Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wallabies bounce back with a strong performance against South Africa
The Wallabies bounced back from the disappointment of a loss to Samoa by picking a far stronger outfit, resulting in a convincing 39-20 Tri Nations opener win over the touring Springboks in Sydney.
The Australians scored five tries as they out-muscled and outstripped the disorganised South African team, who at times showed major flaws on defence, and lack of power up front. David Pocock was influential, while the Reds halfback combination of Quade Cooper and Will Genia did what they've been doing all season, as they took their opportunities and played attacking rugby.
"I'm very lucky as a nine that the pack was going forward," said Genia afterwards, paying tribute to the hard work and great platform set by a physically dominant forward pack.
In Rugby World Cup year, this Tri Nations tournament - which ends just a few weeks before the showpiece event starts - is going to throw up a mixed bag of performances, selections, and the inevitable injury concerns.
While South Africa have gone into the tournament with many players unavailable, this match was seen as an opportunity to blood young talent, and allow others to find their form.
"The game was disappointing. We expected more and things could have got even uglier out there. If we had taken our chances it would have been easier but we didnt. They certainly turned their week around in terms of the breakdown and physicality. They were hurt in that area last week but they turned up today," said captain John Smit.
With more than 20 players injured or being rested, this touring Springbok side next have the mammoth task of taking on the All Blacks in New Zealand, a week from today.
The Wallabies will play the All Blacks in two weeks time, so will enjoy the break.
"The good thing now is we get some time to re-gather, recover, tend to a bit of detail and really hone in on the opportunity weve got at Eden Park," said coach Robbie Deans
"Its going to go up another notch. Were looking forward to that."
Below are some highlights from the match, which will be replaced with a better quality video when possible. For now, you can catch up on what happened if you missed the game.
Time: 09:42
Posted at 7:38 pm | 58 comments
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Posted in Tri Nations 2011
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Viewing 58 comments
JonO July 23, 2011 7:12 pm
Wow all three comments above me are completely stupid.
Extremely disappointed with the 'bokke today, but the Wallabies were the better team. I had a feeling they would win and they proved me right. No excuses for that, not even this 'secondstring' team crap. With that said though, there are some real shockers in that line up.
Well done Australia
Extremely disappointed with the 'bokke today, but the Wallabies were the better team. I had a feeling they would win and they proved me right. No excuses for that, not even this 'secondstring' team crap. With that said though, there are some real shockers in that line up.
Well done Australia
Alasdair July 23, 2011 7:23 pm
half that video is of grown men hugging each other! Rugby is really starting to look like football...
Anonymous July 23, 2011 7:52 pm
Boks forward pack missing some big names and it showed. However credit to the Wallabies, O'connor, Beale, Genia, Cooper, Ioane, Pocock, these are the best players in the world. Deal with it, they will win the WC.
Good game.
Good game.
bloodfya July 23, 2011 8:06 pm
as a bok fan I am delighted that we got a hiding. this tour is to determine the depth of our team in all positions with the second string team but I dont think that our first string team would have done much better on the day. some reasons
1) kick and chase tactic is terrible and PdV still uses it a lot.-we dont have the muscle in the wings to put the "fear of God" into the recieving player- Habana of 2009 and world cup 2007 final was case and point. people were scared to catch the ball and this forced turnovers.
2) set pieces were bad particularly scrum and lineout which we have dominated AUS over the last few years. (maybe the lineouts would have been more clinical with matfield but that reds lock combo is just pure class)
3) also ruan P was not very good, the play was very slow setting up the next phase. AUS and NZ are very fast at getting the ball out of the ruck, I hate the current style employed at the moment. to be fair his defense was better than those bulls props who were terrible.
4)stegman (6) was nonexistant as a blindsider which is where I really miss brussow and even burger in terms of work rate and effectiveness.
5) O conner was amazing and was all over Mvovo who is quite one dimensional.
6) I firmly believe that Lambie should be the starting full back as he is much better defensively than aplon. also morne steyn was very predictable and one dimensional in attack which is a good place for lambie to slot in to during attack.
