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Let The Countdown Begin: Wales v France IRB World Cup Semi Final
Hope this prophecy comes to fruition!
The excitement is building in Wales, it's palpable!
CYMRU AM BYTH
The excitement is building in Wales, it's palpable!
CYMRU AM BYTH
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Oh well, where to start....
Prior to the game my wish was that the game would be remembered as a classic encounter between two great rugby loving nations. The Welsh tenacity and defence matched against the flair and mercurial brilliance of the French.
Unfortunately the game was marred and decided by a more than contentious decision by the ref.
Had it been Pocock or McCcaw, both renowned for playing just this side of legality I would have said the decision would have been harsh. Without sounding biassed, Warburton is hardly renowned as that type of player. Had he driven Clerc into the ground I would have said yes, that's a red.
Rolland could and should have had a word, said 'that was a bit off, keep hold of him next time he's turned that far instead of letting go, have 10 minutes to reflect on your actions' and given him a yellow.
Wales must have won just about every stat. I was a tad concerned about Hook starting at 10 and wanted Jones. In a WC semi final I wanted the half backs to be those who played there on a regular basis, not someone who plays 10 one week, centre the next and a fortnight later at full back.
After the sending off, I exppected France to strangle us, then give us the coup de grace in the last 15 mins. In contrast, Wales won just about everything after that, to the point where France looked increasingly nervous.
Whenn Philips went over, I honestly thought we'd go on to win it regardless. The French looked shell shocked and I couldn't see a way out for them. When Leigh took THAT kick I looked away after he'd struck it. I saw that it was between the posts and have never seen him come up short so took it that he'd slotted it. Sadly though, he hadn't.
At the end the French looked nothing short of embarrassed. No leaping for joy, no back slapping of each other, just a cursory handshake with thier Welsh counterpart. Deep down they knew they'd won by default, not for the flair for which they're so highly regarded.
The whole of the rugby world knew that if Wales had won then we were in for a show-stopping finale, one that would grace the name of World Cup Final.
Most now know that in all probability that tomorrow's semi final will count as THE final, because whoever subsequently playes France next weekend will be the runaway favourites.
To those who think that assessment is biassed I'd await the verdicts of the rugby pundits and world press before you accuse me of sour grapes. It isn't, it's just that 95% of those who have an ounce of rugby knowledge will say that the the better team (by some margin) lost today as a result of a more than marginal decision.
Well done Wales, you did a nation proud today, no comebacks on Sam whatsoever.
Prior to the game my wish was that the game would be remembered as a classic encounter between two great rugby loving nations. The Welsh tenacity and defence matched against the flair and mercurial brilliance of the French.
Unfortunately the game was marred and decided by a more than contentious decision by the ref.
Had it been Pocock or McCcaw, both renowned for playing just this side of legality I would have said the decision would have been harsh. Without sounding biassed, Warburton is hardly renowned as that type of player. Had he driven Clerc into the ground I would have said yes, that's a red.
Rolland could and should have had a word, said 'that was a bit off, keep hold of him next time he's turned that far instead of letting go, have 10 minutes to reflect on your actions' and given him a yellow.
Wales must have won just about every stat. I was a tad concerned about Hook starting at 10 and wanted Jones. In a WC semi final I wanted the half backs to be those who played there on a regular basis, not someone who plays 10 one week, centre the next and a fortnight later at full back.
After the sending off, I exppected France to strangle us, then give us the coup de grace in the last 15 mins. In contrast, Wales won just about everything after that, to the point where France looked increasingly nervous.
Whenn Philips went over, I honestly thought we'd go on to win it regardless. The French looked shell shocked and I couldn't see a way out for them. When Leigh took THAT kick I looked away after he'd struck it. I saw that it was between the posts and have never seen him come up short so took it that he'd slotted it. Sadly though, he hadn't.
At the end the French looked nothing short of embarrassed. No leaping for joy, no back slapping of each other, just a cursory handshake with thier Welsh counterpart. Deep down they knew they'd won by default, not for the flair for which they're so highly regarded.
The whole of the rugby world knew that if Wales had won then we were in for a show-stopping finale, one that would grace the name of World Cup Final.
Most now know that in all probability that tomorrow's semi final will count as THE final, because whoever subsequently playes France next weekend will be the runaway favourites.
To those who think that assessment is biassed I'd await the verdicts of the rugby pundits and world press before you accuse me of sour grapes. It isn't, it's just that 95% of those who have an ounce of rugby knowledge will say that the the better team (by some margin) lost today as a result of a more than marginal decision.
Well done Wales, you did a nation proud today, no comebacks on Sam whatsoever.
I'll say nothing, just leave it to the observations of two highly repsected World Cup winners and a Welsh legend:
http://www.itv.com/ru...arburton-sending-off/
http://www.itv.com/ru...arburton-sending-off/
Philatz, I would love to add something to your lengthy and very eloquent post, but you said it all.
I have never before watched a game as a neutral and wanted one team to win so much as I did today......................and I wasn't cheering France, a decidedly one-dimensional and average team at best, as well as being, (I believe) the first finalists to have lost two games.
I have never before watched a game as a neutral and wanted one team to win so much as I did today......................and I wasn't cheering France, a decidedly one-dimensional and average team at best, as well as being, (I believe) the first finalists to have lost two games.
Thanks Duncer, it means a lot knowing your post has come from a true rugby fan who knows their onions as it were.
Afraid to say I'm still devastated and inconsolable and if truth be known have lost all interest in the IRB WC. I honestly thought we would see a fantastic rugby spectacle next weekend, one that would endure in the memory as a garagantuan battle between two goliaths.
I'm sure that the Aussies and AB's know that their next game is their final, as no other team will give them the challenge that Wales would have. Even at the final whistle the French appeared already resigned to their fate as world cup final runners up!
But in a cruel twist of fate it would be soooooooo like the French to win the whole f***ing shooting match on a dodgy pen or flukey drop goal, having doubtlessly been under the cosh for 75 mins.
In truth though my head tells me that they will be 14 points down (minimum) after 30 mins next Sunday and the game will become a non-event.
I don't know who the ref is for the final, I just wish we'd had Steve Walsh or Bryce Lawrence for ours, not someone with a French name and a French father! That's not sour grapes, it just leaves the IRB to ponder why they gave the game to a man with such heritage!
Well done the boys, you gave your all and then some on the field yesterday.
Cymru Am Byth.
Afraid to say I'm still devastated and inconsolable and if truth be known have lost all interest in the IRB WC. I honestly thought we would see a fantastic rugby spectacle next weekend, one that would endure in the memory as a garagantuan battle between two goliaths.
I'm sure that the Aussies and AB's know that their next game is their final, as no other team will give them the challenge that Wales would have. Even at the final whistle the French appeared already resigned to their fate as world cup final runners up!
But in a cruel twist of fate it would be soooooooo like the French to win the whole f***ing shooting match on a dodgy pen or flukey drop goal, having doubtlessly been under the cosh for 75 mins.
In truth though my head tells me that they will be 14 points down (minimum) after 30 mins next Sunday and the game will become a non-event.
I don't know who the ref is for the final, I just wish we'd had Steve Walsh or Bryce Lawrence for ours, not someone with a French name and a French father! That's not sour grapes, it just leaves the IRB to ponder why they gave the game to a man with such heritage!
Well done the boys, you gave your all and then some on the field yesterday.
Cymru Am Byth.
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