English Rugby

Re: English Rugby

Mark Holmes — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:28:24 GMT

[quote user="Martin Jones"]

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

Failing that I will have to base my Welsh heritage on having visited once and quite liking leaks.

[/quote]

Leaks from what?

To be honest, in the mid-90s just knowing where Wales was and being able to stand upright was sufficient for a cap, never mind to be a supporter. As it is, we are happy to be carrying British and Irish pride on our shoulders for all you saesneg well-wishers and bandwagon-jumpers . Don't suppose you're available for a morning's consults in Cornwall, are you, Mark?

[/quote]

Damn iphone, I need to start an iphone thread as an apology and explaination for my dodgy postings. Anyway correcting that to leeks, I am unfortunately not available for consults I'm afraid living in Aberdeen. Otherwise I would obviously!

Re: English Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:24:41 GMT

Martin I hope you're right about the result

I'm not daring to be too optimistic in case I jinx them

Wynne

Re: English Rugby

Rob Reid — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:50:57 GMT

I feel the pain - being a Scot myself, I am well used to snatching an epic defeat from the jaws of victory.

Re: English Rugby

Mark Holmes — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:40:57 GMT

[quote user="Rob Reid"]

I took the option of marrying a Welsh girl. Unfortunately for her she is in work tomorrow morning - she's absolutely gutted.

I will therefore be donning my Welsh shirt and watching with my brother-in-law. I am worried though - the last time I watched a Wales game with him was the France game in this year's 6N and Wales were soundly beaten. I hope it's not an omen....

[/quote]

Unfortunately I married a Scottish girl so she's no bloody use to me at all (maybe I should start watching the curling?)

Re: English Rugby

Martin Jones — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:38:10 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

Failing that I will have to base my Welsh heritage on having visited once and quite liking leaks.

[/quote]

Leaks from what?

Re: English Rugby

Rob Reid — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:37:16 GMT

I took the option of marrying a Welsh girl. Unfortunately for her she is in work tomorrow morning - she's absolutely gutted.

Re: English Rugby

Mark Holmes — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:15:13 GMT

I am currently searching my family tree for any relatives who are Welsh. Failing that I will have to base my Welsh heritage on having visited once and quite liking leeks.

Re: English Rugby

Martin Jones — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:47:43 GMT

Probably a lot fewer than me - I'm on in the morning, having been unable to swap, and Sat mornings tend to be epic: it's unlikely I'll even be able to have a radio on.

Arlo, can we have a 'sobbing uncontrollably with self-pity' icon?

But, as Wales will stuff France, the more interesting game will be on Sunday: Oz-NZ is the match that all the locals would have wanted as the final, and it's probably the biggest game down there for years.

Re: English Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:12:34 GMT

Anybody want to run a sweepstake on how many clients I'll see during the French match ?

Wynne

Re: English Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:33:26 GMT

Hope your prediction for the final is right-but you're wrong in saying Antipodean superiority for last 70years.In the early 70s, a Lions team(really 50% Welsh) went on tour to NZ and won every game. If you had said superiority for the last 30 years I would have agreed withyou. Anyway the worst thing we can do in an AB match is allow them too many scrums/set pieces, sothe team had better watch their Ps and Qs

Wynne

Re: English Rugby

Martin Jones — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:42:05 GMT

I think Wales will struggle against the ABs precisely because of the physicality of the ABs game, particularly around the clear-out. The ABs have the ability to play an attacking open game with great strength, whilst at the same time stifling the movement out of their opponents. In order not only to beat them now, but to reverse the antipodean superiority of the last 70-odd years, we need to be able to run round them AND beat them up in the rucks. Younger players coming through, like George North and Priestland, are going to be able to do this in their early twenties, but that's a few seasons away right now.

Australia have evolved to cope with living next door to the ABs, but their erratic world form shows that they play a different style of rugby - and one that an on-form Welsh pack and flying wingers may well be able to cope with.

Anyway, current predictions still on: Wales-France and NZ-Oz at the weekend; Wales-Oz for the final.

