14/10/2011 18:26:13
spiderpig123
County: Down
Posts: 149

1052164 I dont know why the image of Ross O'Carroll Kelly seems to represent the national image of rugby to some ignorant people. I played Gaelic football since aged 8 for many years but the narrow-mindedness of some parochial folk have made me see the GAA in a different light. Yes i love the sport itself but its the factors off the pitch. I have recently converted from playing GAA to rugby and i am really loving it, despite not knowing all the rules.

I predict the Welsh to carry on their form and power through France. James Hook to have a big game. Australia will ask more questions of New Zealand's number 10 issue than Argentina and I can see that game going right down to the wire.Judging by how they miraculously kept South Africa out for most of the game despite being dominated in territory, I can see the Aussies sneaking the semi final by 2 or so points. 14/10/2011 18:26:13
spiderpig123
County: Down
Posts: 149

1052164 I dont know why the image of Ross O'Carroll Kelly seems to represent the national image of rugby to some ignorant people. I played Gaelic football since aged 8 for many years but the narrow-mindedness of some parochial folk have made me see the GAA in a different light. Yes i love the sport itself but its the factors off the pitch. I have recently converted from playing GAA to rugby and i am really loving it, despite not knowing all the rules.

I predict the Welsh to carry on their form and power through France. James Hook to have a big game. Australia will ask more questions of New Zealand's number 10 issue than Argentina and I can see that game going right down to the wire.Judging by how they miraculously kept South Africa out for most of the game despite being dominated in territory, I can see the Aussies sneaking the semi final by 2 or so points.

Rugby doesnt have any rules, it has Laws. Spiderpig where are you playing and at what level?
Ross O Carrol Kelly seems to represent rugby to many ignorant people as they believe rugby is only played in south dublin and that he represents every person who plays rugby in this country
France still playing Parra at 10 will play an important role in decding who will win as he is not an outhalf. if Wales can force him inside and make him kick as they did with ROG, it could spell trouble.
Its hard to see Wales getting the same go forward ball off Roberts against a defensively strong French midfield also the strength of the French back-row which is more dynamic than ours will be important

This game is all about Quade Cooper's performance. If he fails to control proceedings then the Aussies are in big trouble. It's a big step for Aaron Cruden this weekend too but with Piri Weepu at 9 he doesn't have the pressure of goal kicking on his shoulders and can focus on running the game for New Zealand. All Blacks to win by a score or two

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/10/2011 19:09:44    1052184

Well my predictions haven't been great over the last few weeks but sure screw it I'll give it another go.......I'm bound to get one right at some stage!

Wales v France:

This is only the second genuinely talented team France has come up against in the WC so far, the other one was NZ and they failed miserably to make an impact in that game so its hard to know how they'll react tomorrow. Honestly though, how do you predict any French game? on their day absolutely nobody can live with them, if they have an off day then the like of Tonga can beat them!

I'd say they were really hoping Ireland would beat Wales though because we have a habit of folding tamely against the French, Wales don't and I'd expect another very good consistant performance from them but in the end I'll go for France. Surely after getting this far riding their luck the French will finally turn on that famous flair and win out by 4 or 5pts.


Australia v New Zealand:

This is effectively the world cup final to be honest because apart from Australia's blip against ourselves and NZ missing the world's best player, these two are still the best teams in the world, no doubt about that. NZ are ranked no.1 (nothing new there) and are playing on home soil but crucially Australia hold all the aces, they beat the All Blacks last time the teams met and their head to head RWC record stands at 2-0 to the Wallabies so surely they'll win out again right?

