I remember the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand... cities shut down with protests, street battles between protestors and riot police, flour bombing of a stadium/game be an aircraft... There is a lot of respect and rivalry between the Springboks and All Blacks.
Any Rugby World Cup Fans?
- Thread starter badbadboy
- Start date
I think it will be SA v. New Zealand in one Semi and Australia v. Ireland in the other. I expect SA v. Australia in the final.
I'm leaning towards Australia to win it all, but would be happier to see SA win.
I've always thought that New Zealand tends to show a lot of nerves once it comes to the elimination games.
I have to feel a bit bad for Japan, to lose only once and not advance is harsh.
I'm leaning towards Australia to win it all, but would be happier to see SA win.
I've always thought that New Zealand tends to show a lot of nerves once it comes to the elimination games.
I have to feel a bit bad for Japan, to lose only once and not advance is harsh.
Yeah, it is too bad that Japan didn't go forward.
So, the All Blacks have trounced the French 62-13.
And South Africa v. Wales was much closer at 23-19.
All Blacks v. Springboks next Saturday... and I'll be on a beach somewhere in Asia...
So, the All Blacks have trounced the French 62-13.
And South Africa v. Wales was much closer at 23-19.
All Blacks v. Springboks next Saturday... and I'll be on a beach somewhere in Asia...
I watched both games. IMHO the Springbok's were lucky to kick it into gear with 5 minutes remaining to get the winning try for the win. Wales carried most of the play and in my heart wanted them to go forward because of my own heritage.
The All Blacks came to play with execution on every facet of the game. The French were way out of their league.
05:00 tomorrow the two games start with Argentina v Ireland and at 08:00 the Aussies v Scotland. I'm sleeping like shit these days so I'll probably be up watching it live. I'm expecting Oz and Ireland to advance.
Final four are all from the Southern Hemisphere
Oz, NZ, SA & Arg
This weekends games were all :thumb:
Oz, NZ, SA & Arg
This weekends games were all :thumb:
Good call. My dark horses were Wales and Scotland with both of them oh so close to an upset.
Given what Argentina did to Ireland today, I don't think Oz has an easy road to the final.
That game v the Springboks was one of the hardest fought matches I have seen to date. It's great to see two equally matched teams, playing at the highest level and with a lot of respect for the other side.
Seeing this Haka up front and personal must be mind blowing.
You are pumped with adrenaline as it is and your competitor reaches back into their own history for a war cry.
There have been numerous responses in the past from a long stare down with Wales, to minor scuffles to the Aussies ignoring it and continuing to warm up in their own end.
https://youtu.be/sW-MNkDq7AA
You are pumped with adrenaline as it is and your competitor reaches back into their own history for a war cry.
There have been numerous responses in the past from a long stare down with Wales, to minor scuffles to the Aussies ignoring it and continuing to warm up in their own end.
https://youtu.be/sW-MNkDq7AA
hard for me to see any team intimidated by that..is that posturing going to help them score?imho, the All-Blacks are the strongest team,do they need this pre-game "intimidation" which, I doubt any of the teams in the tournament , give a toss about?
Game within the game to get inside your competitor's head. Easy for us to make assumptions behind a computer screen.
Sure playing at this high level the players all know the Haka.
I always make sure I see the opening of any All Blacks game.
Sure playing at this high level the players all know the Haka.
I always make sure I see the opening of any All Blacks game.
unless you played this game, you would have no idea what it feels like to go into a match
full contact, no pads
at anytime in any game you could be injured seriously, so there is an unease you feel before a match no matter who you play
friends of mine who have stood across the field from the all blacks watching the haka claim its intimidation is unmatched, makes you want to pack your bags and go home (direct quote)
it both pumps up the New Zealand team and intimidates the opponent
these days though no doubt the other teams prepare their minds not to be intimidated or to use the tension it creates to build more mental focus
high level sports is more mental than physical, you have to have the physical attributes just to be on the field, but the difference between winning or losing is in the mind
ask any high level athlete or coach..........
full contact, no pads
at anytime in any game you could be injured seriously, so there is an unease you feel before a match no matter who you play
friends of mine who have stood across the field from the all blacks watching the haka claim its intimidation is unmatched, makes you want to pack your bags and go home (direct quote)
it both pumps up the New Zealand team and intimidates the opponent
these days though no doubt the other teams prepare their minds not to be intimidated or to use the tension it creates to build more mental focus
high level sports is more mental than physical, you have to have the physical attributes just to be on the field, but the difference between winning or losing is in the mind
ask any high level athlete or coach..........
the other thing is that sport is entertainment, can't pay to see the all blacks and not be treated to the haka...........
I love the Haka!!! It always strikes me as something half way between a Japanese karate kata and an aboriginal war dance. I know that officially it is defined as: " a traditional ancestral war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand".
JD
McDiver called it.
All Blacks v The Wallabies
Amazingly its the first time ever they have met in the World Cup.
Having lived and worked in those two countries, I know it will be like Canada v Russia or USA in Ice Hockey. Both countries will be watching their TV's.
All Blacks v The Wallabies
Amazingly its the first time ever they have met in the World Cup.
Having lived and worked in those two countries, I know it will be like Canada v Russia or USA in Ice Hockey. Both countries will be watching their TV's.
