I feel sick in my stomach
 

what a beating

South Africa 36 - England 0

What a beating, what a comprehensive beating the Boks gave us tonight.

But we dominated the scrum, our pack pushed them back, Andy Sheridan was just creating havoc... to be honest our front 5 were magnificent and everyone behind them played poorly, with no drive, no imagination, no daring - other than Robinson who played like a lion. We pushed back one of the supposedly toughest packs in world rugby time and time again... there are positives even from such a bad defeat... we need quick ball, we need to play the flare players, we need creativity at no 10.

We need to accept the Farrell experiment is over NOW, we need Lewsey at fullback, we need Johnny back, we need Hipkiss
in the side... we cant play conservative rugby from here. Bring on Samoa... we'll take them to school. This was a bad beating, but we are still are champions and it is time to fight like champions!

I still feel bad, I cant recall England ever being dominated like that... but NOW is the time to show our heart. Samoa are next up and they are gonna think we are there for the taking.

No flair, no great technical ability, too old. Strong and that's about it. Can't score tries to save their lives. Bet they don't beat Samoa.

In a word, England were shite.

We're gonna get creamed by the Samoans at this rate.

And to think that we're the defending champions is embarrassing.

Watching Portugal take points off the kiwis today made me wonder if we could even have played that well.

I was wondering elsewhere whether England have ever gone to a world championship in any sport as the holders and not pissed the whole thing away in the first few games - the Football World Cup in 1970 was hardly a towering glory.

Arguably, England were still the team to beat going into 1970 - this time, we've gone from ranked number 1 to ranked number 7 and everyone knew it going in.

Ireland is sucking hard, too, unexpectedly.

I don't know much about rugby, but I guess 36 - 0 is a bad score?

In a word - yes. England have not played that will without Wilkinson, who seems to have been injured a lot in the last 4 years...

You guys can stop worrying - one of us southern hemisphere teams will win this tournament, though I have to admit Oz will have to lift a hell of a lot to beat the All Blacks.

Who'd have guessed it? They beat the Aussies and now we're through to the semis! Still haven't played all that great, but stuck to the game plan and used their superior strength to shut the Wallabies down.

It proves how assential Johnny is to the side.

Today's was a good game though.

So - France or All Blacks next time?

I can't believe it - both the Wallabies and the Blackies out of the World Cup!

Props to England for coming back the way they did, especially after their slaughter at the hands of the Boks. I"m both happy and disappointed though. I wanted to see the Boks beat one of the other southern hemisphere powerhouses to get to the finals. Hopefully that road will be that much easier now.

Go Bokke!! :thumbsup:

This World Cup is now, officially, wide open.

The Fijians gave the Boks pause for thought in the second half, there.

So - Scotland or the Argies?

Damn those friggin Scots. I had my money on them to cause and upset.

Daniel_, it looked to me as if the Boks were holding back a bit. Whether it was tactical or just lack of spark on the day remains to be seen. One thing to note - not one lineout ball went to Victor Matfield during the Fiji game.

Maybe they've got something up their sleeve. :hmm:

and we are champions still for one more day at least.

Without trying to be controversial - the Aussie scrum was actually so pathetic the ref really must have come close to considering calling for uncontested scrums. The Aussie backs were dynamic and threatening but the front five were an embarassment to them... I think they collapsed or went into reverse of almost every scrum. Andy Sheridan was immense. With no platform and with England winning the breakdown, Aussies had no chance, really the game shouldnt have been close and only poor execution by England gave them a shot at the end.

Les Bleu's will not buckle so easily. The English scrum is stronger, but they wont dominate the French... Ibanez is a lion and will drive the his pack.

With my head I have to say France are favourites - they have been the best team in the 6N's for a few years... but I can no longer make any judgement which my heart does not control... all I can see and think of is how England will win. The ommission of Michalak (sic?) is a massive mistake... the French crowd will get on their back if they fall behind... we have the best clutch kicker in world rugby (Patterson is better technically, but when does he have to take a REALLY clutch kick?)

No one gave us a prayer against Australia and we did them in.

4 more years George! 4 more years!

____

also glad to see the dirtiest team in rugby lose. just proves that when the all blacks arent allowed to cheat in the breakdown its a diff game

As for the final... bring either of them on.

We have to get past a very strong French team first.

