So, France v New Zealand...

[Churchill]

McCaw isn't awesome, he's simply extremely competent.

He described his team and performance as "awesome".

[Mich the Tester]

I'd be more worried they haven't shown their A game yet, as they do have one. All they needed to do, they've done. If NZ freeze up a little, and France free up a little, my £25 might look a decent punt.

Dusautoir and Harinordoquy might be the only back row players at the RWC who can disrupt NZ at the breakdown if they hunt together. They'll have to run like hell all afternoon though.

[malvolio]

My only guess was they wanted to free up the pile of bodies in the ruck - Wales seemed to do it all over the pitch and weren't even trying to run... the guy caught the ball and just took one step into the French guys standing right in front of him.

That's down to the French not attacking the ruck in case Wales got a breakthrough - they kept all their players in tackling positions and smothered the game. For example, Jones says the drop goal wasn't attempted because France kept the Welsh kicker too far back. Also, you note, they didn't risk giving away a penalty, which is dead easy if you're not actually trying to do anything at all other than stand there.

What seriously annoys me is that France are in the final by playing not to lose rather than to win. That's not what the contest is about.

[Mich the Tester]

He described his team and performance as "awesome".

He's the captain; it's his job to give praise where it's due.

[Churchill]

He's the captain; it's his job to give praise where it's due.

He could've kept it within the squad though, eh?

[Arturo Bassick]

I would like to see a NZ win.
There are no Kiwis in my office.
There are quite a few French who will be intolerable.
There are quite a few Aussies who will be pissed off with NZ as world champs.


Malvolio: The idea of the contest is to win the trophy. How you do it is down to you. It may not be pretty, but it got them to the final.

[Mich the Tester]

He could've kept it within the squad though, eh?

Criticism behind closed doors, positive stuff in public, unless there's nothing positive to say, in which case the mouth should remain shut.

[Churchill]

Criticism behind closed doors, positive stuff in public, unless there's nothing positive to say, in which case the mouth should remain shut.

"Rugby player drinks beer, shocker!"

Behind closed doors doesn't exist the way it used to.

[Mich the Tester]

"Rugby player drinks beer, shocker!"

Behind closed doors doesn't exist the way it used to.

No, but it some aspects, it should.

[Wodewick]

What seriously annoys me is that France are in the final by playing not to lose rather than to win. That's not what the contest is about.

B0llocks! (To use your terminology).

You are just spouting tulip!