Rugby World Cup

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41

That calls did not make a diffrence. If McAllister was not sent off one of the forwards would have been for collapsing the maul just before. The difference was the subs both teams made. France’s bench was a lot stronger than the AB’s. My opinion on the bench:

Andrew Hore
Not good enough for this level. Still better than Oliver, who is way beyond his sell by date.

Chris Jack
Way past his best. He spent his evening on the wing watching a good match.

Chris Masoe
He has never been good enough for international test rugby.

Brendon Leonard
He was half of the ABs problem. Slowing things down and giving France time to align their defence.

Nick Evans
Did well. But has always had distribution problems. He is a great running flyhalf but can not spread the ball.

Isaia Toeava
Who? There must be better players than this guy in New Zealand

France’s bench had a great impact.

Szarzewski
Brought greater pace than Ibanez.

Poux
Strenghtend the scrum when he came on.

Chabal
Was brilliant, again. Turned over vital ball and made a physical impact.

Harinordoquy
Played really well. Great on defence and did well when the French scrum had problems

Michalak
Wow. He can be useless, but he can also be awesome. His introduction into the game was timed perfectly and swung it France’s way.

Dominici
Solid.

42

I get the feeling that Atletiek has really enjoyed this day. :smiley:

43

yea, lets hope fiji wins LOL

44

The All Blacks are the Asafa Powell’s of rugby. choke.

45

For a split second I thought he was going to award a penalty try and there was no way it was a definite score. We’ll have to disagree on that one.

McCaw has admitted they got rattled and certainly they played into France’s hands.

You’ll get no argument from me re our bench apart from Evans. He has been the best AB of the cup. I can’t understand why he didn’t take the conversion of So’oialo’s try :confused: There are even a few who felt he should have started ahead of Carter who has been out of sorts this year…basically since the 22 were pulled from the S14 :cool:

46

The Aussies and Kiwis only went over there for the champagne anyway…isn’t that right John?!

47

The AB’s peaked too early. I think pulling them from the S14 backfired. I hope the Boks dont have the same problem, after sitting out the tri nations. They should not this week but next week against the Pumas or in the final could be a problem. I have the same fear about their bench. I think our bench is certainly stronger than the AB’s but there could also be questions about some individuals. If you look at our bench:

16 Gary Botha
Not in the same league as Smit.

17 Gurthro Steenkamp
Will get killed in the scrums against the Pumas/English/French

18 Jannie du Plessis
Very limited experience at test level

19 Johannes Muller
Good enough to step up, but under a injury cloud

20 Wickus van Heerden
Good enough to compete with the best

21 Ruan Pienaar
Awesome, if they can only find him a position. Good in attack, but on defence, particularly at fullback a bit suspect

22 Wynand Olivier / Andre Pretorius
Pretorius can swing the match, if his is on his game, that unforunatly only happens every couple of months. Olivier is one of the most limited rugby players in the RWC, and must be wondering what he is doing in France.

48

You bet your life. What a great weekend, so far:
England beats Australia
France beat New Zealand
Lewis Hamilton drops out of the Chinese GP
SA cricket team wips Pakistan
My Currie Cup rugby team wins 75-0

I should have played lotto. :slight_smile:

49

Commentator Murray Deaker described the result as nothing short of a national disaster.

“Sadly we are a dumb rugby nation, we don’t play the big matches well,” he said.

“We play them in a boofhead way. We were a bunch of boofheads playing out there tonight against a French side that isn’t that good. On the big occasions we choke.”

50

The reconditioning wasnt why they lost. This is what happens when you play romania, a poor italian side, portugal, and scotland B then have a real pressure match.

51

I thought you saved the champagne for celebrating when you win :cool: Aus losing too is about the only consolation out of the day :stuck_out_tongue:

Raps, they knew they had an easy pool months ago, sorry but that excuse doesn’t wash with me.

