the rugby world cup

[russtafa]

it's coming soon and the mighty all blacks should win as usual:praying:

[robertlouis]

Fact is that over the years they consistently should win but rarely do, although I reckon you've got your Aussie tongue firmly in your cheek on this one, Russ.

One thing that's made me laugh over here is that some media persist in calling tomorrow's world cup warm-up between Wales and England a "friendly."

They've obviously never seen the 80 minutes of war, adrenaline and sheer hatred that typifies games between those two nations. Ireland vs Scotland will be a vicarage tea party by comparison.

[russtafa]

Its a BLOODY friendly lol

[russtafa]

All Blacks 30 Australia 14

[Stavros]

Is it my imagination or do these teams play each other every season now? There used to be a time when a visit from the All Blacks was an event that happened about once every three or four years, and made it all the more interesting. I used to work with a Rugby player and all-round fanatic whose description of what happens in a scrum bordered on torture porn. Although I think they have cleaned that up -not sure I want to listen to a ref constantly talking (we never hear the players not sure how that works) -I expected 'touch, pause, engage' to become as ubiquitous a slogan as 'your are the weakest link...goodbye!'. I also used to work with a rather large lady from Tonga, so I hope they win it.

[russtafa]

both teams live it day after day and are professional athletes .Australia will win the world cup

[brummie]

Why does anyone worry about a group of men rolling round in mud trying to shove their heads up each other's arses while chasing an oversize egg

[russtafa]

:whistle:why what sport do you follow.tell me and i will then rubbish it for you how is that

[brummie]

I follow pro-celebrity tiddlywinks
Soon to be the new big sport on tv as it is all the BBC will be able to afford

[Stavros]

I follow pro-celebrity tiddlywinks

Now there's a sport thats fixed...you really think that Silly Spice is going to lose to Stung?

[brummie]

No way is it fixed any more after the vaseline scandal 2 years ago
I am surprised you forgot about that

[robertlouis]

Why does anyone worry about a group of men rolling round in mud trying to shove their heads up each other's arses while chasing an oversize egg

There's definitely a constituency on HA that would willingly participate in what you describe, but it isn't rugby as I've played it over the years......:dancing:

And as for the real thing - I can't see any of the northern hemisphere teams mounting a worthwhile challenge. They're still stuck in the grunt, groan and mud paradigm, whereas the Aussies and the Kiwis, much less so the South Africans, have moved the game on to a new level where players are essentially interchangeable and it's all about fluid, running, exciting rugby. The only issue I can see preventing one of the two antipodean teams from taking it is the possibility of them peaking too soon, the eternal world cup bugbear for New Zealand. If they fall over at the semi final stage yet again, it's Australia's for the taking. Looking forward to it more than any footie tournament, though.

[russtafa]

Australia 14 South Africa 9 AUSTRALIA SUPREME

[robertlouis]

Australia 14 South Africa 9 AUSTRALIA SUPREME

You haven't won the Tri-Nations yet, Russ, but could be you're peaking in good time for the world cup.

[russtafa]

Yeah the kiwi's all ways knock all the other teams out and run out of puff at the end

[Stavros]

Zut, alors! Allez les bleus...!!

[robertlouis]

All the home nations except Ireland have named their squads. England look strong as always, and Wilkinson is back in the form that steered them to their win in 2003 - better if anything. The loss of Care is a worry at half-back and they lack imagination in midfield, but they look to be the strongest on paper of the northern hemisphere sides. And you have no idea how much it hurts me as a Scot to say that! If we make the quarter finals that will be good enough for me, although stuffing the auld enemy in the final group game would be best of all.

As to the overall winners, my bet is on whichever of the two antipodean rivals wins the Tri-nations.

[Stavros]

Ever heard of the English Channel, RobertLouis, and what lies on t'other side?

[robertlouis]

Ever heard of the English Channel, RobertLouis, and what lies on t'other side?

Mais oui, mon brave! I would never wholly discount the French. At their very best they exemplify the quick handling and inspirational change of direction better than any side in the world.

