The Rugby World Cup 2007 - Weebls Stuff Sweepstakes!

[Mudkipz]

It's that time of year again. Hard not to miss up the opportunity for a sweepstakes. Okay on the 7th of September the Rugby World Cup will kick off which gives us 17 days to arrange a sweepstakes ready, it might be a little early but this means we won't have to rush for entrants, randomize the team etc...etc.

Rules and how it will be done
Entrants will be run up until either all the 20 spaces are filled or until the 26th of August where any players who wants a second team will have one. (First come first served)
The entrants will have a number depending on when they entered for example, first person to join would have number 1, Second would have number 2. Etc
The teams will be listed Alphabetically and using a random number generator. (http://www.mdani.demon.co.uk/para/random.htm) the teams will be chosen. For example if the first number to appear was 3 then the FIRST PLAYER (1) would take the THIRD TEAM.
Any questions please bring them up in the thread.

Entrants
Pie-Badger-Man (1)
Ynnekkenny (2)
Nuclear Spoon (3)
Bacon Machine (4)
Urlosenged (5)
Nocashvalue (6)
JonnyFFMaster (7)
Super Weebl (8)
Oi Scout (9)
BlueberryMuffin (10)
TheMattfish (11)
Evil-Flagpole (12)
Nuclear Spoon (13)
Urlosegend (14)
The Basstard (15)
The Basstard (16)
Lestat (17)
Lestat (18)
Super Weebl (19)
ZOIDBERG (20)

Teams
Argentina
Australia
Canada
England
Fiji
France
Georgia
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Namibia
New Zealand
Portugal
Romania
Samoa
Scotland
South Africa
Tonga
USA
Wales

So, anyone up for it?

[ynnekkenny]

im up for it

[Nuclear Spoon]

Alrighty then.

[Bacon Machine]

Might make it more interesting seeing as how England are going to get raped...

If I get the USA I will unhappy though.

[Mudkipz]

Wouldn't we all...
I'm still thinking of a way to make the worst team more glamorous and sought after in this sweepstake

[Urlosenged]

Sign me up.

Though be warned, if I get Namibia somebody dies.

[ynnekkenny]

Wouldn't we all...
I'm still thinking of a way to make the worst team more glamorous and sought after in this sweepstake

nah thats the best thing about a sweepstake there are always rubbish teams...

[Nuclear Spoon]

I would quite like Japan.

[Nocashvalue]

I'm up for eet.
By the by, is anyone else going to any of the matches?

[jonffm]

Me, me, me!

[Mudkipz]

I'm up for eet.
By the by, is anyone else going to any of the matches?

Wales vs Japan September 20th ^^
..Which incidentally is my birthday ;) lol

[Nuclear Spoon]

Shall we simply make this the RWC chat thread as well?

[Mudkipz]

Sure sounds good to me.

[Super Weebl]

Poo, was going to make the RWC thread. Oh well :)

I'll sign up for the sweepstakes also.

[Oi Scout]

I'm in.

[BlueberryMuffin]

I'm up for it

[TheMattfish]

You can count TheMattfish in.

Btw, AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!!!

[Nuclear Spoon]

You can count TheMattfish in.

Btw, AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!!!

Bet you get New Zealand.

[Roxit]

Me

[Mudkipz]

Just 8 spaces left, Come on people ^^

[Nuclear Spoon]

If you get really desperate you could let some people have 2 slots.

[Mudkipz]

True.. But we still got 15 days left before it even starts
Don't want to seem too desperate right now ;)

[Mudkipz]

Sorry for the bump but.
As of today people can now have two teams. New people can enter if they want to but when it comes to two teams its now first come first served :)

[Nuclear Spoon]

Yeah hi seconds please.

[Urlosenged]

I guess I'll have a second team?

[basstard]

I'm up for eet.
By the by, is anyone else going to any of the matches?

I'm in (though if England is mine I will be sad)
I am also possibly going to matches in Bordeaux - that's Ireland, Canada, Japan matches.

[Lestat]

I'm in please. And I'll have two if thats still going.

[Super Weebl]

I'll have a second team plz.

I might be going to the England-Tonga match, in Lens I think.

[Nocashvalue]

I'm in (though if England is mine I will be sad)
I am also possibly going to matches in Bordeaux - that's Ireland, Canada, Japan matches.
:)

If anyone cares, I'll be in Nantes for England-Samoa 8)

[ZOIDBERG]

Can I have the last team please?

[Mudkipz]

There we go, all 20 members are in.
Shall I get the teams chosen now?

[Nuclear Spoon]

Seeing as you've entered yourself it would be probably best we got a neutral party to do it.

[Mudkipz]

Yeah, I was going to mention that...
Okay, now we've just got to find a random forumite to do us a favor, I'll start asking away.

[jonffm]

Just do it yourself...it's not for a prize or anything, and if you're sad enough to cheat on a prizeless sweepstakes...

[Mudkipz]

Would I Really drop that low ^^
I'm just trying to do what'd make everyone happy but I'm just going to do it myself. Well anyway here it goes...
Screenshot of the results.. http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/2974/resultssweepstakescc7.png (http://imageshack.us)
Which therefore means..

