Rugby World Cup

[captainnemo]

Possibly an unpopular view but the right team won on the night and nobody comes out of the result badly.

S.Africa deserved to win on the basis of quality rugby throughout the tournament. England deserved to be in the final on the basis of steadily improving their team performance throughout the tournament, reflected in the scoreline in the final as opposed to the 36-0 drubbing only weeks previous.

It would have been terrific if England had won, I genuinely thought they had a good chance but there is no shame in coming second in the World Cup when you play above yourselves the way our guys did. As to the disallowed try.....the players don't seem stressed about it so why should the rest of us. Good sportsmen accept the decision of the officials without demur....unlike the footballers and their clod of a manager who always finds an excuse for defeat.

I hope that the rugby guys will take the opportunity to rebuild their squad around the new talent that is emerging and regain the World Cup at the next opportunity. Dallaglio and his fellow vets won't be there next time but the nucleus for a championship team is there.

[Kalahari Diver]

Please, permission to gloat a little?

David.

[Ant P]

Originally Posted by captainnemo

Good sportsmen accept the decision of the officials without demur....unlike the footballers and their clod of a manager who always finds an excuse for defeat.

Not just footie. The All Blacks always seem to want to blame someone for their repeated failures

cheers, a

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Kalahari Diver

Please, permission to gloat a little?

David.

Denied until Wales get to play in a final

Safe diving,
Steve

[Waskey]

At the end of the day, I think England did very well to get even close to the final and then very well to give South Africa an admirable run for their money on the night.

Am I right in thinking that was the first time in the history of the world cup that any team got to the final defending their world title? Is that not an achievement in itself?

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Waskey

Am I right in thinking that was the first time in the history of the world cup that any team got to the final defending their world title? Is that not an achievement in itself?

It would be if it had been going that long. This was only the sixth tournament .

Well done to all the teams. Especially the Argentinians who fully deserved their two wins over France, and would have had a good chance at a final spot if they'd been in the other half of the draw. I hope we get to see them in a Seven Nations soon.

[captainnemo]

So the rugby guys have managed to figure in 2 finals (consecutively) during 6 quadrennial tournaments while the England football team have managed a solitary appearance in the past 60 years....and they say comparisons are odious!!

The England rugby team demonstrated that when a team play as a unit rather than a collection of individuals, the sum can be greater than the parts.

Given the questionable quality of many of the 'parts', the main question about the England football team is why so many persist in believing that they can compete at international level. Donkeys led by a mule, as opposed to the lions of rugby who rose to the occasion on demand rather than capitulate to the statistical analysts. On paper, the rugby guys had no business being in the final while the football team had no reason to fear Russia. Since the real game takes place on the pitch any analysis has to consider committment and other variables which go some way to explaining why our football team (over-rated, over-hyped and essentially uncompetitive internationally) will continue to disappoint us.

Alonso has commented that it would be pitiable if Hamilton got the F1 championship on the basis of a challenge to the fuelling of minor players. Similarly it is pitiable that England football now relies on the mistakes of others to have a chance of qualification for Euro 2008.

The rugby guys won their right to be in the final, beating quality opposition like Australia and France to get there. Once in the final, they lost to a superior team and there is no shame in that, the rugby world championships produced some memorable games and a worthy champion team with our guys providing a credible challenge on the night. Talk about a no-lose situation!!

[String]

SA deserved to win no question although they failed to play to their best in the final.

England demonstrated that mental attitude can make up for lack of talent. One dimensional predictable rugby but the never give up attitude beat teams that man for man on paper at least were better than them.

Oh yeah, it wasn't a try.

[captainnemo]

The 'try' was borderline and to the best of my knowledge none of the England team has bitched about the decision.

SA played better rugby throughout the tournament and the result was a fair reflection but England should take credit for performing better than expected in getting to the final and holding SA : this was no 36-0 annihilation.

Shame the overpaid muppets that masquerade as our national football team can't manage to meet expectations......

[String]

Originally Posted by captainnemo

The 'try' was borderline and to the best of my knowledge none of the England team has bitched about the decision.

Cuteo who even 3 days later when interviewed was telling everyone he "knew" it was a try "instinctively".