England V France
Read the papers today re the match and it reminded me of politics
The outcome depending on who was writing the article!

It will be a game of two halves, a big ask, and questions raised at the end. Can anyone doubt the result?

One has to hope that the Red Rose can prevail against the onslaught of blue chickens.

I will be glued to it.

Great result.

Wow England is now, once again, going to be a nation of rugger buggers.

And what a game.. Oh How I love Rugby.. All others are just overpaid poofters poncing about... this is the real stuff!!

Now Tonight SA vs Argentina.. Yowee!!

Jonjiisan - what say you at the prospect of Argentian beating the Springboks eh? Would be great.

Anyway folks I confidently predict an England back to back whoever wins today!

21parque
Love your comment!
They were just superb,and they put the HOPE back into land of HOPE and GLORY

Our defence really looks solid, France could not create an opening, the tactics might be ugly but they are getting results. How important was Robinsons forced resignation! What a decision that may prove to be.

France can't even win at conkers.

Q. What's the name given to the 7th and 8th teams?
A. The Bledisloe Cup.

Zig-a-zig-aahhh!

Jonjii, I could see the fear in the Boks' eyes...they know, you know, I believe.

Love the Bledisloe cup crack Tizz... Shayme shayyyyme,, hee hee hee.

Ok SA vs England..

I think the Boks peaked in form when the nilled England in what seems an age ago... Since then the Boks have been going backward and England pulled themselves together (and how!!!)

I would prefer it if England relied a bit less on Jonnie's boot and scored a few tries.. Note that SA scored 4 on Sunday and they too have a very good boot in the name of Percy.

That been said the Boks play rough and always give away penalties and if they are in range... well JW could decide..it all.

I will be wearing a Green and Gold jersey though ...

And how I look forward to it.

J

Hope England wins but that green amd gold jersey flying down the field worries me!!!

Tanoshimi Jonjii I will enjoy it whatever

Not to many tries in Rugby when you get to quarter/semi-finals stages though it would be nice. Boks versus the Argies was an exception.

The kicking game next Saturday will be crucial. Kicking for territory and then gaining penalties in or around the 22 are going to win the game. It won't be open and running rugby it will be down and ugly - but England will win!

talk about underdogs.

come on england!

Vespa

That of course sadly is true... but crossing your opponents goal line is what makes this wonderful game come alive.

15 men... use them.. let the backs get the ball and move.. keep the phases working but try and get the ball wide and moving and the tries will come.

Hi Jonjiisan - Like you I enjoy an open flowing game, however, I think both defensive lines will be to tight for open play and unfortunately nerves may hamper handling - both teams will be looking to punish handling errors. Look at what the Boks did to the Argies - England will be aware of that so I think they will keep it tight with Catt and Wilkinson looking to use the boot for territory.

Bit of a blow for England with Lewsey out..

Yup Vespa I expect it will be a bruiser.

All the pressure is on SA and they won't enjoy Englands tactics. Still, we go there to win, open rugby is nice but winning ugly will be better. I just hope the team get the respect they deserve whatever happens. It seems the likes of Wayne Rooney only have to cough to get all over the papers yet our brilliant rugby players get almost no coverage at all. I wish ITV would bid to cover our domestic game, most of the country just don't get a chance to see it.

Yup like I said Rooney and co are overpaid poncers...

Yeah Jonjiisan - you gotta feel for Lewsey, I bet he would sell his mother to the devil for a chance to be on that park on Saturday!

Looks as if the Operation Overlord plans will have to be dusted off. The good-spirited hosts have decided to have a transport strike tomorrow, possibly going into Friday and Saturday. Merveilleux.

Fairly typical They are out of it now and nothing will give the average Frog greater pleasure than sticking it to le sales Angleterre.

NOTE THEY DO HAVE A WEE LITTLE 3RD PLACE PLAY OFF ON Friday

Regarding the Final.. One of my colleagues said of my internal conflict..

Dochira katta ureshii.. Whovever (of 2) wins (You (implied)) are happy.

So yes.. I hope it is a great game but I actually expect a bruiser.

I wish England all the strength in the world but I have to shout for the other side. Not the land of my birth but the only land I lived until I was about 40)

You're in a win-win situation, aren't you jonjii!

Oz match, my hands were clammy. France match, heart rate up, hands actually shaking, and I'll admit to shedding a few tears as the whistle blew. Dog had a panic attack with all the whooping and screaming.

For tomorrow, I've got a defibrillator to hand (for me and the dog).

Then, have to go through it all again for the Brazilian GP.

I'm posting here an England and Hamilton win, since it's done the trick so far!

See Canvas hasn't joined the fray;
Perhaps we better play Becks at No 8

P'raps No 15, eh, Glynne? Hair spray ready at 10 paces.