Argentina - Blueberrymuffin
Australia -SuperWeebl
Canada - Lestat
England - Nocashvalue
Fiji - Jonnyffmaster
France -TheBasstard
Georgia - Pie-Badger-Man
Ireland - Evil-Flagpole
Italy - Nuclear Spoon
Japan - Super Weebl
Namibia -NuclearSpoon
New Zealand - ZOIDBERG
Portugal - TheBasstard
Romania - Ynnekkenny
Samoa - Lestat
Scotland - TheMattfish
South Africa - OiScout
Tonga - Urlosegend
USA - Bacon Machine
Wales - Ursolegend

[Nuclear Spoon]

Pie-Badger-Man (1) Georgia
Ynnekkenny (2) Romania
Nuclear Spoon (3) Italy
Bacon Machine (4) USA
Urlosenged (5) Tonga
Nocashvalue (6) England
JonnyFFMaster (7)Fiji
Super Weebl (8) Japan
Oi Scout (9) South Africa
BlueberryMuffin (10) Argentina
TheMattfish (11) Scotland
Evil-Flagpole (12) Ireland
Nuclear Spoon (13) Namibia
Ursolegend (14) Wales
The Basstard (15) France
The Basstard (16) Portugal
Lestat (17) Canada
Lestat (18) Samoa
Super Weebl (19) Australia
ZOIDBERG (20) New Zealand

Done it. Before you, and you started first :p

[Lestat]

Canada and Samoa. Whoopdy doo :p

[Super Weebl]

Japan (missing the record test try scorer :( ) and Australia (:))

Not bad, ZOIDBERG you bastard, last team, and you got fucking New fucking Zealand....

[Urlosenged]

Tonga and Wales? I'll be lucky to have a team get out of the group stages!

[BlueberryMuffin]

I would have thought Wales were pretty likely to progress.

Anyway looks like even if Argentina get past the group stage they'll get the All Blacks in the quarter finals :( Ah well

[Super Weebl]

I would have thought Wales were pretty likely to progress.

Anyway looks like even if Argentina get past the group stage they'll get the All Blacks in the quarter finals :( Ah well

I don't know, Wales look pretty shaky at the moment, and Fiji can spring a shock if they get going.

[jonffm]

Fiji have me backing them.

They don't stand a chance.

[Mudkipz]

Much more of a chance than Georgia..
Much more :(

[Urlosenged]

I've just noticed that the spelling of my name in this thread is terrible. Just awful.

[Mudkipz]

After closer inspection of your name...I agree :shock:
Much apologies urlosegend

[Nocashvalue]

Oh my, I've got england :X

[basstard]

Oh my, I've got england :X

You poor thing...


I have France and Portugal. If only this was football...at least I get to back my adopted not-Scotland team of choice!

[Nuclear Spoon]

Italy and Namibia. Rock on.

The latter, in the same group as Ireland, Argentina and France, don't stand much of a chance, but I reckon Italy could shock Scotland and sneak in second place.

[Super Weebl]

Italy and Namibia. Rock on.

The latter, being Namibia, don't stand much of a chance,

Fixed :)

[BlueberryMuffin]

Poor Namibia, always just good enough to qualify for Cricket and Rugby world cups, only to get thrashed in every game.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Just after half time and Argentina lead France 17-9 :D

edit: Final score 17-12. Absolutely fantastic performance from the Pumas.

[Super Weebl]

Pumas tackled like gods, they played to a simple system that annoyed the French. The scrum half was simply shit for France.


WE HAVE A WORLD CUP!

[BlueberryMuffin]

:D Hurray for Argentina!

Great game, I think, I still don't quite get all the rules of Rugby but it was good fun to watch.

[Bacon Machine]

Might make it more interesting seeing as how England are going to get raped...

If I get the USA I will be unhappy though.
Did you set it up so that I would get them?

I'm so very not amused.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Lol, Wales.

[ZOIDBERG]

Wales win 42-17!

[Lestat]

Samoa are making a serious contest out of this game. Glad I got them now. Most entertaining match I've seen of the competition so far.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Now losing 42-7 though :/

[Lestat]

Obviously I meant that they made the first half a real contest. Never mind the second :p

[Super Weebl]

Scotland coasting to a win.







15 minutes gone.

[Urlosenged]

There isn't a drink strong enough in the world to wash away that 1st half. It's like we honestly do not care that it's the world cup and that we're supposed to be defending it. We're defending the cup as well as the French defend in wars at the moment. It'll need a miracle just for us to bloody score at this rate.

Double edit: Fuck that we stuffed them.

[Nuclear Spoon]

6-3 up against the nemesis after half an hour.

Cmon England \o/

[Urlosenged]

The Australians are all cheating bastards. I suppose we shouldn't expect anything more from a bunch of convicts though.

OK, now I've got that out of the way, great performance so far. If we can carry it on...who knows?

[Nuclear Spoon]

6-10 to the bastards at half time.
Still convinced we can come back from it though.

[The Visioneer]

So, I went onto the BBC website, and saw this:

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/706/hahaln8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I almost feinted! Shame it'll never happen...

[Cap'n Zog]

Yeah I saw it too and thought 'bloody hell england must've got a multiball or something'

[Nuclear Spoon]

fucking YES.
[woo]

[Urlosenged]

fucking YES.
[woo]
This. Fucking hell yes! What a performance.

[Nuclear Spoon]

It was a shit game of rugby, to be perfectly honest, but I am absolutely fucking ecstatic.

[Urlosenged]

For a neutral maybe it was shit. But who cares? We beat the fucking Aussies! We celebrated like we'd won the thing here.

Unfortunately I don't know any Australian who cares enough about the Rugby for me rubbing it in to work. Shame, that.

[Mudkipz]

Im just happy to see a Northern Hemisphere team in the semi's...
That's why ive got my fingers crossed for France tonight too :D

[jonffm]

Superb! The Aussies were pants today, but we still had alot of work to do.

