Zygoptera on 10/9/2007 at 11:36
Right. I've had enough.
It's the ingratitude which does it. We, the greatest rugby nation on earth, kindly and generously allow other teams to win the World Cup a couple of times, for the benefit of rugby and what do we get? Do we get appreciation? Thanks? No. We get moderators of supposedly respected websites mocking us and spreading vile calumny in thread titles. This is simply unacceptable.
I mean how boring would it be if we'd won all five RWCs? Nobody would be interested. So instead we allow ourselves to be hyped up beforehand and promote the bejeesus our of the tournament, then honourably bow out to allow some poor benighted rugby backwaters a little glory and some much need confidence and happiness.
It stops here. A line in the sand has been drawn. No more Mister Nice All Black. This time nothing less than the total extirpation, yea, the utter and irrevocable obliteration of our opposition is acceptable. We will instigate a plan of Total Rugby, physically pulverising forwards and backs alike then systematically crushing their spirit, until the shattered remnants crawl, supine and broken, to their home shores in defeat. You have had your time, little peons, this time is OURS.
<small>Actually, I'm a bit torn. On one hand I'd like us to win, on the other I find the 'sky is falling' over reactions when we lose highly amusing.</small>
Scots Taffer on 10/9/2007 at 12:13
Rename the poll: if you are a rugby fan, which country are you from?
D'Juhn Keep on 10/9/2007 at 12:16
I voted New Zealand :(
jimjack on 10/9/2007 at 15:36
Can anyone beat New Zealand? They have the best team. They have the best technique. They are the best team and have the scariest warrior song ever.
Three teams maybe four can stop them but I doubt it. I'd vote Scotland but as a northern hemisphere side even if it's not on the poll:grr:. But I just can't see N.Z losing it.
Shug on 11/9/2007 at 01:30
Same story every 4 years, jimjack; the kiwis show up with the best team and lose. Last time we beat them in the semis by exploiting probably the only weakness in the backline at the time, and England no doubt thanked us for it as NZ had a better forward pack to deal with the poms, as well a backline far better utilised than the unappreciated talent on the other side of the park.
Zygoptera on 11/9/2007 at 02:44
Well, we
shouldn't have been favourites in 1991 (clearly well on the way down and riven by internal dissension) or 1999 (previous year was the worst ever for the ABs), and should have been only marginal favourites last time. We do deserve favouritism this time but we still have weaknesses- Byron Kelleher is flakey and his back ups inexperienced and we have no international class, fit, specialist centres. And we rely far too much on Carter and McCaw, if either of them get injured their replacement is nowhere near the same class.
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
Rename the poll: if you are a rugby fan, which country are you from?
I didn't vote for NZ either, I voted for the
bokke.
ercles on 11/9/2007 at 05:24
Quote Posted by Shug
Care to wager on England placing ahead of Australia this time around? :D
After your performance against the USA I wouldn't be so confident.
SD on 11/9/2007 at 15:39
Quote Posted by ercles
After your performance against the USA I wouldn't be so confident.
Shug is Australian, so I'm not sure you meant to direct that post at him.
I can't see anything but a southern hemisphere champion here. If any northern hemisphere sides have a chance, it's Ireland, but really I think you can pick one of SA, OZ or NZ.
Zygoptera on 11/9/2007 at 22:55
There's no shame in struggling against the USA in rugby, they are the current Olympic champions after all.
ercles on 12/9/2007 at 01:41
Ireland are looking pretty wobbly now that O'Driscoll (spelling wtf) is in doubt for quite a few matches, so I don't know about them. I still wouldn't rule out France if they can make the finals, home ground advantage makes a massive difference
