England in dreamland (349)
- 14 Oct 07, 12:17 AM
Paris, early hours of Sunday morning - Words - you fail me. Legs - you can’t hold me. Liver - stand by me.
I’m dreaming. I must be. Except in dreams I’ve never thrown myself into the arms of a bug-eyed, bawling Benjamin Dirs while bellowing myself bandy and thumping myself on the legs like a banjaxed Keith Moon.
I can’t go on too long – I’ve got to get out and throw myself into the night’s madness like a cartwheeling lemming.
I can’t go on too long – but at the same time I could spout forth forever, like Sue Pollard on speed, on the staggering, gob-smacking events I’ve just witnessed.
How did England win that? How has an England team that lay smashed in pieces four weeks ago made the World Cup final?
If this England team were a man out on the pull, they’d be Dean Gaffney bagging Cameron Diaz.
Never on the field of rugby conflict has so much been achieved by a team with so little.
I don’t mean that as an insult – quite the opposite. Who cares who the best team in the world is?
Not the thousands of England fans currently dancing their way into the centre of Paris, walloped off their happy minds on a mix of disbelief, delight and delirium.
Repeat after me: England are in the World Cup final.
Was it pretty? Nah. Was it effective? Was it ever.
You can keep your flowing rugby, your silky back-line moves, your 10-try thrillers.
To twist the famous words of Marshall Bosquet after the Charge of the Light Brigade, “Ce n’est pas magnifique, mais c’est la guerre.”
At kick-off, the noise was so great that it distorted in your ears like a Pete Townshend guitar solo.
Optimism and pessimism had done battle all day, with the underlying feeling that at least England had nothing to lose.
That went out of the window as soon as a primeval roar ripped the roof off the Stade de France.
The atmosphere was so fierce, so head-melting, that all I could think was this: I don’t want this to end.
For a long time, it seemed that it would. Wilkinson’s left boot seemed to have been replaced by a bag of spanners.
The tops of each goal-post had been painted with the French Tricolore, and it was as if some horrible Gallic hoodoo was hanging over them.
When Wilkinson hit the post with that skidding drop-goal attempt with 20 minutes to go, I turned to the white-faced, struck-silence Dirs and grimaced.
When Toby Flood’s attempt buried its nose in the turf like a homesick mole a few nail-bites later, Dirs looked back at me and shook his head.
And when that penalty sang through with just five minutes left on the clock? I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest.
As the stadium emptied itself of flabbergasted Frenchmen at the final whistle, some wag in the stadium control room stuck “Je Ne Regrette Rien” over the PA system.
Piaf warbled, England fans cavorted.
England are in the final.
I’m dreaming – I must be. Don’t wake me up just yet, will you?
Tom Fordyce is a BBC Sport journalist travelling around France in a camper van with Ben Dirs. Click here to search for all of Tom and Ben's blog videos.
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Hands Shaking... Ears Ringing... for all its errors, it was a fantastic game, one of the best in the World Cup!
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sod the dreaming. epic..
(oh yes, and clean out the van eh? there are standards..)
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Tremendous! What dedication to duty, updating the blog at this stage of the night's celebrations.
Well done England, what a display of 'dog'.
P.S. Tom Please look after Ben this weekend, we don't want to read about more pepper-spray shenanigans.
P.P.S Anyone got two spare World Cup Final tickets for two teachers on half-term?
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Marvellous.
But what's this rubbish about a team with so little? Have you been listening to the ITV commentary team (whose first positive comment about an Englishman was timed at the 66th minute here in Kuwait - we're well browned off at the tabloid remarks from those inept cretins).
This is a talented team. Before last wek's match I puzzled at how poorly a team bristling with such good players could deliver such poor performances. Not that I expected that to change. And even tonight, the performance was flawed.
But successful. And that is what counts.
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ME to no it was not pretty but it was glorious.A comment on can not win without the balls.as sean fitzpatrick would say you need mongrel .one eyed and too partisan to be objective.
dramatically lived up to last week with a passion
Roll on next weekend.
TO sleep to dream and yet.
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Tremendous! What dedication to duty, updating the blog at this stage of the night's celebrations.
Well done England, what a display of 'dog'.
P.S. Tom Please look after Ben this weekend, we don't want to read about more pepper-spray shenanigans.
P.P.S Anyone got two spare World Cup Final tickets for two teachers on half-term?
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here in Hong Kong the game kicked off at 3am, so the options were to try and get some kip and wake up for it, or just drink through the night... there are a lot of tired (but happy) England fans, and a lot of miserable French fans sleeping it off, or trying to give their children breakfast (it's now nearly 8am).
The atmosphere in the bars in HK was "heady" considering how long we had been drinking, but to have been at the game! you lucky (man)...
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Wow, we did it. I live in Ecuador and work in an office with two Aussies and a Frenchman. I cant wait for Monday. Its hard to be here and miss the atmosphere so I love the blogs as it has make me feel at home. Cant wait for the final, and celebrating online with my brothers and friends. I believe.
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Congrats to England and France. That game was certainly worthy of what had come before. Both teams put up a performance worthy of the courage required for a WC semi.
Can England become the first to retain the title? Can't wait to find out!
PS I'll be so proud to tell my grandchildren that I actually saw Jonny play!!
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As a pom in Aus...watching it was wonderful. I have to say though the French coach threw it away with poor substitutions. He went to his much feared bench and didn't need to. The game was going the French way and they lost it all after Michalak came on and the caveman went in at second row. Worse to come for the poor french supporters was Betsen coming off. England are now winners, they know how to win games. Brian Ashton knows what he is doing. Jonny now needs a statue in every major city in the UK! C'mon Ingerland!!
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What a day for NH rugby, I am very proud of the english side doing the job and getting into the final, I see no real reason why you cannot do the unthinkable next week, as a welshman I am proud to be an English fan over the next week or so, it feels good to me that a team not only from the NH can be so close but a British team too!!!
Good luck and if you do finish the job off, it will go down historically in many ways and will really silence so many and deservadly so!
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Someone wrote on the blogs "Dare England Dream Again?"...
30 English players not only can dream now but after the last two weeks perhaps BELIEVE they will retain the World Cup for the first time in rugby history.
The head in me would like Argentina to win tomorrow but the heart would prefer South Africa to win and reach the final hopefully for England to amend for the earlier very disappointing result against them...
The best part is we can relax for a day, enjoy our victory while others worry about a forthcoming semi-final before the hard work starts again on Monday...
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I can't spell half of the words that I am currently feeling right now. Not because my lexicon or intelligence let me down but because I don't think such words exist just yet. I was at the South Africa mauling 4 weeks ago where my head hang low...today however it is swining low. Very low, sweet Chariot.
4 years ago we won the world cup with what was regarded as 'ugly' and 'boring' rugby. I genuinely couldn't care less at the time and that feeling hasn't changed to this day. If we win the world cup next week with 'boring' and 'ugly' rugby with a score of 3-0 I can't see my feelings changing much then either.
Anyone in Paris got room for a little one?
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Look out for all the "it's a bad advert for rugby" doom sayers. but they just don't get it - the tension, confrontation and will to win is as good an advert for sport as you'll ever get.
Well done England - but lets hope next week is not a 'what might have been' moment.
To beat France in France is a great achievement - in a world cup semi it is even sweeter......
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Party in Jersey (with - wives - 100% French / - husbands - 100% English - what a tense, nail-biting game!!
Thoroughly enjoyed - wishing we were in Paris, so the wives could shop to take their minds off the defeat and the husbands could drink to celebrate!!!
Jon
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just got back from the 02 dome...amazing....when wilko kicked the last drop goal, beer went everywhere, grown men jumping around hugging...the same for the final whistle. bring on trafalguar square next weekend
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Brilliant. Haven't got a ticket (yet) but I'm on my way to Paris from Montpellier next Saturday.I am so proud of the England team.
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worst game in the WC so far.
Just keep drinking beer.
Lucky you, pirates.
See you next saturday.
Go Pumas !
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neither team seemed to want to win and it really bacame a game of who wanted to lose the least....
I will be back in England for a wedding next weekend, and finally I have an excuse not to do wedding dancing....
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Well,what a competition! We ance could have have had France - Argentina in the final in a repeat of the opening game - instead we look like SA v England in a repeat of the meanigless (I hope) pool game. Oh, how the worm has turned on NZ and Australia! Ha ha!
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Excellent writer Tom. That sums up everything. Btw celebrations are roaming here in Quito too, well into the night!
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Thank you, no really , thank you. Weve only gone and done it :)
any one else gutted about not puttint on the 66/1 :(
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As a proud englishmen living in Qld, Australia the last seven days have been truly memorable, rubbing the aussies noses in it is one thing but can the unthinkable happen?? Back to back world cups!! May the dream continue for one more week.
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Well,what a competition! We ance could have have had France - Argentina in the final in a repeat of the opening game - instead we look like SA v England in a repeat of the meanigless (I hope) pool game. Oh, how the worm has turned on NZ and Australia! Ha ha!