I don't think we can win, but now we can leave this World Cup with our heads held very highly indeed. The Semi-finals is very respectable, any further is nothing short of heroic.

[JebblehMooo]

We Won?

O_o
Blimeny.

[Mudkipz]

My prediction so far...

South Africa to win the World Cup.

[basstard]

Give me a few hours and I will be with 10,000 French people watching the match on a big screen. They will not be happy if they lose and England won [although their challenge is as big as, if not bigger than, the one England faced].

[scram]

It was a shit game of rugby, to be perfectly honest, but I am absolutely fucking ecstatic.

To be perfectly honest, it was one of the best games I have ever seen!

The pressure, the tension, the revelation of an England side which actually played decent rugby for the first time in years. It was amazing.

Bring on the Kiwis!

[jonffm]

The Frech are fucking winning! 10 minutes to go, if they pull it off, it makes for an amazing day with two of the teams most would have rated as the most likely to win the cup.

Plus...we know England can beat France. We'd obviously rather play them than the All Blacks. With this result would come massive hope for us.

Never thought i'd say this but...

COME ON YOU FRENCHIES!

[scram]

I don't fucking believe it.

I just hope to God we make it to the finals.

Because I don't want to see us lose to the French.

[jonffm]

What a day. Amazing stuff in both games, absolutly brilliant.

England v France will be a great game after this, and both sides will believe they can win the World Cup on the backs of those results.

[Nocashvalue]

Oh my actual fucking god, I think I just pissed myself laughing and had a heart attack at the same time.

[basstard]

Hahahahahahaha, oh that was fantastic.

I wish I'd gone down to the big screen. The atmosphere there would be incredible (10,000 people by tyhe big screen, all of them French).

That makes up for England winning :D

Now just Scotland to win; too...

[Nuclear Spoon]

Fucking brilliant, France.
I'm backing Argentina to win.

[Spoo]

It was a shit game of rugby, to be perfectly honest, but I am absolutely fucking ecstatic.


What game where you watching??!?!? Are you simple?

England actually PLAYED for the first time in many years. The forwards where devestating both in the set pieces and in the break downs. Did you see how many turn overs they forced??

The best thing about the win for me , other than being an Englishman in Australia, was the fact that England actually deserved it and it wasn't won soley by ol' golden boots!

[Dr_nwa]

Now just Scotland to win; too...

sorry bass but fuck no. I want the argentines to win; they deserve it so much. They've been the team of the tournament for me. if they aren't let into the tri/six nations soon it'll be a fucking disgrace.

Also no way this smile is getting wiped off my face.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Argentina did apply to participate in the Six Nations, but I think they were rejected due to geographical difficulties.
In that context they would be more suited to the Tri-Nations, but it would be sad for them to end up as the whipping boys in that tournament, regardless of how promising they're playing.

[Nocashvalue]

The Argentines have been my second team for the tournament, and I really do think they should be allowed into the 6 (7?) nations. It really would be a dream come true if we end up with an Argentina - England final 8)

[Dr_nwa]

The Argentines have been my second team for the tournament, and I really do think they should be allowed into the 6 (7?) nations. It really would be a dream come true if we end up with an Argentina - England final 8)
this.

also holy shit c'mon fiji!
two amazing tries in 2 minutes? totally opening this game up. All the tri nations teams going out to lower rated teams? This is like my wildest sex dream, but with added rugby..

[Discodoris]

that's odd nwa - some of my wildest sex dreams seem to include rugby - ahem.

I'm really upset that I missed the England v Australia match - revision put me to sleep for the afternoon, I'm holding out hope that my brother has it saved on his HDD recorder and I can watch it on Friday when I visit him.

And this World Cup is mega exciting, the France v All Blacks was a great game too

[Nuclear Spoon]

The fact that so many top tier teams are going out to supposedly lesser teams shows how much international rugby has progressed in the last 4 years.
It's just a shame that New Zealand got the 2011 World Cup and not Japan.

Meanwhile, a very brave effort from Fiji which supports my point.
Now come on the Argies!

England v France and South Africa v Argentina.
Delicious.

[BlueberryMuffin]

Woo go Argentina! Just two wins away :)

[jonffm]

Come on England. Been listening to UB40 all day, and my spines all tingly in anticipation. Days like today, Rugby is a million times better than footy. A game that can be won almost soley with enough passion and drive.

As some blokey on 606 has quoted...

Once more unto the breech. We band of brothers. We happy few.

aka,

LETS FUCKING CRUSH THEM!

[GorillaBearBear]

Tense stuff here. If we don't get our line sorted out we aren't going to get anywhere. It's all looking a bit shambolic. Having said that, France aren't looking a huge amount more on the ball that us.

Also, we need to start making more of a bid for the tryline and realise that maybe Johnny Wilkinson is loosing his magic feet a little bit.

Having said that, France don't look too good out there either. I don't rate either of these teams chances if they have to play South Africa, if they play like they are tonight.

[Spoo]

Also, we need to start making more of a bid for the tryline and realise that maybe Johnny Wilkinson is loosing his magic feet a little bit.



Agreed, these drop goal attempts are a waste of perfectly good possession. A try early in the second half is a must!

[GorillaBearBear]

Indeed. We wasted a perfectly good penalty trying to get a goal from 40 which, while tantalisingly close to going over, was a silly risk when we could have made a decent play of it.

Here's hoping for another 2 minute try to kick off the second half!

[Dr S]

:)

[basstard]

Merde.

