Unfortunately England just dont have the players at the moment. But if the ERU is clever they now have an opportunity to build a new team over the next four years. Forget the Six Nations and Results, do a clearout and like wales bring in their best young talent and let them grow into international rugby. This England team and squad is the worst they have had for years. But their underage and schools system is very solid and if they use the next few years wisely they will come back stronger.
what has changed my opinion I take it you have watched every game???? that should answer your question!!....I have not seen any side playing better and improving like wales are with every game.....Of course I'm going to brag up wales we have waited a long time to see us playing to our potential and I'm going to give them all the credit they deserve for being the only British side to make changes and play the youngsters rather than seasoned players and reach the semi final.....can they make the final???? If they play like they are then why not...can they beat NZ or in my opinion AUS...who knows but we are in with a very good chance of beating anyone and welsh rugby is gaining the respect it deserves from all quarters of the rugby world. i fancy our chances and why should any welsh citizen not feel the same.....it will not be any shame to lose as nobody gave us a cats chance before the tournament started even me....
to be absolutely correct it is called soccer, and rugby is rugby football, but we will always call soccer football...
Aye North. There are many codes of football and soccer and rugby are just two of them. Interestingly, I got that Scrap-Book that has Rangers stories from 1914-present and around the 40's - 60's articles the game is constantly referred to as soccer which surprised me as I just figured the English had always referred to it simply as football. It must have changed at some point. The simple reason its referred to as soccer here in Ireland is to distinguish it from Gaelic which is another form of footie. Same in the US where they have their own type of football. I would presume its also the same in Australia where they have Aussie Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer all competing with one another. All that said, I know the English now hate the term "Soccer" or so I gather from "Green Street"!!
Just thought Id add - As of today, we are 4th in the world Rankings. NZ first, then OZ, then SA, then WALES, France, ENGLAND. Yep, 2 places ahead of them. YEEHAAAAAA.
I think the term soccer comes from England in the 19th Century. Football was divided into Associated football and Rugby football. Soccer is an abbreviation of associated. "Soccer" was used quite widely in England in the 1960's but fell out of favour. Now used by America, Ireland and David Beckham.
Oh dear!! Just be happy that you're doing well mate. Why is it so important to you to be above England? SO sad!!
Explained well Goldie. I read somewhere alright that it used to be called association football. I never knew where the actual word "soccer" came from though.
Well I didn't expect Wales to go further that the Quarters, due to discipline, but they have been magnificent advert for the game and the way it should be played, and their discipline has been great, England on the other hand have gone according to what I thought would be the case, just simply not good enough, and Johnson will go in my view, great player, but too close to some of the players, and not a good manager, his style would send a glass eye to sleep, England need to bring in a quality manager, and young talent, look out for all the English media autopsy drowning everything else!!!!................ please log in to view this image
Back to the contentious subject of referees. Anybody happy with the choice of the ref for the semi? I understand that Alain Roland, an Irish, French speaking official who would qualify for France if he was a player, has been appointed. Now, I am no expert in the pursuit of the egg but I understand from people who know the game that this may not be in our best interests (I have phrased this politely). We all know that officials in rugby have far more remit to decide the outcome of a game than they do in football - and they do. Did you hear the howling of the NEUTRALS regarding the performance of the referee in the Oz/Boks game? Pundits/experts have totally denounced his incompetence/bias (choose what you will) that guided the Aussies to their win. The guys on Scrum V, for instance, were openly scathing about it. This is one thing I positively hate about rugby - there seems to be no right of redress when these characters get things so hopelessly (or deliberately) wrong. My informed sources tell me that Roland has little idea of how to handle the breakdown situation. Great news! That is one of our strengths and already we face the prospect of that being nullified. I am told that he is little better on the set piece. More good news!! As if the French weren't difficult enough to play against anyway. One guy I know who really knows his rugby, is almost suicidal about it. Summing up his thoughts; he feels that the French team will be a really tough nut to crack anyway as they will be out to prove a point following all the behind-the-scenes problems the players have been having with the coach. Now his attitude is that in boxing terms we are going to have to knock them out to get a draw. I've got to admit that my elation has been somewhat diluted after listening to this and I'm beginning to get bad vibes. I have no problems with us being beaten by a better team but I will be in a pretty ugly mood if our great run is halted by the performance of the officials.
He is a top referee and i would think he will do his job in a professional manner. he will be helped by 3 other officials and i don't have a problem and neither does wales by the look of it, he has been awarded a semifinal game and i think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill quite frankly ....
Chill Ivor. If Wales take an early lead and that remains for 40 minutes, then any chance of the french side picking themeselves will disappear as Lievremond will not be able to resist and start tinkering, thus negating any new found spirit. Sounds easy eh! If Wales play like they have so far, they win. If they do not / get some dodgy bounces/ decisions allowing a French lead at half time, then it becomes twitchy bum time. Even if that happens, don't forget, Wales have turned around supposedly unsurmountable French leads in the recent years only to win where it counts (both Grand Slam years). The French tries on the weekend were more down to poor defending than French brilliance and the England tries, though OK, just proved that France's defence is quite easily breached as they were not hard earned. Please don't take this as sounding cocky, but I am finding it hard to resist the new found confidence in our National sports heroes. Anyway, even if I'm wrong, I have really enjoyed the ride. WELL DONE WALES..... BRING IT HOME!
Enjoy the game lads and lets just remember the journey and trebulations we have gone through just to get here...... don't forget....it's just a game...NOT!!! [video=youtube;4daZPxjojiA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4daZPxjojiA[/video] [video=youtube;y0RDadPheNQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0RDadPheNQ[/video]
Aye, guys, perhaps I should chill but I've seen so many important rugby games decided by the referee and not the players - the Oz/Boks game was another by the sound of it. And, Dai, there were three other officials there as well. Fat lot of good it did! We have come so far and proved ourselves (the Royal "our") to be one of the best teams out there. We deserve to be where we are and, I repeat, if France deservedly beat us then I will congratulate them, thank our boys for an incredible ride and move on to the prospect of a Grand Slam in the Six Nations. But I just hope that from now on, ALL teams will be given a fair crack of the whip by the officials. I ask for no more.
Rangercol, at what stage of my post did I say it was important to be ahead of England? I think if you read it again, I have highlighted the two nations of the most regular posters in this topic, Wales and England. So, before you throw around assumptions and call me sad, READ my posts. Is it not sad for you to PRESSUME I am over the moon to be above England? The answer is no. Of course I'm over the moon that Wales are now ranked number 4 in the world. But if England were 2nd, that wouldn't bother me. I would congratulate you. At the end of the day, I don't care about the other countries. I care about Wales, and how we are doing and that is all. I am proud to walk around and say we are the fourth best team in the world. Who knows, that may improve should we beat France. So for now, I am basking in glory because we are in the semi-final. If you see my posts as anti-english, your a prat because they aren't and at no point what so ever did I say this. Read above. So, for now, COME ON WALES. The nation is behind you!!! P.s. Sorry if the grammar is bad, Iv had a fair few to drink.