But they are too mercurial and inconsistent to play through the three week grind of this tournament, imo. They've stuffed the Kiwis twice in two of the greatest rugby matches I've ever had the pleasure to witness, then surrendered meekly at the next hurdle. Always an enigma.

C'est formidable.

[russtafa]

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

[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.

[robertlouis]

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.

The class bias in English sport - probably more down to blazered administrators than fans, these days - does a lot to maintain the hostility for all things sporting and English that is shared by the other constituent nations of the UK. Although being stuck on a train with a stack of braying Nigels on the way back from Twickenham a couple of years ago, drunkenly airing their race and class prejudices, was more than unpleasant. At that level they're probably infinitely worse than their soccer equivalents, as mummy and daddy have lavished fortunes on their education.

As for the Old Firm, that is mostly but not entirely a working class phenomenon - I was certainly always aware of the religious gulf in employment in the relatively short time that I worked in Scotland. However, if you look back into the history of the Orange Lodges in Northern Ireland, it is quite easy to see that their shoring up by the Protestant aristocracy, besides protecting the link with the mainland, was also a very handy means of dividing the working class, which is how it was translated into the same movement in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

[russtafa]

all blacks 41 Tonga 10 that's the kiwis warm up

[Stavros]

I used to work with someone from Tonga, wonderful person, but I don't think anyone is surprised at the result.

What I don't understand, if Scotland and England both won their games, why does Scotland have one more point?

[russtafa]

because they invented whiskey ?

[Stavros]

Careful there, Russtafa, its Whisky -there have been enough lawsuits over the years to etch this in granite of the kind you see in Aberdeen. I currently have a 16 yr old Glenlivet on the shelf, useful as an aperitif I suppose. And thats not an answer to my question.

[russtafa]

Careful there, Russtafa, its Whisky -there have been enough lawsuits over the years to etch this in granite of the kind you see in Aberdeen. I currently have a 16 yr old Glenlivet on the shelf, useful as an aperitif I suppose. And thats not an answer to my question.wow very classy stuff i once went to the Irish whiskey distillery in the early nineties with my bother. A great experience ,also the Guiness brewery .i loved Ireland beautiful country with great people and great music,the best pubs

[Stavros]

Guinness in Ireland doesn't taste the same as elsewhere, I think its the water -and its like soup, you don't need to eat if you have a pint of stout. I was once in O'Donohue's off St Stephen's Green at Sunday lunchtime and it was amazing, packed from wall to wall with one music combo in the back room competing with another in the front. Ended up getting mildly drunk with an Aussie who in his 'normal' life was trading in Papua New Guinea; I have no idea what a normal life is in PNG. Ireland is one of the loveliest countries in Europe, shame about the food, unless you like cabbage and onion and a fry-up for breakfast, lunch and dinner -which I guess is where the Guinness comes in....

[russtafa]

Guinness in Ireland doesn't taste the same as elsewhere, I think its the water -and its like soup, you don't need to eat if you have a pint of stout. I was once in O'Donohue's off St Stephen's Green at Sunday lunchtime and it was amazing, packed from wall to wall with one music combo in the back room competing with another in the front. Ended up getting mildly drunk with an Aussie who in his 'normal' life was trading in Papua New Guinea; I have no idea what a normal life is in PNG. Ireland is one of the loveliest countries in Europe, shame about the food, unless you like cabbage and onion and a fry-up for breakfast, lunch and dinner -which I guess is where the Guinness comes in....PNG ,Aussie's live in compounds with guard dogs,and security and guns not a nice place

[Stavros]

I guess things have changed since 1975 which was when I met that guy, I remember asking him what the tribespeople were like given their reputation for ferocity; he said they were completely trustworthy as long as you were straight with them. Maybe modernisation has ruined the place, it often does.

[robertlouis]

Back on topic.

Having watched the "highlights" of England and Scotland's opening games, the kindest thing to say is that at least there's no risk of either side peaking too early.......

