And congratulations to South Africa, deserving world champions. I must say, I’m glad that they won but it’s a shame that the final went without a try being scored – not a good advert for the sport as it was rather dull. That, however, has been England’s game and it had worked well for them until tonight.
I’m now left with that deflated feeling one tends to get at the end of a party or on the night of December 25th – what am I going to do with my weekends now? I guess I only have a few months to wait until the Six Nations.
The competition really has been the story of the underdogs.
England, after suffering a 36-0 defeat to South Africa in the pool stage, go on to reach the final.
Argentina shock France on the opening night…
…Then they wipe the floor with them in the 3rd place playoff
Fiji steal a 38-34 win from Wales to knock them out of the tournament at the pool stage.
Georgia come within a whisker of beating Ireland.
Tonga’s amazing comeback (and near victory) against South Africa 30-25
The list goes on. It really has been quite amazing to watch, especially the better-than-expected performances by the so-called “minnows” of the rugby world cup against the established sides. I was in St. David’s Centre in Cardiff when Portugal scored against New Zealand, to an enormous, rapturous ovation by the Welsh AND Australian fans in attendance. The perceived gulf of standard between the minnows and the established nations is narrowing, but such sides really need to be in regular competition against other good teams. Once every four years simply isn’t good enough.
What happens next? Well, Wales have a friendly against the newly-crowned world champions South Africa in November. Wales, whose form has been disappointing at best, are without a coach. I am debating picking up some tickets to the game. The probability of witnessing a hiding is high, which would make this an unattractive prospect if I was a fair-weather supporter. Alas, I’m not.
Or at least, someone at ITV is a prick for hiring this guy to do commentary.
Thank you Will Greenwood for completely ruining the South Africa V Argentina game with endless references to the England squad, and selling Josh Lewsey’s injury the previous night like he’d been shot. I’m not the only one to notice this:
In my previous post I wondered aloud if Gareth Jenkins should go or not. It appears the Welsh Rugby Union were more decisive than myself – just a few hours removed from Wales’ premature exit from the World Cup, the WRU have sacked Jenkins from his job. He had previously insisted that he would not resign. (more…)
Wales were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup yesterday by Fiji in quite the see-saw contest. I can see how it’s quite possible for sports fans to keel over and die in the midst of a match, it was that stressful. (more…)
The woes of the day have been eased somewhat by seeing England thoroughly defeated by South Africa in Paris this evening. 36-0 was the score, and ear-to-ear was my grin. (more…)
I’m drafting this post on the train from Swansea back to London, reflecting (seething, actually) about some of the performances of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup games. (more…)
I was astounded this afternoon by a brutal-looking spear tackle by the USA’s Paul Emerick on England’s Olly Barkley. For the uninitiated, a spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in rugby where a player is picked up by an opposing tackler, then turned so that they are upside down. And plonked on their head. (more…)
Will Greenwood Is A Prick
Friday, October 19th, 2007Or at least, someone at ITV is a prick for hiring this guy to do commentary.
Thank you Will Greenwood for completely ruining the South Africa V Argentina game with endless references to the England squad, and selling Josh Lewsey’s injury the previous night like he’d been shot. I’m not the only one to notice this:
Facebook group
Thread moaning about him on ITV’s forums
The Will Greenwood Drinking game
How Will Greenwood are you?
If there’s any justice in the world he will never, ever be let anywhere near a microphone again.
Tags: commentary, england, itv, rugby, rugby world cup, will greenwood
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