[jonffm]

SWWINNGG LOOOWWW!!!

Fairytale continues! Frankly, win or lose the final, they come home absolute fucking heroes!

Abit shell-shocked right now to be honest :)

[GorillaBearBear]

Bloody hell.

I don't know what the England team were trying to do giving away posession in the last 2 minutes like that, but I suspect it was to make me fall off my chair and die of asphyxiation.

Right, roll on the final, I says!

[Ozzylator]

Risky stuff, but so satisfying to see the ball sail through the uprights.

[Lestat]

If England win in the final I will personally chop off Johnny Wilkinsons feet, presumably after vomiting for a few days from pure undeserving outrage. Lets see ye win anything then.

[jonffm]

News update: Poole High Street (I live tharrr!) has erupted into a parade.

>JonFFM adds to it by chanting along.

[GorillaBearBear]

It was bloody shoddy play to let them have posession in the first place. I think they got a bit too cocky after an admittedly excellent drop goal (you knew what they were going to TRY and do [geddit?] when you noticed wilkinson hovering about with intent, and when they swung it back to him, and he got that lovely punt straight through...absolutely gorgeous).

Also - Lestat, I don't think that's valid. Everyone said he carried us last world cup, and while he did basically beat france for us, the rest of our matches we had a quality team to back it up. This year it's all gone topsy turvy. Even wilkinson is a bit rubbish now, and what they thought resurrecting Dilalliglio would acheive I don't know. The only thing that's really keeping our team together is a lot of luck and some occasional flashes of inspired, organised, and well executed play.

[jonffm]

Lestat...Irish? What the hell is an Irishman doing in a sport forum? MUST be lost....or passing time waiting for the Irish rugby teams 20 minute World Cup DVD? Come on buddy, crack a smile!

</lolz 606 style WUM-age>

England are winning with pure passion. We're playing very little superb rugby, but we're giving everything we have and it's apparantly too much for what we've faced so far.

If you're baffled as to how we're winning, imagine how we feel.

[Urlosenged]

If England win in the final I will personally chop off Johnny Wilkinsons feet, presumably after vomiting for a few days from pure undeserving outrage. Lets see ye win anything then.
Chris Paterson: 17/17
Johnny Wilkinson: 17/however many it is now. (Seriously, couldn't find a figure anywhere, wasn't looking that hard though)

Just having a good kicker doesn't get you to a world cup final.

I don't care how we got there, we're there and it's fucking brilliant.

[LeoZ]

Sacré bleu!

[jonffm]

If there is a sweeter sight than that of a crying frenchman, I haven't seen it. It makes me almost moist.

Almmoossttt.

[basstard]

If there is a sweeter sight than that of a crying frenchman, I haven't seen it.

That Johnny Wilkinson dropkick that hit the post and bounced off.

[Lestat]

? Come on buddy, crack a smile!

I think the rest of the people in this thread should take that advice not me. Take a joke guys :p

Really though, I know England played well in the last two matches, and that if they hadnt, Wilkinson wouldnt have been useless as a kicker.

Still though, it must be infuriating for some countries to be beaten in the last few minutes by wonder kicks from Wilkinson. Not that's what happened in this match, as anyone would have scored that straightforward penalty and Wilkinson was playing frankly pretty shit for some of the match, other than the drop goal.

Still, what a backwards world cup. Ireland thinking they were the shit going into it, getting knocked out in the group stages. England not getting raped for the first time since the last world cup. New Zealand and the Aussies knocked out in the quarters, France not getting to the final. God, I'd back South Africa to win, but with the way Argentina have come out of no where and England have decided to play the damn game at last, who knows.

[Spoo]

I love/hate England! Whilst this technique of keeping the game close and choking a few more points than the opposition out in the last quarter is very satisfying on the final whistle, every second before that whistle is pure agony!

[jonffm]

I think the rest of the people in this thread should take that advice not me. Take a joke guys :p

I know it was, thats why I bantered back :confused:

But yeah, the government will blame poor diets for the rise in heart conditions this year. I place the blame firmly at Ashtons England team's feet.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Viva L'Angleterre!
:trex:

[Nocashvalue]

Ah, I love you all.
Each and every one of you.
Poor chabal :<

[ynnekkenny]

awh for fuck sake... england have played shite and they still make it through. im well annoyed.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Nothing like the taste of bitter Scotch.

Don't know what you're talking about, Kenny. Our pack destroyed Australia, and France rarely, if ever, looked like scoring a try against us.

[pokey]

I'm up for it, give me a number, it's time to stand up and be counted.

[Nuclear Spoon]

I'm up for it, give me a number, it's time to stand up and be counted.

You're a bit late...

[Urlosenged]

awh for fuck sake... england have played shite and they still make it through. im well annoyed.
I do love the taste of Scottish Whine in the morning, it just makes everything so much nicer.

[OKO]

Of South African birth and English nationality, I'm really not looking forward to the prospect of an SA England final. :(
I was shitting myself last night watching it; the last 10 minutes was torture. :|

[basstard]

Don't know what you're talking about, Kenny. Our pack destroyed Australia, and France rarely, if ever, looked like scoring a try against us.

Were you watching the same game I was?

England weren't looking exactly likely to threaten the French line either - as relying on last-10 minute boots by 'golden bollocks' Wilkinson proved.

The entire game was very close, and for the most part evenly matched. England were lucky, simple as.

[jonffm]

Last night was always going to be a game of territory that was going to be won and lost in the final stages. Thats how both teams approached the game, it's how it was played out, and for nearly the entire game England won that war.