Dire stuff.

[russtafa]

Back on topic.

Having watched the "highlights" of England and Scotland's opening , the kindest thing to say is that at least there's no risk of either side peaking too early.......

Dire stuff.

but England has Johnny

[russtafa]

I guess things have changed since 1975 which was when I met that guy, I remember asking him what the tribespeople were like given their reputation for ferocity; he said they were completely trustworthy as long as you were straight with them. Maybe modernisation has ruined the place, it often does.no they have gangs called rascals ,they live in Port Morsby

[robertlouis]

but England has Johnny

...and he was shit too yesterday.

[russtafa]

maybe it was just a bad day for him and he will come right?

[russtafa]

Australia 32 Italy 6 ,we are going well so far

[robertlouis]

maybe it was just a bad day for him and he will come right?

Don't care - he's a Pom.

[russtafa]

Don't care - he's a Pom.

but but on a good day a truly great sportsman

[robertlouis]

but but on a good day a truly great sportsman

I agree - but still a Pom.... ;)

[russtafa]

how do you know when a plane full of poms has arrived .the turbines have been switched off and there is still whining coming from the plane

[robertlouis]

how do you know when a plane full of poms has arrived .the turbines have been switched off and there is still whining coming from the plane

That one's been doing the rounds since the Wright Brothers took off in 1903, Russ!

As a Scot I always get a better reception when I come to Oz than those poor misunderstood English.....

[russtafa]

yes especially as the Scots love drink and a joke and are not as complaining as the English

[robertlouis]

yes especially as the Scots love drink and a joke and are not as complaining as the English

Add in the fact that neither the Aussies nor the Scots care much for the English and we have a good drinking relationship!

Back on topic, another shit display by Scotland. OK, that's two wins out of two, but I'm beginning to dread the pool games against Argentina and the Auld Enemy.

[russtafa]

Captain of the English rugby team [Mark Tindal] and married to the grand daughter of the Queen has groped a female at a pub in Queens town NZ

[Stavros]

Hmmm, let's see, gropes women, throws dwarfs, gets drunk in New Zealand, Royal Family...so far I see nothing unusual to write home about; its not like he had to pass a test to get admitted into the circle of people who do those things; you should hear the ones they tell about the horses...

[russtafa]

Hmmm, let's see, gropes women, throws dwarfs, gets drunk in New Zealand, Royal Family...so far I see nothing unusual to write home about; its not like he had to pass a test to get admitted into the circle of people who do those things; you should hear the ones they tell about the horses...what are they a group of yobs ?

[Priuum]

Careful there, Russtafa, its Whisky -there have been enough lawsuits over the years to etch this in granite of the kind you see in Aberdeen. I currently have a 16 yr old Glenlivet on the shelf, useful as an aperitif I suppose. And thats not an answer to my question.

Scot get a bonus point from their Rom win due to the number of tries scored

[Stavros]

Thanks for that Priuum, but it sounds like a daft rule, if the opposition is good enough to prevent tries maybe they should get a point even if they lose? A team either wins, or it loses, why muck about with the obvious?

[russtafa]

we are not even worried about their stupid rules

[russtafa]

i am sad to say IRELAND 15 AUSTRALIA 6 i don't know if our boys are on drugs

[Stavros]

A sample of some of the scores:
South Africa 87 - Namibia 0
Italy 53 - Russia 17
South Africa 49 - Fiji 3
Argentina 43 - Romani 8
New Zeland 87 - Japan 7

Headline in The Independent 21st of September:
Where Did all the Minnows Go? How the Rugby World Cup Came of Age.
Ah well, they try.

[russtafa]

this is so wrong i think there should be more than one cup and another division so that countries like Japan,Russia,Namibia can get more encouragement for their efforts and boost the popularity of the game in that country .what do you guys think?

