Now that ‘The Pool of Death’ has claimed its victims, the top two teams have been left to shoot it out this weekend in the quest for top spot. As an Aussie rugby fan this fixture has been as much on my radar as last Sunday morning’s match against England.
In fact this upcoming game has probably been haunting me more. Nightly for weeks I have been waking up with the thoughts of a Welshman named Sam and a dreaded earworm running through my brain.
However, it’s not Sam Warburton who has been disturbing my sleep. Instead it has been the other Welshman Sam – Fireman Sam, who has been extinguishing my Wallaby dreams.
My two-and-a-half-year-old son’s infatuation with Fireman Sam sees our house inundated with Welsh accents from the television whenever I haven’t seconded it to watch rugby. For those who don’t know Fireman Sam and his motley bunch of fire fighters, they always save the day from the disasters that befall the village of Pontypandy.
This Rugby World Cup has seen the Welsh team under Sam Warburton befall similar disasters as the village of Pontypandy. With the injuries that have occurred to Wales it’s almost as if Norman Price, the trouble-making child from Fireman Sam, has been allowed free rein in causing mischief to the team.
Why does the Welsh team continue to haunt my dreams? Quite frankly I see the their backrow trio of Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau backed up by Justin Tipuric as a group that could douse their Australian equivalent ‘The Fardy Pooper’.
In the modern game the ability of sides to control the breakdown speed in attack and defence is paramount to success or failure. England on the weekend failed to make much impact against the Wallabies in this area. However, the Welsh will be a far bigger challenge in attempting to smother the Wallabies attacking fire at the breakdown.
The ability of both teams, led by their loose forwards, in creating quick ball for their outside men will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the game. In the case of the Wallabies, it’s about starting the fire of quick ball to unleash their backs and for the Wales it’s a matter of snuffing out that fire as much possible by slowing the ball down.
One consolation about Fireman Sam is he often has to call for assistance from Tom Thomas, a very ocker Aussie, in his helicopter aptly named ‘Wallaby One’. Hopefully it means that, like Tom Thomas and ‘Wallaby One’, the Aussies will fly in to fix any problem.
In order for Australia’s World Cup flame to continue to burn and not fizzle we have to ensure Fireman Sam and his crew can’t extinguish the Wallaby attack. It’s up to ‘The Fardy Pooper’ to ensure that fire continues to burn for the remainder of the World Cup.
If of course the Wallabies don’t succeed then there could a meltdown from an adult as epic as the one his son had when Fireman Sam was taken off the television this week!
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Agree McMahon will play all over him. Australia will win by 30. It has been the pool of bliss.
Tycoch
Guest
Banned for a week
Dublin Dave
Guest
Fireman Sam was a big favourite of my two now 20-somethings back in the day. Glad to see that like Thomas the Tank Engine and Postman Pat he is still going strong and that today's generation of parents seem to spared the unctuous cretinism of Barney the Dinosaur which blighted my generation And if you don't know who Barney was, then think yourself lucky and whatever you do: don't ask!
Rugbyfan
Guest
Could not agree more Squirrel. He may be a big fish in NH rugby, but as we are reminded time and time again, that is like being the smartest kid in the dumb class.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice article, I think Hooper definitely misses this game. We need McCalmans experience against an excellent Welsh backrow. McMahon can come on with 20 to go.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Warburton = myth
Existentialist
Guest
ha! totally empathise Liam ... for me though it has been that annoying pommy peppa pig! thank god the english have been banished to the rugby waste land of non-qualification fingers crossed for a #pooperdy combo this weekend. otherwise, in agreement with Lostintokyo & el Gamba bring on the #McFarcock (preference for 'Mahon before 'Calman) oink
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Well played Liam, every four years I get the TV priority, kids aren't too upset, like a good father I will do anything to shut them up during rugby so they are ok with their devices, computer or whatever it takes! I'd really love to see Pomahon have a crack if it goes that way, and, if we do beat a strong Wales side so get a crack against Scotland, perhaps a McMaper (that one is terrible!) to give Poey a rest before the finals.
gatesy
Roar Guru
..... as long as the game isn't being run by anyone called the Fat Controller!
Lostintokyo
Guest
I like it.
Mark Egger
Roar Rookie
Hopefully having shat on Postman Pat, and foiled Fireman Sam, we will be up early for the Phantom Agents.
Redsback
Guest
I think, instead of the "Fardy Pooper" we should use the verb coined by Phillip Seymore Hoffman in "Along Came Polly", which more graphically described what you're going for there - "Shart". As in, "We've gotta go, I just sharted" or "our back three sharted all over England's at the weekend".
Liam Muller
Roar Rookie
If it isn't the 'Fardy Pooper' it will have to be some version of the 'Fardy McPoey' with either of the Mcs getting a start. I don't know if the nickname will work quite as well though.
Liam Muller
Roar Rookie
Cheers Hoppers, it's moments like these that live streaming or videos on the Ipad come in very handy!
Lostintokyo
Guest
Let's hope Hooper can play. If not is it c'moth the hour for McMahon? Better option than Pocock 7 and Macalman 8 IMO. McMahon is hungry and in form. Give the kid a shot. Other hopes; # Foley has just entered a five game purple patch. # Izzy fires on all cylinders. # piggies perform again # Diggar is indeed human after all. And OK, # Fireman Sam gets a rerun.
Hoppers
Guest
Very funny Liam. My 5yo hasn't been a fan of daddy commandeering early morning TV for the last couple of weeks either. Sometimes there's just more important things than being a good dad ;-)