Ireland - Wales and France - England were two enjoyable games of rugby, keep them on a DVD! Not a single foul play over both games... unheard of I think for a France - England at least!...! Congratulations to the four European teams for having shown the best side of rugby.
Wales and France well deserved their victory, no contest on the games played.
The red wall of Wales resisted to all the asaults of the emerald Irish sea with the Irish unable to duplicate their performance against Australia. Wales did everything right, congratulations... they could be a contender all the way...!
France did many things right, England did many things wrong...
Man of the game for France, the full back 15 Medard. He played 90% of the game in a 12 or 13 position, constantly bringing the extra man for attack or high defense! Well done coach...! I am surprised the English coach did not pick that up at half time, and should have asked his team to kick more often behind the French backs to keep Medard deep...! and to use the speed of his wings.
Man of the game for England: Tindal... I know, he was not there, that's the point... And England played as if he was there without any adjustment.
England front row got two penalties against them early in the game: 6-0 for France, who played a very disciplined first half. Add that England Wilkinson missed two kicks (difficult) and that England mishandled too many balls (15 I think for the whole game), and... enough said.
If Wales make it to the final, will they have enough reserve to duplicate another extraordinary game... stay posted...
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Rugby world cup - quarter finals - Ireland New Zealand
So here we are... after one month, 12 teams have been eliminated. Congratulations to all, in particular to Canada, Russia, Georgia, etc... These teams have shown that rugby is progressing well in their countries. A bit more sponsors and money in the programs, a bit less snow in Russia and Canada, and we could have more surprises at the next world cup in London.
Back to the eight who qualified. The three biggest surprises were in my opinion Australia beaten by Ireland, Scotland beaten by Argentina and France beaten by Tonga.
New Zealand should easily advance after many scores in the second half... It should be interesting to see how they will patiently wait to push their locomotives, a training camp before meeting England or France and going to the final. With Dan carter out of the cup after the unbelievable training injury, watch the All Black scrum half... possibly both of them...
The loser of France - England might want to stay in New Zealand for a few weeks vacation, until they can return safely to their country...
Ireland and Wales should give us a very spirited game, northern hemisphere type of rugby. Good luck to both... Get the beer ready in all the pubs across Ireland and Wales...
As for South Africa against Australia, it should give us a potential final before its time. I will personally favor South Africa, partly with the absence of the Australian wing, partly because South Africa is on the way up, while Australia seemed on the way down, partly because... I was born in Africa!
Now if New Zealand was to meet Ireland in the final... let it be known that I did referree a friendly between their third teams three weeks ago (date is true)... see picture. I'll tell you where is the catch on the next blog...!
Back to the eight who qualified. The three biggest surprises were in my opinion Australia beaten by Ireland, Scotland beaten by Argentina and France beaten by Tonga.
New Zealand should easily advance after many scores in the second half... It should be interesting to see how they will patiently wait to push their locomotives, a training camp before meeting England or France and going to the final. With Dan carter out of the cup after the unbelievable training injury, watch the All Black scrum half... possibly both of them...
The loser of France - England might want to stay in New Zealand for a few weeks vacation, until they can return safely to their country...
Ireland and Wales should give us a very spirited game, northern hemisphere type of rugby. Good luck to both... Get the beer ready in all the pubs across Ireland and Wales...
As for South Africa against Australia, it should give us a potential final before its time. I will personally favor South Africa, partly with the absence of the Australian wing, partly because South Africa is on the way up, while Australia seemed on the way down, partly because... I was born in Africa!
Now if New Zealand was to meet Ireland in the final... let it be known that I did referree a friendly between their third teams three weeks ago (date is true)... see picture. I'll tell you where is the catch on the next blog...!
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