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Bleater's Blog
  1. Ready for the Six Nations??
  2. It Is 2025
  3. It’s Nearly The New Year
  4. The Autumn Internationals are Here!
  5. Season 24/25 is HERE!
  6. The Summer Break - Finally
  7. Summer and The Tours
  8. Cups and Playoffs
  9. The Season Run In
  10. It’s Six Nations Time!
  11. 2024 Has Arrived
  12. It’s Nearly Here…… January
  13. Countdown to Chri….. January!
  14. RWC 2023 - The Final Approaches
  15. The Summer Break
  16. Rugby World Cup 2023 Plus
  17. The Rugby World Cup Approaches
  18. The Final Countdown
  19. The Summer Tours Up Next
  20. Rugby Continues Thankfully
  21. The Six Nations - Happy Days
  22. 2023 Has Arrived
  23. The Halfway Point of the Season
  24. The Season Continues into Autumn
  25. Here we go! A new season
  26. The Twilight Zone
  27. The Season is Nearly Over
  28. The Six Nations and Some
  29. The 6 Nations Begins
  30. 2022 and All THAT!
  31. Christmas is nearly upon us!!
  32. We’re Still Waiting
  33. The Season Progresses
  34. At Last - We are back
  35. The New Season is Nearly Here
  36. Lions Tests are Here!
  37. The Lions Up next
  38. Now It’s Europe
  39. 6 Nations Beckons
  40. 2021 at last! A year of renewed hope!
  41. A New Premiership Season
  42. Still NO Grassroots Rugby!!!!!
  43. It Continues - NO GRASSROOTS RUGBY!!
  44. No End In Sight To The Madness
  45. Autumn Internationals BUT Still NO Crowds
  46. We're Back - In Part At Least
  47. The Restart is Still a Long Way Away
  48. When will we play again?
  49. Time for a beer and a haircut!!
  50. It's easing apparently???!!!
  51. Behind Closed Doors or ...... ??
  52. Lockdown or not to lockdown
  53. The Debate Continues
  54. Yet another new page
  55. The Nightmare Continues - the blog
  56. The Season Grinds to a Halt
  57. The Season Moves On
  58. It's Official - The Drought is Over
  59. 6 Nations Starts
  60. Another New Page - Sorry
  61. 6 Nations Beckons
  62. Welcome To A New Decade
  63. It'll soon be over. Xmas that is
  64. Xmas is Coming
  65. Back to the Grassroots Game
  66. Bleater in Japan
  67. The Grassroots Season Starts
  68. Not Long Now!
  69. Japan Still Beckons
  70. Japan Beckons
  71. Nearly Time To Look Ahead
  72. The Summer Break is Here
  73. The Final Countdown
  74. Yet another section of drivel
  75. The Season Continues for a Little Longer
  76. The 6 Nations Continues
  77. Six Nations and More
  78. It's RWC Year!!
  79. Its Definitely Winter
  80. Winter is here. Brrrr!!!
  81. Its the Autumn, soon to be Winter
  82. We Are Off And Running
  83. The New Season Approaches
  84. Still the Summer Tours Go On
  85. The Summer Internationals Plus, Plus
  86. The Season Climax Approaches
  87. Summer is Coming
  88. Another Section, More Drivel
  89. 2018 Already!!!! It'll soon be Xmas
  90. The Season Approaches the Half Way Point
  91. The Season Takes Shape
  92. The Season Starts
  93. More Pre-Season Build Up
  94. Pre-Season and Other Stuff
  95. The Lions Tested
  96. The Lions Roar
  97. We Are Still Counting Down
  98. It's All About The Lions
  99. The Countdown to Season's End
  100. The Season Continues Apace
  101. It's Time for the 6 Nations
  102. 2017 - Let The Fun Begin
  103. The Big Man Will Be Here Soon
  104. Let's Countdown to You Know What
  105. It's Time For Europe
  106. The Season Is Well Underway
  107. At Last Let The Competition Begin
  108. Not Long to the New Season
  109. Not So Much Rugby Now
  110. Still Plenty of Rugby to Debate
  111. The Summer Break
  112. Here Comes Summer
  113. They Think It's All Over
  114. Jones - A New Era
  115. It Was A Grand Slam!!!!
  116. 6 Nations - A Grand Slam??
  117. Six Nations 2016
  118. A New Captain, A New Start
  119. Welcome to 2016
  120. The Countdown to Christmas
  121. Winter Has Arrived
  122. November Movember
  123. The World Cup Is Over
  124. Rugby World Cup Quarters
  125. Rugby World Cup into the knockout stages
  126. Rugby World Cup Day 9 to Day 24
  127. Rugby World Cup Day 1 to Day 8
  128. Sept 9th to Sept 17th
  129. August 24th to September 7th
  130. August 11th to August 23rd
  131. July 16th to August 9th
  132. July 1st to July 15th
  133. June 17th to June 29th
  134. June 2nd to June 16th
  135. May 19th to June 1st
  136. May 7th to May 17th
  137. April 28th to May 6th
  138. April 22nd to April 27th
  139. April 13th to April 21st
  140. March 13th to Aprill 11th
  141. March 5th to March 12th
