Just watched the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Didn't understand a bit of it, but I was impressed nevertheless!
forgot it was on, shows how much airplay it is getting in Melbourne, especially as it is the last couple of weeks of AFL for the year.
Understandable ;)
I love and thoroughly enjoy nearly all sport but rugby, I'm sorry to say, leaves me completely cold.
I've tried several times to get into it but it just doesn't do it for me so the World Cup will pass me by.
I never bothered with it either for years, until the early naughties when I became a director of a local workers club. Directors had to do a regular night on duty, and I started watching it out of boredom.
I'm still not a huge fan, but if I'm having a beer and it's on, I'll happily watch it. Some of my Aussie mates are fanatical about it!!
Quote from: Bealman on September 21, 2019, 07:30:54 AM
I never bothered with it either for years, until the early naughties when I became a director of a local workers club. Directors had to do a regular night on duty, and I started watching it out of boredom.
I'm still not a huge fan, but if I'm having a beer and it's on, I'll happily watch it. Some of my Aussie mates are fanatical about it!!
I got up at 5am to watch the Aussie v Fiji game, Aussies dodged a bullet there, got away with that one and certainly should of had at least one player carded.
(I didn't intentionally get up to watch it, my back was so painful I couldn't sleep ;) )
Yeah, yeah, that's your story ;)
Hi all,
Not a huge fan but played at school and will keep an eye later when it gets more interesting. Also looking forward to more banter on here as we go, always amusing :thumbsup:.
Cheers weave :beers:
OK, here's some....
I just watched the end of an AFL game, no idea of what's going on, but Western Sydney made it into the grand final.
Eat that, Victoria! >:D
every Victorian who doesn't support Collingwood was happy with the result. :P :P
Ah well, Aussies just suffered heart breaking loss to Wales.
Hopes of topping pool almost gone. :(
Might have to jump on the England fence now ;D ;)
Quote from: Bealman on September 29, 2019, 10:48:57 AM
Might have to jump on the England fence now ;D ;)
Why not choose the Wales fence?
Two reasons, 1. we beat you, 2. we have the same ratio of sheep to people (3:1)
:smiley-laughing:
Well, we just killed Uraquay. Just watching England and Argentina taking to the field now. :thumbsup:
England 15, Argentina 3 at half time.
Go the Poms! ;)
Yes, really enjoyed the game and that result! :D The Japanese are doing very well themselves.
agreed. the japanese have a good coaching structure. the english were always going to better argentina' s performance, once again head high illegal tackles the subject of scrutiny at the RWC
OK, here we go.... Japan is basically in the same time zone as Chez Bealman.....
England vs Wallabies about to kick off the first quarter final.
Who is Bealman going for?
One clue... I'm not sitting on the fence >:D ;D
Aussie bloke I'm currently having a beer with just asked the same question.
I like to keep em guessing ;)
Yea.... Aussies got a goal right on half time.
Oops that's stopped the guessing game, then ;D ;) :beers:
It's saying on telly that England turned the game on it's head in the blink of an eye.
That's exactly what happened!
I went to the toilet, and when I came out, well, suddenly they're way ahead!
Ah well, bring on the second half ;) :beers:
Hello Mr. George Turney-Coat,
Thought I'd keep you company on here as obviously no one else is talking to you ;) :D.
Not watching but keeping an eye on the score, oh and we just did :claphappy:.
Enjoy the game (if you can).
Cheers weave :beers:
Yeah, England will end up victorious.
Good morning, by the way! :beers:
Got it on radio now. Aussies close there :worried:
Need a beer. When's too early?
Don't tell the wife ;)
Cheers weave :beers:
;D
Relax you're gonna win. Have coffee and bacon and eggs instead. :beers:
Large Rioja in a mug. No one will know :no: :D
All over, red rover.
Congratulations, England! :beers:
Wales seem to be holding up a bit better against France.... maybe. France just scored as I'm typing this.
Exciting stuff. I need a leek! :D
You've got one!!