[Stavros]

No -World Cups should be knockout competitions, there is a group stage and some are easier to win than others, but I dont think the smaller nations would want to be fobbed off with a compensation prize for being crap -thats just how it is. In football, there are anomalies because it is based on regions and in some regions the football is dire -the Caribbean is an example and explains why Mexico goes to every football world cup, they are the strongest team in their region. The minnows just need to up their game like the African teams have done -not to mention South Korea and Japan who are now outstanding players....er...and of course Australia...who were robbed at the World Cup game with that penalty for Italy.....

[russtafa]

yes but it's demeaning to countries that get beaten by 47 points

[russtafa]

i just saw the results from the Australia vs USA game 67 to 5 but with a terrible injury toll for Australia

[Stavros]

I think the point is that the Rugby world cup is where the football world cup was 40 years ago when no hopers from regions got through and were clearly out of their depth. If Rugby Union becomes genuinely popular through these world cups, AND gets money pumped into it, AND young lads take it up, in ten years time the hopeless might not lose by such massive margins, and still get beaten, but it will all the time get closer and more unpredictable.

Haven't seen the Aus-US game (no tv at the moment we have switched from analog to digital and I don't have the latter) but it sounds like Aus it out of this tournament in the long run. Guess they are as useless as their cricketers.

[russtafa]

we aint beaten till the fat lady sings

[russtafa]

:whistle:because we are ANZACS i put my second preference on the ALL BLACKS NZ 37 FRANCE 17

[robertlouis]

:whistle:because we are ANZACS i put my second preference on the ALL BLACKS NZ 37 FRANCE 17

I don't believe that for a moment Russ! :)

I was in Sydney during the 1999 World Cup and there wasn't much love for the All Blacks.

Now for the crunch. England vs Scotland to qualify for the quarters. I don't like it one little bit, and that's putting it very mildly.

[russtafa]

and there's the Irish in our group

[Stavros]

Ireland look most likely to be the spoilers and I expect them to reach the semi's; Scotland are still going through a lean patch and will only win if England lose their discipline. South Africa look the strongest overall side to me, I can't decide if NZ flatter to deceive and will be beaten by a stronger side than they have faced thus far.

[russtafa]

NZ is like a cheetah very fast but they run out of puff.but i do hope Australia or NZ win the cup

[baller1987]

Last time I saw rugby televised in the US was for collegiate sevens last summer. Any news on when next will be?

[robertlouis]

Bugger bugger bugger bugger.









England 16 Scotland 12

[Prospero]

Commiserations

[robertlouis]

Commiserations

Thank you. At least it's the same as it usually is for the Scottish fan, whether it be rugby or football, now I can simply enjoy the rest of the tournament without the strain of the emotional angst. And I don't have to get up at arsehole o'clock to watch it either lol.

I would genuinely like England to do well, but only if they're prepared to slip the shackles and let their inspirational backs play to their best. That simply won't happen as long as the admittedly iconic Johnson remains at the helm, he's too wedded to the ancient view that England are at their best with a ton of forward beef trundling slowly through the mud. And play Flood at fly-half fer gawd's sake. He doesn't have Wilkinson's strategic vision, but his quick thinking makes things happen in midfield, which is where England are far too predictable.

However, on the basis of the first two weeks, the winner will almost certainly come from one of the Tri-Nations countries, and I can see SA successfully defending the trophy.

[russtafa]

:praying:Australia vs South Africa tonight

[robertlouis]

:praying:Australia vs South Africa tonight

And Ireland vs Wales, AND England vs France, AND Argentina vs Nz.

At long last it's getting interesting.

Good luck against the Springboks. Could be the toughest game of the tournament - neither side will be taking any prisoners.

[russtafa]

i'm a praying

[robertlouis]

i'm a praying

Since I'm heading down your way in a couple of months I also hope you do well, because my brother-in-law will still be a miserable bastard if you lost.

He sulked about the Ashes till I reminded him I wasn't English lol.

[TSLoverUK999]

F*cking French ! Nothing worse than a SMUG FRENCH MAN !