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Tom, what duty you have shown to send out another blog. If I was there I doubt i'd be able to see, let alone write an article! That is a team of real men, to have come back in such emphatic fashion after the SA defeat and dumbfound all the critics is truely incredible. One thing I would like to know is what percentage English fans had compared to French fans, from the sound of the tv it was close to the 65% advantage we had in the 2003 final.
Tom and Ben, the only time you're ever glad work carries on so long?!
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Englan vs SA in the final? Almost as unreal as France vs Agrentina, which before tonight was possisble. Oh the wonders of this world cup!
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tears of joy stain my cheeks what a team what a performance against all and i mean all the odds we are there again either mr Ashton has been playin some very high cards close to his chest or fortune favours the brave, well done England my England our England arnt we proud tonight chests burstin with pride your there now again boys lets have it back get out the Brasso. that will really really teach them all to write of the world champions.
On the game it was a tough encounter and was never going to be an epic but who needs an epic with such a nailbiter, what calmness for jonny to throw the ball back to the physio or ball boy whatever and say thats not a matchball get me a matchball now that is a proffesional at the top of his game especially when he slots it.Forwards were magnificent again perhaps they should be renamed the magnificent 8 because thats what they were, well done jonny well done ENGLAND
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What a Game. I have not been this happy for i guess 4 years.
At one stage i was worried (Toby Flood say no more). Not the most free flowing game i have ever watched but the way England kept on digging in you could see the French realising that this was not going to be their day.
Well enough from me i think another drink to celebrate and bed to dream of next week and i hope the Puma's.
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Let's be honest Bernard Laporte, possibly the worst manager ever. Why were Fraance going for drop goals from their own half or from first phase in our half.
Without doubt the least french performance i've ever witnessed.Why were they trying to out bore us at our own game!!!
Why did he bring Michalak on after 51 mins!!!!!! Nothing about the game so far suggested that you needed a flash of brilliance. All you needed was a solid 10, which Beaxis had been till that point, to control the game. Luckily we had Wilko and not some idiot trying to banana kick his way to glory.
As a firm England supporter i'm sad to see Laporte go, it's unbelievable how one man can make 15 of the best rugby players in the world look so average. Picture being back at school and having the 30 men who started the game lined up in front of you, how many englishman would you pick based on skill alone?
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after the win i turned to my dad and in one of those rare moments of emotion tht remain manly we both started to blub as a team ranked 7th in the world and expected to struggle in the group stages (as we did) had wandered unwittingly into the final to keep a nation alive. thts rite im hammered and still disbelieving long live this blog and england rugby
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Excellent writing Tom. That sums up everything. Btw celebrations are roaming here in Quito too, well into the night!
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after the win i turned to my dad and in one of those rare moments of emotion tht remain manly we both started to blub as a team ranked 7th in the world and expected to struggle in the group stages (as we did) had wandered unwittingly into the final to keep a nation alive. thts rite im hammered and still disbelieving long live this blog and england rugby
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I went to an English pub in San Antonio , Texas and was amazed to find that nearly half the people watching the game were rooting for France. OK, a lot of them were exiled Franco's but the rest were wearing Ireland shirts !!!! Things will never change but we are in with a shout of doing something no other nation has done before ...... I'm sure that Scotland, the republic of ireland + the Welsh will be cheering on our opponents .... so be it .... COME ON ENGLAND.
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Come on England! we can do it!!
They desirved this win!
Come on home nations lets be united!
This is great news for NH Rugby!
Both teams played out the match with desire and conviction!
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After the first game of the competition who would have thought of thought a France v Argentina game final was possible? Equally at 36-0 to SA who would have have thought a England v SA final would happen? Come on you Pumas! Lets make it a worthwhile final!
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Just chuffed that we made it.
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tears of joy stain my cheeks what a team what a performance against all and i mean all the odds we are there again either mr Ashton has been playin some very high cards close to his chest or fortune favours the brave, well done England my England our England arnt we proud tonight chests burstin with pride your there now again boys lets have it back get out the Brasso. that will really really teach them all to write of the world champions.
On the game it was a tough encounter and was never going to be an epic but who needs an epic with such a nailbiter, what calmness for jonny to throw the ball back to the physio or ball boy whatever and say thats not a matchball get me a matchball now that is a proffesional at the top of his game especially when he slots it.Forwards were magnificent again perhaps they should be renamed the magnificent 8 because thats what they were, well done jonny well done ENGLAND
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Watched the game here in Canada on Setanta. What a fantastic result! Not pretty - but bloody effective. Especially enjoyable listening to the commentators saying afterwards that the result was bad for the tournament and bad for rugby - 3 Pads and an Assie - 4 losers in my book!
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as a scotsman, despite havin a lot of banter about last weeks match with the argies from all the english i'm so privileged to know, this semi final was just like the final four years ago, england to the end. with the typical dislike of the english during the six nations by none other than all the celtic nations, when it comes to the world stage i'm sure all this is forgotten in situations like this (as well as 2003), and i hope i speak for the majority. let the battle of the hemispheres commence yet again "SWING LOW....."
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The only Englishman in New Caledonia. Working with a French company. We had a few last night, French pals & me, in anticipation of the morning, then congregated around my small TV at 06:00, how do I feel,am walking on air. Great big thank you to The Red Rose team & Guts of My England.
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Where is the proud of England ?
I'm french and londonner.
I have been watching the match with some friends in Paddington.
There is no point about the score: well done England and could God be with you for the final.
whatever the result could you explain to me why 2 minutes after the final vessel the pub was more or less empty and nobody was saying/singing after your victory.
It was very dispointing for me. I would have like participate at your victory (just because of the sport) but nothing happends. That a big regret for me.
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fantastic cant sleep keep thinking i should have gone to paris and spent the night drinking too those champions yes our current world champions they might just do what our cricket football and any other major british sporting team have never done before (with the exeption of the english rowing team of course) win for the second time
wow might need to get a camper van myself for the next world cup
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I can't spell half of the words that I am currently feeling right now. Not because my lexicon or intelligence let me down but because I don't think such words exist just yet. I was at the South Africa mauling 4 weeks ago where my head hang low...today however it is swining low. Very low, sweet Chariot.
4 years ago we won the world cup with what was regarded as 'ugly' and 'boring' rugby. I genuinely couldn't care less at the time and that feeling hasn't changed to this day. If we win the world cup next week with 'boring' and 'ugly' rugby with a score of 3-0 I can't see my feelings changing much then either.
Anyone in Paris got room for a little one?
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In Mumbai... 10 sports channels, and NOT ONE to show the rugby! ESPN showing stock-car racing, while the local sports channels are going cricket mad... but who's to the rescue? french TV5!! all credit to a great TV channel who (unlike our own beeb!!!) decided to broadcast the rugby on their international TV channel.. perhaps there is something to be learnt from the french! just NOT rugby ;op
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as a limey texan i am o so proud of our english bulldogs not only of beating the french enemy but i had to watch the game on setanta sports here in texas hosted by three paddys and one aussie who did nothing but trash us heres to you my potatoe eating freinds and the sheep*****ausie**later south bristol dave ps i have a date next saturday in paris do you ?
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I have forgot the more essential thing... I'd,like thus blog and the wy you have to descrive your journey into France
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Great stuff.
I am in America and we had A lot of people over and web cams back to England. Terrific time, and the evening here is still young.
Only complaint is we had to watch the Setanta Sports broadcast, which was horrible. Actual match coverage was OK, but the studio hosts were the most one-sided England bashers in the last 67 years. After the match was over there was not a hint of congratulations for the winning side, only base insults for a full 10 minutes. Also, insinuated the referee was pulling for England by allowing England to be offside 'at every breakdown'. Was the most unprofessional broadcasting I have ever seen in sports. These guys should be punished or fired, and they knew better because they went to a quick commercial then moderated their tune. Hard to describe, but we were all laughing since they sounded so stupid. Its the kind of thing which ends up on You Tube with people laughing at them not for the purpose originally intended.
But forget 'em. Forget the Kiwis and Aussies. Let's celebrate tonight, which is what we have been doing, and let next weekend take care of itself.
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Unbelievable. Made the trip to Europe from Singapore last w/e, had the privilege of watching france subdue NZ in Cardiff, ended out in the south of france this w/e watching england take on les bleus in the semis. Brilliant game, all the better for the camraderie between the ten english supporters and fifty french supporters sharing the bar we were in. Glad that the post match scrums that followed in the bar didn't count towards the final score....
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Great stuff.
I am in America and we had A lot of people over and web cams back to England. Terrific time, and the evening here is still young.
Only complaint is we had to watch the Setanta Sports broadcast, which was horrible. Actual match coverage was OK, but the studio hosts were the most one-sided England bashers in the last 67 years. After the match was over there was not a hint of congratulations for the winning side, only base insults for a full 10 minutes. Also, insinuated the referee was pulling for England by allowing England to be offside 'at every breakdown'. Was the most unprofessional broadcasting I have ever seen in sports. These guys should be punished or fired, and they knew better because they went to a quick commercial then moderated their tune. Hard to describe, but we were all laughing since they sounded so stupid. Its the kind of thing which ends up on You Tube with people laughing at them not for the purpose originally intended.
