WALES V Australia


Half Time
Wales 6 - 9 Australia

Full Time
Wales 6 - 15 Australia



Australia Win.

Pool A
1st Australia, 2nd Wales

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

England V Uruguay

Eng 60 - 3 Uruguay

England win (with 4 try bonus point)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Unfortunately neither of the "alternative" narratives that I proposed happened.

They WOULD have made the next round FAR more interesting, with Japan involved, and Wales in a stream where they had a good chance of making it to the FINAL.

My assessment is that the FINAL will be NZ V Australia.. which is BORING since they play several times every year anyway. They have already met TWICE this year (not long before the RWC).

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Remaining Pool play - Tomorrow

Sun 11
Argentina v Namibia, Leicester
12:00 local, 11:00 GMT
(Meaningless Game)

Italy v Romania, Exeter
14:30 local, 13:30 GMT
(Decides 3rd Place Pool Pool D)

France v Ireland, Millennium Stadium
16:45 local, 15:45 GMT
(Decides 1st and 2nd places Pool D)

Japan v United States of America, Gloucester
20:00 local, 19:00 GMT
(Meaningless Game)



ESPN Fixtures
http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/ ... ional.html[/quote]

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Results

Argentina 64 - 19 Namibia
Argentina Win (with 4 try bonus)


Italy 32 - 22 Romania
Italy win (with 4 try bonus)


France 9 - 24 Ireland
Ireland win


Japan 28 - 18 United States of America
Japan Win

Japan won THREE of their pool games, including a WIN against SA, the eventual Pool B leader

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

So the Pool stage is over. See the "Reference thread" for final points scores and placings in the 4 Pools.

viewtopic.php?f=104&t=1600&p=105844#p105921


Next weekend the QUARTER-FINALS are on...



Sat 17
South Africa v Wales, Twickenham
16:00 local, 15:00 GMT

New Zealand v France, Millennium Stadium
20:00 local, 19:00 GMT

Sun 18
Argentina v Ireland, Millennium Stadium
13:00 local, 12:00 GMT

Australia v Scotland, Twickenham
16:00 local, 15:00 GMT



ESPN fixtures
http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/ ... ional.html

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I have a prediction for the rest of the Tournament



I could have replaced Ireland with Argentina ( a split decision).. but that would make it an ALL SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Semi-finals, let alone finals, weekend. Which is an accurate indication, though it might be denied by Northern fans (journalists), of the State of Rugby.. as it as always been.. Southern Rugby is of a higher standard (Mostly)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I am NOT writing Wales off

But with all the injuries I think realistically they will struggle to beat a rampant South African team... let alone the Allblacks if they do get past SA.

Then again.. maybe the Welsh players can channel their inner "Rorke's Drift"

Men of Harlech
(150 Welshmen V 4,000 Zulu (in South Africa)



"Welshmen never yield"

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Clip from BEFORE the Wales V Australia game....

Australia v Wales | RWC 2015 | LONDON:DC

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

THAT is hilarious!

And the Zulu clip never gets old!

It's gonna be a long week!

A Blast from the past.... 1999 WALES hosted RWC

Stereophonics Live at the Rugby World Cup

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

He was so young!

You know, I think he would bring the house down if they were to play this year, even in England. They were on tour between cities last Saturday, but this is pic he tweeted "little flag but big game."

There is a HISTORY with Allblacks facing France in a RWC quarter final, at Cardiff.

We have been here before... 2007... RWC Quarter-final... Allblacks V France... Millenium Stadium, Cardiff.. and the AB's LOST and so were eliminated from the WC at Quarter-final stage.. despite being favored to win the RWC. Deja fuckin' Vu all over again this time around
There was even talk of WAYNE BARNES being the Ref.... AGAIN
To this day the ref Wayne Barnes is BLAMED for a CRAPPY job (biased anti NZ) for that Upset result... France winning and so removing the AB's at Quarter final stage.
But.................

Welshman Nigel Owens will referee the All Blacks' World Cup quarterfinal match against France in Cardiff on Sunday morning (NZT).

The appointment of Owens has put an end to speculation as to whether Wayne Barnes, who controlled the quarterfinal between the All Blacks and France in Cardiff in 2007, would return to take charge of the fixture at Millennium Stadium.

Barnes proved to be a controversial figure in that match, won 20-18 by France. The loss almost cost coach Graham Henry his job and when he fronted the New Zealand Rugby board to argue why he should keep his position, he made specific mention of the mistakes made by Barnes in that sudden-death fixture.
[...]
England's Barnes will take charge of the first match on Sunday morning, between South Africa and Wales at Twickenham. He will be joined by assistant referees George Clancy (Ireland) and JP Doyle (England) with the television match official being Graham Hughes, also of England.

Nigel Owens, Jérôme Garcès and Craig Joubert have been appointed to the other three quarterfinals in Cardiff and London this weekend.

