Speaker by Various Artists

Are you absolutely sure that Samoa will beat England? Really?

I think it will be a good game. But a lot of people were calling the South Africa-Samoa game "one to watch" (I didn't).

England didn't play that well but I think it was more being shocked by the USA putting up a half-decent fight. Did you see the way the USA fullback kept playing Sevens? Brilliant.

Still England were doing the right things and putting drives together. It just seemed slow and ponderous. Like a bunch of old men. Samoa will smash them up but I just believe the English will kick them into submission.

Yes. We are on our way. And yes,it does feel good.
I too think England will get past Samoa. In fact, I hope they get through to beat Wales...which,I am told ,would have them meeting the AB's. Unfinished business there.
It seems that the six nation countries are going to need the pool matches . How disappointing have they been.Is that competition so weak or is rugby weak at present in the northern hemisphere?
And playing with the sun on their backs ( and fowards) makes for a great buildup here. The timing is just right.

Well its only round one, but given the way the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks all slaughtered their second (is Italy second tier or first tier these days?) and third tier opponents and looking at how the European teams struggled to subdue lively largely amateur opponents it is looking very ominous for the Northern hemisphere.

Grant nice write up but "Blitzkreig" Lightning War really?

Pet hate to compare war with sport. Like war has a fair or just outcome?

"Ruck my forwards, Ruck!" attributed to some general trying to rev the troops going into a bayonet charge, yet palateable enuf to report in the "news" at home, curious. I wonder if there was a recruiting drive going on?

fair call Michael, just getting carried away with the performance.

I am not certain that Samoa will beat England, but I am prepared to go with Zinny on the possibility that it might happen given his closeness to the English scene. and, wouldn't it be great?

I didn't see all of the England game, but what I did I think they will be run off the park by most of the professional teams.

fair call Michael, just getting carried away with the performance.

Metaphorically, I was comfortable with "blitzkrieg".

I was actually thinking that the first 20 minutes was unprecedented at that level of rugby. I really have seen nothing like it before in a test match.

One of my little hobby horses of Nationalism/War/Sport.
I find they interchange just a little too easily to be comfortable.
"One World Cup & Two World Wars, do da do da...".(It was better before 1990)
The Fascists & the Olympics.
The All Blacks as a proxy for NZ Solidiers who fought & died in France. (Let's not mention Vichy France & Rugby).
It's a hell of a lot easier to be a solider than an All Black, so does that mean the All Blacks are like the SAS?
Nah, the All Blacks are really good at Rugby.
Even if Henry said the All Blacks will Bleed for the Cup, it aint war & no All Black ever died playing Rugby.

South Africa definitely looked sharp, and at this stage I would say the most dangerous of the opposition. I'd also agree that England will be run close by Samoa - not so confident about a loss though.

One correction - sadly, Murray hasn't been relegated to the NPC. He's on the ITV commentary teams for the coverage in the UK.....sigh........

Was just going to post the same thing myself Bruce.

Now the whole of the UK is subjected to Murray-isms. His "NZers are not traditionally known as an arrogant race" drew guffaws around my local pub.

It's almost as embarrassing as flying a sheep out onto a floating iceberg to get shorn.......

"One correction - sadly, Murray hasn't been relegated to the NPC. He's on the ITV commentary teams for the coverage in the UK.....sigh........"

Murray Played the Game, Loves the Game, but doesn't Know the Game.
2 outta 3 aint bad.

"NZers are not traditionally known as an arrogant race" drew guffaws around my local pub

Is that because it's your local Pub? ... Murray can't help it & he means no harm.

Perhaps it was because boasting about a lack of arrogance is a tad arrogant in itself?

come off it now with the cultural cringe - it ain't pretty

> One of my little hobby horses of
> Nationalism/War/Sport. I find they
> interchange just a little too easily
> to be comfortable.

I've always found rugby to be a lot like war. Without (mostly) the killing.

Pleased to see Fox back commentating. When he was doing it a few years ago he really added something.

Dunno yet about Merhtens, but perhaps there's a first five thing happening. If they're any good they're good at reading the game and what is going to happen next.

Mexted....well....A certain novelty value which wears off after a while.

Dunno yet about Merhtens, but perhaps there's a first five thing happening. If they're any good they're good at reading the game and what is going to happen next.

I think one welcome thing Mehrts is doing is asking questions in interviews -- rather than barking a proposition at the subject and looking for a nod. John Preston is the worst offender. We've sometimes sat through whole interviews waiting for him to ask an actual questions, and he never does.

Quite liking James Ryan too. But did anyone else think for a while that the TV3 watermark was a silver fern logo he'd shaved in his bonce?

James Ryan didn't start well but he seems to have shaken of the nerves now.

I'm seriously impressed with TV3's little rooftop set though. Isn't it loverly? And they really are that close to the Arc du Triomphe (the reverse shot was shown the other morning)

I'm with Robertson on Samoa - they've played a clever tactic by saving their best for the Poms rather than the Africans. I'd love to see them get through and you know if they do, it'll be because they actually play rugby with tries rather than without.

Gregan's looking sharp - I think it's a mistake to count this bloke out. He's not so good behind a pack that's struggling, which it will against the better sides but he is as good a defender as was Marshall and his refereeing is worth at least 6 points. The weak link in the Wallabies is Mortlock - he's only a threat on the weaker inside and we'll not see a repeat of the mistakes from the "G".

TV3: are there any other teams over there?
Sorry to be scratchy, I'm suffering withdrawals. Two hours without an update on Conrad Smith's hamstring.

Sorry to be scratchy, I'm suffering withdrawals. Two hours without an update on Conrad Smith's hamstring.

I think www.tv3.co.nz needs some sort of All Black Leg Cam. Refreshing every 15 seconds, shots of Smith, Robinson, and Thorne's hamstrings and calves and whatnot.

Is it me, or... did a whole bunch of comments disappear from this thread?

It's you. But don't tell anyone.

and don't worry, there's lots of people watching to make sure you don't sqeak.

Ooops, ur right. My bad :>