BS: Rugby World Cup

Subject: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Hrothgar
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 05:40 AM

Well, we had to start this some time.

Kicking off very shortly with Australia v Argentina. So far, the opening ceremony hasn't been too bad - the basis for comparison being the opening ceremony for the Olympics in the same stadium three years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: sian, west wales
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 06:45 AM

Sunday is Wales v Canada, and I'm making Thanksgiving dinner that day. Something really weird about being so far from home and getting back into the rut of 'having the Game on the box' and panic in the kitchen.

Don't know who I'm supposed to cheer for either.

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 08:03 AM

With reference to "Playing Filthy Lyrics" Thread:

If I was the marrying kind
Which thank the Lord, I'm not sir,
The Kind of girl that I would wed
Would be a rugby forward sir.
She'd put it in, I'd put it in,
We'd both put it in together.
We'd be alright in the middle of the night,
Putting it in together,

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 08:15 AM

Rugby: a bunch of people huddled together to kick each other.


Why can't we all get along and play nicely together? This is the sort of behavior that causes wars! You can give blood without playing rugby! Why, if everyone had their own little plastic cup this wouldn't happen!

So, if you want to increase the world's supply of donated blood and put an end to war, send your donations (no checks!) to me and I'll look into getting a plastic "World's Cup" for each competing player.

Stop the violence, the war, the insanity NOW! Don't hesitate -- send me your donation NOW!!

(And donate often, too. Remember: the more you give, and the more often you give, will mean that war will end sooner and the blood supply will go up more quickly. So give early and give often.)

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Beardy
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 10:07 AM

The most important issue is that England do not win the bloody thing!! Their arrogance is too much to bear already.

Stupid game anyway, whoever thought that passing the ball backwards was a good idea?

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Beardy
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 10:09 AM

...and another thing. Is the game played by so many policeman because it gives them an opportunity to give innocent people a damn good kicking with no redress?

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 10:12 AM

Beardy: No! it's played by policemen because they've already had the practise!!

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Gareth
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 07:45 PM

Whilt I suspect - and I will be delighted to be proved wrong - Wales involvement might be nominal remember to defenition of a true Welshman.

One who gets a ticket to "England" v "France" at Twickenham, so that he can boo both sides !

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 09:51 PM

"Sunday is Wales v Canada, and I'm making Thanksgiving dinner that day."

Getting it in a day early in case it's Wales in Thanksgiving mood after the match is finished?

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 05:19 AM

Beardy the English thought of the game -in a place called -er-Rugby.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: smallpiper
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 05:54 AM

I thought that rugby was a game for animals played by gentlemen and football a game for gentlemen played by animals - isn't that how the quote goes?

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 08:34 AM

Two ways of looking at it - Rugby League is a gentlemen's game played by thugs, and Rugby Union is a thugs' game played by gentlemen

or

In Rugby Union you kick the ball.
In Rugby League you kick the man if you cannot kick the ball.
In Soccer you kick the ball if you cannot kick the man.

Just home from watching France beat Fiji, which was a crying shame. Fiji had a chance for about 50 minutes, but their defence became a bit fragile.

South Africa are currently racking up a point a minute against Uruguay in Perth.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 08:41 AM

I'd have thought it was:

In Soccer you kick the ball.
In Rugby Union you kick the man if you cannot kick the ball.
In Rugby League you kick the ball if you cannot kick the man.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: sian, west wales
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 08:51 AM

McGrath, "getting it in a day early" because the nasty powers-that-be over here won't give me (and all my guests) the Monday off!

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 09:28 AM

Gee, I thought it was that in either rugby you kick the man in the balls....

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Wotcha
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 12:05 PM

It takes leather balls to play rugby ... Today, in addition the French victory, Ireland beat Romania, and NZ handily crushed the Italians.

Cheers,

Brian

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: CET
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 12:48 PM

Can anybody remember the name of the fantastic baritone who sang the Argentinian national anthem?

Sian: I will be getting up around 3 to catch the Wales-Canada game at a friend's house at 4.00 a.m. I'm not sure who to cheer for either, but I think I'll wear my Welsh jersey. It would be great for Canada to win, but Wales has had the season from hell this year, and it's about time for something good to happen. By the way, there was a woman called Sian who used to sell arts & crafts in Ontario. I think I met her at the Welsh Pavilion at the Toronto International Caravan. Would that be you by any chance?

