大象传媒

Old Port, old rivals (28)

• Ben Dirs
• 2 Oct 07, 04:25 PM

Marseille - Down at Australia HQ in 鈥檚 Old Port, could only have looked more relaxed had they been receiving facials while fielding questions from the floor.

A slight murmur went up when I asked George Smith if he agreed with Australia Rugby Union chief executive John O鈥橬eill鈥檚 comments that all of his countrymen 鈥渉ate England鈥�.

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Another new chapter (81)

• Ryan Jones
• 2 Oct 07, 03:36 PM

Swansea - Well what can I say?

What an absolutely torrid weekend. and .

I can鈥檛 say that I鈥檓 hugely surprised that Gareth was asked to vacate his position following the defeat on Saturday because history has shown us that when the national team underachieves heads have tended to roll - and this World Cup campaign will be categorised as an underachievement.

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For those about to rock, we salute you (32)

• Tom Fordyce
• 2 Oct 07, 11:55 AM

Marseille, Tuesday morning - 鈥淥h, what an atmosphere!鈥� Ben chirped this morning. 鈥淚 love a party with a happy atmosphere!鈥�

I sighed. No man likes to be woken up by a semi-naked rugby fan from , particularly when he鈥檚 dancing around singing lines from his favourite songs - but for once Dirsy had a point.

After four weeks of phoney wars and soggy squibs, the party feels like it鈥檚 truly about to start.

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Highs and lows of the group stages (48)

• Bryn Palmer
• 2 Oct 07, 06:45 AM

Paris 鈥� So 40 matches down, eight to go.

The group stages are over and we are down to our eight quarter-finalists.

So I thought it was time for another batch of awards, reflecting on what we have seen so far. Again, let me know if you disagree or want to offer your own suggestions for additional honours.

Best game: .
No contest this one. Much as it was painful to watch, as a Welshman, Saturday in Nantes threw up one of the most enthralling games in the entire history of the World Cup. Nine tries in total, Fiji scoring 25 points in 10 crazy first-half minutes, Wales hitting back to lead 29-25, Fiji going back in front, Martyn Williams鈥� intercept try to give Wales the lead again鈥iji winning it at the death. Bewildering, breathtaking, heartbreaking stuff.

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