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#281
23-04-2008, 05:57
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I am not of the opinion that any team deserves a RWC trophy....they have to earn it and the AB's have only earned one....and that was so long ago its only a deep dark memory for me and I was there for it!
I think SA were definitely the best team at the last one and England played their guts out (and were better in extra time) to beat the Wobblies in the one before after the Wobblies completely outclassed the ABs in the semi.....so I am definitely not in the camp of any team deserving one who doesn't win it agree the ABs didn't get the rub in the QF against France at the last RWC...but hey that's rugby....I think a captain who understands gamesmanship like a Gregan a Johnson or a Sean Fitzpatrick would have forced a better result out of the referee and the game than that...having said that I am a huge McCaw fan....one of ther best no7's to ever pull on a jersey and come to think of it I can't name a better captain (tactically + who would ensure his team got a fair rub) than him from the current senior players....
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 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#282
23-04-2008, 11:45
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I agree with all you have said. It is just that as someone who loves watching fast expansive rugby, the AB's are the most exiting team in the World to watch. If you wanted to go and promote the game to a group of people with no knowledge of rugby, you would most likely show them a game involving the AB's rather than some 3 all draw played in the mud with loads of scrums and even more kicking for position. They do need to go out and get over the WC hoodoo that hangs over them as they should have more than the one trophy that they have won.
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#284
23-04-2008, 12:12
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But still beat the pants off everyone else in the years between.... Bok's excluded..
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#285
24-04-2008, 07:13
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Boks excluded?
A team who have not won in NZ in 10 years and only have a 50% record at home in that time? that's 5 out of 20. I'd call that beating the pants off someone.
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#287
24-04-2008, 11:30
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Poor record indeed, but still better than any one else against the AB's Baring possibly the Aussies.
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#288
24-04-2008, 11:41
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Given that the Bok's were only part of the WC since 95 (Yes I do know who's fault that is...) They have played four and won two.. Now measure that up against let's say England...... And that is my point and it is just my own personal opinion. The AB's have been the dominant team in World rugby for a long time now and yet only have one win in the RWC to show for it. It would be good for the game if they were to win it at home, sort of the last piece of Silverware missing from the cabinet. Once again, just my humble opinion and I do not expect all to agree..
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#289
08-05-2008, 05:36
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whats this about the Ireland team gaining a Kidney....don't realy know the guy...is it a worthwhile appointment?.....is he any good?
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#290
13-05-2008, 18:09
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The England squad for New Zealand...
Any Comments? England squad Backs – M Brown (Harlequins), P Sackey (Wasps), D Strettle (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Noon (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), O Barkley (Bath), D Cipriani (Wasps), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), P Richards (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins). Forwards – A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), T Payne (Wasps), M Stevens (Bath), J Hobson (Bristol), L Mears (Bath), D Hartley (Northampton), D Paice (London Irish), S Borthwick (Bath, capt), B Kay (Leicester), N Kennedy (London Irish), T Palmer (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), M Lipman (Bath), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins), L Narraway (Gloucester).
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#293
18-05-2008, 22:47
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Danny Cipriani injury looked serious.
The guy was in a huge amount of pain. What a pity, I rate him highly and would have loved to see him against the All Blacks. But he is young and has loads of rugby left in him, so here is hoping for a speedy recovery.
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#295
19-05-2008, 08:37
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Sadly these end of season tours are becoming a farce, injuries just eat away at the squads and there will be nothing but easy victories for the SH teams.
The Wales tour to SA was looking to be real interesting, but Wales have lost Henson, Phillips, Peel, Bryne, Martyn Williams to injury, 4 of those were arguably their best players in the 6N.
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#296
19-05-2008, 11:55
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Similar problem for the Southern Hemisphere with regards to year end tours. Our rugby starts in early Feb and by October and November the season has taken it’s toll.
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#297
19-05-2008, 21:39
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Agreed, but at least the greater strength in depth can make those games a bit more interesting when involving the Celtic Nations.
The Celtic nations without their top players struggle badly. England also, but a few years ago England regularly beat SH teams at home.
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#298
20-05-2008, 00:05
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True. There has been talk in the past about aligning the two hemisphere's seasons, but I just cannot see how that could be done.
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#299
20-05-2008, 05:00
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Football/Soccer in Australia/NZ has done it.....its' now a summer sport....most games are at night with some late afternoon games kicking off about 5.00pm DST
would be a killer for the game in OZ/NZ...league would have it all on its own....and it would give NO chance to the players wanting to play in both hemispheres to cash in AB's will have less than 50% of their last year's RWC cup available for this test series....not because of retirements/injury but because they have all opted for the lure of NH Rugby megabucks....the series may be a little closer than expected crowds will be down that's for sure.....there's been a lot less interest in Super14 in NZ since the test playing ranks were pilaged post RWC and I think test ticket sales will suffer heavily as well....I know I am not too interested in going to this series and who's a bigger rugby nut than me (well apart from 3 or 4 of you crazies who write in here 555).....BUT I will see the home Bledisloe + Tri Series matches from the grounds here and in OZ though
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
Last edited by nelsonone : 20-05-2008 at 05:08.
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#300
21-05-2008, 15:54
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nelson
Remember the Legacy of the Baby Blacks. To turn down being able to see ANY test match is sacrilege.....truly... It's the only think I hate about living in Thailand the lack of Test Rugby. At least we have the Bledisloe in Hong Kong coming up. Gonna be a big exodus out of bangkok for that!
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#301
21-05-2008, 19:05
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There is not much that comes close to Test Rugby and the atmosphere that it creates. The game is going thru changes at the moment, especially with regards to professionalism and the lure of Europe. But NZ like South Africa will find a way around it. A number of Bok’s are coming back from Europe to be part of the training squad.
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#302
21-05-2008, 23:06
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i'd go as far as to say there is nothing, but maybe that's just me. frankly it irritates the pants off me to hear Kiwi's (and I don't mean you nelson) saying they don't wanna watch any more cos they lost the RWC and players are leaving. get ****ing real, some of us watch our countries through thick and thin. My mate is canadian, he goes to any game he can, they never win the games he is at, but he misses none. If i am available I go also people who won't watch any more cos they may lose can **** right of as far as i am concerned. e.g. kiwi mate of mine said to me the other day. "I haven't even watched a test match since they lost that QF I am so disgusted" Anyone wanna point out the obvious to the precious wanker? He is getting heaps of stick since and it is well deserved.
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Last edited by Schmeen : 21-05-2008 at 23:09.
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#303
22-05-2008, 00:18
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Got to agree with you Schmeen.
Good or bad, thick and thin. I have had a season ticket at Newlands for many years now and go to test's Super 14 games and Currie Cup games. I have to be really sick to miss a game.I even plan my trip to LOS to coincide with our away leg We have just come thru a good Super 14 with 40,000 plus per game at home, but I go down when there is a just a handful of supporters for a CC game. Sure, loosing is not nice, but it is still your team...
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#304
22-05-2008, 04:23
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Yup, the thing is they aren't even losing, they are worried they will lose so they are getting their disinterest in first.
"Oh, i don't really care any more" Another example of the precious Kiwi / All Black ego.
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