The Rugby Thread

[Paddingtonwolf]

To further elaborate, due to my age Wales were rather good when I was little. My mother brought me up on a diet of JPR Williams and company. It was ace as a young chap and I loved it. My brother is a bit younger and Wales had become shit so my dad brought him up to support England. So we had 2 v 2 in the house every six nations. All very jovial.
To the Welsh fan, rugby is more than a sport. It is a religion
. And the first tenet of that religion is you support two teams. Wales and whoever is playing England. That doesn't really exist with football especially as Wales have been absolutely shit since the days of John Charles. So there isn't the rivalry and wanting the England football team to do well isn't frowned upon like in rugby. If Wales qualify for Euro 16 that may change. In that tournament I will be cheering both sides, but will want Wales to beat England if they play each other. All rather lacking in logic I know, but it seems fairly common within the Welsh support.

 

[jd1981]

Fair enough paddy bit confusing, I find the view about wanting anyone to beat England a common trait amongst home nation fans. I'm glad that as an England fan we don't despise an opposition so much it fills me with anguish when they win.
England's biggest rivalry in rugby is France but I certainly don't watch there games desperate for them to lose.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It is odd isn't it? Both Scotland and Wales see England as the principal rival but it isn't reciprocated. If Wales can't win a six nations say I think my next fave would probably be the Irish. Ireland v Wales games are friendly affairs. And an alcoholocaust

 

[jd1981]

Other than Italy every six nation team sees England as there big rival, whilst I think it's a good motivational tool for the sides playing England it can also be a hindrance due to over exuberance and misguided passion.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

France certainly got too fired up in the 1991 quarter final. Even from the first minute you just knew they weren't going to finish with fifteen men.

 

[Lord Knows]

First impressions, the referees like to be the centre of attention and spend far to much time with reviews. Killing the games intensity.

 

[jd1981]

The first half lasted 51 minutes which is a joke, it's stopping games flow. It will benefit the weaker sides in the tournament who will be given regular breathers and chance to re-group when TMO is faffing about.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Last night was a poor referee. Got a lot wrong and really was whistle happy. Totally borked the flow of the game. He was equally poor for both sides.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

As I said last night, probably best to wait until we have a competent ref using the technology before we make judgements. I had a bad feeling about Peyper since that warm up game in Paris and he lived down to my expectations, he is rubbish.

 

[jd1981]

Don't think I'll watch much rugby today, all the games should be formalities.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Tonga v Georgia might be a close affair. Not a high quality match but it might be interesting. South Africa will put 70 on Japan in their sleep. Ireland will have a simple day at the office as well.

 

[Dinowolf]

Japan play Scotland on Wednesday as well, only 4 days away.

 

[Dinowolf]

'Gorgodzilla' scores a try for Georgia, who lead at HT, 10-3.

 

[Dinowolf]

Tonga had a try disallowed for a forward pass, which looked harsh.

 

[Dinowolf]

Ireland K.O. against Canada with a very strong side.

Should win by 20-30 points.......in the first half

 

[Dinowolf]

Half-time Ireland 29-0 Canada.

Irish forwards far too strong for Canada.

 

[Dinowolf]

FT Ireland 50-7 Canada

7 tries. Ruthless.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

A nice run out and no injuries by the look of it which is the main thing, but impossible to judge where Ireland are at the moment, some nice attacking stuff but gave away too many penalties considering the opposition.

Johnny Moonlight is so far the best name so far in the World Cup, stick him and Billy Twelvetrees together and you think looking at the team sheet that you were playing a team of Red Indians.

 

[Dinowolf]

SA 7-10 Japan after 30 mins..

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

SA 12 - 10 JPN at half time. Some fantastic stuff from Japan in that half. Great defending at the end.