Rugby Union World Cup

[Brucetiki]

Does anyone else find the playoff for third somewhat pointless and borderline insulting.

Outside of an Olympics (when a bronze medal is up for grabs), what's there to achieve from this match?

[Johno6]

Yeah. Don't see much point in it really. Excuse to make more money??

[mighty hounds]

Money making 100%

[Jim05]

Does anyone else find the playoff for third somewhat pointless and borderline insulting.

Outside of an Olympics (when a bronze medal is up for grabs), what's there to achieve from this match?

Ranking points. I think the Welsh can move above England with a win

[Jim05]

Disgraceful effort by refs, Welsh awarded a try from the biggest forward pass ever

[Johno6]

forward pass much?

**** me went 5 yards forward atleast

[Johno6]

they cannot be serious?????

[Jim05]

Good too see the second string wallabies side account for a rubbish Welsh side.

[Wedgie]

Good game in that the Wallabies were at least 20 points better at team than Wales, one of their trys was from a blatant forward pass and their last one had a player being out of bounds from his waste down when he still had possession. And we passed one backwards 2 metres and got called forward! Bloody poms!
Hopefully Deanes will realise where he went wrong with some selections as players like Barnes were exceptional tonight.
God I felt sad for Cooper doing his ACL, after everything he's been through, poor bugger.

[brod]

Does anyone else find the playoff for third somewhat pointless and borderline insulting.

Outside of an Olympics (when a bronze medal is up for grabs), what's there to achieve from this match?

Originally happened in the first WC in NZ as a sorry to a NZRB member who was from Rotorua. There had been no games played there and as a way to appologise the "Who Cares Cup" AKA Third Place playoff was born and played in Rotorua..it has survived ever since.

[Wedgie]

Plus they got bronze medals tonight too.
I thought soccer does it too?
I know basketball goes one step further and has not only playoffs for 3rd but also 5th, 7th, etc.
I don't mind it but seeing Quade Cooper go down tonight with what I reckon will be a 12 month injury makes me think it was more than a waste of time.

[JK]

Replay of the 03 final on Fox at the moment ... I dont know as much about this sport as you guys, but always thought we were really brave that night given pretty much everyone seemed to think a Wilkinson lead Pommy outfit were monties throughout the tournament

[Wedgie]

Allblacks were the favs (like they always are) and we knocked them off in the semi, our final was played a week early.
Sometimes the Northern Hemisphere rugby just bores us to complacency too.

[rockstar]

Allblacks were the favs (like they always are) and we knocked them off in the semi, our final was played a week early.
Sometimes the Northern Hemisphere rugby just bores us to complacency too.

Not sure that is an entirely accurate comment!?
England were easily the best country in the world for the 2yrs leading up to the world cup, and I'm sure they were deserved favourites for the cup.
You are right, AUS played their final the week previous, but came back from 14-5 down I think at half time to take it to over time, where they were beaten in the 2nd half of extra time by Wilkinson in the dying stages.
FWIW I believe NZ smashed France in the 3rd place play off.. much like they will in the final..

[Wedgie]

Allblacks were the favs (like they always are) and we knocked them off in the semi, our final was played a week early.
Sometimes the Northern Hemisphere rugby just bores us to complacency too.

Not sure that is an entirely accurate comment!?
England were easily the best country in the world for the 2yrs leading up to the world cup, and I'm sure they were deserved favourites for the cup.
You are right, AUS played their final the week previous, but came back from 14-5 down I think at half time to take it to over time, where they were beaten in the 2nd half of extra time by Wilkinson in the dying stages.
FWIW I believe NZ smashed France in the 3rd place play off.. much like they will in the final..

Yeah you're right, I'm so used to the Allblacks usually being favs I forgot about England's lead up form to that tourney, England would have been favourites. Half the time I remember what I want to remember and not what actually happened.

[Jim05]

NZ win the World Cup 8-7
Probably the worst final ever, was utter crap

[Johno6]

Winner expected. Score line wasn't. France looked more like scoring last 20 mins.

[Jimmy_041]

Craig Joubert obviously wants to emigrate to NZ

Unbelievable performance after penalising Australia for even the slightest transgression, he lets NZ get away with everything at the breakdown.

Richie McCaw spent so much time on the French side I thought he was playing for them

Bring back rucking - if the refs wont penalising him for blatantly cheating, give the f***ing cheat some scars to remember his games

[Jim05]

Winner expected. Score line wasn't. France looked more like scoring last 20 mins.

France did look more likely to score near the end but i reckon the ref would have found a way to look after the home side like they have all tournament

[Jim05]

Craig Joubert obviously wants to emigrate to NZ

Unbelievable performance after penalising Australia for even the slightest transgression, he lets NZ get away with everything at the breakdown.

Richie McCaw spent so much time on the French side I thought he was playing for them

Bring back rucking - if the refs wont penalising him for blatantly cheating, give the f***ing cheat some scars to remember his games

Agreed, the ref was a disgrace.
Was good too see Richie get battered near the end and get up sooking. Would have loved to see one of the Frogs kick his teeth out