tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319764576348149903.post1918491713321950621..comments2024-02-14T00:18:05.541+13:00Comments on ruggerblogger: Is this our time?Ferdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14407394442560602289noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319764576348149903.post-91048929208476632662011-10-16T17:38:27.105+13:002011-10-16T17:38:27.105+13:00I'm in two minds. The first one over the red c...I'm in two minds. The first one over the red card last night. Maybe it should have just been a yellow. I think it looked worse because the tackler tried to pull out and dropped the player. He should have carried on and try to let him down gently and therefore it would have been just a yellow. In my second mind [ha ha] I hope the it can be Third Time Lucky for the All Blacks in more ways than one!Fonziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11263947027968287728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319764576348149903.post-74675040827023160252011-10-16T14:27:11.440+13:002011-10-16T14:27:11.440+13:00Ok, agreed. I'm not 100% sure that the red was...Ok, agreed. I'm not 100% sure that the red was inappropriate (nor the opposite), but even as a neutral I was very disappointed to see such a good team knocked out like that. They'd have made the final far more worth watching than France will - it's never interesting to see a team lose by 30-50, especially in a final. There was a replay on tv today, and watching the passion of the Welsh players during a beautifully rendered national anthem was heartbreaking and I had to change the channel. Fortunately, the core of that Welsh team will be back in 2015, and maybe 2019. If they'd had such a team 20 years ago, you know they'd all be playing League within a couple of months.<br /><br />That said, I kind of don't mind the English approach. I think there should be room for all sorts of styles of play, and I was as entertained (though gutted by the result) by their game against Argentina as any other in the tournament. There's a visceral thrill in watching two powerful packs (and backlines too) spend 80 minutes going to war against each other that isn't diminished by the lack of sparkling back play.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17427464397212338416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319764576348149903.post-65560101176296336792011-10-16T12:58:14.437+13:002011-10-16T12:58:14.437+13:00Hi alan. Thanks for commenting! What I meant was I...Hi alan. Thanks for commenting! What I meant was I think today's result was awful (the red card should have been a yellow). But exhilarating it has been too. I could be biased, but I believe this has been an incredible world cup. The fans, the costumes, the incredible hospitality and warmth that NZers have shown. Also, four attacking teams in the semi finals. That has to be better than having turgid old England turn up and kick a couple of dozen drop goals to victory.<br />So maybe my emotional words were not the right ones. This world cup has been a cracker. Thanks for calling me on it.Ferdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14407394442560602289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319764576348149903.post-27878889610730012802011-10-16T12:43:49.251+13:002011-10-16T12:43:49.251+13:00"Awful yet exhilarating"? What has been ..."Awful yet exhilarating"? What has been awful about this tournament? So far, this has been the best tournament since 1991 - or maybe the best ever. (Though I think we are due for a worthless final).Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17427464397212338416noreply@blogger.com