The score coming into the last ten minutes was utterly irrelevent - it didn't matter who was winning because it was always going to be like it's own little side-game.

Facts are that England executed the gameplan that suited their style of plan. It wasn't perfect, indeed, but it's totaly ludicrous to say England were any more fortunate than any team that has ever won a closely-fought Semi-final.

The real simple as statement sums up our tactical approach to a tee. They won - simple as. At the end of the day, when you look up at the scoreboard at the end of the game, that's the ONLY thing that ever matters.

[Nuclear Spoon]

England v South Africa final then.

Our defence is going to have to be much more than solid. Hope Habana breaks his legs in a tragic cycling accident or something...

[jonffm]

Argies would have been easier, probably, but any team will do. Frankly, I think every England fan is just gratefull for the night out next week because nobody thought in their wildest dreams we'd get this far after how poor we were in the opening stages - and THEN seeing we'd have to go through the Aussies and All Blacks (though it didn't turn out that way.)


The bookies will stand to lose a TON if England pull it off. Weren't they offering over 50-1 for England to win it in some places? Only takes a few punters to have put a tenner on and they're down to the tune of a few grand....and this is England, we LOVE putting money on the underdog.

What I don't understand...is England are labeled as having no chance in the Rugby, and the odds reflect it....however in the football, even though in ouur heart of hearts we know we're not gunna win - the bookies still give us low odds just in case so that they don't end up losing millions.


SO wish I put a tenner on. I was so close to doing so :(

[Soapie]

That was a terrible game of rugby.

Especially the South Africans sportsmanship. They were acting like Aussies.

[ynnekkenny]

Nothing like the taste of bitter Scotch.

Don't know what you're talking about, Kenny. Our pack destroyed Australia, and France rarely, if ever, looked like scoring a try against us.
I do love the taste of Scottish Whine in the morning, it just makes everything so much nicer.

im Northern Irish. I just live in Glasgow.

[Mudkipz]

*psst, I'm pretty sure he was looking at your location*

[Dr_nwa]

SO wish I put a tenner on. I was so close to doing so :(

You're telling me!

To win the final England have to do two things.
Keep Possession! We lost too much against the French. While they didn't capitalise on it, the Boks will through Habana, JP Pieterson and Percy Montgomery. Du Preez is the best sniping 9 in the game as well, so possession is essential for england.
Destroy the Boks pack. Argentina did this a bit last night; SA got driven back on a few occasions. BUT not enough to win. I know its ugly rugby, but battering phase rugby will mince SA and not England. Eventually the defending team will infringe, penalty, 3 points (I hope) or 50 yards down the pitch.

It's going to be a tough game.

[LeoZ]

lol, we gonna lose.

[Spoo]

You're telling me!

To win the final England have to do two things.
Keep Possession! We lost too much against the French. While they didn't capitalise on it, the Boks will through Habana, JP Pieterson and Percy Montgomery. Du Preez is the best sniping 9 in the game as well, so possession is essential for england.
Destroy the Boks pack. Argentina did this a bit last night; SA got driven back on a few occasions. BUT not enough to win. I know its ugly rugby, but battering phase rugby will mince SA and not England. Eventually the defending team will infringe, penalty, 3 points (I hope) or 50 yards down the pitch.

It's going to be a tough game.

Two most important truths in rugby:

1) you cant score without the ball
2) they can't run without their legs

Hang on to the ball, no stupid long kicks that are never going to find touch unless there is a genuine space and someone running for it.

Every time the boks get the ball they must be hit and hard. Massive crunches in the first 10 minutes can dictate the game.

[jonffm]

I thought they made alot of mistakes against Argentina, and while they were very clinical - pretty much all their points came from very silly mistakes from the Pumas...the reason they won by such a margin was that Argentina were equally as sloppy and it just came down to quality of possesion. We can't afford to make errors and we must keep hold of the ball. If they win the battle for possesion, we don't really stand a chance. We'll employ the same tactic of territory-play and try to win it in the last ten minutes.

So long as we're within 6 points in the last 10 minutes, we can steal it.

[Nocashvalue]

On paper, the boks should destroy us. However, it's a final, so anything can happen, heh :P

Yeah, territory and possession are the two critical things. Destroying them in the scrum would always be good ;D

[Nuclear Spoon]

Lewsey's out.
Shit.
:(

[Nuclear Spoon]

Argentina :cube:

[Explosivo]

Oh game time for the boys, apperently they have left their hotel and are en route to the Stadium.

Got the Land of Hope and glory and Swing low stuck in my head now

[Urlosenged]

I was pretty happy and relaxed until that happened. Now I'm pretty nervous about what the 2nd half holds. It hasn't quite got to "shouting at the tv because that was blatant offside/in the side/cheating" yet, but it will, I'm sure.

OH MY FUCKING GOD! What the fucking fuck? No try my fat arse!

[Thomp]

What a load of rubbish. There is absolutely no way that he couldn't give that try. Cueto's leg was clearly up and didn't cross the line.

[alexj9]

That was deffinatly a try.

[Mudkipz]

Even I thought that was a try, and im rooting for South Africa *oohh blasphemy!*

[Urlosenged]

Oh this ref can just fuck right off. Obstruction? What about Habana doing that? Oh no, that wasn't even accidental obstruction. Twat.

[Thomp]

8 minutes to get a try and two penalties to win... *tries to stay optimistic*

edit: Commiserations, but also well done lads. It speaks volumes that this same team got thrashed 36-0, and yet only lost 15-6 tonight. They've played with pride, passion and their hearts on their sleeves.

