:19
Maybe this will keep them quiet about the Rugby world cup for a while! hehe.. |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Stuart |
Posted - 03/10/2004 : 21:26:20
Crack the whip mate, either that or give some emotional blackmail. I reckon the Lions will give your guys a run for their money this time around, I really think that the players are alot fitter and tougher (both physically and mentally) than 12 years ago (as are the All Blacks). Man, when NZ turn it on they are amazing to watch and can kill off any opposition, so it will be three very grueling tests for the Lions. I certainly think it will be harder than Australia in 2001 (which really we should have won).
The beauty of it also is that if I don't make it to NZ, then the time difference will not be that bad being in China.
In terms of England, us England fans are going to have to be patient. There is certainly going to be a dip in form during the transitional phase, and no doubt the British press will be the devil on the shoulder to criticize at any moment. But I think we have good youngsters coming through I think the future looks good for England.
It's also very encouraging to see the NH teams getting stronger. Ireland are becoming a very good team, capable of killing the big guns of the SH (they should have beaten the Aussies in the group stages of the world cup), and the French (probably NH equivalent of the All Blacks - great team but a little inconsistent on the day) are a world class side. It would be good to see the Welsh..... no, I take that back.
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's danger all about? |
| benji |
Posted - 03/10/2004 : 06:38:21
Yeah - Go Rugby!!
*starts mexican wave*
that reminds me - i went to a 1-day cricket game back home in Christchurch, New Zealand last year between the Indians and ourselves, and we were kicking their ass and the crowd was getting bored so we began a mexican wave with a difference...
we had two waves going simultaneoulsy, but in opposite directions.....
it was amazing - we managed to keep it up for a good 10 minutes...
it was one of the craziest things i have ever seen - it was surreal in a way, and i can honestly say it'll be something that everyone who attended the game will remember for a long time.
but i digress.
I agree that the English have a major transitional and rebuilding period approaching, but it's a bit bizarre i think that Woodward hasn't said as such. I think that the public will then expect the team to continue winning pretty much 100% of their games, which is mighty difficult when your blooding new players.
so i think the public hooplar may dwindle during such a period because they won't be prepared for a loss now and again.
the Lions' tour will be a cracker - and i cannot wait for Taranaki (my home province) to beat the Lions' in their mid-week game - i just wish i was there like for the 1993 game, which was one of the few that you guys won!
I'll be home on early '05, but not for the tour, which is a bummer, but i KNOW my wife would not accept such an itinery....damn!
 "I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!" |
| Stuart |
Posted - 03/10/2004 : 05:43:06
Hey Benji its good to have a fello rugby fan on the board!! I agree it's gonna be an interesting time for England as in the near future they'll lose Dallaglio, Dawson, Hill, Back... players who are instrumental to the team. The young ones coming through look pretty good but it's gonna take alot to replace them and for England to maintain their world cup winning form (or pre world cup winning form as their performances were patchy at times during the tournament). So there almost certainly be a dip in their performance, but with any luck not for too long.
I actually thought that the world cup was going to go down to an England vs All Blacks in the final, and thought that you might pip us at the last hurdle. The semi was reminiscent of 1991 against the Aussies if you remember that one. The lions tests next year though will be great, and there is a possibility that I might make it out there for it, if I can persuade the wife that watching three tests of rugby is part of the sight seeing tour of NZ. We owe you one for nicking it off us back in '93.
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's danger all about? |
| benji |
Posted - 03/09/2004 : 08:42:32
i agree stuart about needing the loss...
should shake the air of invincibility from the backs of the English, and make them more hungry and realistic about their opponents.
but i honestly think the english will go downhill now because so many of them are so old - they need to bring in some younger guys, but they always need some time.
they're gunna be there for the taking for a while now.
i'm just annoyed that i'll miss the france game cause i'll be at all tommorrow parties.
damn.
and offerw, we're a mean bunch, us kiwis, and we'll not settle for what happened at the world cup - hence the sacking of the coach....we were outthought and that was not good enough.
but yes, we've got the best backline in the world bar none.....bring on the lions tour!
but jeezuz, we're doing crap at the Super 12...we need to get our A into G.