Some possitives though,
1) we are only 8 or so games away from getting a new coach. :)
2) we know which tactics do not work but we will still use then. _ refer back to point 1, and which players/combinations are not ready for international level but will still be selected. (point 1)
3)I will still cheer for the Boks but I may have to wait at least 4 more years for another world cup contention but I will still go into this world cup with a lot of hope and prayers.
PS this is a long shot but supposed we do win the world cup then we will probably keep the current coach-
unlike Jake white .. which would be a crime against humanity and all that is decent about rugby.
To sum Up great play by AUS. very fun to watch them and I hope they go very far. they will be a threat for many years to come...
- ME
1) kick and chase tactic is terrible and PdV still uses it a lot.-we dont have the muscle in the wings to put the "fear of God" into the recieving player- Habana of 2009 and world cup 2007 final was case and point. people were scared to catch the ball and this forced turnovers.
2) set pieces were bad particularly scrum and lineout which we have dominated AUS over the last few years. (maybe the lineouts would have been more clinical with matfield but that reds lock combo is just pure class)
3) also ruan P was not very good, the play was very slow setting up the next phase. AUS and NZ are very fast at getting the ball out of the ruck, I hate the current style employed at the moment. to be fair his defense was better than those bulls props who were terrible.
4)stegman (6) was nonexistant as a blindsider which is where I really miss brussow and even burger in terms of work rate and effectiveness.
5) O conner was amazing and was all over Mvovo who is quite one dimensional.
6) I firmly believe that Lambie should be the starting full back as he is much better defensively than aplon. also morne steyn was very predictable and one dimensional in attack which is a good place for lambie to slot in to during attack.
Some possitives though,
1) we are only 8 or so games away from getting a new coach. :)
2) we know which tactics do not work but we will still use then. _ refer back to point 1, and which players/combinations are not ready for international level but will still be selected. (point 1)
3)I will still cheer for the Boks but I may have to wait at least 4 more years for another world cup contention but I will still go into this world cup with a lot of hope and prayers.
PS this is a long shot but supposed we do win the world cup then we will probably keep the current coach-
unlike Jake white .. which would be a crime against humanity and all that is decent about rugby.
To sum Up great play by AUS. very fun to watch them and I hope they go very far. they will be a threat for many years to come...
- ME
Stuart Barnes July 23, 2011 8:17 pm
This has to be the most horribly one sided highlights ever!
Anonymous July 23, 2011 8:28 pm
with these highlights you would think that it was australia vs nobody, wheres some SA play?
Sam July 23, 2011 8:30 pm
Shittest reffing i've seen in a f*****g long time! Looks like Poo-cock has been taking some lessons from cheat McCaw!
We'd have done better if we didnt field a second string side!
We'd have done better if we didnt field a second string side!
Anonymous July 23, 2011 8:37 pm
half that video is of grown men hugging each other! Rugby is really starting to look like football...
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LOL, ALL sports are "starting to look like football" if by football you mean embracing professionalism.
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LOL, ALL sports are "starting to look like football" if by football you mean embracing professionalism.
Anonymous July 23, 2011 8:50 pm
The issue is however apparent in the bigger picture. Looking at it with the wallabies. Deans has been building on that team for some time now as has henry with the AB's hence why they play like a TEAM. They will be aiming to peek at the right moment. Our mistake was that we didnt start building right after the WC...2009 was an amazing year because JW built that team and they gelled and played awesomely as a team Nothing to do with the coaches. Then some rules changed and the tried and tested where too set in their ways and the opponents started gelling hence 2010's disaster. now its too late to try new things that team today was not bad bar a few individuals but obviously in another couple of years they would begin to play like a TEAM. They lacked direction leadership structure confidence all the things a TEAM should have. Div and co got it so wrong im afraid bokke will not win the WC. It wont work on will and determination alone. Time to look ahead to 2015 hopefully some people with balls to make some drastic changes in style gameplan etc will step up even tho we may lose a few in the progress. I cant help thinking what a difference Sarel would have made today.
