Rugby thread (6 Nations, Heineken Cup etc)

[Matt Defis]

Absolutely gutted for Japan, seems the game is lost, 2 massive semis next week then. 

[glb]

Just hope Japan’s momentum isn’t allowed to fizzle out. They’ve been a breath of fresh air, be great if a way can be found to incorporate them into tier one rugby more often than every four years at the World Cup.

[Matt Defis]

They've definitely earned the right to be classed as a tier 1 team. 

 

It goes against my very core being but I'll be supporting the men in white next week because above all I'd love a Wales V England final.

 

Anyone else fancying a Wales V England final?

[Adrock]

Wales would be an easier game so yeah I fancy it 

[glb]

Thinking it’ll be a NZ Wales final. A northern hemisphere final would be fantastic though; it’s about bloody time we had one.

[Matt Defis]

37 minutes ago, Adrock said:

Wales would be an easier game so yeah I fancy it 

 

Oh sweet summer child. 

[Sidewaysbob]

Wales don't stand a chance unless they get their act together, the world cup has come 12 months too late for them. England won't be embarrassed, but will make 2 mistakes early on and never quite chase the win down.

 

NZ will batter SA in the final, like they did in their first game. 

 

No one has looked as sharp or clinical as NZ. Shame really, I hate the Haka and how long it goes on for now, I've seen shorter west end plays.

 

 

 

 

A proper Haka 40 years ago today

[Fry Crayola]

Before the tournament, my girlfriend and I did a sweepstake for fun, where we each take half the teams and the loser buys dinner. So I took 18 teams in their seeding groups (Ireland omitted because we're Irish, England omitted because we're Irish) and performed a random draw.

 

She got New Zealand, South Africa, Wales. I got Australia and Scotland. It was not a good draw.

 

But at least I didn't shit on my slim chances by elbowing her in the face, like Vahaamahina.

[Gotters]

wow that is a powerful and fluent start from England

[pinholestar]

Holy shit, what a start! 

[neoELITE]

Blow the whistle please. England have started well. 

[neoELITE]

Such a shame that try didn't count. 

[Gotters]

can't believe how little NZ have been allowed to do offensively and how much has been played in their half - can't help but think though the second half won't be the same and at the moment England not got enough points on the board for such dominance.

[neoELITE]

It's been high tempo from England. They might tire. 10 points isn't something you can defend against New Zealand. Subs will be key. 40 minutes of the same is going to be tough. It's been a great display so far. 

[neoELITE]

EDIT 

[El Pibe]

Bollocks. 

[Gotters]

you can see this coming a mile off - second disallowed try and now NZ going to come back and score a flurry of points

[neoELITE]

Nah. England have been so disciplined. Great stuff. 12 points is daylight. 

[pinholestar]

These last 10 minutes are going to be tense as fuck. 

[Gotters]

not sure if the kiwi's peaked last week and thought the trophy was theirs, but England have been amazing today, so defensively disciplined and solid and flair on the attack too.

 

they've utterly shut the all blacks down.

[DC Lemon]

If it weren’t for giving away the cheapest of tries, this would have been immaculate from England. Even that only allowed them to shrug it off and regain control.

[footle]

10 minutes ago, pinholestar said:

These last 10 minutes are going to be tense as fuck. 

Narrator: It really wasn’t.

[Gotters]

impeccable performance, to not give away cheap points from pens and completely shut down the kiwi passing attack is something I thought was impossible

[fat flatulent git]

Lose Zealand

[pinholestar]

Just now, footle said:

Narrator: It really wasn’t.

 

 

Hit them hard right from the kick-off and never took their foot off the All Blacks’ throat. Hugely impressive performance from England that just shut NZ down.

[Stig]

What a fucking win for England, they were absolutely immense, New Zealand could not break their defence at all and the try was completely gifted. TMO really spared NZ's blushes too.

[Bacon Horsemeat]

England Wales final, DO IT

[Stig]

I don't know if I can handle potentially losing to Wales in a world cup final. 

[fat flatulent git]

NZ looked very ordinary indeed.  They were gifted their try and were lucky not to be more points down.  There's no argument against their incredible consistency, and every team has its off days, but you'd never guess they were the bes team in the world from today's performance.

[footle]

8 minutes ago, Stigweard said:

What a fucking win for England, they were absolutely immense, New Zealand could not break their defence at all and the try was completely gifted. TMO really spared NZ's blushes too.

the TMO on the inside of the maul was...