Rugby World Cup

[Villan For Life]

Not a big rugby fan but if I was it wouldn't bother me too much.
I love my cricket and England are half South African, doesn't dim my pride one bit.

Same here.

It has happened in Cricket for years and also in Rugby. There have been a few instances in football too such as John Barnes and Owen Hargreaves. I've never had a problem with it. The individuals concerned make a decision to represent England and I don't have any issues with that.

[Dante Lavelli]

It is potentially an exciting squad although that is partly because there are a few raw youngsters that have potential to grow (where gave we heard that before?).

[lovejoy]

Tuilagi has served his one match ban for physical assault and been rewarded with an Engalnd call up. If anyone can explain to me under what criteria you'd even select Banahan over Simpson-Daniel I'd appreciate it. Unless its based on having a name similar to a cartoon superhero voiced by the Goodies.

[LeeB]

I'm not looking forward to the Rugby World Cup, I'm sick of it already over here. Nothing would amuse me more than to see the AB's choke again (even though I live here). It would be great to see England in the final against anyone but the AB's wearing their black kit, as I think it would make the heads of 90% of people over here explode 

There has been forums over here about Englands Black kit with people thinking it is insulting to the All Blacks, NZ, Maori etc, etc. What a crock of shit.       

I'm not a big fan myself, but I heard about this story and it galled me a bit. It's ok for them to wear white as a change kit, but for us to wear black?

Talk about pretentious, I wouldn't mind but they've never won fuck all apart from friendlies.

[Dave Summers]

I'm not looking forward to the Rugby World Cup, I'm sick of it already over here. Nothing would amuse me more than to see the AB's choke again (even though I live here). It would be great to see England in the final against anyone but the AB's wearing their black kit, as I think it would make the heads of 90% of people over here explode 

There has been forums over here about Englands Black kit with people thinking it is insulting to the All Blacks, NZ, Maori etc, etc. What a crock of shit.       

I'm not a big fan myself, but I heard about this story and it galled me a bit. It's ok for them to wear white as a change kit, but for us to wear black?

Talk about pretentious, I wouldn't mind but they've never won fuck all apart from friendlies.

Well they did win the first World Cup, but we'll gloss over that :-


Saw quite a few black shirts out and about at the game yesterday and I thought they looked very smart.  So much so, I'm about to go out and get one.   Unfortunately the body of a 46 yr old won't quite squeeze into the skin tight replica one, so I'll have to go for something with a bit (ahem) more give in it.   I totally agree about the AB's, they are so up themselves and precious about everything from the colour black, I didn't realise they had a copyright on that, to the bloody Haka, that seems to go on for about 10 mins every feckin time they perform it, with some sort of new angle (or should I say eeeeeeeeeengle) to it !!!!.     

Anyway on to the game yesterday and for me very disappointing and although England won, there was no glory in it.    I couldn't believe they made Wilkinson man of the match.  Yes, I know and the whole country knows that he can kick and as usual yesterday, he did it very well.   BUT, we have gone backwards since the 6 Nations with that performance, in terms of attacking.   The one time that we put Tuilagi in space, he scored.   For me, and I realise I may be in a minority of one in the whole of England here, Wilkinson stands far too deep, he doesn't attack the line, he crabs across and almost always gives man and ball to his centres.    I don't think Flood is world class, but at least he commits the defence.   Having watched the U20's in their World Cup, playing a brand of Rugby the seniors can only dream about, I am not sure what happens to them when they step up a level.  I know it's harder but surely the same principles apply.    As an aside, look out for George Ford at 10 in the future, quality player.

I agree with the poster earlier about Banahan and Sinbad and I would also add Cueto and Sharples in that equation too.   As it stands at the moment, I would take Sharples, Ashton, Monye and probably Banahan as the wings, but after his performance yesterday, I would think about Armitage playing on the wing.  He was excellent.

I suppose playing badly and winnig is a good sign and it was far closer to Wales 1st XV than England's so we will see what next Saturday brings.   I will be at Fulham, so will Sky + it, so anyone seeing me in P5, please don't tell me the score.  Fat chance huh :-)

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not looking forward to the Rugby World Cup, I'm sick of it already over here. Nothing would amuse me more than to see the AB's choke again (even though I live here). It would be great to see England in the final against anyone but the AB's wearing their black kit, as I think it would make the heads of 90% of people over here explode 

There has been forums over here about Englands Black kit with people thinking it is insulting to the All Blacks, NZ, Maori etc, etc. What a crock of shit.       

