Wasn’t Sat great?

9 October 2007


After we left the RWC and headed home I has to switch and support some other countries. As mentioned, I did the almost unthinkable and cheered on England against Australia. And what a match! And that was followed by France V new Zealand. And for all the moaning about the ref I couldn’t see much wrong with his decisions. Yes, it was a forward pass that led to the French try, but refs miss forward passes all the time. It hurts when it your team that suffers, but swings and roundabouts folks. For the rest of it I thought he was quite fair, although France do seem to be able to play different refs a lot better than other countries.

Sun didn’t go so well. Fiji lost, although South Africa almost threw it away before realising what was happening and putting the squeeze on. And in the final quarter-final, I know, I said before hand that I’d support Argentina, but once it started I just couldn’t. Too many years of cheering Scotland on.

I don’t think Argentina played their best, but their game plan is very effective, and those moments of brilliance mean you just can’t begrudge them a win. Apart from when they beat us, obviously, and I suppose if you were Scottish.

So we’ll have one Six Nations team in the final and probably one Tri Nations. There is the possibility that Argentina will beat the South Africans, and wouldn’t that be something, but I just think that SA have too much skill and power all over the pitch. I’m hoping that Argentina do it, but my head says they won’t.

If they make it I’ll be cheering them on in the final, otherwise I’ll be shouting for France. I can’t see England doing the impossible two weeks in a row. Although anything is possible I suppose.

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8 Responses

  1. Harlequin says:

    So England did the impossible, eh? Does that make them mighty? ;-)

  2. anne says:

    No. No it doesn't, H.

    I'm so annoyed at Scotland… If they'd made it, I would have cheered them on all the way. I'm kind of hoping (as a political statement, you know…) that France loses in the final (but NOT before that – to England, that would be mortifying).

    We'll see…

  3. Fence says:

    :wry smile: No H, it does not make them mighty, not in the slightest.

    Anne, I can't believe you wouldn't support France if they got to the final! You're an ex-pat now, supposed to be ultra-patriotic and what not.

    I think my dislike of Filippe Contepomi is preventing me from getting whole-heartedly behind Argentina. Still hope they win though.

  4. Alan says:

    Yup, I'm an Argentina fan now as well, although I think South Africa are the obvious winners. Still, I think the Pumas have made a strong case for the Tri-Nations to be expanded by one team sometime very soon.

  5. Fence says:

    SA are obvious winners, but so too were NZ and Australia on Sat. So there is always hope.

  6. anne says:

    OK, you want the political statement in full? Our ultra con (bilingual pun intended) president nominated Bernard Laporte in his govt – he's supposed to join right after RWC.

    What will really shit me is if France wins, Sarkozy will use the "Winning France" theme ad nauseam. Hence…

  7. Fence says:

    Oh yeah, that Sarkozy dude, another reason for me to cheer on Argentina then.

  8. weenie says:

    England impossibly beat the Aussies so there's always a chance they'll do it again against the French.

    Argentina could possibly pull it off against South Africa, which would nicely set up a final between England and Argentina. This would bring a huge amount of publicity for rugby that is usually reserved for football. Game on!