England spark Marseille party (154)
- 6 Oct 07, 07:26 PM
Marseille - More bad news for those who have been complaining about us wasting their licence fee for the last five weeks: 鈥nd we鈥檙e going with them!
Not even as I weaved my way through the puddles of sick and empty beer glasses that littered Marseille鈥檚 Old Port at 6am on Saturday did I think were going to beat Australia.
And Tommy could barely raise a peep put of me eight hours later as we trudged, green of gill and Guinness-moustached, towards the Stade Velodrome alongside England鈥檚 raucous army of travelling fans.
Only 20 minutes in, as Aussie scrum after Aussie scrum disintegrated under the might of England鈥檚 front row, did I begin to believe. - they took one hell of a beating.
My hands are still shaking as I type these words, which is a bit of a pain because I desperately want to get back into town and right back on it - tonight is going to be the mother of all crash, bang, wallops, make no mistake.
I fully expect the Aussies to be in amongst it. Disappointed, devastated, but gracious I鈥檓 sure.
There will be , , women in George Cross bikinis and . That鈥檚 right, they鈥檙e here as well and deserving of a ruddy great pat on the back.
in the last round and they鈥檝e still turned up in droves, Bread of Heavening their way through the streets of Marseille as if they were marching on to the final.
In fact, the winner of Friday night鈥檚 sing-off wasn鈥檛 England or Australia, but Wales, clinching the contest with another rousing 52-part harmony version of .
Not even when one of the participants broke off to vomit all over my feet (those damn flip-flops again) did I get upset. Such was the vibe: buoyant, joyful, with not a sniff of any beef.
Not that the English and Australians were having a quiet one. Ladies and gentlemen, the 2007 World Cup officially went mental on Friday night.
Most England fans were talking a cricket-score victory for the Aussies. Most Aussies were talking in terms of telephone numbers.
But Brian Ashton knew better. Criticised in some quarters for recalling Phil Vickery and Mark Regan, he made a lot of people, including old misery guts Dirs, look very, very stupid.
The devastation on the faces of the Wallaby players will live with me for ever, as will myself and Tommy鈥檚 entirely un-大象传媒 fist-pumping celebrations on the final whistle.
Tommy has just informed me that some bloke has broken the Golden Bloggernaut Rule. But, the mood I鈥檓 in, not even a misplaced jobby can get me down.
We thought this trip couldn鈥檛 get any better, but it just did. What chance in Paris next weekend? No chance surely, but just you boys keep on proving me wrong鈥
PS. Anyone know where is? Word is he鈥檚 in Marseille and I鈥檇 like nothing more right now than a game of Ubogu with the man himself.
Ben Dirs is a 大象传媒 Sport journalist travelling around France in a camper van with Tom Fordyce.
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Why o why can't the 大象传媒 broadcast the Rugby World Cup ? it's the only time we can support England. We get just crap programmes these day ! It's time you cleaned out the Augean Stables !!
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I hate to break it to you, but England have no chance of beating New Zealand in Paris next weekend!
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A victory next week against the All Blacks?
Quick, get this blog updated!!!!
Unbelievable couple of games today, what chance Fiji upsetting the Boks and Scotland coming through - who'd have predicted those semifinals a week ago?!
Enjoy the celebrations and use the next week wisely to recover in time to do it all over again in Paris.
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No you face Les bleus! Easy passage for France to final!
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How's the party in Marseille now guys? The pastis and champagne must be flowing down the streets.
I'm going to Paris next weekend with a bunch of Kiwis so I might be on the look out for a party if your livers can stand it!
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i can not belvi it i fort we was ganne go out
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I left England many years ago to live in New York, but this simply incredible victory will make all Englishmen so darn proud. It makes me want to come home!
Well done! Well done!
John
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living in nong khai thailand as a ex pat i was ashamed to say before the match, that england didnt stand a chance: now i am so glad to eat my humble pie well done ,very well done all the more so since the aussies thought are 2003 world cup win was a fluk. go england go .
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What a night!
I am so proud of the English and the French. What efforts.
I am sure nearly everyone inside and outside of their respective countries wrote them off - and this only spurred them on.
I had them both to win their semis by 12 and under, now only the Argies need to beat the Scottish by 13 and more and I will pick up a nice sum!
People have to start trusting the coaches a little more - both Laporte and Ashton raised eyebrows with their selections - but both proved ALMOST everyone wrong. Where on the other hand - everyone was relatively happy with the Aus and NZ sides....And to quote a legend 'Four more years boys!'
Yes the N. Hemisphere still need to progress their game towards this new era, but it just shows you that in 80 minutes of pressurised knockout rugby, anything can happen, and today - experience won out over individual and collective flair.
The S. Hemisphere are lucky that they have 2 of their teams in 1 quarter final, otherwise they may not of had anyone in the semis And .....Maybe the AB's aren't chokers....maybe they are just not good enough!
Just a bit of tongue in cheek but I am sick of their arrogance! We have had to read about it and listen to it the entirity of the world cup.
C,mon Dads army....2 more games lads. We are so proud right now but the job is still unfinished!
What a night!
Frosty
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What a night!
I am so proud of the English and the French. What efforts.
I am sure nearly everyone inside and outside of their respective countries wrote them off - and this only spurred them on.
I had them both to win their semis by 12 and under, now only the Argies need to beat the Scottish by 13 and more and I will pick up a nice sum!
People have to start trusting the coaches a little more - both Laporte and Ashton raised eyebrows with their selections - but both proved ALMOST everyone wrong. Where on the other hand - everyone was relatively happy with the Aus and NZ sides....And to quote a legend 'Four more years boys!'
Yes the N. Hemisphere still need to progress their game towards this new era, but it just shows you that in 80 minutes of pressurised knockout rugby, anything can happen, and today - experience won out over individual and collective flair.
The S. Hemisphere are lucky that they have 2 of their teams in 1 quarter final, otherwise they may not of had anyone in the semis And .....Maybe the AB's aren't chokers....maybe they are just not good enough!
Just a bit of tongue in cheek but I am sick of their arrogance! We have had to read about it and listen to it the entirity of the world cup.
C,mon Dads army....2 more games lads. We are so proud right now but the job is still unfinished!
What a night!
Frosty
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Sorry mate! Sunday, it will be a kind of 6 nations match. Again these good old rosbeefs ! I'm very glad for the NH's rugby. Come on France.
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Sorry I need to comment on both games......!!
Two amasing games, as a Englishman I hold my hands up now to the fact we were fairly lucky (scrum and ref decisions), along with France. For us the scrum was crutial, without it we would not have got close to the Aussies as they were far more impressive in attack but without a platform they were scuppered. The All Blacks were simply undone by French Genuis, that you can't beat on their day of days!
Commiserations Austrialia and New Zealand, I hope we are as gracious is success as you guys were in defeat, unlucky, but let us have our day's of glory respectively, you guys usually win!
What an amasing day of Rugby for the Northern Hemesphere.
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Sorry I need to comment on both games......!!
Two amasing games, as a Englishman I hold my hands up now to the fact we were fairly lucky (scrum and ref decisions), along with France. For us the scrum was crutial, without it we would not have got close to the Aussies as they were far more impressive in attack but without a platform they were scuppered. The All Blacks were simply undone by French Genuis, that you can't beat on their day of days!
Commiserations Austrialia and New Zealand, I hope we are as gracious is success as you guys were in defeat, unlucky, but let us have our day's of glory respectively, you guys usually win!
What an amasing day of Rugby for the Northern Hemesphere.
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Never mind the semis - what chance a England Scotland Final??
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I wish I had watched this game in an Ozzy bar where I would have probably jumped on a table and shouted ' four more years, lads. Four more years.' The most arrogant, self-important, low-self esteemed nation on the planet once again get dumped out of a world cup. And if they want to put it all down to Jonny's boot they would do well to remember Chris Latham trying drop goals from the half way line. Maybe he lost faith in the 'forwards'... Or should that be 'backwards.' Long flight home lads. Maybe you can go back to losing to the All Blacks instead.
