Wilko!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TelePaul]

Alright mate! How's the rugger?? Our first game was dodge city.

[Crumbles]

speak English English

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by watermelon

speak English English

Alright mate! = Hello my friend

Hows the rugger? = How is the game of rugby?

Our first game was dodge city = Are first game of rugby went poorly

[wilko]

Hi Telepaul,

The whole of NZ is holding its breath. Didn't the yanks do well against England but they lost to Tonga? And the Frogs got stuffed by the Pumas in the first game! Woohoo! We have Portugal next and we are putting out the "b" team to reduce injuries. What about Vickery and Burger getting suspended? That won't do the Boks or the Poms any favours eh?

Wales V Aus will be interesting. How are are the Taffs? They looking good? When do you play Argentina?

Wilko

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by wilko

Hi Telepaul,

The whole of NZ is holding its breath. Didn't the yanks do well against England but they lost to Tonga? And the Frogs got stuffed by the Pumas in the first game! Woohoo! We have Portugal next and we are putting out the "b" team to reduce injuries. What about Vickery and Burger getting suspended? That won't do the Boks or the Poms any favours eh?

Wales V Aus will be interesting. How are are the Taffs? They looking good? When do you play Argentina?

Wilko

Yeah the Pumas rolling the french was pretty awesome, opening game and all that! Wish we could afford to put out a B side against Georgia, saw them against Argentina and they are a pretty determined side - we've got them on Saturday. Play Pumas on the 30th. I think Wales might get something outta the game if they use their subs like they did in their last game. Did you see Japan V Fiji? They were two stone down per man but played amazingly, were unlucky not to take some points.

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by wilko

Hi Telepaul,

What about Vickery and Burger getting suspended? That won't do the Boks or the Poms any favours eh?

Wilko

Not only that but we're reduced to playing Andy Farrell at stand off. Game over I fear.

Matt Stevens is a more than able replacement for Vickery, but losing your skipper to suspension after one game.... well less said really.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by muttley600

Not only that but we're reduced to playing Andy Farrell at stand off. Game over I fear.

Matt Stevens is a more than able replacement for Vickery, but losing your skipper to suspension after one game.... well less said really.

Is Wilkinson still on the go? All I've heard about him since the last world cup is one injury after another.

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

Is Wilkinson still on the go? All I've heard about him since the last world cup is one injury after another.

Yeh he played in most of the warm ups and then git injured during training. Selection wise Ashton opted to take a semi fit Wilkinson and Ollie Berkley as cover. Berkley got injured during training as well and the best English stand off at present Toby Flood is sitting on his arse back home. I suppose we still have the aging and overrated Mike Catt to fill any gaps in the backs.

Not that it would make much difference as England are pants at the moment anyway. Being from good Irish stock I'll be cheering for you guys after England are on their way home.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by muttley600

Yeh he played in most of the warm ups and then git injured during training. Selection wise Ashton opted to take a semi fit Wilkinson and Ollie Berkley as cover. Berkley got injured during training as well and the best English stand off at present Toby Flood is sitting on his arse back home. I suppose we still have the aging and overrated Mike Catt to fill any gaps in the backs.

Not that it would make much difference as England are pants at the moment anyway. Being from good Irish stock I'll be cheering for you guys after England are on their way home.

It's a strange one, I heard he had rib injuries, knee injuries, adductor injury, stinger injury, leg injury, appendix problems, pneumonia....I mean he went from winning the final of the last World Cup almost single handedly to obscurity. I don't think much of Martin Johnson but England aint been the same since he was with them. Cool you're cheering for the Irish though, we're really gonna need it!

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

It's a strange one, I heard he had rib injuries, knee injuries, adductor injury, stinger injury, leg injury, appendix problems, pneumonia....I mean he went from winning the final of the last World Cup almost single handedly to obscurity. I don't think much of Martin Johnson but England aint been the same since he was with them. Cool you're cheering for the Irish though, we're really gonna need it!

Martin Johnson was awesome. He would have made any world XVI over the last ten years. Wilkinson although a great kicker from hand or ground was overrated as a number 10. Will Greenwood called all the plays in that last great England side. Not saying Wlikinson was bad just that he played behind a very good pack with a great reader of the game outside him in the centres.

