Rugby World Cup 9 October 2011
October 9th, 2011 at 6:08 am by David FarrarWell they were two enjoyable quarter-finals. I was hoping Ireland would win against Wales, but Wales totally deserved the win – the best I have seen them play this tournament.
And oh it was wonderful to see France smash England. My only concern is that if we play France in the final, they might beat us!
France have to be favoured to beat Wales in their semi-final. We’ll plunge into recession if we don’t beat Argentina to make the other semi. The big unknown is whether we’ll be facing Australia or South Africa. I’m not even sure yet who to cheer for. Normally I subscribe to the “anyone playing Australia” theory but I have to say it would be good to have the Boks eliminated.
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October 9th, 2011 at 6:36 am
No. Wales will make the final comfortably, last night’s performance was the post-Tonga backlash and France are done.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 8:00 am
Agree James (and deepest sympathies); France shot their bolt last night. They only have one performance like last night’s in them at any one RWC, which is why they’ve never won the thing.
But last night they were tres magnifique!
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 8:41 am
Here’s how I see it:
Vote:1. Australia to beat South Africa today – it’s South Africa’s turn to be knocked out in a QF.
2. NZ to beat Argentina.
3. The final four to be the same as in 1987 – NZ, Australia, France, Wales – but with the semis match-ups to be crossed over.
4. NZ to play France in a repeat of the 1987 final.
5. Wales to beat Australia for third place!
October 9th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Rain is forecast all week in Auckland. Perfect! And that means I’m supporting Australia tonight. They are clueless in the wet, whereas the Springbok forwards are much more of a threat.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 8:55 am
They only have one performance like last night’s in them at any one RWC, which is why they’ve never won the thing.
Ha, but they are unpredictable, so you could be wrong
Good on the Welsh.
The French also deserved their win – on pool performance neither England or France look like they deserved to go all the way.
It’s going to be a good semi next week, and thanks to my kids I have tickets and am making a flying visit to Auckland for the game.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 9:01 am
The Frogs weren’t all that, aside from 8, 9 and 15. England were awful in the first 40 and average in the second.
Still tipping the Ferengi to be the first person to lift the cup as player and coach, unless JK replaces Henry and I’m surprised to find myself supporting Wales from here…
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Wales will play the final – they’re one of two teams who look to be getting better as the tournament goes on. The French are all over the show, even last night they were wildly erratic. If the English hadn’t choked as soon as they were under pressure they should have won.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Wales showed class and attacking power. The players were deserving winners.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 9:13 am
Wales are getting better, well coached by Gattland.
Ireland were clueless, ODriscoll is way overrated IMHO, Cost Ireland a try in defence and attack.
France were great, but yes that is THE game for them.
Glad to see the back of Martin Johnson and his boring tribe.
Hopefully the hangover will have calmed down by kickoff tonight!
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Ireland played entertaining attacking rugby for 50 minutes but couldn’t score a try.Wales defence magnificnt. If Ireland had kicked the penalties and won everyone would be moaning anyway.
Vote:Wales xed the line 3 times and won well. They will beat France and meet NZ in the final. NZ will win the tournament.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:20 am
England cheat. IRB smiles sternly and says naughty boys, don’t get caught again. England get knocked out. Karma.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Based on last night’s performance against England, I think NZ has to watch out for France. They are playing fast brilliant running rugby and they are dangerous in the first 20 min.s. Their kicker is good, too, and we’ve lost Carter. So, tentatively, it could be a France vs SA final.
Kicking will be vital in the Semi-Finals phase, as the teams are very close, so victory can be a 3 pt margin (a droppy or a penalty inside the 22).
The key to beating France, is to out intensify them in the first quarter, with ballistic athletic effort with some greyhounds, then go to the bench. This is where I would use Sonny Bill-types (1st 20, then bench em) and let the experience take over, and control the game.
Big Q. is against France: do we take ball in hand and force upfront? or try and out pace and out run them? Latter is risky, but would make for the best game of the tournament. ~ J.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 11:41 am
hangover nearly gone, the Poms next to us were devastated on their teams performance but were impressed by my singing God Save the Queen. Wales really are looking good but both the Irish and Poms were poor on the day.
