Wallabies edge sterile sideshow
21 Oct 2011
RYAN VREDE watched Australia stutter to an uninspiring 21-18 victory over Wales in the World Cup bronze medal match at Eden Park.
Naturally this contest lacked the intensity and compelling appeal of a match where the result was meaningful. Consequently it descended into a structureless, error-strewn and utterly unpalatable sideshow to Sunday’s final.
It would have been more bearable if either side had earned the right to play expansively by showing some appreciation for building a platform. Instead the strike runners in either pack were rarely deployed often enough to achieve this, with the showmen in the back division asked to enthral and entertain the 60 000 poor souls who paid to be punished.
Handling errors abound and Australia’s lethargy in sending cleaners into rucks often resulted in turnovers in the Welsh 22m. Their troubles were compounded and cause undermined when key play makers Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper were injured before 25 minutes had elapsed. The latter, did, however, craft a try for Berrick Barnes with a deft offload, before his exit.
Australia looked a better side than the impotent Welsh, whose struggles were rooted in their inability to impose themselves at the gainline. They also missed suspended captain Sam Warburton’s ability to stifle the opposition’s attacking flow through his breakdown work. Indeed Warren Gatland’s side played with the verve, accuracy and innovation that suggested they’d had spent their week working their way through Auckland’s pubs and nightclubs.
Wales missed three goalkicks but still trailed by just four points (7-3) with with 30 minutes to play, before scoring courtesy of a clear forward pass. On the evidence of that incorrect decision, it appeared referee Wayne Barnes and his assistant had been lulled into a slumber themselves.
James O’Connor kicked two penalties to regain the lead for the Wallabies before Barnes took the Wallabies eight points ahead with a drop goal. Stephen Jones set up a tense final 10 minutes with a three pointer.
Adam Ashley-Cooper should have sealed the result with six minutes to play, but he grassed the ball in a tackle a metre for the goal line. Ben McCalman, however, made no mistake shortly thereafter. Wales would score after the siren had sounded, but were undeserving of victory.
The Wallabies thus finish in third place, which is much like almost bagging the hottest girl at the party, then having to settle for her ugly friend.
649 Comments
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21 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-298:
really?
she’s all woman.
mo’ cushin fo’ da pushin.
I would park my van in her tradesman’s entrance every day of the week and twice on sunday
21 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-299: Naughty Poppa.
hehehehehe. Besides no one would understand my costume.
21 Oct 2011, 13:09 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-295: you’re full of sshit!
21 Oct 2011, 13:10 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-301: I’m not as tall as her anyway. I wouldn’t pull it off, and I can’t do all that make up in hot sun. I might go as a play boy bunny.
21 Oct 2011, 13:11 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-304: and i as Hef
21 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
@Brads(Brads)-296: But the trick is to get in just before the bubble bursts…
I am happy at 8/1… If I am not right, I dont lose much… Like the French in this final – they don’t lose much by losing… Unlike the AB’s who lose pretty much everything…
I do win considerably more if the French win however than if they lose – 8 fold more, and bragging rights for 4 years on being one of the few to call this final correctly…. Schweet.
21 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-304:
Good one.
Transie can go as Hank Basket
21 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-304: i nly need PJs to pull it off
21 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-305: You’d wear satin pj’s to the rugby?
21 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-302: go dressed as Bryce Lawrence…
does anyone notice the coincidence that the first 3 letters of his surname are exactly what he laid down to the Bokke..
brycies Law !!
21 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
@Test(Test)-290: that means you must support NZ at every World Cup then… Being ranked no. 1 in the world for the intervening 4 years they are surely always the “most deserving” team of the tag “Rugby World Cup Champions”.
How boring life would be if the favourites won every time!
Viva la France! Viva the upset! Viva a new champion!
21 Oct 2011, 13:14 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-307: Where are we going to find him a NFL Football uniform!
21 Oct 2011, 13:14 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-304:
you can go as paula abdul and transie can go as randy randy jackson.
21 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
Okay, for those who haven’t seen it or don’t believe it, again, here is my true story (I won’t tell you how much richer it made me, but I’m now well off, and the NZRU is even poorer than before!):
http://blogs.sport24.co.za/David-Mac/bryce-lawrence-lord-of-the-whistles-17-Oct-2011
21 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-299: Or Rossi could put on a Michelin suit and go as you, Poops… She can go as the singing Fat Lady (or maori)…
21 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-310: Poppa, I’m a chick! I wanna look sexy. Bryce is not sexy!