Anonymous July 23, 2011 8:56 pm
Australia is gonna smash AB and likes in the incoming WC...
cheers from Italy
cheers from Italy
1Eyed July 23, 2011 9:20 pm
@bloodfya. Nice synopsis mate, from a Wallaby supporter. Well summed up. Like the Wallabies last week against Samoa, this will help PdV sort out the final RWC squad for the Boks, so don't read to much into it. Beware the Bokke, you have a proud, winning culture and will bounce back. This 3N is going to be hard fought. Patrick Lambie - this young bloke is a super star in the making for SA rugby and only 20 years old! Imagine the crowd draw if we put together a best of sthn vs nthn hemisphere face off! Rugby is in good shape south of the equator. Support our national teams, but come RWC, as long as one of the 3N teams wins it, I'll be happy as they are all trying to play expansive rugby in the true spirit of the game. A shame at least one of the 3 has to miss out on a final spot. Final note - who else thought the Soweto choir were outstanding for the SA national anthem? Stirring stuff. I'd like to get some of their recordings if available and someone can point me in the right direction...
Anonymous July 23, 2011 9:37 pm
Stuart Barnes, just for you, I'll go ask the Boks and Wallabies to play another 30 minutes to see if today's Bok team can possibly do something highlight-worthy for you. They sure didn't in the first 80 minutes. Hard to put together a balanced highlight reel when only 1 team shows up to play...
1Eyed July 23, 2011 9:39 pm
And to all those wanker Aussie arm chair critics (yes, my one eyed brethren shit me and deserve all the barbs they get on rugbydump) who wanted Rocky Elsom sacked, pull your heads in. He wasn't the worst player against Samoa and if you looked at it objectively, he actually had a pretty good comeback game. Last night was his third match this year and he led from the front. Some of us actually watch other than Super 15 (dare I say it, many Heineken Cup games are better quality) and his form for Leinster was outstanding. Don't knock a champion, they have a habit of making you eat humble pie. Same goes for those knocking SA. They haven't won 2 RWC for nothing and though their style is different to the Wallabies, the contrast is refreshing. It's what separates rugby from those neanderthals in rugby league. Bring on the RWC. May the best (sthn hemisphere)team win...
Bennie V July 23, 2011 10:37 pm
As bok fan I must say I thoroughly enjoy watching Cooper play! The Aussies have an awesome team, and their style of play is entertaining to watch. I don't agree that Aplon has to go, I just think he should play 11, with Frans Steyn/Lambie at 15. Bjorn Basson needs to still make the step up, but when he does... it's going to be something else!
Aussies deserved the win, and I hope they make it into the WC final. Bokke, I don't know, I am torn. Maybe our passion and determination will pull us through again, but we don't have the superstars we had the last WC (habana, matfield, bakkies, Frans Steyn all off form). Maybe we should be building for 2015?
Nah! Stuff it! Let's just go for it, who knows? If cooper gets injured, and NZ plays France in the knockout stages, we might actually stand a chance!
Oh dear.
Aussies deserved the win, and I hope they make it into the WC final. Bokke, I don't know, I am torn. Maybe our passion and determination will pull us through again, but we don't have the superstars we had the last WC (habana, matfield, bakkies, Frans Steyn all off form). Maybe we should be building for 2015?
Nah! Stuff it! Let's just go for it, who knows? If cooper gets injured, and NZ plays France in the knockout stages, we might actually stand a chance!
Oh dear.
Anonymous July 23, 2011 10:53 pm
@1Eyed: I think most people (although of course there are always some) don't deny that Rocky is a fantastic player who deserves to play for the Wallabies. What many are complaining about is his role as a captain, which I believe he doesnt fulfill. He is too quiet and does not always make the right decisions. The reason people call for him to be kicked off the team is because Deans insits on Rocky being captain if he plays.. Or that's at least what I take away from the majoriy of criticism against Rocky..