[Stavros]

Or an Englishman who can't pass or hold on to a ball in a game where it is, sort of important. Were the French really that good, or were the English really that bad? Was that a team worthy of winning? I didn't see Ronney's red card incident, but there seems to be in some England teams a fatal lack of focus on the game, something other teams have -can you imagine a German football team that isn't focused? I guess this Rugby tournament is going to be South Africa's, they look the best of the bunch so far, but that's only from reading press reports.

[TSLoverUK999]

Football we lack focus, Rugby we don't.

[russtafa]

England 12 vs france19 ireland10 vs 22 wales

[robertlouis]

F*cking French ! Nothing worse than a SMUG FRENCH MAN !

Oh, I don't know. A smug Englishman gets on my wick every bit as much..... :wiggle:

Surprised to see the Welsh stuff Ireland, though.

[robertlouis]

Football we lack focus, Rugby we don't.


I'd argue that this particular England team lacked precisely that. World-class backs effectively locked in the paddock while the forwards play their obsessive head-down shuffle, literally no focus.

Yes, I'm a Scot, but as a long-term resident south of the border I genuinely like to see England do well. But when the team and the supporters get smug and arrogant, fuck 'em.

Johnson's time is up. Get someone in who understands, as all the southern hemisphere nations do, that rugby is a 15 man game, not just for the front 8.

[russtafa]

:dancing::dancing::dancing::dancing::dancing::)we won ,we won .Australia 11 South Africa 9

[robertlouis]

:dancing::dancing::dancing::dancing::dancing::)we won ,we won .Australia 11 South Africa 9

Congrats - and it was a proper rugby match too. Now it gets really interesting!

I reckon you'll be playing the All Blacks in the semi. And I hope and pray that it will be Wales up against you in the final. They've played some of the best rugby in the tournament so far.

[russtafa]

Congrats - and it was a proper rugby match too. Now it gets really interesting!

I reckon you'll be playing the All Blacks in the semi. And I hope and pray that it will be Wales up against you in the final. They've played some of the best rugby in the tournament so far. yep and we made a lot of bad mistakes resulting hand overs.we better not play that way with the Kiwis or they will massacre us:nervous:

[robertlouis]

yep and we made a lot of bad mistakes resulting hand overs.we better not play that way with the Kiwis or they will massacre us:nervous:

True, your handling in the loose was very sloppy, but great defending all round when you needed it. And the kiwis without Carter running things are a different prospect. Tough one though

[russtafa]

New Zealand 18 vs Argentina 10

[russtafa]

Nz 23 vs sa 10

[Stavros]

russtafa why can't you admit the result was fixed, through bribes and mysteriously bad passes...?

[russtafa]

russtafa why can't you admit the result was fixed, through bribes and mysteriously bad passes...?
bull shit it was fixed next you will be telling me about father christmas

[Stavros]

Father Christmas never gets that far south, the reindeers don't have the muscle.

[robertlouis]

Father Christmas never gets that far south, the reindeers don't have the muscle.

Having spent Christmas twice in Australia I can assure you that his sleigh is pulled by kangaroos down there, not reindeer.

[russtafa]

it puts a bit of bounce into the ride

[robertlouis]

it puts a bit of bounce into the ride

....and presumably makes a nice change from the sheep. :dancing:

[russtafa]

and funnel webs,king browns,tiger snakes,bull ants,fire ants,mouse spiders, and many others make Aussie so interesting

[Prospero]

It has got to be Wales this weekend. I'm not a fan of the sport but got to support the boyos.

[tsadriana]

It has got to be Wales this weekend. I'm not a fan of the sport but got to support the boyos.
Im not either but they are really yummy:)

[russtafa]

It has got to be Wales this weekend. I'm not a fan of the sport but got to support the boyos.either Australia or New Zealand will crush them in the final

[Prospero]

Quite possible. Don't care in the final analysis.

[russtafa]

Quite possible. Don't care in the final analysis.so what are you here for?:confused:

[russtafa]

France 9 Wales 8 Wales deserved to win

[robertlouis]

Im not either but they are really yummy:)


LMFAO That's as good a reason as any, Adriana.

