This time yesterday, like many Rugby fans, I was totally convinced that we would be heading for a southern hemisphere semi-final next weekend in Paris in the Rugby World Cup. Perhaps there were only two groups of people who really thought it wasn't a fete accomplis.
The England team finally stepped it up a gear. I suspect the Aussies had been lulled into a false sense of security. Finally they saw an easy opportunity to take revenge on that last-minute defeat four years ago. And it clearly still hurt. Well now it hurts even more.
They had a plan A. Unfortunately they kept on using it even when it clearly wasn't working. Oh dear! So the Wallabies are back on the plane this morning.
The host nation must have thought they'd shot themselves in the foot by organising this quarter final to be played in Cardiff. I guess that when the pools were announced France fancied their chances of topping their pool with a win over Argentina in the first match of the tournament. Remember Wales in 1999? The Welsh made the same mistake in playing their opening match against Samoa. Even Bernard Laporte seemed amazed at the win. Only the men on the field truly believed they could do it. And they did! Nip and Tuck was an understatement. France did what only France can do. They turned the game around from seemingly nothing just by spreading the ball around and daring to attack from anywhere.
And what of the All Blacks? I wouldn't much fancy the reception they're going to get back in NZ. Apparently the knives are already out.
And I suspect one Mr Wayne Barnes is probably the most hated man in the Land of the Long White Cloud. How he had the audacity to sin-bin an innocent All Black player, fooled into making a bad decision by a naughty, cheating, play acting Frenchman! (according to that Oracle known as Murray Mextead) Oh please! Read the laws guys. Sure, you don't have to get out of an attacking player's way, but bustling into him shoulder first (it's called taking the player out without the ball you know) within 10 metres of the try line and even Wayne's going to take exception.
So what of today's games? Well, really anything could happen. I wouldn't be at all suprised if we ended up with a France v Argentina final!
2 comments:
yes, a day can be a killer when it comes to play offs and horse shoes, I might add..........
You should know by now Kiwi's only recognise a shoulder barge or any other type of foul (including spear tackles!)when it's perpetrated by the opposition!!!
Then it's a case of "it's not tiddly winks you know!!"
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