Home from RWC Final
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JKLever
Shoeshine
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Home from RWC Final
by Shoeshine Tue 23 Oct 2007, 09:57
So here I am, back home after a truly mad weekend en Paris.
So where do I start? Well, on arrival in France and heading to the first bar for some light refreshment, we cam across about 100 French schoolkids, six years old or so. They responded to our calls of "Allez les Blancs" with a co-ordinated and heartfelt "Boooo!" Good to know kids on either side of the channel learn so young!
Paris itself was just mayhem. England fans everywhere plus the odd gaggle of Springboks; all taking over the city for the weekend. The Frog and Princess pub was our epicentre of festivities, right through until 5 am, having had plans for watching the game on the Champ de Mars wrecked by the French rail workers deciding to strike on certain strategic lines. Shame on you for that, and for forcing so many to walk to the Stade de France.
The game itself? Well, the best team won, so no complaints. The "try" might have been given, it might not have. That's sport, guys. England were perhaps a bit hard done by to lose by 9 points, the game was much closer than that, and it is ironic that England were the ones playing most of the rugby in the final, after all the crap that came their way. As I repeatedly said, no-one gives a stuff as long as you win it, and the way South Africa controlled that last 20 minutes was outstanding. Many, many congratulations to them, they are worthy World Champions.
The party after the game was of truly epic proportions. I lost count of the number of French people coming up and asking in shocked tones "But God, what would it have been like if you'd won!?"
The England fans without exception went up to all the Bokke they could find and shook their hands and offered their congratulations, conduct to be rather proud about actually. The England fans showed how to be gracious losers that night.
So it was that along with about 15,000 others, I crashed on the street. My God was it cold! The Gare du Nord early Sunday morning looked like the aftermath of a natural disaster, hundreds sleeping against the wall.
Amazing trip. Amazing fans from all countries, and amazing amounts of beer drunk. So, New Zealand in 2011? Sounds like I'll have to make the effort...
So where do I start? Well, on arrival in France and heading to the first bar for some light refreshment, we cam across about 100 French schoolkids, six years old or so. They responded to our calls of "Allez les Blancs" with a co-ordinated and heartfelt "Boooo!" Good to know kids on either side of the channel learn so young!
Paris itself was just mayhem. England fans everywhere plus the odd gaggle of Springboks; all taking over the city for the weekend. The Frog and Princess pub was our epicentre of festivities, right through until 5 am, having had plans for watching the game on the Champ de Mars wrecked by the French rail workers deciding to strike on certain strategic lines. Shame on you for that, and for forcing so many to walk to the Stade de France.
The game itself? Well, the best team won, so no complaints. The "try" might have been given, it might not have. That's sport, guys. England were perhaps a bit hard done by to lose by 9 points, the game was much closer than that, and it is ironic that England were the ones playing most of the rugby in the final, after all the crap that came their way. As I repeatedly said, no-one gives a stuff as long as you win it, and the way South Africa controlled that last 20 minutes was outstanding. Many, many congratulations to them, they are worthy World Champions.
The party after the game was of truly epic proportions. I lost count of the number of French people coming up and asking in shocked tones "But God, what would it have been like if you'd won!?"
The England fans without exception went up to all the Bokke they could find and shook their hands and offered their congratulations, conduct to be rather proud about actually. The England fans showed how to be gracious losers that night.
So it was that along with about 15,000 others, I crashed on the street. My God was it cold! The Gare du Nord early Sunday morning looked like the aftermath of a natural disaster, hundreds sleeping against the wall.
Amazing trip. Amazing fans from all countries, and amazing amounts of beer drunk. So, New Zealand in 2011? Sounds like I'll have to make the effort...
Shoeshine
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by JKLever Tue 23 Oct 2007, 10:34
Nice report Shoeshine.
Theres a piece on the BBC comparing the Rugby fans with Football fans behaviour.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/mihirbose/2007/10/post_3.html
Some suggesting its a class thing.
Which i'd agree with except its not a middle as opposed to working class thing - its a middle/working class to underclass thing.
Theres a piece on the BBC comparing the Rugby fans with Football fans behaviour.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/mihirbose/2007/10/post_3.html
Some suggesting its a class thing.
