Uruguay: five tries.
Bankers, vintners, carpenters,
White tee-shirts; winners.
Namibia lost
But inspired a spray from Shag:
Seventy-one points.
Georgia broke away
From Soviets in Ninety One;
Learned rugby to stay free.
Russia loses big.
The Bears have scored just one try.
But could lead in cards.
Oh, no, Canada.
Averaging less than four points
Will give you a spoon.
America’s last
In Pool C; surrendering
To France, no trump card.
Tonga’s still winless,
But gave fancied Frogs a fright:
Vaipulu’s offloads.
Samoa plays big.
A hundred turnovers won,
Four yellows, one red.
Fiji breaks all lines.
Could they turn it upside down
By shocking Gatland?
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Los Pumas bombed out.
They dropped their Nico Sanchez;
Their best guy, and Gus.
These courageous teams
Came, saw, and did not conquer.
No chance to lift Bill.
And so, at this point,
Ten teams remain with a chance,
Mathematically.
But Italy’s props
Have premature ejection.
And karma prevails.
The brave Scots are wee.
Canny, but nae try-scorers.
The gain line a dream.
Wales is seldom hot.
In Cardiff, it rains old wives
And walking sticks, aye?
So, France will progress
Re-enact the Six Nations
Wilting against Wales.
Japan has tackled
Four thirty and seven times
Is that too many?
Michael Cheika’s search
For his one and true flyhalf,
And soul, continues.
The Irish sing loud.
But Japan exposed the truth:
There is no there, there.
Of the eight still in,
Only three have the depth
To go all the way.
England looks rugged.
Eddie Jones will drive the Ford
Over Wallabies.
The Boks have power
Of course, but Cheslin Kolbe
Is a smooth mutant.
New Zealand has grown
Step by step, with Brodie back.
Favoured in all games.
(Photo by Amilcar Orfali/Getty Images)
Who would have foreseen
Namibia’s more breaks than
Scotland at this point?
Or that Uruguay
Would steal more bloody lineouts
Than Itoje’s lads?
But ultimately
This tournament can only
Be won by a few.
The likely foursome
In Yokohama City
Is green, red, black, white.
Alun, George, Eben.
Beauden versus, um, Beauden;
South over the North.
MitchO
Guest
I have a speech impediment and my maths are bad.
aussikiwi
Guest
The typhoon has passed Sorrow and excitement clash The finals await.
Nobody
Roar Rookie
The dog’s bum crashes Haikus are five seven five Disqualified bro
MitchO
Guest
The sun shines on a dogs bum some times but not this weekend
Nobody
Roar Rookie
A howling typhoon Fifteen men clothed all in black Bet your house on them
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Hirsute Saffer man In Rassie and Stick he trusts Beware Barrett, bro
Phil
Guest
Just a question,Harry?You selected the Aussies in your picks but the poms here.Having an each way bet?
Highlander
Guest
Intellectual muse Rugby and Poetry unite Pretentious much, moi? :laughing:
Bunratty c
Roar Rookie
Merci, mon ami!
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
That is a $45 multi. Bet the house on it my friend :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Yes! Thanks. 15 miles north of us and heavy wind brought the smoke
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Carlos, I may have missed your update on this, but did you get through the fires unscathed?
Bunratty c
Roar Rookie
Apologies, Harry (but nicely written!): England by 13; Wales by 11; Ireland by 3; Blossoms by 3. Looking forward to a wonderful w/e (the first WC apogee).
Brian
Guest
Romatic idea Usual suspects gone bye I really think so
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Morning Gringo Yes, just 8 soon to be 4. It’s know secrete that I’ve said the MIB’s and the Bokke are 20-30 points better than any side at the WC. Both will be in the 4. But how good will the contest to join them be. England v Aus. Smart money with the poms, but I have never been accused of being smart. They have shown nothing to suggest they can win this tournament, caveat, I guess it really begins this weekend though. Come on you green and gold convict descendants, here your chance to repay for that loaf of bread or bag of hops your great great great granddad or grandmother borrowed. Wallabies by 6. Wales v France, OMG, anything is possible here. Will the frogs tell the coach to get stuffed and carry on through like last time or will Wales show us that the world ranking system is not complete joke. Smart money obviously with the Hobbit coal miners from the north, but I see frog legs on garlic toast required for energy levels for their next game the following week against your mob.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Forgot AP9. Only you gringos call him Gus. Ficha or AP9 for the Argies.
Harry Jones
Expert
The one-syllable version of Augustin.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Who is Gus?
Harry Jones
Expert
The Boks named five locks. Poms went big; Shag is yawning. Goodbye Joe, Jamie.
Harry Jones
Expert
And then there were eight. Eddie, Michael, Rassie, Shag, Gats, Jamie, Joe, Merde.