I shall.

Who wants more 'hurrah' smilies?

Go on Barry, I know you want to type some more...

There we go.

Hope I can post more after the final!...

I really MUST find someone willing to let me watch the final at their house I've missed it ALL this year.

You're welcome to come up to Durham and watch it

WE WON!!!!!

Now I've got over my ' ' smiley posting frenzy...

Who you you think England'll meet in the final?

A little boy in my English class and recorder group informed me on Friday afternoon that the English were "con". He saw my hackles rise and quickly corrected himself " Non, juste leur équipe!" My hackles rose even higher and I deprived him of playtime and made him put away the infants' siesta beds instead.
Actually it was all very good humoured but I am having to arm myself with some repartee as no doubt when I get back to school this week they will all say the English cheated.

It was a good match, wasn't it? I enjoyed it and I didn't really mind who won. As I said to that little boy "It's either my native country or my adopted country, so I can't lose."

It was. Hope the final's just as exciting...

when is the final?
you are welcome in Norfolk

I had a Frenchman say to me today "congratulations, your team played better.."

Saturday - and it is to be South Africa, so I hope it goes a bit better than last time we played them...

oh dear, I am away on Saturday and don't know whether there will be any chance to watch

Thanks for all the offers of places to watch it


*faints*

SA will be a more difficult match but potentially more interesting too.

Felt sorry for Argentina - loads of territory, loads of possession... and handling errors giving away tries! Let it be a lesson to England, though, errors will be heavily penalised.

um.... *go south africa*....

I am going to miss the Grand Prix too - on Sunday
our local cinema is showing it live .... but I shan't be home in time



ps I know that's not Rugby news, sorry

this thread has seemed to pause for a few days, so visit

http://xclusiv.biz/brian/

and perhaps it will help all you english rugby fans to discover your true allegiance...

you beat me to it LT.

England played OK, but, if I'm going to be honest, we were beaten by the better team on the night.

Oh well, there's always 2011...

I only saw part of the match due to kitten-cat distractions

Didn't see the disallowed try but Mr LT was ranting about it for ages after.....

we so should have got that try!!

not that it would have made any difference. Would have been nice to have been properly beaten, rather than on penalties.

Looking for the 50-billionth time at the disallowed try, it was slightly (very slightly) borderline - and when it comes down to it, the ref's decision is final, so there's no point dwelling on it. But it will be a sore spot with the team for a long time.

It could have made a difference - a try at that point could have changed the chemistry on the pitch and who knows what would have happened. But we'll never know.

We did give away some silly penalties - though one of them at least (towards the end of the 1st half I think) I turned to the friend I was watching with and commented "better 3 points than a potential 7" because our misdemeanour stopped an almost-certain seeming try from SA.

that we lost but, seriously, after a 36-0 disaster, did anyone really think we'd even MAKE it to the final? I felt proud to be English, they played their hearts out even though they didn't win in the end. And the team has really come together over the tournament: so here's to a good season next season!

In the end, SA have been brilliant all tournament and deserved to win - much as it pains me! And it was a delight to see their president so delighted and trying to hug them - and then they hoisted him on their shoulders. Can you imagine that with Gordon Brown???!

*Imagination working overdrive.......*




















NO!

- it wouldn't be a pretty image either...........! (sorry, Gordan!)

Me neither, especially as he just looked really bored all evening!

Oh, and the small child who was crying when he had to help carry the Webb Ellis trophy out - aah!

i actually found that very funny. i'm such a hard-hearted lemon...
but, english peoples, you made everybody down here very happy.

benson: congrats - much as it pains me, you lot did deserve to win last night *wry grin*


Well I guess he is Scottish, isn't he, so he was probably there under sufferance. But he did look bored stiff!


Bless - poor wee chap!

i feel very unworthy of receiving congratulations, considering that that was the first rugby match i have watched start to finish. and i really don't get it. if only our soccer team were as good! i am not looking forward to 2010 (but i am, too) when bafana bafana gets knocked out in the first round...

I SWEAR that was a try!! It's literally the second rugby game I've ever seen, but I don't think his foot was on the line...it looked as though it just lifted in time....

I actually really enjoyed the game though...I'm not into rugby but I got quite into cheering (waving a flag like crazy!!) and booing and felt v disappointed when England lost!! Jonny's face looked sooo disappointed


Laura

The logic I heard afterwards was that they thought maybe his foot had touched the line before it went up in the air - I always thought it had to be over the line not just barely touching it... but oh well! but I think that was what the commentators thought, and I think the refs err on the side of caution. Was a shame though, was a lovely bit of play - almost worthy of a Bill McLaren mazy run comment.


Jonny did look gutted, bless 'im. And if you enjoyed the game - watch more rugby! Tis a great sport!

[quote name='sarah-flute' date='Oct 21 2007, 06:04 PM' post='615279']
[/quote]
And if you enjoyed the game - watch more rugby! Tis a great sport!
[/quote]

I think I will do!! My dad sure seemed pleased because he realised that he might have someone to go with him to watch London Irish play near us hahaha!!

I must get to a real live match soon, rather than just watching either at home or in the pub...

It wasn't a try Much as it pains me, the rule is 'on the line is over' (much like you only have to touch the line to score a try). But never mind...we didn't deserve to win really - especially given the last four years' performances!

Delighted to see the grace with which defeat was taken, other sports can take note.

I still wasn't totally convinced it HAD touched the line - but the ref's decision is final and they have to err on the side of caution I am sure if they are in the least unsure. And I don't think it would've made a difference in the end result.