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Man of the match so far - Nigel Owens.
Seriously good match though, as it should be of course.
How forward does forward have to be these days 😉
Both 9s under par. Intense but scrappy so far.
Absolute bullshÃt - that was at least 2m forward....
Nice!
They are just so good
I'm gonna poo diamonds tonight!
Great game. Normally I'd be neutral but as a Scotsman who is still repairing the holes in the wall that I created after losing to the Ozzies I am actually rooting for NZ today. Fantastic try and the drive from their own 22 with off loads was great to watch.
New Zealand flat again I see and accidental offside before the try ? They've certainly had the rub of the green with Nigel and Barnes. Carter smart with buying that penalty too, stay down for some treatment eh ? Did you see Giteau couldn't stand up, twice he tried 😯
Australia need to find a way to play the game in the NZ half and get their line out sorted otherwise it's going to be a long next 40 mins.
Worst man on the field today, Owens.
Game. On.
What a second half. I thought it was goodnight Vienna after Nonu's try.
Best World Cup ever.
Finished off by the best World Cup final ever.
Amazing stuff , thanks to all the players .
Well done NZ, best team in the world and sentimentally glad to see several greats go out on a high
^agreed!
Team of greats, best team ever imo, and a deserved win.....
Just a shame that it was ruined by swung low 🙄 seriously aa its embarrassing how much you hate the English!!!
Great victory, great team, great game, great world cup 😀
You have to differentiate between the English and english rugby 😆
Yes. Best team won it, all credit to Australia who gave it a real go and had NZ rocking back. I'm happy Carter got to actually play in a final and come away with the win having a very strong game (aside from that missed tackle for the last Aussie try 😉 ), he deserves it and for McCaw too.
Australia were very good today just ran into a team that were utterly relentless in defence and ruthless in attack.
The better team won tonight despite some dodgy decisions. Great game that wasn't played like a final if that makes sense- not cagey after the first quarter and pretty open considering there was so much on the line!
Nonu was MOM for me as he was absolutely immense and put NZ in the winning position although Carter was of course excellent and ensured the win towards the end.
Dragons constantly being so crap. There are only 4 teams in Wales and it doesn't do anyone any good for one to be always at the bottom of the table.
I don't know... the Blues are giving them a run for their money
So many greats on that pitch. It's been emotional.
A great final. Definatly the best two teams in the world.
Great game to watch and right result. Ozzies did push them hard and they dug deeper. Carter was great in his control. Congratulations to all those Kiwis celebrating tonight and also to all rugby fans as that is what rugby should be about.
Hysterical interview with New Zealandsrs in Toulouse on post match French TV, I shouldn't throw stones as my French is shocking but his terrible accent (he may also have been drinking already) at least means I can understand him 😀
Tournament highlights featured some very long faces in England shirts 😥
The better team won tonight despite some dodgy decisions. Great game that wasn't played like a final if that makes sense- not cagey after the first quarter and pretty open considering there was so much on the line!Nonu was MOM for me as he was absolutely immense and put NZ in the winning position although Carter was of course excellent and ensured the win t
@DanW +1 I think the fact MZ opened a gap opened up the game and the yellow card made a difference. Nonu has superb speed, balance and movement for a big man I think his try was the real game breaker
Australia were very good today just ran into a team that were utterly relentless in defence and ruthless in attack.
I'm not convinced. Terrible line-out, dodgy scrum and some poor 'exit strategies'. How many Australians really played well? Beale, obviously. A small number of others.
But they did their normal thing of just taking their scoring opportunities and look better than they were. There'll be better things to come from them.
@Idle - Aussie lineout was indeed a shocker. I think you're being a bit harsh on them as a team in terms of performances
I thought Aus looked a bit tired and no ****ing wonder. I would have liked to see them win it but then Carter and Mcaw deserved it too.
aa its embarrassing how much you hate the English!!!
No just dislike braying idiots. Didnt we do this at great length about 100 pages ago? The whole hate thing? Shouldnt all you kids be out trick or treating?
Best offload in the world cup?
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Despite some questionable decisions (We all saw the forward passes, knock ons and offsides, but did anyone else notice the trip just before the last try?) the right team won on the day. They were just better all round.