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i knew there was going to be a few more twists coming our way but who could have possibly predicted these two humdingers?This tournament is starting to make so-called rugby experts look like village idiots.Congratulations to the Roses for their priceless effort in dismantling the wallabies and the french have now sounded a warning bell that simply can't be ignored.If the 1st two q/finals are anything to go by,the 'bocks and scots must be very nervous customers indeed.2007 RWC is headed towards an intense climax
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Happy to see you next week! The north hemisphere is not dead
See you in Stade de France
Jean-Baptiste , Paris
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Happy to see you next week! The north hemisphere is not dead
See you in Stade de France
Jean-Baptiste , Paris
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Somebody fetch a crow bar and lever my jaw off the ground. That has got to be the most amazing day of rugby I have ever seen, 2003 World Cup included.
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Wel Well Well,
Cardif never ever did turn up many wins for Graham Henry did it? and so the sour faced mentor of New Zealand the worlds best bottlers fails again, if he cant win with a team like that he never will,Of course they looked superb in the opening games who did they play? they all rolled over scared of the big names, not so france who like England gave their all, can you believe it an Englishman shouting for France well on this night only.
On the subject of Englands win what a change round from the team of 2 weeks ago a hard won victory set up by an amazing pack who demolished the aussie scrum then threw the pieces to one side as the bulldozed their way through it, yes they won it on penalties but i am sure the aussies would not have minded winning on pens, doesnt matter how you win does it when your in the semis and the opponents are on the plane home, perhaps they will get a discount if they share the plane with the new zealand squad ha ha bye bye bottlers.
allez le rouge Rose !!
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the photo on the bbc website..
is that andy gomarsall or rocky???
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Fantastic, I've been keeping tabs on both QFs online as I'm an exiled Englishman in San Antonio, Texas. The good thing for England ( apart from sending the Aussies packing ) is that the French are like the proverbial box of chocolates so I fancy our chances of making the FINAL a lot more now that we will not be facing the All Blacks.
MCFC
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Fantastic, I've been keeping tabs on both QFs online as I'm an exiled Englishman in San Antonio, Texas. The good thing for England ( apart from sending the Aussies packing ) is that the French are like the proverbial box of chocolates so I fancy our chances of making the FINAL a lot more now that we will not be facing the All Blacks.
MCFC
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Chris get ready to sound the drum as anything is possible in this great cup!
So...Fiji-Pumas in the final and a crazy BIG LAUGH FROM THE SOUTHEST COUNTRIES
VAMOS PUMAS CARAJO!!!!!!!!
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Wel Well Well,
Cardif never ever did turn up many wins for Graham Henry did it? and so the sour faced mentor of New Zealand the worlds best bottlers fails again, if he cant win with a team like that he never will,Of course they looked superb in the opening games who did they play? they all rolled over scared of the big names, not so france who like England gave their all, can you believe it an Englishman shouting for France well on this night only.
On the subject of Englands win what a change round from the team of 2 weeks ago a hard won victory set up by an amazing pack who demolished the aussie scrum then threw the pieces to one side as the bulldozed their way through it, yes they won it on penalties but i am sure the aussies would not have minded winning on pens, doesnt matter how you win does it when your in the semis and the opponents are on the plane home, perhaps they will get a discount if they share the plane with the new zealand squad ha ha bye bye bottlers.
allez le rouge Rose !!
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I really don't think I could stomach another Rugby World Cup. Everything's gone wrong (ok not quite everything, the Pumas have been good to watch). Last week I suffered just as every other Welshman did as our boys floundered through 80 minutes of play. The only thing that got me through the humiliation was the knowledge that England just got lucky and were due to recieve the trouncing they deserved against the Aussies. But no, denied once again. What does a Welshman have to do to get a break, back the tournament favourites in order to muscle in on their glory? Oops, no wait a minute, it seems that the mighty All Blacks can't be relied upon any more either. I probably have absolutely no right to be commenting on these games, especially as I didn't get to see a single minute of either of them. However it seems that having read the match reports my assessment of the scorelines was spot on. England had to rely on the good old boot of Wilko to score any points and the All Blacks choked in the second half of their game. Sounds familiar doesn't it. But going back to England (the chip on Welsh shoulders), what a turn up for the books. Okay, so I've had the oppertunity to sing "you're not winning any more" in the middle of my local English rugby clubhouse winded out of me, but after hearing the plonkers in the ITV commentary team (pardon me, greatest respect and all that) waffle on, game after game about how southern hemisphere rugby is SOOO far ahead of everyone else in the world I can't help but feel a bit smug. The result surely speak for themselves. Someone very cynically (but quite rightly) said to me recently "it's not how you play the game that matters, it's where you finish it". England have proven it yet again tonight. Do I begrudge them this? Do I hope they get hammered in their next game? Will I be going to sleep tonight muttering black magic mantras in the hope that Wilko's foot will suddenly shrivel up and fall off...?
Alas no...it pains me to say it (and I really do feel the pain) but no I can't hold any of it against them. This competition was set to be the greatest fall from grace of any defending World Champions so far and yet they're still here. Fair play to them. What grit! What focus! What determination! Am I prepared to say "England for the cup"? Don't make me laugh, credit where it's due but I am still Welsh. Cymru Am Byth!
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Message to England and France:
Well done, but remember: you won by TWO points. Those games could have gone either way.
England: You will not bully France, South Africa or Argentina the way you did the Aussies
As for you French, I only have one thing to say to you: ARGENTINA!!!! :P
Dont get cocky guys, youve won nothing yet
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I have always been an avid Rugby fan and love to watch two good teams playing skillful rugby. However, there is something sick in the rules if a large blocking front row and one good kicker can win a game, despite all the herculean efforts of the other 29 players on the field.
Why not penalise a team with points deductions if they do not score a try?
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I have always been an avid Rugby fan and love to watch two good teams playing skillful rugby. However, there is something sick in the rules if a large blocking front row and one good kicker can win a game, despite all the herculean efforts of the other 29 players on the field.
Why not penalise a team with points deductions if they do not score a try?
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I have always been an avid Rugby fan and love to watch two good teams playing skillful rugby. However, there is something sick in the rules if a large blocking front row and one good kicker can win a game, despite all the herculean efforts of the other 29 players on the field.
Why not penalise a team with points deductions if they do not score a try?
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Congratulations to the English and French supporters, you won a Very tight contest but a win is a win.
I will see you in the finals, I'm sure the Pumas will make me proud on the game against South Africa.
Ohh, Frost (comment# 13) you can cash your money. Argentina will beat Scotland by 15 points.
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I have always been an avid Rugby fan and love to watch two good teams playing skillful rugby. However, there is something sick in the rules if a large blocking front row and one good kicker can win a game, despite all the herculean efforts of the other 26 players on the field.
Why not penalise a team with points deductions if they do not score a try?
Complain about this comment
I have always been an avid Rugby fan and love to watch two good teams playing skillful rugby. However, there is something sick in the rules if a large blocking front row and one good kicker can win a game, despite all the herculean efforts of the other 26 players on the field.
Why not penalise a team with points deductions if they do not score a try?
Complain about this comment
I have always been an avid Rugby fan and love to watch two good teams playing skillful rugby. However, there is something sick in the rules if a large blocking front row and one good kicker can win a game, despite all the herculean efforts of the other 26 players on the field.
Why not penalise a team with points deductions if they do not score a try?
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I sometimes wonder at peoples understanding of the game, we read about how good the southern hem teams are at attacking rugby, hey dont forget the other part of the game the forward game cos if you aint got the ball you cant attack can you,comment 15 were you watching a different game England were not lucky in the scrum or got the benefit of the refs decisions Aus were lucky to get the 2 or 3 decisions they did because it was so clear that they were infringing at every scrum why do you think there were not many scrums?. Ashton made a fantastic choice when recalling vickery, not so sure about when he brought on worseley though he always seems to give away pens nearly cost us dear, england have progressed from the early stages to be in with a very good shout oh to have a return match with the boks and just a little revenge would be so sweet but i think fiji might just pull off another surprise go for it fiji. well done England great game top performance by all and what about Lewis Moody did he outgun george (who is that) smith where was he today lol.
