Rugby
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The All Blacks and NZ Rugby in general are in great shape… the best its been for a long time. There is a current crop of young players coming up in our National Provincial Championship. We've got two great young 10's in Cruden & Barrett, inside & outside backs galore, young strong locks & props. Two new hookers have yet to reveal themselves but we produce Openside Flankers like a factory so its only a matter of time before we find a new McCaw.
True true, there is nothing that compares to the AB's the only thing that can beat them (and its been the case for the last xxxyears, btw) is themselves, when they get overconfident they can have an off day. Thats my only fear for them.
Repeating the RWC would be something, the stuff dreams are made of…
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I disagree, they are definitely not over confident, loses are just a reality of professional sport. Having said that the All Blacks have an amazing winning record of about 85% in the last 100 years, I think its the highest of any sport in the World? To put it into perspective Richie McCaw achieved 100 test wins out of a total 112 tests for the All Blacks last month… that's an unbelievable record.
I think its too early to pick a favourite for the RWC but Southern Hemisphere teams have won 6 out of the 7 so South Africa, Australia and NZ obviously have to be at the top?
France having played in 3 finals and never winning seem to be the big RWC chokers, but I love the way they play when they're on.
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France reaching the finals is a miracle in itself. Winning would have been outright theft, except in 99. They should have beaten South Africa in 95, but would have lost to NZ, but that year everything was scheduled so SA would win…
In 99, had they been a wee bit serious about the final after beating NZ in the semi, they could have done better against Australia.
Since then, they are lucky to get as far as they do.
The French players play way too many games during regular season, the French championship is way too defense oriented. They have the biggest salaries and therefore are able to attract many super players from abroad, at the expense of training great young homegrown players. Too many games, not enough emphasis on training young French players means the French national team is doomed to fucking fail again and again.
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France - Australia tonite. I'm a bit impressed by Australia. And I dont understand why Fofana,one of France's best 5/8, is starting at the wing. Sounds like yet another French amateurish inspiration by the coach.
Ireland - South Africa could be a good one
Scotland - New Zealand tomorrow. Is anyone placing bets on Scotland?
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Very surprised to see France in such good shape AND Australia completely passive and predictable.
Argentina is a future supergiant of Rugby. The best thing that's happened to them is that they now participate in the 4 nation tournament. They going to get whipped for many years but their game is going to improve and they'll sail past the NH teams soon. Already, they're capable of badass performances, so imagine what they'll be like in 5-10 years… -
Wales - NZ
this week end
anyone willing to place a bet on Wales?France - Samoa
France heavy favorites, and altho I'm French, I'd love to see Samoa give the French a run for their money, just to make sure they remain humble and continue to work hard. Like a last minute victory thanks to a drop goal by Michalak, say 27-25, would be good in some ways. -
They lost and seemed tired
Poisoning = that's how they lost to South Africa in the1995RWC Final -
One emglish player i cant stand is ben oungs the scrum half
What a bitch -
The All Blacks looked really tired alright.
I thought Owen Farrell, Tom Youngs & Manu Tuilangi played awesome for England… we've never even heard of the first two?
Owen Farrell is their number one contender for 10, but Tobby Flood is competing hard for that spot, and Owen is not yet super regular at being spectacular (it would be easier if the scrum were better, of course)
Tuilagi is evolving from a super athlete but very predictable to a complete devil. Like Nonu…
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Once again, France is unable to do anything against Italy. Exhausted, lacking physicality. And some club presidents want to EXPAND the league?!?! It should be the other way round, shrink the fucking French league and give players more resting time… We'll never learn, shall we?
England confirm they're on their way to the RWC final in 2 years
Ireland reaps the benefits of being organized in a few Regions
In the South, Crusaders lost to the Hurricanes?!?! Preseason, sure, but... And I wonder how the 4 quarters affected the game's tempo and intensity. Hemi??
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Back to rugby. Shit, I am not even sure I have the courage to watch France today against Wales. In normal circumstances, we should trounce them, but I am no longer sure of anything. Bookmakers give France.
The game to watch today is Ireland England. I'm guessing England, but then again I am no longer sure of anything! According to bookmakers, it is very very close, slightly in favor of England.
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Don't read to much into the Super 15 pre-season games. They usually rest the top players and give the wider group playing time. I'm looking forward to watching the Highlanders now they've signed Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock and Ma'a Nonu to go with their other All Blacks. Thorn is an absolute freak of nature, he's won every major trophy in Rugby and League and will be sure to lead this group to some big upsets.
That Italy game last week was awesome! Wales are terrible right now and France are always one of my favourite teams so I'll back them.
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Brad thorne is a favorite of mine, love that guy. Still going strong at … Whats his age now?
Yesterday's game was one of the most boring and weak games Ive seen in a long time. France played poorly, no flair, Wales want much better but executed with slightly more impact and at the end France lost. Cant say it is unfair. france deserved to get their asses wupped, and I think the game against England is going to be a bloodbath. Ive been saying for several months that they are going to be a serious contender for the RWC in 2 years. I hope France gets rid of several older players (however iconic, like Dusautoir) who have been broken down beyond repair by the crazy schedule imposed onto them by this stupid French League.
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This is starting to look like a season in hell for France. We lost. Again. To England. Ouch, ouch, ouch.
This time however, we played well for a half and a half, then played stupidly and gradually lost it. Fofana's 70 meters try is a reason for me to keep watching rugby even in these modern set play days.
A caricature of England-France games: seemingly-unimaginative-but-not-so-stupid England ruthlessly grinding undisciplined romantic idiots from across the Channel.
Next is Scotland or Ireland and we could very well lose BOTH. That would be my first wooden spoon in 49 years of being alive and 43 of watching the 5 nations, oops still cant say six nations…
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Chiefs v Highlanders… great game!
Thanks, after your video, I have found the entire game and holy cow, this is great rugby. The pace is sooooo much faster than in the northern hemisphere. Its like playing a 33rpm record in 45!
I love NZ teams. I have 2 AB jerseys and a Crusader shirt too. I would kill to come to NZ and go see games, and get maori tattoos all over. I spoke to the guy who did SBW's tattoos and his prices are very very reasonable compared to Europe. I just need to fly there, stay a week, including a rugby game week end…Only problem aside from money is that my wife would probably start looking for a lawyer...
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Well, if you do convince the wife or get divorced come down to NZ and I'll take you to a game.
I played professionally for my province and was fortunate enough to wear the NZ Maori jersey. I got to play (but mostly sit on the bench) with guys like Ron Cribb, Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga, Jerry Collins, Maa Nonu and a host of other great guys. I was never as good as them but I felt like I had a front row seat to the best show in town.