But forget 'em. Forget the Kiwis and Aussies. Let's celebrate tonight, which is what we have been doing, and let next weekend take care of itself.
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more or less a day after i have been dumped by my girlfriend, england have won through to the final of the RWC!!!!! i know which one i prefer.
now, someone help me, what excuse do i give to my brother: i offered to babysit for him next saturday!!!!!
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Unbelievable. Made the trip to Europe from Singapore last w/e, had the privilege of watching france subdue NZ in Cardiff, ended out in the south of france this w/e watching england take on les bleus in the semis. Brilliant game, all the better for the camraderie between the ten english supporters and fifty french supporters sharing the bar we were in. Glad that the post match scrums that followed in the bar didn't count towards the final score....
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just got back from the pub rather drunk. england surprised me. i am still drunk.
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Setanta Sports should Drop Kick the two Muppets of the Show.
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Absolutely incredible... Are we one of the two most 'fanciable' nations in the Rugby world? No. Do we play flowing football to create try chances left, right and centre? No. But do we get to a the final? By God do we, and we will do anything to get there - such is the English spirit. Try your hardest, give 100% for 80 minutes and there's no limit to what you can achieve. So proud of the boys.
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Here in Seoul, S.Korea, it kicked off at 4 a.m. We tried for the early shut-eye option,but our Aussie and Kiwi mates had other ideas....clearly they had nothing better to do last night ha ha! We are also hugely irritated by the inept commentators (who are those blokes?) but astonished by England's progress....where did they get that from...I can't see us turning around a 36-0 defecit from the South Africans...but if the Argies do for them, we may, just may, be in with a shout...
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My Dad's 90 next year... I thought he'd go to heaven knowing our team had the World Cup 4 years ago... but no, he's sticking around to see them retain it. Go ENGLAND!
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Quite simply - I am very, very proud to be English!
Unlike football there is no room for cheats, you turn up for your team-mates and country, they did just that!
1066 was a mistake on our part - never again.
Proud, I am very proud - thank you.
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Well done england, all the criticism can be shoved down all there throats.
Never underestimate the determination, passion and fight of England!
Pure British Bull Dog Guts and Balls.
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Awful game. Shapeless & dull the more it wore on.
Are these results reflecting which team is better? Not in a million years - and that is the point of sport - to reveal the superior side.
Even in this game the more inventive team with the best post-match stats lost. Even Wilkinson looked a bit sheepish.
England flukily scored from a kick that looked like an attempt for field position... otherwise they never looked likely to find a way to score other than the tedium of droppies & penalties.
Sure - they can tackle & defend but the fact is this RWC has plumbed new depths in terms of creating a style of rugby that is utterly abysmal - both as a result of the format and long overdue lack of tweaks to the rules.
What if Eng won the RWC? That would be 2 World Cups - and they've only ever played the consistently No 1 ranked side in the world - NZ - in the knockout stages once in 20 years.
It's ridiculous. Champions? Not in my book and not in the heart of any true rugby aficianado.
Re the rules the immediate change should be making missed drop kick attempts a scrum back - which would bring them into line with attacking punts AND disincentivise this blight on the game.
Anyway, South Africa will win it from here - they'll tear England apart in the final. But regardless - this has been a washout of a sporting spectacle - Rugby World Cup? Rubbish World Cup more like...
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In exile in the rugby wilderness that is the USA I will be driving 60 miles to an Irish bar to see the final. Well done England and especially the Tigers players that contributed to the hard won victory.
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Awful game. Shapeless & dull the more it wore on.
Are these results reflecting which team is better? Not in a million years - and that is the point of sport - to reveal the superior side.
Even in this game the more inventive team with the best post-match stats lost. Even Wilkinson looked a bit sheepish.
England flukily scored from a kick that looked like an attempt for field position... otherwise they never looked likely to find a way to score other than the tedium of droppies & penalties.
Sure - they can tackle & defend but the fact is this RWC has plumbed new depths in terms of creating a style of rugby that is utterly abysmal - both as a result of the format and long overdue lack of tweaks to the rules.
What if Eng won the RWC? That would be 2 World Cups - and they've only ever played the consistently No 1 ranked side in the world - NZ - in the knockout stages once in 20 years.
It's ridiculous. Champions? Not in my book and not in the heart of any true rugby aficianado.
Re the rules the immediate change should be making missed drop kick attempts a scrum back - which would bring them into line with attacking punts AND disincentivise this blight on the game.
Anyway, South Africa will win it from here - they'll tear England apart in the final. But regardless - this has been a washout of a sporting spectacle - Rugby World Cup? Rubbish World Cup more like...
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Presently living in Colombia where rugby doesn't exist so watched the match at home on ESPN out of Argentina. Screamed and yelled and worried the kids! Who'd have thought we'd be experiencing such joy at this stage of the competition. More to come? The Argentinians were pro-England in their commentary, desperate for one of Jonny's drop goals. The support of the Pumas is very impressive on ESPN; the Argentinians are all psychologically well prepared, thus their success in many sporting fields. Would love to see them come through tomorrow, though revenge for the earlier defeat to the Boks would be sweet too. Immediately after the match, I called my sister in the Uk and laughed hysterically down the phone with her for 10 minutes, then gloated with my mum. No doubt will repeat the hysterics on the phone to my bro tomorrow. Fantastic!
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Hello from NZ!!
WELL DONE ENGLAND!
I couldn't sleep last night, but now I can spend Sunday on the beers!
The Kiwis are still trying to pretend they are the best in the world.
24 years! That's almost a lifetime.
CHOKERS!
ROLL ON NEXT SATURDAY!!
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT!!!!!
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Watch it...the Bok's are going to smell blood. Let's congratulate our team, but move on quickly and sensibly to plotting 'the relief of Mafeking'...likely facing a team that just drubbed us 36-0 is mighty worrying. I feel we're out-flanked already...can't think of a tactic that will unsettle the Bok's. Imagine the bodies of the English team are about as beaten as can be. Pray for some wisdom from the management/coaches!
Anyway, the players deserve to be proud even if they don't land the cup. They are an inspiration.
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Bloody, bloody fantastic. I am surprised the neighbours didn't call the police with the amount of screaming going on in my house.
Go on ENGLAND, we can do it
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total disaster for lovers of rugby. shocking match France a hugely better team just found the home pressure too much. More missed kicks than a 2nd XV match. Wilko a disaster; 3 out of 7 better than his last week's 4 out of 10 though.
Sa or Arg will thrash them
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To comment 39 - im a welshman and glad that there is a fellow celt who is supporting our fellow brits the english. Cannot understand any brit who doesnt do so.
To comment 33 - not all of us are against the english. I feel proud when any british team team wins.
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I can't believe it - I can't believe it!. That's pretty much all I've been saying for tghe last 7 hours!!!!
At the Champs de Mer was insane!!! (Until some french non-rugby fans starting kicking off and the gendarmes ahd to step in!).
But at 4am the next day I'm loving it - still can't quite believe it.... how?! how?! nevermind, we're through. It's insane, can't believe my first weekend back of the year is next weekend - nevermind, I'll be in loughborough - quite sporting, to say the least, should be good atmostphere!
At least I've seen England beat France, IN PARIS!!!!!!!!
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Such a perfect day!!
1. Went to watch England vs Estonia at Wembley
2. Were in the World Cup Final!! How?? This wasnt meant to happen, we werent even meant to make the quaters, how?? Acctually who cares how, just remember we are :D
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Watched it in the US. Setanta pundits were crap and I think were pulled early because of their vitriolic anti-English comments. Roll out Micky Skinner and ask him what he thought of the performance. The French only threatened our line once and then they turned it over. English forward tackling and mauling was superb - they beat the French up (legally) and really deserved their win. This is how you play competitive Rugby and it may not beautiful but my god it was great to watch.
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It must be an inter-dimensional vortex!
I mean come on... Scotland through to the quaters... Argentina!? where did they come from? England beat Australia... France beat New Zealand... and now England is in the final!
If the vortex closes, does that mean time will reverse and our timeline will correct itself? After that, I suppose, we'll all sit down next week to watch the New Zealand/South Africa final we were all expecting!
Come On England!!!
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My God.....magnificent lads..... well as a POM in england Im so proud of you.... and the All Blacks are out... heres a clip of how they are coping (not) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AZtHa8htY
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I agree with Donnyballgame, I watched the game on Setanta Broadband. The Irish 'pundits' were the most unprofessional, biased sore losers I've ever seen. They were an embarrassment for Ireland - talking about an English referee "conspiracy" and that England don't deserve to be in the final, blah blah blah. Why can't these people, especially professional sports pundits, just admit - shock - England might have done good! Those guys should be fired.