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What a day's rugby! Tremendous effort from both the English and French - and that's from an Irishman! England's scrummaging was awesome - Messrs Sheridan and Vickery made a terrible mess of Dunning and Shepherdson.
As for France, they didn't allow the AB's to dominate - much like the Haka, they stood up to them. Just had a look at various NZ newspaper websites, and, as you'd imagine, Wayne Barnes gets all the blame - sums up the one-eyed NZ rugby media (I was down there for the 2005 Lions Tour!).
Dirsy & Tommy, when you get to Paris, party with some Argentinian lovelies, they're just as eye-pleasing as your Antipodean friends above, but the beauty is they have nice accents! (I was in Paris last weekend!)
Anyway, must get back to the Cognac. Safe traveling boys.
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Well done England and France.
Les Bleus played fantastic, the blacks not so good in the second half. Good decision by the ref on the Yellow card as there was a clear obstruction, then two great tries. The ref missed the fwd pass, but it was so fast, and the All Blacks get away with it all the time. They are so damn arrogant too, the AB's, I feel no sympathy.
Allez les bleus, and go Scotland tomorrow night!!
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I sometimes wonder at peoples understanding of the game, we read about how good the southern hem teams are at attacking rugby, hey dont forget the other part of the game the forward game cos if you aint got the ball you cant attack can you,comment 15 were you watching a different game England were not lucky in the scrum or got the benefit of the refs decisions Aus were lucky to get the 2 or 3 decisions they did because it was so clear that they were infringing at every scrum why do you think there were not many scrums?. Ashton made a fantastic choice when recalling vickery, not so sure about when he brought on worseley though he always seems to give away pens nearly cost us dear, england have progressed from the early stages to be in with a very good shout oh to have a return match with the boks and just a little revenge would be so sweet but i think fiji might just pull off another surprise go for it fiji. well done England great game top performance by all and what about Lewis Moody did he outgun george (who is that) smith where was he today lol.
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Oh to be in Auckland this fine day - tee-hee!
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I sometimes wonder at peoples understanding of the game, we read about how good the southern hem teams are at attacking rugby, hey dont forget the other part of the game the forward game cos if you aint got the ball you cant attack can you,comment 15 were you watching a different game England were not lucky in the scrum or got the benefit of the refs decisions Aus were lucky to get the 2 or 3 decisions they did because it was so clear that they were infringing at every scrum why do you think there were not many scrums?. Ashton made a fantastic choice when recalling vickery, not so sure about when he brought on worseley though he always seems to give away pens nearly cost us dear, england have progressed from the early stages to be in with a very good shout oh to have a return match with the boks and just a little revenge would be so sweet but i think fiji might just pull off another surprise go for it fiji. well done England great game top performance by all and what about Lewis Moody did he outgun george (who is that) smith where was he today lol.
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England - France?
Who'd have thunk it?
No NZ? No Oz?
What a shame. Who is Graham Henry going to blame now? After 4 years of his 'perfect' preparation, England and France go on while he goes home. Good place for him too. And good place for John O'Neill, too. Who cares who he hates?
And what a day. Great for England, and they were not on their game. Great for France, and they can turn it up more. Shame they meet in the semis. But good for all of us.
Wonder what Fiji has to offer?
Wow!
Swing low, baby.
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I sometimes wonder at peoples understanding of the game, we read about how good the southern hem teams are at attacking rugby, hey dont forget the other part of the game the forward game cos if you aint got the ball you cant attack can you,comment 15 were you watching a different game England were not lucky in the scrum or got the benefit of the refs decisions Aus were lucky to get the 2 or 3 decisions they did because it was so clear that they were infringing at every scrum why do you think there were not many scrums?. Ashton made a fantastic choice when recalling vickery, not so sure about when he brought on worseley though he always seems to give away pens nearly cost us dear, england have progressed from the early stages to be in with a very good shout oh to have a return match with the boks and just a little revenge would be so sweet but i think fiji might just pull off another surprise go for it fiji. well done England great game top performance by all and what about Lewis Moody did he outgun george (who is that) smith where was he today lol.
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The English pack was not as dominant as some over-exuberant fans are stating here: they didn't score any pushovers or win a tight-head. However, they certainly had better techniques and a superior game-plan, plus vastly more savvy. The Wallabies are re-building in the forwards after losing a lot of good players and this will take time and patience.
England deserved to win. They packed tighter and were more urgent; often outnumbering the Wallabies at the break-down: something that is most unusual, given history.
I liked the game of Sheridan. He worked hard in all areas and seems to have uncommon strength, as well as considerable skill. I didn't see him do anything dirty.
Poor George Gregan got little support from his forwards, who were slow to form the ruck. Gregan has been a testament to the game in Australia and should have been carried from the field.
Good luck to England for the rest of the tournament. They have done well in spite of the double-standards of their fickle fans.
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Hope we get past the French (we have a record of beating World Cup host nations...) as there is unfinished business with South Africa.
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England - France?
Who'd have thunk it?
No NZ? No Oz?
What a shame. Who is Graham Henry going to blame now? After 4 years of his 'perfect' preparation, England and France go on while he goes home. Good place for him. And good place for John O'Neill, too. Who cares who he hates?
And what a day. Great for England, and they were not on their game. Great for France, and they can turn it up more. Shame they meet in the semis. But good for all of us.
Wonder what Fiji has to offer?
Wow!
Swing low, baby.
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Good to see plenty of sooks around ....
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Phillip - I'd much rather WIN by two points than LOSE by two points!
I don't expect England to beat France next week... but then again, I didn't expect us to beat the Aussies today!
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What a thorough non-surprise Mr Dirs. Last week you moaned about the "dull" Scotland-Italy game. Yet here, after a rather moribund England display, you are, as predicted, raving.
I notice, however, that you did not at all mention the game itself. Doubtless because you're trying to pretend that England didn't require the referee's utter incompetence in order to win. I've never seen such utter blind ineptitude. Until I read your blog.
What IS is with England needing 16 men on the park to win RWC quarter finals?
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what a performance from moody. He at least gives our backrow some speed and when he he doesn't give penalties away he is exc excellent.
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Two cracking games. England and France both deserved their victories for their meanness in defence. Aussies your backs were unlucky but your forwards were absolutely beasted. NZ you promised so much, but after Carter left the field you reverted to a ponderous 30 phases in 30 meters style. Can't run the clock down when you're behind....
I have to fancy England's chances if they can starve the French backs the same way..
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what a performance from moody. He at least gives our backrow some speed and when he he doesn't give penalties away he is exc excellent.
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Phillip - I'd much rather WIN by two points than LOSE by two points!
I don't expect England to beat France next week... but then again, I didn't expect us to beat the Aussies today!
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To comment #2: can you tell me which country you are a citizen of and where you were born.
Secondly, to all the welsh, scottish and irish who wont support england. I am welsh but I also consider myself british - and proud of it too. I support all other british national teams in all sports and so should you too.
Well done england. It's all gone quiet here in Australia
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England - France?
Who'd have thunk it?
No NZ? No Oz?
What a shame. Who is Graham Henry going to blame now? After 4 years of his 'perfect' preparation, England and France go on while he goes home. Good place for him. And good place for John O'Neill, too. Who cares who he hates?
And what a day. Great for England, and they were not on their game. Great for France, and they can turn it up more. Shame they meet in the semis. But good for all of us.
Wonder what Fiji has to offer?
Wow!
Swing low, baby.
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Well what a turn up for the books. I'm an exiled Englishman in Australia and I've been sick and tired of all the bad mouthing that England have been getting for the current World Cup. We get players saying that everyone wants anyone against England to win and England are a dirty team and so John Conolly (sp) goes to the referee before the game to warn him about England. Unfortunately it's the weekend of the Bathurst 1000 race so the sports programs are concentrating on that this morning but I can't wait for this evenings news to have a gloat about the result. I was also in NZ last month and saw how the Kiwis were going on about their World Cup and they had a big billboard in Auckland showing the count down in Months,days,minutes & seconds to when they were going to the World Cup and then come back with it. However everyone in OZ was betting on the ABs bottling in the semi final however they've gone one better and done it in the quarter final! I don't care what happens from here because at least we have beaten the Wallabies however I feel we have a better change against the frogs than we would have had against the ABs.