What a great game! :beers:
Great welsh win. Stupidity from the french lock
the game this sat is really gonna be tuff to close to call really but it could end up as an all home nations final wouldn't that be nice :)
needles to set I'm rooting for England as there are 8 players from my local team in the squad
and on the plus side I've managed to see every game ina pub as quite a few are opening early for the games :)
but however there is a down side I'm not getting any tracklaying down on a sat at the mo and the dead line of when I wanted all the track down (about 120 yards) is getting closer I'm on my 3rd box of track tho :) so I have about 45 yards to go and considering I didn't start lay track till this July I'm doing OK (my target is to get all the track down and tested by the end of the year )
Bit of a shame that Japan went down to South Africa. Now that the Aussies are gone, I was sort of rooting for the host team.
Ah well, we've got England vs Kiwis coming up. Looking forward to that, but once again with a little ambivalence.... while I am still English, I have spent a lot of holidays in NZ, and my old school mate lives there.
May the best team win! :beers:
Similar to @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) I am still English, and my best mate is a kiwi, so this weekend is going to be interesting. Hopefully will get to watch the game even if on catchup before SWMBO wakes up the next morning.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/83/6239-231019081912.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=83094)
So you're going for the kiwis, then? :hmmm:
Quote from: Bealman on October 23, 2019, 08:37:14 AM
So you're going for the kiwis, then? :hmmm:
Kiwi by birth and passport; Scots by domicile, passport and parents.
Best
Scott
Looking forward to the All Blacks vs the Springboks in the final. I hope that the Springboks put up a good fight at least.
Webbo
Right, so we've got a turn coat Englishman from Wongolongoland, a Kiwi with Scottish blood and an Aussie (I think) with leanings towards South Africa :hmmm:.
Just seeing what we're up against on the banter front :D.
Bring it on! ;) :)
Cheers weave :beers:
Quote from: weave on October 23, 2019, 10:34:55 AM
Right, so we've got a turn coat Englishman from Wongolongoland, a Kiwi with Scottish blood and an Aussie (I think) with leanings towards South Africa :hmmm:.
Just seeing what we're up against on the banter front :D.
Bring it on! ;) :)
Cheers weave :beers:
Nothing from me Weave, I'll just let the MIB provide the "bants"........
Webbo might have something to say about that!
Bring it on!! ;D :beers:
Wales haven't played particularly well but have found a way to win most games over the past couple of years (plus they have a good recent record v SA). SA play an even more limited version of rugby than England but if you let their forwards and centres get on top then they've got the power to blow most teams away - the problem comes that better teams offer too much variety for them. I can definitely see Wales winning that SF.
England v NZ - I'll mostly be watching from behind the sofa or shouting at the TV! Far from the best ABs team ever but the relentless pressure wears teams down. England's defence needs to be on the top of their game, but if England get a bit of control and more importantly territory they've shown that they have the backs to score points. It feels quite strange to say that this current ABs side has some distinctly average players in it but interspersed with some of the potentially best players ever (B Barrett, Retallick, Read). The percentages always favour NZ but this England team definitely have a decent chance.
I spent my foramtive years in Canada, but have spent most of my life in Australia. Ice hockey is my #1 sport, then daylight, but rugby is a solid #2.
To me the ABs are a master class and the Springboks play hard - I like them too. Would be quite happy if England or Wales were in the final, but what is most important is that we are treated to a good suspenseful, skillful game no matter which teams are there.
My preference is for a Southern Hemisphere to win though.
Webbo
The New Zealand team to face England:
15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Joe Moody, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 6 Scott Barrett, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Kieran Read (capt).
Replacements: Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta'avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett.
Just the one change, Barret in for Cane, which might be a bit surprising, but he's a bit bulkier than Cane, which will help. He also adds to the lineout mix, maybe giving better options there.
Beauden stays at 15. I thought he had a near perfect game against Ireland, reminded me of Carter's performance in the second test against the Lions, 2005. Not that it was anything like as complete a performance, it just reminded me of it.
Key for England is to get a good start and they mustn't make any mistakes. This All Black side are ruthless with mistakes. Ireland were on the backfoot from the very start and never recovered. South Africa started well but were punished heavily for mistakes.
