Rugby World Cup '03

[matauri]

Bringing topic here from Oz thread.

Greyhawk, the game of Canada v's New Zealand is at 7.30pEST on Friday nite in Oz, so about 5.30a Friday morning Canada time I think. If you get Fox Sport I think they are televising the game at 7.30a Friday(Can. time).

Schedule: http://www.rugby2003.com.au/schedule/byteams.asp

I think the result of that game is a foregone conclusion, but that doesn't mean don't watch the game...because the last match that Canada played against NZ was a good game.

Close game between the US & Fiji tonite, with Fiji just winning 19-18. Fiji had a bad loss on Saturday to France 61-18. UK had a walk in the park against poor old Georgia tho defeating them 84-6 on Sunday.

Results of each game can be seen here:
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/RugbyWorldCup/EN/Tournament/Matches/

My Predictions:
Pool A = Australia
Pool B = France/Scotland
Pool C = Sth Africa
Pool D = New Zealand

Cup Win = New Zealand (All Blacks)

Whether your a fan or not of rugby/football, there will be good games played in this Cup. Even if you dont watch the game, you have to watch some of the openings. Especially the All Blacks (NZ) games. The opposing teams reaction to the All Blacks doing the hukka is worth a look, just to see if the opposing team face them off or turn their backs on them.



Cindy

[mdaiah]

Fiji 18 USA 17 (the goal kicker (US) missed one right on time)...wonderful the see stateside playing both soccer (at which they're getting pretty good) and rugby!
Michael

[matauri]

Must be because we're 2hrs ahead that we got the final scores ;-)
http://rugbyworldcup.com/RugbyWorldCup/EN/Tournament/News/kb1510+FIJvUSA+report.htm


Cindy

[mrbuyout]

Thanks guys I didn"t know the thing was going on.
And I am supposed to,having a site that deals in trading cards!
Shows how well I keep up huh?

[mdaiah]

Ok all you Canuks. Today's the big day; Cananda v New Zealand. Canada acutally has a pretty good record although they got in trouble in 95 by brawling with Sth Africa. I suspect this is something inherited from ice hockey (mind you Sth Afr. is renowned for the odd fisty cuff). So cheer your fellas on! They'll need it against the world's greatest team.
Michael

[Greyhawk]

Cindy, thanks but we have five time zones here so I will follow the link you gave. I am of course going to cheer for Canada because mirracles can happen. lol But I do agree the All Blacks will win the world cup.I got into trouble eight years ago while trveling back from Oz I was cheering for anyone playing against South Africa while in South Africa. They won it that time by sheer luck they beat the Wallabies.

Greyhawk

[Greyhawk]

For those Canucks on the best, er west coast, The Canada NZ game is on sports net @ 5:30 am Friday Morning for those poor souls that live east of the Rockies follow this link to sports net.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/detectionpages/setUTCookie.jsp?userType=1

Greyhawk

PS Cindy I hope you will be cheering for Canada.

[paulhiles]

Cup Win = New Zealand (All Blacks)
Hiya Cindy

I'm not even a major rugby fan, but surely England are in with a chance of the title this year aren't they? At the very least winning their own pool! :c)
The South African squad will soon bear witness to this! mark my words! ;-)

Paul

[matauri]

My money is still on the All Blacks for the cup win. :-)

We will see how good England is faring tomorrow when they play Sth Africa. Sth Africa haven't been putting in great performances of late, so if England gets beaten...not a chance :-) South Africa is really the only challenging opponent that England has in its group. Though, I will be watching the Samoan's face them off on the 26th, they could prove to be a worthy opponent too.

Having the World Cup in Oz is better than having the Olympics! At least every city is getting the chance to watch some great athletes in action.

I give credit to all those teams that even qualified in a very physically hard sport.

"Go the mighty All Blacks! " :-)
Canada, prepare to be beaten :-)

Just to cover my @ss....
"Disclaimer: All rivalry is in pure fun of the game!"
;-)


Cindy

[mdaiah]

Paul, I have to agree with you mate. The all Whites have been doing very well and frankly I wish them luck (early in the piece on the "game they play in heaven' I predicted a final twixt NZ and Eng.

After what's happened in the cricket Eng deserves to recover some pride (we won't mention league)and quite honestly it's worth it to watch the performances of the Balmy Army (whose singing is improving).

So ok after my religious observances (Hail Mighty All Blacks) I'll cheer, "C'on the Poms!"
Michael

[Greyhawk]

I am so ashamed =( we knew that we were not going to win agianst the All Blacks but 63 - 6 that was not loosing that was bloodly well giving up. But we will beat Italy and Tonga and make it to the 1/4 finals.