Owens will be assisted by Jaco Peyper of South Africa and John Lacey of Ireland. The TMO will be South Africa's Shaun Veldsman.

... more at link
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all- ... in-cardiff

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I do remember there was "hell to pay" over Barnes' refereeing performance.. which I agreed with at the time...but I don't now remember the details... I just know that all of NZ (Rugby fans) have never forgotten, never forgiven Wayne Barnes. I wonder why he still has a job, at least at WC level??

The BAD news is......

WALES ends up with Wayne Barnes.. and a pommy Rugby Ref is NOT likely to be a FAN of Welsh Rugby team... Gnomesayin?

I guess though he probably doesn't like SA either

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I did a quick google and an article at the time of release of Richie McCaw's book(2012), after NZ had finally WON RWC (2011) (beating France in the Final) is a good reminder....

All Blacks: McCaw blasts Barnes appointment
5:30 AM Tuesday Oct 9, 2012

World Cup-winning skipper says inexperienced English referee out of his depth in 2007 RWC quarter-final.



Richie McCaw has lambasted the 2007 Rugby World Cup organisers who "appointed the most inexperienced referee on the roster" for the All Blacks' infamous quarter-final against France.
Englishman Wayne Barnes left the nation seething after a string of poor decisions which tipped the competition favourites off balance and saw them knocked out.
In an extract from his new book, The Open Side, provided exclusively to the Herald, captain McCaw talks about the team's campaign and their 20-18 loss.
Speaking for the first time about the ref, the usually reserved flanker said:

"I don't blame Barnes, but I do blame the people who appointed the most inexperienced referee on the roster to a RWC quarter-final between the hosts and the favourites. I thought both teams deserved a referee with experience.
"My beef isn't with Barnes so much as with his inexperience. This was Barnes' biggest game by far. On the big stage, an inexperienced referee is likely to become so afraid of making a mistake that he stops making any decisions at all.
"By the end of it, I thought Barnes was frozen with fear and wouldn't make any big calls."

Among his decisions, Barnes missed a host of apparent ruck indiscretions by the French and a forward pass that led directly to a French try.
France lost to England in the semis. South Africa won the tournament.
McCaw's comments follow claims in former All Black coach Sir Graham Henry's book that the team were victims of match-fixing.
McCaw, 31, also talks about what went through his head four years later when the whistle blew to end the 2011 RWC final - meaning the All Blacks had won for the first time since 1987.
After beating France 8-7, the next few moments went by in a blur, he said.

"The moment I've been waiting four years for. I thought I'd feel more. It's like I'm seeing it all through someone else's eyes. The welling emotion of the crowd rolling over me, too mentally and physically shot to really respond."

...more at link
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=10839273

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

1st Quarter-final RWC 2015

Sat 17
South Africa v Wales, Twickenham
16:00 local, 15:00 GMT


Once again, Welshmen face a "Tough" South African Team.... turned out Ok last time... Gnomesayin?

John Barry - Zulu Main Theme



I think they should play the John Barry "Zulu" theme LOUD as players take the field.... then the Welsh Crowd (even at Twickenham) should burst into a rousing rendition of "Men of Harlech" ( Lyrics as adapted for the Zulu Movie)

Zulu - Men Of Harlech - Original Soundtrack by John Barry



Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spearpoints gleaming
See their warrior pennants streaming
To this battle field

Men of Harlech stand ye steady
It can not be ever said ye
For the battle were not ready
Welshmen never yield

From the hills rebounding
Let this war cry sounding
Summon all at Cambria's call
The mighty force surrounding

Men of Harlech on to glory
This will ever be your story
Keep these burning words before ye
Welshmen will not yield


Welshmen never yield

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Quarter-finals weekend

Sat 17
South Africa v Wales, Twickenham
16:00 local, 15:00 GMT

New Zealand v France, Millennium Stadium
20:00 local, 19:00 GMT

Sun 18
Argentina v Ireland, Millennium Stadium
13:00 local, 12:00 GMT

Australia v Scotland, Twickenham
16:00 local, 15:00 GMT



ESPN fixtures
http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/ ... ional.html

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Ref Wayne Barnes is getting on my tits.. a bit... some dubious penalties

Wales leading at half time is great

Half Time
WALES 13 - SA 12

Full Time
Wales 19 - SA 23

SA win

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

There has been a lot of HYPE about how good France are? How the AB's have a hang-up about being beaten by France?

I DO NOT rate France.

Just to go on record... I predict a big win by the AB's

Guess: Fra 16 - NZ 33

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

AB's did their "2nd" haka ("Kapa o Pango" ).... referred to as the "Throat cutting" haka when it was first performed (2005)

There was a lot of girly whining about the throat-cut gesture.. at the end.. so its been toned down a bit

It is not the familiar haka "Ka Mate, Ka Mate".. AB's bring it out for the odd "special" match.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light