Anonymous July 23, 2011 11:03 pm
How good is O'Connor? I still remember watching his debut for the wallabies, now he's a first-choice winger, solid in defence, and has taken up kicking duties
Get rid of P. Divvy July 23, 2011 11:54 pm
Good result but people should remember this was actually a second string side. Also, what is PDV thinking regarding tactics? Surely he has some sort of learning disability. He seems to be completely fucking retarded.
JG July 23, 2011 11:55 pm
I did not think that Cooper had that great a game, he seemed to make a lot of mistakes. Beale & Genia on the other hand were outstanding - well done to the aussies. I think however that SA will be a better team next week against the AB's. Also, the referee last night did a great job I thought, much better than the ref from the AB/Fiji game.
JMG July 24, 2011 12:25 am
Full credit to the Bokke. Its tough after such a big flight to be competitive with a team of youngsters. They will be better for it come the WC.
Wallabies still missing many key players at the moment, without injuries this could be their year...
The Wallabies are still missing:
Drew Mitchell
Tatafu Polota Nau
Ben Robinson
Cliffy Palu
Radike Samo
Rob Horne
Wallabies still missing many key players at the moment, without injuries this could be their year...
The Wallabies are still missing:
Drew Mitchell
Tatafu Polota Nau
Ben Robinson
Cliffy Palu
Radike Samo
Rob Horne
N July 24, 2011 2:29 am
It was only a second string South Africa team, so im not reading too much into this result.
Good play by the Aussies, they fronted up physically and scored some good tries.
However they dropped the ball a few too many times and faded a bit at the end (although Deans made alot of substitutions).
Against the All Blacks at Eden Park in two weeks those mistakes will cost us the game.
Good start but they need to improve.
Good play by the Aussies, they fronted up physically and scored some good tries.
However they dropped the ball a few too many times and faded a bit at the end (although Deans made alot of substitutions).
Against the All Blacks at Eden Park in two weeks those mistakes will cost us the game.
Good start but they need to improve.
Ned2or3 July 24, 2011 4:03 am
On the game...
I thought the wallabies missed a few opportunities due to poor handling and Quade throwing passes too hard. We must learn how to defend the driving maul as an intelligent group effort, to manny one out efforts which will usually result in taking the maul to ground for a penalty.
On the funny side...
Don't think we will see sekope kepu packing at No. 8 again (or Higginbotham on the wing either for that matter!!!)
On the above comments...
Trolls go away please and comments like "the ref sucked" of Saffas suck are not considered arguement. if you think these things prove them to us please!
I thought the wallabies missed a few opportunities due to poor handling and Quade throwing passes too hard. We must learn how to defend the driving maul as an intelligent group effort, to manny one out efforts which will usually result in taking the maul to ground for a penalty.
On the funny side...
Don't think we will see sekope kepu packing at No. 8 again (or Higginbotham on the wing either for that matter!!!)
On the above comments...
Trolls go away please and comments like "the ref sucked" of Saffas suck are not considered arguement. if you think these things prove them to us please!
Anonymous July 24, 2011 7:32 am
To those who are complaining about this being an all AUS highlight, after watching the full game that's pretty much what it was. SA had so little attacking ball before the 60 minute mark it was embarrassing.
running rugby July 24, 2011 9:02 am
Aussies were clinical and enjoyable to watch. Most complete performance I've seen from them in a long time - I understand the French game last year was a blow out but you can't say the Boks stopped trying, though the error rate from them game was bad. But well done Aussies, all facets of the game were covered well (scrum inclusive).
I wouldn't be too hard on Boks though. They looked to use the ball when they could and when they get their seasoned campaigners back, they'll make less mistakes playing with the ball in hand. Add the aggressive hard edged forward play and you've got a pretty decent team - capable of winning hard games, just like Australia.