Go England you've made my weekend!!
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Canada calling,
Here in Beautiful British Columbia, one timezone from tomorrow, the snow has arrived, there are bears raiding my garbage and whats more I lost my combination to my tool shed padlock. I would just like to say that the world cup is fitting in perfectly with our lunch time session at the local bar and even though the Hockey season has just started (go Leafs go, it is midly amusing to see all the hype in activity pre match and then all hyper activity afterwards in your world cup, wonderful.
Does anyone rememebr seeing an Australian commercialon SKY a few years back where there rugby players flew into space, severed the northern hemisphere and hurled it (Supermanesq) into the gaping void? or am I showing my age (Commercial in Australia 1997)
Anyway, well done chaps, keep the faith, many yesterday had almost lost it.
Thanksgiving weekend here, we are giving thanks, "Thanks Brian and crew" Thanks ref.
(Are Oz and Nz on same flight?)
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Well well well,,,i have confession you peoples,,,,i live in nz,,i love rugby,,i really felt the french would beat us,,,but i admit i was soooo wrong in thinking them aussies would sink the english,,iam pleased though,,but i did very much doubt it would happen,,,Also the aussies i believe were,,out smarted,,out thought,,even maybe out classed,,,there ya go,,my kiwi way of saying,,yahooo i was wrong,,,,finally the french beat us sre thing,,but if the english keep the ball nice and snug in the forwards,,and starve the french back line,,,well i reckon they would be half way there,,,,enjoy tomorrow,,,,cause its the scots turn to feel the wrath of Argentina
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Being English and living in NZ, well, it doesn't get any better than that , does it?!
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o great days I'm a Geordie who lives in Sydney Australia and for the last week every Aussie has told me how bad England will get beat .. I'm really going to enjoy this . no one has a bigger smile than i do over England beating the yellow and gold :D that win was bigger than beating them in the last world cup as England where much stronger than the Aussie then but no one gave England a chance this time .. o great days .. from one very happy pommie who will make the next phew days a living hell for any and all Aussie :D
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Could I just suggest to all the people moaning about England not scoring any tries that they watch the game again. We attacked just as much as the Aussies - although their line breaks were better - but whenever we were pressuring them they gave away penalties. I for one would rather we took the points and won. If you don't like the rules of the game watch something else!
If New Zealand had learnt a few lessons from our 2003 winning team they would have gone for a drop goal when they were on the French line at the end rather than keep trying to score a try they didn't need and ending up resorting to an attempt from the half way line. That's poor decision making - not "total rugby".
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Well Done, Engand! You were too good for the Aussies and you won like gentlemen. Wonderful stuff France - you never stop trying win, ever - and you don't let the tough acting All Blacks forget that. It's been the best RWC - a tournament of wonderful upsets and victory to the teams with character,
Committed Wallabies Supporter - Even more Committed rugby lover!
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Sounds like Thomas Hughes is a bitter man, perhaps a bitter Welsh man. Shame, most of your boys were very supportive of us, as we would have been of you in the same position.
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swing low sweet chariots!!and i never thought i'd say it but allez les bleus!! oh to be in brisbane or Auckland now that spring is here!!
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A good day to be a POM in Australia! But will it be an even better day to be a Scot in Australia tommorrow? Here's hoping.
It was a great day for rugby, true grit, determination and passion from two teams who wanted to win more than their opposition. As for comment 35 above, if you only think 4 people figured in the English victory in my view you are sadly mistaken. I can already hear the New Zealand team (no reference to the All Blacks again please!)and their fans complaining about the referee, but if you recycle the ball over 40 times on more than three occassions and come up with nothing then you've got nothing! As for the Aussies, their commentary was gracious in defeat, along the lines of 'beaten by a better side' (they can lose graciously!), but it will still give my son something to say at school tommorrow after the ribbing he took in the summer!
So there you go from 'down under', only four hours sleep and another 5am start tommorrow to watch the Scots - here's to 3 out of 4 northern hemisphere teams in the semis! Having said that, its a great place to live and work down here - my thanks to the Aussies for that!!
Conor.
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Good skills Dirsy, who are the chicks? And where was the Tomster - was he behind the camera or had you dispatched him in a "Hi, I'm the newly appointed controller of 大象传媒, replacing Mr Fincham and this is Tom, my chauffeur" sort of way?
The Aussies are easy targets after that thrashing, but better still, please give my sincere regards to all Kiwis out there on yet another exquisite display of chokery - it is tempting to fork out a quick grand or two and fly out to NZ (with appropriate stop off in Australia) just to soak up the atmosphere. Never mind Aussies, I'm sure there are some interesting plot lines in Neighbours this week to keep you occupied, and Kiwis, am sure they will be televising the public execution of Graham Henry. As for me and the rest of the "hated" English, I'll make do with watching the Rugby World Cup, which England, as holders and current Champions, are still in. And may well go to win. Remember that feeling Kiwis, you know, winning a world cup? No, you probably don't do you.
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Darren
First the majority of Irish supporters are not "British" and do support the other home nations in Rugby, even England (but like myself generally only against SH sides..).
Sorry but there's hardly an Irishman alive that would support England in Soccer, maybe individual players but not the country....
Congrats to England & France, two excellent well deserved wins, and just loving the Aussie & Kiwi whinging....
C'mon Scotland & Fiji for the full house.... (although I suspect it will be a Puma v Springbok semi in the other half of the draw).
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What a day......
Woke up at 6.30 to get a coffee sorted and watch england get beat by the ozzies. Well well well we won. can't believe it still. brilliant.And then waiting for the expected win of NZ the damn french did it aswell.
Respect to all.
Can't wait for next weekend. I watched it on TV5Monde french TV. Loved the commentary. Saludos
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Welsh first, but when it comes to the crunch I will support the best performances. England were absolutely
in control & deserved victory. I never thought I would see the SILVERS lose their bottle, but they did. I am a great admirer of GH & his TEAM but against Les Bleus
one never knows. How they kept their cool was incredible.
However, I honestly believe that, for the most part,
the refreeing has been abysmal - inconsistency all
over the place. I can't believe that the TJ's miss the
blatant infringements and especially when they are on the touchline & can't say, without the " man upstairs ',
whether or not a player was/is in touch at the tryline.
Quote of the day " He's on his own but has his support there " Irish commentator today.
Magnificent day of rugby football
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Last week in another bbc blog, Sydney cider wrote:
"Look, england CAN win next week as long as they have a bit of luck and stick rigidly to a game-plan of trundling it up the middle and getting JW into range.
With some solid defense they can put pressure on the wallabies and force some mistakes...... from their anything can happen."
Congrats England. You followed my plan to the letter you b#stards!
Too big too strong.
Bugger.
ps: Honestly; what a great RWC with some twists and turns. Great for rugby.
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As a Pom living in Western Australia, I donned the replica shirt and went to a local bar, fully expecting to be supporting the losing side. I expected our pack to be stronger and tighter than the Wallabies (and judging by their press conferences, so did they), but I expected the likes of Giteau, Latham, Tuqiri, et al to wreak havoc through our back row. How well did those boys step up to the plate? As for the pack beating the Aussies to the break down of play? Superb. A great effort from every man that stepped onto the field.
I must also say that while I copped a bit of flak as I walked in (I was one of only three people in a packed city bar wearing anything with England on it), the Aussies were very magnanimous in defeat. Must have been the shock...
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Firstly 鈥 well done to England and all their supporters 鈥 a thoroughly deserved victory by the defending champs! You were too good and clever for a foe that refuses to learn from the past and I wish you all the best against the French 鈥 it should be a cracking game.