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What has happened to rugby? I watched the game today and I was once again let down by the game being played as a percentage kicking waste of time!! Where is the rolling flowing 3/4 play culimintaing in, dare I say.....a try! All is well and England have proceeded to anthother world cup final, however if it is played like the utter rubbish that was displayed today we are all as well as giving up out of total bordom!!!!!!!!!!!
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I Totally agree with DonnyBallGame (Post 48) I watched the game on International Drive, Orlando with about 300 + Englishmen and Women and a smattering of French. The Univeral agreement was that the Setanta sports coverage was Crap !! It was so anti English it was embarassing !! The Channel better get their act together or they are going to alienate a whole nation. FIND PUNDITS WHO CAN REMAIN IMPARTIAL !! - The Game ?? what can I say ?? "Swing Low sweet ...."
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As a former tight-head prop that was my kind of game!
I can't wait to hear all the doom and gloom (Setanta's horribly bias "pundits" started as soon as the final whistle sounded!); when will they realize it's a competition not entertainment! Oh, and by the way, we won! We bloody won!
Jason Robinson should be allowed to play for England when he's 90 - like Mike Catt did today!
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As a Scot living in Oz you got two big thumbs-up from me for beating the arrogant Aussies. Now you're in the final and all I can say is good luck, you've been through a tough period lately and deserve to be there. Well done England and good luck for the final!
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As an expat Englishman in Australia, got up at some unearthly hour this morning to watch it then went to work where I felt about as welcome as a mosquito in a nudist colony. Oh how everybody around me (New Zealander, Aussies, South Africans and a token Frenchman) wanted England to lose! Gloating is a terrible thing, but sometimes it's good to be an Englishman in Melbourne!
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Brilliant student hall are fun most of the time but today was brilliant absolutely brilliant.
Shut up you moaning muppets. We wong because we stop team playing that means we're better, whats the point of flair if the team ur playing doesn't let you use it.
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From here in Tasmania I was as stunned as the rest. This team cannot be taken lightly by whoever faces us next week. Yes we need to tweek things since there's always improvements. Yet from where we were a month ago I'm happy as Larry to be in the final again. Great stuff boys. What drama will next week bring!
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I awoke this morning in Angeles City, Philippines, my beautiful Fillipina Girlfriend beside me, but i had to say "not this morning Josaphine" there are more important matters at hand, namely, get on the internet and see how those brave warriers faired against the mighty French, and to my joy and ellation celebrate a famous win over Le coq. As i cheer and dance around the bedroom she looks at me puzzled, what is rugby she asks, (what is Rugby, cuh), we look at the reports, and still none the wiser she says " he is pretty (Jonny Wilkinson that is), typical.
Anyway, yes i am proud of our lads achievements, last week my Aussie mates were dumbstruck, today they will be as sick as parrots, and i love it.
Bring on SA or Argentina, the best is yet to come from the English, SA will not do to us what they did a few weeks ago and they know it, the heart and belief in our lads will see us through, as has been said here already, it may not be pretty but our strength and character will defeat all foes and we will come through victorious, why, because we are English, we do not know the meaning of lay down and die.
I have said my piece, it is now time to rejoin my girlfriend and enjoy the rest of the day here, thankyou boys, see you next week.
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The Setanta pundits should be ashamed to call themselves ex-sportsmen. On their website it is not possible to make a complaint but I would like to complain to any regulator out there who will listen. That was some of the most unprofessional broadcasting I have ever witnessed. How can we stop these embarrassing curmudgeons covering the final? The tall lugubrious man was verging on hate crime in my book and the smaller chubby one kept agreeing like a ventriloquist's dummy. Even the Aussie one who seems to know his rugby quite well started having a go. It was so ridiculous to suggest that a) England were systematically breaking the rules of rugby at every set piece and b) an SA ref allowed them to because the 'boks would rather meet England in the final. Surely on his theory Ireland would be in the final. Talk about sour grapes.
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the english victory is a disaster for the worldcup and rugby in the world. Now i can only hope that boks (real great players)or pumas will defeat the worst team ever :england
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What a time to be an Englishman living in NZ. These passed seven days have been bliss, they dare to call us whinging poms - you've never heard the like in your life!
Now we are in the final (again!!) after two wonderful games of determination, grit and attrition. We showed our true colours today and out mettled the French. What a glorious display of hard nosed, power northern hemisphere rugby.
Bring on the final, swinging low and i wish it could carry me home.....
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We receorded the game earlier and just watched it in California. Mum and Dad are over from the UK and we went down to Pebble Beach today. Very nice. Bloody great game. From where they've come from the boys need to get huge credit. Solid. Solid. Solid. Good game from the French, just too many mistakes or they'd have taken it. As for the critics, don't you understand rugby, sometime it's not pretty, like the players. The TV hosts (Satanta?), what a joke, how embarrassing for them! Thanks England for extending the fun for another week! Schwing lowww...
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Not without a fight. Damn right. Was in Lunasa in NY (thanks Gav, your the man)and the moment the drop goal sailed through, absolute bedlam. Finally home in the early hours US time. Time for bed. Dare we dream about one more massive display. Just one more. Go on. do it for mummy.......
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I'm a proud Englishman living in Canada. Great to see England win. Too bad we had to watch the Irish Setanta coverage...the low point in the post-game studio discussion came when Neil Francis implied that the South African ref. was letting England win because they would be an easier match for the Springboks, which was ripe because the French came within 10 minutes of winning on the strength of a phantom penalty awarded against Easter. All three panelists and the host were openly despondent with the result - bad day for rugby and all that. In the end, a lot of the comments we're getting out of the Southern Hemisphere on this forum and in other places are motivated solely by the same kind of hate espoused by the Australia Rugby Union's chief executive John O'Neill, but I was still disappointed to see the Irish experts getting their digs in on live TV.
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"the english victory is a disaster for the worldcup and rugby in the world. Now i can only hope that boks (real great players)or pumas will defeat the worst team ever :england"
sour grapes, sore loser, bad apple, chip on shoulder - which one of these applies I wonder, or maybe all?
England have beaten two of the best teams in the competition, they scored the only try tonight, they have a world class pack and at least 3 world class backs - they have played with more passion and commitment than any other team in the competition, save maybe the argentinians - what more do you want?!
Well done England you make us proud!!!
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Now for the voice of sanity.
Boring. Absolutely boring. Can't wait for the try nations, looking forward to seeing some rugby. Enough of this glorified force back! I only watch Rugby for entertainment, and the AB's play entertaining rugby. My English uncle says that its all about winning. Perhaps he's right, but the sport needs spectators. He is understandably stoked about the win, but he admits he doesn't really enjoy watching rugby (he prefers football or even league). I believe he's watching the wrong games. I bet if you english watched a Bledisloe cup match or Tri nations, you may understand what i mean.
Ok, so i'm bitter! Congrats to England, your long suffering fans deserve the success, the true fans that is. To all the fans that bagged your team after the SA loss, you should hang your head in shame. I don't know how England would have fared against NZ if we had an experienced ref a week ago, I'm sure you might have even pushed us! Good luck for next week, you are going to need it!
Tomorrows game should be good, hopefully the winner is crowned champions in a week. Let the game be flowing, let the ref be fair, and let the drop goals be... in the last 5 minutes!
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Michaeal, No. 62 is clearly not a rugby afficiandado. He must prefer basketball. If the game just played by two of the bravest teams to pull on national shirts did not make him feel something other than boredom, he should probably watch another sport. The Sothern Hemisphere (which he appears to appreciate) should take a good hard look at this and think. This is commitment. You guys are mere proffesionals. Sayonara.
Rugby isn't just a game played by people with odd shaped balls, it's a game WON by heros. Four more years to all down under. France to a man are better than all NZ and Aus have to offer.
This England team are by no means the most talented team on the earth, but they just showed the world why heart matters more than talent, sometimes.
Oh, and the ref also did a decent job on the whole (NZ).
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Almaty Kazakhstan here, useful fact for the day is that the Kazakhstan Womens XV is ranked 9th in the world so Borat watch your mouth. Immense effort lads and thanks for making us exiles so proud.
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"You can keep your flowing rugby, your silky back-line moves, your 10-try thrillers."
What a pile of rubbish.
For the neutral, this game was miserable and marked the death of attractive rugby as a viable tactic for winning test matches.
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Dear Michael (comment 62)
Perhaps if New Zealand (``consistently the number one ranked team in the world for 20 years'') ever made it to a final they would meet England there!!!
I don't see how NZ not winning the World Cup - for 20 years btw - is a problem with the format of the World Cup?!
World Cups are about the knock-out stages, that is what gives them drama. For two weekends in a row you have had matches of compelling drama as teams look over the edge of the cliff. One wrong step and they are going home. That is sport at its best and until you realise that you'll never fully enjoy a World Cup.
Don't choke on those sour grapes, will you?
For England, I'm astonished at your bravery.
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To all you (presumably antipodean) people out there telling us england has no world class players, which, please share with us, of the english players on the field last night or last saturday are not world class?
