Good Game Good Game

Fears of missing out on the final due to a poorly timed slot on the 6 yard rifle range at the National Scout Air Rifle Competition were unfounded. The organisers not only saw to it that we could reschedule our events, but they also provided the technology to let us watch on a 30 foot screen Fantastic!

Was it a try? Opinions are varied as always, we must always assume the Australian 3rd Referee doesn't hold any grudges. However, at the end of the day it wasn't given so we have to move on. Unfortunately we couldn't stop handing out penalties, but at least we prevented SA from scoring any tries, in fact the only game that SA played where they didn't score tries and it was also their narrowest margin of victory. All very positive in it's own way.

England move into 4th place in the rankings, ahead of France and Australia.

Roll on the 2008 Six Nations, fingers crossed that the tickets come through in the supporters club ballot!

Something to ponder

1) New Zealand are the best team in the World.

2) France beat New Zealand.

3) England beat France.

So does whatever happen on Saturday 20th really matter....?

Simply because.....

.......we need to see it again.....and again.....and again.....and again.....and again......

Cheap Shot

I'm sure we've all seen the incredibly funny (sic) variety of England shirts zipping around on email in the last few weeks.

Here's one I found that I liked.

Apparently none of our Antipodean buddies made it in because they were all sick.......as parrots......

Where Next?

Gobsmacked.
Stunned.
Amazed.
Happy.
Smiling.
Laughing.

Six stages of mood following an arguably unlikely English win over the Australians which was then repeated 6 hours later when the Kiwis were dumped out of the cup by France.

Word on the street is that both teams were so confident of a win that they hadn't booked their return flights back down under. Pity then that the only connection they could get was through London Heathrow, that must be hard to stomach.

A few of the more polite choice comments before the match included:

"They (England) definitely aren't the team of 2003"

"We don't fear England with him (JW) in the team - we don't really fear any of their players,"

"I don't like to say it, but Robinson is probably their only world-class back, the only one they've had playing in form."

"We're pretty confident in our defence,"

It's been said before and I'll say it again now, the four years in between are nothing but practice for the main event. If you can't cope when the pressure comes on and try to rely on some easy group stage games as a warm up for the knockout stages then think again.

In the meantime, get some practice in for 2011......

44-22

A rather flattering scoreline in the end following an incredibly tense match, particularly during the 3rd quarter when the boys in blue got back to within 4 points and then camped out on the England line. Had Samoa sneaked ahead at that point then no doubt England would have panicked and crumbled, but fortunately they didn't so there's actually no need to debate the whys and wherefores of that one.

Credit to the non-English support who got behind Samoa with some impressive singing. Lucky really that Samoa also wear blue shirts otherwise they would have been stuck for a suitable song!

Much much better.......

Scotland 0 - New Zealand 40, do I need to say anymore?

And at last Scotland will now have to face a test on a neutral ground for a change on Saturday. So come on all you good red blooded Englishmen, lets hear it for Italy......

Do I Feel Better?

So Romania are to Scotland what England are to South Africa. Interesting fact, we're one of only six nations to play in a RWC match and not score any points - ever. What does this mean in the grand scheme of things? Well, to be honest, I don't really know, but on the basis that a problem shared is a problem halved etc then I think I do feel a bit better. After all, it wasn't just us!

Oh Dear

Hmmm, could England be the only team in the 2007 RWC to not score in a game? We'll know in a couple of weeks. Good news though, tickets came good for the England vs Samoa game in Nantes this weekend. Involves a quick jaunt on the Fast Cat to Caen and a drive down, but the atmos on both Friday and Saturday promises to be great. Spare a thought for my young Cousin Toby who was lined up to come, but then had the mockers put on it by his folks because they didn't want him to take a sicky from college. Can't really say I approve, surely the learning experience of a weekend in France would outweigh anything that even our best educational establishment could provide, but I guess rules are rules, right.......??

Swing Low

So the rugby world cup finally got underway, excitment all round. Unfortunately mistimed the start of the England USA game, was lucky(?) to see the second half with it's worrying 7-7 scoreline. Personally I'm with Brian Moore on this one, the underdogs will have no doubt come out fighting and looking to make a good show, but how long will they last after a few injuries and after getting tired etc? Sounds like a good bit of BS to me for quoting in the pub......