21 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-307: bwahahahahahaha what is up with you and these reality shows??!
21 Oct 2011, 13:16 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-313: You seem to be finding nice characters for Transformation and not for me!
21 Oct 2011, 13:18 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-317: One gets the feeling G watches a lot of E Entertainment. I’m surprized he hasn’t mentioned those Bridal Plasty people yet.
21 Oct 2011, 13:18 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-316: sorry Rossi..
you could go as a springbokke, because they were rightly bok befokked
21 Oct 2011, 13:18 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-316: Just put on make up and mascara, as normal, wear a reed skirt… and go as Ma’a Nonu…
21 Oct 2011, 13:20 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-320: Poppa there will be hundreds of people dressed as Bokke, that I can assure you.
21 Oct 2011, 13:21 pm
Rossi
do you do a good kate beckingsale impersonation? they dont come much sexier imo…
21 Oct 2011, 13:25 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-323: You think she’s pretty hot huh? Yeah she is, but I’m not her Popps. Although the vampire outfit she had on for Underworld was cooking. Thanks for the idea.
21 Oct 2011, 13:28 pm
without a doubt in the world Rossi. or go as Kelly rowlands, another stunner. :blush:
21 Oct 2011, 13:33 pm
There will be more people at the Cheetahs/Sharks game than at the RWC final …. Rugby is much bigger in SA!
21 Oct 2011, 13:37 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-312:
how bout jLo and Pdiddy.
Get transie to hire a helicopter.
and then have an after party booze cruise on ebayi
21 Oct 2011, 13:38 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-326: will all the bokke players be there too? seeing as they havent had a game for the last two weekends…
21 Oct 2011, 13:40 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-325:
Can you blush?
21 Oct 2011, 13:42 pm
poppa, last time the bokke played against the all blacks alot of PE All Blacks supporters went to hospital cause they threw each other with knifes – All Blacks got a big hiding! … you’ll only be true world champs when you beat us
21 Oct 2011, 13:45 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-330: a big hiding? 13 points is a hiding? nah, try 19-0, 49-0, 52-16, etc theyre big hidings…
but enjoy watching the World Cup final, shame your team isnt there….
and hey, whats got four legs and echoes???
SARU’s trophy cabinet lmfao…
21 Oct 2011, 13:46 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-316:
He is to Poops.
21 Oct 2011, 13:50 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-330:
Yep, what was it 18 points to 5 in at home against NZ B team, that blew over 4 tries, cut the Boks backline apart.
Still with such an impressive game by the Boks at home against NZ B team you would have thought they would have beaten Ozzie with 70% posession, what happened there, did you need 80%?
21 Oct 2011, 13:52 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-330:
Ummm can any pass this guy the head to head stats. He seems to think the ABs havnt beaten the Boks.
21 Oct 2011, 13:54 pm
In 1990 3 kids were playing in the street in Sydney when they were hit by a train. They all go to heaven and God says to them, “You weren’t supposed to die, you were all supposed to live out your lives. This was not your time. To make it up to you, I’ll let you choose what you want to do with your life. Take a running jump off of that cloud over there, and as you’re flying back down to Earth, shout out what you want to do. And so it shall be.”
The 1st kid takes a running leap and shouts “Lawyer” and so, 20 years later, he is a very successful lawyer, making lots of money, with an upcoming appointment to the Bench.
The 2nd kid takes his turn and shouts “brain surgeon” and so, 20 years later, he is the most admired man in his field of medicine and making a ton of money saving lives.
The 3rd kid goes to take his turn, and as he runs he trips over his own feet and stumbles of the cloud muttering “stupid clumsy arsehole.” 20 years later, he’s playing the back line for the All Blacks.
21 Oct 2011, 13:55 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-330:
hang on this is the perfect time to use the South African RWC 2007 supporters intellect.
Now Boks beat Wales by 1 point. Boks lost to Ozzie. Ozzie beat Wales by 3 points. We beat Ozzie by 14 points, therefore we would have beaten you in the SF easily.