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Just got into work here in Dubai after a celabratory evening!!!
So far we've managed to quieten the Aussies, the Kiwies, the French now it's just those pesky Safas!!
Come on England!!!!!!!!!
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Like Agincourt 2007 version...
Watched the game with 2 friends in Bar /Brasserie Castelnau Hammersmith Bridge Road Barnes. The place was packed with French supporters and England supporters were outnumbered around 300:10. It's the'HQ' of London French RFU and also the local social hang-out for the French Consulate in London, and with a large French community in Barnes [French Lycee round corner] French residents.
Managed to get a good spot surrounded by c60 French supporters and stuck out a bit wearing an England Rugby Top..handshakes and 'bonne chance' given to London French RFU people..have to stay friendly with the natives!
Huge chorus of the French Anthem and 'Allez Les Blues' before stunned silence and disbelief after 78 seconds @England's try and 3 English fans hi-fiving.
Give it to the French no matter whether it was a positive moment or a set-back they cheered their team on and repeated cries of 'Allez Les Bleus' incessantly.
Half time and @6-5 down I felt we were the better playing team. Swopped texts with friend in Melbourne Australia watching game surrounded by Ozzies..
2nd half just seemed to fly-by, the tension enormous. I'd originally said we kind of need to score first in 2nd half so thankfully going 4 points down lasted only 4 minutes or so.
Then there was 25 minutes with only a 1pt deficit - unbelievable match! I got very tense around abouts the 65th minute - started getting the feeling we're not going to do it, we're pinned in our own half and just repelling French attacks..maybe something's going to give.
Who am I to doubt the England rugby team? 2 searing penetrations deep into French territory and like the daggers @ Agincourt used to finish off the French knights 2 professional slotted kicks by Jonny and we're 5 points up with 2 minutes to go. The French resolve in the bar had wiltered with the 1st kick but with the 2nd it was pouring out of the bar, almost stunned disbelief that the party had been pooped.
Then it was over, England fans jumping around, French singing 'Allez Les Bleus' , followed by the small band of English singing 'God save our Queen [team]'...then rapidly the 300 French became 200 then 80...
Handshakes exchanged, apologies from the polite English about 'sorry to spoil your party' and a tactical withdrawal for post match analysis over a curry.
French are sporting people, they won't rub it in if they win and if they lose they'll accept a handshake, so so different from the wingeing, spiteful, ungracious Ozzie in Wimbledon @ the end of the Australia match last week!
Vive La Victoire!
and Vive La France!
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does anyone else think argenspro is clutching at straws
BY THE WAY
THE WORLD CHAMPIONS (ENGLAND)
ARE BACK IN THE FINAL
and if the name is made appropriate - u must be doing naughty things in ure pants
YEAH we had no team - yeah we HADN'T won the games we should have won
BUT.......
what u ARGENTINIANS still have not learnt is
WE ARE ENGLISH.....PART OF GREAT BRITIAN
and we dont know when to stop.....when weare defeated.....
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!
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I am an Irishman who loves rugby.
This has without doubt been the most exciting Rugby World Cup in history and England have been the epitomy of bravery, determination, guts and modesty.
I am an Irishman and find the comments made by my fellow non-English men(the ones moaning about the England games being boring and the tournament being poor) quite nauseating and embarrasing, really sums up the chips on shoulders many have!
Fellas have you not moved on from you're mud huts. I and most people in modern day Britain and Ireland have moved on from the days of hatred for England. These people accept us for who we are, welcome us into every walk of their lives, hold no grudges for our years of murder, rape and pillage of their people and frankly support us all financially!
There team has been the model sports team- modest, honest, together, behaved impeccably, with humour at all times in a most admirable sportsman-like-way.
I for one am proud to have such a group of men representing us Northern Hemisphere and Britain.
All the very best from (most of) your celtic brothers!!
For God sake Ireland please sort yourselves out!!
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Well, for all of the anti-English comment I have had to endure from bitter Kiwis and an embarrassed New Zealand media (they all backed their horse to waltz it, then transferred allegiance to France) - I am absolutely, totally and utterly, speechless... merci, merci, merci England. It wasn't pretty, but then who cares? We won. God, those words are so sweet...and now to the final. Perhaps God is - as in indeed we have always thought - an Englishman.
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Chris with a sore head in Poland
There will always be an England !!!
Tout les grenouiles sont perdu
Watched on TV5 monde very strange how it suddenly cut to a nature program shortly after the final whistle
SWING Lo ~ Swing ever Higher
Well done the boys
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Great support here in the bar at San Francisco. The French supporters outnumbered us, but they were absolutely magnananous in defeat.
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Remembering 2003 in Manly, in Oz meeting our heroes the day after they won The Cup. Was definitely the best day of celebration so far in my lifetime! What is everyone going on about "pretty" Rugby. Lets face it it's not meant to be pretty. (And if so our boys have it all going for them in the looks department!) It's a battle and our boys are fighting fit... can't tell you how fantastic it is being a pommie here in Oz. Last week listening to their whinging.. haahaa Bring on next week. Love It!.btw this blogs brilliant
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If you're an England fan you're pleased, over-joyed, exstatic. If you're a France fan you're naturally sad, disappointed, gutted. If you're a neutral and unbiased (this leaves out most Welsh, Irish (Satanta huh?), Scottish, Aussie and New Z folks) and you wanted a flowing game; why were you watching this one? What did you expect? Teams play to win and to their strengths. I am English in the US. I was gutted by the loss to SA. Pleased by the comeback so far. Thought we'd lose to the Aussies big time 'cos they're awesome; still supported the boys. Thought we'd lose to the French, closely; 'cos it should be their time; still supported the boys. Think SA have a big edge in the final, will still support the boys. I'm a fan. Let's leave it at that.
Stop bitching, we're all fans, enjoy (or hate) the moment. Support your team. Praise those those who win. Congratulate the losers for their effort and passion (or bad luck/refereeing decisions). Whoever it is. We call that sportsmanship.
Bitchy comments just mean you're sad....appreciate the game, the sport, the effort these poeple put into this World Cup.
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Just to say to the Celtic nations-be proud,England`s captain is one of you!Kernow bys vykken!!
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"To all you (presumably antipodean) people out there telling us england has no world class players, which, please share with us, of the english players on the field last night or last saturday are not world class?"
By definition, if a team makes it to a world cup final, they are world class!! It is as simple as that!!! cmmmmmmmmon england!
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michael - comment 60
are you of antipodean ancestry by any chance?
moments like these are what sport is about. would anybody watch sport if we knew that the best team was always going to win? sport has that unpredictable element that makes it what it is.
if you want to spend your life watching predictable things then get a calendar, don't watch international rugby. maybe you are one of those people who get all disorientated if someone moves a piece of furniture in your house.
not many english people on here saying that it was boring, dull, predictable etc are there? - not surprising really, but there aren't any french saying it either, nor were there last night - and i live in france so i heard a fair few of them. its just the southern hemisphere teams who are already eliminated seem to be complaining - funny that isn't it?
any england fan will tell you that they didn't expect us to go this far and most if they are honest will admit that we are far from being the best side in the world right now - but they have got to the final by winning the games that matter - they can do no more than beat the team they are up against, whether that is tonga, france or the aussies. sure, we haven't played the all blacks - but thats only because the all blacks didn't manage to go far enough in the competition to meet england.
i can only guess michael that either you are a kiwi who can't get over losing to france or an aussie who still hasn't come to terms with the 79th minute of the 2003 final.
we promise to play more exciting free flowing rugby in the next world cup so that the all blacks can trounce us...
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Re Post No 60. Michael, are you from New Zealnd by any chance? Four more years mate.
By the way your compatriots here took it much better than you
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Some of the comments from our dear Southern friends explains why they are in danger of going many more years with capturing the Web Ellis trophy. Winning major games of Rugby is about playing to your strengths and holding your nerve. Englands passion, courage, power, skill, intelligence, never say die attitude and NERVE is second to none and our parochial Southern friends just cant see it! " 4 more years mate"
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Tom, your blogs continue to inspire envy and gratitude. Next time I want my own camper van, its clearly the way to do it. Keep an eye on Ben, he'll need a minder this week...
The noise generated in the pub last night is still ringing in my ears. It's my wedding anniversary today, I'm taking the Kenilworth Under 8's to play a match against Daventry.
Life can't get any better than this - until, maybe, next week?
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Say after me England...
"Thankyou Wayne Barnes"
Do we smell a rat?
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Well what can I say? Bring it on. I watched the coverage on the french channel TV5, the commentary was impartial and the team were appreciative of rugby seen at its best. I have already had messages from french colleagues congratulating England on a hard fought victory.
NZ, Aus and others please stop whinging about flair and entertainment. Ultimately the team with the most points wil win, Regardless of entertainment. As in all sports teams that adapt to the challenges of the opposition and make the correct tactical decisions win.
Come on England. One more win for sporting immortality.
