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I would love to say that I did that on purpose but it would be a lie. . . . never mind though. After reflection on Lizzie's commitments with the car this evening it is looking unlikely I will be able to get to the PQ tonight! Sorry for the confusion people!

ttfn

No problem, we'll struggle on without you! We won't win obviously, but like an England rugby team without Jonny, we'll give it our best shot (and stuff it up royally!).

I'll be in touch later in the week about the arrangements for friday...

I demand a new poll:

It relates to the weekend's rugby, and certain "talents" amongst the All Blacks team.

Is Dan Carter the most gorgeous man in the world, or what?!!!!!!

I could not possibly start such a poll. . . . however please feel free to wax lyrical about Mr Carter! :D

Hands up all those who felt sorry for Portugal?! They were so close to a win and just had it taken from them by a scrappy Romania! Gutted. . . . for them that is, I was really supporting the underdogs. . .

There would be too much to say in a post waxing lyrical about Mr Carter, so it might be easier to surmise his faults as a specimen of manhood:

he was first person in the world to purchase a PC shipped with Windows Vista:

he did not retain the IRB and IRPA Player of the Year Award in 2006 from the previous year's successes (Slipping a bit, don't you think?):

he's too big to go pot-holing in certain caves.

Claire's semi-colon was a "fill in the blank" thing, right?

Well, we are into the quarter finals and I must say, for once, I was satisfied with the performance (in general). The first half was a bit naff but the odd passages of play that we produced in the second made it worthwhile viewing.

Tait - I was pleased to see him score a try and get visibly more confident. He is a potential match winner. Against the Ozzys? Not sure.
Sacky - that lad is impressing me. Bloody lightning fast. Super couple of tries.
Farrell - finally, finally my rugby league idol produced something worthwhile. If this guy hadn't screwed up his body because he played too much too soon then he might have replaced Martin Johnson/been a hell of a lot better.
Schuter - Liking the play, liking the beard!
Wilkinson - not hit top form BUT his kick for the first try showed us he still had it. Plus, his tackling is immense in places.
Rosenthal - one hell of a wanker when it comes to post match analysis. Seriously, this guy is an idiot!

OK, that last one was a bit harsh....... on wankers. However, we are into the quarter finals which is a creditable achievement if not an amazing one. If we don't fold against Australia and are still in with a shout (10 -converted try and drop goal) with 10 minutes to go then I will be happy. If we screw up like we did against South Africa then I will not be a happy chappy.

Claire's semi-colon was a "fill in the blank" thing, right?

Always nice to have one's wit noticed, John...colon though.

Rosenthal - one hell of a wanker when it comes to post match analysis. Seriously, this guy is an idiot!

Rosenthal is cack like anyone involved in punditry on ITV. The only case where the BBC have ever been surpassed is when Channel 4 revolutionised the cricket coverage. I rate Mark Nicholas and The Analyst et al extremely highly. Having said that, even the BBC isn't that good, especially the football commentary. Give me a team sheet and a list of stats and I could name the players as they pass to each other pretty well too. Although, I think the BBC do rugby commentary better than they do the football, where Five Live with the tv on mute is the only way to go.

Rosenthal is a medieval devil and Satan has sent him to torture us. The Champions League commentator is equally "infernally" annoying but the pundit whose soul has surely sunk to the innermost circle has got to be Will "what's-the-difference-between-a-metaphor-and-a-really-shit-cliche?" Greenwood. He. is. terrible.

Claire wrote:Rosenthal is a medieval devil and Satan has sent him to torture us.

He is also the Count from Sesame Street. Seriously, he is.

Claire wrote:Always nice to have one's wit noticed, John...colon though.

For a moment I'd thought you were implying he had no faults, then I realised that would just be silly. My lack of colon recognition is slightly embarrassing.

I seem to remember there being several exasperated comments on the quality of the commentary when Chris, Al, Mike and I were watching (and unfortunately hearing) it. Even I began to notice it after a bit, and I'm usually entirely oblivious. The English standard of rugby is going to result in them being handed a mild beating in the quarter-finals unless they step it up, although there is hope for them yet.

Agree with the Count comment there as well Andy: he's got that pointy nose and stuff going on. Very "evil minion of Satan who really wants to be watching the football instead".

What are we all doing next Saturday at 2pm?

mr_e wrote:What are we all doing next Saturday at 2pm?

Cuba - trying to avoid the wife to watch the rugby. In case I don't get it can some freeview recorder manage to catch it for me?! PLEASE! :D

The commentrary on Friday was funny - 'That is world class kicking we haven't seen since 2003' 10 minutes later 'Jonny's accuracy is a bit off this evening, not a great kicking game at all'. Lets be honest, how many contridictions can you get in one match - they were averaging 1 every 10 minutes I think!

Ireland out of the pool stages of the tournament! OMG what went wrong there? Aparently they started well but the Puma's managed to get to the quarters and will not face Scotland. . .?

Mike wrote:The commentrary on Friday was funny - 'That is world class kicking we haven't seen since 2003' 10 minutes later 'Jonny's accuracy is a bit off this evening, not a great kicking game at all'. Lets be honest, how many contridictions can you get in one match - they were averaging 1 every 10 minutes I think!

It was not funny, it was fecking annoying! I thought Christine was going to explode at one point! Next time I vote we put the commentary on mute and make our own opinions on the action.

Ireland going out was a huge shock.