Australian rugby must surely now be at its lowest point in world cup history 鈥 even worse than 1995 鈥 at least then we had the semi-excuse of being the defending champion in the re-building phase. 8 points is the collective total from the boot of just one team that has now knocked us out of no less than 3 world cups. It鈥檚 a staggering statistic for a country that (apparently) prides itself on the technical aspects. Surely now the Wallabies must look for a non-Australian coach 鈥 someone who can develop a scrum and teach someone (just one person 鈥 it鈥檚 not a big ask) in the whole of Australia how to kick a ball through two sticks. It makes you furious to consider that after the last world cup no priority until 18 months ago was given to any scrum development for the Wallabies. Even worse 鈥 they have paid no attention at all to kicking development 鈥 a fact the Wallaby coaching staff is frighteningly open about. But more to the point 鈥 forget the front 3 Wallabies 鈥 you could have put Os du Randt and Carl Hayman in the Wallaby front row and it would still go backwards because the loose forwards in the Wallaby pack don鈥檛 push 鈥 and they鈥檝e been getting away with it for years allowing with the front three to bear the brunt of all blame.
Finally 鈥 out of all of this it is probably the Australian players that are the last to blame (although some now should step aside for new blood). Sure, some allowed the English to get under their skin and Mortlock missed a few kicks, but all in all, selectors (how Sheperdson got in ahead of the 130kg Blake is beyond comprehension, and how Polatu Nau, and Kertly Beale missed out is beyond me), coaches, and management are to blame for this with John O鈥橬eil the worst culprit leading up to the game deliberately goading the English team.
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Just goes to show that every team has a great game inside them. Two more from England please.
How about the 大象传媒 giving us ex-pats here in Greece/World some live TV coverage, or even radio providing it's not Brian Moore or Steve Smith commentating!
Come on Scotland!
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Well done France and England and we all look forward to a great semi final.
Its really hard to find the matches on TV on holiday here in Calgary, Canada. Even with USA and Canada playing in the World Cup they are still nore interested in ice hockey, 'football' etc - not enough sponsorship yet for rugby I guess.
Never mind - we can't wait to see highlights of the Scotland Argentina match on 大象传媒i tomorrow.
Go Scotland go!
Frank
Normally frae London, Enlgand.
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Good to see games of Rugby instaed of all that namby pamby fast ball to the backs and have the Island boys run the ball to the line for a try. SH rugby can be very boring- more like basketball! Super 14 is to blame- going to see Auckland Blues is more a fashionable thing to do now. I say lose the bonus points and concentrate on playing the game.
Aussies were just outplayed- but can England win the trophy without scoring a try!
ABs - I am so happy (living in NZ) my prediction of a QF exit came true- you just didnt have the match practice because you took your precious ABs out of all tournements and when the going got tough against a team that competed with you those players- who clearly weren't competition fit - didnt know what to do! Long flight home boys- but you should be OK 'cos the press are blaming the ref- apparently it is in the rules that dodgy decisions can only go the way of the ABs.
Congrats to Stirling Mortlock- most gracious in defeat.
and go the Fijians and the Chilly Jocko's.
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Well done France and England and we all look forward to a great semi final.
Its really hard to find the matches on TV on holiday here in Calgary, Canada. Even with USA and Canada playing in the World Cup they are still nore interested in ice hockey, 'football' etc - not enough sponsorship yet for rugby I guess.
Never mind - we can't wait to see highlights of the Scotland Argentina match on 大象传媒i tomorrow.
Go Scotland go!
Frank
Normally frae London, Enlgand.
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What a wonderful day for rugby, surely one of the greatest team sports of them all!
England and France deserve our admiration. A low-scoring game, though perhaps not as visibly exciting, is really just a testament that both teams' defense got the upper hand.
To the losing Australia and NZ fans, don't take it so hard - if a semi-final place is not 'guaranteed' the sport of rugby wins - and hey there is always next time.
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English, with Kiwi houseguests... bloody marvellous. They cheer us on in the afternoon as (a) they detest the Aussies and (b) they reckon they'll sail past us in the semis. In the evening I pretend to reciprocate, but find myself unable to conceal my glee at the final whistle.
Onwards to Paris and certain defeat... again. But, as we know, form counts for nothing at this stage. C'mon Scotland and Fiji! And Lewis Hamilton is off in 45 mins...
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Graham Henry says "I'm very proud of them, but it just didn't happen for us." They were wiped off the field by France who made it happen for themselves and there is something dangerously 21st century and escapist and antipodean about Henry's stunningly shallow excuse for defeat. On Friday morning the Kiwi press told French radio that their boys would only start feeling the pressure in the build-up to the semi final with Australia. Perhaps they can all share a plane home instead. Stick to golf, you All Blacks. You still have the best caddie in the world in Steve Williams
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I cant see why the ref was supposed to have been on England's side? He gave more doubftful calls to the Aussies than to England.
As for deducting points for not scoring tries... grow up! That is why they increased the value of a try from three points to five points, and England came close 3/4 times but for the final droppred ball / knock-on.
Now two of the three dirtiest sides have been knocked out, let's see if justice is served to the third Southern Hemisphere team that relies on off the ball brutality...
They say that rugby is a game for men, but they should still play within the rules. The way forward is for lifetime bans for spearing and clothes-line tackles, let the teams that play the best and the cleanest be rewarded. The media has been full of the story about the Lions making a mountain out of the molehill of the speraing - now that New Zealand have an extra month to think about things, maybe they should examine their consciences and get back to the pure game and not the pure aggression.
Well done England & France, what odds on Fiji & Scotland? Allez les blancs!
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spot on, can't contain myelfffffffffffff
(ex-pat living in vancouver, canada)
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"In big competitions like the world cup, courage and team spirit can make the difference"
Rafael Ibanez, at the press conference after yesterday's game.
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From Sydney NSW...the cricket season officially started approx 1am Australian Standard Time on September 7.
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Well I never thought I would live to see the day when I; a Welshman who has spent his life dreaming of all the dark deeds that might befall an English Rugby team; would wake up with a mouth like the contents of a cats litter tray and with eyes that won't focus after celebrating - yes CELEBRATING an English victory. A glass (or maybe ten!) was also raised to the French boys for gracing the Millenium with yet another dose of 'do or die' stuff.
Great matches, not great rugby, but great matches.
Ooooh, I'm loving this World Cup!
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Absolutely fantastic result for England. How much more fantastic for the players if the media were behind them instead of playing for the opposition?
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Well done to England & France, your victories were thoroughly well deserved. Also, can all the pathetic people who are still critising the first two semi finalists keep off this site as nobody is interested in whingers who support teams who cannot cut the mustard.
PS Who is John O Neil?
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All i can say is already, this is the best world cup to date, im welsh and sad we are out but as a spectacle, saturdays semi finals were absolutely amazing, Good luck England! keep that trophy in the northern hemisphere!
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There are green benefts here. The All Blacks can drop-off the Wallabies on their way home.....hehehe
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'I'm a very proud Englishman' When Phil Vickery uttered those words I lost it completely, tears running down my face. It's taken four years, but at last we can feel proud again. What a performance by the forwards, the aussies just couldn't live with us - Andy Sheridan in particular. John O'Neill must hate us even more this morning - who needs a team talk after words like his?
An Englishman in South Africa
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Is it true you can not get on a aeroplane going south at the moment, fully booked up with Australian and New Zealand fans going home to play cricket......
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Lads, lads, lads, let's not get overexcited. So England fluked a win. It could very easily have been a 13-12 win for the Aussies. That kick in the 78th minute, had it gone in? What was englands game plan then? I mean since their "attacking" game as far as I could see was virtually none existent. Oh wait, no you kick the ball downfield and hope you can win the lineout. Great stuff. So what would they have done? Made a desperate last minute (literally) attempt to go for a try? Don麓t make me laugh. Sure, it didn麓t happen, sure they didn麓t have to do it. But the Aussies weren麓t far away, if they麓d been lucky and the kick had gone in we麓d all be listening to a different song now from the England fans. So don麓t get too happy with yourselves lads, and do try to score a try sometime in the next game, eh? Yes, I麓m sure it麓ll be a very exciting match against Les Bleus next week. Somebody wake me up at halftime please...
