Goodbye to the minnows; hello to the madness
3 Oct 2011
MARK KEOHANE, in Business Day Newspaper, writes if drama’s your game, don’t go anywhere in the next three weekends.
After 48 of the most dramatic hours ever experienced at a Rugby World Cup, we finally have a competition that demands that you don’t go anywhere for the next three weekends. Goodbye to the minnows and hello to the madness of knockout rugby.
Typically, France gave us an appetiser of the madness of which they are capable. Their players simply did not pitch for a pool match they could afford to lose (and still qualify for the last eight) in protest over their fractious relationship with coach Marc Lievremont. They lost to Tonga. Lievremont said he was ashamed of the performance and admitted the players refused to engage in a bonding session.
New Zealand rugby royalty Dan Carter tore his groin muscle in a kicking drill on Saturday afternoon and the mood among locals was sombre and more applicable to when a nation mourns a popular head of state. If you happen to have been on a space shuttle, Carter, the game’s most complete flyhalf and New Zealand’s master conductor, is out of the World Cup. It is New Zealand’s worst rugby nightmare and there may now not even be an occasion for these men in black to choke.
With Carter at No10 they led the World Cup pack. Without him the All Blacks are just one of the championship-chasing pack. They would get past the Pumas even if Carter’s grandmother was at flyhalf, but getting beyond the semifinals will need a flyhalf more capable than his understudy, Colin Slade.
The All Blacks, with Carter gone and Richie McCaw on one leg, are officially in another World Cup crisis. At least they can take comfort that next year they will be unbeatable again and Carter won’t get one injury.
Some things are meant to be. The All Blacks have a World Cup curse and England a World Cup Fairy Godmother. New Zealand just can’t seem to keep it together or get it together.
England can do as they please, play as they please and pick as many plodders as they please. They’ve tossed a few dwarfs around in Dunedin, gone on the piss, admitted to switching match balls to give their struggling goal-kicking ace Jonny Wilkinson an advantage, and coach Martin Johnson acknowledged reprimanding three players who lured a hotel worker to their rooms and made suggestive comments about wanting oral sex. The only thing the England players and coaching staff have not admitted to is playing turgid rugby.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) sanction has been a “don’t do it again … now get on and win this bloody thing for us old farts in the Northern Hemisphere” before turning its full attention to the hideous crime of a Samoan player wearing a gum guard that contravened official tournament sponsorship rules.
The offence was deemed so serious that the team was fined NZ$10000, and worse was to follow for the Samoans after controversial centre Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu called Welsh referee Nigel Owens a prick, a racist and an elitist who favoured the Springboks in Samoa’s 13-5 defeat.
Sapolu tweeted that he would love to meet IRB members on the street and said the game’s administration was protecting the big five and the wealthy. He also confirmed his retirement from international rugby, arguing there was no point to it if you were a tier-two nation.
The IRB have confirmed a hearing. Toss around a dwarf and illegally switch match balls during play, but just don’t call the IRB an elite organisation.
When Samoa and Fiji played at Eden Park a fortnight ago they smashed each other for 80 minutes, then gathered in prayer as a band of Pacific Island brothers. On Friday night after the most brutal of matches against the Boks there was nothing more than a grudging Samoan handshake.
The Samoan captain spoke of referee bias and Bok captain Victor Matfield expressed disgust at the Samoan off-the- ball thuggery.
Frans Steyn, colossal all tournament, legally smashed into Samoans all night but his shoulder proved more brittle than brutal and he’s out of the World Cup.
Scotland, needing to beat England by eight points, led 12-3 in the second half before losing 16-12 to Chris Ashton’s 78th- minute match-winning try.
Wilkinson missed his first three penalty attempts and missed a left-footed drop goal from right in front. Madness.
And for 55 minutes Georgia led Argentina 7-5. Not quite madness, but a contender.
The Canadians even led the All Blacks 3-0 for three minutes. Definite madness.
What more, asked everyone? Surely an Italian win against Ireland to seal the most dramatic conclusion to the 40- match round robin stage.
Come on Italy, screamed every South African. Say what they may publicly, the Boks would much have preferred the Irish as quarterfinal opponents.
It was not to be. Instead they have the Tri-Nations champions Australia to beat to make it to Eden Park for the first time in this tournament.