Greyhawk

[matauri]

Dont feel so bad Greyhawk, Canada played a good game. They locked NZ down in the middle many times, they played a great defensive game. NZ play a wide game (use the width of the field) & are very fast, the Canadians jsut didn't have the fitness or speed to do much with them. Both which come with time.

Did you watch the game? Did you hear the cheers & applause for the Canadian team as they did their warm down lap?

Sorry to make you feel bad again, but NZ was not playing at peak either. Few new players in the line up, and they fumbled a lot of easy passes. Even their captain said they played not to scratch.

10 points to the Canadian captain tho, stating that it was a privilage to play one of worlds top teams.

Next England & Sth Africa. Tough prediction, but I think maybe England. Good luck to the poms :-)


Cindy

[Greyhawk]

Thanks Cindy

I did watch the game I was wrong about the time though as the web site listed it at 5:30 for everytime zone here. I got up at 2:30 am to watch the game. Should have stayed in bed lol. As for Eng VS. S.A.
Rule Britania

Keith Aka Greyhawk

[mdaiah]

for a nation more familiar with ice hockey I thought Canada (what do they call the national team?)did quite ok.
Many aspects of their game were rather praise-worthy and I felt watching that given a decade for the code to grow among young players then Canada will field a very competetive side.
I thought their spirit was great - it's hard to take on the All Black s evn when they're not at strenght because in my home country rugby is a religion so there is enormous depth of talent and a glorious history.
I dips me lid to the Canadians who took to the field, and didn't think they disgraced themseleves at all.
Michael (a former rep player)

[matauri]

You romped it in England! Apologies to the mother land for doubting you, will change my predictions for Pool C to England winning.

But I still don't think you'll win the cup ;-)

Go Scotland ! Scotland to win against USA on 20th.


Cindy

[paulhiles]

Now that England look set to win their Pool, they've got a pretty easy run through to the final (injuries permitting).
So I reckon an England vs All Blacks final! which will be a real hum-dinger to watch, but I wouldn't bet on a win at this stage! :c)

Paul

[mdaiah]

Hmm, injuries in the All Blacks are starting to worry me. But I'll stay with my early prediction of NZ v Eng in a final.
The Wallabies, current cup holders are looking stronger and stronger but they continue to make fundamental errors - yesterday they whipped Romania (I mean who couldn't) but their game relied on individual effort and their play was riddled with errors. However it will be close and Wallabies might knock out Lions - so my backup choice is NZ v Oz in final.
Michael

[Greyhawk]

So did anyone watch the Canada vs. Italy game. What a farce there was many one sided calls by the referee and Canada drew an unfair amount of penalties, but that does not excuse team Canada from playing what I am now calling Stugby (short for STUpid ruGBY), they pratcise here on the wet coast er West Coast, so they are used to wet playing conditions, and in mho they have no excuse for the dumb choices they made, IE. going for a 3 point kick instead of the tri when they were down 5 points. In disgust I turned that game off and will wait to watch the all blacks play.

Keith
Aka Greyhawk

[matauri]

Poor England, it just cant get away with anything! ;-) Can't even sneak that extra player on to the field hey? LOL And what a hoohar that has caused. Is England to be dragged thru tribunals for their 'slight' advantage? Did it really give them the small upper hand against Samoa?

What a boo boo Brits ;-)


Cindy

[Greyhawk]

My hat goes off to Wales they put forth a great game against NZ and kept the score reletivly close. I have lost track of who is still in now or how much longer there is to play.

Greyhawk

[matauri]

Rather than send you on a round of links...here's a snapshot of how the Cup stands on 4/11/03.

Legend:
PL: Played W:Won D:Drawn L:Lost PF:Points for PA:Points against PD: Points difference TP: Total points, including bonus points

http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-A.gif
http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-B.gif
http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-C.gif
http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-D.gif

Results of each Pool
http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-A-results.gif http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-B-results.gif
http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-C-results.gif http://www.activnet.org/image-library/pool-D-results.gif

Upcoming Knockout Matches
http://www.activnet.org/image-library/knock-outs.gif

Note my earlier Predictions >>>

My Predictions:
Pool A = Australia
Pool B = France/Scotland
Pool C = Sth Africa
Pool D = New Zealand

Cup Win = New Zealand (All Blacks)
Sorry Brits...I should have picked you! ;-)

My money is still on the All Blacks to win though ;-)


Cindy

[Greyhawk]

Thanks Cindy

[carju1]

Well 4 Quarter finals that were 2 types of match. france and NZ dominated and looked winners from the off. However both England and Aus looked like they could be upset at half time, but both stepped up a gear and dominated the 2nd halves.