I'm not a big fan myself, but I heard about this story and it galled me a bit. It's ok for them to wear white as a change kit, but for us to wear black?

Talk about pretentious, I wouldn't mind but they've never won fuck all apart from friendlies.

Well they did win the first World Cup, but we'll gloss over that :-


Saw quite a few black shirts out and about at the game yesterday and I thought they looked very smart.  So much so, I'm about to go out and get one.   Unfortunately the body of a 46 yr old won't quite squeeze into the skin tight replica one, so I'll have to go for something with a bit (ahem) more give in it.   I totally agree about the AB's, they are so up themselves and precious about everything from the colour black, I didn't realise they had a copyright on that, to the bloody Haka, that seems to go on for about 10 mins every feckin time they perform it, with some sort of new angle (or should I say eeeeeeeeeengle) to it !!!!.     

Anyway on to the game yesterday and for me very disappointing and although England won, there was no glory in it.    I couldn't believe they made Wilkinson man of the match.  Yes, I know and the whole country knows that he can kick and as usual yesterday, he did it very well.   BUT, we have gone backwards since the 6 Nations with that performance, in terms of attacking.   The one time that we put Tuilagi in space, he scored.   For me, and I realise I may be in a minority of one in the whole of England here, Wilkinson stands far too deep, he doesn't attack the line, he crabs across and almost always gives man and ball to his centres.    I don't think Flood is world class, but at least he commits the defence.   Having watched the U20's in their World Cup, playing a brand of Rugby the seniors can only dream about, I am not sure what happens to them when they step up a level.  I know it's harder but surely the same principles apply.    As an aside, look out for George Ford at 10 in the future, quality player.

I agree with the poster earlier about Banahan and Sinbad and I would also add Cueto and Sharples in that equation too.   As it stands at the moment, I would take Sharples, Ashton, Monye and probably Banahan as the wings, but after his performance yesterday, I would think about Armitage playing on the wing.  He was excellent.

I suppose playing badly and winnig is a good sign and it was far closer to Wales 1st XV than England's so we will see what next Saturday brings.   I will be at Fulham, so will Sky + it, so anyone seeing me in P5, please don't tell me the score.  Fat chance huh :-)

I wouldn't worry too much about the performance, it was a very experimental side and it was the first game after a long break.

[andyaston]

To be honest I can't see past the All Blacks in their own country. Thats unless they bump into the French on a bad day/Gallic brillance.

[lovejoy]

It all depends on how the cope with the pressure. Sure they should win, but what happens if the game enters the last quarter and it gets cagey.

[cheltenhamlion]

If it gets tight the whole country will shit a brick. Our reserves did ok on Saturday against most of the Welsh first team.

And at least our foreigners qualify through residency rather than the bloody All Black trials.

Tuilagi is a cheating bastard who shouldn't have been considered and they would have to be bonkers not to take a fit Sinbad.

I am looking forward to this world cup!

[ADVILLAFAN]

Not a big Rubgy Union fan, but I enjoy watching the World Cup.

Everyone seems to be tipping New Zealand, are Scotland not fancied this time around then? 

[The Left Side]

Not a big Rubgy Union fan, but I enjoy watching the World Cup.

Everyone seems to be tipping New Zealand, are Scotland not fancied this time around then? 

Like it

[cdbearsfan]

Bet365...

New Zealand 8/13
Australia 7/2
South Africa 7
England 10
France 14
Ireland 28
Wales 66
Argentina 125
Scotland 150
Samoa 200
Italy 500
Fiji 500
Tonga 1,000
Canada 2,000
USA 2,000
Japan 2,000
Georgia 5,000
Namibia 5,000
Romania 5,000
Russia 5,000

Tempted to stick a tenner on France, seem the best value odds according to my limited understanding of the sport.

[VillaZogmariner]

South Africa are my bet

[PaulWinch again]

Well I can select a few players who should be left out by England. Banahan, Tindall, Hape, Deacon.

[lovejoy]

If it gets tight the whole country will shit a brick. Our reserves did ok on Saturday against most of the Welsh first team.

And at least our foreigners qualify through residency rather than the bloody All Black trials.

Tuilagi is a cheating bastard who shouldn't have been considered and they would have to be bonkers not to take a fit Sinbad.

I am looking forward to this world cup!

Bananaman, Happy, Cweto. The southern hemisphere teams must be laughing into their stubbies. Last thing I want is the Glos boys playing this turgid brand of cagey rugby. Charlie Sharples is better off back at Kingholm learning his trade. Giving them Tindall is a sacrifice worth making.