Bleater's Blog
  1. Ready for the Six Nations??
  2. It Is 2025
  3. It’s Nearly The New Year
  4. The Autumn Internationals are Here!
  5. Season 24/25 is HERE!
  6. The Summer Break - Finally
  7. Summer and The Tours
  8. Cups and Playoffs
  9. The Season Run In
  10. It’s Six Nations Time!
  11. 2024 Has Arrived
  12. It’s Nearly Here…… January
  13. Countdown to Chri….. January!
  14. RWC 2023 - The Final Approaches
  15. The Summer Break
  16. Rugby World Cup 2023 Plus
  17. The Rugby World Cup Approaches
  18. The Final Countdown
  19. The Summer Tours Up Next
  20. Rugby Continues Thankfully
  21. The Six Nations - Happy Days
  22. 2023 Has Arrived
  23. The Halfway Point of the Season
  24. The Season Continues into Autumn
  25. Here we go! A new season
  26. The Twilight Zone
  27. The Season is Nearly Over
  28. The Six Nations and Some
  29. The 6 Nations Begins
  30. 2022 and All THAT!
  31. Christmas is nearly upon us!!
  32. We’re Still Waiting
  33. The Season Progresses
  34. At Last - We are back
  35. The New Season is Nearly Here
  36. Lions Tests are Here!
  37. The Lions Up next
  38. Now It’s Europe
  39. 6 Nations Beckons
  40. 2021 at last! A year of renewed hope!
  41. A New Premiership Season
  42. Still NO Grassroots Rugby!!!!!
  43. It Continues - NO GRASSROOTS RUGBY!!
  44. No End In Sight To The Madness
  45. Autumn Internationals BUT Still NO Crowds
  46. We're Back - In Part At Least
  47. The Restart is Still a Long Way Away
  48. When will we play again?
  49. Time for a beer and a haircut!!
  50. It's easing apparently???!!!
  51. Behind Closed Doors or ...... ??
  52. Lockdown or not to lockdown
  53. The Debate Continues
  54. Yet another new page
  55. The Nightmare Continues - the blog
  56. The Season Grinds to a Halt
  57. The Season Moves On
  58. It's Official - The Drought is Over
  59. 6 Nations Starts
  60. Another New Page - Sorry
  61. 6 Nations Beckons
  62. Welcome To A New Decade
  63. It'll soon be over. Xmas that is
  64. Xmas is Coming
  65. Back to the Grassroots Game
  66. Bleater in Japan
  67. The Grassroots Season Starts
  68. Not Long Now!
  69. Japan Still Beckons
  70. Japan Beckons
  71. Nearly Time To Look Ahead
  72. The Summer Break is Here
  73. The Final Countdown
  74. Yet another section of drivel
  75. The Season Continues for a Little Longer
  76. The 6 Nations Continues
  77. Six Nations and More
  78. It's RWC Year!!
  79. Its Definitely Winter
  80. Winter is here. Brrrr!!!
  81. Its the Autumn, soon to be Winter
  82. We Are Off And Running
  83. The New Season Approaches
  84. Still the Summer Tours Go On
  85. The Summer Internationals Plus, Plus
  86. The Season Climax Approaches
  87. Summer is Coming
  88. Another Section, More Drivel
  89. 2018 Already!!!! It'll soon be Xmas
  90. The Season Approaches the Half Way Point
  91. The Season Takes Shape
  92. The Season Starts
  93. More Pre-Season Build Up
  94. Pre-Season and Other Stuff
  95. The Lions Tested
  96. The Lions Roar
  97. We Are Still Counting Down
  98. It's All About The Lions
  99. The Countdown to Season's End
  100. The Season Continues Apace
  101. It's Time for the 6 Nations
  102. 2017 - Let The Fun Begin
  103. The Big Man Will Be Here Soon
  104. Let's Countdown to You Know What
  105. It's Time For Europe
  106. The Season Is Well Underway
  107. At Last Let The Competition Begin
  108. Not Long to the New Season
  109. Not So Much Rugby Now
  110. Still Plenty of Rugby to Debate
  111. The Summer Break
  112. Here Comes Summer
  113. They Think It's All Over
  114. Jones - A New Era
  115. It Was A Grand Slam!!!!
  116. 6 Nations - A Grand Slam??
  117. Six Nations 2016
  118. A New Captain, A New Start
  119. Welcome to 2016
  120. The Countdown to Christmas
  121. Winter Has Arrived
  122. November Movember
  123. The World Cup Is Over
  124. Rugby World Cup Quarters
  125. Rugby World Cup into the knockout stages
  126. Rugby World Cup Day 9 to Day 24
  127. Rugby World Cup Day 1 to Day 8
  128. Sept 9th to Sept 17th
  129. August 24th to September 7th
  130. August 11th to August 23rd
  131. July 16th to August 9th
  132. July 1st to July 15th
  133. June 17th to June 29th
  134. June 2nd to June 16th
  135. May 19th to June 1st
  136. May 7th to May 17th
  137. April 28th to May 6th
  138. April 22nd to April 27th
  139. April 13th to April 21st
  140. March 13th to Aprill 11th
  141. March 5th to March 12th
Bleater's Blog 124 of 141