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Erm, I'm sorry but in no way were England fortunate to win, nor did they have teh ref on their side. If anything, Alain Roland was conned by the Aussies (a la Andre Watson) during the first half. Driving mauls being collapsed, scrums being collapsed, etc, etc. So good to stick it to the Southern Hemisphere and really, what the hell was John O'Neill and the players that slated the English thinking??? Had they forgotten Healey's harrison is a plank comment? Idiots.
Bring on the semis and Les bleus. It's going to be a cracking match and lets hope the English boys go at it with real fire - they've gone well beyond general expectations and have nothing to lose. Enjoy it!
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England put in possibly the finest front five showing in RWC history yesterday - totally merited win, and I reckon that if Mortlock had made his final kick, England STILL would have come back. The Aussies were always on the verge of being penalised up front, never seen a more petrified pack of forwards! Dunning should retire now, abysmal player and the persistent efforts to pull the scrums down were shameful.
Also, hope the southern hemisphere rugby gurus who have for so long mocked the drop goal take note of Latham, McAllister et al's abysmal, last ditch desperation halfway line drop goals yesterday! You boys needs some more practice!
Delighted for Robinson et al, though not sure Nick Easter should have been as undignified after the game . . . a minor grumble.
As a Scot, am praying we win today and hope for some uk backing! Third upset hopefully. Come on Fiji too!!
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I thought it would be impossible for me to shout and scream as loud as I did as Jonny slotted THAT drop goal four years ago, but I proved myself wrong twice yesterday... first when Mortlock pulled his 77th minute penalty wide in Marseille, and then as Ellisalde smashed the ball into touch in Cardiff!
The Northern Hemisphere are proving again that they can compete- England are going to march past France into the final- now ... COME ON FIJI!!!
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Awesome game yesterday, and I think England well deserved the win, great gameplan, and fantastically executed. So what that we didn't score a try? (unlucky not to on a few occassions I think), but we didn't need to! A two point win is enough, and I'd be more than happy with a 1 point win over France next week. And all this talk about the game being different if Mortlock had kicked all his goals, he didn't - and that's the way it ended, just like Johnny didn't kick all his goals yesterday...
Great to see some of the Welsh and the Scots with some positive comments!
Anyway, for all those who don't get the games on tv, give this website a go - you have to pay about 拢6, but it's worth it. I had to use it to watch the England Tonga game, and the quality's alright.
www.livesporton.tv/rugby.asp
Bring it on next weekend.
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Whilst i am delighted being an england fan about both results yesterday(i would rather face the french than all blacks as we do not have good world cup record against them)in the s/f,i think we should be wary about getting too carried away with what's happened.Does one good performance wipe away the last dismal 3 years,i fear that if england reach final and say lose narrowly to s.africa there will be the temptation to say English rugby is in a great state and there's no need to change anything,i hope we learn lesson from Australia because after almost retaining the world cup last time when they only really played 1 great game against new zealand in s/f ,i think they got carried away believing they really were 2nd best team in planet and ignoring the weakness in their team that was there for all to see,and it has come back to haunt them now with a vengeance.Yes the wcup is important but to me it does not outweigh 4 years of the 6 nations or tri nations or head to head test records against all major countires during a 4 year period.If you said to me today england will win 3 of next 4 6 nations titles,including a grand slam,have winning h 2 h records against all leading tems including s.africa,n zealand and australia over same period but they would only get to at best s/f of next world cup or else they do not win a single 6 nations title and have losing records against all major teams but they can get to next world cup final, i would take the former as it shows consistency and true greatness(of course i would rather have both) but as the all blacks have just found out that is a tall order.
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Well England have had it bad since we won the world cup 4 years ago, but they have saved the best again when we needed it most, England Double could just happen.
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just starting to breathe properly again after yesterdays tense games. Argentina, france and all blacks put balls up high enough to be under them when they come down. Why don't england (with johnnny great-and-good) ever do that, instead of kicking possession away - even in the last five minutes ?
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Niall, to say England were lucky because the last kick didn't go over is a bit rediculous. If both sides had taken their kicks, England would've still won by 2 points.
And you can bleat all you want about no tries (England had chances but couldn't put the finishing touches to them) but the objective of the games is to score more points than the opposition. It sounds to me like your team didn't realise that. Oh well, better luck in 4 years time.
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Well England have had it bad since we won the world cup 4 years ago, but they have saved the best again when we needed it most, England Double could just happen.
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Just a quick point - pretty much all the papers and all the comments on here (both pro-england & against) are saying that England were 'once again' saved by Johnny's magic boot. Now I love Johnny to pieces and I think he's still one of the best players out there - but in this particular match he only did what you would expect any other international kicker to do. He missed his drop-goal attempts & missed a couple (more?) penalties too. Nothing against him but the credit HAS to go to the forwards...surely!
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Sore heads in Bordeaux this morning for the dozens of english students that are studying in the city. Anyone know anyone that lives in Paris with space on the floor for 6 lads next week? Oh and, having had to put up with hundreds of smug Aussies while they played one of their pool matches here, yesterday's win was all the sweeter.
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Well done England. I am finally over the depressed state of mind after been let down by the Irish side.Hats off to Brian Ashton who was never given the chance. As a resident of Australia I was thrilled to see them beaten by England. If Ireland only played with 1/100th of Englands self-belief during their games they could have progressed. Good luck England. Its all good for Northern Hemisphere -even if it just for bragging rights for the next 4 years
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I have to say humble pie tastes good after yesterday. I had written England off, but this is one of those occasions where I'm glad I'm wrong. I had a sense of impending victory when we just smashed the Aussie forwards up front.
The moment for me though was not the scrum, but when Catt kicked the ball up field, Latham caught it, and Sackey and Catt tackled Latham, only for about 3 or 4 Aussie forwards to pile in. Then followed a white wave that smashed the Green/Gold barrier away securin turnover ball. If you watch the slow mo you see Catt mid tackle and in thebackground Moody, Sheridan and Shaw and the gang lumbering up preparing to destroy all in front of them- was like the riders of Rohan smashin through the orcs in Lord of the Rings- Fantastic!
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In the spirit of climate change could the wallabies and the All Blacks share the flight home to reduce their carbon footprint. If they wait till tonight they can drop Argentina and South Africa off on the way home. What a day of Rugby.
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What I hope is that all the negative comments on here about lack of tries by the English soon go. You want to watch a game of 7s if that is all you're after. It was a great display by the English forwards in how to power through a weaker pack. So all our points game from the boot. So what? We got into dangerous positions frequently and punished the Aussies who had to commit a foul to stop our forward momentum. I can't wait for next weekend now. And good luck to Scotland. C'mon the North!
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Help - someone get a Dr. I have been laughing for 20 hours solid only taking time off to drink more refreshment and concentrate on taking a pee. I am in severe pain and live in hope that this guffawing will die down to a chuckle some time during the midweek. The main course in Marseilles yesterday was sumptious in its presentation and delectable to the pallet - followed by a splendid petit gateux from Cardiff to follow. Specialite de la maison.
We have been accused of all sorts over the last 4 yrs. Ineptitude of those managing the game in the RFU - sure, that's completely justified. But the players are as good as anything around given adequate preparation and a good coach appointed just in time.
Aussies were gutless yesterday - change the mustard shirts to 'canary yellow' for your next outing so you don't forget that at the heart of this game is confrontation. If you don't front up when it counts then you'll get smashed.
In the UK we had to put up with Murray Mexted on the commentary - whining like the favorite at the World Whining Championships. Only NZers can really reach this level of irritation. Hopefully he'll be going home with his team.
FOUR MORE YEARS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO GAZE AT THE SOUTHERN CROSS!
