the rugby world cup

[Stavros]

the sports media don't usually mention European rugby teams until they get here

Typical Bloody Australians!!! They think they rule the world when it comes to sports -even in Rugby and Cricket. One wonders why...

As for France -unfortunately, RobertLouis, I agree with you, but I can't bring myself to enthuse about the rest. Rugby for some reason has had a political connotation with the Tories -I think it has something to do with Posh Schools thinking football is for the Plebs, as well as snide belief that footballers are fairies whereas Rugby is 'a man's game'. The BBC has an obnoxious commentator who has some kind of Lancashire/Yorkshire accent and seems to think if the players are not mashing each other into the mud there be summat wrong wi'em -definitely not posh. But it did make me prejudiced against Rugby for a long time; then I found myself working with a Rugby player who introduced me to some of the finer aspects of the sport, as well as some of its gruesome (I believe now outlawed) tricks. A great game can be fast, unpredictable, and even skilful. As long as there are some memorable games, I think that is the key.

[robertlouis]

the sports media don't usually mention European rugby teams until they get here

Typical Bloody Australians!!! They think they rule the world when it comes to sports -even in Rugby and Cricket. One wonders why...

As for France -unfortunately, RobertLouis, I agree with you, but I can't bring myself to enthuse about the rest. Rugby for some reason has had a political connotation with the Tories -I think it has something to do with Posh Schools thinking football is for the Plebs, as well as snide belief that footballers are fairies whereas Rugby is 'a man's game'. The BBC has an obnoxious commentator who has some kind of Lancashire/Yorkshire accent and seems to think if the players are not mashing each other into the mud there be summat wrong wi'em -definitely not posh. But it did make me prejudiced against Rugby for a long time; then I found myself working with a Rugby player who introduced me to some of the finer aspects of the sport, as well as some of its gruesome (I believe now outlawed) tricks. A great game can be fast, unpredictable, and even skilful. As long as there are some memorable games, I think that is the key.

Not that there's ever any arrogance about the Brits, of course......

I think you're right about the politics of rugby, Stavros, but only in the narrow English context. In Wales and in Scotland, despite the influence of the private schools teams from Edinburgh and Glasgow, it was always very much the people's game. I regularly go to watch Northampton, and their crowd is entirely classless - they're far more popular than the local soccer team and the ground is a pleasure to visit.

As to the commentator, I think you're referring to the former England hooker Brian Moore. Complex character. Half-Malaysian and adopted, pushed himself into rugby and is also a solicitor. Away from the mic, quite admirable imo - and anything but a Tory. I played the game to district squad level and yes, that originated in a Glasgow private school, and I would agree that it has become dirty in a much more sophisticated and underhand way than in my time, where it was pretty much fisticuffs in the open!

Yes, let's hope for some great games. The tournament never disappoints. The SA vs NZ final of 1995 with Mandela astutely in a Springbok jersey arguably did more to unite that nation than any other single event, and it was a wonderful match. England's win in 2003 was pretty damn good too (he said half-grudgingly.....) and the France vs NZ semis were amongst the best games ever.

[russtafa]

wait ti'll you see Aussie win the cup

[robertlouis]

wait ti'll you see Aussie win the cup

Australia are certainly worth a punt, and winning it in NZ would be especially sweet for you.

[russtafa]

shit on their haka

[SammiValentine]

is it over yet?!

[SammiValentine]

i think I was in glasgow the last world cup rugby?? did england get to final?? i remember the scots having a party

[robertlouis]

i think I was in glasgow the last world cup rugby?? did england get to final?? i remember the scots having a party

Yes, England did get there. I was playing at a gig in Cambridge - they put in a big screen for the match and we delayed the start of the concert till afterwards.

My Scotland shirt wasn't a big hit though.....

[russtafa]

Australia 25 ,New Zealand 20=Australia now holds the Bedsilo cup

[Stavros]

I think you're right about the politics of rugby, Stavros, but only in the narrow English context
Indeed, it is a narrow-minded class-riddled curse that seems to infect sport in England rather than in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, excepting the Old Firm rivalry which isn't really a class issue. Having said that, I have been told there have also been issues of class and caste around cricket in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and that someone (I forget the name) has attitubuted Sri Lanka's ascendancy in recent years to a breakdown of the class barriers that used to determine who played for the national team or not -and probably, since it is partly-school based, a hangover from Colonial rule and the development of education under the British? English? I think sport these days has become more egalitarian, and that is good for all.