RUGBY, the thread.

[Lootifer]

England need the support of the rest of GB to really shine, sure they might be OK, but i'm 99% sure of a NZ v Auzzie final.

[betiko]

One of the Australian rugby websites is called rugbyheaven. Rugby is the game they play in heaven. As a staunch kiwi I have to point out that the french can beat the all blacks when it matters. AB's vs lay blues + blood nut welsh sheep felching ref = 95% of NZ suicidal, then homicidal.
Ok, after crying about the ref(who was the 16th man on the field for the french). The AB's didn't deserve to play that game, they were playing like an australian under 7s female wheelchair touch team. yes it says a lot about my petty nature and small minded obsessive character that even after winning the last world cup, am still filthy about losing in the semi's of the one before that to the french.
not the best chabal clip, but still gets the message across


Do we need a thread for League? With the League world cup on atm. NOTICE TO AMERICANS a world cup that actually has multiple nations in it. Baseball "world" series anyone?

Anyone fancy the pommies in the League? I reckon they are over rated.

so you're mad about 2007 but not 1999? that was a hell of a match!
Funny thing about chabal is that he isn't really a good player, but he is really iconic and his looks are just awesome. he just retired last week by the way.
how about that penalty at the end of the 2011 final with 5 minutes to go that we didn't get? you won that final by an flea anus.

[smegal69]

Lets not go down this path. As someone who enjoys both games (Rugby and NFL) they both have awesome bits and weak bits. Though they could waste a little less time in NFL.

while an nfl game could be interesting; it lasts way too long for me to watch, and the timezones make it very difficult to try and follow the sport for a european. never got into it.
I've watched a bit of superbowls, but each time just a part of the first half. can't stand those half time shows and it's way too late by then.

Rugby also has it entertainment shows....... Betiko can you fill us in what they are doing in Number 2?
[YouTube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go-PyPgZbi0#t=100[/YouTube]

Kiwi's first in the world at Rugby and Tossing Small folk

[betiko]

loool!
"nz has a long history of entertainement involving errr.... smaller members of the community don't they? because didn't they invent.... (gesticulations) ... throwing?" Politically correctness is such bullshit. It's ok to make a halftime show where you make fun of a midget, it's ok to call midget tossing entertainment... but don't you dare pronounce the word MIDGET, cause you know,it's offensive!!!! fucking bullshit society.

[betiko]

So what happened to England???

[Lootifer]

/like!

[betiko]

/like!

You kiwis prefer roosters to roses? I wouldn t ve thought so..

[Lootifer]

Depends, when it comes to the world cup the french are the enemy!

But usually it comes down to who we like least rather than preferring one over the other. Most kiwi rugby fans hate the way the english play rugby (though they have improved in recent years) where as the french have always (at least tried to) played expansive rugby.

Generally our pecking order of teams we want to lose are: Australia, SA, England, the rest, NZ

[thegreekdog]

Our fly-half in college was from France. He fit the stereotype too up to and including smoking cigarettes immediately before the game, at half-time, and immediately after the game.

If I remember correctly, our nationalities by position my junior year (when we had an amazing team) were something like this:
- Loosehead prop (American, no prior rugby experience)
- Hooker (American, no prior rugby experience)
- Tighthead prop (me, no prior rugby experience)
- Second Rows (Americans, no prior rugby experience)
- Flankers (Americans, no prior rugby experience)
- Eight Man (American, no prior rugby experience, but a former Marine - baddest guy I ever met)

- Scrum-half (Brazil, rugby experience)
- Fly-half (France, rugby experience)
- Inside Center (American, played rugby in high school)
- Outside Center (American, no prior rugby experience)
- Right Wing (English, rugby experience)
- Left Wing (Brazil, rugby experience)
- Full Back (American, no prior rugby experience)

Good times.

[Lootifer]

I could see Marines making good number 8's.

[betiko]

Huh, brazilians play rugby?? That s news for me. Argentina and Uruguay play rugby, that s for sure, but no one has heard of the brazilian national team, even USA is more known for rugby.

Regarding loot, here in France we have great deal of respect for the all blacks, it s like if you guys weren t humans for us, and beating you is acomplishing something impossible.

Our biggest rivalry in rugby: england, england and england. There is no rivalry with any other team. That s the only moment of the year where you hear a lot of anti-english stuff here, even if it s more for jest than anything serious.
I know i personally have something against argentina, because they aren t supposed to be better yet they kick our ass way too often lately.

[thegreekdog]

Huh, brazilians play rugby?? That s news for me. Argentina and Uruguay play rugby, that s for sure, but no one has heard of the brazilian national team, even USA is more known for rugby.