[robertlouis]

France 9 Wales 8 Wales deserved to win

Yep, and a final with Wales against the Wallabies or the All-Blacks would have been a far better match than one featuring the worst French team I've seen in years. Shame.

[russtafa]

Yep, and a final with Wales against the Wallabies or the All-Blacks would have been a far better match than one featuring the worst French team I've seen in years. Shame.yeah the FRENCH flair seems to have gone out of them

[Stavros]

Mais, enfin, il etait les bleus qui a gagne le match. If Wales can't kick a goal, that's their problem, its not like they didn't have an opportunity to do so -and they could only manage 6 points against France -it will be interesting to see which syndicates have fixed the semi-final between the penguins and the Koalas.

[Prospero]

Rooting for the New Zealanders now in the final - since that is where my dad grew up.

[russtafa]

i got family there so if you can i can .i invoke the ANZAC treaty if Aussie looses lol

[robertlouis]

i got family there so if you can i can .i invoke the ANZAC treaty if Aussie looses lol

Never mind, I think we could raise a team from HA that could beat the French. They are truly awful this tournament.

[russtafa]

Australia 6 New Zealand 20

[robertlouis]

Australia 6 New Zealand 20

Hard luck mate. You fought hard, but there's no doubt that the better team on the day won.

It's frightening to contemplate what the score could be next weekend. Unless the French have one of the most remarkable turnarounds even in their quixotic history, we could be seeing a winning margin into three figures.

[russtafa]

yeah i get sick of it but they cant always win

[Stavros]

Curious how times change -there was a time when people loved to hate NZ because they believed they 'owned' Rugby just like the Australians duped into thinking the Ashes 'belonged' to them. France has produced some of the most scintillating Rugby over the years, perhaps we should support them 'for auld lang syne'? It is also one of the few major cultural aspects of France that is independent of Paris and based in the south-west of the country. Nevertheless, The Whale Rider is one of my favourite films.

[russtafa]

Curious how times change -there was a time when people loved to hate NZ because they believed they 'owned' Rugby just like the Australians duped into thinking the Ashes 'belonged' to them. France has produced some of the most scintillating Rugby over the years, perhaps we should support them 'for auld lang syne'? It is also one of the few major cultural aspects of France that is independent of Paris and based in the south-west of the country. Nevertheless, The Whale Rider is one of my favourite films.
fuck that i will never support France even though my heritage is french

[Stavros]

Zut, alors! And to think how different things would have been had you been raised in Mellbourne.

[russtafa]

Zut, alors! And to think how different things would have been had you been raised in Mellbourne.
fuck Melbourne and their tight little shorts and their cut off sleeves and two many goal posts .what a fuck'in joke they are.they will always be very small time,never international

[robertlouis]

Curious how times change -there was a time when people loved to hate NZ because they believed they 'owned' Rugby just like the Australians duped into thinking the Ashes 'belonged' to them. France has produced some of the most scintillating Rugby over the years, perhaps we should support them 'for auld lang syne'? It is also one of the few major cultural aspects of France that is independent of Paris and based in the south-west of the country. Nevertheless, The Whale Rider is one of my favourite films.

Bit of a tough call, Stavros, but on balance I'll probably go with the All-Blacks, given that so many white New Zealanders have Scottish origins. In practice, the Auld Alliance was consistently one-sided and used cynically by the French to have thousands of Scots slaughtered in diversionary actions so that the English wouldn't be concentrating on mounting yet another campaign in France. It left some peculiarly French-Caledonian words and phrases, and some Scots fighting as mercenaries for the French up to and including the Napoleonic Wars, but they never once came to our aid despite promises to so so.

These days we only talk about maintaining the Alliance because it pisses off the English...... ;)

[russtafa]

Bit of a tough call, Stavros, but on balance I'll probably go with the All-Blacks, given that so many white New Zealanders have Scottish origins. In practice, the Auld Alliance was consistently one-sided and used cynically by the French to have thousands of Scots slaughtered in diversionary actions so that the English wouldn't be concentrating on mounting yet another campaign in France. It left some peculiarly French-Caledonian words and phrases, and some Scots fighting as mercenaries for the French up to and including the Napoleonic Wars, but they never once came to our aid despite promises to so so.