Vote:Gavin Hastings and “that guy” were MCing our Box and had a short Q&A. I was NOT impressed when I asked if they new who won the Meads Cup and they answered who cares.
The mighty Wanganui were magnificent in the face of some rough house practices but there you go.
October 9th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Wales and France were both magnificent last night- I doubt this French side could string together two performances like that though so I’m picking Wales to make the final Boyos.
England suffered the exact misfortune NZ did in ’99 and ’07 of meeting a fired up and desperate French team…As such I wouldn’t judge them too harshly (People in glass houses..)
As for today’s matches. Aust vs Boks should be an absolute cracker- And I am amazed how many people seem to think the Argies will be merely a ‘training run’ for The All Blacks! They have a massively powerful forward pack and will be fired up to hell for Contepomi’s last match…Let’s not forget they finished third at the last RWC. I think NZ will win but there is no way this game will be the 50 point romp most NZ pundits seem to be picking..
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
DavidC- O’Driscoll overrated eh??
Guess you know way more about the game than Rugby World magazine- who voted him World Player of the Decade! Or the panel that voted him three-times Six Nations ‘Player of the Year’! Even Graham Henry has called him the World’s best centre….
But then again I guess that you’re still holding a grudge against him for having the audacity to complain about being spear tackled off the ball eh?? Amazing how New Zealanders still hold hatred towards him after that incident…
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Longknives – He shines because all the teams back movements are built around him in a lacklustre backline.
Vote:He duffed the ball being selfish on attack 2 meters from the line and cost them a try then was caught out of position and they ran thru where he should have been to score.
As for him getting broken in 05, its not tiddlywinks ya know
October 9th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Good grief. Why can NZ rugby fans NEVER acknowledge that there are in fact World Class rugby players from outside our shores??
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
I agree with Longknives on this one. It appears the NZ press and part of the public haven’t learnt much after the debacles of 1999, 2003, and 2007. The supreme arrogance is still there.
Let’s face the Pumas on the field, beat them convincingly, and then celebrate, but not a moment before.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Which reminds me- Anyone else find TV ‘Presenter’ Martin Devlin’s “Go home Losers” reaction to England’s elimination a little childish and unprofessional?? This sort of crap really does very little for our sporting reputation…
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Id that’s what Devlin did i think it’s emabarrassing for NZ. Awful.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Pete
Vote:He came across as a right smart ass. OK for a blogsite comment but entirely inappropriate for national television. (Is TV1 national television anymore?)
October 9th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
“childish and unprofessional”
Longknives, that’s what Devlin does. Why even bother watching him?
Interesting that Sky have ditched that odious little prat Jeremy Paul for Matt Gitteau. A great pity Gitteau wasn’t there from the outset. That said, it was amusing at times watching Stuart Barnes biting his tongue when he clearly wanted to tell Paul to stop being such a dreadful oik.
Watching Martin Johnson analyse the English game last night gave a great insight into the reasons underlying the state of English rugby. ‘Played well at times, came back well, need to score before the end of the first half, just ran out of time blah blah ..’ Whilst all that may have been true, there was no mention of the total lack of direction across the paddock and particularly through 8, 9, 10, 12, the handling mistakes, the piss poor passing, the lack of urgency and support, the stupid penalties, the turnovers, the lack of scrum firepower, losing crucial attacking lineouts on their own throw, and the complete lack of ideas when plan A didn’t work when they did have the ball. Contrast England and Wales – a universe apart in this tournament.
If the ABs or the Wallabies had put in a performance like this, Henry/Deans would have been scathing. The poms just don’t get it.
Vote:October 9th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Wales should beat France on the evidence of last night. Wall-like defence; hard working forwards; a fluent backline with a penetrative midfield; a magnificent open-side flanker & captain. Warburton was truly outstanding last night, shades of Mourie at his best…shadowing the Irish ball carriers than pouncing with destructive tackles. Picking his time to pilfer ball, really leading from the front….a fabulous player.
France were good but not as good as the Welsh. They had to really pull finger to beat a truly awful England team whose play was absolutely abysmal with no fluency whatsoever in their back play as well as some really poor selections….
I feel Wales, as they did with the Irish, will absorb all the French can chuck at them & are good enough to take their own chances. Their one big weakness, like the AB’s now Carter is gone, is top notch goal kicking.
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