You've done your country proud. Hold your heads high.

[Hydralisk]

South Africa are now the Champions.

Well done to them *applauds*.

Ach well, I think that Scotland stand a fairly good chance at the Six nations, judging by the performance during this World Cup.

[Urlosenged]

They've given their all, and been beaten. At least they can hold their heads high. But for a few dodgy decisions, maybe we'd be celebrating, but they've done fantastically well just to get there. They've done England proud. I just hope the papers don't concentrate on the try that wasn't, that'd just detract from a) South Africa winning and b) a fantastic world cup defence.

[Jay]

Good on you, South Africa.

[Mudkipz]

Not that it matters really but,
OiScout won the Sweepstakes. Lol

[Shave]

aww boo, but the better team won in fairness, they owned us in the line outs. we did amazingly to reach the final and more importantly we beat the french :p

[Lestat]

I love South Africa.

[Ozzylator]

Irish ref with a french dad... what did you expect on the decision front?

[jonffm]

One question still.

How the fuck can a video ref get a decison wrong? Seriously, I don't understand it. How? It wasn't even borderline.

Fix.

[Lestat]

Irish ref with a french dad... what did you expect on the decision front?

Haha, bitter English people with petty excuses. As usual :p

[jonffm]

Bla bla bla Really crap Irish attempt at a windup bla bla bla

Moving on.

Every decision was against us. The only decisions we got were miles into our own half with no chance of creating anything. Seriously, in football, it's just a bad decision, in rugby were video refs are employed and the standard is just that much higher from officials, it is not.

Well done lads for getting this far, truly proud of them and no bitter irish/scots/french/whatevers can take what they've achieved away from them. Very few sporting teams have achieved so much with so little.

Proud to be English tonight :)

[Urlosenged]

"What can I do to not give them that try"
To be fair, that wasn't him saying "I want an excuse to not give this", it was him saying "I believe it's a try, check to see if there's a reason that it's not."

But yeah, at least we got out of the group stages, unlike a couple of other home nations who I won't mention the names of.

[Ozzylator]

Haha, bitter English people with petty excuses. As usual :p

Because Ireland did *so* well, didn't they? Face it, the half-french referee didn't do his job, and cheated. Which fits rather well seeing as that's all the french ever seem to do.

[Lestat]

Moving on.
)

Haha, oh my god, the bitterness in this thread. Actually minused me because ye cant take a joke. Bashing the french? Petty. Making fun of the irish? Petty. South Africa by far deserved to win, they were a much much better team through the entire competition, and they would have won a "fair" match as much as a one that ye all thought was unfair. England never looked like they were going to score a try, and I cant remember a time in the tournament when they have looked like scoring a try. Get over it guys, take a joke, and take how to lose.

Edit: Even if it was a try, SA won by 9 points, so it wouldnt have made a difference.

[Cooldudebob]

Even though i am Welsh and was supporting SA i must say that that was quite blatently a try.

Damn you Fiji :(

[jonffm]

Haha, oh my god, the bitterness in this thread. Actually minused me because ye cant take a joke. Bashing the french? Petty. Making fun of the irish? Petty. South Africa by far deserved to win, they were a much much better team through the entire competition, and they would have won a "fair" match as much as a one that ye all thought was unfair. England never looked like they were going to score a try, and I cant remember a time in the tournament when they have looked like scoring a try. Get over it guys, take a joke, and take how to lose.

Edit: Even if it was a try, SA won by 9 points, so it wouldnt have made a difference.

Last indulgence for you.

You can't really say anything. Lets see if Ireland ever get to a final a-...yes, i'm aware this point is moot because Ireland will never get to a final but let's make it anyway....let's see how you take a joke then :) Seems you haven't actually mentioned Ireland at all really, just talked about England the whole WC. Bit tragic really. Bt fair enouyh, maybe as an Irishman you're better experienced with losing and have learnt to deal with it. For proud english fans, losing doesn't come easy. Guess that the difference between a team that can win World Cups and a team that look like imposters to even be IN one.

Secondly, the rest of your nothing opinions are killed off when you show how little you know about rugby, or sport in general with that edit comment. Becauyse of course, if we'd have made it 11-10, SA would have played exactly the same - as would England. If you don't even recognise the significance of moments like those as turning points in matches, you're clearly either simply too young to have formed an actuall opion, or stupid. Frankly, judging as you're a teenage irishman, i'd say it's a bash of both.


So finally...at least when I banter, it's funny :)


So lets try that again. Bitter irish aside, Moving on!

[Jay]

Edit: Even if it was a try, SA won by 9 points, so it wouldnt have made a difference.lol I was thinking that, it kinda takes the point away doesnt it.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Well done, South Africa, for being the best team in the tournament and winning it.

Well done, England, for far exceeding everyone's expectations.

And the referee can go fuck himself.

I am not bitter.

Anyone notice how Gordon Brown seemed more jovial towards the South Africans than the English at the end?

lol I was thinking that, it kinda takes the point away doesnt it.

Not really.

It's the same concept as idiots like Motson saying "X United should be beating Y Athletic by about 5 goals by now!" when X have scored only, say, 2. Because they scored a goal, means that the other chances may not have come about as a result.

Same applies to the rugby. The try could have turned the whole match around.

But I shan't continue to grasp at straws.

[Luna]

Did anyone see Wilkinson completely blank Gordon Brown? Hilarious.

I won't go far as saying the ref was corrupt and everything, but it was the wrong decision, and cost us dearly. Still a proud night.