Regarding loot, here in France we have great deal of respect for the all blacks, it s like if you guys weren t humans for us, and beating you is acomplishing something impossible.

Our biggest rivalry in rugby: england, england and england. There is no rivalry with any other team. That s the only moment of the year where you hear a lot of anti-english stuff here, even if it s more for jest than anything serious.
I know i personally have something against argentina, because they aren t supposed to be better yet they kick our ass way too often lately.

They were definitely from Brazil (not Argentina) because they spoke Portugese.

[thegreekdog]

I could see Marines making good number 8's.

Well, it helped that he was like 25, so older than the rest of us college kids and a freaking giant.

[betiko]

I m not saying tgd, just that they definitely aren t from a country with rugby culture. Just saying there is more rugby culture in the USA than in Brasil, and it s strange that 2 of the most experienced were brazilian.

[thegreekdog]

I m not saying tgd, just that they definitely aren t from a country with rugby culture. Just saying there is more rugby culture in the USA than in Brasil, and it s strange that 2 of the most experienced were brazilian.

Really? Interesting. Never knew that. The scrum-half used to yell at us in Portugese, with the occasional "Fucking Forwards" in English. He was an interesting guy. What's the quote? "Rugby is a beastly game played by gentlemen; soccer is a gentlemen's game played by beasts."

Alright, I'll stop derailing your thread.

[Lootifer]

I m not saying tgd, just that they definitely aren t from a country with rugby culture. Just saying there is more rugby culture in the USA than in Brasil, and it s strange that 2 of the most experienced were brazilian.

Really? Interesting. Never knew that. The scrum-half used to yell at us in Portugese, with the occasional "Fucking Forwards" in English. He was an interesting guy. What's the quote? "Rugby is a beastly game played by gentlemen; soccer is a gentlemen's game played by beasts."

Alright, I'll stop derailing your thread.

Brazil is definitely not known for its Rugby. Portugal play a bit, and as Betiko points out Argies are a top 10 rugby nation.

Anyone below, say, Portugal/Spain is effectively "Does not play rugby":
http://www.irb.com/rankings/sportid=1/r ... index.html

[Trevor33]

ESPN show the games now in S. America and with more immigration it's possible interest will raise there.

[Lootifer]

Summer olympics having sevens will raise the profile as well I imagine.

[mrswdk]

I m not saying tgd, just that they definitely aren t from a country with rugby culture. Just saying there is more rugby culture in the USA than in Brasil, and it s strange that 2 of the most experienced were brazilian.

Really? Interesting. Never knew that. The scrum-half used to yell at us in Portugese, with the occasional "Fucking Forwards" in English. He was an interesting guy. What's the quote? "Rugby is a beastly game played by gentlemen; soccer is a gentlemen's game played by beasts."

Alright, I'll stop derailing your thread.

I believe it's 'a thugs' game played by gentlemen' and vice versa. 'Beasts' would be funny though.

[betiko]

the rugby thread was just to big to post in it? viewtopic.php?f=8&t=195900


I hope we kick it'aly's ass today, how embarassing was last year...

Anymore posts and I thought it might implode.

There's something about the French and rugby, they look pretty poor on paper like last year but I have a feeling the last game with Ireland will decide the title... you know what that means, right? We never win against France when it matters.

Next games are massive, if Ireland and France win away to England and Wales it'll be a last day grand slam decider. Wales were so bad against Ireland and Italy, really can't see France not beating them.

I honestly think ireland are favorites. We might have won our 2 first games, but not being really impressive. Wales sucks this year? I don't know, I think things are looking good for Ireland, but who knows, england might stick back to the race. Given how poor we were last year, I don't take for granted vctories against wales and scotland.

[iAmCaffeine]

Our biggest rivalry in rugby: england, england and england. There is no rivalry with any other team. That s the only moment of the year where you hear a lot of anti-english stuff here, even if it s more for jest than anything serious.
I know i personally have something against argentina, because they aren t supposed to be better yet they kick our ass way too often lately.

The majority of international teams have a petty need to beat England.

Also, not a bad loss to France considering our new and improving players, then a lovely 20-0 drubbing of Scotland. Plus Ireland stuffed Wales, yes! I think the Six Nations is Ireland's or England's to win, but I'd tip Ireland. I care about Wales getting battered as much as possible more than anything, just to prove the Lions team should not have been based around them, as they were not the best UK/Ireland team last year.

[betiko]

Our biggest rivalry in rugby: england, england and england. There is no rivalry with any other team. That s the only moment of the year where you hear a lot of anti-english stuff here, even if it s more for jest than anything serious.
I know i personally have something against argentina, because they aren t supposed to be better yet they kick our ass way too often lately.