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Every four years the British rugby pubic are forced to endure the most unbelievable rubbish from the ITV franchise. The product on our screens has not improved one bit in each attempt over the last twenty years. It appears that ITV is eager to cover the world's third largest sporting event, but has neither the skills, commitment nor, indeed, the enthusiasm to do so. Many of the games have been consigned to ITV4, where folk without digital TV are unable to watch them; highlight programmes are shown in the early hours of the morning, and presenters have to be shipped in from Sky to fill the vacuum that is their sports department. The digital channel's offering is more akin to the weakest episode of the 'Woodentops', and looks just as dated, while good old 'generic Jim' (please send him back to F1) is once again rolled out to front another turgid, advert-infested mess on ITV1 - I'm just getting settled down for the big game when, yes, it's another paint-covered acrobat holding a pint of stout and slipping a dog a piece of meat! As we approach the latter stages of this World Cup I know more about Peugeot cars than players from most of the rugby nations - except good old England of course ('our' team) - swing low, swing very low. How many more times must this unacceptable, amateur, anglo-centric nonsense take place? Please, please 大象传媒 - your rugby knowledge and presentation is second to none (though how we miss Bill McClaren!), your Six Nations coverage is superb (with the glaring exception of Brian Moore), and in Wales the Scrum V programme is an absolute delight, a real gem for a rugby mad nation - please, help us and get the next tournament onto a public broadcasting channel where it rightfully belongs. I'm tired of having to turn the sound off on my TV and listen to the auntie beeb on the radio!
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The last four years hadn't left me optimistic. But Jonny came back and stood up to the challenge, and once again we can rejoice as the Wallabies (and All Blacks mind you) exit the World Cup earlier than planned.
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Yo! Dirsy and Fordyce, are you alive today and has Ben recovered from whatever he was going to eat at 2am this morning?
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As a very deflated Irishman living in Oz (because of work) I a was screaming for the English and French (even after Croke Park) and its fantastic to see the 2 Northern Hemisphere teams through. The arrogance of the Australians is amazing, the amount of grief I got about Irelands total captulation was amazing (probably deserved). But I have to say the English boys were awesome as were the French and I will enjoy work tomorrow. Looks like the 6 nations will be awesome to watch next year, unlike the pre madonna tri nations.
Ireland will be back
Go Scotland and Fiji
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So nice to send the Wallabies (and the All Blacks too) back home this early, especially considering the disrespect the English side received leading up to this match. Well done for Jonny and the team, and the road to the finals suddenly looks open (at least somewhat).
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Niall, don't bother to wake up at half-time, wait until (making an assumption here) your next World Cup game.
Maybe a qualifier against Andorra?
Lovely place to visit but be careful, their rugby team is getting better.
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i didn't think you where allowed to had out beatings like that to convicts anymore :P
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Still buzzing from this display (and in some state of disbelief over the France/NZ result). I was one of those that thought the Aus forwards were going to win enough ball for their backs to rip us apart, especially after their recent showing against SA where it looked like they might have learned a thing or three since The Affront To Australian Manhood in Nov'05 at Twickenham. Who knew they'd cave in like that? The England pack's dominance was so complete the Aussies looked complicit. Never seen a forward display of that ferocity and dominance before. Sure it was a limited gameplan, sure we didn't score tries or play pretty eye candy 'sling it out wide for the neutrals' rugby (are there any neutrals when England play?) but it was brutally effective and World Cup knockout round rugby is about winning, pure and simple. Fortunate that our greatest strength happened to be their biggest weakness and I can't see us enjoying that sort of dominance against the packs that remain in the competition so we may get rumbled sometime.... BUT... not for another week at least ;P And with it being vs France....... isn't itagainst the law for an Englishman NOT to back himself against the French?
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As englishmen we have had our ups and downs in sport, but aren't the wins against the aussies so sweet. Its all gone quite over there!!
Can we do it again? The first to have back to back world cup winners?
Good luck lads.
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It certainly has gone quiet over here. As a Brit in OZ, I can tell you as Corporal Jones used to say, "they don't like it up em" All the green and gold shirts have vanished! Can we rise to the challenge next week, of course we can. Well done England!!!!!
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Hello everyone! I am amazed at the the way a certain team has not been mentioned or discuused by the European and british press, its as if they did not exist SOTH AFRICA. France England Wales and perhaps Scptland are going to win the world cup, oh and I forgot so were Wales and Ireland.
All the favourites are falling by the wayside! But South Africa march on in spite of biased refs, how many high tacles were ignored in the Fiji encounter?
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What a pleasure to see the Frog and Rosbif celebrating a wonderful day. What a pleasure to see the Wallabies and All-blacks on their way home after having thought that they'd be fighting for a place in the final. what a pleasure to shut the mouth of ignoramus who made comments such as "we hope England wins over Australia as they'll be easier to beat in the Semis, dismissing the size of the French's heart!
Whatever happen next week (and being French, I will hope for a Gallic victory) both teams have earned their place in the semi finals by beating the two biggest (and often arrogant) giants of rugby and most important of all, it is simply fantastic to see so many English congratulating the Frogs! It prove that rugby is more than a sport, it is something special that brings us "LA JOIE DE VIVRE".
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When all the hysteria and emotional outpourings have died away, it may be prudent to reflect that England, in fact, played a mediocre game against Australia in a spoiling, technically lacking, ball-killing style that ill-befits world champions. While this may be a recipe for winning at tournament rugby, it does not make them the best team in the world: the best team in the world just lost to France.
England did not, could not, even score a try. If you take away the sublime boot of Jonny, England play a lumpish, vapid game of rugby as was clearly demonstrated when they met South Africa (they could not score a try there either, it should be recalled).
The Wallabies' off-song performance remains a mystery - they simply appeared to be lagging a day behind on the wake up call setting on their Teasmades. Why this happens in sport, even to a mighty side like Australia, is an imponderable that sports psychologists, coaches and the players themselves will never fathom: all we know is that it has something to do with being human.
On this occasion England got lucky: they caught the Aussies on a downwave and managed to scrape a win. If France now can be consistent - and that, of course, is anyone's guess - they are capable of cutting England to shreds, especially if England repeat yesterday's uninspired performance.
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Well James, i can drink to that--crying Aussies are a good sign whether you support Wales or England, and it would have been a crying shame if you had lost, played better all through it. better to be winning pom than a losing pom.
NB tho--i wasnt aiming that at England. I was speakin to the French as well--both of you got a bit lucky, i felt. two points usually means it could have gone either way. id have to say tho, springboks or argentina have got to be the odds-on favourites now.
Just give the French hell, cuz cyring Frenchmen is almost as good as crying Aussies!
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Echoing everything that has been said about the strength of character shown by ourselves and the French, not to mention the lack of it shown by our friends from down South, I wonder whether we would have been celebrating today had the hand of god not intervened to ensure that Andy Farrell was not in the starting line up.
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Well done England, they were clearly the best side and should have won by more. The Australian forward pack had no answer. Well done France, but ...... hope an NZ ref is not in charge of any of the English games, could be payback time if one is.
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To all the southern hemisphere whingers!! If you don't like tough physical rugby may I suggest you watch seven's instead.
As always you are gracious in defeat.
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For John O'Neill, an old Roman proverb: "let them hate us so long as they fear us."
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I am surprised there are any Englishmen on this blog.....they seem to all be on the Sydney Morning Herald. Being so gracious in victory, they sure are putting in the boot. Arrogant Aussie this, Chocker Kiwi that.
As an Aussie, allow me to say this: Dont you just love sport? And aren't winners grinners? Enjoy the victory. You deserved it. But be careful, with all the hyperbole flying around, you are in danger of becoming the very beast that you seem to despise.
Until next time....
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I support 2 teams
New Zealnd and anyone playing Australia
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As an Englishman and not wishing to patronise, I would just like to say, well done Scotland! you showed great courage and honour. I have almost lost lost my voice shouting in support of you! It would have been so great to see you win and through to the semi's.
The six nations next year should be a cracker!!
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I hope you guys manage to reads this comment, i've made a group on facebook with regards to "Ubogu" =) and was hoping you could check it out. Lets hope it actually gets some interest!
Here's the link -
Can you guys think of a good photo to use as the display pic?
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I hate to break it to you Alexander Lewis Jones, and in response to your comment of 10.36pm, Oct 6th, but thanks for turning up...enjoy the long trip back to Auckland.
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Nick (comment 125) - well said. As a NZer living in Aust I can say to all the English supporters that there are may more decent & fair minded Wallaby/All Black supporters out there who haven't made fools of themselves in these blogs by posting insulting & ignorant comments. Whilst we are disappointed with the two weekend results we congratulate your teams efforts & agree you thoroughly deserved the wins - but be careful you don't tar yourselves with the brush you are painting us with now. After all they were just two games out of many (unfortunately the wrong games!!!).
