The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

I'm aware Just saying he was very good and was unlucky not to get a call. You guys are so sensitive when it comes to some banter. We all know there are always several Southern Hem players in each Northern Hemisphere international team. Doesn't really matter at the end of the day, but it does amuse me how people react when I point out that the quality of game and player here is superior. Especially when you consider this is perhaps the worst Australian and South African teams in the last 15-20 years.

I remember my friends and the media over there trying to bait me for the entirety of the Lions Tour in 09. We only lost when giving the reserves a run out in the final game. The level of bitter and twistedness was unbelievable.

Mr pot meet mr kettle.

[Zapater]

Mr pot meet mr kettle.

The day the majority of the players and coaches in Super Rugby are British, Irish or French and I contest that our players are still better you may have a leg to stand on.

You bite?

[Buzzo]

The day the majority of the players and coaches in Super Rugby are British, Irish or French and I contest that our players are still better you may have a leg to stand on.

You bite?

Theres nothing to bite on. You beat us fair and square at the weekend. You were crying when you felt Farrell had got away with one, and I've lost all sympathy.

You obviously want some deference to admit that Southern Hem Rugby is all conquering, but remember other people are as proud of their teams, heritage and history as you are of yours.

No one likes a bad winner

[Irishnev]

Theres nothing to bite on. You beat us fair and square at the weekend. You were crying when you felt Farrell had got away with one, and I've lost all sympathy.

You obviously want some deference to admit that Southern Hem Rugby is all conquering, but remember other people are as proud of their teams, heritage and history as you are of yours.

No one likes a bad winner

**** the lot of ye useless *******s, we just beat the All Blacks

[Buzzo]

**** the lot of ye useless *******s, we just beat the All Blacks

'Again', you beat the All Blacks again...! You lot dont even know how to be arrogant properly

Yeah, you lot are alright, I can handle the Irish winning. You guys get it. You understand.

[dom9]

****ing colonials.

[Irishnev]

'Again', you beat the All Blacks again...! You lot dont even know how to be arrogant properly

Yeah, you lot are alright, I can handle the Irish winning. You guys get it. You understand.

we are too humble Buzzo, just not used to winning enough!

[Cormack74]

Just to be clear head on head is red every time - never yellow, regardless of what fans might think the sanction should be. Post match citing or otherwise if it had been seen during the game SA would have been playing with 14 from 33 mins in.

[Buzzo]

Just to be clear head on head is red every time - never yellow, regardless of what fans might think the sanction should be. Post match citing or otherwise if it had been seen during the game SA would have been playing with 14 from 33 mins in.

Its sets a dangerous precedent to do anything else. It is a surprise it wasn't cited, because it will be used in the future as an example.

(I'm sure we can expect Zapater to flip flop on the issue depending on which side of the decision SA end up )

[RichC]

Just to be clear head on head is red every time - never yellow, regardless of what fans might think the sanction should be. Post match citing or otherwise if it had been seen during the game SA would have been playing with 14 from 33 mins in.

Exactly this

[Buzzo]

Total Northern Hemisphere agreement

Just listening to the BBC Rugby Union podcast with Ugo Monye and Chris Jones, which I always think deals an even hand to all the home nations.

They mention that all the North/South Hem (Tier 1) Test matches have been decided by less than 7 points.

Bodes well for a storming WC.

[RichC]

Good mate of mine is a Kiwi (cross he needs to bare) he's really concerned that the Irish have their number at the moment and have been great a nullifying their attacking plays.

The ABs for me are still the best side in the world but beyond that you've got to start looking at the Northern Hemisphere for the sides most likely to challenge (with Ireland at the forefront).

If the Kiwis don't win the WC I'd expect the side that wins it to be more likely from our side of the world than SA or Aus.

[Buzzo]

Good mate of mine is a Kiwi (cross he needs to bare) he's really concerned that the Irish have their number at the moment and have been great a nullifying their attacking plays.

The ABs for me are still the best side in the world but beyond that you've got to start looking at the Northern Hemisphere for the sides most likely to challenge (with Ireland at the forefront).

If the Kiwis don't win the WC I'd expect the side that wins it to be more likely from our side of the world than SA or Aus.

