The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

Only Northern Hemisphere team to beat the southerners today. Great display by the Bhoys!

Ireland 29-15 South Africa

Joe Schmidt’s Ireland recorded a shock 29-15 victory over South Africa at the Aviva Stadium, with an awesome display against the world’s No 2 ranked team.

Excellent result, congrats to the Paddies!!

[pharvey]

Well, another round of the Autumn Internationals is upon us, with a few interesting tussles on the cards……

Ireland vs Australia

The Paddies with a superb victory over the Bokke last weekend have a fantastic chance of “doing the double” over southern hemisphere rugby against a miss-firing “Crims” side. All looking good for the 6 Nations for the Guinness Swillers.

England vs Samoa

Beelzibub’s XV take on the anorexically challenged southern islanders in what should be a 1st victory in 6 games for the rose lovers playing in front of a home crowd at “HQ” (rah, rah Twickers with a bally, bally ho!!)……… Although, wouldn’t it be a giggle if they went onto 6 consecutive defeats (I’d have a snifter of Champers over that)!!

Scotland vs Tonga

Tonga like Samoa and Fiji being another of the “Un-smalls” will certainly give the “Sweaties” a match to remember, and a few stiff bodies for Sunday brunch at the local “Neck-it or Wear-it” in Edinburgh come the next morn… But the closed wallet loving northerners have to be comfortable favorites on the scoreboard.

Wales vs New Zealand….. AND you know I’m biased!!

Ahhh… God’s Own vs The Balackness once again!! It makes bad reading for us daffodil wearing delights, as unlike our extremely fortunate, unskillful and quite frankly un-aesthetically pleasing rugby playing European cousins, we have a pretty dire record against the Southern Hemisphere sides…..

On The Blackness from the BBC: -

"There was a time, shortly after World War Two, when Wales' record against the All Blacks was something to make the nation proud: a 75% win-rate, only one defeat in half a century to the men in black.
And then the next 61 years happened. There are bad runs in sport, ghastly hoodoos impermeable to passing years or pity, and there is Wales against New Zealand since 1953.
Played 25, lost 25".

It’s not clever………

And 1 for you Pete….

USA vs Fiji

Fiji I think will have too much power for our “We’ll sue all if we lose” dearest cousins from across the pond, but actually I think this could be a really good game of rugby – I for one shall be supporting the “Eagles”.

This Weekend's Fixtures: -

22-rugby.JPG (27.55 KiB) Viewed 732 times

Best place for online viewing - http://www.wiziwig.tv/competition.php?p ... line=rugby

[EDIT] Times shown - UK kick-off

[pharvey]

WALES 3 vs Blackness 0....... BLOW-UP REF!!!!!! Forget the next 74 mins!!!!

[dtaai-maai]

England v Samoa

Apart from the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half, I spent the game watching the Twickenham grass grow. A comfortable win, but an extremely uninspiring performance by England.

Wales v NZ

A different game altogether. Passion, commitment and speed, albeit combined with far too many Welsh errors, and North was below par. They looked like they might do it until the last 15 minutes, but I think everyone watching was probably waiting for NZ to turn it on and, boy, did they turn it on.

It turned into a bit of a rout in the end. A shame for Wales, but you have to give credit to the best team in the world.

[JimmyGreaves]

Ireland 26-23 Australia

What a game, Ireland 17-0 up in 15 minutes. 20 - 20 at half time, both teams throwing the ball around.

Second half Ireland play defensively brilliant and play for territory, Aussies play the same as the first half. Irelands tactics succeed

Ireland look good and have strength in depth. Roll on the six nations. England & France at home. Wales, Scotland & Italy away. The Scotland game will be decisive

[pharvey]

Wales v NZ

A different game altogether. Passion, commitment and speed, albeit combined with far too many Welsh errors, and North was below par. They looked like they might do it until the last 15 minutes, but I think everyone watching was probably waiting for NZ to turn it on and, boy, did they turn it on.

It turned into a bit of a rout in the end. A shame for Wales, but you have to give credit to the best team in the world.

Absolutely *&*%$^& Gutted!!

Great performance by Wales for 65 minutes at least, and (OK I'm biased) the final scoreline really didn't reflect the game...
Way too many mistakes by Wales, losing Rhys Webb to injury and some truly bizarre substitutions by Gatland at the 65 minute mark condemned us to yet another bl00dy defeat to the Blackness.....

Then again they're number 1 in the world and we simply aren't.....

Now we need to pick ourselves up for the visit of the Jaarpies next weekend...... nothing like an easy few weeks of rugby!!

Far play to Ireland - another big win over southern hemisphere opposition

[pharvey]

God's Own have picked themselves up and we take on the Jaarpies at the Millenium Stadium later today..... Whilst Beelzibub's XV look for a second win against the Crims at HQ (Rah, rah..... with a Bally, Bally Ho!!).

Wales lose a couple of players to club duty as this game falls outside the IRB's window for "friendlies" and or tour matches, and also lose George North to injury - however still put out a strong side. The Jaarpies as ever put out a forward pack to batter/bruise/intimidate the opposition and a back-line that will have no difficulty in using the ball!! Wales of course have been lulling the "Tier 1" sides into a false sense of security prior to to the forthcoming Rugby World Cup, however public pressure in God's country now means we need to win a game against a southern hemisphere side........

