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Have a read through this thread http://thewholeforce.com/showthread.php?t=3631 where we discussed the thought of the World Cup becoming a monster in itself (ignore the french talk)
Now think about what France and New Zealand have announced in recent times... Has this changed your opinion of the world cup?
Chuck Norris has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.
Originally Posted by Sagerian
Nup, my opinion hasn't changed... Except the bit about players and coaches taking every test seriously.
mine neither...Originally Posted by ME!
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
your last point Coach... A Bledisloe or TriNations win tastes at least as good
Does it taste as good if the opposition doesn't field their number 1 team
Chuck Norris has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.
Originally Posted by Happy
That's a really good question. I'd have to guess yes because as a fan you have no control over who the opposition fields as a team.
What are they gonna say if they lost a Bledisloe, "but we only fielded our puss weak team" - that'll work for them....
A Bledisloe or Tri Nations win will always taste good, I seriously doubt that the Kiwis would field a weak team for either of these competitions (they pretty much have 2 full strength squads anyways!) and we probably wouldn;t notice if the South Africans did![]()
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
I stand by all that I wrote - its a shame the french talk ruined a great discussion.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
I only hijacked it to settle everyone down. It was getting a little heated.
A win over the ABs is a win! Currently Henry and co. are seeing how the combinations work out, and making sure we have backup in case of injury.Originally Posted by Happy
All they need to work on now is the freaking line out and the mid field. Other than that happy, excluding Rodder's brain explosion against the Bokke a couple of weeks ago.
I can't help but wonder what will be the mood across the ditch should all these well made (?) plans fail to stop the Kiwi choke at the WC?
Messers Henry & Smith may well be digging themselves a very large hole for themselves and making a rod for the players' backs.
The old saying "it's only a game" doesn't seem to apply to Rugby in NZ, I'm afraid. Pity really. I remember seeing Rueben Thorne interviewed a couple of days before the 2003 semi final. I KNEW we'd win after that. He was dreading the public reaction, should they lose rather than fucussing on what needed to be done to win.
Fatalistic would be my call. The problem for the AB coaching staff, and as a certain ex Wallaby coach found recently also, is the public expect a high percentage of results outside the World Cup.Originally Posted by shasta
2007 should see the best prepared AB side at a World Cup, but it only takes one bad decision in one game to bow out of the competition early.
Test matches are like FIFA friendlies these days. With regards to money and marketing the RWC is everything to the ARU. It certainly doesn't help when the Tri-nations is like an NRL season playing many meaningless matches.
Surely they'll revert the T3 back to home and away, it's getting slightly boring l must admit. Dump the third games and bring in Argentina would work for me to be honest.Originally Posted by Weebie
Travelling and the time the games would be played in Argentina would be very difficult.
Chuck Norris has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.
I know it could be complicated but it could of worked but its the powers that bee that will never make Rugby Union an international game beyond the commonwealth unions.