Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
Denise Gabbard
Paladin
Craig HillWallabies Win It For Gregan & Larkham
July 8th 2007 06:07
...and although not a beautiful win...it was still attractive enough to leave a sad smile on Wallabies fans faces....and farewell 2 of the greatest Rugby players (and Men) ever...George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.
When the Boks scored in the 7 minute on the 7th day of the 7th month of '07, to make the scoreboard flash 7-0...I knew we would win. We had to. The Boks had luck on their side...but we had incentive.
(and how eerie was the similarities with the Wallabies v Wales match...7 weeks earlier at the same venue...we were 17 down to start...)
Let it never be said that this was a second tier Boks team. If the South African's can leave 20 of their best players at home and still play like this...I cannot even begin to fathom the depth of talent in that country.
...and any team that has Bob Skinstad (#8 and Captain) on it, will never be a second rate team.
Plus he's fairly easy on the eye ol' Bob....
I don't really know what was going on with the Wallabies. They looked asleep, certainly stunned by the Boks attack and at halftime in the dressing room...they looked out of it.
Was it the emotion of the night?
Was it the scandals that had 'hit' them during the week?
Whatever it was, they need to shake it off because they cannot come into a game like this...especially with the All Black's when they met them in a fortnight on All Black's territory.
This was a respectable win but it wasn't thrilling. I'll go so far as to say...at times...it was boring. The only genuine thrill was during the mid 30 minutes of the match.
Oh well...at least we won...and allowed 2 of the greatest Rugby Union players and Men and yes I will keep on saying this, who played their last international test match on home soil...to leave with heads high....and put the Nelson Mandela Plate back in our trophy cabinet.
Good news, the Wallabies are on top of the Tri Nations ladder.
The Boks and Black's are level at 5 points each and we're on 9.
Bad news, we have a bye this weekend...and the Boks and Black's are level at 5 points each and we're on 9.
Although my faith in my beloved Wallabies never wavers...I gotta tell ya...for a while there I was...oh man....the earth moved for me and not in a pleasant way. We're talking shaky ground not le petit mort.
Thankfully, the Wallabies remembered the script and the parts they all play and the script climax. Le petit mort.
My verdict on the new jersey? I like it.
It certainlyhugs in all the right places does its job....of keeping the players comfortable and it looks like the Forwards have an easier time with binding.
Why the Wallabies did not execute their perfect set moves is a puzzle. The one time they did, it was perfect and Mortlock decoyed, Larkham inside passed and Gerrard scored.
The Giteau try wasn't bad either but...as much as I hate to admit it...Breyton Paulse's (Boks #14 winger) post try victory 'dance' was the most spectacular sight of the night!
Paulse is the Intercept Master Thief and we were very lucky to not have given away more, he was just hovering, waiting for the long passes.
For Paulse's try...why the hell Larkham was the only one far back enough to chase him was beyond me.
Where the hell was the fullback Huxley? Polishing his shoes probably. Useless lightweight.
Larkham executed another brilliant move, which resulted in a try, scored by Man of the Match Wallabies #8 Stephen Hoiles who is one of the few new reasons to think well for the future of Australian Rugby.
I'm only kidding about that....but...we are coming to an end of a glorious era...
Wallabies 25
Tries: Gerrard, Hoiles, Giteau
Conversions: Mortlock 2
Penalties: Mortlock 2
Springboks 17
Tries: Van Heerden, Paulse
Convsersions: Houghaard 2
Penalties: Hougaard
After the match, Larkham and Gregan both said;
Coach Connolly has dedicated this match to Larkham and Gregan;
Larkham and Gregan were just gorgeous pre and post match...they both looked so embarrassed about having such a fuss made.
Larkham more so when he had to walk out alone...and when he accepted his fruit bowl...er...sorry...100th Test Commemorative Trophy and made his speech...I did not cry.
Much.
Thank you Stephen Larkham and George Gregan for being the Men that you are.
quotes courtesy of ARU
images courtesy of Rugby Heaven and Getty Images
Larkham and Gregan at the pre match press conference, joking about SL's forgetfulness and GG's bad jokes!
Wallabies 25 - Springboks 17
When the Boks scored in the 7 minute on the 7th day of the 7th month of '07, to make the scoreboard flash 7-0...I knew we would win. We had to. The Boks had luck on their side...but we had incentive.
(and how eerie was the similarities with the Wallabies v Wales match...7 weeks earlier at the same venue...we were 17 down to start...)
Let it never be said that this was a second tier Boks team. If the South African's can leave 20 of their best players at home and still play like this...I cannot even begin to fathom the depth of talent in that country.
...and any team that has Bob Skinstad (#8 and Captain) on it, will never be a second rate team.
Plus he's fairly easy on the eye ol' Bob....
I don't really know what was going on with the Wallabies. They looked asleep, certainly stunned by the Boks attack and at halftime in the dressing room...they looked out of it.
Was it the emotion of the night?
Was it the scandals that had 'hit' them during the week?