You boys should have done better over the last few years with the strength of your backs. Lets hope they can get it together for the rest of this tournament because it's likely the last time you'll see the likes of Horan, O'Gara and his mates. Whats happened to O'Driscoll is he fit?

Still think it's down to the All Blacks to lose this one. I really can't see anyone getting close to em.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by muttley600

You boys should have done better over the last few years with the strength of your backs. Lets hope they can get it together for the rest of this tournament because it's likely the last time you'll see the likes of Horan, O'Gara and his mates. Whats happened to O'Driscoll is he fit?

Still think it's down to the All Blacks to lose this one. I really can't see anyone getting close to em.

I's weird. O' Driscoll (Drico) has been talked up an awful lot. I don't even recall exactly how it came about, he scored three tries against France in a 6 nations match and from then on he was considered the best centre in the game.

I'm honestly not sure as to whether he's living up to it - there was that nasty incident with Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu and after that he's kinda been keeping a low profile as a play maker and scorer....but I suppose he does quite a bit being captain and stuff. ROG is great when he's on form, as is Hickie, Darcy, Horgan - you're right, we've a phenomenal back line and the pack is pretty much the Munster pack. So I'd like to see us steam roll Georgia to boost our confidence for France and the Pumas....if we finish second we face the all blacks right???

[TelePaul]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtNzJHYrGzg

There's the link....shocking stuff.

[wilko]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtNzJHYrGzg

There's the link....shocking stuff.

I can't see this from work. Is it the famous spear tackle incident?

I don't think the All Blacks are a dead cert for this. We are famous for choking in the Semis or quarters... I reckon we are the best on paper but the squad is under enormous pressure to bring the cup back.

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtNzJHYrGzg

There's the link....shocking stuff.

I remember that well. How anyone can say that wasn't a deliberate spear tackle is still beyond me!

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by wilko

I don't think the All Blacks are a dead cert for this. We are famous for choking in the Semis or quarters... I reckon we are the best on paper but the squad is under enormous pressure to bring the cup back.

I just can't see anyone getting close this time. The All Blacks can only lose it from here as I see it. They are by far and away the best side around and have been for two years. PLEASE don't let the Wallabies in again

[wilko]

Originally Posted by muttley600

I just can't see anyone getting close this time. The All Blacks can only lose it from here as I see it. They are by far and away the best side around and have been for two years. PLEASE don't let the Wallabies in again

I will be very upset if the Wallabies beat us. They did win one against us in this year's tri-nations. Yeah I agree that the AB's are the best side and all the players have had test experience because of Henry's rotation policy. But that means we have a lot of young'uns with immense pressure on them.

I hope they pull through.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by wilko

I will be very upset if the Wallabies beat us. They did win one against us in this year's tri-nations. Yeah I agree that the AB's are the best side and all the players have had test experience because of Henry's rotation policy. But that means we have a lot of young'uns with immense pressure on them.

I hope they pull through.

That's an interesting point. Do you think that, if they get to the semis, that pressure incurred by the scope and status of the competition will get to the younger players?

[wilko]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

That's an interesting point. Do you think that, if they get to the semis, that pressure incurred by the scope and status of the competition will get to the younger players?

Yes I think it is possible. I think that is why Henry's rotation policy was a very good move. All the players have had top level test experience and have all played with each other (fnarr..fnarr). We also have a complete squad (although we might have a locking problem due to injury) but every player in the squad is world standard and has played at that level. On paper we should do it. BUT, the atmosphere in New Zealand is intense, almost as if everyone is not paying much attention until the playoffs. By a quirk, the All Blacks seem to have been landed in the easiest pool as France has discovered - losing that game to Argentina.

But the All Blacks are known as chokers, particularly in the play offs, and you can never underestimate the Boks, the Wallabies, France. With all due respect, I don't think Ireland or Wales are a match.. but you never know. I believe that Henry has got the ABs all in the frame of mind to win. If we don't there will be serious hell to pay in NZ. I believe we are fielding one of the best teams ever in rugby.... but I still have butterflies in me tum!

