would've love to have seen this game.

Lions (25) 65
Tries: Mjekevu 3, Clever, Spencer, La Grange, Chavhanga, Grobbelaar, Lombaard Cons: Rose 6, Francis Pens: Rose 2
Waikato Chiefs (27) 72
Tries: Bruce, Kahui 3, Donald, Messam, Poluleuligaga, Sivivatu, Leonard Cons: Donald 9 Pens: Donald 3

[news.bbc.co.uk]

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[kidsteel.bandcamp.com]

We Americans are very confused and slightly afraid of this "Rugby" you speak of.

going to a mates leaving so tonight, they sure as hell better have sports on screens at the pub he's chosen as a location, all i'm saying.

...and mrsj WILL be putting juniorj to bed tonight.

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"You know it is, it really is."

20 mins to go. 6-20. Could it be...? (cause it'll pain me to root for Albion)

A score in it!

That was horrible to watch. SO MANY ERRORS. If we had turned up in the first half (AGAIN!) things would have been so different.

A few good things - Bradley Davies and Richie Rees both playing blinders; Shane scoring on his birthday; the fact that we finally showed we could play - but also WHY DIDN'T JAMIE ROBERTS PASS THAT BALL? And WTF was Lee Byrne doing with that kick to the corner???

Got to root for Scotland & Ireland tomorrow. I have to go with the fact that I only support the 2 teams - Wales and whoever's playing England - so as long as they don't win it that's all that matters...

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"You know it is, it really is."

Did you see that?!

THAT's why I bloody love this game.

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"You know it is, it really is."

Damn. Oh well. Bowe was the difference today I guess. That was a good game.

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[kidsteel.bandcamp.com]

Good buzz, alright.

Great to see a score off 1st phase again. 3 tries to 1, would have been a scandal if England won. Boot aside, Sexton had a good game, but glad to see O'Gara's cameo at the end.

Now the dilemma of France vs. England...

Saw the Roberts/Hook snafu again this evening - what might have been...

Also saw the Delon Armitage 'tackle' (elbow to head) on Sexton just before the first try again. Can't believe he hasn't been cited.

ugh every result of this past weekends rugby was upsetting to me.
i'd rather not talk about it.
france must not win.

Assuming we're agreed on rooting for Italy on Sunday, can I get a maffj hunch for tomorrow? I've a sneaky feeling it'll be Ireland by 20, without ignoring the possibility that it could be Wales by 20. I wouldn't bet against Scotland, either.

I think you called it there you know. Could be tight, could be a comfortable win either way. I'd love to see a close game all the way through without Wales dozing through the first half again.

I do think Scotland will bring it for the Calcutta Cup game and obviously wins for them and Italy leaves next weekend wide open but realistically we're looking at France throwing points past Italy for fun to add to their +38 points difference making it really tough for anyone to top them.

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"You know it is, it really is."

Got to be happy with that. I almost put a bet on for Ireland to win by 14+ and Scotland to beat the handicap.

Whither Wales, though? Didn't really look like scoring a try, seemed happy to keep the ball in retreat and yet another yellow card changing the course of the game. But for the late rally against Scotland, Gatland would be gone and might yet go still.

Good to see O'Leary have such an assured game and happy that Earls put a few ghosts to bed.

This ruck law interpretation will run and run. Amazed there wasn't a card for the Irish for persistent infringing - maybe Joubert was giving a bit of leeway on that law (or would 13OD have been carded if he wasn't getting his 100th cap?).

hmph

Leinster 29-28 Clermont Auvergne.

Phew. Crock James!

Rugby sucks!

Can anyone recommend a good Aussie sport radio station that has live audio streaming for tomorrow's match?

maffj - Odds on Wales playing for 80 minutes this weekend?

Hi Kayem.

Quote
Johnp
Can anyone recommend a good Aussie sport radio station that has live audio streaming for tomorrow's match?

maffj - Odds on Wales playing for 80 minutes this weekend?

Hi Kayem.

Hi Johnp

I've been hiding under a rock called "i got drunk at the AGM an accidentaly woke up president of the junior rugby club" - sorry I didn't respond to your request for streaming sources.

Not sure there are any good sources - the broadcasting here in Oz is all sewn up with advertising rights. Sometimes the local ABC stream local and S14 matches through abc.net.au - but generally the tests are a closed shop for Foxtel and Channel 7 (Prime).