I'm not sure I'd agree with Mike regarding distinctly average players, but it's not the best collection of individuals I've seen in the black jersey, and there have been a couple of performances this year that haven't been great. And goal kicking remains a concern at times.I do think they are clicking as a team at the right time though.
An NZ win by 10 or 14 for me.
Best
Scott
We'd prefer to meet England in the final, so we can spoil another RWC for them!
Mike
I'm not sure that I want to tempt fate by saying who and why I think are average in the NZ team! However I don't think the 10, wingers, centres or flankers would have got into the NZ team even 2-4 years ago.
Mo'unga isn't the best 10 in the team though his goal kicking is much better than B Barrett's!
Reece/Bridge aren't a patch on Reiko Ioane (at his best), Naholo or Julian Savea.
Goodhue/Lienert-Brown similarly currently fall short compared to Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Same with back row when compared to McCaw/Kaino.
I completely accept that these are slightly unfair comparisons and that Hansen can only pick who is available, not too old and on form! Perhaps I'm spoilt as I've been fortunate enough to see NZ play a lot over the last 8 years (courtesy of my mum living in NZ!) so it isn't a view I say lightly!
I didn't see the article but a few days ago one of the papers picked a "combined" Eng/NZ team and IIRC there were 8 England players v 7 NZ players, but the writer (and plenty of others) made the point that NZ's strength is not in the individual (though they have plenty of very talented individuals - Ben Smith, B Barrett and SBW are some of the most talented rugby players I've ever seen!) but in the team - undoubtedly true.
Hence I shall be hiding behind the sofa every time the ABs get the ball anywhere on the pitch!
As an aside I was surprised that Scott Barrett was picked at 6 - strengthens the line out (which England can be shaky at) but weakens the ABs at the break down which I'm not sure makes too much sense playing against Curry and Underhill (both of whom have been superb). England have recalled George Ford which is a smart move (provided we don't let A Savea or Read run at him too much!).
OK, we're off and running.... England looking stronger at the moment..... 14 mins.....
Had reserved the TV for this morning but we had a mini storm last night (outside, not with the wife) but there is no satellite signal :doh:. Trying to fix but listening on the radio. It's a bit hard to picture but England seem to be doing OK.
Enjoy the pictures everyone.
Cheers weave :beers:
Hope you get it fixed!
5 mins to half time and NZ have been a bit lack lustre.
It's nervy though. Whilst it effectively still 1-0 anything can happen.
Come on England!
Well, 10-0 half time.
And I'm very pleased that weave's storm was with the antenna.
I'm approaching a storm when I get home for staying out watching this ;)
ABs are sleepwalking at the moment. Too many easy games in the Cup so far I think.
England is certainly the better team so far.
Webbo
Hi George,
Let's hope your next 'my bus stop' post doesn't include a pic of all of your luggage on the pavement with bits of layout in a shopping trolley :D.
By the way, are all of your bowling (drinking) colleagues supporting the All Blacks or are there any Pom fans?
Still no signal but good radio commentary. They're all very excited.
Cheers weave :beers:
They too are on the fence.
It's irrelevant anyway, I've had to come home early (via bus stop) and haven't got a snowflakes chance in hell of watching the second half at home.
I'll plug me earphones in and join you! :beers:
The better team won. Congratulations to England.
Webbo
Thoroughly out thought, thoroughly outplayed. Deserved win.
England seriously played well, after a brilliant demolition of three-time world champions New Zealand. ademit England could have been out of sight had tries x two not been ruled out by the video referee
our fly half landed a trio of nerveless penalties , the forwards were immense. next week we wait
-
Yes, the best team definitely won that one.
Let's see what Wales do tonight.
Quote from: Bealman on October 26, 2019, 10:15:58 PM
Yes, the best team definitely won that one.
Let's see what Wales do tonight.
Yes, fingers crossed!
Would be a UK final! One hour to kick off!