Wrong, I reckon NZ will finally get the monkey off their backs and win their second RWC on home soil, if they don't then that will be the end of Graham Henry and NZ rugby will fall into yet another state of depression.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 14/10/2011 19:57:46    1052225

So the French have somehow stumbled into a World Cup final, 40 minutes against England turned out to be enough for them. Wales were vastly superior and with 14 men should have won, if they had 15 they would have hammered them. Rolland a truly atrocious decision. So the final is tomorrow and with Australia's injuries I can't see them winning, Beale is another huge loss. Real pity the Saffers didn't beat the Aussies as I think they could have nicked it against NZ but it looks like it's finally NZ's time. How a French team that has absolutely no connection with their coach have made it to the final is staggering and they could be in for a hiding in the final

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 15/10/2011 13:56:47    1052398

This has to rank up there as one of the worst rugby world cups of all time, its been a terrible advertisement for the great game! Shame on Wales, honestly I mean that, thats the sort of tame yet tight defeat I'd expect from us but not from a country playing their national sport in a world cup semi-final against a horribly disjointed French side. I thought the French would finally turn up on the big occasion but they were hopelessly flat and pplocal is dead right, they stumbled into a final, talk about a blind squirrel. The real final effectively kicks off at 9am tomorrow morning our time, I can only imagine what New Zealand and Australia were thinking watching that mess earlier, must be lickin' the lips!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/10/2011 16:12:24    1052452

Htaem That really is a strange post. France looked awful cos Wales rattled them to the core. Priestland injured before game, losing their Prop in first few minutes then inspirational Captain harshly red-carded and still outplayed France and should have won the game. For both our sanity I really hope your post was a wind up.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 15/10/2011 16:22:51    1052456

Hold on corkcelt you're making it sound like my post wasn't of this world, what was so strange about it? Wales were up against a French side who've played absolutely awful rugby throughout this WC (except for a few decent minutes against England), a side who've lost to Tonga and a side which clearly has massive issues with their head coach and yet they still couldn't beat them.

I don't care who was missing from the line up, Wales should have had more than enough to beat this diabolical French team, the chances were there for them, chances they would normally have taken with ease so I can only conclude that they choked. They choked simply because they've never gotten over this particular hurdle before whereas the French have........inferiority complex strikes again.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/10/2011 17:21:10    1052483

The French gameplan was bizarre to say the least. With Jones off they had the measure of the welsh front row in the scrum
They had an extra man in the scrum for 3/4's of the game or else there was a gap in the middle left by Roberts - The Welsh hooker was missing his target by streets - yet the French decided to go for drop goals ?

Whilst the welsh spirit in staying in the game till the death was admirable - there is some merit to Hteams point - Hook not able to take his kicks - Jones missing a an absolute Key conversion - and in the second last attack about 5 minutes to go Jones never made himself available in the pocket _when they were closer to the 22 than the last phase which was probably too far out- In the last attack he even popped up for a carry - It seemed like he was going out of his way not to have to shoulder the drop kick responsilibity

Also in the last attack when the really needed to break through to the Welsh 22 - every phase was lateral - they never looked like they were a threat when it came to the crunch - Though the FB's penalty was close.

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 15/10/2011 17:34:44    1052488

France put England away with comfort last week, Wales with 14 men should have beaten them only for poor kicking. Hook missed 2 you would expect him to get, 1 sitter where his standing leg slipped. Add to that Jones's failed conversion and the one from the half way that was on target but fell inches short, plus a couple of poor drop goal attempts. On the field of play I thought Wales were outstanding. It was obviously not a great match with very greasy conditions but taking into account all Wales's early misfortunes to say "Shame on them" is ridiculous.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 15/10/2011 17:36:40    1052491

Ah now corkcelt come on lad its not one bit ridiculous, you even said it yourself "early misfortunes" so Wales had most of the match to recover and they did by outplaying France for the majority of the game so how the hell did they lose?......Its simple, they didn't see themselves as equals to France, that is all.

France are severly handicaped by having inconsistant players and basically a nutter of a coach who took off Poux and Servat was it when things were going very well, thats unfathomable stuff really. I absolutely detest seeing these lame excuses from the Welsh about being hard done by or whatever, get over it lads, you's blew it, I know playing with 14 men isn't easy and normally that is a huge factor in defeat but you could see that it clearly didn't effect them too much, infact it actually galvanised them if anything so stop complaining.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/10/2011 18:07:48    1052504