If you are planning on going anywhere on Sunday, pick a church to offer thanks or for a World Cup mourning.
I’d suggest it is safer just not going anywhere. The 2011 Rugby World Cup is officially open.
397 Comments
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3 Oct 2011, 23:39 pm
Oh! Sure! That is what you would like others and yourself to believe
First you arsecreep to the left and then arsecreep to the right . You do the hippy shake, shake with all you might.
You would like others to believe you have been here for less than 6/12 when in reality you have been here for 21/2 years snaky, flaky pastry.
3 Oct 2011, 23:40 pm
@Rugby-1(Rugby-1)-348: Very astute of you to note that the budgie smuggler did indeed say that the Boks will not get out of the pool
I bet you he pulls the Wales should have won blah,blah, blah
3 Oct 2011, 23:42 pm
@Rugby-1(Rugby-1)-348: which are the weaker areas..? You also gonna say it was well worked strategy that got us out of jail vs Wales… and Smit performed really well in that game.. like he led this team like a f’ng Trojan from the front for 55 minutes to leave the field staring at a WC LOSS first game up and his 2IC had to pull his overrated backside out of the F’ng Ditch..!!
Or How exactly Did you see that little miracle of miracles unfold?
3 Oct 2011, 23:47 pm
Is there any difference between HG and his cohorts and pigs on the other hand?
More similarities, but the are some differences. For starters the obvious one is HG has two legs whereas pigs have four.
Another less known difference is that, for the pill swilling HG, as his medulla oblongata passes through the foramen magnum to be known as the spinal cord it runs perpendicular to the ground he stands on with his two feet. Wheresa in the pink pigs as the medulla leaves through that foramen it runs parallel to the ground their four legs stand on.
3 Oct 2011, 23:47 pm
@ET.(Eugene’sTit.)-351: You got no idea, do you
HG has been here quite a long time… Under another nomme de guerre before HG… Not as long as quite a few, but longer than many.
And I don’t have the need to “support” the favourite… even if only for “aesthetic” reasons… But you have made it clear that its not only sucking AB **** that you like, but anyone but the Boks…
- Talk about “hippy shake, shake”…
3 Oct 2011, 23:48 pm
@ET.(ET.)-351: who you talking to fckface?
miserable little piece of garbage trash that thinks you above the world when bottom line of the reality is you are the dumb fck loser of all loser’s in this creation.. nobody wanna be anywhere near you.. you reek of absolute self loathing hatred where even your allies have cast you off like the trash piece of garbage arrogance you are… pitiful imbecilic trash heap arrogance infested dunce…
3 Oct 2011, 23:49 pm
@JL1(JL1)-350:
Dumb piggy:
The ultimate is to arrive at the POWER of ONE.
3 Oct 2011, 23:51 pm
@ET.(ET.)-354: Hehehehehe, you do need get the book “How to win friends and influence people”
3 Oct 2011, 23:53 pm
@ET.(ET.)-357: Bwhahahaha, stop, please stop, you have me in hysterics here. You are so funny
3 Oct 2011, 23:56 pm
waste of space.. this pathetic little arsecreep cn’t come and infest his self loathing self worthless infected fucked up psyche on the rest of society because his f’ng arrogance cannot stomach the fact that he’s Devoid of any integrity or honorable good will toward any of his fellow citizens or his estranged comrades in arms…
3 Oct 2011, 23:58 pm
@ET.(ET.)-354: I have no “cohorts” numbnuts… But one thing is for sure, I support the Boks come hell or high water. Hellsteeth, I love the Stormers like a farken bullet in the head, but I can see when Stormers coaches or players make a difference to the Green and Gold, and I say so when I see it.
And be damned with emotion too.
4 Oct 2011, 00:00 am
so long JL.. I leave you to cajole this loveless heap of self worthless trash .. perhaps he sees hisself as some type of emancipating know it all.. fact of the matter he’s so f’ng LOST up his self worthless @nus its actually excruciating to watch…
Better things to consider than this lost f’ng hopeless cause.. so long .. so long
4 Oct 2011, 00:07 am
Are there any similarities between HG and pigs?
Many exist but the overwhelming similarity is the striking hue of the large skin (largest organ) of the pink pigs and the striking ‘human’ hue of HG’s thick pig-like skin(largest organ in his body).