At any rate - the game was awful - a true abomination. I was just glad I got to see some good rugby today watching the U13s and U14s play in a gala day at Tuggeranong. In the international, Bryce Lawrence blew the pea out and destroyed a game that the players were trying hard to kill themselves. If this is the best that Australia can summon then the Tri-Nations is going to be a bloodbath. Only watch Aus v Ire if you need a cautionary tale.

BTW - Melbourne did get the new S15 franchise which is interesting as most Melburnians can't spell "rugby". The results of this further dilution of Australia's slim development model should be painful to watch.

Weel Johnp, it seems we can play for 90 mins but even when we do the best we can hope for is to equal our "best" defeat against the All Blacks. Really, I think it's too much to hope for that we beat them on their own turf.

I have days when I wonder if us beating them is something that I'll ever see in my lifetime...

Your game against the Aussies seems to be a much closer affair and I feel for you.

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"You know it is, it really is."

3N is afoot good followers of "random rugby thread" - I've been on tour in NZ with 21 x U13s for a fortnight which has thrown my meter somewhat. But have you seen the All Blacks form? I watched the first 3N test All Blacks vs Springboks at a pub in Hamner Springs with a pack of locals and I have to say it blew my mind. I missed the second installment due to travel but saw the scoreboard devastation afterwards.

Graham Henry seems to have hit on a winning formula ... replace all people on the team with replicant cyborg rugby robots. The intensity and structure of the All Blacks game was true testworthy material. Even as a true believer, I fear that the Wallabies are about to be eaten alive. And there is no room for another consolidation year coming into the World Cup in 2011.

I'm sorry my northern hemisphere friends - but I doubt any team's ability to withstand 80 mins of 3N via NZ onslaught.

Have only had the chance to read reports, but it seems like the ABs are staying true to form. Peak about 12-18 months before the RWC -> self-belief -> over-confidence -> France on form. Au revoir, mes elephantes.

Quote
Kayem
I've been hiding under a rock called "i got drunk at the AGM an accidentaly woke up president of the junior rugby club" - sorry I didn't respond to your request for streaming sources.

Not sure there are any good sources - the broadcasting here in Oz is all sewn up with advertising rights. Sometimes the local ABC stream local and S14 matches through abc.net.au - but generally the tests are a closed shop for Foxtel and Channel 7 (Prime).

Ended up finding live commentary of League, Footie, Cricket and f'n yabby-diving, but no Union... The less said about the game, the better. (Has Giteau found his boots yet?)

Schedule for the European Cup was published today. Appetite whetted.

Oh God help us.

Here in the antipodes we are wondering how our national team can get repeatedly marched 10m for dissent and take red cards for repeat yellows off constant professional fouls. We were monstered - and the worst bit is we have a rematch next week at Jade Stadium before a trip to Africa. Centrebet are now giving $4.50 for the Wallabies in the RWC and I reckon that is generous - methinks the market is being skewed by the betting power of cashed up true believers (no doubt Sydneysiders whose mortgages depend on bubble economics).

The scariest thing is that Deans is looking down the barrel of complete humiliation in Christchurch next week, making a homecoming with a very substandard squad ... how can he lead in this situation? Ah - but we love to lynch our leaders here in Australia when the going is grim so Deans is looking a bit wobbly and very, very Australian.

Coming off the back of the win agains SA last week I am astounded at the slip in Wallabies form when confronted by a real opposition - just as I was astounded by the S14 masters from SA fielding such a piss weak 3N game in Brisbane last week.

In interesting news - I see that Kazakstan and Tunisia were bundled out of RWC contention by Romania and Uruguay. A shame really - I would buy a Kazak jersey.

Kayem

Licking wounds and feeling bitter

Three months is a long time, I guess. First Hong Kong, then Paris. Second half yesterday was mind-blowing. Aussies scoring for fun, France sipping Napoleon brandy well before final whistle.

Made my first trip to the new Lansdowne Road today for Irl v. Arg. - two rows behind the Arg. bench. A fine game, albeit a cold one, maybe more suited to the Kazhaks than the Pumas.

Hasn't been a great autumn for Ireland, but whither Wales (maffj)?