"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!" |
| Stuart |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 21:10:20
quote:
Originally posted by benji
i think the 2 big games over the weekend showed the importance of set-pieice play.
England lost primarily because their line-out was abysmal - loosing 11 out of 30 throws, and the Welsh lost because of their shocking scrum.
This meant that both teams were unable to secure possession at a constant rate anywhere on the pitch at any time.
i think that England have lost alot in Martin Johnson, but you could argue that they won the World Cup only by playing well in 2 games out of 7 - same goes for Australia, so i honestly don't think you can read too much into that.
i don't think much of Jonny Wilkinson, and i thought that Grayson had a fantastic game, so they didn't lose anything there.
but from Grayson out through the backline, no-one played well. Robinson should not be at 2nd-five, and this was doubly shown by the fullback (Balshaw?) having a terrible game.
i think Woodward needs to go back to his conventional backline.
England struggled because they didn't have a plan B - i can empathise with that seeing as thats why the All Blacks lost the semi-final to Australia.
Go Ireland!
"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!"
Well said.... I don't think it is too much of a problem, mainly hurt pride on Englands part. We'e not played well for a while, even during the world cup so a loss was going to happen sooner or later. But I think it is what we needed to be honest and I hope that we can turn it on against the taffs and the French. Saying that, they'll both want revenge for the world cup so could be very difficult games.
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's danger all about? |
| holidaysong |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 15:02:19
yeah...yeah...go team Ireland 
anyone agree that rugby has gotten way more popular in the last yr..in ireland at least it has. |
| offerw |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 11:46:42
England struggled because they didn't have a plan B - i can empathise with that seeing as thats why the All Blacks lost the semi-final to Australia.
Hey Benji, don't be so tough on your team. They unfortunately had a bad day in that semi-final. They tried plan B and couldn't get it working.
Whenever the All Black backline gets the ball it scares the bejesus out of me.
As for the six nations I'm with Ireland. |
| Ten Percenter |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 08:13:04
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
>
> FOR SALE
> One chariot, (low-swinging, sweet type),in urgent need of repair
> (wheels have come off..again). One careless owner, details from Clive,
> Tel.Twickenham 20-14.
>
> FOR SALE
> 100,000 Grand Slam t-shirts, ties & scarves - unused
> (choice of 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/2001and 2003/2004 ) Contact : RFU,
> Twickenham.
>
>
> LOST (on way to Twickenham) (i) Plan B (ii) Graciousness (iii)
> Bottle.
> Please contact : L. Daglalio, C. Woodward.
>
> MEN CHOKE IN FRONT OF LARGE CROWD 49,000 spectators watched
> helplessly yesterday as 15 sportsmen choked in front of them,
> apparently after being force-fed a large slice of humble pie. A
> doctor attending the scene said that the men had a medical history of
> this sort of thing: apparently it also happened in 2000 in Edinburgh,
> Wembley in 1999 and Landsdowne in 2001.
>
> IN MEMORIAM Slam, G : passed away, 7th Feb 2004. Sorely missed by
> Clive and the boys.
>
"Fried food, cigarettes, no exercise, chest pain..." (Excerpt from the Angina Monologues) |
| BrendanT |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 06:02:04
Poor Johnny!
Strummer-man
I had me a vision!
It's step, hip, step, pivot! Are you trying to piss-off the volcano?! |
| benji |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 05:46:24
i think the 2 big games over the weekend showed the importance of set-pieice play.
England lost primarily because their line-out was abysmal - loosing 11 out of 30 throws, and the Welsh lost because of their shocking scrum.
This meant that both teams were unable to secure possession at a constant rate anywhere on the pitch at any time.
i think that England have lost alot in Martin Johnson, but you could argue that they won the World Cup only by playing well in 2 games out of 7 - same goes for Australia, so i honestly don't think you can read too much into that.
i don't think much of Jonny Wilkinson, and i thought that Grayson had a fantastic game, so they didn't lose anything there.
but from Grayson out through the backline, no-one played well. Robinson should not be at 2nd-five, and this was doubly shown by the fullback (Balshaw?) having a terrible game.
i think Woodward needs to go back to his conventional backline.