I wouldn't be too hard on Boks though. They looked to use the ball when they could and when they get their seasoned campaigners back, they'll make less mistakes playing with the ball in hand. Add the aggressive hard edged forward play and you've got a pretty decent team - capable of winning hard games, just like Australia.
benjinumber15 July 24, 2011 9:11 am
Australia win 1 game and every Australian thinks their gonna win the World Cup! You were the better team on the day! But Even if they played that team against Samoa! They still would have lost! Tuilagi would have shamed O'connor (Who is probably the only Aussie I like) like he did that other wing and the Samoa would have still battered the rest! It wasn't a Physical game like last week, more Tactical. Bring on the world cup! There are gonna be alot of suprises! Watch out for Tonga and Samoa!
Anonymous July 24, 2011 12:49 pm
I got your point benji, but that just seems the way it is.. when they lost one game last week everyone said they were going ot get slaughtered in the WC.. people should just take it easy with the predictions and wait for a match that actually reflects the aussies A team strength against another A team (i.e. the two NZ games and the SA game in SA)
Anonymous July 24, 2011 1:24 pm
Most Aussies aren't saying that at all. Most are just saying it was a good game for Australia, but not to get too excited.
And most Aussies congradulated Samoa for being the better team on the day.
So I don't know what you're talking about Benji.
And most Aussies congradulated Samoa for being the better team on the day.
So I don't know what you're talking about Benji.
Flipje July 24, 2011 3:42 pm
Loved the first Aussie try
The build up is great, full of movement, quick ball recycled and a prop scoring as outside center/winger.
The pair Genia-Cooper should be very intertaining for the Wc.
Do I understand the Saffies fielded a second team on the field?
Nice game
The build up is great, full of movement, quick ball recycled and a prop scoring as outside center/winger.
The pair Genia-Cooper should be very intertaining for the Wc.
Do I understand the Saffies fielded a second team on the field?
Nice game
Crobo July 24, 2011 3:56 pm
Im interested by these 'South Africa played a second string' comments. Out of their first choice team who is injured and who has been rested? And why would you play second choice players in such an important competition?
Anonymous July 24, 2011 5:53 pm
"Im interested by these 'South Africa played a second string' comments. Out of their first choice team who is injured and who has been rested? And why would you play second choice players in such an important competition?"
Do you not usually follow rugby? All these questions have been answered in recent articles. Go to planetrugby.com they do some good articles.
I'm not gunna list all the players but there are a lot, 23 in fact.
And they are resting them for the RWC. The 3N has itself been shortened this year to allow time to recover / prepare for the world cup.
Do you not usually follow rugby? All these questions have been answered in recent articles. Go to planetrugby.com they do some good articles.
I'm not gunna list all the players but there are a lot, 23 in fact.
And they are resting them for the RWC. The 3N has itself been shortened this year to allow time to recover / prepare for the world cup.
Anonymous July 24, 2011 7:57 pm
@ benjinumber15
Dreamboy... there is a reason why the Aussies are ranked#2 and Samoa not..
Anyway, I wanna follow your reasoning ...Samoa beat Australia...which leads to say.. Samoa is a better team ...Moreover since Samoa lost agaist Italy (some months ago during their NH tour)...Therefore...Italy is better than Samoa.... and Australia.
Neat and clear!! dough!!!
Obviuosly, this reasoning is fallaciuos.....and Australia is indeed the team to beat in this incoming WC!!!
cheers from Italy
Dreamboy... there is a reason why the Aussies are ranked#2 and Samoa not..
Anyway, I wanna follow your reasoning ...Samoa beat Australia...which leads to say.. Samoa is a better team ...Moreover since Samoa lost agaist Italy (some months ago during their NH tour)...Therefore...Italy is better than Samoa.... and Australia.
Neat and clear!! dough!!!
Obviuosly, this reasoning is fallaciuos.....and Australia is indeed the team to beat in this incoming WC!!!
cheers from Italy
Coops July 24, 2011 8:14 pm
No one can beat australia we are the best rugby team the world has ever known! There isn't any team that can match our skill, speed, power and determination, AB's are nothing compared to us and NH - ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!
