kier
Junior Member
Posts: 378
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Post by kier on Oct 26, 2009 21:02:36 GMT -5
A false dawn - oh well.
Cracking NZ v Oz game though. Lets hope Eng can do a job now.
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Basil2
Full Member
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Post by Basil2 on Oct 27, 2009 4:48:05 GMT -5
A false dawn - oh well. Cracking NZ v Oz game though. Lets hope Eng can do a job now. Solid effort by both sides. I thought Aus were lucky to get away with it in the end. Aus B (whoops, NZ) played well. Time for GB to feel Aus's wrath this weekend (I hope). Cheers lads, Bas |
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Post by windlesaint on Oct 27, 2009 14:34:05 GMT -5
It would appear to be just the 3 of us.
Australia will run England ragged next week to set up a rematch with NZ.
Have you been following the Pacific Cup? Great result by the Cook Islands to get to the final. I rather fancy PNG will stuff them in the final.
They should make this an annual competition - would help to consolidate international RL in the area.
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kier
Junior Member
Posts: 378
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Post by kier on Oct 27, 2009 18:20:40 GMT -5
There's a fair bit of RL played between the islands - it's part of the regular pacific games and the fact that there is a meaningful prize (playing in the 4 Nations) it's going well. I have afeeling that the recent tsunami in Samoa might have had an effect of the Samoan RL side. I reckon on most days the Cook Islands wouldn't usually get close. Good to see all of Kevin Iro's development in the Cook Islands reaping rewards though.
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Post by windlesaint on Oct 28, 2009 10:45:33 GMT -5
There's a fair bit of RL played between the islands - it's part of the regular pacific games and the fact that there is a meaningful prize (playing in the 4 Nations) it's going well. I have afeeling that the recent tsunami in Samoa might have had an effect of the Samoan RL side. I reckon on most days the Cook Islands wouldn't usually get close. Good to see all of Kevin Iro's development in the Cook Islands reaping rewards though. What is the season for rl in the pacific? I'm going to Samoa & Tonga next year - might get to see a game! You're probably right about the tsunami & Samoa's performance - but CI did beat Fiji as well. Anyway it's nice to se a small team have it's day in the sun. |
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kier
Junior Member
Posts: 378
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Post by kier on Oct 28, 2009 17:32:54 GMT -5
Agreed it's good to see CI doing well. I have no idea about seasons.....I'd assume they'd follow the usual SHemisphere Mar - Sept pattern.
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Post by georgehotel on Oct 30, 2009 15:50:19 GMT -5
Really enjoyed the NZ v Aus game. The Kiwi forwards were excellent and the forwards are the only way that England will get anything out of tomorrows game. Looking forward to it. England have a good pack and bench this time, lots of impact.
Was in S France at the back end of September and missed the start of the French RL season kick-off bby a week - bad planning. Was based near Limoux and the town square was awash with posters in the bars and restaurants. Its not a large town, so not sure what size crowds they get.
Hello to everyone btw
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Post by windlesaint on Nov 2, 2009 14:20:17 GMT -5
Cook Islands didn't do too bad in the end - spirited performance.
England lost but holding the Aussies to nil in the second half was good. Will they beat the world champions next week? Probably not!
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kier
Junior Member
Posts: 378
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Post by kier on Nov 2, 2009 16:56:23 GMT -5
After watching the Eng v Aus game I'm hopeful for the future. Aus were gifted their tries - either by Smith's criminal defending of intercepts. Eng were guilty of being too conservative initially. Once they strated using their ball carrying skills in the forwards - combined with good aggression the entire side showed what is possible. Why wasn't Eastmond in the starting 13? Why is Smith playing at all?  ? The game reminded me of watching NZ prior to 2005 - you could see the skill, conditioning and talent was in place what was missing was a self-belief that would be in place from the moment the first whistle blew. |
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kier
Junior Member
Posts: 378
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Post by kier on Nov 5, 2009 16:20:48 GMT -5
Really looking forward to the Eng v NZ game. A few of the kiwi big hitters are missing with injury. If Eng start with some self belief and don't retreat in to their shells I think the could do it. Conservative football rarely wins games.
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Post by windlesaint on Nov 8, 2009 9:23:57 GMT -5
Really looking forward to the Eng v NZ game. A few of the kiwi big hitters are missing with injury. If Eng start with some self belief and don't retreat in to their shells I think the could do it. Conservative football rarely wins games. Well, they did it!  Now to return to type against the Aussies.  |
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kier
Junior Member
Posts: 378
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Post by kier on Nov 8, 2009 15:25:37 GMT -5
On the balance of all the games I think Eng have the best forward pack. Certainly the stats from the Eng v Aus game show that the english forwards have it over their aussie counterparts - and the dominance in the game against NZ was clear.
In both codes of rugby a dominant pack is usually the best platform for winning. It also looks as if the defensive frailty in the right centre has gone (see ya later Lee Smith).
Can't wait for next weekend - lets hope the Eng keeps playing as they have for the last 120 minutes.
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Post by windlesaint on Nov 10, 2009 14:29:49 GMT -5
On the balance of all the games I think Eng have the best forward pack. Certainly the stats from the Eng v Aus game show that the english forwards have it over their aussie counterparts - and the dominance in the game against NZ was clear. In both codes of rugby a dominant pack is usually the best platform for winning. It also looks as if the defensive frailty in the right centre has gone (see ya later Lee Smith). Can't wait for next weekend - lets hope the Eng keeps playing as they have for the last 120 minutes. But the backs aren't up to it - too lightweight. |
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kier
Junior Member
Posts: 378
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Post by kier on Nov 10, 2009 15:02:51 GMT -5
But the backs aren't up to it - too lightweight.[/quote]
If the Eng forwards dominate they can starve the Aussie backs of possession.
The Aussie backline has talent to burn BUT the one thing that is a feature of just about all of these players is that they won't help out in the forwards if the pressure goes on (as Wendall Sailor used to do for example). - they just go missing. Which is what happened in the 2nd half of the first game against Aus.
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Post by windlesaint on Nov 13, 2009 11:53:39 GMT -5
The Challenge Cup Final has been removed from the 'crown jewels' list of sport that has to be shown on terrestial tv. Hope this doesn't have an adverse affect on the game.
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