A shame the tournament has to end, really. But, on the bright side, at least we don't have to hear that Paloma Faith warblebutchery any more! 😀
I think you're being a bit harsh on them as a team in terms of performances
I don't think so. Wasn't it 70:30 possession after 30 minutes? And how long did it take Australia to even get into the NZ 22? A good indicator of their performance is that they scored one single penalty in the first half and didn't even vaguely look like scoring anything else, and at one point, about 45 minutes in, it seemed as if NZ might make a record score.
In reality Australia played well for about 30 minutes. I'd have been reasonably proud if that was a Welsh performance v NZ but it wasn't a 'very good' Australian performance.
Still have no idea what that orangutan was all about. Be good notvto have to watch those tragic ads with the comedian fella too...
Energy company was a sponsor and they are trying to subconsciously let you know they care about the rain forests bru... or is it cuzzie-bro? I always get confused
Yeah, right.comedian
Ads. On French TV I get to see JW 😀
[url= http://www.societegenerale.com/en/rugby-world-cup-2015/team-spirit ]Team Spirit - Soc Gen's RWC ads[/url]
Best offload in the world cup
@aa well spotted and yes agreed with his pass to Nonu a close second 🙂
Awesome by SBW!
I don't know much about rugby, but it seems to me that the further away from England you live, the better you are at rugby. England seems to function like a black hole with border as an event horizon where space and time are distorted so otherwise basic things like running and passing are no longer possible. The antipodes must have a stock of dark matter that functions as some sort of anti-gravity field that makes otherwise normal humans take on the abilities of superheroes. Challenge for England is, can that dark matter be synthesized while preventing contamination from the less desirable elements found down in the southern wilderness?
So team of the tournament?
15 Ben Smith
14 Savea
13 Kriel
12 Nonu
11 Milner Skudder
10 Carter
9 ?
8 Vermulan
7 Pocock
6 Fardy
5 Etzebeth
4 ?
3 Herara
2 Du Plesies
1 ?
I'd have had all 3 of the Aussie back row in there. For me, Smith was the stand out 9, I'd go with Retallick at 4 and the Aussie dude, can't remember his name at 1.
Ooh and just seen you've got Ben Smith in there at 15.....wasn't too impressed with him, but then no 15 really shone throughout the tournament tbh.
How can you not have Rotallick first on that list?
Lots of second rows have played well.
I wonder if SBW will regret giving his winners medal away when he calms down and thinks about it?
I thought Ben Smith was brilliant throughout much more of a playmaker than the other full back options. Yellow in the final was a negative though.
Backrow is tough. Pockock was the stand out 7 despite the number on his back. Vermulen was more of a threat with the ball in hand so he's in at 8. Didnt think the other Aussie 7 was that great. Good player but only in the team because Pocock was at 8.
15 Ben Smith
14 Savea
13 Kriel
12 Nonu
11 Milner Skudder
10 Carter
9 Smith
8 Vermulan
7 Pocock
6 Fardy
5 Etzebeth
4 Retallick
3 Herara (Kepu was great too might be guilty of choosing a token Argie here.)
2 Du Plesies
1 Sio?
Wales gave 3 test tour to NZ next year...gulp.
Just put the All Black team down. 😆
By playing Pocock and Hooper the Australian line out was compromised especially when they lost the lock after a few minutes.
I also think by having Pocock at 8 they lacked a carrying threat down the middle which made it easier to defend the threats out wide.
I did try to avoid putting just the all blacks down!
I think the Australian attack was a little more suttle for just sending a big number 8 up the middle.
Looking forward to jamba's 15, which will still have about 5 Englishman in it 😉
Think Sbw wil prob get given another medal, but what a moment.
@Samper we didn't see enough of England to pick any players. I'd have Burgess as the water boy though to help him learn the game 🙂
@aa I don't see why you wouldn't consider the Argentine 11, 14 and 15 in that side. The Aussies showed how to tackle Savea unlike the French who somehow thought you could take him up high. I thought Smith was ok not great.
Looking forward to watching Carter at Racing, been studying the fixtures so as I know which weekends to suggest to Mrs B for visiting her family. Fingers crossed I can see Habana, Giteau, Mitchell, And hopefully h/p and POC if fit too 8)
More importantly, my boys team just played and beat Saracens U7. Whoop! 😀
Sio? He got taken part by Nel in the quarter.