Ned2or3 July 25, 2011 1:17 am
And one more thing...
I thought our FRont row were just great. Massive improvement and great form for Benny A, Sekope and especially Stephen Moore.
I thought our FRont row were just great. Massive improvement and great form for Benny A, Sekope and especially Stephen Moore.
Louis July 25, 2011 3:04 am
second string team or not... the boks still got smoked!!
Anonymous July 25, 2011 3:20 am
I enjoyed last week where the Wannabies got smoked by Samoa :-)
This is AUS best team and thats all they could do against a bok B-Team?
Pft
This is AUS best team and thats all they could do against a bok B-Team?
Pft
Anonymous July 25, 2011 4:15 am
Typical excuses from saffa fans. just admit you're teams depth isnt good enough.
Guy July 25, 2011 6:44 am
Second string or not: the basics, in this case: defending, seemed to be non-existent.
Australia looked really, really good. But that is partly because SA looked realllly bad.
I just don't understand the SA coaching staff. By now (6-7 weeks) before the world cup, you should have an idea of what your best team is. Second of all, you should start building some confidence.
I just don't see how this result can be constructive to World Cup glory.
They do make some nice highlights, though. Thanks RD!
Australia looked really, really good. But that is partly because SA looked realllly bad.
I just don't understand the SA coaching staff. By now (6-7 weeks) before the world cup, you should have an idea of what your best team is. Second of all, you should start building some confidence.
I just don't see how this result can be constructive to World Cup glory.
They do make some nice highlights, though. Thanks RD!
Colombes July 25, 2011 10:17 am
Great performance og Australia depiste it was against a "B" boks team.
For me, there are favorites for the RWC in term of actual dynamic and backs individuality. Genia, O'connor, Ioane, Beale and Cooper can beat any defence for the moment.
But they should be careful agaisnt self-confidence. Because AB's will be at home, because Boks let their players sleep, and because England and France are physically preparing this cup like never before.
RDV in september for the truth ;)
For me, there are favorites for the RWC in term of actual dynamic and backs individuality. Genia, O'connor, Ioane, Beale and Cooper can beat any defence for the moment.
But they should be careful agaisnt self-confidence. Because AB's will be at home, because Boks let their players sleep, and because England and France are physically preparing this cup like never before.
RDV in september for the truth ;)
edbok July 25, 2011 12:34 pm
Fair play to the Aussies, much the better side - maybe most important was that was with Quade Cooper having a pretty average game.
The main interest for SA however was to see if we could learn more about some of the guys outside the core of the likely RWC squad. Jean Deysel was probably the only guy who enhanced his standing.
The massive issue still hanging over us is how John Smit fits in. He's a great captain, obviously, but very hard to see how we can pick him in the starting XV.
The main interest for SA however was to see if we could learn more about some of the guys outside the core of the likely RWC squad. Jean Deysel was probably the only guy who enhanced his standing.
The massive issue still hanging over us is how John Smit fits in. He's a great captain, obviously, but very hard to see how we can pick him in the starting XV.
Anonymous July 25, 2011 1:01 pm
LOL, Aussie BEST team beats a second string Saffa team by 19 points and they have a huge song and dance about it. HAHA, you guys are more pathetic than the "choking blacks"
Anonymous July 25, 2011 10:21 pm
I hope the boks actually win a game this season, they havent won anything in a long time lol not worthy world champions in my opinon.
Paolo July 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Oh dear. That wasn't much of a test, was it?
There I was thinking that it was Aus who lacked strength in depth when actually it was the Saffas.
Some of that defense was abysmal - the player who charged Cooper on the first try left such a gap that he may as well have gone for a lay down on the sidelines. Then on the second, you had a flabby looking Smit and a prop defending the blind-side against players like Genia and Ioane
The Aussie backs played well but then we never doubted that they would.
Aus vs NZ will give us a bit more of an idea of how things stand
There I was thinking that it was Aus who lacked strength in depth when actually it was the Saffas.