A Southern vs a Northern Hemisphere final would be more interesting to me, but Wales is a fine team that deserves support. May the better team win no matter what happens! Unfortunately, we won't be able to see the game here in Oz unless we subscribe to pay TV. Bit late for me anyway, but I can look forward to waking up to the result. :beers:
Webbo
Quote from: Bealman on October 27, 2019, 07:42:23 AM
Would be a UK final! One hour to kick off!
Just heading for the pub...
Are they open there? ;D
Sure are!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/83/2947-271019084851.jpeg)
Quote from: Bealman on October 27, 2019, 08:01:14 AM
Are they open there? ;D
I popped in the pub yesterday at about 3pm UK time. It had been open since 8.30am for 'breakfast'. The usual suspects were a bit worse for wear and one guy was asleep in the corner.
You can't drink tea watching rugby :no:
Cheers weave :beers:
Certainly need beer here!
9 all. Keep on drinking, it seems to be working. Come on Wales!
Unfortunately it was not to be, apparently. I didn't get to see it at all, due to a family member being on his last legs (a budgie). I'll look at a replay today.
The scoreline looks close.... was it a good game?
Still no satellite signal but sounded exciting on the radio. Think Wales were unlucky but you'll have to wait for a better pundit.
Pretty sure Wales did themselves proud though.
Cheers weave :beers:
PS Sorry about the budgie :(
IMHO, a very good game....
best [just] team won [just] but could have gone either way.
amazing how one kick could win / lose a game.
final should be great
A great game I would say, as testified by the low scores. The difference, one penalty, could have been awarded to and won by either, so pretty much a draw. We get to play the All Blacks Friday; pretty much how we expected to finish this, except we wanted it to be Saturday!
Mike
Quote from: maridunian on October 27, 2019, 07:58:46 PM
A great game I would say, as testified by the low scores. The difference, one penalty, could have been awarded to and won by either, so pretty much a draw. We get to play the All Blacks Friday; pretty much how we expected to finish this!
Mike
sorry, isn't it GB vs Springboks ?
thought we'd already beaten the Haka
It most certainly isn't GB v Springboks.
Afternoon all in Antipodeanland,
3.25 am here in Blighty but had to let the dogs out (woof woof woof woof woof). So, just wondering if you Southern Hemisphere folk are A. going to watch the game? and B. who are you supporting?
I've actually got a Saturday off work so might have a few 'agricultural champagne' (that's cider) buck's fizzes with my toast in about 5 hours time :).
Might have one now ;).
Enjoy the game.
Cheers weave :beers:
Unfortunately I have to help run the Calcutta at the club that I'm a director of for this coming Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
So I'll only have one eye on it at best. :(
Hi George,
What's the Calcutta? Googled it. So far, besides the Calcutta Cup rugby, the next one is an Indian restaurant in Nottingham :confused1: :D
People can buy horses for 2,5,10, or 20 dollars. We draw them out of a barrel and allocate them to the names on our lists.
If their horse wins, they get a chunk of the prize pool
Or something like that! :worried:
Thanks,
Sort of like a sweepstake but more complicated on the betting front?, maybe?, doesn't matter really. Anyway, hope that goes well and you get to see some of the rugby.
Cheers weave :beers:
PS Any tips on the race?
HI Weave
Yes, I'll be watching the game. England will win I think as long as they continue the form they showed against the ABs. They have the shorter odds over here so the bookies think so too.
As a Southern Hemisphere team, I'd be hoping for the Springboks just because, but if England wins I'll be happy too. So, I really can't lose. For me, the most important thing is that it is a good game of rugby.
Webbo
Yeah, I guess it is a bit like a sweepstake, but we have an auctioneer and people bid for horses.
As for a tip, I don't have a clue what horses are running, but I will after I've finished tonight, after I've written their names on about twelve sheets!
I don't get paid for this, by the way, but I'll get a few free beers :beers:
I'm obviously going for England in the Rugby :thumbsup:
Been awake for a while awaiting the rugby and just happened across a good appitiser on the Beeb---- New Zealand against Great Britain lions rugby league. Very close with 10 to go, very feisty second half Think the colonialists don't want another rugby drubbing in the space of a week :D
we'll its 7 am and I'm getting ready to watch the game at a pub in town so I suspect there will be no layout building today hic hic ... come on england
Where the hell in England is there a pub open at 7am?!