I need to clarify I’m not blaming the ref for the loss just saying a couple of poor calls (IMHO) were major factors. At the end of the day the AB’s dominated in every stat except for the one that counts and that is the scoreboard at the end.

52

After these comments I will stop making fun of you guys. Grace in such an important loss.

53

Quarterfinal loss a ‘blow to Kiwi tribe’
By RUTH HILL - The Dominion Post | Monday, 8 October 2007

The All Blacks’ ignominious defeat by the French has plunged New Zealand into mourning because our national psyche has been wounded, mental health experts say.

Wellington psychotherapist Gordon Hewitt said the extreme reaction was symptomatic of tribal behaviour.

“Most people I have talked to have been shocked by how much they have been affected by it when they didn’t know they cared that much … A big loss even affects the sharemarket, apparently.”

The rugby team was a surrogate tribe, he said.

“Throughout human history, belonging to a group was very important for survival, and now it’s almost like we are in danger because the French have beaten us.”

Rugby was more than the national game, it was almost the national religion - hence the eagerness of politicians to cash in on the feelgood factor by planting themselves in the front row.

“It’s supposed to be the thing at which New Zealanders are the best in the world. We are pretty invisible the rest of the time.”

Mr Hewitt’s advice to New Zealanders in Mental Health Awareness Week is to “look after themselves and get it in perspective”.

Psychologist Marc Wilson said shattered fans could ease their anguish by sticking with the World Cup till the bitter end.

“If I was giving a prescription I would say, convince yourself we should have won if it wasn’t for the referee cheating, and at least a southern hemisphere team is going to win,” the Victoria University psychology school deputy head said.

“Put everything behind the South Africans.” .

Pained supporters should spare some thought for the All Blacks, who would be hurting more.

Having the hopes of a nation on their shoulders, and knowing past sides had failed to bring home the cup would have played on the minds of the All Blacks, he said.

“They aren’t just the All Blacks - they are playing for us.”

Meanwhile, he urged people to remind themselves “there are a hell of a lot of good things out there”.

“Spend time with your kids, take your son out, toss the ball around in the park. That’s the most important thing. This is not the end of the world.”

With NZPA

54

Congrats to SA 37-20 winners V Fiji…at least 1 match has gone as predicted.

55

So the Semi Finals are

SA v Arg
England v France

Is that correct.

Come one France and Argentina :smiley:

56

All Blacks for sale on Trade Me

Downcast Kiwi sports fans have shown their humorous side in the face of the weekend’s disappointing Rugby World Cup exit with attempts to sell the All Blacks, the referee and the IRB team on Trade Me.

This morning Trade Me pulled one ad offering the All Blacks team with bids having reached $11 - just a day after their shock quarterfinal exit from the tournament in France.

However, by early this afternoon, another had appeared purporting to sell a “used All Black team”. It was also withdrawn this afternoon by Trade Me.

The seller, listed in Huntly, had said the team was "fully reconditioned earlier this year, and all parts rotated.

"Unfortunately the choke is stuck on full.

“Pickup from Auckland Airport.”

One person, who had bid $1 asked that it be withdrawn as a cheaper model had just been secured at Sydney Airport for 50c while the seller declined a trade for a lemon, stating the “taste in my mouth is already too strong”.

Queried whether the team came with “cotton wool” the seller said packaging had already been donated to the thousands of unfortunate supporters who paid their hard earned money to watch them. “But please note - this isn’t the gutless model, it is the brainless model … worth considerably less … the dumbest All Black team ever!”

The seller also added: “Never before has so much been given to so few in return for so little.”

Also listed have auctions for the referee Wayne Barnes and the credibility of the IRB.

The IRB “seller” said he was “not expecting this to sell for much, as it’s a bit old and runs pretty unpredictably. As a result I wouldn’t buy it expecting that you’ll be able to turn the game into a truly international sport such as football, as its pretty convoluted.”

The seller then listed numerous faults with the IRB from the refereeing appointment to colour clashes with jerseys and added they didn’t have the heart to fix it.

