Wallabies v Fiji: We're on a winning streak...er..
September 23rd 2007 15:35
It was a hot afternoon in Montpellier...so hot a few spectators felt the need to strip off and run the length of the field. Not sure who they were supporting but I'm pretty sure that the team from Cavemania* didn't make the Cup cut.
Larkham was sitting on the sideline and I was hoping he would stri...oh never mind.
Yes...there were streakers*, peak-ers and kickers left, right and inside centre.
Will fill in the gaps tomorrow/Monday...for now, it's enough to know that Australia leads Pool B and looks to be on fast track to beat the bejingies (technical term) out of England in the Quarter Finals.
One very VERY important fact I left out of my preview post was that this was George Gregan's 59th test as Captain (Mortlock is out injured), which makes GG the equal most capped Rugby Captain with former England Captain, Will Carling.
Nothing personal against Mortlock but I really want him to be out injured for one more week so that GG can break the tie.
Fiji put on a great effort and this is the first time they've played fairly consistently for nearly the full 80. If this was the B team...Wales better be scared. Very scared. Fiji is on a mission and led by former Wallaby Flanker, Coach Ilie Tabue...all the new Fijian players will be signing contracts and getting poached by European and NZ clubs...will elaborate later.
Fiji understands its limits and Tabua knows better to 'sacrifice' his better players to the might of the Wallabies. Fiji is saving its firepower for the Welsh. Just as well, the Welsh wear red.
Australia's game was scrappy...rusty at best but an absolutely great performance by Little Git aka Matt Giteau, who scored the first try and the first of his 2 tries...and yes, I know, usually he bears the virtual brunt of my real scorn but for those of you who know such things, you'll know it's because he defected from The Mighty Brumbies.
Giteau deserved Man of the Match and when he goes back to the Brumbies, I will then happily and freely admit that I do think he's an incredibly talented Rugby playerwho deserves the money he's paid
Until then...nothing.
A new day will tell how badly Wallaby bodies were affected by the Flying Fijians. I did say they would take no prisoners and take penalties and they did. AND...for a while, just a little while, it really looked like the Fijians were in this game. 2 tries either side of half-time is enough to mak Coach Connolly read the riot act to his players.
The Wallabies looked like they were moving through molasses for most of the first half but they had the game under control. Many errors and oh Lawd the injuries. Fly halves were dropping like they had been sprayed with Mortein.
Berrick Barnes at #10 did well, got in another drop goal because his main aim in life is to walk in Larkham's boots. Barnes had to go off with some niggle or the other and then...a comedy of terrors, replacement Scott Staniforth injured himself within 4 seconds of coming on to the field. Oh okay, 4 minutes.
(When Barnes left the field, Giteau moved to 10 and Staniforth moved to 12. Huxley came on to replace Staniforth. Was waiting for Staniforth to get injured so that the stadium janitor could have his turn)
Will grudgingly admit that Tuqiri had an okay game but he always seems to play well against his countrymen. Like a "this is how you do it boys" thing.
Forwards were asleep but #8 Wycliff Palu ate (he he) through the opposition...and although the Wallabies made many errors, really they did do what they set out to do...unsettle the Fijians with their conservative play. The Wallabies built up the lead rather than take risks and unfortunately Fiji's 'habit' of falling apart 10 minutes from fulltime played in their favour.
Will be back right after the break...fast.
Good night and good day sportsfans. I better get back to the All Blacks v Scotland match. I need something to help me unwind....
Australia:
Tries - Mitchell 3, Giteau 2, Ashley-Cooper, Hoiles;
Conversions - Giteau 4; Penalties - Giteau 3;
Drop Goals - Barnes
Fiji:
Tries - Neivua, Ratuva;
Conversions - Bai
*the streakers looked like cave men. One got tackled by a security guard and was knocked out and the other ran the length of the field, going from tryline to tryline before being arrested. What's the bet the latter gets signed by a Rugby club and the former gets sold for training practise?
image courtesy of Fox Sports
Larkham was sitting on the sideline and I was hoping he would stri...oh never mind.
Yes...there were streakers*, peak-ers and kickers left, right and inside centre.
Wallabies 55 - 12 Fiji
Will fill in the gaps tomorrow/Monday...for now, it's enough to know that Australia leads Pool B and looks to be on fast track to beat the bejingies (technical term) out of England in the Quarter Finals.
One very VERY important fact I left out of my preview post was that this was George Gregan's 59th test as Captain (Mortlock is out injured), which makes GG the equal most capped Rugby Captain with former England Captain, Will Carling.
Nothing personal against Mortlock but I really want him to be out injured for one more week so that GG can break the tie.