Worse still it is so pale that it is easily messed by faecal matter and any thing else of similar colour and that happens all the time from dusk ’til dawn and dusk again.
Since he is just such a slow, diminished thinker I had better spell out for him we are talking of whitish pigs hence the almost daily evidenced sexism, stereotypical assualts and responses, cultural, political, religious and more sectarianism and the so white culturally acquired racism in any form which emanates from him.
It makes his hippy,hippy, shake,shake arsecreeping look like child’s play.
4 Oct 2011, 00:12 am
@ET.(ET.)-363: please explain the difference between ‘culturally aquired racism” and your variety.
4 Oct 2011, 00:13 am
And I am so proud to have never, ever supported the ‘Boks but still show the honesty to applaud good play from whomsoever in whatever sport.
Honesty does not exist in his vocabulary unfortunately..
4 Oct 2011, 00:15 am
@ET.(ET.)-363: lol. Now we know what you mean by pigs and swine… Would love to hear you read your comment with the self inflicted lisp brought about by your missing 2 front teeth… Keep sucking man, its what you live for…
4 Oct 2011, 00:15 am
Seeking friends in cyber is the pits of calling for acceptance.
4 Oct 2011, 00:17 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-353:
I’m not saying it was a well worked strategy at all – read my post. I said don;t come on here with your moronic predictions of doom and gloom when you have already been made to look like an utter fool. Your credibility is shot. It was aimed at Grant10.
I would start Bissie and have said that from day 1. BUT I am not saying we would fail to qualify and lose 6 love if he started. Is that clear enough for you?!
4 Oct 2011, 00:18 am
@ET.(ET.)-365: Just a quick modification to improve on your “honesty”…
“but still show the honesty to applaud good play from whomsoever in whatever sport….” except for the nazi pig Boks…
(Ps: Just helping out with your “honesty”… Dont want you contradicting yourself)
4 Oct 2011, 00:18 am
I can’t believe anyone still reads ET’s posts – I skip straight past those every time, the guy is a raving dimwitted lunatic. Must be Black Panties long lost brother
4 Oct 2011, 00:28 am
@Rugby-1(Rugby-1)-370: very frikin possible
4 Oct 2011, 00:30 am
A pig is a pig and likes to be messy.
You are messy and like to be seen as a white pig with your dehumanising ” Maori tossing”, sexism, stereotyping and such like.
Wear your earned cap. It fits like a pig with lipstick even on it.
4 Oct 2011, 00:30 am
@shooter(shooter)-371: possibly married? the twinning way.
4 Oct 2011, 00:32 am
I cannot quite believe the limp, weak-knead responses from Mr. Uno Macho Bravado.
4 Oct 2011, 00:35 am
Is Lambie, amongst others, not a ‘Bok?
Do away with trying to confuse with lame words. Or do you have a wobbly case to advance Mr Uno Macho Bravado?
4 Oct 2011, 00:38 am
@ET.(ET.)-372: Oh, but I am a “white pig” and proud of it… No self loathing for me, thankyouverymuch… Maori Tossing, Samoan Tossing and especially Dwarf Tossing… is a hit in the big Sheepfarm of the Pacific otherwise know as New Zealand…
Its fun… Have you partaken yet (as the dwarf, I mean)… I bet I could chuck you a good distance…
4 Oct 2011, 00:40 am
@Hell’s Shame-355:
So why the lie about “did not know who’s who in the zoo”?
Discredited one more time you effin LIAR.
The FEAR of the Day of Reckoning is getting to you big time Mr Uno Macho Bravado.
Where is the might and glory of the Bravefart now?
4 Oct 2011, 00:43 am
So then just wear your pig cap and F-off to sleep now after you swill another pill as you hang on for dear life.
Do you actually know the beauty of exercise still? And not just at the elbow joint, mug.
4 Oct 2011, 00:44 am
I wonder which technique I should use to toss an ET…
Shot put or hammer throw….
Shot put, I just push you by the noggin upside down…
Hammer throw, I take you by the ankles, spin round and round, then gooi…
Ja, I reckon hammer throw technique is best for ET Tossing.
4 Oct 2011, 00:45 am
Do you still enjoy Helen who is no more than HG in DRAG?
4 Oct 2011, 00:47 am
Nothing ever new in the armoury of the puny.
Explain or understand an armspan of 5′ 9″.
F – off now.