I'd agree with that, and the top two are a little bit ahead of the rest of the rest of the pack. I'd say we have most ground to move up, England are a real unknown quantity again, with more questions than answers on some selctions (Cipriani been dealt a harsh hand by Jones), the Welsh are confident, but only 12 months ago were in turmoil. Lots of teams capable of beating the others on a good day though.

Will be interesting to see what shape the home nations are in after the 6 nations where there isn't room for all of us to have a good tournament. And we also know there will be a lot of injuries in the run in to the end of the season.

All of that without mentioning the French..!

[Zapater]

We all see what we want to see.

The hilarity of irony. I've heaped praise on opposition (excluding England) and admitted that the Boks have been pretty poor. Threw away the England game, fortunate to pull the France game out of the fire and could have ended up throwing away a tight game in Scotland. Yet, the post about the Willie incident in the heat of the moment dictates the last page of this thread.

Guess you see what you want too.

Theres nothing to bite on. You beat us fair and square at the weekend. You were crying when you felt Farrell had got away with one, and I've lost all sympathy.

You obviously want some deference to admit that Southern Hem Rugby is all conquering, but remember other people are as proud of their teams, heritage and history as you are of yours.

No one likes a bad winner

Also, I suppose it'd be a good tour if we beat Wales, if we lose there's no way this could be considered a forgone conclusion given the nature of performances. Most people here are pretty disappointed that we didn't run over France and Scotland.

I don't really want any sympathy, it's irrelevant, but the whole of world rugby excluding some die hard England patriots have labelled that Farrell incident a shocker. Pointless going on about it any further. It's in the book.

The Southern Hemisphere is 'all conquering' to use your expression. There's a reason that all of the World Cup winners excluding the one are from here. Even Argentina fare favourably generally. Despite weaker teams (SA and Aus) than usual that pedigree makes a difference.

**** the lot of ye useless *******s, we just beat the All Blacks

And well deserved, excellent performance.

Good mate of mine is a Kiwi (cross he needs to bare) he's really concerned that the Irish have their number at the moment and have been great a nullifying their attacking plays.

The ABs for me are still the best side in the world but beyond that you've got to start looking at the Northern Hemisphere for the sides most likely to challenge (with Ireland at the forefront).

If the Kiwis don't win the WC I'd expect the side that wins it to be more likely from our side of the world than SA or Aus.

NZ are still head and shoulders above the rest. Not too much in it otherwise. I think Ireland, South Africa and Australia have pretty equal chances. Even in the previous WC where both teams were pretty disastrous they finished 2nd and 3rd.

Ireland have generally had the wood over us away and not really posed too much of a threat in competition. They'll get a lot of confidence with these results over NZ but in Japan it will be different. I feel that the AB's have regressed/stagnated a little due to lack of competition. Kind of like the PSG thing. I think it leads to the rest of the mere mortals having a chance. Even some of the Championship games were close. Regardless, the truth of the matter is that all the other teams have to play a close to perfect game to win where NZ can play a poor game and often win. It's not impossible, but I would be surprised if England, Wales or Scotland mounted a serious challenge.

France are always interesting, a couple of young/promising players like Damian Penaud coming through. They don't have the huge inspirational figures or game breakers like Fredie Michalak, Yannick Jauzion, Thierry Dusautoir or Vincent Clerc - but I do always enjoy French rugby and they do love a WC.

[Buzzo]

The hilarity of irony. I've heaped praise on opposition (excluding England) and admitted that the Boks have been pretty poor. Threw away the England game, fortunate to pull the France game out of the fire and could have ended up throwing away a tight game in Scotland. Yet, the post about the Willie incident in the heat of the moment dictates the last page of this thread.

Guess you see what you want too.

Also, I suppose it'd be a good tour if we beat Wales, if we lose there's no way this could be considered a forgone conclusion given the nature of performances. Most people here are pretty disappointed that we didn't run over France and Scotland.

Hey, thats my point...!!!

We were all equally dissapointed we didn't beat you, but thats the nature of us supporting different teams... right?

FWIW - I am enjoying the page long Rugby discussion, its normally deadly quiet in here...! I'm definitely not trying to antagonise. Though... To be a pedant, the initial point was that you didn't feel you got any decisions in the NH

If you beat Wales, you will have had a great tour

They sound like they are well up for it though.