21 Oct 2011, 13:57 pm
**** me – another terrible display by a referee.
That’ll do me – all I want to see is a fair game but this WC proved that they are a thing of the past. This WC has been a refereeing disaster and I’m barely interested in games any more.
And for allt those Kiwis who are about to comment that “you are only whinging because SA is no longer in the tournament”….well thats garbage because I watched tonights game expecting some good Rugby and was looking forward to it.
But once again agendas got in the way.
21 Oct 2011, 13:58 pm
The seven dwarfs went off to work in the mine one day, while Snow White stayed at home to do the housework and cook their lunch.
However when she went to the mine to deliver their lunches, she found there had been a cave-in, and there was no sign of the dwarfs.
Tearfully she yelled in to the mine entrance:”hello – is anyone there. Can anyone hear me”.
A voice floated up from the bowels of the mine:
” All Blacks will win the Rugby World Cup”
“Thank god” said Snow White “at least Dopey’s still alive”
21 Oct 2011, 13:59 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-335:
thats not even funny.
PDV asked the Bok team to line up in their usual positions, he turns back around and the Bok team are all behind the goal posts.
PDV yells ” What are you all doing” ?
Team answers ” We are waiting for the conversion. ”
Agghhh an oldie but a goodie
21 Oct 2011, 14:00 pm
G henry takes the All Blacks out for training and tells everyone to assume their normal position. So they all go and stand behind the goalposts and wait for the conversion.
21 Oct 2011, 14:01 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-335: lucky your team had all that rest during the 3Ns, they should be nice and fresh come the semi finals of the world cup..
oops
21 Oct 2011, 14:01 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-335: Great story! Just lacks the one essential element of all good jokes. Humour!
Please!!! the Springbok back line lie in bed at night and dream of playing with the fluency and accuracy of the AB back line.
SA back play has not gone any where in years. Who are you trying to kid? The Boks wouldn’t know what to do with a talent like Dagg. He simply couldn’t operate in a backline with such limited ambition as the Boks.
21 Oct 2011, 14:02 pm
Snap at hurrica …. google bra, google!
21 Oct 2011, 14:03 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-340:
haha good one fool.
Its a kiwi joke we used on the 2005 lions tour of NZ.
Loserrrrrrrr
21 Oct 2011, 14:03 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-339:
Is it a true story?
It has to be, because it is certainly not homurous enough to qualify as a joke.
HG, loved your comment about Nonu and lipstick!! LOL
21 Oct 2011, 14:04 pm
even Japan would beat NZ if a po3s like lawrence was ref and he had a few $$$ on a japanese win
21 Oct 2011, 14:05 pm
Anything involving Nonu and make-up or Umaga and handbags or Quade and illicit laptops or Read and a flock of fluffy ones…. now those jokes will be FUNNY!
21 Oct 2011, 14:06 pm
@Lions_is_kak_kak_honde_honde_kak(suffer_guy)-346:
Lawrence can beat any team on any day.
He needs 15 players to camouflage his tactics, but I think he could even do it without a team on his side
21 Oct 2011, 14:08 pm
i heard Jane is also a alcoholic? whats up with the NZ wings? 2 alcoholics and a boxer fighting against a fat 65 year old deaf guy? sick!!!
21 Oct 2011, 14:08 pm
Three rugby fans were on their way to a game when one fan noticed a foot protruding from a clump of bushes on the side of the road. They all stopped and discovered it was a nude female, dead drunk. Out of respect and propriety, the Aussie fan took off his cap and placed it over her right breast. The All-Black fan took off his cap and placed it over her left breast. Following their lead, the Springbok fan took off his cap and placed it over her crotch.
The police were called and when the officer arrived, he conducted his inspection. First, he lifted up the Aussie cap, and wrote down some notes. Next, he lifted the All-Black cap, replaced it, and wrote down some notes. The officer then lifted the Springbok cap, replaced it, lifted it replaced it, lifted it a third time and replaced it one last time.
The Springbok fan was getting upset and finally asked,” what are you, a pervert or something? Why do you keep lifting and looking lifting and looking?”
Well,” said the officer,” I am simply surprised. Normally when I look under a springbok hat, I find an @rsehole!”
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