The "Angels of Wales" shall therefore take the Bokke by 5 odd points...... we neither want to give too much away (before the RWC) or embarrass our South-African friends!!

TWICKERS!!! Well, HQ (rah, rah) has seen some famous wins against southern hemisphere opposition - but on this occasions, I'm betting on (not being biased) a "Crim Win". The antipodes didn't fire on all cylinders against Ireland (no offence to the pick and spade brigade), but I think will bounce back against the Rah Rah Gang.

Could be a couple of great matches...... well, I'm being positive for England ( ) and can be found here for those who don't have access to Sat TV etc...: -

http://cricfree.tv/live/live_rugby_streaming

[arcadianagain]

Well Pharvey, it`s not often you`re right but you`re wrong again!!!! Toodle pip.

[pharvey]

Well Pharvey, it`s not often you`re right but you`re wrong again!!!! Toodle pip.

Yeah, yeah...... Fair play to England, a good win over Australia - Now bring on the 6 Nations!!

Also a good (and deserved) victory for God's Own over South Africa - despite trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the dying minutes....

Makes the RWC next year all the more interesting with Beelzibub's, God's Own and The Crims all in the same Group!!

[JimmyGreaves]

Well done Wales, thought that last minute scrum on your line would spoil your day but a really good tactical display got you over the line. Not sure about the sin bin.

[pharvey]

^ Have to admit I was having kittens in the final minutes and thought history was going to be repeating itself with Wales falling at the last hurdle.....

I guess strictly under the laws of the game it was a yellow card, making contact when the guy was in the air - but certainly no malicious intent and a harsh sin binning.

[pharvey]

Pales in comparison to some Wendyballer's salaries (or indeed Sky Sports commentators!!), but a hell of a deal by Rugby union standards. Far play to the guy - is a world class player and deserves to end his career with a rather nice pay day!!
The buying power of these French clubs in comparison to other nations is mind-blowing - although I certainly don't think the influx of foreign stars does French rugby any favours.........

"World rugby's leading points scorer Dan Carter will end his international career after the 2015 World Cup to become the sport's highest-paid player.
The 32-year-old New Zealand fly-half will join wealthy French side Racing Metro on a three-year contract.
It effectively brings an end to his All Black career as New Zealand do not select those playing overseas.
"It will be an awesome adventure," said Carter, who will earn a reported 1.5m euros (£790,000) per year."

[Big Boy]

A Poem for old rugby players...........

When the battle scars have faded
And the truth becomes a lie
And the weekend smell of liniment
Could almost make you cry.

When the last rucks well behind you
And the man that ran now walks
It doesn’t matter who you are
The mirror sometimes talks

Have a good hard look old son!
The melons not that great
The snoz that takes a sharp turn sideways
Used to be dead straight

You’re an advert for arthritis
You’re a thoroughbred gone lame
Then you ask yourself the question
Why the hell you played the game?

Was there logic in the head knocks?
In the corks and in the cuts?
Did common sense get pushed aside?
By manliness and guts?

Do you sometimes sit and wonder
Why your time would often pass
In a tangled mess of bodies
With your head up someone’s......?

With a thumb hooked up your nostril
Scratching gently on your brain
And an overgrown Neanderthal
Rejoicing in your pain!

Mate – you must recall the jersey
That was shredded into rags
Then the soothing sting of Dettol
On a back engraved with tags!

It’s almost worth admitting
Though with some degree of shame
That your wife was right in asking
Why the hell you played the game?

Why you’d always rock home legless
Like a cow on roller skates
After drinking at the clubhouse
With your low down drunken mates

Then you’d wake up – check your wallet
Not a solitary coin
Drink Berocca by the bucket
Throw an ice pack on your groin

Copping Sunday morning sermons
About boozers being losers
While you limped like Quasimodo
With a half a thousand bruises!

Yes – an urge to hug the porcelain
And curse Sambuca’s name
Would always pose the question
Why the hell you played the game!

And yet with every wound re-opened
As you grimly reminisce it
Comes the most compelling feeling yet
God, you bloody miss it!

From the first time that you laced a boot
And tightened every stud
That virus known as rugby
Has been living in your blood

When you dreamt it when you played it
All the rest took second fiddle
Now you’re standing on the sideline
But your hearts still in the middle

And no matter where you travel
You can take it as expected
There will always be a breed of people
Hopelessly infected

If there’s a teammate, then you’ll find him
Like a gravitating force
With a common understanding
And a beer or three, of course

And as you stand there telling lies
Like it was yesterday old friend
You’ll know that if you had the chance
You’d do it all again

You see – that’s the thing with rugby
It will always be the same
And that, I guarantee
Is why the hell you played the game!

[richard]

Too true

[pharvey]

Love it BB - superb...... and as Richard says, all too true. I still have nightmares with my brother's attempt at a "Flaming Sambuca" on rugby tour to France.....