Oct 8th, 2007 | Satire, Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 26 Comments
At a joint press conference today, the New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions announced that they have withdrawn from future World Cup competition as a protest to the current format which encourages complacency by pestering the teams with pointless fixtures against developing rugby nations.
‘Crushing teams like Italy, Scotland and Portugal by as much as 95 points puts too much pressure on our boys,’ said Andy Leslie, President of the NZRU. ‘When we finally get some opposition, the performance anxiety is too great and we buckle beneath it…who wouldn’t,’ he continued. → continue reading
Oct 6th, 2007 | RWC 2007 | 3 Comments
“Four more years…four more years”. Those were George Greegan’s words to New Zealand upon Australia’s semi-final victory at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. I suspect many English and French fans are echoing this sentiment today as their National sides upset two championship favorites in the first day of quarter final action at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and sent Australia and New Zealand home early.
In Marseille, England starved the Wallabies of ball, stealing much possession in the rucks and disrupting their opposition set pieces. They defended with great conviction and, despite a failure to break the Aussie line, took advantage of their undisciplined opponents as Jonny Wilkinson captured the Rugby World Cup all-time scoring record with 4 penalties.
In the other test, fans in Cardiff were treated to a second-half magic show from the back line as France came from a 13-3 half-time deficit to defeat the All Blacks 20-18.
Both Australia and New Zealand will now have to wait for 2011 to get their revenge for defeats in 2003 (England over Australia in the 2003 RWC final) and in 1999 (France over New Zealand in the 1999 RWC semi-final). Todays results will make these wounds even more painful when/if these teams meet four years from now.
For Australia and New Zealand, it’s back to the drawing board. Australia have a large personell shift as their veterans retire. New Zealand on the other hand must investigate how four years of meticulous planning again failed them at the crucial moments. The Southern Hemisphere media and match commentators have been cruel and biased following weak performances by France and England, especially the latter as England have failed to impress in all of their pool matches. Now however, expect a swift and harsh introspective response as the Wallabies and All Blacks return home.
As for George Greegan, today’s loss marks the end of his International rugby career with a record 139 caps. Sorry George, but “no more years” is a lot worse than “four more years”. Welcome to the Old Boys club (well, when you hit 35 next year anyway 
).
Oct 4th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 18 Comments
And then there were 8. The quarter-finals of the 2007 RWC are set to kick off in a few days and to be honest, the match-ups are quite interesting. Even if you are a die-hard All Black fan, I think the fixtures are going to captivate rugby enthusiasts of all persuasions. → continue reading
Oct 4th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 1 Comment
“Nothing left but the crying” is probably the sentiment for many Irish, Welsh, Italians and Tongans this week as the pool stages end and the 3rd place finishers head back and start thinking about either retirement or the 2011 RWC in New Zealand. For a World Cup that was supposed to be a predictable spectacle by the ‘top-tier’ teams, the so-called ‘minnows’ flexed their might (and their hearts) and produced more flair and excitement than the championship favorites like France and the SANZAR nations. Here is how it breaks down pool-by-pool. → continue reading
Sep 28th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 31 Comments
Has anyone other than me noticed what has happened to the All Blacks in the last 8 years? Aside from hardly ever losing and absolutely destroying even good teams, the All Blacks have spun completely out of control with their image and mysitque. This year’s Rugby World Cup has already seen the All Blacks demolish all of their opponents so far, albeit in a very week pool and all signs point to an inevitable victory for the storied All Blacks. But as in past years, the All Blacks will fall again.
The problem with the All Blacks is that their team has become Americanized as I like to call it. That is the team has lost sight of what the game of rugby is about and have turned it into more of a them against the world conquest. This team is so far ahead of other rugby teams in the world that it almost seems as if they’re a different race of people. I mean have you seen the size and speed of these guys, it’s disturbing at the very least. I often wonder if the pressure of being the best in the world has driven many of them to do steroids. I read an article recently about one of their players who had to stop working out his biceps because he was having trouble wrapping up people for tackles!!
The pressure has become so great for the All Blacks that several players have been quoted saying they don’t even enjoy playing for the All Blacks because it’s too much. Too much pressure, too much hype, too much of everything. → continue reading