Which i'd agree with except its not a middle as opposed to working class thing - its a middle/working class to underclass thing.
JKLever
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by Shoeshine Tue 23 Oct 2007, 10:39
The number of chinless wonders was pretty small, really. Most of the people there were just ordinary folks looking to support the team and have a good time.
But it's just part of the sporting culture. I head about two people boo the South African anthem at the start, and they were told to shut up rather forcibly by everyone around them.
Football has had an undercurrent of violence ever since it started. It's nothing new over the last thirty years. Rugby hasn't. Talking about class is a bit simplistic I think, because your average rugby fan these days is your average person. It might be more of an intelligence thing, maybe, I don't know. There weren't too many dimwits in evidence, that's for sure.
But it's just part of the sporting culture. I head about two people boo the South African anthem at the start, and they were told to shut up rather forcibly by everyone around them.
Football has had an undercurrent of violence ever since it started. It's nothing new over the last thirty years. Rugby hasn't. Talking about class is a bit simplistic I think, because your average rugby fan these days is your average person. It might be more of an intelligence thing, maybe, I don't know. There weren't too many dimwits in evidence, that's for sure.
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by Merlin Tue 23 Oct 2007, 10:39
Sounds like you had a great time ss ...
NZud's a long way to go in 4 years time ... but am sure would be still worth it !
Allez les Blancs...
NZud's a long way to go in 4 years time ... but am sure would be still worth it !
Allez les Blancs...
Merlin
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by JKLever Tue 23 Oct 2007, 10:42
Shoeshine wrote: It might be more of an intelligence thing, maybe, I don't know.
Possibly more educated yes. Which would explain why 'some' can watch both with no problems at all
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by Shoeshine Tue 23 Oct 2007, 10:51
And by the way, I now know all the words to Kenny Rogers' The Gambler. We must have sung it a hundred times! 
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by mynah Tue 23 Oct 2007, 11:52
Nice report, pleased for you that you had a good time even though you lost.
Why The Gambler, though, seeing that the poor fellow snuffs it before he gets to the end of his journey?
Why The Gambler, though, seeing that the poor fellow snuffs it before he gets to the end of his journey?
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by tac Tue 23 Oct 2007, 11:57
mynah wrote:Nice report, pleased for you that you had a good time even though you lost.
Why The Gambler, though, seeing that the poor fellow snuffs it before he gets to the end of his journey?
Fitting in a way . . .
tac
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by mynah Tue 23 Oct 2007, 12:00
True, but picking it beforehand is what puzzles me...tac wrote:mynah wrote:Nice report, pleased for you that you had a good time even though you lost.
Why The Gambler, though, seeing that the poor fellow snuffs it before he gets to the end of his journey?
Fitting in a way . . .
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by Shoeshine Tue 23 Oct 2007, 12:14
mynah wrote:Nice report, pleased for you that you had a good time even though you lost.
Why The Gambler, though, seeing that the poor fellow snuffs it before he gets to the end of his journey?
Because the England team thought that:
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
Fitted their battle to survive in the World Cup very well.
As for losing, hey, you've got to understand that we never in a million years expected to be in the final. So losing wasn't a crushing moment, it was a shrug your shoulders, admit the best team won, and get on with having a party feeling instead.
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by mynah Tue 23 Oct 2007, 12:55
Fine words, but somehow it was the lines
The best you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep
that came to mind first...
Great one to sing as a group, though: Imagine a whole crowd attempting Bohemian Rhapsody.
The best you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep
that came to mind first...
Great one to sing as a group, though: Imagine a whole crowd attempting Bohemian Rhapsody.
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by tac Tue 23 Oct 2007, 12:56
Beeeee-elzebub has a devil put aside for meeeee . . . for meeeeeeeeeee
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by Shoeshine Tue 23 Oct 2007, 13:05
mynah wrote:Fine words, but somehow it was the lines
The best you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep
that came to mind first...
Great one to sing as a group, though: Imagine a whole crowd attempting Bohemian Rhapsody.
Mmm. Don't think we tried that. Though Don't Stop me Now was a favourite.
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Re: Home from RWC Final
by LeFromage Tue 23 Oct 2007, 17:31
Moved to the "I was there" forum. Because you were. There, that is.
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