Registered: Sep 2001
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Who ever wins this one reaches the semi-finals.

The other team not.

[/prediction]

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Meanwhile the second match to be broadcast in wonderfull world of Eorpean rugby coverage kicks off....

Japan vs France.

Who ever wins this one reaches the semi-finals.

The other team not.

[/prediction]

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Registered: Sep 2001
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Heh, France 20, Japan 16, half-time.

(any limeys not in the pub at the mo? me wonders)

Last edited by skalie on 10-18-2003 at 11:03 AM

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 4789

SA will likely get it's ass stomped. But then I haven't actually seen any of the matches yet, so maybe they're playing better than I expect them to.

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Registered: Oct 2000
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6 all so far. The SA should be ahead though but Koen has missed 3 out of 5 kicks at goal.

England better stop fucking around or its curtains for them.

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At 68 mins 22 - 6 it appears they took your advice Dacarlo.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
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SA 6 England 25 - Full Time

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Reading live football is a great experience as well as it goes...

quote:

---

61:48
Defending throw-in by Glen Johnson (Chelsea).


60:55
Attacking throw-in by Glen Johnson (Chelsea).


58:56
Defending throw-in by Adrian Mutu (Chelsea).

---

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Registered: Sep 2001
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...then again it does have it's moments.

quote:

---

74:08 Goal - Thierry Henry
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea.
Foul by Claude Makelele (Chelsea) on Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal). Free kick taken right-footed by Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) from right channel, passed. Cross by Robert Pires (Arsenal), save (fumbled) by Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea). Goal by Thierry Henry (Arsenal) (bottom-right of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea. Assist (cross) by Robert Pires (Arsenal) from right wing.

---

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Playa d'en London
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so, another costly mistake by cudicini. i'm sure chelsea will put it right by spending Ł57M on some italian keeper.

buying your way to the championship is a tough challenge, dont you know...

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Playa d'en London
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oops, nearly forgot..


chelsea =

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Registered: Aug 2001
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100 million quid just doesn't go as far as it used to.

Watched the rugby; the first 10-15 minutes, England were great, then crap, then good enough after half time. If South Africa's kicker could kick at international standard (as apparently he was doing earlier in the season) then it might have been a different match altogether. Fortunately, he was toilet.

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They should do away with penalty conversions equalling points, stick to tries, conversions and drop goals.

With the emphasis on the tries.

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Registered: Aug 2001
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If points weren't at risk from penalties, there'd be even more than there are already (over 20 in this game). The fact that you get the throw-in on a line-out resulting from a penalty ball kicked into touch is for the same reason, too.

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Registered: Aug 2001
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The problem would be particularly bad when a try is on the cards; as it is, sides will concede penalties trying to stop a drive (and Bracken should have been penalised today for bring the maul down; when it happened, my grandfather and I both couldn't believe that he had gotten away with it, and Pienaar was very angry about it after the game). If there were no points at stake from conceding a penalty, it would happen even more often and make it harder to score a try.

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Intentional penalty equalling sin bin might temper the flow a little.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 413

england loooked good today, but not that dominate. if they play like that against new zealand, ill put my money on the all blacks for the final. but the two teams that you just cant be certain about in the RWC are australia and ireland. who ever comes away winning pool A will go far to show who might challange england and new zealand for the william webb ellis trophy ^_^

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Ireland? If you want to pick a team that can beat any other on their day but are unpredictable, surely France are that team?

I think that you are right that the All-Blacks won't be quaking in their boots, though.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 413

about a year ago i would have picked france to be the team that no one can predict, but they have been playing like shit this tournament. they barely scraped past japan this tournament, and i was at the stadium where the USA defeated Japan by 50 points. If france can not put away a second rate team, im not so sure how far they will advance. Now when the results of pool A are finished, I will have a better analysis, but so far Argentina hasnt proved anything to me, and Although Australia have dispatched their lesser opponents like they should have, the definetly failed to impress in their match against Argentina. And Australia's from prior to the world cup was dreadful. Their Tri-Nations performance was one to forget. but the Australia v Ireland match will be the telling match of the pool.

but im gonna have to tip the all blacks to win the world cup. england just barely defeated a second-string all blacks side this summer, and the all blacks played like shit. tons of penalties, knockons, and just dreadful play all around. the all blacks are looking class right now, and i would love to see the England-All Blacks matchup everyone is anticipating

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Just to the right of the moon
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The all blacks looked like seven kinds of shit against Canada for 30 minutes. They will come out of the pool stageshaving playes the 2nd XVs of 4 lesser rugby nations, and then they will walk smack into the brutal physical intensity that is a test match against the Springbok's playing for their lives in a one-off match. I wouldn't like to be the All Blacks. Especially as they now have a cunundrum of whether to include their goalkicking centre Carter. If they do, then they have to leave their most influential back, Aaran Mauger, out of the team. A team that is already minus Tana Umanga, the Vice Captain. NZ forwards will not exert the pressure that SA did.

As for this NZ second string vs England bollocks, they had a full backline except for Mauger and Mils Muiliana, (Ma'a Nonu instead of Mauger) and their pack was only lacking Jerry Collins (Brad Thorn, who played against Canada, is 2nd string) who's place was taken by So'ialo, who got fucked up by Dallaglio And England played like shit and won. like they did yesterday. for the fifth time in a row against SA.

Besides, the team i would watch out for is Australia. they are beginning to come good at just the right (or wrong, if you are an AB supporter) time

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN
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i dont recall, but was joe rocokoco included in the all blacks senior squad in june, or was he still playing for the 21 and under squad? mark my words, rocokoco will be the next lomu

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Just to the right of the moon
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Rocococko played against England in June.

Rocococko is Fijian. He was awarded a scholarship to a school in New Zealand and by the time he graduated, he had served enough residency to qualify as an All Black. The All Blacks have been raping Pacific islands rugby for years, stealing their best players, taking other young guys and capping them at A level for one test before discarding them, thereby preventing them playng for their own countries of origin. Joeli Vidiri was Fijian, Lomu was Tongan, So'ailo is Samoan, Umanga is Samoan, (his brother, Mike, played for Samoa) Nonu is Samoan etc etc etc ad infinitum. They tries to steal Rupeni Caucaunibuca from Fiji but he declined and decided to play for his own country. Honest man. He makes Rockococko look like a ton of sludge on the move.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN
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Agreed, what new zealand is doing to the pacific islands is destroying the future of rugby in those countries. there needs to be either some sort of rule change where if you try out for another country, but miss the cut, you can still play for your home union, or perhaps only let players that are born within your own borders play for the country. I recall England had to cancel a trip to the south pacific recently because the island unions couldnt afford to put up the players traveling, because the IRB states that the home unions must pay for the team on tour. the IRB needs to seriously do something or risk seeing these pacific island nations not play rugby anymore. i mean its a shame that a lot of pacific islanders arent playing in the RWC right now because teams in wales, england, and france wont release them. there needs to be something done

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