But if we do... the Puma's are a mighty pack, and have one of the best 10's in the world... but they are beatable.

And for the Boks... I would love to have them last up. Tonga pushed them and so did Fiji... they peaked too early. It wont even be necessary to motivate our boys... we know we were humiliated in the group stage and I know they will all be yearning to put that right.

All the talk of SH rugby being at a different level to the 6N's... looks a bit different now. Take out Habana and they are a limited threat. We can beat their pack.

The Kiwi's have no heart.

They THRASHED Romania... but there was a moment in that game I knew they were a weak team. The Romanian's just ran pick and drive's from 30 yards out and drove through the Blacks for a try in that game. They wanted that try, and NZ didnt really fight to defend it because they were winning the game easily.

Yes, they can play wonderful running rugby, but the French knew how to beat them... a "bend dont break" defence, kick deep and make them play... and fight like bloody hell in the breakdown.

The arrogant insistance on the Haka (basically having TWO anthems to the opponents one) is out of date. The arrogance of the NZ team asking to wear black and for France to change to white (even though France won the toss for home colours) just summed up everything I hate about them. Les Bleu's responded magnificently. I just hope they have gone as far as they can.

I eagerly await the atomic explosion when the irresistable force meets the immovable object (i.e., Chabal v. Sheridan).

:)

Wanted us to have France today, but I wanted the Kiwis to win the specific game.

I realise that this is contradictory. :p

I think that there's every chance tonight. :thumbsup:

To me, Chabal is a better impact player to bring on after 55 mins... then his power and pace can really tell. Too often he goes missing in games, and he really isnt a second row. But as a sub coming on as the game starts to spread... he is very dangerous.

Come On Boys!!!!

Whoooooo Hooooooo!!!!!!

Did you hear?

Condom sales are expected to plumet in France after research reveals that it only takes one Johnny to fuck 15 of the French.

What a tackle by Worsley, and what an effort to pull down the seabass from 10 yards out.

Beauty of a drop goal by Johnny.

One more game... bring on the Boks or the Puma's.

What a team, what heart! Even after the US games and the humiliation against the Boks, they had the heart of champions determined not to give up their title without a hell of a fight. We're still fighting!

Fantastic result!

I guess this is what they call "peaking at the right time". We've been crap for the longest time and now suddenly, we're back in the finals ... still, if we go up against the Springboks, they have to be favoured. We're still overly reliant on Wilkinson.

All teams rely on the 8/9/10 positions, they are key.

The Boks have a big strong pack and a massive threat in Habana, and their 9 is a genius.

The Puma's are as tough up front as anyone, and Hernandez is a master.

If it is the Boks (who will be favourites) I really think their form is dipping. The motivation of the boys will be unbelievable against them. There arent any easy games for a world championship by definition... Im happy if they think they are favourites. Australia and France were favourites too.

even if the boks or the poms win the world cup.. i still dont think the form team of the tournament would have won.

Any you claim the poms whinge? :eek:

You got beaten. Suck it up. Unless you happen to be in Paris with tickets, in which case, I love you and please PM me with details. ;)

I don't think dlish is talking up the Aussies - only the maddest one eyed aussie thought they would win the tournament. The All Blacks though? that's a different story.

Argentina probably left there worst game until last.

I don't think England will find the Boks as easy to run over as the Aussies (who have by far the weakest pack out of AB/Boks/Wallabies).

England is done ,you can't depend on one man, Johnny "praying mantis" Wilkinson,the Boks didn't come this far to let a little stumbling block like england stand in their way.

dan...

spins is right. i wasnt talking up the aussies. if u read my post correctly, all i said was that in my observation the best teams werent in the finals.

the form team for the past year was definately the kiwis.. with a distant 2nd to probably the aussies and sth africans. the brits have been playing dismally in the lead upto the world cup. and their opening game against the yanks was a scrappy encounter and in no way resembled an outfit that deserved to win a world cup

but credit is dueto them for picking up their game.

but ill be barracking for the boks.. no matter what though!

I'll make no predictions (because everytime I do I'm wrong) but will just say I look forward to the final!

The US has a rugby team in international competition? :oogle:

Learn something new every day.

Yup - they lost every single game, but they were at the party.

So we are like the Jamaican Bobsledders of Rugby?

Pretty much, though in this case there is a substantial number of Jamaicans.