England struggled because they didn't have a plan B - i can empathise with that seeing as thats why the All Blacks lost the semi-final to Australia.
Go Ireland!
"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!" |
| Stuart |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 05:33:50
Yeah, bit of a shock on Saturday. I knew it wouldn't be a walkover, although I expected England to win comfortably at home. Fairplay to Ireland, they played very very well, and we played very very crap. Its a pity that they didn't play this well against France in the world cup, or a few weeks back because on their day the Irish can beat anyone in the world. I have alot of respect for the Irish team, probably my second favorite team behind England.
I think England are struggling with the loss not just Wilkinson, but also Johnson, who for me was the heart and soul of the England team. Saying that Ireland have also lost a couple of excellent players since the world cup (Keith Wood, like Martin Johnson being one of the best players in the world), so we really have no excuse. Weve not really played well so far in this Six Nations, but you cannot take anything away from Ireland, they were the better side and thoroughly deserved the result.
I hope this loss gives up the kick up the arse we need to come back with good performances / results against the welsh, and more importantly the French. Should be interesting, France are on for the Slam, but Ireland or England could still steal the show and win the 6 Nations.
Oh well, we hadn't lost at home since 1999, so it had to happen sometime.... glad it wasn't the taffs or French that did it though.
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's danger all about? |
| Carl |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 05:22:33
Maybe we'll win the Eurovision this year....the song(chosen last night) is'nt too bad!(chuckle!)
CARL.
"ME TOO!"
|
| vilainde |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 03:22:59
Nope, it's on March 20th & 21st.
Denis
|
| benji |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 03:18:10
quote:
Originally posted by bedrock_barney
Not looking forward to England though. Could be painful.
could be indeed....
the English and their wounded pride could be a very volatile mix.
should be a cracking game!
is it next saturday?
"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!" |
| bedrock_barney |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 03:12:58
quote:
Originally posted by benji
i thought it was a fantastic game....
certainly made my day!
and those welsh did not deserve to get even near france at the end there - their scrum was atrocious...if they had snatched a draw it would have been a travesty....however if they had had a decent scrum, i think they would have won.
oh well.
i hope France beats England as well....
that would be awesome!
England 3rd in the 6 nations....hehehe.
"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!"
I'll take a travesty any day!!
Well, at least we were better than the Irish game. Not looking forward to England though. Could be painful.
 "The Pixies are reforming?? / I say bring back Abba, ahaaa!!!" |
| benji |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 03:06:17
i thought it was a fantastic game....
certainly made my day!
and those welsh did not deserve to get even near france at the end there - their scrum was atrocious...if they had snatched a draw it would have been a travesty....however if they had had a decent scrum, i think they would have won.
oh well.
i hope France beats England as well....
that would be awesome!
England 3rd in the 6 nations....hehehe.
"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!" |
| vilainde |
Posted - 03/08/2004 : 02:05:48
Yeah, that's pretty crazy. And Italy won against Scotland too. Wales could have beat us cause France played really bad at the end of the game. I'm really looking forward to that France-England match.
Denis
|
| ShakeyShake |
Posted - 03/07/2004 : 10:12:23
Well one loss against 22 wins in a row ain't that bad a record.
Plus we won the world cup 
"I joined the Cult of this guy / 'cause they took my other picture away |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 03/06/2004 : 13:05:28
13-19!!! We got beat 13-19!?!?!?
That's a ridiculous scoreline. What the hell were the goalkeepers playing at!?!?!? No doubt Calamity James was in net for us!!!
Sven out!!! Sven out!!!
Hansel and Gretel have formed a band, .....And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Breadcrumbs!!! |
| bedrock_barney |
Posted - 03/06/2004 : 12:42:42
Well done to the Irish. That made my day.
I hope Wales can raise their game tomorrow but I suspect not.
"The Pixies are reforming?? / I say bring back Abba, ahaaa!!!" |
| offerw |
Posted - 03/06/2004 : 12:27:46
Oh yeah! That is just so cool. Congratulations, you've done what us SA guys won't be able to do for the next ten years. |
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