What have we learned from the World Cup

Q. When was the last time a New Zealander whistled at for not going through the Gate?
A. One man and his dog!

Numbers from the WC...
It took 15 Frenchmen to beat 14 Welshmen but it took 16 New Zealanders to beat 15 Frenchmen...does this mean Wales are World Champions.

It wasn't Alun Rowlands that tackled Clerc

It wasn't Bruce Lawrence that threw the forward pass

It wasn't Craig Joubert that kicked at goal

During this world cup we figured out that;
- the NH isn't a million miles away from the SH (they are joined at the equator)
- NZ can win a rugby world cup in their own backyard
- the 'big' teams from the 6N-3N-Argentina benefited from longer rest periods during the group stages
- the 'minnows' had cracking games against each other and the top minnow sides (Samoa-Tonga) are closing in on the 'big' teams
- Argentina can step up in a RWC even though they have no regular tournament to play in
- losing fans will have a go at refereeing decisions
- winning fans will have a go at refereeing decisions
- it is very unlikely that a game isn't won by the higher IRB ranked team (how many upsets, honestly... Oz v Ireland and Tonga v France all that spring to mind)
- Controversy follows England stretching the rules
- Controversy follows NZ at the breakdown
- the scrum is a lottery
- we will regret that we won't see Shane Williams, BOD, Mils and a host of others at another RWC
- a successful team needs a 7
- France blow hot and cold
- there is no offside if you are behind the referee
- Ireland exit RWC competitions about 1 round before their form would suggest

I'd add is there something to learn from the injuries at the RWC? Don't have a list but get the feeling there were a lot of knee and groin injuries at this tournament. Is there too much training (or weights work) being done on the leg muscles that the muscles are overloading the ligaments?

Should teams look to start putting knee protecting gear on their speedsters & sidesteppers as a protection measure?

- Getting up at God-Awful-O'Clock to watch matches was killing me... especially after a Friday night on the pop.
- Sky + is the best invention the world has ever seen.
- The one thing the British media love more than building a hero up is destroying them.
- Dwarf tossing, whilst fun is not always obligatory in NZ
- Wales going quad biking on their day off is apparantly fun, England going Bungee Jumping on their day off is apparantly a national disgrace and not taking the RWC seriously.
- NZ winning the RWC meant everything, because it is precious to them (LOTR joke? ...maybe)
- You can put any old drivel you like in lists like this and someone will read it.

I've learned....

...that people will literally moan about anything on a forum.

...that I have a problem with the IRB rankings (however fair blahblahblah).

...that watching Wales games with a hangover are more than stomach-turning.

...that England players are basically the devil (if you're the media).

...that intent doesnt make a difference.

...that there are plans to introduce "robo-players", could this mean we are going to see veterans like simon shaw/brad thorn/ George Smith/Martyn Williams making comebacks as half-human/half-cyborg robocop-esque players? Will they be accompanied by "Robo-Refs"? Will the IRB clarify the laws around these robo-players and intreptations at the breakdown?

That rugby in NZ is almost bankrupt

Glas a du wrote:It wasn't Alun Rowlands that tackled Clerc

It wasn't Bruce Lawrence that threw the forward pass

It wasn't Craig Joubert that kicked at goal

Mmm not sure Joubert wasn't playing for the ABs, the others i agree.

That some fans are so one eyed its unreal....and that there are few people on forums who are actually prepared to give out praise to other teams when its due....

thebandwagonsociety wrote:I'd add is there something to learn from the injuries at the RWC? Don't have a list but get the feeling there were a lot of knee and groin injuries at this tournament. Is there too much training (or weights work) being done on the leg muscles that the muscles are overloading the ligaments?

Should teams look to start putting knee protecting gear on their speedsters & sidesteppers as a protection measure?

Pretty much hit the nail on the head with injuries.... the human body is simply not designed to be 19 odd stone and cope with high impact / high speed physical activity. It is a frighteningly common injury in NFL so I am told and I know plenty of rugby players (me too) that have had ACL damage or reconstruction. Way too much emphasis is put on being Gym Bunnies and not enough on skill & agility.