Re: English Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:23:22 GMT

The present lot really do remind me of the great sides of the 70s when we played a fast running game which totally bemused the opposition It would be lovely (where rugby is concerned ) to switch the clock back 40years If we try to play an AB style shoving set-piece type game, we'll lose, but if we literally run circles around them we might have a chance

Wynne

Re: English Rugby

Virginia Campbell — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:45:15 GMT

[quote user="Martin Jones"]Wales can't beat the ABs,[/quote]

Why not? They are playing brilliantly; you know you've got a good side when James Hook and Lee Byrne are sitting on the bench! Their defence was absolutely outstanding against Ireland, the Irish weren't playing particularly badly - pretty well in fact - but they never looked as if they were going to get past apart from Keith Earls' try. The Welsh are fast, imaginative and strong (couldn't believe it my eyes seeing our pack being forced backwards again and again, and Stephen Ferris being belted into touch...twice). I would definitely back them to beat France and think they can beat the ABs as well...OK the ABs have all the noise in the stadium..but I don't think the young Welsh team will be put off just because their opponents are wearing black shorts

Re: English Rugby

Alan Tevendale — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 19:22:31 GMT

Absolutely I'll put up tomorrow morning. I thought England did play a little better in the second half but certainly nothing near their potential and it was only fair that they left the tournament today. Wales on the other hand I think could really give France a run for their money and I wish them every luck.

Having said that the money still has to be on the All Blacks.

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

The English support the hone nations unless they are playing England. Whereas everybody else supports anybody but England. Not much togetherness!

[/quote]

Frankly unless Scotland are playing I don't care who wins as long as it's good rugby. Can't stand negative play.

Re: English Rugby

Martin Jones — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:54:54 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

The English support the hone nations unless they are playing England. Whereas everybody else supports anybody but England. Not much togetherness!

[/quote]

Always the grace in defeat.......

What a pity the colonials have saved up enough to buy their own match balls; otherwise you could have taken your ball home and spoiled everybody's party.

(I'm joking, I'm joking).

England didn't turn up at all, never mind at sixty minutes. I don't know what was going on in the camp, but they looked like a bunch of mumps sufferers. Doubtless the inquests will be many, endless and minute, starting with the night out.

What a difference a game makes - if Wales go out next Saturday, there'll still be celebrations. Losing today was more like a funeral.

Anybody getting up at 5.30 again tomorrow?

Re: English Rugby

James Laidlaw — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:36:18 GMT

Go the blackness!

Re: English Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:43:34 GMT

Long memories. We won the Battle of Bosworth-but somehow got cheated of the spoils of victory

Wynne

Re: English Rugby

Mark Holmes — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:33:54 GMT

Just a minute, we may have lost but to all you gloaters, we have been in the last two finals and I didn't see any if you there. Unless of course you're South African or Australian (but we beat you). England must have been given the wrong fixtures list as they didn't turn up until an hour into the game. The difference between the English and the other home nations is that now that we're out we will be supporting Wales. The English support the hone nations unless they are playing England. Whereas everybody else supports anybody but England. Not much togetherness!

Re: English Rugby

Martin Jones — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:28:03 GMT

On the contrary, if the Blacks were going to lose Carter then this was the best time: he was becoming so talismanic and so under-pressure that the ABs' entire future seemed to rest on his performances. The last time I saw that was when France beat Brazil in the 1998(?) football world cup final - Ronaldo was Brazil's one and only weapon, and he was effectively neutralised even befoe the kick off (he had a fit in the changing room). Result? France won 3-0.

Wales can't beat the ABs, but they know Australia are within their capabilities - and Australia know that they can target a Carter-less NZ side, if the ABs haven't worked out how to put it all together. Beating the Argies tomorrow won't tell them whether or not they've got it right as, no offence to the Pumas, they're just not that good an opposition.

NZ beat Pumas, Oz beats the Boks, Wales beat France, Oz beats Kiwis, Wales beats Oz. Simples.

Re: English Rugby

jd2008 — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:14:44 GMT

Wales-Ireland was the more entertaining match. Wales are on form with beautiful ball off the foot and a rock solid defence, Australia just aren't that consistent at the moment, neither are the AB's (and they've just lost a key player) so who knows. We've certainly got the most exciting teams through so far.

Re: English Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:14:10 GMT

It would be lovely to play SA in the final-with a ref who didn't need a white stick

Wynne

Re: English Rugby

Martin Jones — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:07:40 GMT

What odds on a Wales-Australia final? Having seen the Irish take apart the Ozzies, and given the Ozzies (theoretical) form against the other southern hemisphere teams, it's not that unlikely.

But in the meantime, hahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. (etc)

Re: English Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:58:54 GMT

Add me tothe celebrating list

Wynne

Re: English Rugby

jd2008 — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:49:24 GMT

As a Scot living in Oz I'm in seventh heaven at the moment! ;-)

Re: English Rugby

Martin Jones — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:47:39 GMT

Scratch that - 54 minutes and 16-7 down. That should make the French angry.