rugby world cup 2007

Yeeeesssss........
I know it's not fair play, but I'm pleased England lost tonight in the final against South Africa.

Because I wanted SA to win - it means so much to this country the guys in the pub were crying...
Because to my opinoin they can't play attractive rugby.
Because they prevent other teams to play attractive rugby.
Because however good Wilko is (and he is) he can't make the whole team on his own.
Because I still haven't gone over France being beaten last week (and again last night as a matter of fact against Argentina...)
Because when England win it's not only about them being happy about it
Because it is also (mostly?) about them denigrating the opposition

I'm happy SA won tonight.
Good for them.
Good for rugby.

bye-bye les bleus

I've rarely been so disappointed with a lost rugby game.. frustrated, angry, sorry, but rarely disappointed.

I'm far from being an expert but I do know the rules and understan what's going on on the pitch and here, tonight, I thought France didn't play enough their own game. Maybe England prevented them to do so - that's where my expertise stops... Then w started to play more of their game in the second half, and sure enough they were better than us at it, and put us under great pressure.

So when the one mistake cost us the game, it is heart breaking.

It is even worse against Egland. Not because it is England and I'm French. No. Because as an outsider, I'm sure the game was rather boring. England has a kicking game that is not attractive but boringly efficient and tonight it showed. Again.

Allez les bleus!!

Beating the kiwis at rugby tonight felt like winning the final and be world champions... except that there are another two games to go before that, maybe...


But what a game!! my friend text me all the way from NZ saying there's going to be a day of mourning down under... Had we lost again this team of amazing strength, quality and above all playing beautiful rugby, I'd still have been ok. France had scored a try (the second was the winning one) and had certainly not looked out of depth!

Thanks to those guys who works their socks off on the pitch, believed in themselves when most of us didn't and pulled up a fantastic performance on the day. Let's hope they do the same against England next week to erase a sad memory of being beaten last time around in a wet and windy day, also in the semis...

Allez les bleus!

rugby world cup 2007

Yes it is happening in France, it has started tonight with the hosts playing Argentina. It was always going to be a difficult game - It's not from me, I'm merely repeating what I've read in the papers in the last two weeks...

I'm just back from the pub where I watched the game - a very poor French side got desservedly beaten 17-12 in a scrappy game where the Argentines were certainlymore agressive and went for it.

I'm not an expert of the game so I won't say more than that, only that France can play much better than what they've showed tonight.

I've got one question though : is the coach Bernard Laporte more interested in his coming position in the French government as Secretary of State for Sports? Maybe I'm being very unfair...