4 Oct 2011, 00:47 am
@ET.(ET.)-377: No lie, just mocking… But you wont get it, will you?
The only hanging on I will be doing is to your ankles while performing an ET Toss with the Hammer Throw technique…
Farken huge distances to be gained, I reckon…
4 Oct 2011, 00:48 am
Just watcing the last 10 minutes of the Samoa game – plenty off teh ball stuff just in those 10 minutes.
As for Steyn, such an innocuous tackle to get a tournament ending injury and only 3 minutes from time – gutting. Credit to him he stiil tackled and put his body on the line despite being in obvious pain. Well played
4 Oct 2011, 00:52 am
@ET.(ET.)-381: Sheezus, armspan of 5’9″…like one of those flying bo.bbejans… Hellsteeth, I reckon I could break records with you… Tindall and co. eat your hearts out
4 Oct 2011, 00:53 am
Is your piepie less lame than your responses?
4 Oct 2011, 00:54 am
@ET.(ET.)-380: Helen and HG are very different people… Strues Bob. No half loaves for me.
But I do like her sense of humour.
4 Oct 2011, 00:54 am
Clearly do not ever understand the armspan analogy.
4 Oct 2011, 00:56 am
@ET.(ET.)-385: Stick to AB ****. Mine is reserved thankyouverymuch.
4 Oct 2011, 00:57 am
You have just been tagged with NO credibilty by me and now you want me to believe your ” Strues Bob ” as in Mugabe?
Sure and that is why she gets to have the half loaves.
4 Oct 2011, 01:00 am
@ET.(ET.)-389: You grasping for air now… But never mind, maybe an “aesthetically pleasing” Kiwi Knight in Shining Armour will come save your Damsel in distress…
4 Oct 2011, 01:31 am
My supper is far more important than your “tossing” your lame piepie.
So I made you wait pink piggy.
Is it the cialis medicational dosage that you missed hence your missing the analogy of lameness in 385?
Is the ” Damsel ” HG in DRAG, aka Helen the ‘drol’ that smokes it as a cigar ‘zol’ ?
4 Oct 2011, 02:30 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-16: What exactly, does Cooper’s burglary have anything to do with his rugby?
Maybe you are just being lighthearted, but the mention of tattoos etc makes it look like you aren’t.
Just sayin’.
4 Oct 2011, 03:35 am
Has any one ever seen the loudmouthed slob, HG aka Helen(HG in Drag) in such obscure girlie form?
Makes me merrily think of the day King David of Po monsteried ‘Burgermeisie’ as is so well documented below in the clip.
Note how ‘moffie Burgermeisie’ submits by tapping the victor’s arm after the girlie face attack and eyes assault cannot be effected:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVC7KsdI7jk
4 Oct 2011, 03:43 am
@ET.(ET.)-393:
lol
Just think, thats what we see, imagine what we dont see that the camera does not pick up.
4 Oct 2011, 04:03 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-394:
Hey Hurri, was it with you that I spoke to about Cruden in the S15 season?
I wished Henry would have persisted with him after the year 2010 as he would now have had a fine replacement for Carter.
Slades main problem is mental and that will take some time to improve. Hence his erratic play which meanders from a brilliant break and then schoolboy errors to again a superb touchline conversion to a missed penalty almost in front.
For Slade’s sake they are almost compelled to start with him in the qts.
4 Oct 2011, 04:36 am
@ET.(ET.)-395:
Hey ET. It was me i believe.
I was a bit worried about Cruden but as you say if Henry stuck by him we would be more prepared now.
Slade has been thrown in the deep end,shame really. I think if he plays his own game without the pressure he has now, he would be ok.
But its that pressure thing that could get in the way of him getting to his potential. At the moment we need his best,nothing else would do.
I hope he can do it.
4 Oct 2011, 04:56 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-396:
If Slade plays the game of Colin Slade then he will be just fine. It is when he makes a simple error that he begins to chew himself to pieces for a while.
PW performed well in the time he played at f/h and he reads the game quite well and his kicks are generally good. Recall that kick that SBW ran onto and collected and ran so devastingly to the goaline for the Nonu try? Sublime stuff that was.
I still like Cruden and note he has played 6 times(2010) for the ABs and has never been in a losing AB side yet.
In the quarters if the state of the game permits, I would give AC about 10 mins. of playing time to see where he is at.
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