Roar Rookie
Joined September 2011
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It seems that after just seven rounds of Super Rugby in 2012, Australian teams are falling off the pace of the high-flying Kiwis and…
As South Africa bids farewell to New Zealand - the Land of the Long White Cloud - the rugby world bids farewell to one…
It was never pretty, but they did just enough to secure a win against Wales. Then came two lesser teams which was merely a…
I havent read anyone making such a claim – until we beat the ABs more often than they us (Boks) nobody has the right to make such a claim – I do however think that this year the Boks will be very strong. Some incredible new talent to pick from.
Kiwis and Saffers well ahead of Aussies
by that reasoning we could say this is all your fault. You got the flue and that meant that a doctor was on duty that night to see you, he wasnt at home to catch his wife in bed with another, and as such his dog was let out of the yard and knocked by a car, that car was made in england and required parts- which meant extra work for a welshman who works at the plant who was then delayed by 4 minutes to send the welsh team a tweet and wales never got the tweet which read – dont tip tackle – and as such warburton was sent off. how could you !
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
Do you really believe that Samoa would have beaten Ireland and France ? They have improved, but not as much as you think. SA beat them in second gear, doing ‘just enough’ to cruise home without injuries and Ireland and France are probably as good.
Wales are not cheats buddy, They are a good team on the up, just like Samoa.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
Ok then – in fear of you posting another 253 times on this and forgetting to feed your kids – Australia won, end of story.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
Lets agree to disagree – however Bryce did, my point now is – that SA were a better team on the day than Aus – but made some crucial mistakes that cost them points. Aus won the game, but most would feel SA (having taken their chances) should have won. They were dominant and the Aussies really had to dig in on defense to win – it leaves me thinking that SA were stronger than Aus in this Cup, and Pocock made some incredible steals that, as we saw today, should have cost Aus points. im not saying SA didnt do anything illegal, but with the amount of territory they had, it would probably have cost them less points – and in a 2 point game, it only took 1 penalty to change it.
Pocock is a good player, very good – so give him that much and Australia are a quality team, but they did not put their best down at this tournament, and as such – a more fitting final would have been SA NZ.
i cant see France upsetting NZ now, unless they pull one of their rabbits in the hat moves – but its unlikely, only SA would have given NZ a run here – because they have the forward power to beat NZ upfront, and stop momentum for those dangerous runnners.
so you can have that one, Australia did beat SA – but it shouldnt have happened for the sake of the game.
or more telling, SA shouldnt have beaten Wales – then this argument becomes null. I think SA would have beaten IReland and France and have made the final on the other side.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
I agree – the ABs have been the best team without doubt for many years, its fitting that they get the Cup. Its puts the balance of the game into place. as a saffa, im dissapointed my team didnt win, but im happy for the kiwis to get one.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
ya we sure saw that today.
so tell us Mike, since we wont agree on the SA – Aus quarter – lets leave that one.
Lets talk about Australia for a second. In your opinion –
did Australia impress you in this WC ? did they look like the team they were in the 3N at all ?
The pack was owned by Ireland, and by SA and by NZ – and im guessing will be owned again by Wales.
The backlineis very good, but were not used in the big games at all, because their packs were beaten,
Are Australia the team you talk them up to be ?
Ive hardly been convinced at this cup that they are that good. Quade has been erratic, maybe you need Giteau back, maybe Barnes needs to play 10.
Genia wasnt good today, but a quality player – and everyone has an off one.
So my question is – whats your take on why the wallabies didnt really perform at this cup ?
Im sure thats a fair statement, we know the Wallabies at their best are world beaters, but they didnt show any of that in this tournament. Why ?
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
That puts a new spin on it – interesting.
87 – Nz in NZ
91 – Aus in England – away win
95 – Sa in sa
99 – Aus in Wales- away win
03 – England in Australia – away win
07 – SA in france- away win
11 – Nz in Nz ?
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
I love how Spiro calls the French lucky to beat Wales, and eludes to call the Wallabies lucky to beat the Springboks.
The real final ? Not by a mile – SA and NZ are the two best teams at this competition – a real final would have been between those 2.
Im not impressed with your biased writing Spiro. A good journalist is able to take his feeling and support for his team out of the story – and write what a neutral would see. Clearly you’re just a Wallabies supporter, that writes.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
I rate the Boks that played Aus last week, with a good ref – was on par with the Kiwis of tonight. Now THAT, would have been an EPIC semi final. Austarlia did not perform in this WC, not sure what the reasons are – im guessing the age of the team being relatively inexperienced in these pressure situations, im sure they will be a force in the next WC – still think SA had a far better chance of beating NZ today. Looking back, i cant help but think – if only Wales were given that kick against SA – we could have seen an SA vs. NZ final – SA won it in SA, i for one would not have felt bad losing to NZ in NZ. im sure that would have been the best game ever seen in the modern era, and would have been a fantastic advertisment for the game of Rugby.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
Well done All Blacks – The consensus here in SA is that all of SA is behind the Kiwis to take the title. You may be the old foe, but you deserve to finally get one – especially after missing out on a final against us (boks) last time due to the same reason we missed out on a semi with you this time.
