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Post by Col ISIHAC. on Oct 19, 2007 12:33:00 GMT
BEFORE anyone starts going on about Jonny and the ball, Billy Whiz and all that tosh - let me be frank. Not Frank; just frank. English born, English / Scottish parentage and for as long as I can remember I have been bored witless and completely underwhelmed by the way in which the English national team plays rugby. I can remember Will Carling captaining a 5 Nations winning team without getting his shorts muddy, or possibly without even touching the ball; except at training. Rob Andrew belting the ball into touch to put the opposition on the back foot and that arrogant psycho Moore dragging down scrums to win penalties so that England could add another 3 points. I tell you - the day that the number of points awarded for a try was increased to 5; the significance of that act went Whoosh over the heads of the England coaching staff- other than to re-double efforts to ensure that not one try was conceded! And don't go on about having scored a try in the semi - that, in rugby terms, was tantamount to an own-goal if ever there was one! Now we find ourselves on the brink of retaining the world cup; and NOBODY knows just how the hell the team got to the final. I'll watch the 3rd-4th place playoff tonight because I expect to see some entertaining rugby. Fortunately, I'll be otherwise engaged when the final is on. I'll be asleep!  |
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Post by malxscfc on Oct 19, 2007 15:25:13 GMT
Bah Humbug!! ;D You can only play within the rules set out for you. Maybe when they award 10 points for a try, Jonny Wilkinson can finally go to the great rehabilitation unit in the sky! Until then, we're the most effective Team in British Sport in world terms... at least for another 24 hours or so...  |
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Post by ojiveojive on Oct 19, 2007 16:20:36 GMT
I don't like rugby. There are many places I don't like but I especially don't like the game of rugby.
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Post by amberaleman on Oct 19, 2007 21:52:28 GMT
I've tried watching rugby, but I find it an ugly, untidy game. I've not seen much there that Pele could describe as beautiful.
I have to say that there's something iffy about a World Cup competition in which a team can get thumped 36-0 and then meet their victors again in the final.
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Post by medibot on Oct 19, 2007 22:02:21 GMT
As long as the Saffers don't bottle it this will all blow over in a few weeks anyway  I'd still rather crash out trying to play entertaining rugby, that might be because for Wales it would be the equivalent of pissing on a grave to play boring rugby but still, i believe Wales are capable of winning a rugby World Cup in my lifetime but we'll winning it playing quality, running rugby as is OUR way. England's way has been more effective this time but it's liable to collapse on one run or one stroke of genius. England can play their way but this time round they will be remembered for the spirit and national pride shown rather than quality rugby. If they win though, there's no way you could say they didn't deserve it, unless of course you've already fell asleep...  |
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pies
Stale bacon bap
Super Sexy Sutton
Posts: 230
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Post by pies on Oct 20, 2007 1:11:55 GMT
I have to say that there's something iffy about a World Cup competition in which a team can get thumped 36-0 and then meet their victors again in the final. Didn't Hungary beat West Germany something like 8-2 or 8-3 in the group stages in the 1954 Football World Cup, before losing 3-2 (?) to the same opposition in the final? Sure it was 53 years ago, and the group stages were all stupid and messed up back in those days, but it happened in Football. As for Rugby, i've tried to play it, and i do admit to watching the odd 6 nations game if Wales are playing, but i have not watched any of this years World Cup (well not properly) and i doubt i will make an exception tomorrow, as i find the game boring and predictable in the way it is played. I also have strong feelings of dislike for the sterotypical English Rugby fan, and also those bandwagon jumpers who ruin virtually every major sporting where there is a slim chance of a English/British team or individual doing well, and who are all of a sudden armchair (or pub) experts, which must be annoying for the actual fans of the sport (these types certainly annoy me during the proper sport World Cup or European Championships), case in point, the nations 'beloved' tabloids all this week. |
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Post by malxscfc on Oct 20, 2007 5:28:48 GMT
I've tried watching rugby, but I find it an ugly, untidy game. I've not seen much there that Pele could describe as beautiful. I have to say that there's something iffy about a World Cup competition in which a team can get thumped 36-0 and then meet their victors again in the final. I'm not sure anyone wants to PRETEND that it is beautiful. It's often considered War, by alternate means. Usually (though not always) the outcome of the game is merely a question of who wants the victory most - who has the will... And I love the idea that a team can genuinely make dramatic progress in a short period of time; to lose heavily at first, then to come back into things with startling efficacy later! As a Sutton fan, you too need to believe this! |
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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on Oct 21, 2007 7:41:24 GMT
"Names" is quite right- Germany won the 1954 World Cup after losing 8-3 to Hungary in the group stage.
In 1982, the final was between Germany, who had lost to Algeria in the qualifiers (and only got through after a "dodgy" 1-0 win over Austria when both teams knew that result would qualify both of them), and Italy, who drew all 3 group matches and got through having scored one more goal than Cameroon.
This Rugger world cup has had some good moments. Argentina battering the frogs twice, the performances of Namibia, and especially Georgia against the Pads (who i'd tipped to reach the final(!) along with the humiliation of Wales and the resurgence of the South Sea Island nations. The "fantastic day" when both the Aussies and New Zealand crashed was something to savour.
That said, i'm not a great fan of "kick and clap". The flannelled fools who codified it in the first place must have been concerned to make them too "cle-vaaah" for the oiks to understand. A workmate of mine who played for a long time gave up going to the pub to watch the games after being inundated with questions such as "Paddy what was that for? Paddy what's going on?" No wonder their refs get so much respect. No bugger really knows whats going on so someone who does know the rules must be some kind of guru!
Better egg-chasing entertainment comes from the open, running Rugby League game where teams usually score tries rather than bombing each other with dubious penalties from the half-way line!
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Post by ojiveojive on Oct 21, 2007 13:30:30 GMT
The old adage: a game for thugs played by gentlemen. I'm afraid that only the first half of that saying is still relevent, in my humble opini..............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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