Anyone watching the rugby??

[Hot_Charlie]

Watched both matches, although missed the first 25 minutes of Wales v Fiji (doh!). What a match, and glad Fiji didn't blow it at the end...

Personally I'm looking forward to a South Africa v Argentina in the semis...

[steelsporran]

But at least that is two home nations through...

Tonks :yipeee:

If only for a little while...

[TSR2]

Ireland really let themselves down (and all of their suport.) Nice to see scotland going through, but as with when i went to see Ireland v Scoltland at Murryfield in the pre World Cup games.... where the hell did the Scots get their bulk from... in six months they have put on a phenomanal amount.

Hats off to England and Wales. The English went in with very modest ambitions (for as change) and after a poor show to start with, picked themselves up and have put in some sterling performances to go through. They've been a credit to their country.

All in all, great to see 2 home nations through to the next round. Personally, I think the All Blacks look unstopable. These guys are born carrying a Rugby ball. As an outside bet I'd say the SAFA's are looking good, but NZ look invincable.

[Hot_Charlie]

The only game I have seen at Twickernam was England v Aus (in 2000 I think) was a great match and England won that one... and of course there was the important one 4 years ago... so, you never know Fingers crossed :partyman:

Sadly 4 years ago was in a age where England were very similar to the home team of the great man Martin Johnson - they were very good at winning games, whether by putting 50 points people, or by grinding out hard fought tight victories - just as Leicester did from 1999-2002 (with their 54 game unbeaten run at home).

I think finally Brian Ashton came up with a game plan that worked (even if the Wilkinson/Barkley combination at 10/12 isn't ideal), finally injected some energy into the game bringing in Lewis Moody (I don't think Tom Rees is the man for the Oz game either), and one pass to no-one excepeted, Matt Tait fininally showed some promise in an England shirt under pressure.

Ireland really need to get a result, or the IRFU are going to look completely daft for remploying Eddie O'Sullivan for another 4 years... :roll:

[TSR2]

To be fair to Charlie, the players have to take most of the responsibility for the current Ireland lack of performance. O'Driscol taking the hump with Stringer, and O'Gara having a public pop at Boss is not helpful to the team in any way.

Re Games a Twickenham... I've enjoyed a few ventures there in recent years, both of the Ireland wins were very enjoyable. ;-)

Its been a great world cup so far for giving the minos a stage. Both Nambia and Georgia have impressed and helped keep a group wide open.

[Hot_Charlie]

To be fair to Charlie, the players have to take most of the responsibility for the current Ireland lack of performance. O'Driscol taking
the hump with Stringer, and O'Gara having a public pop at Boss is not helpful to the team in any way.

Sadly I think Stringer's been persevered with far too long - he never has been a world class player. As normal Eddie O'Sullivan has waited until he is virtually forced to pick an English based player. Thankfully for them Eoin Reddan is doing a fairly decent job...

[Hot_Charlie]

Well I am watching the Ireland game at the moment.... I think they need a miracle

I think they needed more than that!

[TSR2]

Agree Charlie, I've never rated Stringer, and there was a period where he was only included as they had noone else from the North they could pick. Fortuantely there are a fair few resonable guys in the squad now from Ulster, so there is no reason to keep Stringer in there unless he can prove himself.

Fingers crossed for England & Scotland in the next round.

[Hot_Charlie]

Agree Charlie, I've never rated Stringer, and there was a period where he was only included as they had noone else from the North they could pick. Fortuantely there are a fair few resonable guys in the squad now from Ulster, so there is no reason to keep Stringer in there unless he can prove himself.

Fingers crossed for England & Scotland in the next round.

Crossed for England, but for the good of the world game I think it's essential that Argentina get to the semi finals. Then I think the IRB will seriously have to find a way to let them into regular international competition. I'm a traditionalist, but sadly I fear we may need to break up the five/six nations to allow any serious competition in the future (and by having say two 4 nation tournaments, ease fixture congestion and player burn out), to allow Argentina to play against their peers regularly, and to develop countries that are so nearly there (Georgia and Romania perhaps). We've done it (sort of) with the Churchill Cup with the Eagles and Canada, so now it is time to let other marginalised countries in.

Of course the IRBs outdated politics, and the big nations looking after themselves, will never let it happen.

[Hot_Charlie]

Well, the England team's been released for the QF versus Australia. I have to say I'm largely impressed with the selection - fair enough bringing Vickery back - possibly worth having his experience on the field. I hope Farrell can perform as well as he did when he came on against Tonga too. Can't figure out why he's brought Mark Regan back though. He didn't exactly excel against the USA or South Africa, and George Chuter was commended for his performances against Samoa and Tonga.

Fingers crossed.