I think England will blast past France in their semi, but I'm looking forward to the NZ v Aus game, it should be great but still a win for NZ.

Julian

[matauri]

There were some great trys made during the NZ game too !

The All Blacks will take the Wallabies.
England will take France.

The Aust & NZ will be the end teams though I still believe.

New Zealand have this is the bag unless they stuff up :-)


GO ALL BLACKS!!!

:-)

Cindy

[carju1]

Well shows how much we know.... I just checked and not a one of us said Aus to beat NZ in the semi. Mind you we were in good company only 1 person on BBC R5 (Rob Andrews) picked an Aussie victory and they even had an Aussie on the panel.

Good thing is the Aussie's hyped this up to be their WC final, so next week they will have peaked, be emotionally drained and easy picking for England

Julian

[matauri]

Julian my sweet.....Not a hope ! :-)

Even tho the Brits have hit the media trail huge with promotions of 'hear the lion roar downunder'..LOLOL

Anyway....England last week looked like they had jsut stepped out of the War of Roses ! Could they have any more injuries???

But...if we are to play anyone... I hope its the Brits. Good times down the pub! ;-)


Cindy

[carju1]

Cindy even with home field advantage I can see the newspaper headline a week Monday:

Wilco Wallops Wallabies

The only hope you have is if England fail to turn up tomorrow for the French.

Julian

[matauri]

Dream on mate ;-)

Might be a really hot day .... fry them Brits ;-)


Cindy

[Greyhawk]

Now lets see if I cheer for Oz then England will win and that is what we really want . That way we can show those criminals what's what. LOL Cindy I have to agree with Julian here GO ENGLAND.

Greyhawk

[carju1]

Not a great 1st half - but what's with the weather I thought Aus was a in Summer and having barbies on bondi beach it doesn't even rain that hard in England in Summer.....

Julian

[carju1]

Considering the conditions, after the 1st quarter England dominated. The wallabies are going down heavy next week.

Julian

[paulhiles]

Difficult conditions, but England kept their composure well. French indiscipline let them down badly. Confidence is clearly building with each game.. Aussies had better watch out... England still haven't peaked yet.. leaving it for just the right moment.. that's next week in Sydney's final! ;-)

Paul

[matauri]

Aussies had better watch out

The wallabies are going down heavy next week.

We're quaking in our boots !!! ;-)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... Oi ! Oi ! Oi !


Bring it on !!! :-)


http://activnet.org/image-library/box_roo.gif


Cindy

[carju1]

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... Oi ! Oi ! Oi !

Close Cindy but I think:

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... 0 0 0 - ENGLAND 22 would be more like it :)

Julian

[matauri]

LOL....how you like to dream Julian :-)

I predict Oz 17 - 14 Eng.

I am waiting to see what the 7day forecast is tomorrow...lets hope for HOT HOT HOT :-)


Cindy

[Greyhawk]

Cindy my poor deluded girl. Oz 17 is not the score for the rubgy game.

It is the combined IQ of the entire Oz Rugby team.

Greyhawk

[matauri]

Heyyy...I'm feeling a little out numbered here !!!

Well..I suppose the England NEEDS all the support it can get ;-)

Can you hear that rumbling? Thats the thunder from Down Under !!! England should know that sound....it has heard it MANY times before ;-)


http://activnet.org/image-library/box_roo.gif


Cindy

[carju1]

Cindy my poor deluded girl. Oz 17 is not the score for the rubgy game.

It is the combined IQ of the entire Oz Rugby team.

Greyhawk

OK which two players were you giving an IQ of 2 ??? or was that including subs? Ah I get it now it was the Aussie team plus the crowd :)

Julian

hehehe we have a whole 6 days to be partisan in the name of sport - Cindy you better get some help in here.

[Greyhawk]

Yes Cindy get help and lots of it, one might also give the same advice to the Ausie rugby team.

Greyhawk

[tertius]

For Cindy (and with apologies to C. J. Dennis and the Australaise....)

Fellers of Australier,
Blokes an’ coves an’ coots,
Shift yer bloomin' carcasses,
Move yer bloomin' boots.
W'en old mother Britain
Calls yer native land
On the field and in the scrum
You'll take your bloomin' stand.