Oh wait... edit that. Bloody Weatherspoons.
I had breakfast at the one in my hometown everyday for a week when I stayed in the carehome there in 2014.
That sounds so weird, does it not :worried:
OK, weave, here I go into battle with the Melbourne Cup stuff.
And there's a 21st on upstairs.....
Gonna be a long night!
Go the Poms ;D
a lot are opening for the matches and my town is a bug rugby town we have 8 players in the awuad over in japan
Quote from: ahellary on November 02, 2019, 07:20:27 AM
a lot are opening for the matches and my town is a bug rugby town we have 8 players in the awuad over in japan
Hi ahellary,
"awuad"? Maybe morning drinking's not your game :no: :D . Enjoy the other one though.
Cheers weave :beers:
What a fantastic final to a great tournament!
Congratulations South Africa (first try was great :thumbsup:).
Shame but the better team won :(.
Oh well, back to the modelling or might just have another beer, seem to have a Green Card from SWMBO :claphappy:
Cheers weave :beers:
Yep the beat team won shame the england never turned up
agree, best team won.
but, am I the only one disappointed by the attitude of some of the english players, either just taking their medals, or else taking them off straight away ?
I would consider it an honour to have won even the silver medal, and worn it with pride.
and lastly,
thanks to the ref and linesmen for a great game too.
I think the ref was biaised
Quote from: class37025 on November 02, 2019, 11:38:02 AM
agree, best team won.
but, am I the only one disappointed by the attitude of some of the english players, either just taking their medals, or else taking them off straight away ?
I would consider it an honour to have won even the silver medal, and worn it with pride.
and lastly,
thanks to the ref and linesmen for a great game too.
Yes, comparison with South Africans' humility very striking
Should've sent Ben Stokes on ;)
I was born here in the UK but lived in SA for nearly 50 years so I should have been neutral but I am very pleased SA won.
Having kept up with the (mostly very depressing) news there, the whole country really needed something positive to unite a very divided population.
I hope this win cheers them up a bit.
:NGaugersRule:
they did you proud !!!!
Due to last night's flat out work at the club, I missed it, but from the highlights I've seen today, it looks to me that SA were indeed the better team.
It's been a great World Cup! :thumbsup:
Quote from: ahellary on November 02, 2019, 11:39:45 AM
I think the ref was biaised
here we go, "we was robbed"
no, we didn't play as well as the Springboks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so we lost.
don't blame the ref, the linesmen, the TMO,
we just were not good enough on the day !
up till the awards of medals I still had the greatest respect for the England team, then it stopped,
snatching medals instead of accepting them,
removing medals,
we came second, to a better team, what is the disgrace in that ?
sorry, but those players who acted in such a childish manner just lost all of the respect I had for them.
sportsmen, no spoilt brats, yes .
And we was robbed too, by the same team, same ref, 6 days before. We were only robbed by 3 points though, not 20, but then our scrum wasn't overwhelmed. We lost by one penalty - could have gone either way, but it didn't. We lost to the new world champions. No shame in that whatsoever.
Mike
Didn't know where to put this, so I thought here.
Just at the club watching the Lions being done by PNG. ::)
in true brexit from I didn't like the result I want another match :)
Quote from: ahellary on November 16, 2019, 09:23:15 AM
in true brexit from I didn't like the result I want another match :)
No prob - it'll be in 2023!
Mike
Hehe tho the better team did win
By the way, the Lions coach was a certain Wayne Bennett, who has had considerable success with NRL teams here in Australia.
I think it's time he came home!
Well part of the problem is that he's the South Sydney coach so sees very little Super League, coupled with him being England coach and saying that he was partly using the GB lions to experiment for the 2021 World Cup.
His selections were bizarre - 2 wingers and one centre??? We ended up with Blake Austin (Warrington's stand off) playing on the wing for the last 2 games. He's a good player but not a winger.