Its ridiculous that England is the only European team left.
It's all about the draw being favourable. We did beat Argentina and Fiji. That is not nothing. Yet we a clearly a level below the best four teams in the world.
41-45, M
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Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@firefall My Dad watched the game and said that we were lucky with the ref at the breakdown. He's a one-time back-row forward.
Fiji did beat Australia and run Wales close. They are a serious team these days but all this just shows that the Big Four are a level above everyone else. They are also - frankly - on the same level as each other.
Ironically, the AB team of 2007 was miles better than this one and they somehow failed to win the trophy. It would be ironic if this much weaker generation of Kiwi players took home the prize in the same place where Carter and McCraw didn't.
Fiji did beat Australia and run Wales close. They are a serious team these days but all this just shows that the Big Four are a level above everyone else. They are also - frankly - on the same level as each other.
Ironically, the AB team of 2007 was miles better than this one and they somehow failed to win the trophy. It would be ironic if this much weaker generation of Kiwi players took home the prize in the same place where Carter and McCraw didn't.
firefall · 61-69, M
@Burnley123 I'd have to agree, on 2007, and on today. The winner this year is just a toss-up, I certainly agree. I'd expect NZ - SA final, and ... eh. Depends how many AB yellow cards, I fear, that seems to be their biggest weakness
[quote]we were lucky with the ref at the breakdown[/quote] I agree, Fiji got repeated penalised for behaviour in the ruck, that England got away with.
[quote]we were lucky with the ref at the breakdown[/quote] I agree, Fiji got repeated penalised for behaviour in the ruck, that England got away with.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@firefall The 2007 ABs was probably the best team never to win the WC. You could make the case for 1995 as well but the 2007 one was maybe even more complete.
That side toured Europe and regularly beat the best of the Six Nations by thirty points or more. At times, players took the pitch knowing they had no chance of victory.
I know it's a strange time to say this because this WC has three southern semi-finalists but I think generally the gap has closed and it makes for a fascinating international game.
That side toured Europe and regularly beat the best of the Six Nations by thirty points or more. At times, players took the pitch knowing they had no chance of victory.
I know it's a strange time to say this because this WC has three southern semi-finalists but I think generally the gap has closed and it makes for a fascinating international game.