True Duckman so who should we have at 1?
@aa I don't see why you wouldn't consider the Argentine 11, 14 and 15 in that side
Considered not as good as All Blacks players. Lets be honest no one got near being as good as Savea and Milner Scudder. Mitchel was good in the final. Amorosino was the Argentina full back wasnt he. Good player but not in Smiths class. Shame he left the Blues. I feel Argentina were quite over rated tbh. Beat no one of any consequence other than a injury ( and suspension) ravaged Irish side that didnt turn up at all.
think the Australian attack was a little more suttle for just sending a big number 8 up the middle.
Every side benefits from players making hard yards up the middle even if its onlyvdone a few times to keep defenders honest.
Let's have a NH team 🙂
Brown
Watson
?
?
D T H Van de however you spell it
Biggar
Laidlaw
SOB
Hovis
O'Mahony
POC
AWJ
?
Baldwin
That "Scottish" bloke
Brown 😆 purleaz
Watson? Double purlease! The only thing he did was be injured so you could miss him!
Ah the usual English hating suspects are here!
Better winger and full back then? Hogg, Cuthbert..... 😆
Watson? Double purlease! The only thing he did was be injured so you could miss him!
Watson didn't get injured. You might have the wrong black chap there duckie. 😀
Plus, he's as good as any winger in the home nations except North.
I'd take that welsh 9 over Laidlaw, and either irish prop over Nel.
North played one decent game in the RWC. He's big and quick with it, but doesn't have the raw positional talent, stepping or finishing of Watson. What's more, Watson has flaws which can be worked on and can improve - right now North has been going slowly backwards.
Oh come on Tom you dont have to hate the english to realise that Brown has been a bit pants for the last 12 months, he was brilliant 18 months ago but since he bumped his head he is nowhere near the player, it has seemed to have cause some anger management issues.
I hope Cuthbert regains some form as he has been off the pace for a while.
Hogg would be a good shout if you want a cheap shot diver 😆
I genuinely think that Brown was the best NH 15 this RWC! Whom else was there that was good really?.....Hogg was a bit crap and had 'that dive'. Spedding was a bit crap, Wales had someone different there almost every game! Kearney was pretty solid I guess.
Goromaru
Milner-Skudder
Bennett
Nonu
Imhoff
Carter
Smith
Pocock
McCaw
Fernandez-Lobbe
Eztebeh
Retallick
Kepu
Coles
Ayerza
NH team
15 That big French full back who's name escapes me
14 Watson
13 Fofana
12 Roberts
11 DTH Van DMewer
10 Biggar
9 Davies
8 Faletau
7 Warburton
6 Lydiate
5 AWJones
4 Gray the elder
3 Nel
2 Best?
1 Ben Arous
NZ would spank them
It's difficult to include any English players as its so long since they last played a worthwhile match I've forgotten if they were any good or not.
I genuinely think that Brown was the best NH 15
Spedding was much better.
Whilst I also agree that Watson was better at the world cup I'd rather have North.
15 That big French full back who's name escapes me
That's because you where thinking of French names 🙂
Ayumu Goromaru was the best Northern Hemisphere full back
Unless your geography sucks 😉
Beauden Barrett was the closest challenger to Ben Smith for team of the tournament 15, IMO.
Likewise - Sonny Bill, Conrad Smith, and Ma'a Nonu were the three best centres in the tournament.
Any other picks are really just tokenism.
Conrad Smith was very good in the final but wasnt great up to then imo.
There must be a fitting metaphor for trying to pick a *best* NH 15 but I'm not witty enough to come up with one 😀
Spedding was a bit crap
Spedding was pretty damn awesome besides the NZ game where the entire team was struggling. He's come on a lot in a very short time from just being "that big 15". Kicked some monster penalties too!
North played one decent game in the RWC. He's big and quick with it, but doesn't have the raw positional talent, stepping or finishing of Watson. What's more, Watson has flaws which can be worked on and can improve - right now North has been going slowly backwards.
North has been off the boil and needs some decent club rugby to get a bit of form. That said, Wales's game plan won't usually give him much to work with. Watson's "raw positional talent" though? Not in defense when it matters. I do like him though, not sure about him making a NH XV. Although he didn't get much chance to show what he can do I rather like the French wing (Noa Nakaitaci???)
