16-09-2003 21:39									#1
	Rugby World Cup 2003 - Crunch Time! Increase the size of your Attachments

Only a month to go before the opening match!! I can't wait!

	16-09-2003 21:44									#2
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To make things easier I thought it might be helpful if I posted a link to the old thread.

	17-09-2003 00:36									#3
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Yep! i like the name of the new thread

	17-09-2003 04:27									#4
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Yep. Good title.

quote: I see McCrae has grown up - his move to Gloucester has been delayed for at least another month after he was sent off playing for Sydney club Randwick. He called the touch judge a cheat.

It happened in club rugby on the weekend. I saw it. He was yellow carded by the ref for knocking the ball from an opponent's hands from an offside position. The decision was dodgy to say the least, but his response was immature to say the very least. He walked off the ground past the touchy, pointed at him and called him a cheat. The touchy immediately reported it to the ref, who called McCrae back and red carded him. Just to ice the cake, he got into an exchange of abuse with some oppo supporters as he walked along the fence to the dressing room.

Aside from the idiocy and irresponsibility, he could cost Randwick a club premiership. They're joint favourites for the title with the major preliminary and grand final matches left to play. Randwick have already lost a number of players to the Wallaby Cup squad and they couldn't afford to lose McCrae, which they now have.

It will barely interfere with his Gloucester appointment. He had another two weeks of finals matches here anyway.

	17-09-2003 04:45									#5
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What an arse!

	17-09-2003 04:59									#6
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It is, unfortunately, not a surprise. Gifted player, proven to be lacking in grey matter. Still, he will soon give Havak someone to hate at close quarters.

	17-09-2003 05:02									#7
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Jolly good, Havak needs more of those...

	17-09-2003 05:11									#8
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quote: Sorry, mon ami, every scrum on Saturday night was contested. True, they didn't crouch locked like a couple of copulating dogs for forty minutes, but then there was rugby to be played. - finbar

And they dare saying I am biased.

	17-09-2003 05:50									#9
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An outrageous accusation! The thought never crossed our minds!

And here's another one because we know you can't get enough of them:



And another one:

	17-09-2003 12:43									#10
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I see FFR has appeared under Tamerlin.

My dislike of Duncan McCrae is well founded - I've never seen anything like his assault on Ronan O'Gara in 2001 - a combination of 11 punches whilst he held the guys head to the ground with his other hand. And he then winked to the camera as he was dismissed from the field - what on earth was going through his mind?

But it goes back further than that - in his last abortive foray into our League with Saracens he was caught holding a player back by the shirt (as in a Warner brothers cartoon exagerated way) by Mr Johnson and cleared away by the same man. He then claimed his rib had been broken in the incident and that he would be out the game for 4-6 months. The very day after Mr Johnsons appeal against a four week suspension had been turned down, he ran back on the ptich for Saracens. It was somewhat less than 4 months. I don't think it was even one.

So no broken rib - and a fellow Professional is banned. And he got away with it!

So no loss at all to Australian rugby - just a shame he is being foisted on us. It will really help Gloucester clean their game up I don't think!

	17-09-2003 13:21									#11
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quote: Originally posted by Havak The very day after Mr Johnsons appeal against a four week suspension had been turned down, he ran back on the ptich for Saracens. It was somewhat less than 4 months. I don't think it was even one.

Gee, you've been taking objectivity lessons from Tamerlin.

quote: So no loss at all to Australian rugby - just a shame he is being foisted on us.

All part of a grand plan ... I shall say no more.

	17-09-2003 16:21									#12
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The problem here is that this guy has no respect for the "spirit" of the game. Callling officials "cheats", trying to get other players suspended............ Jeez.
I love the grey area of rugby, of trying to disrupt the oppposition , to impose your game on them, that is all part of the game. This is wrong.

	17-09-2003 17:34									#13
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Yep. And he's soon winging his way to play in England.

	17-09-2003 17:43									#14
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..again.

And I was being objective.

I was tempted to suggest he deliberately got a fellow player banned by faking an injury.

*Edit* I see Farr-Jones is tipping England. Thats torn it!

	17-09-2003 20:30									#15
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Farr-Jones, conveniently stirring up the poo-pot at his book launch.

He says it's the "enormous pressure" that will choke the AB's. Well, the AB's have always been under enormous pressure to win the world cup. The difference is that this year we're putting in the most talented team we've had for a long long time. I’d say there’s more pressure on the England team to win this cup, judging from what their media are saying.

	18-09-2003 04:28									#16
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I think there's going to be enormous pressure on both England and the ABs. It comes with favouritism. And, as history shows, favourites have a poor record in the WRC.

I wouldn't call this the most talented ABs team in a long time. I'd call it the most talented AB backline in a long time. It's certainly the most talented England team (possibly) ever. Just to increase the pressure a tad.

Last edited by finbar on 18-09-2003 at 04:33

	18-09-2003 04:35									#17
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quote: Originally posted by Havak *Edit* I see Farr-Jones is tipping England. Thats torn it!

Listen, you'll have grounds for concern when Campo tips them. Which, effectively, he already has.

	18-09-2003 05:04									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Havak I see FFR has appeared under Tamerlin.

This is the masochistic part of my self.

	18-09-2003 08:51									#19
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quote: Rugby World Cup 2003 - Crunch Time!

I was going to buy a couple of tickets for the France v Scotland game. At $95 I'm wondering if it would be worth it.

	18-09-2003 14:21									#20
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Scotland were awful last time out (against Ireland). It should be very one sided - is that worth your money?

The media is putting huge pressure on England here all right. I think it pales besides the pressure the players are putting on themselves. They seem very focused - so hopefully there will be no retreating to old types like we saw in the last QF (where our forwards trounced the Boks But Jannie De Beer had his only freakishly good game EVER)

	18-09-2003 14:33									#21
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And, in completely unrelated news, Clive has recently advanced a grade in his first aid qualification certificate with notable outstanding performances in the Heimlich manoeuvre.

	18-09-2003 14:41									#22
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quote: Originally posted by Big Crunch I was going to buy a couple of tickets for the France v Scotland game. At $95 I'm wondering if it would be worth it.

The French team is currently at the bottom of the hole after two very poor performances against England. As I told it in the previous Rugby thread, the least encouraging thing is that the game of the French team shows the same flaws and lacks for a year without any sign of improvement on the same period.

I don't see why there would be any improvement in the month preceding the RWC.

	18-09-2003 15:54									#23
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In other news Clive is claiming this morning that the first choice team will face Georgia in the opener. Yes Clive, whatever you say.

	18-09-2003 17:14									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Tamerlin The French team is currently at the bottom of the hole after two very poor performances against England. As I told it in the previous Rugby thread, the least encouraging thing is that the game of the French team shows the same flaws and lacks for a year without any sign of improvement on the same period. I don't see why there would be any improvement in the month preceding the RWC.

Now listen, Tamerlin, I've had enough of you bagging our team! If I'm going to be living over there - or next door in Italy - I don't want to hear that sort of thing! Lift your game!

	18-09-2003 17:26									#25
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Yes and a red card to you as well Finbar for ruining my day with mention of Campo earlier.

	18-09-2003 17:45									#26
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I thought it my duty to report that Campo said he considers England the favourites.



Oh, and FoxSports replayed the WRC final that you'd rather forget - the one where Campo apparently coached England - the other day. I watched it again. And taped it. Care for a copy?

	18-09-2003 19:41									#27
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No thanks - it's still late summer here so I haven't stoked up the old coal fire yet.

	18-09-2003 21:21									#28
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quote: Originally posted by finbar Now listen, Tamerlin, I've had enough of you bagging our team! If I'm going to be living over there - or next door in Italy - I don't want to hear that sort of thing! Lift your game!

Our!?!

I would like them to lift their game but I don't think they can as I am seriously doubting the best players have been selected at some key positions.

I am sure France can make it against teams that don't have good forwards (that means all the southern hemisphere teams to the exception of Argentina) but the inefficiency of the runners will take its toll against complete teams like England or Ireland.

	18-09-2003 23:22									#30
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I know this is a useless post but Caligastia's previous one is an occasion to celebrate.