The Silver Fern

@Crucial said in England & Eddie:

@Disgusted-of-TW said in England & Eddie:

Yesterday I was simultaneously happy for the victorious Boks, and pissed off at the manner of England's defeat. Last night I watched "Building Jerusalem", though, and felt relatively sanguine about the loss. Winning Bill is hard, there's a thousand things that need to go right in execution and even then you need a dollop of good fortune along the way; in contrast only a few things need to go awry, or the breaks don't fall your way, and you're farked. I don't believe in fate, I think , but I do like Terry Pratchett's idea of the narrative imperative - that some stories are just so good they have to happen. History loves a good narrative, and Kolisi's was just a great story! England will rise again, and win it again - 2023 looks a good shout given the age of the current squad and the quality of the age group cohorts coming through.

A couple of other random thoughts (before I forget my Silver Fern password until at least the 6N):

Japan - excellent hosts, honoured by their gallant and exciting national team.

Medalgate - I don't care how pissed off the England players were, awarding medals to the losers is part of the ritual - flush it down the hotel bog afterwards for all I care, but whilst you're at the ceremony suck it up and play your part with grace. Given the politeness of Japanese culture I thought that it was poor show by those who balked at the medal. But it's equally poor show that some will take this incontrovertible evidence as an opportunity to trot out all the tired old xenophobic tropes about arrogant hateful English rugby, the bane of the global sport. Hey ho.

So, you can either embrace it as part of who you are and wear the barbs of others or try and change the fabric of the game there. I think the first option is easier.

I'll take the unlisted option C, "neither" - I'm too long in the tooth to lose sleep over the situation one way or another. It was a passing thought, nothing more.

Yesterday I was simultaneously happy for the victorious Boks, and pissed off at the manner of England's defeat. Last night I watched "Building Jerusalem", though, and felt relatively sanguine about the loss. Winning Bill is hard, there's a thousand things that need to go right in execution and even then you need a dollop of good fortune along the way; in contrast only a few things need to go awry, or the breaks don't fall your way, and you're farked. I don't believe in fate, I think , but I do like Terry Pratchett's idea of the narrative imperative - that some stories are just so good they have to happen. History loves a good narrative, and Kolisi's was just a great story! England will rise again, and win it again - 2023 looks a good shout given the age of the current squad and the quality of the age group cohorts coming through.

A couple of other random thoughts (before I forget my Silver Fern password until at least the 6N):

Japan - excellent hosts, honoured by their gallant and exciting national team.

Medalgate - I don't care how pissed off the England players were, awarding medals to the losers is part of the ritual - flush it down the hotel bog afterwards for all I care, but whilst you're at the ceremony suck it up and play your part with grace. Given the politeness of Japanese culture I thought that it was poor show by those who balked at the medal. But it's equally poor show that some will take this incontrovertible evidence as an opportunity to trot out all the tired old xenophobic tropes about arrogant hateful English rugby, the bane of the global sport. Hey ho.

Plus I feel less pain than I might have expected. I listened to a BBC Sounds podcast earlier in the week where they were talking about what it would mean to the SA public for Kolisi to lift the trophy, and I thought that whilst I really want an England win, I'm able to live with the Boks as champions.

Boks fully deserve this on the day. Clear simple plan, well executed, awesome defense and dominant scrummaging. Coupled with some bad luck (subjective view) and a few poor performances (objective view) for England, it was a comprehensive victory. Well done Boks!

@gt12 Fantastic post. Your pain is evident, but your analysis is crystal clear. Kudos

@MiketheSnow Comiserations, chap. A game too far, and now I fear that next week's 3rd place playoff may not be pretty from a Welsh pov, but I'll be hoping that Wales sign off the Garland era in style whatever the result.

That's it

That was nicely done

Caveman rugby

Strong boy

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Wales v South Africa (SF2):

@MiketheSnow said in RWC: Wales v South Africa (SF2):

Fair play to FAF, he does a ton of tackling

I like the little irritant. Grappling with Davies and freeing one arm so that he could grab Jake Ball as well - a proper scrappy SH

One of my favourite players.

North gone

@chimoaus said in RWC: Wales v South Africa (SF2):

Willie penalised, was he hard done by? 9 had his hands on the ball for ages on the ground. Wales penalty and it’s 3 a piece.

Too much protection for 9s in that scenario now. If the little buggers can't throw a dive pass to clear the ball they should be fair game

Keystone Kops there

Probably because my adrenalin levels are way down from yesterday, but this feels quite a bit slower than the 1st SF

Comiserations to all you kiwis, your team let you down, but in fairness they never gave up. But that performance from England would have beaten anyone. Relentless.

@NTA said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

Oh god Nige he NEVER supported his weight
Does anyone, most of the time?

Ardie gone?

Underhill hits like a train

Happy fucking christmas Ardie. First England error, really. But what a doozie