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Not a pretty game for the neutrals, but by God did it have tension! Congrats to England for a performance of true grit and determination. And hats off to Jonny boy again....the way he calmly strode over to the left hand side of the ruck to take position for that last drop goal spoke volumes about the guy. Having said that.....this England team has'nt a hope next week against South Africa (I expect). The Boks are way too strong up front for them. I expect Burger and Smith will destroy the English back row and will give up very little turnover ball. Their back-line too is way too enterprising and has some zip that England has not faced yet. Good luck anyway.
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My congratulations, good luck for the final.
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To all the comments in this blog about "the end of rugby" just because several trys were not scored in Englands last too games.
Modern profesional rugby teams are incredibly well drilled in defence and it is just not that easy to run in a hat full of 5 pointers, apart from maybe NZ, and where are they?
I cannot understand how anyone can have watched the game last night and not been on the edge of the seat, admiring the commitment of both teams and the tension of a close fought contest.
Boring rugby...............! I think not
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Let's make a World Cup table, including the 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 (so far) World Cups. A team receives 4 points for winning the World Cup, 3 points for losing in the final, 2 points for losing in the semi-final and 1 point for losing in the quarter final. Up to and including England's victory over France, this is how it looks:
Australia 15, New Zealand 14, France 13, England 11 [will be on 14 or 15], South Africa 7 [will be on 9, 10 or 11], Scotland 7, Ireland 4, Wales 4, Western Samoa 2, Fiji 2, Canada 1, Argentina 1 [will be on 3, 4 or 5].
Come on England!
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That was not merely a game of rugby - that was about a nation stepping-up to the plate, rolling-up it's sleeves and collectively saying "over our dead bodies!".
I have never felt so proud of my nationality or my countrymen. I shed a few tears - and I enjoyed it. Well done England!!!
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" "You can keep your flowing rugby, your silky back-line moves, your 10-try thrillers."
What a pile of rubbish.
For the neutral, this game was miserable and marked the death of attractive rugby as a viable tactic for winning test matches."
Obviously you have no appreciation of finals or playoffs in any code of sport and what is required to win these high pressure games.
How many high scoring, free flowing knockout finals do you see? Very few. Its all about grit, determination and a will to win.
You like free flowing rugby? Go watch Auistralia play New Zealand and their major tournament winning styles.
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The English RU 'Secret' Strategy for Success: Kick and Hope
Plan A. Kick and hope for a lucky bounce into winger's arms and can stumble over the line for a lucky try. (Try for a chance to kick goal! - hurrah!)
Plan B. If lucky bounce doesn't happen, wait for an opposition mistake and get penalty. Give ball to Wilkinson to kick the goal. (hurrah!)
Plan C. If Plan B doesn't occur. Give ball to Wilkinson for field goal. (hurrah!)
Return to Plan A.
PS Don't forget to pump up TV commercial volume to wake up viewers at home who are in danger of being bored to death.
PPS Approach FIFA to see if we can merge the RU with soccer and avoid running with the ball at all.
PPPS. Examine laws of game to see if it is possible to cut the crotch out of shorts to free up leg action for longer kick. Question would the IRB give approval for England to play in skirts??
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As a fervent scot living in Oz I can only say what a performance and what a response to all the so called NH rugby fans who trash this result.This was magnificent rugby that kept every one on their toes to the end I just wish that the Scots had shown the same spirit against the Argies,and I am quite sure the Irish and the Welsh teams are saying the same.The comments here in Oz by the sporting press and commentators over the past two weeks,including those lamentable remarks by John O'Neil,really made this outstanding victory so much more satisfying and I will be cheering them on next weekend,and any six nation fans who do not support England,well they really want to question themselves and admit their attitude is pure sour grapes."Go England"
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I watched it on French TV – kudos for an unusually unpartisan commentary. When Robinson niftily stopped the ball going into touch before retrieving it, the French decided the ref had got it wrong for giving the line out. Same again, when Jonny lost us a penalty but turned out to be nowhere near the ball.
After the match you could see the respect they had for England. The French are renowned for their steely nerve and intelligence on the field. But England had watched the videos and sealed all the hatches.
These were two very powerful teams, very evenly matched. I can’t recall ever seeing France unable to break through a back line. Every chip was fielded by safe hands, every scissors move nipped in the bud. The French should have run it more but they were obviously rattled and afraid to lose the ball in a weak position. A fantastic try by England in the first two minutes of the game. What an opener! A simply heroic game – and great to watch to boot.
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Last nights game to me showed the game is all about the team preformance. Other R.F.U s have been very quick to sack management teams after a world cup exit but never the players. The English players and English team as coplete package have been run down by the world media for last 4 years but funny theis morning the so called "bias" world media is back on Englands side. Well done to all the players 1~30 you did us proud.
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I see a lot of comments complaining about the biased Setanta commentary, and one Neil Francis's name comes up. As an Irishman and Irish rugby supporter myself, I can testify that Neil Francis never has a good word to say about anybody - he'd slag his own grandmother off! He is an Olympic standard empty-head, and wasn't even that much of a decent player in his day, although he'll probably tell you he was God's gift to Irish rugby. He normally uses his newspaper column to go on about how bad the Ulster players in the Irish team are - that's the type of narrow-mindedness we are dealing with...
So I'm not surprised he came out with some guff about the ref being biased, and fumed on about England winning.
Please English supporters, take no notice of these idiotic commentators who try and be controversial for the sake of it...
By the way I watched the game in my hotel room in Rio De Janeiro on French TV5, and England throughly deserved the win, and it was gripping stuff, even for an Irishman....
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It's now 3am houston,texan time, I've been on the razzle since the game. One eye closed to write this, fingers like concrete blocks. agree with all the posts about Satanta in the US. The most one sided(almost racist) comments ever on a tv screen. No matter, we may have been lucky, we may not be the best at flowing rugby, no matter, WE ARE THERE!!!!! The tension was unbearable. The game was the modern equivalent I'm sure of the roman ampitheatre! God I'm shattered, to bed and dream of next week! Well done you buggers!
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Yes!!
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Nice comment 62.
Just about as bitter and twisted as any on her.
Love it!
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Small chance of success! Certain death! What are we waiting for?
David Campese, please eat my pants. "Go France" the Networks cried and Go they did. Going, going, GONE.
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England played to their strengths, which is the most sensible tactic that they could possibly employ. It was a determined team effort and credit should be given for them reaching the final against all expectations. I feel sorry for the French, as they have been the best Northern Hemisphere side since the last World Cup, much as New Zealand have been the best side in the world over the same period. But this is a cup tournament and England have somehow found the reserves to grind out victories. Of course, Wilkinson is the pivotal figure. It is impossible to imagine England reaching these stages without him. He is truly an England great and it has been England's misfortune that he has suffered so many injuries over the last four years. Perhaps England have had a bit of luck in the last two games of this World Cup, that has compensated for them missing such a great player in their line up during his peak years.
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In '91 we were fooled by the Aussies into thinking that we played "boring" one dimensional rugby and that we couldn't run or pass to save our lives. So we ran and they bored us into losing 12-6. It was kidology and it worked and no one in Aus gives a stuff that they won the World Cup without utilising the gifts of some of their marvellous players. They were ugly and they won. The world cup winners in 2003 were England. Fact. Get over it. So it's our Cup and we are not giving it up without a fight. Get used to it. Stop moaning and go away and work out how to play with the big boys. Anyone can look good with the super under 14's.
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i would like to be forgivern for my foolish thoughts.
"I BELIEVE"
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Let's be honest Bernard Laporte, possibly the worst manager ever. Why were Fraance going for drop goals from their own half or from first phase in our half.
Without doubt the least french performance i've ever witnessed.Why were they trying to out bore us at our own game!!!
Why did he bring Michalak on after 51 mins!!!!!! Nothing about the game so far suggested that you needed a flash of brilliance. All you needed was a solid 10, which Beaxis had been till that point, to control the game. Luckily we had Wilko and not some idiot trying to banana kick his way to glory.
As a firm England supporter i'm sad to see Laporte go, it's unbelievable how one man can make 15 of the best rugby players in the world look so average. Picture being back at school and having the 30 men who started the game lined up in front of you, how many englishman would you pick based on skill alone?
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Well done to England – a thoroughly deserved victory . . yet again. As a die hard Wallaby supporter that’s not an easy thing to say but this English team have clearly got the game plan down pat to win this world cup – I honestly don’t think the Pumas or Boks can stop them – especially as both those teams can be fiery and retaliate to niggle which the English should provide with 3 point Johnny there to take full advantage. I feel a bit for the French supporters – not making the final probably equates to a failed campaign for them and to get kicked out by a team that’s done nothing for 4 years really hurts (I know). I am interested though to see who English supporters would rather play – the Boks or the Pumas? I think we can write off the 36-0 result of the pool game against the Boks given Wilkinson wasn’t present. Also, the England scrum has really clicked the last few games and either opponent will struggle for the 80 mins. Finally, defending champs have a habit of fighting it out to the last kick – in 03 the Wallabies were much like this English team – given zero chance of making the final. I predict back to back world cup wins for the red rose unfortunately.
