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A deserved chance.
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
Take your point Ken. But if you accept that sometimes it’s the tournament team that takes the cup rather than the intrinsically best, then the WC delivered extra for me. It’s often not the case that both semis throw up matchups worthy of a final, but this time we had two in the quarters (same jeopardy). And at least one of the subsequent semis had some high drama.
Having said that, I think I would have much preferred to have been in a finals crowd watching France and Ireland go at it, for both the game and the atmosphere. If only we always got what we wanted in a zero-sum world….
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
Commiserations JD and the rest of you Kiwis. For all the multiple debates in the game, the bottom line, losing a final a man down for the majority of the game is an unsatisfactory way to lose one in an otherwise close game, and for me, an unsatisfactory way to win one. Particularly painful when you lose not just a captain, but more importantly a forward when facing a 7-1 bench. Hated that card for both teams and their supporters.
But congrats to the Boks. Their name was on that cup. They didn’t always come off the pitch the undisputed best team, and they rolled the dice more than once, but they always came off winners. You have to respect that.
Great tournament I thought. Four more years. Sigh.
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
This is a man who too often confuses hard work for real talent. He does it in himself and he does it in others.
Read it and weep: Eddie made Wallabies fans 'eat s--t' for 10 months - here's every bit of BS he uttered
The editors here are obsessed with them.
WORLD VIEW: 'Disgrace'- strange slap for Boks coaches after 'beautifully ugly' 'shambles' of a World Cup final
Good call. Eben looked a little gassed and even PSDT looked not quite his all-action best. Big recovery week coming up. A full-functioning EE is as important to the rhythm of the SA pack as Reatlick is to NZ.
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Thanks Ken. Fourie, Nche, and Koch should at least be fresh, given they faced England’s two non-scrummaging props. Boredom could be more of an issue?
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Nurse, nurse, he’s out of bed again!
Silly, angry old man.
SPIRO ZAVOS: England's bully boy, no rugby display against Boks is the game they play in hell. Now for the salvation
Not sure I’ll ever be ready for a eulogising of Erasmus after what he did to that Lions tour Harry, but beautifully crafted as ever, and nicely set up for what’s to come.
Belated congratulations for last weekend by the way, and to the both of us for an enthralling semi, despite grumbles from the owners of the ‘beautiful game’.
Two schools of thought when a team seemingly rides through difficult and nervy qualification; their name is on the cup, or they have used up the luck bank. Some superficial parallels to 2019 semis where the Boks rode the right side of fortune in beating the Welsh in an unexpectedly tight one, before dominating their finals opponents. Conversely, the other side of the semi saw their eventual opponents convincingly own theirs before advancing and getting done. Will that formula repeat?
My fear would be rather than good fortune, the Boks could be short of energy after their run, physical and emotional, come Saturday. They could have done without facing that English performance. I said long before this tournament that England can’t win it, but they can cause any team problems. They may have contributed to the biggest problem for the Boks this weekend.
As ever, let’s hope for zero cards, no injuries, all four English officials play a blinder, lots and lots of kicking, and absolutely no scrum penalties.
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Steady Will. Borthwick had his team for 4 months, SA theirs for 4 years. He played the only game that made sense against the Boks, and very nearly pulled off a deserved victory against all the odds. Personally, I enjoyed the battle as much as watching any try-fest. Vive la difference.
Let’s not talk about what Eddie did to England, that’s a legacy that will take quite some time to shake off. But England’s pack has not been the biggest of major nations for some time. But the boring forward/kicking tag has been around forever, even when they were beating everyone. I have a lot of friends who enjoyed their 2003 trip to Aussie bookies when an overconfident SH thought England would be embarrassed by a closed-roof Melbourne fast track after a mud slog beating NZ. Three different England backs enjoyed their tries that day. A few months later, the SMH still thought it smug to headline ‘Is that all you’ve got?’
Sometimes this hand-wringing can get a little tiring. At least it’s not only England’s fault this time. Small mercies.