I can see both sides of the argument. Against France with a one man disadvantage for over an hour you can't really claim they should have won, no matter how poor France were. France played a smart game and with the extra man Wales rarely threatened. Priestland and Hook were simply unlucky with their kicks and that happens. However Jones needed to step up to the plate and he didn't, there was a point where Phillips was clearly frustrated that he wasn't making himself available. Maybe it's because he's down to third choice Fly-Half and didn't have much game time but you have to man up in a World Cup semi and put your neck on the line. He choked and the chance was gone

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 15/10/2011 18:15:45    1052507

Ah look maybe I'm just blowing off a bit of steam here pplocal, but it just infuriates me when teams like Wales or indeed ourselves lose after playing much better than higher ranked opposition, it shouldn't happen!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/10/2011 18:39:07    1052526

Ormond,

I just play at 2nd string University level in Liverpool. We play in the local league and against other universities across the north of England.

France are probably commanded by Thierry Dusatoir and the senior members of the squad as opposed to Lievremont and have surpassed my expectations considering they lost 2 games in the group stages. Have yet to see the highlights today, looking forward to seeing the red card decision

spiderpig123 (Down) - Posts: 175 - 15/10/2011 18:44:06    1052528

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 3030

1052526 Ah look maybe I'm just blowing off a bit of steam here pplocal, but it just infuriates me when teams like Wales or indeed ourselves lose after playing much better than higher ranked opposition, it shouldn't happen!
_______________
Tend to agree with Htaem here, they Welsh should have taken a frankly atrocious and unadventurous French team, 14 men or not. I mean what exactly were they doing in those last 2/3 mins, phase after phase, side to side, I was just waiting for the big glory drop goal that would seal a famous victory, but even then they bottled it when they had nothing else to lose. This is what we Irish like to refer to as a 'moral' victory, trod on home all safe in the knowledge of what could have been instead of what should have been.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 15/10/2011 21:58:16    1052647

what nice fee paying school did you go to spiderpig? Did the resht of the rugga goys laugh at you for playing GAA?

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 16/10/2011 09:32:47    1052659

CheFinny
County: UK
Posts: 1238

1052659 what nice fee paying school did you go to spiderpig? Did the resht of the rugga goys laugh at you for playing GAA?
________________________
Whats the matter che, still feeling inadequate after all these year, did some toff splash you in his Bentley?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 16/10/2011 10:26:02    1052669

15/10/2011 18:15:45
pplocal
County: Tyrone
Posts: 4066

1052507 I can see both sides of the argument. Against France with a one man disadvantage for over an hour you can't really claim they should have won, no matter how poor France were. France played a smart game and with the extra man Wales rarely threatened. Priestland and Hook were simply unlucky with their kicks and that happens.
__________
???????? Who ??????

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 16/10/2011 12:48:24    1052724

So its a France New Zealand final, should be a very good game.
Interesting to see french coach Marc Lievremont call some of his France squad "spoilt brats" after discovering some players went out to celebrate their World Cup semi-final win against Wales
Going out is very stupid but criticising them in public is a very bad decision especially when the storys are going around that he has already lost the dressing room.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/1016/1224305903516.html

I think New Zealand will win, but you never know what wll happen in a final

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 16/10/2011 13:40:25    1052750

CheFinny,

I wonder why you jumped to the conclusion that I went to a fee-paying school? I went to a "nice non-fee paying school", a christian brothers schoolwith a 100% Gaelic football background. Dont assume, it makes an ass of u and me.

spiderpig123 (Down) - Posts: 175 - 16/10/2011 14:22:00    1052762

the red card was fully justified, anyone who thinks otherwise knows very little about the game. ITV shame on you for allowing the unjustified criticism of the match referee by presenter Steve Rider, panelists Lawrence Dallaglio, and Francois Pienaar to go unchallenged. Rider hang your head in shame.

Gammy_Knee (USA) - Posts: 1482 - 16/10/2011 14:46:25    1052775

just for those of you who are unfamiliar with the rules ;

Law 10.4 (j) states that "lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst the player's feet are still off the ground, such that the player's head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground, is dangerous play.

Gammy_Knee (USA) - Posts: 1482 - 16/10/2011 15:11:07    1052777