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I can only assume those who found last night boring are not rugby fans. I'm a Glos fan, and we and the Tigers and the other top sides love forward power. I understand the jealousy the SA and NZ populations have for England, and if I were from there I might be jealous too. If you only want to see running rugby with lots of tries, watch rugby league, and shut up the criticism of high-power gritty performances from two sides who sent you both packing a week ago, and who both deserve credit for giving a great performance of power rugby.
I love the way England play, and I love the Six Nations. I always watch the Tri Nations and the Super 14, and those competitions are not a patch on the Six Nations. Amazing that NZ and Aus think Bledisloe is what it's all about, just so that they can keep the Saffers out of the limelight. Notice the SA team have got on with business, and are in a semi-final. The other two "great" SH sides should look and learn.
I'd like to see SA and Arg join in an 8 Nations,and just leave NZ and Aus to play each other so they can feel stylish, and not get upset by the way the inventors of the game play it.
To the Celtic Nations, I always support you unless you're playing England.
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#90
If you're watching rugby for entertainment alone then perhaps you'd be better off watching the professional wrestling channel. That has plenty of pre-choreographed moves and you can predict who will win. If you understand rugby and the meaning of sport you will realise that last night's match was a great game. Both sides gave it everything, there was great forward play and the ball was spun out wide as both teams sought a breakthrough. Tries were not forthcoming because both defences were so utterly committed. That's what knock-out competition is all about and what makes it so enthralling. When you play in leagues and the statistics matter then the technically best sides will usually win through...especially if the marketing men have invented a series of synthetic no-contests to boost ticket and replica shirt sales (look no further than football's Champions League). Cup knock-out games are more about who has the guts and cajones on the day and that's what makes it great...and I wouldn't have minded if England lost last night because I knew they had given it everything!
Self-knowledge is not a strong characteristic among SH rugby fans. You let the marketing men adapt the game in the early 90s to get a better "product" that could be sold to the wider public. It looks nice and allows all the usual chippiness about how "its" (and therefore "we") sooo much better than the NH in general and England in particular, to shine through. But it's sheer hubris...you just end up believing in your own PR and go into a vitriolic frenzy when you get found out by a team that won't play to your strengths.
Just watch the wrestling!
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I love the way all neutrals are saying it was boring. I dont think one english or french fan would have thought it was a boring game! As for all the NZ and Australia fans watching...... maybe you should have a think about why your teams didnt make it through and why you are watching it as neutrals!? Maybe you should consider that sometimes attractive rugby isnt the solution and you sometimes have to grind out results with grit and determination rather than flashy backs moves and off loading in the tackle!!!
Well done england, a win is a win no matter how you achieve it!!!
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it seems the training with the Royal Marines payed off, hand to hand combat is never pretey, but the allation from victory,so worth every ounce of pain, well done Brian Ashton, well done England, its not often you meet a team of hard dogged players, you deserve to be where you are, keep up the good fight.
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good to watch. No! good to be English,yes. So what were not the best team in the world, were in the final, and only one other team will be there. winge all you want we are there! End of story! Be proud to be English!
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There is a lot of talk about England being "Old Men"....
Looking at the team out there last night I was wondering who might make a world cup 15 in 2011
15. Robinson - no
14. Sackey - yes
13. Tait - yes
12. Catt - you'd think not
11. Lewsey - maybe
10. Wilko - yep
9. Gommersal - no - Ellis should be fit!!
8. Easter - yes
7. Moody - yes
6. Corry - probably not
5. Kay - probably not
4. Shaw - I hope so
3. Sheridan - yep
2. Reagan - no but what about Chuter
1. Vickery no - bring on Stevens!
Flood and Hipkiss - yes, not sure about Worsley
So half the team could play in 2011 so perhaps not so old after all ?
What do you reckon ? Who are your tips for 2011 ?
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For all those of us who watched the match on Setanta and the appallingly biased comments thereafter here are some statistics for Neil Francis (one of the 'pundits'):
International career:
P36, W12, D1, L23
versus England:
P5, W1, D0, L4
Is it any wonder that he was so bile ridden when England won? Not the greatest ambassador for Irish rugby or Setanta. I would also hasten to suggest that Setanta might start to book less green-eyed 'experts' if they wish to retain/develop a large subscription base.
As for England? The team personifies everything that makes England a great country - determination, a never-say-die attitude and a belief that no matter what the circumstances they can come through on top. A very proud moment for me.
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Fantastic result !! Watched the match in an Irish pub in Copenhagen on Setanta Sports - totally out of order studio guests - their comments were outrageous.
www.setanta.com has a customer feedback form and also you can mail customerservices@setanta.com to complain about their broadcasting style
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Post 119: your bitterness tastes delicious. How sweet it is to have once again knocked out the hosts in their own back yard. Every anti-English comment on here has made me smile. Thanks to those who have been gracious enough to be congratulatory. I could barely watch the last five minutes, breathtaking tension.
I'm not sure I'm going to be able to survive next Saturday!
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I can't believe it! I'm offshore off Canada right now, so no channel was showing the game. I followed it online and I really can't believe it!
Remember how poor England have been over the last couple years, and people were saying that this World cup would be a no-show, but here we are in the FINAL again and against South Africa (probably) we will have a real chance to avenge that 36-0 defeat! Come on!
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England in World Cup Final - Awsome!
The French have put on an absolutely fantastic tournament and i have loved the whole thing.
Seeing England turn it on when it counts is just incredible and I haven't stopped shaking.
The only down side is the total tragedy of the NZ fans. You are hopeless (see comment 62). If you are seriously suggesting the rules change to suit your losing teams style of play you must be at the limits of desperation.
The rules are clear and we play to them. Apparently you guys like rugby......but only if it suits you. As soon as you lose you want to immediately make changes in the rules. Oh dear.
It hardly matters NZ have only played the Wrold champions once in 20 years. We dont need to knock you out as we have the French x2, SA, and fantastic Australia to do it for us.
NB Aussie fans just awsome too!
Well done England and well done to the French for this fantastic sporting event.
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To all the people complaining about how it wasn't a pretty / good / proper game of rugby...
The World Cup is a KNOCKOUT tournament. No-one, repeat, no-one will be playing free flowing, attractive, stylish rugby when there's so much at stake. This is why England do well in these situations - the boys can dig in and grind it out using whatever means necessary - nothing fancy, just do what needs to be done. The Southern Hemisphere expect every game to be a try fest and full of free running - this attitude is why they are, one-by-one, getting sent home.
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Unbelievable result! Should have had more faith in Brian Ashton, since we are Bath fans, but I didn't book for Marseille or Paris, after witnessing the lamentable display in Lens. But....
...I have two tickets for The Police in Cardiff this Friday. Are there any French, New Zealand or Aussie rugby fans out there (or anyone!) with Final tickets for Paris which they really don't want and would they like to swap?! It would be the best 50th birthday present for my husband. Allez les roses!
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Want to know what one of the great things about the magnificent English victory is?
Its hearing all the sourpuss Antipodeans whinge like there's no tomorrow.
Poor, poor losers.
Well played the lads.
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Well done England!
MY wife is a devout muslim and didn't come off the prayer mat untill johny had kicked that awsome penalty and then she couldn't stop dancing till morning. I cartwheeld half of my street. Simply unbeleivable . Sports and spirit at their very best. Just feels proud to be british. Still feel like dream though!
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Let's make a World Cup table, including the 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 (so far) World Cups. A team receives 4 points for winning the World Cup, 3 points for losing in the final, 2 points for losing in the semi-final and 1 point for losing in the quarter final. Up to and including England's victory over France, this is how it looks:
Australia 15
New Zealand 14
France 13
England 11 [will be on 14 or 15]
South Africa 7 [will be on 9, 10 or 11]
Scotland 7
Ireland 4
Wales 4
Western Samoa 2
Fiji 2
Canada 1
Argentina 1 [will be on 3, 4 or 5].
Come on England!
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people say that jonny isnt the only reason england won the wc or are in the final of this one but when you look at last night- it's hard to argue against that. if jonny had been injured do you really think england would have won- seeing as only one try was scored and even the conversion was missed. if jonny hadnt been playing against the aussies, they more than likely woulnt have won either because the lack of try scoring ability is worrying. it's very good that they are in the final again and well done to them but anyone who says it's not done to just jonny wilkinson is deluded.