The earlier listing attempting to sell the All Blacks, posted by “surferboy83” from Manukau in Auckland read “Used All Blacks, damaged, emotional, heart broken, selling due to needing a new team to win for NZ in 2011. Grab a bargin (sic). Note whole team will be sold as a group.”

Questions posted for this auction queried whether buyers would get value for money.

“Starting bid of $1 is a bit steep isn’t it?”, one person queried.

Another asked whether refunds would be given for defective goods, but the seller responded the team was being sold “as is where is”.

Individually up for sale were Neemia Tialata and Jerry Collins - “brand new, never used”.

Fans - no doubt hoping to forget the whole sad event - were also quick to put memorabilia up for sale.

A “wet and limp” All Blacks flag was described as being limp like the team it represented and wet like the “wet fish referee” we had to endure.

Another flag was described as being damp from wiping tears and came with suggested new uses, including tying French legs together, blindfolding the English, shoving in the referee’s mouth or cleaning the touch judges’ glasses.

For those trying to keep things in perspective badges can be purchased, featuring a picture of the elusive Web Ellis trophy and the words “It’s Just a Stupid Cup (I’m dying inside)”.
-with NZPA

57

What a player is Vosavai???Love Fiji…we’ll see how it will go on…BTW, RWC is a beauty…now I’m all for the Boks…

58

Australian rugby needs to be revamped big time. a bloke from my school in the NSW development squad said their ‘speed’ session consisted of 10x60m at 80% backed up on 1min recoveries, and have no concept of power lifting in the weights room. no wonder they have no leg speed and all look like a bunch of lumbering neantherdals around the field. you simply cannot compete if you aren’t fast and/or powerful at the breakdown

59

Sorry…I mean Delasau…

60

Howlett rampage report: $31,000 bar bill :eek:
Fresh allegations on the Doug Howlett rampage suggest he and seven other All Blacks ran up an alcohol and food tab of more than $31,000 at their London hotel in the aftermath of New Zealand’s World Cup exit.

Britain’s Daily Telegraph claimed that after Howlett and his teammates ran up the tab Howlett then went outside and bounced up and down on two cars, smashing the windscreen of a BMW.

Howlett has admitted to his role in the incident and apologised.

One staff member, who refused to be named, told the Daily Telegraph: "There were about five to seven players drinking in the bar. They looked as if they were pretty down in the dumps after they lost and they ran up a £12,500 bar bill over several hours.

"It wasn’t just them, it was other members of the squad as well and it included food.

"They were behaving themselves while they were in the bar, but then for some reason, a couple of them decided to go outside and that was where it all kicked off.

“I heard they were bouncing up and down on several cars parked just outside the hotel and that was when we phoned the police.”

Malcolm Stuart, NewstalkZB’s London correspondent also reported that there was a massive bar bill involved.

Howlett was arrested and released on bail. He must report back to British police later this month and could be charged with causing criminal damage.

He is staying in Europe for two weeks and took the unusual step of issuing a video apology overnight.

He admitted in the video that he had been drinking.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand was to front the media in Christchurch at noon today and will surely be grilled over this messy wash up to the failed campaign.

Howlett’s actions will come as a major embarrassment to the All Blacks after they emphasised yesterday that they were regarded as fantastic role models around the world for New Zealanders. Coach Graham Henry even made special mention of their hotel behaviour.

“I’m very proud of how they conduct themselves as people,” said coach Graham Henry as the All Blacks returned home from their worst World Cup result, following their 20-18 loss to France on Sunday.

Howlett, New Zealand’s record test try-scorer didn’t feature in the quarterfinal after being controversially dropped for the match.

“They’re marvellous role models for this country. They put this country on the map right around the world and they touch a lot of people,” he said.

"A number of people have said to me what a tremendous group of young men you’ve got there … during the World Cup and previous tours.

“It’s been phenomenal. They believe they’re the best young sporting team that ever stays in their hotels, the most open and friendly and easy to get along with.”