Whatever it was, they need to shake it off because they cannot come into a game like this...especially with the All Black's when they met them in a fortnight on All Black's territory.
This was a respectable win but it wasn't thrilling. I'll go so far as to say...at times...it was boring. The only genuine thrill was during the mid 30 minutes of the match.
Oh well...at least we won...and allowed 2 of the greatest Rugby Union players and Men and yes I will keep on saying this, who played their last international test match on home soil...to leave with heads high....and put the Nelson Mandela Plate back in our trophy cabinet.
Good news, the Wallabies are on top of the Tri Nations ladder.
The Boks and Black's are level at 5 points each and we're on 9.
Bad news, we have a bye this weekend...and the Boks and Black's are level at 5 points each and we're on 9.
Although my faith in my beloved Wallabies never wavers...I gotta tell ya...for a while there I was...oh man....the earth moved for me and not in a pleasant way. We're talking shaky ground not le petit mort.
Thankfully, the Wallabies remembered the script and the parts they all play and the script climax. Le petit mort.
My verdict on the new jersey? I like it.
It certainly
Why the Wallabies did not execute their perfect set moves is a puzzle. The one time they did, it was perfect and Mortlock decoyed, Larkham inside passed and Gerrard scored.
The Giteau try wasn't bad either but...as much as I hate to admit it...Breyton Paulse's (Boks #14 winger) post try victory 'dance' was the most spectacular sight of the night!
Paulse is the Intercept Master Thief and we were very lucky to not have given away more, he was just hovering, waiting for the long passes.
For Paulse's try...why the hell Larkham was the only one far back enough to chase him was beyond me.
Where the hell was the fullback Huxley? Polishing his shoes probably. Useless lightweight.
Larkham executed another brilliant move, which resulted in a try, scored by Man of the Match Wallabies #8 Stephen Hoiles who is one of the few new reasons to think well for the future of Australian Rugby.
I'm only kidding about that....but...we are coming to an end of a glorious era...
Wallabies 25
Tries: Gerrard, Hoiles, Giteau
Conversions: Mortlock 2
Penalties: Mortlock 2
Springboks 17
Tries: Van Heerden, Paulse
Convsersions: Houghaard 2
Penalties: Hougaard
After the match, Larkham and Gregan both said;
that the Wallabies paid the penalty for "getting a little excited early", but were delighted they regained their balance to ensure their farewell Australian Test was a celebration.
"It was all a bit patchy and very hard to get into the game," Larkham said. "It was fool's gold in the end.
"We fell into the trap of trying too hard to score tries."
Larkham, who also earned his 100th Test cap last night, said the occasion did not affect his or Gregan's performance.
"I was pumped up, a little bit scatty, but it was soon business as usual," he said.
"It was all a bit patchy and very hard to get into the game," Larkham said. "It was fool's gold in the end.
"We fell into the trap of trying too hard to score tries."
Larkham, who also earned his 100th Test cap last night, said the occasion did not affect his or Gregan's performance.
"I was pumped up, a little bit scatty, but it was soon business as usual," he said.
Gregan about to feed the ball into the scrum and looking for a reason to tell the ref what to do!
Coach Connolly has dedicated this match to Larkham and Gregan;
"The players were very conscious of recognising what they (Larkham and Gregan)have done for Australia. They are probably two of the greatest players to have played the game for Australia - so it was an important night.
Stephen Larkham receiving his 100th test commemorative Boks jersey from Boks Captain, Bob Skinstad..and that silly looking hat on his head is his 100th test cap.
Larkham and Gregan were just gorgeous pre and post match...they both looked so embarrassed about having such a fuss made.
Larkham more so when he had to walk out alone...and when he accepted his fruit bowl...er...sorry...100th Test Commemorative Trophy and made his speech...I did not cry.
Much.
Thank you Stephen Larkham and George Gregan for being the Men that you are.
Larkham and Gregan singing the anthem, surrounded by teammates, post match in the Wallabies locker room
Larkham enjoying his post match victory lap around Telstra Stadium
quotes courtesy of ARU
images courtesy of Rugby Heaven and Getty Images
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Comment by David
A subtle reference by Larkham to George Gregan? The (Barista)Pyrite of the Carob-Bean?
That Giteau's had a bit of practice bending over and touching his toes by the look of it.
David ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Noooooo...gasp...they're friends who rib each other in that larrikin, laconic Australian way. And they're backs...not backstabbers....
"fool's gold" as in not quite the real thing... gilt until proven winnocent...!
Larkham and Gregan being the personalities they are would have liked to win by merit not by default.
It wasn't that the Wallabies were too good.
The Boks team was just not good enough.
Um...the Giteau reference did a Boeing 747 on me...
Are you referring to the look of terror on his face when he was being chased by a 130kg Back hungry Forward??
...his gi-toes must have curled...
Hope you had a good weekend hon...mah warmth sugah...
Dusk
Comment by David
I was referring to Giteau's pickup of the ball from his bootlaces, and try.