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WELL DONE BIYS TALK ABOUT A SUPERB WIN LAST WIN AGAINST FRANCE AND WELL DONE TO MR ROBINSON FOR THE WAY HE WENT OUT ON PITCH LAST NIGHT CLAPPING TO THE FANS AND THANKING THEM FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THE ENGLAND LADS HAVE HAD THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP,THROUGHLY DESERVED WIN I THINK AND JUST GOES T PROVE AS SOON AS THE FANS PERK UP THE TUNE SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT THE BOYS KICK IN AND ALL COMES THROUGH JUST SHOWS WHAT THE SONG MEANS TO US BRITS. THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE ITV 1 COMMENTATORS LAST NIGHT THEY SHOULD BE SACKED THE WAY THEY WERE PUTTING ENGLAND DOWN HALF OF THE TIME UNTIL WE SCORED THAT WAS.THEY SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT ENGLAND HAVE ACHIEVED SO FAR FOR GOD SAKE THEY ARE MAKING OUR COUNTRY PROUD AND WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THE BOYS AND BE PROUD OF THE BOYS ACHIEVEMENTS ON THEIR WAY TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP WETHER WE WIN OR LOSE ISN'T HOW THAT IS A GAME SHOULD BE. WHATEVER THE OUTCOME AT THE FINAL AT LEAST WE CAN GO OUT THERE HEADS HELD HIGH,PLAY A GOOD GAME AND WETHER WE WIN OR LOSE ITS THE TAKING PART AND PROVING TO PEOPLE WE CAN GO ALL THE WAY THAT COUNTS.ENGLAND WE LOVE YOU,WE MISS YOU THINKING OF YOU ALL,GOOD LUCK AT THE FINAL AND CAN'T WAIT TO WELCOME YOU ALL HOME.
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Oh My God! Got back from Paris at 8.30 this morning. It's only just hit me, we're in the final. I can't believe it! I just burst into tears! The pressure, the drama. Words fail me.
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You wonderful, wonderful boys, well done! As for you , Tom and Ben, thanks for your continued excellent Blogging. I can't stop smiling. Now, let's see what happens today...
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Last week I was in Hong Kong, I managed to watch the England game and a repeat of the French game with the misses, who is French, screaming in my ear loosers.
Yesterday I watched the game in Baltimore with 50 other English fans and some French fans. The French were the ones singing until the penalty at the end. Then the bar errupted with song and the people in the street looked on in shock as singing in groups in bars is not the norm.
The pleasure was calling the misses with a sad voice she got all excited until she looked on the internet and I started 5 minutes of loosers until she put the phone down.
The truth is that no-one is a looser if they performed as best they could and at this level most people do.
Well done England, we are defending our title with pride and passion. Come on the final.
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Congratulations to both France and England.It could have gone either way and on the night the (slightly) better team won.
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Thanks Tom (comment 98) for saying: "This has without doubt been the most exciting Rugby World Cup in history and England have been the epitomy of bravery, determination, guts and modesty".
Your other comments about England brought a lump to my throat.
To the others who knock the England team for playing "boring rugby" and if you want to see real rugby watch the tri-nations. Excuse me, what does that tournament mean to those who are not from those countries? Er, perhaps the word you're looking for is "nothing".
The game last night (and the rest of the competition) had me on the edge of my seat. Flowing rugby it did not possess, but moments of genius in defence, guts and determination it possessed in abundance which I for one found compulsive.
I am also proud Tom that such a team is representing the Northern Hemisphere in a competition which means something to more than just a few.
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Well done to England - had some tears in my eye at the end there. You tenacious, fierce, belligerent, dogged, primeval warriors!
Fair play to the French being so magnanimous in defeat also - I remember going to a game in about 1983 with my Dad and unlike soccer we were interspersed in the French crowd. "Allez Philippe" still reverberates in my head whenever I watch the French!
Not one comment about biased refs or 'you was lucky' ... just gracious acceptance that it was a close match and either team could have take it but the winner is the winner. One thing always out-ranks talent and supposed 'world class' ... is passion and fire (as the All Blacks found out to their cost last weekend!)
Thanks also for all the Celts (Welshmen, Scotsmen and yep even the Irishmen) throwing in their support ... well most off them anyway. My girlfriend is Irish and traditionally supports any team but the English (e.g. she went to a Portuguese bar in Vauxhall for the footie World Cup and rubbed my nose in it for days as she and her Irish mafia mates cheered for the Portuguese) BUT even she was cheering for the 'lads' ... her only comment was it was great to see us cold unemotional Englishmen all fired up - screaming and bellowing like a bunch of cavemen in the South London pubs. She didn't realise we (the fans) had it in us ... and I guess most of us didn't believe the team had it in them. But I salute you English forwards, Andy Gomarsall, Jason Robinson and of course for extraordinary cool under fire - Jonny Wilkinson.
And for all of those detractors of the so-called "ugly game" played. I'm sorry but if free flowing rugby is all you care about put all your effort into either a) rugby 7s or b) Rugby League. I have to say we were watching the St Helens v Leeds match just before the semi-final and there were plenty of tries but I don;t think it made for a more watchable game. It's interesting that most of the negative comments seem to be 'whinging and whining' from the Antipodean teams ... and they call us whinging Pomms!
Have to say that most of my Kiwi mates have been pretty decent about it - sure we all know the pass was forward but to suggest Barnes deliberatively didn't call it is rubbish ... and I think the McCallister sending off was warranted on watching the replay.
So this is a segment of an email from my Kiwi mate (who considering I'd just won our standing 1000 dollar bet that the ABs would choke and England would do better than them was being very gracious in defeat!) If Kiwis (and Aussies) are looking for a scapegoat as to why their out then I suggest the swaggering Southern Hemisphere sports press are to blame:
His reply:
"Its not just our press, every corporate in the country has been ramming advertising at us to do with the all blacks. Its quite awful. They have been over branded and the whole concept has lost its lustre.
So, good luck england, I think its anyone's now. I think the SA team aren't as flash as they make out. They will struggle if too far behind. "
And that's from a Kiwi. So there you go fellas not all Antipodeans are the same and it just remains to be seen if England can really pull off being the first team to defend the trophy successfully. Who'd have thought THAT was even a remotest possibility 6 weeks ago!
Anyway Tom and Ben - great blog and some great, witty and not-too-biased writing. And to write an entry after yesterday was, like the England team effort - above and beyond the call of duty!
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more boring rugby from england, but fair play to them, they dug deep and won ugly!
but for the love of god, next world cup please keep it on the bbc, the ITV commentry and coverage has been an absolute joke.
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Comment 69: Oh dear Michael, are you forgeting a few things (yes, you are!)
1. 2003 England couldn't play the number one ranked team in the World as they were the number one.
2. To win a World Cup you need to win a minimum 3, preferably 4 qualifying games and 3 knockout games - something New Zealand are incapable of doing
3. To win, you need to play as a team, something which England are better at than any other team in the world - okay I reckon we may get found out by the South Aficans, but heh at least we are there to give it a crack.
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You know, I've just twigged as to how jammy you two gits actually are!! Last night was immense, and I wish I was there with you for next week's final!
Any chance of a spare ticket?! :P
xxx
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Maybe everyone complaining about the lack of fanciful passes and lots of running should bugger off and watch league and sevens instead of complaining about the purity of a game they clearly don't understand.
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Wow. I'm out in Sweden at the moment, so no watching for me, but I'm still ecstatic! I spent last night partying like I've never done before, and boy am I paying for it now. My hangover might even rival some that are happening in Paris right now.
Did you know that Ben Dirs has his own appreciation society?
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Absolutely brilliant. Just goes to show what the tabloid press know about this England team. South Africa was the turning point. The amount of suport in the stadium stunned the French and I think this is Englands 16th man. The French Like the Aussies the week before thought that they had won before they had kick a ball. Now for the final. Good luck England and I will be cheering you lot on from my local. If last night is anything to go by it will be heaving.
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Note to the author of comment 61:
Here's my 5-point plan for the ABs to triumph in their own backyard in 2011:
1) Do a haka in front of each of the other teams as they get off the plane.
2) Beat Japan by 375 points in the inaugral match.
3) Award yourselves 1000 bonus points and declare yourselves the winners.
4) Award yourselves a second trophy for outstanding achievement in the field of choreography.
5) Leave the other teams to fight it out for second place.
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Awesome.. what can you say about last night... not for the purists it has to be said but for pure tension, excitement and a game that showed that rugby is not all about running in tries...
What makes me laugh more than anything is reading some of the comments from the anti-england brigade, mainly coming from the Chokers from down under... and maybe a few welshmen ;)... well boys let ur talking be done on the pitch rather than stupid comments about how the game should be played.. it's all about winning ultimately at the end of the day and not choking when the cards are on the table... Sorry for mentioning the choke word again but has to be said!
Bring on next weekend.. can't wait!
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Am not too sure what happened with the setantan sports thing but i am sure i am not alone when i say the ITV commentary has been absolute rubbish! Stuart Barnes is an idiot! Will Greenwood is absolutely fantastic, he makes everything very clear to people who may not have a clue what rugby is all about! He really does talk a lot of sense! Please please please let the bbc have it next time.
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As an Irish Rugby fan, I can only look on with a mixture of admiration and frustration at the way the England have learned from their mistakes to create a team that can now be a serious contender for the World Cup. If we only learned the same lessons!
Riveting game to watch. (young Saki came of age with some great covering tackles. He is improving all the time)
Keep it going, it would be nice to beat the Rugby World Champs back at Croker again!!
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