In terms of the entire RWC, I think Milner Skudder was a great finisher but the team somewhat flattered him. Savea is a monster and has to be in. I am a massive AA Cooper fan as he is much more rounded than someone like Drew Mitchell and would be my second pick if he didn't mind swapping wings 😀
Indeed, also lets not forget that North is only 2 years older than Watson, plenty of improvements to come from both. Will Watson get 50 caps and Lions test starts in the next two years?
@infernoprotv at it again.
Claims that the Chosen One has told team mates his rugby career is over.
I think Milner Skudder was a great finisher but the team somewhat flattered him.
Tbh his form in the RWC was nothing like his form in S15 where his team doesn't flatter him. He makes breaks from absolutely nowhere. Awesome player, pity he's so fragile.
I am a massive AA Cooper fan as he is much more rounded than someone like Drew Mitchell and would be my second pick if he didn't mind swapping wings
He's a curious player isn't he. On the face of it he's just a very good defender, without a huge amount of pace or skill. But then he scores. All the time. Mitchell, on paper, is a far better wing. but Cooper just does the job quietly, with no fuss. I like him.
Update - Claiming that the source is the Press Association.
Can't find that source yet, though.
Tbh his form in the RWC was nothing like his form in S15 where his team doesn't flatter him.
That's very true. Strange that he looks kind of average in that NZ team!
He's a curious player isn't he. On the face of it he's just a very good defender, without a huge amount of pace or skill. But then he scores. All the time. Mitchell, on paper, is a far better wing. but Cooper just does the job quietly, with no fuss. I like him.
Agree again. Nothing super flashy but so solid in almost all areas and a great try scorer that always seems to pop up with a beautiful line cutting through the midfield... deadly in the opposition's 22. Amazing player
Yeah AAC is one of those guys that you just don't want playing against your team. He always seems to do the right thing and be in the right place at the right time.
Kinda like Conrad Smith.
Must admit I've thoroughly enjoyed the RWC and was absolutely delighted that NZ won as they've been a great side for years and Carter, McCaw, Nonu, Conrad Smith etc really deserved it. Hats off to Australia to making a game of it though.
After Scotland Australia I'm very glad NZ won. Not any kind of revenge, just if those Aussies had won the would have been a (wholly irrational) niggle inside - "we should have beaten them, that RWC should have been ours".
At least now after a 34-17 score I can feel "well it wouldn't have mattered anyway, we'd still have lost to NZ"
A great final to watch and that kid that ran on at the end - it's not just SBW's reaction. Several of the NZ team and coaches handled that well Milner Skudder (I think) in particular chatting to the security guy and quietly getting him not to do his job. Spot on
loum - Member
Beauden Barrett was the closest challenger to Ben Smith for team of the tournament 15, IMO.
Likewise - Sonny Bill, Conrad Smith, and Ma'a Nonu were the three best centres in the tournament.
Any other picks are really just tokenism.
It's the most demoralising thing about the AB's, they start making substitutions and they'll take off arguably the best player in the world in any given position only to replace him with the fella that means he wasn't definitely the best in that position.
Haven't been paying a lot of attention to the domestic game so far 😯 dear Lord the Ospreys are awful 😥
Prem looks pretty topsy turvy this year too! Saints haven't started well....could be an interesting season.
McCaw, why not get past 150 caps or try and make it to the Lions Tour ?
Have to laugh at reporting of Hansen who said he'd never coach another international side and press reports "Hansen rukes out coaching England"
Yeah, if I was McCaw I'd take a step back but not retire from the national side. Be there for the transition to Reid or Cane as the next captain, and get to 150 caps, even if it's off the bench. Pressure off but no chance of later regretting not trying for 150. If he merits his place of course, but I'm sure they could get him on the pitch twice more regardless.
I think McCaw is absolutely the last guy who'd accept two more caps just for the sake of it.
Probably. Depends how OCD he is 🙂
McCaw was second best to Pocock on Sat,but nobody will look too closely at it because he lifted the trophy at the end. I seriously hopes he retires to earning a huge pension fund with a couple of years in France.he deserves every euro he could make.