The World In Union

[Sticky Blue]

England changing room, not much space. The name on the plate is Martin Johnson


View from player's tunnel onto the pitch


View from the Royal Box


Winner's plaques in tunnel

Posted on behalf of ECM

[ExCrabMate]

Thanks very much Sticks.
Couple of trivia points the missus picked up on the tour,
Jonny Wilkinson practices place kicking an awful lot at Twickenham. The wind at Twickers is usually fron the south-west and when it comes into the stadium it makes swirls and vortices. He knows where all these are and how they effect the ball.

Nobody is allowed on the turf cept players and groundsmen. (Unlike Man U where she got to stand in the centre).

Goal posts have been heightened so its easier to see if the ball goes thru cos modern players kick it higher.

No big bath for all the team but individual bath/showers.

As for the product launch she attended which included this tour, she can't remember much about whatever it was they launched 'cept it was boring.

[Contractor]

Twickers looks like it would make a great football stadium, good location too. Perhaps the FA should buy it and save the money they are spending on new Wem - ber - lee.

[ExCrabMate]

Sacrilege!!

[Contractor]

A reasonable suggestion ECM, works well at the Millenium Stadium, why not Twickers?

[Contractor]

If nobody's going to bite, I 'aint going to fish here anymore

[harry hackedoff]

Crabbers, I was hoping for a phot of yer missus
Whatever you are all up to , watch the Saaaarmoa v SA game. Do yerself a flavour They were outstanding against Georgia, and I`m sticking me neck out, but I predict a fifteen point lead at least
Who`s this "Sweet Harriet" the England supporters keep singing about?
Could we be related

[ExCrabMate]

Harry,
Think Loretta Swit (Hotlips in MASH)


















I do, it helps.

[harry hackedoff]

More like Radar O`Reily then

[kwew]

bone crunching tackle!! the Canadian lock Charron was absolutley nailed by the tongan fly half, he was out before he hit the ground. I havent seen a replay yet but i dont think it was the most legal tackle youve ever seen, a bit too much shoulder. Anyway it wasnt a bad game not brilliant rugby but entertaining none-the-less.

[harry hackedoff]

Well, a bit disappointed with Samoa, but even if they`d have won it wouldn`t`ve made any diff to the semi-finals
England did well in the second half, specially Johnnie, five penalties was it? Kiwis had a crap game and the Wallabies weren`t up to much.
Stand by for more top Rugby next week, followed by England V N.Z. in the final
Spent this arvo in Paddy Wilkes` pool, top bloke just arrived here a couple of months ago. Ex-Lima, ex-tells tech, ex RMR London, then back in as a schoolly in the Andrew. Don`t know what Paddy was loike as a tells tech, but as a barby chef, he`s shoite Unless you`re fond of raw meat in a carbonised shell, of course
Aye

[harry hackedoff]

Well, this weekend sorts out the finalists. Kiwis will win their semi, obviously. Wonder what the little gobshite of a coach, that the Wallabies have, will be saying on Sunday. Before they sack the bastard
Every opportunity to question the parentage of the England players, the ability of the coach or the spirit of the supporters and this little-minded tosser is there. He has totaly miss-read the Aussie public opinion, who think if England get to the Finals it`s because they deserve to. Just as they know the Kiwis will win tomorrow. He gives me the shits with his pathetic attemps to sike out the Lads.
Watch out for Kermit on Sunday, very much the dark horse. On their day, they can thrash England. Mind you, on their day they can thrash anyone.
Still hope for England v Kiwi final, with Kiwis going home in tears.
Local rag has this to say in tomorrow`s edition
Wobbly Wallabies in mood for upset

By Doug Conway

SYDNEY

HUGE stakes, huge hopes, huge pressure . . . all conspire this weekend to make a so far utterly predictable rugby World Cup excitingly unpredictable.These three high-octane ingredients will fuel every second of tonight's semifinal between Australia and New Zealand at Telstra Stadium in Sydney, already one of the most intense rivalries in sport.Almost as much hype and ballyhoo surround tomorrow's clash between a suddenly introspective England and the in-form French.The atmosphere stepped up several notches yesterday as thousands of fans revelled in Sydney's bright spring sunshine, giving the city a buzz reminiscent of the Olympics.Many seemed inclined at last to concede that 80 minutes of inspiration might count more than all the pedigree in the world.The feeling was that after 44 matches without a single upset, suddenly anything could happen.Australian coach Eddie Jones summed it up when he said any combination of the four semifinalists could be contesting the William Webb Ellis Trophy a week from now.His wobbly Wallabies -unconvincing, unloved and unfancied even in their own land - have been tipped to beat New Zealand by no less an eminence than England coach Clive Woodward.The All Blacks will start hot favourites but they carry the "chokers" tag from previous big World Cup losses - to Australia in a 1991 semifinal, in extra time to South Africa in the 1995 final and to the French in a semifinal four years ago after leading 24-7.If the Wallabies - former rugby league stars like Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers in particular - think they are under pressure they should spare a thought for their opponents.So completely does rugby dominate the shaky isles that one NZ commentator suggested today's battle would determine whether Reuben Thorne's All Blacks could look to a parade or a firing squad.No matter what happens, the final will be a northern versus southern hemisphere affair. The north has never won. But neither has any team successfully defended the World Cup, something the Wallabies are hoping to change.Eddie Jones, declaring his team couldn't be any better physically, won't have any excuses - but he won't need any.The Australian Rugby Union headed off any speculation yesterday by announcing that no matter what the result, his job is safe for the final year of his contract.November 15, 2003
There are two great games this weekend before the ultimate game next week. Best of luck to Martin and the Lads. Stick it to them,
Aye,

[JulesB]

Oooh eck!

Note to self.....'Dont get pissed Saturday night and oversleep on Sunday!'

[harry hackedoff]

Shock horror, it`s 22-10
Biggest upset so far, All Blacks were trounced, can`t believe it
Wallabies played a blinder in the first half hour, with Kiwis gradually turning into ratshit Lote Tuqiri, with his speed, skill and brute strenght was devastating, he needs taking out early if you`re reading this Clive I was right about the Kiwis going home in tears, got the week wrong though
Tomorrow it`s the other Semi, England v Kermit. It won`t be easy, but then how many games are, at this level?
"The French, the French, Capn Hornblower,"
"f@#k the French"
Aye,

[Sisyphus]

Harry,

Got to agree with you. The Aussie tackling was absolutely tremendous. The Kiwis just couldn't seem to find away through the line no matter what they tried.

If (sorry, when) we thrash nos amis tomorrow I'm looking forward to the final. I don't know if the Kiwis were just having an off day, but on that form the Aussies are going to take some stopping.

Mind you, the ref did seem to make some odd decisions. As it happened, they didn't affect the outcome. I just hope someone else refs the final.