That NZ can host a RWC

I was also impressed at how many high balls were being taken....barely any were being dropped...

That the IRB is worse than we thought and should focus on rule changes to make officiating the game an improvement on the current lottery, and NOT on being precious about the bloody haka.

- That hosting a RWC can still lose a country money.

- That people prefer to blame referees rather than look at their team's own failings.

- That Wales were guaranteed to beat France with 15 men, regardless of the fact that three quarters of the match was still to be played.

- That form is temporary but class remains permanent (as demonstrated by Matfield, McCaw, Read and also (indirectly) his Quadeness)

1. The irb will always look after the 'big' rugby nations
2. Refereeing is wildly inconsistent (even during the course of one game)
3. England players are stupid enough to keep giving the gutter press all the 'trough' food they need to produce a frenzy
4. Better teams dont always win (wales v france & sa v aus)
5.never back sa at 8:1 just hoping they'll come good during tournament
6.copious amonts of red wine and guiness on a friday do not help you with 6 am starts on Saturday
7.kiwis really dont like australians
8. Never ever ever start to believe ireland will progress to latter stages of rwc just because they show some form in early rounds
9.itv coverage of rugby is pretty poor and pundits look v. uncomfortable trying to copy skys 'talking by the screen with technology' type stuff
10. Give coverage to bbc and find a new bill mc claren

That Thom Evans really is as dull as he looks.

That Russia will one day be a powerhouse. IRB let them win their WC bid!!

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:That Thom Evans really is as dull as he looks.

Spot on.

1) That referees have a thankless task.

2) That Andy Gomarsall doesn't know what he's talking about.

3) That Phil Vickery should stick to cooking.

Metal Tiger wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote:I'd add is there something to learn from the injuries at the RWC? Don't have a list but get the feeling there were a lot of knee and groin injuries at this tournament. Is there too much training (or weights work) being done on the leg muscles that the muscles are overloading the ligaments?

Should teams look to start putting knee protecting gear on their speedsters & sidesteppers as a protection measure?

Pretty much hit the nail on the head with injuries.... the human body is simply not designed to be 19 odd stone and cope with high impact / high speed physical activity. It is a frighteningly common injury in NFL so I am told and I know plenty of rugby players (me too) that have had ACL damage or reconstruction. Way too much emphasis is put on being Gym Bunnies and not enough on skill & agility.

Cheers Metal Tiger. When you were getting back from ACL injury was there any kit you wore that helped protect it? Is there any kit that players should just start wearing when still fit or are those knee brace style supports too constrictive (is that even a word?) to play fit in?

Glas a du, re: "It wasn't Alun Rowlands that tackled Clerc" -- what was AR thinking a few months ago? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrJY8zgvW-M)

Not quite the same osprey.
I think this is a better example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALt9gDaf-10

Forgot one:

- That professional Kiwi athletes need to spend some more time strengthening their crotches.

That trips to Spala can be really effective (where did Ireland go wrong in 2007?)

DOD, what is your link supposed to be pointing to?

Edited the link above but also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALt9gDaf-10

thebandwagonsociety wrote:
Cheers Metal Tiger. When you were getting back from ACL injury was there any kit you wore that helped protect it? Is there any kit that players should just start wearing when still fit or are those knee brace style supports too constrictive (is that even a word?) to play fit in?

After my ACL reconstruction I wore a knee brace while it healed up.

You can train in these but they are very restrictive (but they are supposed to be) but you can't play in them (metal/hard parts coming into contact with other players... potential injury maker)

I went to see a specialist sports physio who set me up with a bobby dazzler of a knee support and taught me how to tape up to further support my knee. This got me through a lot of the physio & training and I have played without incident for about 5 years now. And I'm a prop so you know it's getting some hammer.

Most people watch rugby with their ears.