I thought at No8 he'd get a taste of a real game but not stay on the field long enough to loose it for us!

Any one cheering the Argie's on tonight?

All I want is for Jose to manage England!

Good game last night - France humiliated!

What about tonight! - is Robinson going to have the game of his life?

Any truth in the rumour that Rugger is a Tory Game - soccer for socialists?

I don't know. But thick necks and big thighs don't do it for me! Call me shallow - but give me Becks anyday!

I thought Gordon Brown looked absolutely delighted that England had lost the rugby. Freaky!

Why was he there anyway? pfffft

It was a Try!
But
Sorry for Robinson **

Didn't they do well - from bottom of the heap to runners up

Made me proud to be British

Until Brown lined up with the Great & Good.

Glynne, I am sure that try would have been awarded under most circumstances but with the advent of the third ref he had to jusdge. We all saw the boot touch the line before grounding so... a tough call but a right one.

In consolation though he got the 3 from the penalty and it would have been a tough conversion. So the difference was 1 point certainly and maybe 3 more for a conversion.. SA won 15 - 6 at best it would have been 15 - 10 all else being equal.

But I was proud of the Way SA played... only 3 penalties in kickable position given away to England's 6.

Canvas Surely you would rate Percy.. surely a gay pin up anyway.

About Gordon Brown. He had no place there he just wanted the photo op.... dressed in his Dark suit... At Least Thabo wore a Springbok jacket. Could you see the English team ever lifting him onto their shoulders?.. they would've dropped him deliberately I am sure.

one word ...


who?

Percy Montgomery, Springbok fullback and leading points scorer of the tournament.

Not into Rugby eh?.. prefer the poncers do you?.. Oh well.. ;-)

Congrats to S Africa, really well done. Good to see the Boks applaud Billy Whiz off, very sporting.

Wonder if they'll ever win again though? There's positive discrimination and then there's idiocy. What say you, Jonjii?

As for England, by God they did well. Huge respect to them.

Canvas, from what I quickly checked up, approx 50% state school educated team, but I stand to be corrected on exact ratio. Rugby Union historically has a higher percentage of public/independent school students than Rugby League, but then there's a clue in the name...

PS dog still alive.

Thanks Tiz... I am afraid for SA rugby as our next coach is a political appointee (Black) and there are sadly No real big effective Black rugby clubs.. there is no barrier to any blacks joining white clubs but hitherto few of note have done so.

Well politics dominated SA sport during the apartheid era and it has dominated a lot of it in the post apartheid era.. NB there are no whites in BafanaBafana (the SA Soccer team)

But sad. Well let us see. The Super 14 and the Currie Cup should keep Rugby fairly active.

What, if anything, does BafanaBafana translate to, Jonjii?

Seems the rugby is going to have to go through a Truth & Reconciliation period. Hope it works out for them. Too much young talent to waste, or take up British credentials, yikes!

Won't be long before the Six Nations. Would like to see Argentina to be added, personally.

Literally Our Boys Our Boys... tinged with affection and awe. Got the name when they won the Cup of African Nations back in the mid 90s?

I am never sure of the effectiveness of reverse discrimination.. but the will of the people will insist in this instance I am sure.

I think Argentina should join the Southern Hemisphere tri Nations making it a Four Nation Tournament..and maybe some of their provincial sides could join up for the Super 14 although how that would work is difficult Too many games as it is... where mid winter is July and August rather than January.. Playing home games in Buenos Aires in January may be impossible... way too warm.

Hi All

Agree - much as I would like to see them in the 6 nations, the southern hemisphere is their rightfull home.

Delighted the way SA shouldered & involved their President Thabo - thought there was a lot of deserved affection there.

Sorry to say Brown looked, and seemed to be treated, like an undertaker.

That's it! Couldn't quite put my finger on what he reminded me of...Thanks, Glynne!

Yes the toad did look like a glowering centre of ill humour didn't he... Can you imagine the English side lifting him to their shoulders.. I can't!

(Love that Emoticon Tiz.. I am going to have to learn how to use them)

OK Coming Up SA playing the Barbarians and one other side.. and then 6 nations come January

Keep this thread alive!

Jonjii
From the Teesdale Mercury on Barnard Castle School Teesdale
The next generation of would-be internationals compete in tournamnet named after Enlgland star
The tournmanet designed to discover the next generation of top flight rugby players is named after the England centre and old boy Matthew Tait

Good for them I am from the time of school, University and club rugby... all amateur... before the professional era.

And oh how I still love it!

Ok Nearly time for the "Perpetual" tour..? Neverending Tour? Can't remember the name but South Africa is playing Wales in Cardiff tomorrow (as they do every autumn)

Also watch for the try fest next week in the Barbarians match.

I won't see it live sadly but will catch up as soon as I can.