England wins rugby world cup
mr.sumo snr.
student recruiter.
It was tough to support the old enemy - more out of North Hemisphere pride
than any love of England. Still - it was a class encounter, and only
slightly spoiled by a local Sepponian trying to compare the game to some
past Superbowl encounter.
I'll take pride that the second and third best games in the tournament both
involved the 'boys in red'. What do you think - should the England veterans
bow out now on an incredible high or after next year's Six Nations in front
of their home supporters - a Six Nations that Wales will win - but with a
loss to either England or France.
France in 2007 - very, very tempting - and with Japan a strong candidate to
host the 2011 tournament.
The real winners of the tournament - JSports I guess - 'coz it's going to be
very difficult to drop the subscription after these 5 /6 weeks of rugby
overexposure - I just don't think I can go 'cold turkey'. Anyone know if
the Celtic League is on JSports?
--
jonathan
--
"Never show kindness to ducks"
Declan Murphy
> It was tough to support the old enemy - more out of North Hemisphere pride
> than any love of England.
Aye, but the better team won.
> I'll take pride that the second and third best games in the tournament both
> involved the 'boys in red'. What do you think - should the England veterans
> bow out now on an incredible high or after next year's Six Nations in front
> of their home supporters - a Six Nations that Wales will win - but with a
> loss to either England or France.
I think most of those not retiring after the RWC will be gone after the
2005 lions tour of kiwiland. Its unlikely that the poms will ever have
such a team again in combination with heavy rain in both the SF and
final. A pity really, because a NH win was good for the sport, and they
probably won't win another for quite some time.
> The real winners of the tournament - JSports I guess - 'coz it's going to be
> very difficult to drop the subscription after these 5 /6 weeks of rugby
> overexposure - I just don't think I can go 'cold turkey'. Anyone know if
> the Celtic League is on JSports?
No idea about the latter. Personally I think I'll drop the J-Sports
subscription though unless there is another significant event on it. Do
you get the catalog each month?
--
"Beyond the Euphrates began for us the land of mirage and danger, the
sands where one helplessly sank, and the roads which ended in nothing.
The slightest reversal would have resulted in a jolt to our prestige
giving rise to all kinds of catastrophe; the problem was not only to
conquer but to conquer again and again, perpetually; our forces would be
drained off in the attempt." - Emperor Hadrian AD 117-138
mr.sumo snr.
news:3FC165F0...@hotmail.com...
The Beeb has been going so OTT celebrating the victory that I'm loathed to
check out any of the UKland newspaper sites lest I come across references to
'Dunkirk', 'Waterloo' or 'Goose Green'. To be perfectly honest I found it
irritating and somewhat demeaning of all the other great British sporting
achievements of the last 37 years to simply label this as the best
performance by an 'England' side since the 1966 World Cup (round ball).
Nevertheless - "..arise Sir Woodward."
As for the weather - I honestly don't think it was a contributing factor in
as far as the assumption that NH teams play well in the wet is basically
wrong. Games are perhaps played in colder conditions than in the SH but it
really doesn't rain all that much - not in rugby union playing parts of
England at least. In as far as the wet conditions prevented both sides from
taking the gamble to move the ball out wide at every possible opportunity -
then yes I would agree with that. Did it benefit Australia or England more
I'm not sure. It did look as if the overall fitness levels of the England
players were higher.
I don't get the JSports guide - and find their homepage awkward to
navigate - painfully small text size. Nothing about any UK domestic rugby
coverage so I might let my sub. lapse until the Six Nations. It can only
surely be a matter of time before there's a rugby-only Sky channel. Maybe
combined with overnight soft porn starring the South African rugby team.
--
jonathan
--
"Never give a gun to ducks"
Declan Murphy
> As for the weather - I honestly don't think it was a contributing factor in
> as far as the assumption that NH teams play well in the wet is basically
> wrong. Games are perhaps played in colder conditions than in the SH but it
> really doesn't rain all that much - not in rugby union playing parts of
> England at least.
I've never seen any Australian team (national, regional or club) do
better in wet conditions against a NH (or NZ) team than in dry. Coldness
doesn't seem to matter (Canberra's rugby season is cold/dry). Over the
next two decades or so it will probably get worse (at national level and
possibly regional level at least), as most major matches in Oz will be
played under a closed roof. The demands of broadcasters and the almighty
dollar is such that I think even test cricket matches will eventually be
played indoors.
In as far as the wet conditions prevented both sides from
> taking the gamble to move the ball out wide at every possible opportunity -
> then yes I would agree with that. Did it benefit Australia or England more
> I'm not sure. It did look as if the overall fitness levels of the England
> players were higher.
I'm not sure that there would have been any significant differences in
the levels of fitness of either team (injured players aside). Both teams
are consumate professionals in their outlook. As for the rain - well yes
it would benefit a side with a powerful forward pack, good lineout and
brilliant tactical/goal kicking. Especially when the main plan of the
opposition was to run and retain the pill.
> I don't get the JSports guide - and find their homepage awkward to
> navigate - painfully small text size. Nothing about any UK domestic rugby
> coverage so I might let my sub. lapse until the Six Nations. It can only
> surely be a matter of time before there's a rugby-only Sky channel. Maybe
> combined with overnight soft porn starring the South African rugby team.
I can't even begin to imagine what they were trying to achieve. Have you
ever heard of anything so bizarre? In any sport?