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As a proud English Yorkshireman I have read all the usual rubbish from the "England haters" after the epic England effort,with a smug smile on my face.Most of these writers are so intent on seeing England lose they don't see the overall picture.The Aussies hardly ever threatened our try line,except for their try of course,yet with a bit of luck for Catt and Sackey,we could have posted a score which would have shown a truer reflection of Englands' domination of the match.No doubt we will now get the calls for rule changes.The last time it was for drop-goals to be disallowed,will it be penalties this time.Tell you what, how about a rule that says England are not allowed any points.
Hope you choke on your "sour grapes"
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Ha..HA i wonder if motor mouth campo has crawled back under his rock for another 4 years :-)
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Who needs tries with a game like that. Our foward dominance is a force to be reckoned with!! What a game played full of passion and grit ive never seen australia so crippled in a game they were expected to win. The scoreline doesnt do us justice, cant wait to face les bleus next week!!
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What a weekend of rugby!! Hope this one is better who would have thought it Eng v SA in the final? Unfinished business there. Does anyone know is there are going to be any screens up in London if(when) we reach the final?
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Thanks England. Thanks France
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Well Done England. You actually played as a team with some beautiful passes. Unfortunately the win was solely down to Johnnys' boot, so once again proving that he is the talisman of English Rugby. If he is not on the pitch, as we saw against South Africa, you can't win, but when he is you play with passion.
Scotland could learn a lot from that, judging by last nights performance. Although we play as a team with or without Chris Paterson on the pitch.
I would support England, if it weren't for the stupid biased commentary. If you listen to the commentators, you'd wonder why other teams turn up.
Can I ask is it true that England don't play their national anthem (Land of Hope and Glory) at the start of matches, because the F.A. refused to do likewise? God Save The Queen is the National Anthem of Great Britain which England is only part of! This only perpetuates the confusion, in the minds of people form other countries calling Britain England.
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Someone wrote of Ryan Jones blog:
Australia have a devestating backline
Yep they looked pretty devestated!
What a quote! Made me laugh and kept that English smile on my face
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I went through a whole hell of my own durin the game on saterday, from laughing to being nervous to praying.... yes praying that last ball did not sail through our beloved posts to screaming and knocking my beer over.
one absolutly awesome game! such a shame the aussie scrum was so weak (had to laugh when the ref FINALLY caught on what was happening)but it has been said there team is rebuilding after losing some good players. it was the only dissapointment in a brilliant and entertaining game of rugby.
and im not ashamed at all to say i cheerwed as the french kicked the final ball into touch.
beat our aussie friends.
beat the french!
beat ARGENTINA!
this would be greatest result we could imagine, now if only Germany was in there aswell we'd have a complete set :)
(I am a little worried about the final if we get there, argentina and SA lack our kicking game but there try scoring abilities is something worthy of awe and something we seem to be lacking atm)
COME ON ENGLAND!
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a few of us have said it before but, hey, let's say it again. it's very difficult for the world champions, england, to raise their game for regulation, yearly fixtures against minnows like ireland and wales. however, when the real - once every 4 years - business starts you see the class come shining through. the minnows, of course, have been weeded out well before the real business starts.
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as a big fans of les bleus since i lived ther saturday had me in tears
after 10,15,20 minutes i could see the walbies crumbling after a couple of turnovers, then there was the 1 out of 3 for kicking only for wilko to put the ball between the sticks, fear war apparent in the eyes of the boys from down under les bleus in paris worse things could happen but watch our forwards hammer chabal!?!
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Anyone heard anything from John O'Sullivan or Campo?
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Apparently, the Australian pack are still at Marseille Airport, being pushed backwards by a luggage trolley.
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Im still stunned by how arrogant the Aussies were before the game it simply makes you look so amazingly stupid if you lose, and this a dangerous ethos to adopt. Maybe Mortlock should speak to Ponting about his team behaviour pre/post match & in interviews. Respect is the order of the day please we are world champs still and your've gone home on Quantas.
The main worry is that this arrogance & aggression is also coming from the top (this O'neill chap) imagine Rob Andrew saying the whole world hates the Aussies I do not think he would retain his job to long. Sort it out
Australia its makes you look like the bad guys and that is not the case as our rivalry is brillant.
Anyway its Les Blues next and im starting to get very excited, this sneeking under the radar thing is great.
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Oh how I love the comments of non english rugby fans commenting on an amazing result for our boys on sat. Same old, same old Wilko's boot does it again, boring boring England. At the end of the day I would like us to play wide expansive exciting rugby, but if after 80 mins the result is a loss then I'd plump for a tight forward game every time. Its why Wales are out, their mentality is lets spin it, get everyone raving how good it is to watch doesn't matter if we loose as long as we're exciting.. Sorry I'm a winner the result is everything, so lets have another go on sat and anything is possible. France are certainly beatable, if the crowd get on their backs the nerves will be unbearable for them.
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Do you think Mat Dunning likes Andrew Sheridan??? Its funny he must have dreams about crawling around on his knees.
If we beat the French (Full respect to France, great team) can we beat SA or Argentina?
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France is going to be a different animal because of the 16th man (home advantage) but England pulled through against the fancied Aussies. I hope they will go through and South Africa will be waiting for them but they must come up with a plan against South africa because the South Africans will bulldoze them from all angles they wont be like the Aussies who try and move around defences. So the party depends on the strategy on the day Good luck
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France is going to be a different animal because of the 16th man (home advantage) but England pulled through against the fancied Aussies. I hope they will go through and South Africa will be waiting for them but they must come up with a plan against South africa because the South Africans will bulldoze them from all angles they wont be like the Aussies who try and move around defences. So the party depends on the strategy on the day Good luck
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Darren,
Support England? No. Applaud them for winning when they were considered to massively be the underdogs? Absolutely.
Ditto with France, although I confess to being slightly more neutral for that game.
Peter - Officially, England do not have an anthem (poor lambs), and so use the anthem of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth: ie God Save the Queen. There is a motion in Parliament to alter this, as of April this year. About time I think - everyone's entitled to their own anthem! Then they can stop singing another nation's lament about slavery (Swing Low).
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For all their claims to be the world's greatest sportsmen, it is a pity that Australia have still not learned to cope with defeat. Contrast their players at the end of the England match, forming a huddle to wave away the cameras and cry, with Scotland, who formed a line to clap Argentina off the pitch. That is sportsmanship. That is what the game is about.
I am not one to gloat, but after suffering the pre-match crowing and the post-match whingeing of the Aussies, my favourite meal is Stuffed Wallaby, barbecued in whine sauce.
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What a weekend. looking forward to being in Paris at the weekend. With the alcohol exclusion zone around and in the grounds that have been in place in Paris so far where is good for the English to have a good old fashioned pre-match beer?
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Great results for European rugby....
Good also to see SH fans made to eat some humble pie. Just a little fed up with the constant air of superiority that esp Australians have on matters sporting. You麓d almost think they were God麓s Gift to world sport. Might have something to with their sense of geographic isolation though.
More importantly, hope that this gives English fans abit more self belief. A bit pathetic how some commentators here constantly looking up in awe and reverence of the world beating teams from Aus/NZ.
Pleased also for France.
England or Les Bleus can keep the Cup in this corner of the globe.
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#2
You are so very correct. It will be utterly impossible for England to beat New Zealand next week in the semi-final. Just the same as South Africa will not be able to beat Scotland in the other semi-final.......
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Did anyone else find it slightly ironic that as the whistle went for a famous French victory, the little Frenchman with the ball was running away as fast as his legs could carry him. Good old surrender monkey !! Well played and thank you for putting New Zealand back on the plane without the cup !
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Last time we (England) did a number on the Australians there was a version of American pie doing the rounds with a line 鈥淭he day the ausses cried鈥
Anyone know were it can be found ?
Or how about the old St Trins song 鈥 Trample on the weakest revel in their plight鈥
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