[OKO]

I feel sorry for English guys. That was a try no doubt; I was holding my head in my hands when I saw that because I thought that's it, game over.
We didn't really deserve to win in all fairness, we committed some horrifically high challenged that weren't challenged by the officials. Especially Habana, he was flying all over the place.
Being of both backgrounds in a sense, I didn't sit anywhere on the scale. But just sat there, but taking the victory as it was. It couldn't of been more hollow and meaningless. It was the final I really didn't want.

[Cap'n Zog]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/garyfothergill/EyeTVSnapshot-1.jpg


Gotta say that looks like a foot on the line to me (as it did to the video ref). Also 'every decision against you' my arse, when SA almost scored a try it took the ref bloody ages to start favouring the attacking team then didn't it. Face it guys you were beaten, let it go, and make sure to report it in the Guardian today (after the 36-0 defeat there was no mention of English international rugby in the paper sports section the day after)

[Lestat]

You know guys, for the sake of the thread, I'm going to stop posting. Obviously, some pathetic person cannot take a joke about their own country. His rugby arguments might have been valid, had he not showed himself to be an enormous nationalist prick. I would have myself preferred to continue this conversation in pm's, but as he refuses to let me send him pm's anymore, and because he chose to post in this thread, I will do so too. Get a fucking life mate, and take a joke.

Sorry for the pettiness of JohnnyFF interrupting this thread. Hopefully neither of us will have to post here again. I know I wont.

[LeoZ]

lol, we gonna lose.


lol!

[Cap'n Zog]

Heh you called it

[jonffm]

For jinxing us LeoZ, next time it rains i'm going to make it my personal mission to step on every snail within a three mile radius.

[Super Weebl]

Just to stop the complaining, the 'try' was not a try. Cueto's boot slid onto the line and then lifted, so the TMO has probably made the best decision of his life.

Ah well, England played fantasticlly brave rugby from the 36-0 match, and now are really gonna be on a high going into the Six Nations.

[Urlosenged]

You know guys, for the sake of the thread, I'm going to stop posting. Obviously, some pathetic person cannot take a joke about their own country. His rugby arguments might have been valid, had he not showed himself to be an enormous nationalist prick. I would have myself preferred to continue this conversation in pm's, but as he refuses to let me send him pm's anymore, and because he chose to post in this thread, I will do so too. Get a fucking life mate, and take a joke.

Sorry for the pettiness of JohnnyFF interrupting this thread. Hopefully neither of us will have to post here again. I know I wont.
Oh fuck off. You can't just come in here, say what you want, then say "lol joke!" and expect everyone to go "lol that's k!" Fact is you deliberately tried to wind every Englishman literally minutes after we'd just lost such a big game, and then acted surprised when someone took offence to it. That makes you a class A twat to me.

[jonffm]

Just ignore him now. He thinks he's the voice of the majority. He is not, he is just a silly child. He also thinks I was the one interupting the thread, when he's said himself in a PM to me that he doesn't even like sports and thusly was only here to wind people up. God knows why he felt the need to post that, just confirming his status as a massive attention whore who is just trying to wind people up. He did it after the semis and went "lol, joke!" too...(after getting very sensitive about a joke himself!) Probably shouldn't have risen to twat-ness, but I wans't in a great mood.

But again, well done lads. Made uus prouder than the footie team have in years.

Roll on Six Nations! I hope we don't throw too mch expectation at the lads though. They did amazingly well, but it'll be hard to pull off some of the same preformances.

[Explosivo]

I honestly couldn't believe it. In complete fairness, it wasn't a try, but I still think the ref had by all standards a pretty poor game, especially considering the magnitude of the event. I still don't quite understand how an Aussie and a paddy were given two of the most important roles on the night when England were involved but again I doubt they were out to get us.

The team played like gladiators, they didn't give up even when all hope was lost. They played for for their honour and represented our country perfectly (A lot more than can be said for the current football team). No it was 2003 again, and it hurt that much more becuase it was the final. But no one can deny that for that team to make it that far, to produce the best title defence by any Nation to date, it in itself an outstanding achievement and they should be credited for it. If you look at the competition, we beat not only the hosts France, but Austrialia as well, which in itself was a massive achievement for that England side. I have no doubt that in 2011 we will go in with far better odds than this year. Well done boys.


And finally, Lestat get out of the Sports forums, when you quite obviously fail at sports. And gtfo the internet when you quite clearly fail at that as well.

[Nuclear Spoon]

Meanwhile, a joke to cheer you all up:

A new video recording of Osama Bin Laden has been sent to the US and British military. In it, Bin Laden claims to still be alive saying that Wales played really crap rugby a few weeks back.

British Intelligence have dismissed the video as a fake, claiming it could have been recorded any time during the last 20 years.

[Lestat]

And finally, Lestat get out of the Sports forums, when you quite obviously fail at sports. And gtfo the internet when you quite clearly fail at that as well.

:rolleyes: For one thing, to clear this up once and for all, it was quite clearly a joke. Every hear of friendly banter, like earlier on? I even put a fecking smiley face there to show that I was joking, just for people who dont understand humour. If you didn't appreciate this, fine. But continuing to argue about it? A bit pathetic. Explosivo, telling me i "fail at internets and sport", yeah, I'm clearly the immature stupid one here.