What a rugby weekend that was!

I won't comment on any of the other games - none of it matter now anymore. What I will mention is the quality of paly by the Boks. I'm not convinced they've played their best rugby yet. So far, it's been very opportunistic with a so-so defense. Too many times we depend on the attacking team to make mistakes. Any team that is able to push a sustained attack - I'm talking 12-15 phases - will definitely find their defense lacking.

The fact that the Springboks beat the Poms so bad last time is of no consequence. It's a totally different game now. England being without their starting winger might present an opportunity for the Boks to exploit. While they've been solid in the lineouts, I'd still like to see more of the rolling maul, committing defensive players to stopping the maul and then breaking away with one of the speedsters.

Very true.

The last few games have been a kicking affair. I hope to see some more ball in hand running rugby.

AMEN!

its supposed to be called the running game, but all i seem to notice is the amount of kicking there is.

england has managed to score 1 try in their last 2 games and still get through. they havent scored a try in their last 2 world cup matches against against australia and still win...

bring back the running game!

CRY GOD FOR ENGLAND, JONNY, AND ST GEORGE!!!!!

The loss of Josh Lewsey is a huge blow for us, he kept Habana under control most of the 36-0 game.

The Boks think that they will knock England aside. I'm glad that they do.

No one gave us a hope against Australia, it was going to be a Rugby lesson, a humiliation, a trouncing.

France would have too much, be too good.

I'm happy to be underdogs here too. South Africa are a solid team, but they have looked vulnerable at times too - a bounce of the ball away from being turned over by a brave but limited Tonga, pushed for 65 mins by Fiji.

They have a very strong line out, two flyers on the wing, a fantastic 9... but their inside centre is a weakness (although he can be an attacking threat as well, he will take risks and if we can get to him we can shake him up)

Percey Montgomery can be a 100% kicker, and he can go to pieces, we need to rough him up badly and early. Argentina lost because they had to go outside their natural game and chuck the ball about, and the Boks had the pace to capitalise on their mistakes. We have to play our game, keep it close... Jonny must control the game (anyone who thinks he is just a kicker really doesnt understand rugby)... The South Africans can play, so could NZ and Aus when they are facing a weak team... chucking the ball about and running from everywhere looks great when youre putting 100 past Portugal or Japan. Doing it with 8 lions in the pack tearing into you at the breakdown, pushing you back at the set piece, turning over ball and creating penalties... a couple of teams have found out it isnt so easy then. You win the battle up front and win the right to play.

South Africa are more balanced team than Aus or NZ, and a bigger threat to us... they will go into the game confident but I dont think they will expect another 36-0, we will go into it knowing how tough it will be. There is no doubt that the result in the groups hurt England... our motivation for this game will be massive and the coaches and leaders will be trying to restrain our boys.

In my head, I would say Boks are 65/35 favourites.

At this point in my heart I can only believe in an England victory.

This team has held together, at times through sheer bloody mindedness, under massive criticism and doubt from everywhere but within them. England Rugby holds his head high today.

Whatever the form has been over the last few 6N's, whatever we saw in the groups, whatever the problems between club and country... these players are world champions - and whoever takes the crown (whenever that happens) wont get awya with it without a hell of a fight!

COME ON ENGLAND!

I was pulling your leg anyway, mate!

If England were not going through, I'd be backing the All Blacks. I'd have to , my maternal Aunt is a kiwi. :thumbsup:

Don't you hate it when you don't really like either team? Kinda hard to get excited about this game.

BTW - is this the first time that teams from the same pool have made it to the final?

'nuff said.

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Word Up! Healer.

oh no daniel.. ure english AND your kiwi.. i hate you even more now lol~!

spins.. i dont like the boks either..but its a case of barracking for the team u hate the least

I'm not a Kiwi - my aunt was one of the last £10 emigrants in the fifties.

Back then the UK exported people, and our imigration crisis was that some countries didn't want any more of us. Nowdays its all Polish plumbers and Romanian registrars.

If England are not playing, I'll cheer for another Home nation (Scotland, Wales, Ireland), after all we're all Lions, right?

Then I'll cheer for the All Blacks (family), and Australia or other Commonwealth countries, and the Boks (after all, at least you're not French). :orly:

Not quite sure who I'd follow in an Italy v Argentina game. :paranoid: