Kiwis want Barnes’s blood
Furious All Blacks fans have put a NZ$1,000 bounty on the head of Wayne Barnes.
The English referee played a huge part in the Cardiff quarter-final. He sent Luke McAlister to the sin bin for a professional foul, missed a blatant forward pass in the build-up to Yannick Jauzion’s match-winning try and failed to penalised French hands in the ruck near the end of the game. Barnes also appeared to target All Blacks captain Richie McCaw at the breakdown.
A fan, or fans, doctored Barnes’s Wikipedia entry over the weekend (Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that is edited by its readers), which starts: Wayne Barnes is a c*** and goes on to say he “suffers from a vision-related disease which results in him being unable to see forward passes” and “gave up law to take up refereeing because he couldn’t read any “f***ing law books.”
A $NZ1000 bounty is also offered to the person who “finds him for me and keeps him under lock and key until I get there.”
The Barnes attack includes a threat to “f***** rip off your head you w*****”. It calls him a “sack of “s***” and warns in capital letters: “WE WILL FIND YOU”.
Barnes’s performance has also been questioned by leading New Zealand website RugbyHeaven, which has changed it’s name to RugbyHell since the loss to France.
“This was the Tri-Nations champions against the Six Nations,” wrote Duncan Johnstone. “It was the best team in the world against the tournament hosts on a hugely emotionally occasion. Sounds like it might have needed the best referee in the world. I don’t think we got that person dished up to us.
“And perhaps astute TV commentator and former All Black (and World Cup winner) Grant Fox hit the nail on the head when he suggested that while the French were now moving forward in the competition, Barnes should not.”
– To read the uncensored Wikipedia entry on Barnes click here
– To read Johnstone’s full column on Barnes click here.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:14 am
anyone know who the refs will be this weekend?
October 8th, 2007 at 9:14 am
AB odds-on favorites to lift cup in 2011 !!!!
October 8th, 2007 at 9:17 am
#43 what’s your point?
As for you ruck, I hate to disagree but I read an article on here by Mark Keohane that was entitled “North flops, South tops” or words to that effect. Have also read many bloggers writing off the NH teams BEFORE the knockout stages of the tournament began. Add to that the predictions of an all SH semi final line-up that I have read many times on this site and others based south of the equator and you get my meaning.
For the record, I live in the Gulf now so don’t get a chance to read the British media (thank the lord) and rely on keo and others for my rugby news…. and I hope the Boks win the RWC now my lot are on the plane home!
October 8th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Seriously… commiserations to the AB supporters… they must be gutted… as we would be… (and will be if we don’t win the WC…)
I just hope you guys remember the feeling and when the ABs start winning again… (read – in their next match) you will be a little more sympathetic to the losing supporters…
even the best can fail… so a little more humility when you guys clean up again will go a long way…
October 8th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Morning NamBlack.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Shame poor ******** ,
they lost end of story.
The be the best you have to beat the best.
and the All Blacks are poor.
The only reason why they play well between World Cups
is because other teams dont care what happens with those matches.All that matters is the World Cup and it proves the All Blacks are not that good as what they think they are.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:28 am
#53 – You’re correct Johnnymain, we stoked the fires down South. But I still believe the most fervent critics and “writer off – ers” were the experts up north. Keo, in fact was probably the ONLY journo in the free world to predict a Pom win against Oz…. Yes, we crowed at the perceived “demise” of NH rugby – but lets be honest, the NH teams didn’t exactly instil much confidence in those first weeks….And then most people “read it like they see it…….”.
For the WC’s sake, I am relieved 2 NH teams ARE still alive in the tournie……For rugby’s sake, I am distressed that my SH brethren are out…
Hell, not being able to read the British rags must be awful…(NOT NOT NOT…) I s’pose thats the greatest benefit of being where you are…..
RE: The Gulf – Have you been to the Ex Pats rugby club? It seems that rugby is gaining some sort of cult following in the Gulf…..Watched the IRB youngster tournie earlier in the year, that was played there. Looked great………..As I recall the weather also “turned up”……
October 8th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Soooo Namblack. Going to change your name to NamBok after the WC.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:36 am
As I asked on another thread in response to the general attitude ‘that who wins the world cup is the best in the world’, if England (hypothetically of course) actually come through and win does this make them the best team in the world or only the winner of this tournament. Only wanting to test your resolve here.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I feel that the wind has been taken right out of the sales for the rest of the tournament. If the Boks make the final, it will be a great game. But we will always feel that we have been robbed of the true test, the one that we should have played against the all blacks.
A great pitty.
Again, does anyone know who the refs will be on Saturday?
October 8th, 2007 at 9:44 am
All refs make mistakes … it’s part of the game.
The only thing you can control is how you respond … ask JP Pietersen
As for the yellow card – it was justified and that “hands in the ruck” incident was laughable … the ball was out and the ref was right there to see it.
The Blacks have no-one to blame but themselves. They underestimated France and when things started going downhill they had no plan B.
But of course that will not stop them bitching about the ref until … well, until they finally win the World Cup again. Oh, God … we are going to have to put up with this for long.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:46 am
I knew this was coming when Graham Henry mentioned “not getting the rub of the green” in his post-match interview. At the time I thought to myself: this will probably become the reason for their loss. And, once again, I was right.
There seem to be loads of passes at this World Cup that may or may not be forward. It feels like the backs are trying to cut it finer and finer when it comes to the flat, attacking pass. Some are blown up and some aren’t. The AB’s are probably more guilty of getting away with “flatter than flat passes” than any other team. So I find it in poor taste that this becomes their excuse.
I love the way they play the game. But I hate the way they pass the buck.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Hello all…
Frankly, this is getting a bit ridiculous now.
On that other website, that recently changed its name from “Heaven” to “Hell”, the main story is about how, in spite of RSA narrowly beating Fiji, JW just couldn’t resist “attacking” the ABs/Kiwis….
So, I click and read the article, fully expecting another embarrassing case of foot in mouth from our coach Jake “I would’nt pick any of their players in my team” White…
And what do I find – nothing!
Please, please go and read that article…
WTF?
He hardly says anything directly, and I thought, at the most, what he was saying was pretty accurate – not even sounding remotely arrogant, but the author really bent over backwards in finding an “attack” in his words!
It’s pathetic.
Really is a sorry confirmation of how hallowed the ABs are, in their media, and a ridiculous demonstration of how low the media is willing to go in order to convert their ABs into the victims, who – when down – are ‘repeatedly kicked’ by the arrogant Saffas and their coach…
If that was a verbal attack by White, and a demonstration of how arrogant South Africans are – then I am beginning to understand why so many Kiwis and Aussies find us all arrogant – because I can promise you this: It’s not really hard to say anything that can be twisted into an arrogant attack…
Really, really sad…
October 8th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Captain #50 I like your attitude. Can’t say it would have been the same from our side.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:50 am
$42 Ataturk.
Post me my 10%. (big,big smilie).
Dr Ruck,
Your couch would be doing a roaring trade over here today. I could do with some therapy myself.
Capt Fanny.#48.
Well said.
To all those who don’t know the stats.
All Areas won easily by the AB’s.
Except scoreboard and penalty count.
France conceded NOT ONE penalty in the second half.
This was not a French Rugby team. This was a collection of living breathing Saints.(yeah right).
Now that is not why we lost, but lets just say it didn’t help.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:50 am
#59 – No, whoever wins the world cup has just done that – won the world cup. Doesn’t make them the greatest team in the world by a long stretch.
It makes them the team that did well in the tournie, nothing more and nothing less. Anyone that thinks winning the Cup, makes you the best in the world – is about as delusional as Matt Dunning before the Pom game, “Bring it on…”, as I recall…
Kudus to the team that win the cup, but being the best in the world is far far more than displaying a “rather” ugly trophy in your cabinet. (Though of course, we would all love to…)
Just ask Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, etc etc. Are they suddenly NOT the greatest in the world any longer, when on those rare occasions they taste defeat??????
October 8th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Our local club in Q8 is the Nomads, still haven’t checked them out but it’s early days.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Maybe this post will get pulled – sorry if it does:
But here’s the article I spoke about in #63 [Off RugbyHeaven.co.nz -c/o Marc Hinton]
“Jake has dig at Henry as Boks stay alive -
Never mind the anxious moments and level of opposition, Springboks coach Jake White couldn’t resist the opportunity to take aim at his Tri-Nations rivals after South Africa was left as the only one of the big three still standing at the Rugby World Cup – albeit after scratching past Fiji 37-20.
Audio: RugbyHeaven co-editor Marc Hinton on ’sensational Saturday’ and Jake White’s outbursts.
South Africa survived a stern quarter-final examination from the Fijians to eventually prevail in a match that was a lot closer than the final score suggests.
The two sides had been locked at 20-20 heading into the final quarter and Fiji were just inches away from a score in the corner that would have given them the lead with a dozen minutes left.
But the Boks survived the Fijian assault and finished the match on the ascendancy, crossing for two tries that rather flattered them in the final accounting.
Asked about the way his team failed at times to stick to the strict game-plan they had set out to inhibit the expansive Fijian game, White let loose with his first shot at New Zealand and Australia who, while the Boks journey to Paris for the semifinals, will be heading home for an extended summer break.
“Some players are 20 and they looked like they were 20 at times today,” he said, a clear reference to a less than composed game from young inside centre Frans Steyn.
“The reality is quite simple – it’s pressure. You saw what happened yesterday, there’s no way you can practise that. You can talk till the cows come home, but when you’re on the field players have to understand they need to execute things they’ve been practising.”
White was then asked about how much the Boks needed to improve for the semi, against Argentina at Stade de France.
“It’s difficult to say how much,” shrugged White, before adding: “The bottom line is this was a quarter-final of the World Cup, we scored five tries to two and probably didn’t play as well as we could have.
“At the end of the day it’s about going through to the next round. I sit here as a coach in the top four, we’ve got no injuries, we scored five tries, what more do you want going into the last two weeks of a World Cup knowing you’ve still got a chance to win the World Cup.”
It was then pointed out, as if he needed reminding, that he was the only Tri-Nations coach still active in the tournament, a turn of events that has delighted the northern hemisphere rugby public in no uncertain terms.
“People can be critical and say you’re lucky, maybe Fiji should have scored in the corner. Well if a lot of things had happened … yesterday we saw England beat Australia and France beat New Zealand, and I’d much rather be where I am today than where those two countries are today.”
Hard to argue that point. Even harder to debate his next one which was that, basically, the New Zealand and Australian players failed to handle the pressure of knockout football in a World Cup.
Asked his reaction to the surprise quarter-final exits for both his Tri-Nations rivals, White said: “The same as every other rugby guy who watched. No one would have said on one Saturday New Zealand and Australia, the No 1 and 2 in the world, would be knocked out of the World Cup.
“I’m as surprised as anyone. What it did highlight is that at 20-all after 60 minutes of this test match, after the results we got yesterday, there’s no preparation for pressure. There’s no way you can put any players through any tests to see whether they can do it unless you get in that exact situation.
“I can only compliment the captain the way he got them together for the last 20 minutes. It’s just about how certain players in certain teams can handle pressure a lot better. I’m just thankful sitting here as a coach whose team could handle it.”
There was no doubt who that less than subtle comment was aimed at. The All Blacks were rudderless in the final minutes against France, once again failing to make the big play when it was required.
To not even attempt a dropped goal from such a handy position defied most people’s belief in this part of the world.
White even took a dig at Graham Henry’s decision to play a hobbled Dan Carter in their quarter-final defeat to France when he explained his own decision not to run tighthead prop CJ van der Linde against the Fijians.
“You’re never going to win in that situation, because you rest someone and don’t play well and lose a test they say you should have played your full-strength side. But if you play a guy who’s injured, as New Zealand did at No 10 yesterday, and it doesn’t come off they say you shouldn’t have played an injured guy.”
The Boks coach also laid some special praise at the feet of his skipper John Smit who not only had his expectedly high-standard game but rallied the troops splendidly to do what they had to in the final quarter.
Once again, you got a strong feeling he was making a fairly direct point about seniority and leadership that had been glaringly absent in the All Blacks the previous evening.
White said he would have a full complement to pick from this week with both van der Linde and hooker Bismarck du Plessis due to take a full part in preparations.
Boks skipper John Smit also highlighted JP Pietersen’s cornerflag tackle on Fijian lock Ifereimi Rawaqa, saving what looked a certain try that would have put the Fijians in front with a dozen minutes left, as a “moment of brilliance”.
“There’s special moments that create opportunities, shall we say pave pathways. That was one of them,” said Smit.
“That could have made it an even uglier quarter-final. That is a moment of brilliance. Two years ago you would never have believed JP would make a saving tackle in a quarter, and now here he is putting his body on the line.
“Those kind of things give me a huge amount of faith going forward.”
Smit said he had never sensed any panic in the ranks in the face of the Fijian comeback, simply because there had been so much time still remaining. But he conceded but for Pietersen’s timely intervention the situation might have been stickier.
“I’d rather experience those things now and get through them than be on the other side.”
On New Zealand’s side, he means. We get it, fellas.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:01 am
AB your out so get on with your live.
How about the forward pass off fiji that our ref missed when JP made a try saving tackle. And who was the touch judge Paul Honnis off NZ and he was right there. Should shark supporters still cry because steve walsh missed hands in ruck before habanas try.
AB’s Get over it you choked!!!!! Again!!!!
October 8th, 2007 at 10:05 am
#65 – I’m actually really sorry that my pre-knockout stage “prophecy/chirp” – RE: having to provide trauma counselling……come the 8th October, has been realised…. I also never learn, should have taken my arse over to NZ last weekend already, set up shop, and counted the NZ dollars. For whilst I am certain you have many great psychologists in NZ, they I fear will be too traumatised and shocked themselves to be of any use to the “needy” locals……
Yeah, this game we love so much REALLY sucks at times………(In your lots case those times come at 4 year intervals…..)
October 8th, 2007 at 10:10 am
greenbok,
Al I can think is that this wasn’t written by a proper journalist with any experience or credibility.
As you point out, there is absolutely nothing in Jake’s comments that is even vaguely insulting or patronising towards any team.
I hope he reads that when he is sober again and cringes.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:11 am
HEY DONT BLAME ALL OF US, just because a crazed fan goes over the top. what about when that fat bok fan tackled the reff. haha classic
October 8th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Ruck re your comment #66., the difference is that everyone goes into the world cup knowing that it is a knockout competition. A truly world class side needs to be able to handle that sort of pressure as Tiger Woods and Federer do .They know how to win the important games. Thats what makes them the champions they are.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:19 am
hey lets face it when the all blacks lose, the world of rugby union gets popular.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am
lmfao
What’s the difference between the All Blacks and half a viagra pill?
With half a viagra pill you still get a semi!
October 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am
#72 – That fat bas**rd (crazed fan, blob of lard, miscreant, peasant) is, I am certain, a regular visitor to this site. His comments here, are as embarrassing as the sight of that fat gut in a Bok jersey was, that fateful day in Durban. Folk like HIM, have no dignity – no self worth and no hope…In HIS case, (and judging by the size of his gut…), he swallowed all dignity, self worth and hope – WITH A SUPERSIZED HELPING OF “CLASS” ON THE SIDE……….
I find such moronic and tedious behaviour distasteful in the extreme, and only those with similar IQ’s and EQ’s to that gypsy would “enjoy” such a display.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:28 am
hahah top comment ruck!
October 8th, 2007 at 10:29 am
classic article written by an obvioulsy pissed kiwi suffering from heavy depression. sorry 4 u!
October 8th, 2007 at 10:29 am
I feel for my kiwi mates, they are in pain … the same kind of pain we could be in after the semi or even after the final. That is the nature of sudden death matches, s1ht happens.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:30 am
classic article written by an obvioulsy pissed kiwi suffering from heavy depression. sorry 4 u!
October 8th, 2007 at 10:31 am
#71 Katman…
It’s sad hey?
And the scary part is – he is supposedly a well-recognised journalist, given that he is the assistant-editor of the entire site, by the looks of it…
And Keo and the boys seem to rate the site highly – so go figure…
But more balanced articles from the likes of John Drake and co…
But still – this article pretty much goes to the heart of whats wrong with AB rugby, imo.
If you really believe you are so good, that nothing can touch you [Chris Rattue: "France pose absolutely no threat to the All Blacks" - written on the Friday before the game, for one of their biggest newspapers] – then you are truly losing sight of the fact that a rugby ball, remains oval – and can bounce any which way…
October 8th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Another article on Rugbyhell …..As the All Blacks fans left Millennium Stadium in Cardiff after their fifth successive failed World Cup campaign, a Scottish spectator called out: “Belts and shoelaces, please.” almost better than George gregan’s 4 more years chirp.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:37 am
If I were a kiwi I would not be laying into the poor ref, after all he did not say to king Richie ‘go and talk to your players’
October 8th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Re #68 Greenbok. There is nothing in those quotes from Jake that even remotely takes a swipe at NZ or Graham Henry. He basically said that Henry was in a no-win situation with Carter but didn’t criticise him for playing him.
That’s the kind of journalism that makes me sick, all Jake said was that his team handled the pressure of knockout rugby better than those who are out – that is a FACT not even up for debate or interpretation!
October 8th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Bananaboy
I have helped run tournaments that Tiger Woods plays in – he wins some, he loses some but you can absolutely bet on him tossing his clubs (literally) when things are not going his way. So pls, let’s not be holding him up as a shining light.
Yes the ABs lost the plot, but they also left blood, sweat & tears on the turf in Cardiff. None of them are making excuses, nor are they tossing their kit about. They have publicy stated the Frogs played the better game, congratulated them & done a public “mea Culpa” – What more do people want ? Must they also commit Seppuku for the blood lust to be satisfied ?
October 8th, 2007 at 10:41 am
It is a fact of rugby that the host nation will get the 50/50 calls. The convicts benefited from the friendly ref in 2003 and the frogs are reaping the benefits in 2007.
The frogs are now odds on favourites to win the RWC.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:42 am
What a joke..
HAHa. altohugh i know how it feels. (especially in the 2004 ireland game-the honiss one)
October 8th, 2007 at 10:48 am
As a SA rugby supporter I can honestly say that I feel for NZ and Aus.
I perhaps feel more for NZ as they were in the game but let it slip. The Poms (notably Andrew Sheridan) just destroyed the Aussies and hence they just did not deserve to win on the day.
I watched the France NZ game rather anxiously and was particularly interested in NZ body language. I must say it did not look good at all. The French have this unusual ability to step up in these sort of circumstances and whatever we say, they had NZ’s number and dialled it, that’s for sure.
Thinking back now the squad system was only partially successful. Henry went for depth but it seems now that when it mattered most, the Best 15 could not be identified/put it together.
Excuse my ignorance, but where was Mauger and Rico Gear?
It is now abundantly clear that the WC is a different campaign, different in the sense that you are tested week in and week out.
I’d go as far as to say that the Kiwis are best in the world – you will see in 2008 again – but this WC format just does not suit them. I suspect that the tag of favourites combined with the fact that they have only won it in 1987 are proving to be a burden which they are unable to bear.
Next NZ coach will probably be Robbie Deans.
I understand what Jake meant: he was saying that although they did not play as well as they should they still came out victorious. He is saying look at what happened to great sides like NZ and Aus when the pressure is on. He was using it as a benchmark.
NZ is looking for someone to blame and like the guy who did the commentary (Internat) they are now hoping that SA will be knocked over so they can feel better about themselves.
To all NZ fans. You have the best team in the world but you just could not put it together. It happens in sport. No need to go completely crazy.
Comments?
October 8th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Hinton’s article is just helping Laporte and the rest of the world ‘break the AB myth’. What an absolute disgrace!! They have no mental strength in a knock-out game or post fact. They may not banter like an Aussie before the game but the way they pass the buck afterwards makes me lose all respect for them.
Yes, the AB players have shown some humility post defeat – pity they didnt have that humility on the pitch. They lost due to a certain arrogance in their game. It was really hard to tell if DC was playing ping-pong because he was missing touch or being arrogant. And the chip to his wing in his own twenty two….
They should have been putting as many points on the board as possible. If one forward pass costs you the game then you only have yourself to blame.
Ofcourse they dont have the mental strength to look deep and acknowledge how many games they won due to forward passes, hands in ruck etc etc
Me things the myth is starting to break..
October 8th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Rubgy_ princess, believe me no-one appreciates more the blodd sweat and tears that the AB’s left on the field and I would have loved to see them go through, but sometimes effort isn’t the only ingredient for success. You need to have the bottle of someone like TW or RF who though they may throw clubs they win the toughies more often than they lose. Just looking at their record in the World Cups the AB’s have got to realise that it takes a different psyche to win these games. Once again they are the best but they were looking pretty ordinary in the last 5 minutes.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:51 am
As a SA rugby supporter I can honestly say that I feel for NZ and Aus.
I perhaps feel more for NZ as they were in the game but let it slip. The Poms (notably Andrew Sheridan) just destroyed the Aussies and hence they just did not deserve to win on the day.
I watched the France NZ game rather anxiously and was particularly interested in NZ body language. I must say it did not look good at all. The French have this unusual ability to step up in these sort of circumstances and whatever we say, they had NZ’s number and dialled it, that’s for sure.
Thinking back now the squad system was only partially successful. Henry went for depth but it seems now that when it mattered most, the Best 15 could not be identified/put it together.
Excuse my ignorance, but where was Mauger and Rico Gear?
It is now abundantly clear that the WC is a different campaign, different in the sense that you are tested week in and week out.
I’d go as far as to say that the Kiwis are best in the world – you will see in 2008 again – but this WC format just does not suit them. I suspect that the tag of favourites combined with the fact that they have only won it in 1987 are proving to be a burden which they are unable to bear.
Next NZ coach will probably be Robbie Deans.
I understand what Jake meant: he was saying that although they did not play as well as they should they still came out victorious. He is saying look at what happened to great sides like NZ and Aus when the pressure is on. He was using it as a benchmark.
NZ is looking for someone to blame and like the guy who did the commentary (Internat) they are now hoping that SA will be knocked over so they can feel better about themselves.
To all NZ fans. You have the best team in the world but you just could not put it together. It happens in sport. No need to go completely crazy.
Comments?
October 8th, 2007 at 10:51 am
As a SA rugby supporter I can honestly say that I feel for NZ and Aus.
I perhaps feel more for NZ as they were in the game but let it slip. The Poms (notably Andrew Sheridan) just destroyed the Aussies and hence they just did not deserve to win on the day.
I watched the France NZ game rather anxiously and was particularly interested in NZ body language. I must say it did not look good at all. The French have this unusual ability to step up in these sort of circumstances and whatever we say, they had NZ’s number and dialled it, that’s for sure.
Thinking back now the squad system was only partially successful. Henry went for depth but it seems now that when it mattered most, the Best 15 could not be identified/put it together.
Excuse my ignorance, but where was Mauger and Rico Gear?
It is now abundantly clear that the WC is a different campaign, different in the sense that you are tested week in and week out.
I’d go as far as to say that the Kiwis are best in the world – you will see in 2008 again – but this WC format just does not suit them. I suspect that the tag of favourites combined with the fact that they have only won it in 1987 are proving to be a burden which they are unable to bear.
Next NZ coach will probably be Robbie Deans.
I understand what Jake meant: he was saying that although they did not play as well as they should they still came out victorious. He is saying look at what happened to great sides like NZ and Aus when the pressure is on. He was using it as a benchmark.
NZ is looking for someone to blame and like the guy who did the commentary (Internat) they are now hoping that SA will be knocked over so they can feel better about themselves.
To all NZ fans. You have the best team in the world but you just could not put it together. It happens in sport. No need to go completely crazy.
Comments?
October 8th, 2007 at 10:52 am
i just cant get over what girls blouses nz supporters are! moaning about the ref… about time the tax man came. if only SARS was a four year scheme.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:58 am
#91 well put Sheriff. The 3N’teams need to start introducing a knockout element perhaps to the structure to help create the mental psyche of winning the crucial games
October 8th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Good work Ryan
Nice to see someone scooping up a dropped ball.
‘Joke of the World Cup’ post# 200 Pumas Brace for Springbok Showdown.
I do believe I passed on that pearler on at 4.32am SA time.
Funnily enough it was 2 days before the tabloid Daily Telegraph picked up on it. I reckon they were clued up on it. Telegraph isnt a Rugby Newspaper!
October 8th, 2007 at 10:59 am
73# Tell that to Roger Federer friend, after having failed to win tennis’s grand slam this year(YET AGAIN), by ONCE MORE, CHOKING? and losing to Rafa Nadal on the clay courts of France this June.
So, shall we call ‘ol Rodge, “The greatest tennis player of all time…yet a master choker on the main stage….”
Do we question his “mental strength”…..I would flippin well hope not.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:02 am
HAHAHAHAHAHA,I was at the game in Cardiff on Sat and I swear I’ve never seen so many grown men crying before! Anyone seen Hurricane on here lately, want to bring up the conversation we had a couple of months back about the All Blacks great conditioning programme – anyone else see Carter, Kelleher and co crocked on the bench at the end:)
October 8th, 2007 at 11:04 am
A helpline has been set up for all australian and new Zealand supporters for those who have been affected by the losses over the weekned.
It is for Free and they should call 1800 10 10 10
Which of course can be interpreted as
1800 won nothing, won nothing, won nothing
October 8th, 2007 at 11:06 am
BananaBoy
Fair enough – except the club tossing which is disgraceful. Maybe the RWC has become the ABs “Hoo-Doo” the way “The House of Pain” is “Hoo-Doo” for any team playing the ABs ?
The ABS might be best “all rounders” but this tournament is not offering a prize for that, so time for NZers to let it go, get a grip & get behind the remaining SH entries
October 8th, 2007 at 11:12 am
- Did you hear about the new All Blacks bra? All support, no cup.
and…
- Whats the difference between a tea bag and the All Blacks?
A tea bag stays in the cup longer.