But the Blacks deserve this, being the best all the time, without a WC title is just an injustice to the game.
Rugby World Cup live scores, blog: Wallabies vs All Blacks
Lol thatsfunny. Amazing how different Aus look when the ref actually blows the penalties.
Rugby World Cup live scores, blog: Wallabies vs All Blacks
Apparently at half time Australia wanted to make a substitution – But Bryce Lawrence wasnt allowed to come on. 3N Chumps – now you see what the Kiwis and Boks can do when they actually want to win. Australia didnt put in any real performances in this WC, Id be rather gutted if i was an aussie fan – let the media bashing begin
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
Yes that right. NZ vs. SA would have been the real final that year, unfortunately they also got the brunt of the referee. Not SA’s fault, just as its not NZ’s fault SA were robbed this year.
In SA we prefer to beat the best, to win – and call ourselves champs.
NZ are the same,
Australia would have preferred to play Namibia in the final – Amazing how different life becomes when the ref can see. Australia lost to Ireland, should have lost to SA – hardly 3N champs.
well done NZ – its yours now surely.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
Did your parents ask you to run away when you were a kid ?
Fair enough, Boks wil be back next year – with a new coach – and some really exciting players coming in,
watch the Boks become the best at the running game.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
How are aus doing with a real ref ? Englands ugly wins are something the Boks have also done for some time, theres a difference between winning ugly, and winning by way of the referee. Very different.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
Wales really did look good this WC, as a springbok fan i was pleasantly surprised to see their rise. They were unfortunate to play with 14, i think they were far better than Australia in this WC. Wales should have gotten the win against SA with that kick, and they would have knocked off Aus in their Quarter – and lost to NZ in their Semi. SA would have beaten Ireland and France to setup the real final – SA vs. NZ
today we see how normal pocock is when the ref actually pings his infringements. Go All Blacks.
France in: but real final is Australia v New Zealand
oh what a difference it makes when the ref actually blows the penalties – The REAL final would have been SA vs, NZ. Australia havent performed at all this World Cup. Now you see how the game of Rugby was robbed of the best playing the best.
Go All Blacks
Rugby World Cup live scores, blog: Wallabies vs All Blacks
Just thought of something funny.
Aus were beaten by Ireland, should never have won against SA, and will lose to NZ this weekend.
Wales look really good, and using the Boks as a benchmark for having played both, are faaaar stronger than Aus.
Samoa beat Aus not long before the WC and the French showed that they were just holding back for the knockout stages. They sure looked stronger than Aus to me. Argentina held the Kiwis at bay for a large part of their game, and also looked quite good, id say a little better than Aus.
So if we take this data – hand it to a kid for an honest answer, the calculation would be something like
Ranking at this WC
1. NZ
2. SA
3. Wales
4. Ireland
5. Samoa
6. France
7. Argentina
8. Australia
I understand that this logic is flawed and even dreamy so take it for what it is. But its funny nonetheless since thats how i see the IRB rankings going by the next world cup.
Inconsistent refereeing blight on modern rugby
i doubt it – We are just shocking when it comes to knockout cricket. We take Choke to the next level.
Truth is, Springboks lack the X-factor
thats a good point – it must be extremely difficult to watch everything – but then there are refs who can do it – surely the IRB should remove below par refs. Surely theres ref academys that coach these things into them ?
I think i need to become a ref. Im too old to play for the Boks now, but maybe i can contribute to the game in that way instead.
Just dont let me ever ref a Bok game, cause it would be hard for me to remain impartial when my team are out there.
I recall now an interview with craig joubert where he was asked if he had a favorite team. He said no, he has favorite players – I know that Richie McCaw is one of those.
Just hope he polices the game fairly this weekend.
Inconsistent refereeing blight on modern rugby
Might be the strongest Bok15 put out for some time, my only gripes being Malherbe (lazy in the loose), and De Allende (inconsistent). If DDA doesnt perform at 12 i suspect youll see Frans Steyn slotting in there just after the half time oranges.
Interesting to note, by playing Kitshoff, Marx and Vermeulen – Rassie has put 3 capable ball steelers on the park at the same time, giving him the freedom to set Kwagga loose – if he has the freedom to play his ‘Lions’ brand, what a mouth watering prospect that can be.
Add to that PSDT in the form of his life, and the return of the workhorse Mostert – The Boks have plenty of energy up front, and solid bench to counter the All Blacks final 20minutes.
Stock up on the biltong and Castles – its going to be another elbow biter
Rassie rings the changes for Springboks side to face New Zealand