Some of that defense was abysmal - the player who charged Cooper on the first try left such a gap that he may as well have gone for a lay down on the sidelines. Then on the second, you had a flabby looking Smit and a prop defending the blind-side against players like Genia and Ioane
The Aussie backs played well but then we never doubted that they would.
Aus vs NZ will give us a bit more of an idea of how things stand
Anonymous July 26, 2011 1:36 pm
why put your second string team up in a match like this? Bad tactics. good win for the Aus
Anonymous July 26, 2011 5:37 pm
Because we are focussing on the World Cup which actually counts for a little more than the Tri nations....
lets face it, everyone knows we are the best side in the world. the only team which actually plays better on occasions in new zealand, and we know they will choke as soon as they get out of the pool...
So in reality we are concentrating on actually being the first team to win the World cup back to back... meanwhile the laughable kiwi's are focussing on actually winning a world cup that counts!
lets face it, everyone knows we are the best side in the world. the only team which actually plays better on occasions in new zealand, and we know they will choke as soon as they get out of the pool...
So in reality we are concentrating on actually being the first team to win the World cup back to back... meanwhile the laughable kiwi's are focussing on actually winning a world cup that counts!
Anonymous July 27, 2011 10:00 am
^^ Why are ALL saffas the same arrogant pricks?? Cant win or lose graciously... EVER!!!
Anonymous July 27, 2011 12:15 pm
@1Eyed
"Support our national teams, but come RWC, as long as one of the 3N teams wins it, I'll be happy as they are all trying to play expansive rugby in the true spirit of the game."
I personally enjoy a good rolling maul and well contested scrum as much as some back dancing his way to the try line. I actually prefer the grit of the NH games rather than the basketball/rugby league brand played by the SH sides. I think the French team (when on song) embodies all that is great about rugby - a perfect combination of piano shifters and piano players.
vive la diffrence!
Ajax
"Support our national teams, but come RWC, as long as one of the 3N teams wins it, I'll be happy as they are all trying to play expansive rugby in the true spirit of the game."
I personally enjoy a good rolling maul and well contested scrum as much as some back dancing his way to the try line. I actually prefer the grit of the NH games rather than the basketball/rugby league brand played by the SH sides. I think the French team (when on song) embodies all that is great about rugby - a perfect combination of piano shifters and piano players.
vive la diffrence!
Ajax
Anonymous July 27, 2011 1:37 pm
if you call letting a prop and a hooker RUN in try against you as preparing for a world cup you'll be lucky to get past the quarters. nice arrogance, enjoy the flight home
Anonymous July 27, 2011 3:59 pm
Actually I 100% agree with that comment. Having watched the 6N and the 3N for many years I've seen quite a few different styles of play, but the one style which has ALWAYS shown up through time is the French...
Ofcourse they have their moments where it looks like they might have mixed the buses up and the football team turned up to play instead and quite honestly they have been painful to watch. but other moments the opposition has well and truly beaten france, there is 1 minute left on the clock and france scores a couple tries.... and the game is over france wins... and youre left thinking "wtf?!?!? how did that happen"
They have the strength and agility in the forwards on a good day to compete with almost any other pack in the world (or did a few years ago) and the backs who are speedy and agile to also compete (again a few years ago) im not sure about them recently though...
Ofcourse they have their moments where it looks like they might have mixed the buses up and the football team turned up to play instead and quite honestly they have been painful to watch. but other moments the opposition has well and truly beaten france, there is 1 minute left on the clock and france scores a couple tries.... and the game is over france wins... and youre left thinking "wtf?!?!? how did that happen"
They have the strength and agility in the forwards on a good day to compete with almost any other pack in the world (or did a few years ago) and the backs who are speedy and agile to also compete (again a few years ago) im not sure about them recently though...
Anonymous July 27, 2011 8:27 pm
ok, why would SA put out a 2nd team in the tri nations? and secondly, if Wales are meant to be shitting themselves after Australia lost to Samoa then SA must be swiming in an olympic pool of runny poo
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