And I'd never suggest any comment by Larkham on Gregan was anything but laconic, larrikin ribbing.
I'm going to go down to the same pub I went to last night for the Wallabies / All Blacks match. And watch it on Foxtel at a respectable hour.
If those same two half-dressed women stand between me and the screen again? I'll tell them the same thing I did last night. "Na, it's fine. You're not blocking my view. I just can't see the Rugby."
David ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Darlin'....something makes me think you'd be a Master in the Art of Larrikin Laconic Ribbing!
See?!
...hahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Comment by David
I wasn't complaining. I nearly asked them if they were brassiere models, or did they just forget to get dressed before they came out due to the excitement of me possiby being there?
David ...
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I loved the petty little comment by one of the commentators when Australia were down 17-0. He was getting so pissed off that he'd decided insults were the only way to go ... he accused one of the S. Africans of having eyebrows that looked like Witchetty Grubs!!!
Ooooo, what a terrible insult.
Love the piccy at the top of your post, the one of the Lark and GG at the pre match press conference.
Take care and I hope your weekend is going well!
Cara. xxxx
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Damn, you're right about Bob Skinstad!! I wouldn't mind getting my hands on his skinstad!
Kylie
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Who knows how far your fandom reaches....
mah warmth sugah...
Dusk
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I didn't hear that insult...I'm assuming it was Matt White(?) who does the Channel 7 commentary with Gordon Bray...maybe he thought insulting the Boks would lower their morale...
I know the
monobrowplayer he insulted though....I'm glad you watched the match...I love that pic too... they both look so relaxed. I'll have to put a post up about what they were saying about each other at the time of that photo...I'm not kidding about the caption.
Big hugs Cara...
Dusk
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Well...at the moment...it's anyones cup.
No one is playing well enough but pre Cup form is no indication usually.
The Boks and Blacks are not fielding full strength teams but this is scary because they still have fairly strong teams...which mans that they have an incredible reserve to choose from...and we don't.
If something happens to Larkham...where do we go?
Kurtley Beale? Yeah sure, he's being touted as the next best thing but he's a kid who has flair but not the tactical strategic brain to go with it. He xcels at flyhalf only when guided by his scrumhalf.
I'm hoping the Wallabies can find glue. And some hunger. And they need to stop playing politely.
They need to ruck the hell out of the infringers.
Grrrrrrrrr.....
Anyway...nice to see you Cibby...hope you're well...
Dusk
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Well...the match itself was not that thrilling...there was probably more excitement at the Trivia Night!...but it was a momentous occasion being the farewell on home soil for 2 legends.
Eek...I really should have more coherency to my reviews!...I have the best of intentions, I sit down with my notebook and intend to write the match as per minute but 5 minutes...no seconds...later I'm jumping all over the place, notebook forgotten and have to write from memory!
....Ash left a pic of Skinstad on the previous post... check it out...
I'm sure you won't want to miss the Wallabies/All Blacks match.
Hope you're well gorgeous.
Dusk
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I'm really glad your team won (and becuase I lived in Canberra for 13 years)..
..and so to the NLE (New Larkham Era)... how interesting the tales will be from bonny lassies and wee bunties...
CONGRATULATIONS!
Lilla
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Well actually...The Wallabies are the Australian team.
So, I guess, they are everyone's team if you're Australian and have some patriotic pride, not just patriotic sporting pride.
(The Team you're referring to is The (ACT) Brumbies and yes, Larkham and Gregan were Brumbies but that team is a provincial side and plays in the Super 14 series against other teams made up from Australia, NZ and South African provincial sides. Super 14 ended in May.)
It will be hard for a fan like me...I grew up with Rugby and Gregan and Larkham are the last of the greats. Not just Australian but worldwide.
...and yes I will be very interested in Scottish Rugby next year...but, although I was born and bred in England (one of the Great Rugby Nations)...I am an Australian at heart....so, for me...it will always be...
The Wallabies.
Hope you are well Lilla.
Dusk
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
who's next?
Is it Eden Gardens or Park or wherever?
Never in doubt, this game.
I'd like to see a little more panic though from Larkham and Gregan.
It's not right to be that calm when you're that far down.
They obviously know nought about blogs.
Panic and drama is the name of the game.
How they could go out with such little fuss is beyond me.
Lines drop out.
Norm
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Boks meet the the Blacks this week but...week after, it's adamant v Steve in the Garden of Eden (Park)...
The Blacks are determined...but that's no deterrent...
...and giNORMous...the rest of your comment...I'm sorry...I can't possibly respond with anything resembling a coherent answer...the eNORMity hit me and I'm currently engaged in the Laughter of Hysterics.
Panic and Drama = Pan-oh-rama?
...continuous scenes of the same picture...
Draw deep my friend...
Dusk
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
regardless - this game was so painful!
thank goodness for the eye candy... coz you don`t get much sweeter than Bob - grrrrr
hugs
ash