(Chorus)
Get a bloomin' move on.
Have some bloomin' sense.
Play the bloomin' art of
Rugby strong defence.

Fellers of Australier,
Cobbers, chaps an’ mites,
Hear the bloomin' enermy
Kickin’ at the gites!
Blow the bloomin' bugle,
Beat the bloomin' drum,
Uppercut and out the Poms
To Kingdom bloomin' come!

(Chorus)
Get a bloomin' move on.
Have some bloomin' sense.
Play the bloomin' art of
Rugby strong defence.

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... Oi ! Oi ! Oi !

[Greyhawk]

Of course a Yank would have to take the Ausie side, I mean they had to tahe a perfectly good game like rugby and make it into what they call football and soften the players by giving them padding.

RULE BRITANIA

Greyhawk

[matauri]

Tertius...you bloody ripper cobber !!! ;-)

What we wont remind Britannia about is, how they also taught us the game of cricket, and have been trying to play it as good ever since ;-)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... Oi ! Oi ! Oi !


Cindy

[carju1]

The seven dwarfs went off to work in the mine one day, while Snow White stayed at home to do the housework and cook their lunch. However when she went to the mine to deliver their lunches, she found there had been a cave-in, and there was no sign of the dwarfs.

Tearfully she yelled in to the mine entrance: "Hello - is anyone there. Can anyone hear me".

A voice floated up from the bowels of the mine: "Australia will win the Rugby World Cup"

"Thank god." said Snow White. "At least Dopey's still alive"

[matauri]

LOL...ya gotta laff when Britania's residents resort to hashing a silly newspaper poll.

Catch the story & some pretty funny rivalry going on between the 2 countries....

http://rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/18/1069027086907.html

http://ministryofsoccer.co.uk/information/showthread.php?s=&threadid=113

:-)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... Oi ! Oi ! Oi !


Cindy

[Greyhawk]

Well I must say ... I cast my vote and it was scintillating.

But I notice the convicts want to ban the Ausie fight song ... what ever will they do without Waltzing Matilda.

But hey they always have Rolf Harris to brag about.

Greyhawk

[tertius]

Cindy even with home field advantage I can see the newspaper headline a week Monday:

Wilco Wallops Wallabies

Julian

The headline's more likely to read:
Rogered Wilco...and Out

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... Oi ! Oi ! Oi !

[matauri]

re: How to become a Moderator thread

Thats OK Julian ! We got the warm beer (just how the poms like it!) ready for them to drown their sorrows in ;-)



Cindy

[tertius]

Gold Friday!!!

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... Oi ! Oi ! Oi !

[matauri]

A dark cloud descended across my head tonite :-(

IT'S GOING TO RAIN !!!!!! :-(
Weather forecast for Cup is rain :-(

We're gonna be playin against mud ducks !!!

If it rains & we win this....we are indeed THE BEST !!!! ;-)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... OI ! OI! OI!

:-)


Cindy

[tertius]

A dark cloud descended across my head tonite :-(

IT'S GOING TO RAIN !!!!!! :-(
Weather forecast for Cup is rain :-(

We're gonna be playin against mud ducks !!!

If it rains & we win this....we are indeed THE BEST !!!! ;-)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... OI ! OI! OI!

:-)


Cindy

Are you implying:

If the pitch, like a moor
Is all soggy and poor,
That's a pom day.

If the pitch, firm and dry
Sees the WALLABIES fly!
That's an Oz day!

(The post shows a mindset carryover from the latest "Puns" posting parodys of "That's amore"....)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE ... OI ! OI! OI!

[Greyhawk]

I am thinking that the Ausie team should change their name to reflect the true nature of the team, something like the WANNABES

Greyhawk

[carju1]

I heard that the Aussie press is so worried that yesterday they suggested that Fans should stand outside the english team hotel and make a lot of noise all night so they don't get any sleep.

Oh boy when even the Aussie press are panicing you just know the English victory is a cert. especially with a wet Northern hemisphere style game on the cards.

Julian

[mikmik]

3 and a 1/2 'till Kickoff!!!
(EDIT 12:26 am PST)
It's aboot that time - for the record Aussies 28, Limey's 12

[matauri]

Congratulations England... and with much respect!

It was an EXCELLENT game... but in that last minute...you took it !

Our hats off to yas...coz we think it was the best game of rugby we have ever seen played !!

and Congratulations to the Wallabies....they gave England a run for their cocky money! ;-)

I still say....

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE....OI...OI...OI !!!

