Vindication

So I spent a lot of time this week listening to well meaning, but stupid people banging on about the French tilt, and how they will win the worlds cup. I of course have known a lot better so was not surprised at all when los pumas destroyed le cocks hopes of making it past the quarter finals. The Argentinian's played their game plan to perfection, not letting the Frenchies have any ball, and defending like monsters. Contempari at number 12 show's this, they just plugged it up the middle with the forwards, then kicked or bombed the ball up the pitch, only going outside of number 10 very, very rarely. Letting Contempari have a go every now and then. If this will work for the entire coupe de monde I don't think so, but good on them for that game. Watch for Freddie Michalak to be back for the Frenchies as soon as possible, also the mighty Chabal to start.

I didn't get to see much of the AB's game, just the first 20 minutes, which was enough to see the first 40 points. Of course they slowed up a lot after that, which was expected.

The Aussie's started very slowly, and were quite disjointed in the early part of the game. However in the second half when it all clicked they were spectacular. The big story was the performance of the reserves. Hoiles, Mcmeniman, Mitchell, and Barnes were very solid. I am very biased, but how can Palu continue to start? Hoiles on the pitch, with Mcmeniman and Chisholm on the bench allows the coaches heaps of discretion as too who to replace, can you imagine getting both second rowers off at the sixty minute mark and having basically four number sixes and G Smith on to finish the game?

Speaking of which George Smith has a huge candidacy for the try of the cup with his effort in the second half, tackling and regaining his feet in one movement, then running in to score the try untouched was amazing (coupled with the fact he touched down right in front of us...).

As for the other games, the poms were shit, the saffies had some massive hits- then a good win, the Welsh were horrible (but a good game), and the Irish had a non match.

Overall, my reading of the first weekend is that the Southern Hemisphere heavy weights were all about equal (which is a result for the aussies) whilst France and England were predictably crap. Argentina have just let themselves down with a sub par performance against Georgia, but I am going to go and buy their 5/8th Hernandez for my Test Rugby team, as he has to be cheaper then Contempari...