Test Rugby All Blacks Rugby World Cup discussion

[Aucklander]

For all us Kiwi supporters.

Link

All Blacks given small taste of Rugby World Cup hype at the Tower of London

Pomp and prestige were immediately evident as the All Blacks walked off the plane and into a warm Rugby World Cup welcome on Friday (Saturday NZ Time).

The Tower of London, situated in the central city on the north bank of the River Thames, played host to their official arrival.

The historic and beautiful castle, the former royal residence once home to oppression and execution and now the crown jewels, emphasised the scale and significance the eighth World Cup promises to bring throughout the next seven weeks.

 

[robbieando]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/bl...ks-how-new-zealand-sustains-its-rugby-dynasty

Worth the read, explains why the All Blacks are the best team in all of sports

 

[Aucklander]

I thought this was pretty funny and done very much tongue in cheek.

Link

Former England player Matt Dawson and players from the Battersea Ironsides do their version of the All Blacks haka to build support for English rugby .

Try as they might to make three All Blacks front rowers say they were offended by Matt Dawson's 'Hakarena', a gaggle of the world's rugby scribes left Lensbury disappointed on Thursday.

Former England halfback Dawson's light-hearted performance of the Haka to 1994 Spanish dance hit Macarena got exactly the reaction British menswear retailer Jacamo wanted when it was released to the public.]/quote]

 

[Maester]

It'll certainly add to the spite if England and New Zealand end up meeting in the semi finals or final!

 

[Aucklander]

 

[Aucklander]

Pretty good showing by Georgia as the ABs continue to fumble and bumble on.

 

[Maester]

Great to see when Georgia with the start is the last leg of a lucrative multi!

All Blacks have been pretty poor. Lots of errors. Play like this against France or Ireland and they could be out in the quarters.

 

[Aucklander]

Much better performance by the All Blacks. Tough 1st half followed up by a dominant 2nd.

 

[Aucklander]

Refs for the games.

Link

Welshman Nigel Owens will referee the All Blacks' World Cup quarterfinal match against France in Cardiff on Sunday morning (NZT).

The appointment of Owens has put an end to speculation as to whether Wayne Barnes, who controlled the quarterfinal between the All Blacks and France in Cardiff in 2007, would return to take charge of the fixture at Millennium Stadium.

Barnes proved to be a controversial figure in that match, won 20-18 by France. The loss almost cost coach Graham Henry his job and when he fronted the New Zealand Rugby board to argue why he should keep his position, he made specific mention of the mistakes made by Barnes in that sudden-death fixture.

 

[robbieando]

Damn, Barnes getting that match would of been perfect

 

[lanky_wes]

Two more performances like that one please!

 

[Aucklander]

Two more performances like that one please!

Was very good. Never looked like getting beaten.

 

[MaoriWarriors]

This is incredible as!