Rugby Gilly

vilkrang wrote:Out of badger loyalty I won't tell Wales who's fault it was. I just hope you can live yourself.

Are you sure it's not because you're watching? Turn it off for 20 mins and see what happens....

Brass Monkey wrote:

vilkrang wrote:Out of badger loyalty I won't tell Wales who's fault it was. I just hope you can live yourself.

Are you sure it's not because you're watching? Turn it off for 20 mins and see what happens....

Hmm hadn't thought of that. Well played monkey. Well played indeed.

How can a man named Alain Rolland (with the emphasis on the ll and a silent d at the end), who speaks fluent French, be a neutral referee in this match?

His father is French too.

I'm actually feeling more gutted about this than when we went out. Rugby Union is massive over there and you just know that the entire country would be behind them whereas it wasn't really that big a deal when we went out.

Not over though....

vilkrang wrote:I'm actually feeling more gutted about this than when we went out. Rugby Union is massive over there and you just know that the entire country would be behind them whereas it wasn't really that big a deal when we went out.

Well it was pretty big when we won it in 2003, but in Wales, like NZ, it's the national game. Like England's footballers getting to this stage I guess, without the drawback of most of them being dickheads...

Such a shame. That pen was soooo close. Quality match though, the Welsh gave it a really good go. Not sure what they were running the ball around when they could've just gone for a drop goal, but....

The best team definitely lost there.

Yeah, they had an opportunty but for whatever reason chose not to have a go, and just couldn't quite get within drop goal range again at the end.

France never threatened to score a try though, even against 14 men. Worst team to reach the final since, well England last time perhaps... But seriously not sure they are in the best 6 or 7 teams there and now they're in the final where anything's possible. Especially if they get to choose the referee.

So France make the final due to a decent performance against a shambolic England, and an average performance against a 14 man Wales.

Most undeserving finalists in World Cup history?

Hope they get stuffed by 40 in the final, whether it's the Aussies or All Blacks. Certainly no NH loyalties on this one!

Seriously, the AUS v NZ game is for the trophy. It's almost a gimmie for the final...

Henry wrote:So France make the final due to a decent performance against a shambolic England, and an average performance against a 14 man Wales.

Most undeserving finalists in World Cup history?

Most ordinary since 2007 perhaps....

Still think either side is capable of beating themselves, which is what it would probably have to be. Or it would be just like France to produce a performance of 1999-style brilliance out of nowhere.

Henry wrote:How can a man named Alain Rolland (with the emphasis on the ll and a silent d at the end), who speaks fluent French, be a neutral referee in this match?

So if he spoke only English you wouldn't question his neutrality. Feck me you are a genuine world class arse clown.

If he is half French though, that should surely rule him out of doing a match like this?

JKLever wrote:

Henry wrote:So France make the final due to a decent performance against a shambolic England, and an average performance against a 14 man Wales.

Most undeserving finalists in World Cup history?

Most ordinary since 2007 perhaps....

No, at least we had players in our team that knew how to win a World Cup and came to the party when it mattered. We gave South Africa a bloody good fight in the final as well.

It sounds like if you're going by the letter of the law then it was the correct decision. You can say all you want about common sense etc. but at the end of the day he's let his team and his country down. Wales would have pissed it with 15 men.

vilkrang wrote:It sounds like if you're going by the letter of the law then it was the correct decision. You can say all you want about common sense etc. but at the end of the day he's let his team and his country down. Wales would have pissed it with 15 men.

Yep, the hurt will kick in a few days later when they realise what could've been.

Felt the same after Euro 96 semis.... we'd have bounced the czechs in the final.

But it just looked like the Ref was looking for an excuse to make a name for himself by making a huge call in a semi final. He just went straight for the red without any consultation with the touch judges or the video ref.

I wonder if Smerkles managed to find somewhere to show it?

Anyway, the more I look at this tackle the more I think it was probably the correct decision. If the French player had broken his neck, would people still be saying "Oh, it's only a yellow".

Just think how different this tournament would have been if Tonga hadn't lost to Canada. The Canadian "minnows" could have had a significant impact on where the trophy ends up!

Henry wrote:But it just looked like the Ref was looking for an excuse to make a name for himself by making a huge call in a semi final. He just went straight for the red without any consultation with the touch judges or the video ref.

Even if he was just trying to make a name for himself, the final decision was correct, even if he went about it the wrong way (not saying he definately did go about it the wrong way, seemed to have a good view of it).

beamer wrote:Just think how different this tournament would have been if Tonga hadn't lost to Canada. The Canadian "minnows" could have had a significant impact on where the trophy ends up!

Hopefully not. It's a shame now because whilst an NZ choke is always funny, I can't quite bring myself to support Australia and I'm certainly not going to support the frogs.

NZ have my backing for the semi but if Aus do pull it off then I'll reluctantly cheer them on in the final.

Of course if the French won then at least we have only one forummer who might be French to rub our noses in it...