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New Zealand and Australia odds on favorites BOTH fucking up.

I bet nobody wants to be favourites now.

That'll be the Springboks then, or maybe France at home?

I can't see South Africa and Argentina joining them in an early journey home.

And (having seen the ref be as big a cause as anything for France winning) I wouldn't be surprised if the bookies might have already been expecting this 'shock' to happen. I smell a fix I'm afraid.

Congrats to England though. I thought the refereeing favoured them slightly in terms of allowing England to keep the play of the ball untidy but I'm not saying fix on this one. Just Aussies didn't play well and england ground them down.

IG wrote:

> And (having seen the ref be as big a cause as anything for
> France winning) I wouldn't be surprised if the bookies might
> have already been expecting this 'shock' to happen. I smell a
> fix I'm afraid.

A fix? NZ missed a conversion that would have won them the match by 1 point. How do you "fix" that?
>
> Congrats to England though. I thought the refereeing favoured
> them slightly in terms of allowing England to keep the play of
> the ball untidy but I'm not saying fix on this one. Just
> Aussies didn't play well and england ground them down.

England simply out scrummaged the Aussies and had the better defence.

The new zealand v france game had 1 bad error(missed a clear forward pass) by the officials which resulted in a try to france IMHO

The ten minute sin bin was justified simply because it was a cynical professional foul

The kiwis only had themselves to blame...72 percent possession but couldn't put the score on the board because of frances defence(178 tackles to 38)and discipline

Deuce Bigolo wrote:

> The new zealand v france game had 1 bad error(missed a clear
> forward pass) by the officials which resulted in a try to
> france IMHO
>


The last French try was certainly forward... when watched in a slow-motion replay (indeed there were two forward passes; the one to Michelak that started the break and then the final one to Jauzion) but when I first saw it, live, I didn't think there was anything wrong. The referee and touch-judge were both behind play, given the speed of the counter-attack, so neither can be blamed.

As you said, New Zealand had by far the greater possession and didn't do enough with it. Looks like they'll have to wait another 4 years... again!!!

As for IG's claim the match was fixed... you're obviously living on a different planet if that's what you believe!

Bob Singleton wrote:

> Deuce Bigolo wrote:
>
> > The new zealand v france game had 1 bad error(missed a clear
> > forward pass) by the officials which resulted in a try to
> > france IMHO
> >
>
>
> The last French try was certainly forward... when watched in a
> slow-motion replay (indeed there were two forward passes; the
> one to Michelak that started the break and then the final one
> to Jauzion) but when I first saw it, live, I didn't think there
> was anything wrong. The referee and touch-judge were both
> behind play, given the speed of the counter-attack, so neither
> can be blamed.
>
the last pass from michalak was line ball with the naked eye
floated forward perhaps?

> As you said, New Zealand had by far the greater possession and
> didn't do enough with it. Looks like they'll have to wait
> another 4 years... again!!!

26 phases of play by the kiwis in a fifty metre push from just over half way that didn't break the french line or draw a penalty just about sums up the kiwis loss

The kiwis will be a shoe in for the next RWC in NZ if they can handle the
pressure of the expectations of 3 million all black fans & 40 million sheep...lol
>
> As for IG's claim the match was fixed... you're obviously
> living on a different planet if that's what you believe!
>
>

Deuce Bigolo wrote:

> The new zealand v france game had 1 bad error(missed a clear
> forward pass) by the officials which resulted in a try to
> france IMHO

You're correct, that pass was forward. Unfortunately the ref can not 'go upstairs' and ask the TMO for a ruling on a forward pass.
>
> The ten minute sin bin was justified simply because it was a
> cynical professional foul

I agree.
>
> The kiwis only had themselves to blame...72 percent possession
> but couldn't put the score on the board because of frances
> defence(178 tackles to 38)and discipline

The French defence was brilliant.