Cyas again in 4 years !!!

Cindy
(now ducks for cover !!! )

[carbonize]

WE WIN! I post that because it's about time we won something we invented.

[carju1]

Not a flowing exhibition of rugby but a classic tactical battle in wet coditions and a fantasticly tense game and fitting finale to a great World cup.

I thought England had it with 5 minutes to go in regulation then a poor ref decision (Did the ref have a bad game or what) and the Aussies fought back and scored a superb penalty kick to take it into overtime. Again I thought England had it won in OT with a few minutes to go and then Wallabies tied it up. But what a finish 7 seconds left when (the MVP of the tournament) kicks the winning Drop goal.

Great game between two equally matched teams. If it had been bright sunshine I think the Aussies would probably have won it, but in good wet Northern Hemisphere conditions, England just had the edge.

Cindy you may need the Kleenex for the disapointment but both teams should have left the pitch heads high as they all gave 110%.

Julian

[matauri]

It was definately a nail biting game ! Which makes you shout more...which makes you drink more...which makes you shout more again...and so on and so on :-)

You talkin about the bad ref call when he said that the ball went forward & it didnt & England lost possession? If so..yeahhh...that was a REALLy bad call! Ball was clearly in play ok.

And aren't those Brits noisy buggers !! LOL....and ya should hear them now!! heh ...give one good reason to drink more ! ;-)


Cindy

[Greyhawk]

Far be it from me to say I told you so.... but I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

Rule Britania, Britania rules the pitch

Greyhawk

[carju1]

You talkin about the bad ref call when he said that the ball went forward & it didnt & England lost possession? If so..yeahhh...that was a REALLy bad call! Ball was clearly in play ok

Cindy it wasn't just that one, he made another bad (anti England) call just after that and in OT he penalised Aus when on replay it looked liked your chap passed just before the tackle was completed not after. I just feel for a World Cup final that was soooo close there were 7 or 8 Ref decisions (both ways) that wrongly affected the game. Mind you it should have been expected, I felt a ref that likes to be the center of controvesy was a bad call for a world cup final.

Julian

[matauri]

oh yeah...that one ! I was sure the aussie should have kept possession of it too!

None of us were too happy with a few of his calls also. He was also causing plenty of agro with the scrums too. I agree...the reffing sucked !

Maybe Wilkinson will steal Beckham's crown? I think he should. Dam good little player! Bet he will be worth a pretty penny now !!



Cindy

[paulhiles]

Poor Cindy! - quote taken from the "Most likely to be..." thread

paulhiles - most likely to be crying into his beer on Saturday nite when England loses
I'll drink a toast to your good health tonight instead, how about that? :c)
Hope those drunken pommies don't keep you awake with all their partying!

Paul

[matauri]

LOL....OK....I will even buy you the beer & cry a few tears into it, so you can join me in a drink to your victory! (actually...I have to drink to blank out the noisy poms!) ;-)


Cindy

[tertius]

Far be it from me to say I told you so.... but I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

Rule Britania, Britania rules the pitch

Greyhawk

The mudhens ruled the muddy moor, despite the Wallabies making a real game of it !!! Can't wait for the next Cup rematch! <grin> (Four more years, four more years...)

Congrats--Brittania does rule the waves! (And was there any other opponent which would have given them such a fine match in the Finals?)

-Tertius

[carju1]

Oh well still got 3 years 11.5 months to enjoy it so:

This news just in from Australia, where a family of rugby supporters headed out last Saturday to do their Christmas shopping:

While in a sports shop, the son picked up an England rugby shirt and said to his sister: "I've decided to be an England supporter and I would like this for Christmas."
His sister was outraged and promptly whacked him round the head, telling him to go talk to his mother. Off goes the little lad with the white rugby shirt in hand and finds his mother.

"Mum?"
"Yes son?"
"I've decided I'm going to be an England supporter and I would like this shirt for Christmas".
The mother is outraged and promtly whacks him around the head, saying: "Go talk to your father". Off he goes with the rugby shirt in hand and finds his father.

"Dad?"
"Yes son?"
"I've decided I'm going to be an England supporter and I would like this shirt for Christmas".
The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son around the head and says: "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!"

About half an hour later they're all back in the car, heading towards home. The father turns to his son and says: "Son, I hope you've learned something today."
The son says: "Yes dad I have."
"Good son, what is it?"
The son replies, with tears in his eyes: "I've only been an England supporter for an hour and already I hate you Aussies."

[matauri]

Very funny!! ;-P


;-)

Cindy