These days we only talk about maintaining the Alliance because it pisses off the English...... ;)
hey Robert some of my distant ancestors were from clan Mc Kerdie .I think that's the right spelling

[robertlouis]

hey Robert some of my distant ancestors were from clan Mc Kerdie .I think that's the right spelling

I'm fairly certain that McKerdie is primarily a lowland name, Russ, so you may not have had too many kilted claymore wielders in your line. But they would have been in prime territory when the industrial revolution arrived and could well have gone to Oz to exploit skills that were needed there, possibly weaving, or conceivably mining.

[russtafa]

Wow thanks that's very interesting

[Stavros]

russ is it true that when people in Sydney want to eat something that hasn't been soaked in grease and fat, they go to Melbourne? I have a book that says Melbourne has the best cuisine in Australia, which doesn't seem to be an oxymoron...

[robertlouis]

Wow thanks that's very interesting

My pleasure. That degree in history comes in useful from time to time. :)

And Stavros, what a foul calumny on the fair city of Sydney. I've eaten well in both Sydney and Melbourne.. Melbourne, perhaps unsurprisingly, is better for most European style cuisine, but when it comes to authentic Asian food, Sydney is possibly the best city in the world to eat. I've travelled extensively throughout Asia both for business and pleasure, and Sydney's wide range of good-value ethnic restaurants is simply wonderful. Aussie fusion cooking is great too - I'm looking forward to my trip down under in Jan/Feb.

[Stavros]

It was just a wind up, although I did read about Melbourne-vs-Sydney in a book and on reflection yes I think the point was that it was the more diverse immigrant culture in Melbourne that has given it that reputation -but I have no plans or even desire to go to Australia.

[russtafa]

most Aussies prefer to live out in the bush or up the coast away from Sydney

[robertlouis]

most Aussies prefer to live out in the bush or up the coast away from Sydney

That would be apart from the 4.5m who live in Sydney then? :confused:

[russtafa]

i am talking about AUSSIE/ITALIAN/GREEK people who like to live on the outskirts of Sydney not in the inner suburbs

[robertlouis]

i am talking about AUSSIE/ITALIAN/GREEK people who like to live on the outskirts of Sydney not in the inner suburbs

So who lives in the inner burbs and the centre, Russ? Mostly Aussies every time I've been there.

[russtafa]

yeah but it is a trend to move out god knows why i love the inner suburbs .the only problem is there is to many green yuppie types and they get so grossed out by me

[robertlouis]

yeah but it is a trend to move out god knows why i love the inner suburbs .the only problem is there is to many green yuppie types and they get so grossed out by me

Oh well, there will be one more green yuppie type there come January lol!

[russtafa]

Oh well, there will be one more green yuppie type there come January lol!
yeah they are the flavour of the year in Australia.hey Robert don't tell anyone your politics in any real blue collar areas mate .green is very accepted in the city but once you get further out it becomes very unacceptable

[russtafa]

Australia 21 vs:pumped: Wales 18

[russtafa]

New zealand 8 vs FRANCE 7

[Stavros]

I dont have tv anymore so I didn't see the game, but I get the impression it was a good one and that apart from some harsh referreing decisions both sides did themselves proud.

[russtafa]

I dont have tv anymore so I didn't see the game, but I get the impression it was a good one and that apart from some harsh referreing decisions both sides did themselves proud.very tough game and there wont be any wife beating in New Zealand lol

[russtafa]

once again the Europe lost THE SOUTHERN NATIONS

[Stavros]

Hmmm, are you sure? Two out of the Seven 'Southern States' got as far as the semi-Final, most of the 'Southern States' only show up at these tourneys to get beat, take the money, and screw as much local talent as they can find...