Coming hot on the heels of slshusker's post about game 1, the other semi between South Africa and Argentina is done and we now know who will be playing for the Cup next weekend.
Now, being at work today (20 hours ahead of West Coast time and all) I wasn't able to watch the game between those two but I did catch the England/France one. The commentators I had to endure were worse than the ones they use in NASCAR right now, something I didn't think was possible but they managed it, as hearing Grant Fox (former NZ flyhalf) and company bleat on about how dull the game was and how that NZ would have provided much more entertainment was a real letdown (they're still bitter that France won last week...I say get over it already, sheesh *rolls eyes*).
In the end, I muted the TV and watched the game in silence and must say it was a cracker. Both teams gave it their all and in the end, the difference was the bounce of the rugby ball as England poached the only try of the game inside 5 minutes when the ball sat up and the French flyer couldn't do anything but watch as the ball sat up and a white and red blur leapt above him to plant the pill across the line.
So England became the first team through (14-9) and will play for their second straight WC win...something that has not been done in any RWC before. Their opponents will be South Africa who, after their provincial performances in the Super 14 earlier this year were one of the hot picks to win this thing.
Not much to go on from the game so I'll just make it up...
Argentina put up an amazing run this tournament, beating France in the opening game to set up a legitimate tilt at the title but, at the end, it was the flair from South Africa that won through (37-13 by full-time). Both teams belted each other with thier monster forward pack but the Springboks had more firepower out wide and utilised that advantage to set up a classic North v South final.
Who will win? South Africa will be favourites after winning the group game...but this is the big one.
One thing's for sure; regardless of who wins, both teams have done their countries proud.
I watched the second half of the England/France game - a true showing that sport can make you run the whole gamut of emotions in 40 minutes.
This tournament really has been all about the underdog - many of the Southern Island nations putting in good performances, many taking out or running the sports big names close. Then England take out the whining Aussies and the French the apparently whining Kiwis.
Roll on the final. Hopefully it won't be as one-sided as when SA beat us 36-0 in the group games.
G`day Tez.
I can`t believe we`ve made it to the final ,we had no chance coming in ,have been outplayed by better teams ,looked like #### early on ,but in the end we did what we had to do to move on ,"Just win baby"!
I am now a believer...it`s our destiny!
Tez is a rare creature; an Australian who was living in New Zealand before moving to Canada. He's also a Civil Engineer who is hoping to spend his Monday to Friday sitting in front of a computer surfing the inter...uh, working hard for an Engineering Consultant or Contractor when he finds a job. His heart is torn between his two loves; F1 and NASCAR.
Due to his high interest in those, his blogs will likely focus on them with the occasional foray into sports that don't get much (if any) mention on this website. All blogs and/or comments will more than likely have his usual dollop of sarcasm and general Aussie spin on them.
Amazingly, he also managed to score 2 MiB nominations on consecutive days (August 5 & 6, 2007) after announcing he had been keeping track of them...he's considering hiding under his bed as a result.
