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Rugby World Cup 2007
England v France
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<blockquote data-quote="Triniquint" data-source="post: 154599"><p>If everybody knows England play this supposed 10-man, boring, rugby, why can't they counter it? If England 'stifle' the opposition, and the opposition can't stop them, then how good are the opposition? The thing about England is that they have played poor, losing matches since they won the World Cup in 2003. Prior to that tournament, they were the No.1 Ranked team, and had beaten virtually all before them, not only at impregnable 'fortress' Twickenham, but also on the other teams home grounds, be that NZ, Australia, or anywhere else. And even then they were called rubbish. Amazing or what?</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Since then they have lost more matches than they have won, had become utter bilge, and were laughed at, jeered at, and scorned as the most useless World Champions in history. And the start of their campaign in this RWC looked horrible.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>But they have come together, and played to their strengths. But what have been their strengths? First of all, to march on regardless. To regroup, bloodied and battered, square their shoulders, take a deep breathe, and go in again, and again, and again - and that requires resolution and courage. Exemplary. They started to win, and yes, win ugly as it has been called. But if the other teams were so better, why haven't they stopped England?</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>NZ were, and probably still are, the best team on the planet -- and they lost to France who played no better than England, but had the same testicular fortitude to play NZ in a way which flummoxed the ABs, and not used to being flummoxed, they lost their way and became clueless, perhaps mindless. They got into a situation they hadn't been in before, a hard, physical match with opponents who hit them tactically, who knew rugby and how to stop the ABs, and did so, and the much vaunted ABs imploded, lost their way, and did the unthinkable, but what the French knew, and what we all suspected of the ABS - they choked. They lost.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>I'd previously watched the ABs run up 100+ against some team or another and found that SO boring I turned it off. When up against it however, when faced with a fist, they blew it.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>England have persevered against the odds, and my respect for them has risen tremendously over this World Cup. I support them, being English, but was half-hearted about them. No longer. The swaggering big-heads of the rugby world have all but gone. Only the Boks remain, and I hope Argentina, SH or not, turn them over similarly.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>If you want to watch diet rugby, watch Australian Rules, or League, or dodge ball. Leave the hard graftnig rugby union to those who can quarry out a win against all the odds. Who can do the business.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>God I just Love England, and their heart. What a testament to determination and guts.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Keep going lads.......</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Triniquint, post: 154599"] If everybody knows England play this supposed 10-man, boring, rugby, why can't they counter it? If England 'stifle' the opposition, and the opposition can't stop them, then how good are the opposition? The thing about England is that they have played poor, losing matches since they won the World Cup in 2003. Prior to that tournament, they were the No.1 Ranked team, and had beaten virtually all before them, not only at impregnable 'fortress' Twickenham, but also on the other teams home grounds, be that NZ, Australia, or anywhere else. And even then they were called rubbish. Amazing or what? Since then they have lost more matches than they have won, had become utter bilge, and were laughed at, jeered at, and scorned as the most useless World Champions in history. And the start of their campaign in this RWC looked horrible. But they have come together, and played to their strengths. But what have been their strengths? First of all, to march on regardless. To regroup, bloodied and battered, square their shoulders, take a deep breathe, and go in again, and again, and again - and that requires resolution and courage. Exemplary. They started to win, and yes, win ugly as it has been called. But if the other teams were so better, why haven't they stopped England? NZ were, and probably still are, the best team on the planet -- and they lost to France who played no better than England, but had the same testicular fortitude to play NZ in a way which flummoxed the ABs, and not used to being flummoxed, they lost their way and became clueless, perhaps mindless. They got into a situation they hadn't been in before, a hard, physical match with opponents who hit them tactically, who knew rugby and how to stop the ABs, and did so, and the much vaunted ABs imploded, lost their way, and did the unthinkable, but what the French knew, and what we all suspected of the ABS - they choked. They lost. I'd previously watched the ABs run up 100+ against some team or another and found that SO boring I turned it off. When up against it however, when faced with a fist, they blew it. England have persevered against the odds, and my respect for them has risen tremendously over this World Cup. I support them, being English, but was half-hearted about them. No longer. The swaggering big-heads of the rugby world have all but gone. Only the Boks remain, and I hope Argentina, SH or not, turn them over similarly. If you want to watch diet rugby, watch Australian Rules, or League, or dodge ball. Leave the hard graftnig rugby union to those who can quarry out a win against all the odds. Who can do the business. God I just Love England, and their heart. What a testament to determination and guts. Keep going lads....... [/QUOTE]
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