SiMPLE | Forum

Yeah it could be a surface issue.

Just out of curiosity, how many people use a mousemat/pad?
I haven't used one in years and I like the freedom of the entire table.

I'm hoping it'll be exciting, but not too exciting!  I really, REALLY want New Zealand to get a comfortable lead pretty early on and maintain it.  I really, REALLY don't want another French upset!

However, I rewatched all of the four All Black's matches from the pool stage and although they weren't 100% on form, they played a lot better than I remember them playing when I first watched the games.  I haven't seen a lot of France's games though - just the last one against Ireland.

As a Kiwi I'm quietly confident the All Blacks will win, but no New Zealander will disrespect the French in a World Cup knockout game until after the final whistle has blown and the score is in our favour.  We all know our history, we've met four times in World Cup finals.  France won a quarter final in 2007 and a semifinal in 1999.  New Zealand won two grand finals in 1987 and 2011.

I think it's New Zealand's time to bury the ghosts of the past and win a World Cup quarter final against France.

May the best team win.

Go the ABs!

Ireland was good but they suffered greatly with players injured and banned.

I'm hoping New Zealand keeps a calm head this weekend and history doesn't repeat itself!

England, Australia, and New Zealand have a shared history and are culturally tied in many ways.   It looks like caring for the dying is a strong part of our shared culture too.  I'd agree that there is good palliative care in NZ.

Nameless.

A few big games this weekend. 

NZ vs Georgia, expect some big hits from the Georgians.
Japan vs Samoa, Japan MUST win AND get a bonus point to continue to the quarter finals.
South Africa vs Scotland, this will be epic!
England vs Australia, and this one will be Titanic!

Thanks Flick and Monkey, that's made my day

An after thought:

You probably don't know who Richie McCaw is.  He is an All Black: a member of the New Zealand rugby team.  He is famous in the rugby world for two reasons. Firstly, because he is arguably the best rugby player who has ever lived.  Secondly, he is famous for being a master in the art of gamesmanship.  Gamesmanship is the art of taking the rules to the limit of where it would be considered cheating but not going further.  For this reason you may find yourself surviving where others would be kicked.  Then again it could simply be that we appreciate the cult of Archer and respect that you are doing the cult fair justice.  Who knows.  Either way, I assume your next post will be in the ban appeal thread.

The South Africa vs Samoa game finished at 03:00am and I went to bed straight after then got up at 04:30am to watch the England vs Wales game; and I'm glad I did!  It was a great game, wasn't it?  I'd say it was the most exciting game after the SA vs Japan game last weekend.   I'd been listening to a lot of rugby podcasts during the week and they were all mixed as to who would win.  I was supporting Wales but secretly wanting a draw because that would open pool A right up!  The Australia vs Uruguay game is on now. It's 31 - 3 and I don't think Uruguay is going to have a second half comeback.  Perhaps it will be 60-10 by the end?

Such a great World Cup!

Yeah Scotland came back strong in the second half.  Japan looked exhausted and everything fell apart in the last 20-30 minutes.  Still I enjoyed the first half and the Japanese try was a good one.

I feel like I may have kicked/warned him before.  The name's familiar but I'm not sure.  All in all it sounds like some TKing dipshit causing trouble.  He could be drinking, or perhaps he's just having a bad day.  Maybe he's a South African fan taking out his frustration where he can..., if I see him I'll keep an eye on 'em.

Not quite Monkey.  He should be smoking a cigarette too.

You keep bananas in your fridge?

And where's the beer?!

I still kept the faith but I was a little nervous at times.  Actually the All Blacks often step it up a level when someone gets yellow carded, so when Richie McCaw went off I wasn't too worried.  It was quite a good match.  We started strongly but once Argentina took the momentum they kept it for a long time.  I knew it was going to be a tough match but I was confident we'd win by about ten points.  Although both teams had great moments, both also made bad mistakes and there were disciple issues for both sides too.  I have a lot of respect for Argentina.