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by wilko

respect, I don't think Ireland or Wales are a match..

But France are? You sir, have offended my honour, and I demand satisfaction. I choose pistols at dawn.

Here's how it's gonna go down. Ireland will beat Argentina, and lose to France, thus finishing second in the group. We will then play the All Blacks and, although we will play like a team of men with hearts the size of fucking trains, we will lose to a technically better side.

On the other hand, I have 50 quid on Ireland to win the whole thing, so I'm secretly confident....

[wilko]

Originally Posted by 32-20-Blues

But France are? You sir, have offended my honour, and I demand satisfaction. I choose pistols at dawn.

Here's how it's gonna go down. Ireland will beat Argentina, and lose to France, thus finishing second in the group. We will then play the All Blacks and, although we will play like a team of men with hearts the size of fucking trains, we will lose to a technically better side.

On the other hand, I have 50 quid on Ireland to win the whole thing, so I'm secretly confident....

Err... yeah.. what was I thinking. England 0 Boks 36? The last time England got 0 points in a test match was 102 years ago... HOw could they plummet from being world cup holder to absolute crap in 4 years?

I dunno. Argentina beat France. You can too. This competition has proved interesting already. The ABs are playing Portugal in an hour and a half..... The ABs have been told to take it easy....

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by wilko

Err... yeah.. what was I thinking. England 0 Boks 36? The last time England got 0 points in a test match was 102 years ago... HOw could they plummet from being world cup holder to absolute crap in 4 years?

I dunno. Argentina beat France. You can too. This competition has proved interesting already. The ABs are playing Portugal in an hour and a half..... The ABs have been told to take it easy....

Another shocking performance, another shakey win for us. They were told to take it easy? Weren't you guys something like 90-13 up and one of your try scorers side-stepped the last portuguese man so he could place it between the posts?

[wilko]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

Another shocking performance, another shakey win for us. They were told to take it easy? Weren't you guys something like 90-13 up and one of your try scorers side-stepped the last portuguese man so he could place it between the posts?

It was a slaughter. The Portuguese played with passion but ran out of gas after 20 mins. It became try fest after that. The final score was 108 - 18, I think. The ABs were just fitter, stonger and faster.

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by wilko

It was a slaughter. The Portuguese played with passion but ran out of gas after 20 mins. It became try fest after that. The final score was 108 - 18, I think. The ABs were just fitter, stonger and faster.

Congrats on the result, it was awesome rugby to watch, simply inspiring.

You heard we just scraped a 14-10 victory over Georgia, right? Just warming up, boys, we're just warming up.

On a serious note, everyone here is calling for our coach's resignation, and the country is in uproar after our poor performances. O'Sullivan also shot himself in the foot royally - he's not gonna get the job of Lions coach after this debacle.

I'm watching the France v Namibia game tonight, just to see what we're up against.

Btw, Wilko, have you heard of Brent Pope? I think he's one of your guys. He's a pundit over here now, and made the interesting point that what little American interest there is in the game is ruining the sport. Apparently, the US networks refused to pay for TV rights unless rucking was 'cleaned up' for the benefit of sensitive American viewers. Hence, no more raking with feet for the ball... I thought it was interesting stuff.

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by wilko

The last time England got 0 points in a test match was 102 years ago... HOw could they plummet from being world cup holder to absolute crap in 4 years?

Well, I like to think we helped them on their way by whupping them 43-13 in Croke Park in February.

On a serious note, it just shws what happens when you rely too much on one (merely mortal) player

[wilko]

Originally Posted by 32-20-Blues

Well, I like to think we helped them on their way by whupping them 43-13 in Croke Park in February.

On a serious note, it just shws what happens when you rely too much on one (merely mortal) player

Yep - that win at Croke Park was very important. So you only squeezed by against Georgia?

Rumour has it that the French strip is a darker blue than normal. This is because, if they meet the SBs in the final, the ABs will have to wear a white strip.

The Portugal game was an opposed training session. What tickled me though, was that after the match the ABs and the Portuguese went back out on the field and played touch rugby and soccer together. That is the true spirit of this competititon.