Rugby’s descent into cynical play: Why neutral fans should back the All Blacks for the good of the game
He keeps flirting with it publicly. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
RWC News: Bongi set to play final despite WR investigation, Boks and All Blacks react to racist slur allegations
Lawe’s consistency over 105 tests arguably made him the best in the world at what he does. Barnes grew into that. In any event, they’ll both be a big loss to International rugby.
RWC News: Bongi set to play final despite WR investigation, Boks and All Blacks react to racist slur allegations
Jaysus, you too. What exactly did you see too Kev?
England brace for new tricks from Bok 'innovators', 'enforcers' prepped for set-piece war - RWC semi-final talking points
Really. ‘Mouthing off’. What exactly did he say to upset your delicate sensibilities?
England brace for new tricks from Bok 'innovators', 'enforcers' prepped for set-piece war - RWC semi-final talking points
Can see a game where we restrict, even frustrate them. But can’t see one where we outscore them. Too many players in that 23 who’s best games are behind them and not enough time for combinations to click. Think there’s something like 15 of the SA 23 that we’re involved in the 2019 win. But these are exactly the games you want to play in.
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
Clever and entertaining as always Harry. Double header WC this weekend for SA and England. Fancy us more evenly in the cricket given both sides have recently displayed a penchant for both the sublime and the ridiculous. But who knows what the newly appointed conical Borthwick can conjure up wearing his wizards hat?
Bon chance and hopefully we can bore you to death with no cards or injuries to either side.
'Go and f--k them up': What sets the generals and their orders apart as final four prepare to battle for the RWC
Disappointing JD. I didn’t use my word limit doing it, but I did explain why I wasn’t ‘blaming’ the ref. There’s a distinction I don’t think you’re getting or I’m failing to explain.
He may well be right. Unfortunately he completely omitted half of his argument. In my opinion the half that doesn’t support his premise. That’s my complaint. No need to fall out over it.
Good luck this weekend, although I seriously doubt you’ll need it. My hope for this weekend is that neither of the eventual finalists lose players for the final. Hate that.
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
That seems both weak and kind JD. Spiro may have had a sabbatical, but he also has form.
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
You’re misunderstanding me JD. As a principle I don’t join that bandwagon, as it’s simply the game. It’s refed by humans who are fallible. Even blokes armed with time and multiple camera angles get it wrong. Sometimes that’s with you, sometimes it’s not. That won’t change. I didn’t join it this time.
My point was to refute the authors assertion. He was achingly forensic regarding the Ireland game to make his point, but skipped the French completely. Even a cursory glance at the line breaks, possession, territory, metres made etc tell a tale. Sometimes you can’t account for the luck of the bounce on two Hail Mary’s, one of which was preceded by an illegal turnover by Vermeulen as he planted a big left paw on the ground immediately in front of the official. Or in an age of hyper sensitivity the fend off to the head by PST that was ignored (it’s a red, it just is these days), or Kolbe going too early to charge down a kick in a one point game.
France got the stinky end of the stick this time. It happens. But to return to my point, this author seemingly ignored the reality of the game (well, he actually just ignored the game) because it didn’t suit his manufactured narrative.
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
Just not a fan of people doing half a job. Especially when the first half is so tiring.
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
Hmmm, we’ll need it Mz. Of the current big four the best I can say is that we may lose by less to SA.
I just said that out loud didn’t I …..
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
Given his headline and closing, absolutely he should. But that would have messed up his overall narrative. Just seems dishonest, disingenuous and incomplete. But hey ho.
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
Hardly an ‘honest appraisal’ with a headline like that and only one game talked about. Possibly because the French were unlucky to come out on the wrong side of the result and the adjudicating?
SPIRO ZAVOS: The moment I knew Irish curse would continue, and why Southern giants still rule the Cup
Edit yourself Tony. This site has been doing a good job recently of moving on from the puerile prejudices.
Good, the Bad, the Eddie: Bok hails AB for 'best display I've ever seen', Kolbe confounds, 'classless' Rieko claim
Not sure I understand that comment Jacko? Care to elaborate in plain English?
'We know where you live' - World Cup referee Wayne Barnes wants punishment for online trolls after 'vile' post-match abuse