Edmund

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 04:06 PM

Just a note on the handicap betting, in a brilliant game of Rugby League between Leeds and Wigan, Wigan were giving Leeds two points.
The final score was a win for Wigan by 23 to 22, of course, I gambled on Wigan and the bloody bookie won again.
It is amazing how often the genius that lays the odds for the bookies gets it right.
Lost again , New Zealand giving Italy 64 points in the World cup won 70 to 7, how do they do it?.
England or New Zealand for the Trophy, its a hard one to call, two class teams. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: mouldy
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 02:40 AM

I am going to miss this afternoon's match on TV due to a craft fair at Leeds. (And I have more of the same next weekend too). Nevertheless I will be wearing an England shirt, and taking my walkman for Radio 5 coverage from 1pm. Somehow I don't think I'll be able to persuade the organiser to put the radio on instead of the easy listening music we normally have!

It got very hot in the room yesterday, and I'm desperately trying to find my T shirt which has another version of the aforementioned quotation: "Rugby - a game for ruffians, enjoyed by gentlemen" printed on the front, so that I have an alternative. I did toy with the idea of getting a T shirt from the Nike shop in York which said "Fancy a Ruck?" but at my age...

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 05:04 AM

I think that it is terrible that Scotland aren't allowed to play the bagpipes while leading their team out and also the Australian fans aren't allowed to sing Waltzing Matilda during the game.

I got this information from my sister Joanne who lives in Australia, Perth.

Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 10:37 AM

Also medically unsafe to refuse them any rehydration while playing in 30 degrees heat and 100% humidity: what are their medical advisers thinking of????
Dr Tattie Bogle (ex rugby club doc!)

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 10:43 AM

I wore my 'Welsh' shirt to watch the match, and the bloody team played in White!. Never mind, we beat Canada who were playing in 'our' red

Also England have just beaten Georgia (Shame!)

"Georgia, Georgia, no chance I feel.
But I still had hopes they'd make the English reel....."

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 06:07 PM

And what about England's tight-fit lycra strip? So tight it took De Lallaglio's assistance to peel the torn shirt off that man with the lovely muscles (who was he?- I could almost start supporting England!), and to re-apply a new one!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Gareth
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 06:30 PM

Ah Well - So far so good !!!!

Nigel - You do realise who was the most famous Georgian of them all ??

Yes ! Uncle Joe - him of the pipe and taxi drivers cap !!

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: mike the knife
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 11:20 AM

Ah, and me here in the States with Fox Sports World on TV- I don't even know when/if the matches are televised. When I lived in NYC, we'd all pile into some bar w/ satellite for the World Cup and be "rat-arsed" by 10:30 am. Somebody please send this poor Rugby-Starved Yank a plane ticket & a press pass for Twickenham...

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 12:32 PM

Gareth - but Uncle Joe's (mint) Balls are round not oval !

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Beardy
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 02:34 PM

Linda I know it was named after that idiot schoolboy picked up the ball and ran with it at Rugby school just because the bigger boys wouldnt let him have a kick!! But why pass it backwards? Are you saying that everybody from Rugby is backwards? It would explain a few things when I was there a couple of years ago!

Stewart

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 03:48 PM

When I saw the French strip (lycra "shirts"), I wondered if their cycling team had inadvertently stumbled onto the pitch ... guess this is the French way of making up for another Tour de France loss to Lance Armstrong ...

Cheers,

Brian

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:17 AM

Beardy - Rugby School was always thought to have only become "progressive" after Dr Arnold (Tom Brown's Scooldays) became headmaster in 1828. Perhaps the foundations were already there though, because it was some years earlier that a little squirt called William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it. Instead of being called a cheat and getting kicked out of the game, given detention etc, he got hailed as the creator of a new sport.

Perhaps british sport could learn from this. Instead of getting beaten at most things, perhaps we should carefully peruse the rules of each game and try and find loopholes - ie things which aren't actually proscribed as foul play and capitalise on them !

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:36 AM

Whoops -

I must learn to spell "School".
I must learn to spell "School".
I must learn to spell "School".
I must learn . . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 10:19 AM

Ard, you've got a 'pewter so you shouldn't be going near the bookies. Tune into betfair.com where you can set your own price (someone will take it) and the odds overall are about 20 per cent better than any bookie. Bet early, lay off at a better price amd you don't need to worry about who wins the event itself.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Hrothgar
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 02:25 AM

The IRB announced that the Australians could not have Waltzing Matilda as part of the pre-match goings on. Stopping the singing of it might be a greater challenge.

At the same time, I'll be surprised if a set of pipes (or two) don't turn up in crowd somewhere when Scotland are playing.

Mike, if you want to see the best Rugby at the moment, it's not Twickers you want, it's Australia (The USA team are based about three miles from where I am).