The majority of international teams have a petty need to beat England.

Also, not a bad loss to France considering our new and improving players, then a lovely 20-0 drubbing of Scotland. Plus Ireland stuffed Wales, yes! I think the Six Nations is Ireland's or England's to win, but I'd tip Ireland. I care about Wales getting battered as much as possible more than anything, just to prove the Lions team should not have been based around them, as they were not the best UK/Ireland team last year.

so France doesn't make it to the top of your list in terms of rivalry? France and England are by far the most successfull teams i the past 30 years or so in the 5/6 nations.
Also there is a friendship of several centuries with the Scrotts to fight the English for us.

[Trevor33]

Our biggest rivalry in rugby: england, england and england. There is no rivalry with any other team. That s the only moment of the year where you hear a lot of anti-english stuff here, even if it s more for jest than anything serious.
I know i personally have something against argentina, because they aren t supposed to be better yet they kick our ass way too often lately.

The majority of international teams have a petty need to beat England.

Also, not a bad loss to France considering our new and improving players, then a lovely 20-0 drubbing of Scotland. Plus Ireland stuffed Wales, yes! I think the Six Nations is Ireland's or England's to win, but I'd tip Ireland. I care about Wales getting battered as much as possible more than anything, just to prove the Lions team should not have been based around them, as they were not the best UK/Ireland team last year.

For sure there was a couple of bad calls in terms of players not being picked that were individually better but the best 15 guys don;t always make the best team, they need to click and the Lions while not having some of the better players playing clicked and played one of the best Lions tours ever. Plus look at Wales these past two games and tell me they don't look burned out from to many games... for sure 2-3 more Irishmen should have made the team and a couple more that didn't even make the squad but every Irish person would trade it any day for another 6 nations title.

They have a point to prove for not being picked and it showed against Wales. Hopefully against England as well but that will be harder although we do have a better team.

With Wales just beating Italy and getting hammered by Ireland even if they win their next 3 games they probably won't win the title, especially if Ireland win another couple. Points difference is already to high. If Ireland do lose one you can bet your ass it won't be by more that 10 points. That's why I hope Wales beat France, for me an Ireland win over England or France would then be enough.

But we've messed it up before from better positions, especially against France so I won't be celebrating until it's won even if Wales do beat France and Ireland beat England. We've beaten England so much over the past 10 years that it's lost something, France though is a different story.

Ask most Irish Rugby fans before the tournament and they would have said they'd rather Ireland beat Wales more than anyone, then France and then England.

[Lootifer]

I care about Wales getting battered as much as possible more than anything, just to prove the Lions team should not have been based around them, as they were not the best UK/Ireland team last year.

I'd agree with you if it wasnt for the fact that the Aussie/Lions series last year was one of the greats.

I seldom follow the Lions when they tour anywhere other than NZ, but I found myself more involved in the Aussie/Lions saga than the quad-nations (or rugby championship or whatever its called now).

[iAmCaffeine]

Our biggest rivalry in rugby: england, england and england. There is no rivalry with any other team. That s the only moment of the year where you hear a lot of anti-english stuff here, even if it s more for jest than anything serious.
I know i personally have something against argentina, because they aren t supposed to be better yet they kick our ass way too often lately.

The majority of international teams have a petty need to beat England.

Also, not a bad loss to France considering our new and improving players, then a lovely 20-0 drubbing of Scotland. Plus Ireland stuffed Wales, yes! I think the Six Nations is Ireland's or England's to win, but I'd tip Ireland. I care about Wales getting battered as much as possible more than anything, just to prove the Lions team should not have been based around them, as they were not the best UK/Ireland team last year.

so France doesn't make it to the top of your list in terms of rivalry? France and England are by far the most successfull teams i the past 30 years or so in the 5/6 nations.
Also there is a friendship of several centuries with the Scrotts to fight the English for us.

France are good, obviously, and have been the best in Europe during recent years. However, our biggest rivalries are always the local countries, especially considering the Calcutta Cup. I think it's more that everyone wants to beat England, rather than England have direct rivals.

@Trevor - I basically agree with everything you've said. You currently have a better team, although I think we are more building for the World Cup and have some great new talent like Mike Brown and a centre who's name escapes me but debuted against France and played his second against Scotland, scoring a try in both. We have a lot of players making their mark now. I think we need to get rid of Tom Youngs though, he can't throw a line-out to save his life!

@Lootifer - Yes, it was a good tour and perhaps as a team Wales were the strongest (although I still disagree as I think both England and Ireland were better last year). However, the Lions should be best team man for man and they were not.