And for the sake of it, JonnyFF took me out of context there. I didn't say I didn't know anything about sports. I merely said that I don't care so much about the damn thing to get offended by not being able to take a god damn joke. I wont even tell you about the bullshit racism showed in his PM's about "inbred irish". I wasn't looking for an argument, and I was looking to stop this argument by discussing the problem with JonnyFF in PM's. Clearly, he doesnt want to do that, as he keeps bringing it up in this thread.

Have a problem with me, PM in a mature reasonable manner. Otherwise, kindly get the hell over it, and grow up. I really wont be posting here or reading this thread any longer, as I do not want to get further embroiled in this pathetic 'flaming' that some people seem intent on continuing.

[jonffm]

I simply baited you with the PM. See if you can take a joke. Seems you can't. Now everything you have said to me has now been officially directed straight back at yourself. How uttery predictable. Hay, whattya know. That "I WAS JOKING!" getout IS fun. Now yo've just turned yourself into a massive example of the word "CONTRADICTION." Nice.

If you want, post PM date/times which show that I was the one that took it to PM, and even told you not to post again. You went ahead and posted though about how you're sorry for my "pettyness", so the highground attempt = PHAIL.

Seriously Lestat, you haven't managed one single argument of any merit, so just give up and jog on. Toodles.

Dude, youre still posting in that thread about this? Talk about petty. I guess youre one of those sad people who have to have the last word in everything. Absolutely pathetic. I'm not even going to reply to that shit in the thread, because I'm not so sad as to be a petty prick while disturbing the whole rest of the forum. Get over yourself :rolleyes:

LOL@Irony. Buh bye.

We'll try this AGAIN -

MOVING.

ON.

Though really. The world cups over. The talking points gone. Thread dead? :o

[basstard]

Though really. The world cups over. The talking points gone. Thread dead? :o

Not necessarily - there are two things I'd like to talk about.

One, the 20 team format. Did you think it was a good idea compared to the 16 team one? I liked having teams like Ghana, Georgia, Japan and Canada and so on.

The other was something that intrigued me after I read it in a South African newspaper. They complained that the England team relied heavily on dropkicks to win games and score points - and that many of the younger teams (note - by this I mean newer teams such as above) were copying this. They didn't quite state that this was 'ruining rugby', but it was close. This was before the final, note.

I was just wondering if you agreed or not. It seems to me that there are fewer and fewer tries these days in big games, and the article might have a point. Then again it could just be evolving tactics. Hmm...

[jonffm]

Not necessarily - there are two things I'd like to talk about.

One, the 20 team format. Did you think it was a good idea compared to the 16 team one? I liked having teams like Ghana, Georgia, Japan and Canada and so on.

The other was something that intrigued me after I read it in a South African newspaper. They complained that the England team relied heavily on dropkicks to win games and score points - and that many of the younger teams (note - by this I mean newer teams such as above) were copying this. They didn't quite state that this was 'ruining rugby', but it was close. This was before the final, note.

I was just wondering if you agreed or not. It seems to me that there are fewer and fewer tries these days in big games, and the article might have a point. Then again it could just be evolving tactics. Hmm...

I liked the 20 team format too. Sports is all about big vs small. It's much more fun having the outsiders in there because we all love to cheer on the underdog.

I would also take that with a pinch of salt as it was mostly just abit of pre-final banter. It's an odd thing to say though, considering they themselves only scored one try in the final. It's all about tactics though - they play to win, forsaking 'pure' rugby.

[basstard]

I liked the 20 team format too. Sports is all about big vs small. It's much more fun having the outsiders in there because we all love to cheer on the underdog.

I agree - plus there were even a few surprise wins this year, which is good.

I would also take that with a pinch of salt as it was mostly just abit of pre-final banter. It's an odd thing to say though, considering they themselves only scored one try in the final. It's all about tactics though - they play to win, forsaking 'pure' rugby.

True, it was the day before the final I read that. It was full of banter too - phrases like "now Australia and NZ are out, please let the one team playing proper rugby win" and how they will save the game. Heh. I think you are right - it was mostly hype, but I figure there was an interesting point in there somewhere.

[GorillaBearBear]

I think it probably would have been true if the team had stayed as it was in 2003. Although that was a really strong side there was a reliance on wilko's boot in the latter stages. This year, I noticed a lot more focus on getting the territory and the tries, although maybe not enough focus on posession.

Just before everyone forgets, by the way, much as I was rooting for England, I think SA deserved it more than us. Admittedly, both teams played soem absolutely awful rugby in places, but South Africa knew what they could do well and did it. England kept going for lineouts despite the fact that SA were all over us in every lineout, catching the ball before we'd even got out of bed. Our near try proved that if we'd kept trying to play like that we probably could have one it.

I do agree we should have been given that try, and although ti wouldn't have made up the points defecit, I think getting that try would have led to a win, purely on morale. But I'm not going to complain too much. We played some good rugby over the tournament, but we also played some very bad rugby too, and I think our team needs the next four years to really hit their stride. Roll on 2011 I say!

[Explosivo]

I think our team needs the next four years to really hit their stride. Roll on 2011 I say!

They better be bloody good for that one. I don't think NZ would allow themselves to lose on home turf. But I think if Ashton (or Aston can never remember the spelling) stays on board and is allowed to build a new team, we stand a really good chance, we have a pool of young talent, who are willing to through everything into every match just like our current team.

One thing I did notice before the game, was how much Lawrence Dallaglio looked like a mentor and almost trainer to those guys, shouting at them and getting them ready for what was ahead of them, I personally think it might be good to keep a few of those veterens, like him and maybe Catt, in the mix not on the team but maybe in the training staff, because you can't beat experience and whos got more experience than a team that won the world cup?