Fiji put on a great effort and this is the first time they've played fairly consistently for nearly the full 80. If this was the B team...Wales better be scared. Very scared. Fiji is on a mission and led by former Wallaby Flanker, Coach Ilie Tabue...all the new Fijian players will be signing contracts and getting poached by European and NZ clubs...will elaborate later.
Fiji understands its limits and Tabua knows better to 'sacrifice' his better players to the might of the Wallabies. Fiji is saving its firepower for the Welsh. Just as well, the Welsh wear red.
Australia's game was scrappy...rusty at best but an absolutely great performance by Little Git aka Matt Giteau, who scored the first try and the first of his 2 tries...and yes, I know, usually he bears the virtual brunt of my real scorn but for those of you who know such things, you'll know it's because he defected from The Mighty Brumbies.
Giteau deserved Man of the Match and when he goes back to the Brumbies, I will then happily and freely admit that I do think he's an incredibly talented Rugby player
Until then...nothing.
A new day will tell how badly Wallaby bodies were affected by the Flying Fijians. I did say they would take no prisoners and take penalties and they did. AND...for a while, just a little while, it really looked like the Fijians were in this game. 2 tries either side of half-time is enough to mak Coach Connolly read the riot act to his players.
The Wallabies looked like they were moving through molasses for most of the first half but they had the game under control. Many errors and oh Lawd the injuries. Fly halves were dropping like they had been sprayed with Mortein.
Berrick Barnes at #10 did well, got in another drop goal because his main aim in life is to walk in Larkham's boots. Barnes had to go off with some niggle or the other and then...a comedy of terrors, replacement Scott Staniforth injured himself within 4 seconds of coming on to the field. Oh okay, 4 minutes.
(When Barnes left the field, Giteau moved to 10 and Staniforth moved to 12. Huxley came on to replace Staniforth. Was waiting for Staniforth to get injured so that the stadium janitor could have his turn)
Will grudgingly admit that Tuqiri had an okay game but he always seems to play well against his countrymen. Like a "this is how you do it boys" thing.
Forwards were asleep but #8 Wycliff Palu ate (he he) through the opposition...and although the Wallabies made many errors, really they did do what they set out to do...unsettle the Fijians with their conservative play. The Wallabies built up the lead rather than take risks and unfortunately Fiji's 'habit' of falling apart 10 minutes from fulltime played in their favour.
Will be back right after the break...fast.
Good night and good day sportsfans. I better get back to the All Blacks v Scotland match. I need something to help me unwind....
Australia:
Tries - Mitchell 3, Giteau 2, Ashley-Cooper, Hoiles;
Conversions - Giteau 4; Penalties - Giteau 3;
Drop Goals - Barnes
Fiji:
Tries - Neivua, Ratuva;
Conversions - Bai
*the streakers looked like cave men. One got tackled by a security guard and was knocked out and the other ran the length of the field, going from tryline to tryline before being arrested. What's the bet the latter gets signed by a Rugby club and the former gets sold for training practise?
image courtesy of Fox Sports
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Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
As for the streakers my sweet - being French - I'm sure it was all in the name of art.
MNG
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I hear it's all the rage in Paris now.
Thanks for coming by...
Dusk
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I love the Fijians...I have ties with Fiji and lived there for a while and I know how passionate they are about Rugby (hell, they had a Public Holiday to commemorate an HKSevens win) but...they really really have problems with attention span and stamina.
My husband coached a Rugby team when we were there and as wonderful as they are as a people...it was hard going to get them to focus for training, let alone 80 mins of XVs'...
Still...they're always a crowd favourite and the individuals (Waisele Serevi, Rauluni brothers, Tomasi Cama, Ilie Tabua, Joe Rokocoko, Caucau, Vunibaka, Jone Tawake*, Radike Samo, Lote Tuqiri..) are very talented.
I do believe that if the FRU had the money to keep their team together and at home and training together daily, etc...it would be different but the NZRU especially will always see to it that Pacific Rugby is kept penniless. They have too much to lose.
Matches like this...mighty v the 'minnows' is just great publicty platform for minnow players. A lot of the Fijian players will get contracts out of that match. half the team plays overseas anyway.
Anyway....
re the art?...French Run-o-sans?????
Hope you're well MNG.
Dusk
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
The greens and golds are painting the town.... green and gold!
The time is coming closer until we meet again!
Hugs
Ash
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Nothing should ever be All Black or White...
Go the Greens and Golds!!
hugs hon
Dusk
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Go Tonga.....I can't believe they got that close to the Springboks. It was good to see.
Hope you're not finding it all too stressful and have the stamina to get through the World Cup!!!
Kylie
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
All the big'uns are getting their asss almost whupped by the so called minnows. This...is anyone's cup.
...now that it looks like Larkham is out...it's all over for me...sort of...
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Streaking? HAHAHA! Gotta love rugby fans. Would have hated to be the one to have to do the "tackling"
Mis