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: ard mhacha
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 03:49 AM

Thanks Fionn, that seems fair enough, I only have a wee flutter on the matches that are shown on TV, and the handicap betting is a bit of craic. I wouldn`t go to extremes, just the odd couple of grand. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Hrothgar
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 01:34 AM

Going to watch Scotland v USA tonight. We'll see about those pipes.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: GUEST,Monkey
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 11:11 AM

This is the explanation of the different codes of football advanced, I think, by Tony O'Reilly (nowadays Sir Anthony to us plebs):

Rugby, a game for bowsies played by gentlemen,
Soccer, a game for gentlemen played by bowsies,
Gaelic football, a game for bowsies played by bowsies.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 11:59 AM

And a bowsie is.....?

LTS - stunned that the English beat South Africa!

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: GUEST,Monkey
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 01:29 PM

Bowsies, along with blackguards, are the sort of person whose behaviour is frequently complained of by District Justices.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: mike the knife
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 05:29 PM

DOH! That's right Hrothgar- I knew that... *dope-slap*
For some reason Twickenham always has had a sort-of mythical "something" to me. Many moons ago, the father of a former girlfriend (British & played Lock for his local club when he was younger) waxed poetic about watching matches at Twickenham when I first met him- he was intrigued that a Yank played rugby & he & I both were dipping rather heavily into the grog ration that afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 07:21 PM

Mmmmm! Italy to come !

I was at a Union training school at Swansea, on Sunday Morning. By unanimuse vote proceedings were suspended to watch the Tonga game - Not good news for Wales, I am afraid, not one of the lads better perfirmances !

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 02:40 AM

And Scotland beat the USA 39-15. The worry for both sides is that Scotland weren't very good.

This isn't as good a Yank side as at the last World Cup - they were the only team to score a try against Australia in the pool rounds in 1999.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: mike the knife
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 11:00 AM

It has been a constant source of frustration for me that the US can't put a decent side together... we have flashes of brilliance, and then... well...
Most of our "athletes" are playing sports that pay big $$$ and most Yanks don't even see a rugby ball until they hit college. Other countries have youth programs, etc & have been playing for most of their lives when they get into serious competitive-level rugby. That's why our basketball teams have been unstoppable- these guys are weaned on the stuff.
How about the NZ/Canada match? Canada looked good through most of the 1st half & then the the Kiwis put it to 'em. I turned it off at the half.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:29 PM

It is England for the Final, and I will bet NZ will have a hell of a tussle with the Aussies but should come out on top.
From what I have seen so far the rest are only making up the numbers, it will be a job to pick the winner between the big three, I will stick my neck out and go for NZ. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Gurney
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 06:17 AM

Ard mhcha, I watched that first NZ-Italy game, and I thought that the scoreline only reflected how good the All-Black defence was. The Italians played hard and did not give an inch (remember inches?) but couldn't get through the 'thin black line".
Now, if they can keep it up all the way....

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: ard mhacha
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 05:31 PM

England have earned there easy run in to the Final, they overcame a stout South African challenge, with Wilkinson`s ability with the boot they will be tough nut to crack.
I am looking forward to the Aussie v NZ game, on home soil the Aussies won`t go down without a fight. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 07:23 PM

Well I'll keep shouting for Scotland whatever they do (with or without Martin Leslie (NZ - Scottish grandfaither or -mither))
I'm told it was Andy Gomersall who displayed his rippling muscles after having his shirt torn to shreds: the first of many as we were later to see in the S Africa game!

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Gareth
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 07:29 PM

A Question !

Were was the first engagement where Wales beat the All Blacks on neutral territory ?
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Roukes Drift !

Gareth - Ducking for cover !

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: ard mhacha
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 06:22 AM

Ireland were lucky winners over a gallant Argentine side and I forecast that England would swamp Samoa, unfortunately for England this swamp was full of Alligators in blue jerseys.
What a magnifcent effort by the Samoans, England looked rattled in that first hour, it was only there superior fitness in the last quarter that earned them the win.
At last two very competitive games to liven up this World Cup. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 11:14 AM

How about merging the 2 threads: "French hammer the Scots" and this one? Perhaps one of the technocrats can do it?
I wondered what was wrong with the Scots when the camera went down the line before the French game and they all twitched like they were having a minor fit: only afterwards the commentator said it was the "Martin Leslie twitch" in protest at the severity of his ban. What about Dallaglio and that South African guy: they should have both been banned after their behaviour!

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: Arnie
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 12:01 PM

England v Samoa was too close to call. Even Wilko's kicking let him down today! Anyway, well done England but Samoans can hold their heads up after a fine display. Any 'Catters in Samoa I wonder??

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby World Cup
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 02:23 PM

That was a close one, Ireland and Argentina. Either team would have been lucky winning. And no stupid hyped up national antagonism. That's the way to do it. Here