124. Rugby World Cup Quarters


Monday 19th Oct - 09:30

Let me start by congratulating my nephew Daniel on his marriage to Clare on Saturday and wish them well for the future. A great long weekend with family: lots and lots of laughs.

One down side was the wedding breakfast starting at 4pm exactly as Wales v South Africa kicked off.

So here we are Southern Hemisphere FOUR Northern Hemisphere NIL but what a weekend of international rugby.

In chronological order Wales finally ran out of steam against the Boks. The boys in red can walk away with their heads high and proud of their achievements and even prouder that not one of them has blamed the long list of injuries for their losses. With just three minutes gone Wales highlighted the difference between North and South. If Gethin Jenkins and Tyler Morgan were wearing the black of New Zealand that pass on the 3 minute mark would have gone to hand and Morgan would have scored in the corner. If, buts and maybes......... a score then could have changed the game.

Let us not make excuses the Boks were the better side and on balance deserved to win. The tackle count and penalties conceded by Wales stand testimony to this view. Cuthbert has taken some flak for charging in and freeing up the space for Fourie du Preez to score in the corner. Nonsense. Damned if you, damned if you don't. If he had been a fraction quicker he could have bottled up Duane Vermeulen and been a hero.

Wales, take a bow. You gave it all and whilst you won't say it I will; the injury list hurt us and hurt us hard.

There is not much more that can be said about New Zealand vs France that hasn't already be said; remarkable, incredible, ruthless. The complete performance, although Hansen and co say there is still much to work on. The abject French display had nothing to do with coaching, selection or commitment. It has everything to do with French club rugby and the enormous bags of cash the French clubs have to entice ageing FOREIGN stars to fill their teams at the expense of young French talent. Let me throw some names out there; Giteau, Charteris, Lobbe, Mitchell, Gray, and soon Matfield, Carter, O'Connell. Need I say more. French rugby is no longer concerned about international rugby.

Moving on to Sunday. Argentina did to Ireland what Wales failed to do to South Africa and that is score a try early. The Pumas speed of thought and action took the Irish by surprise. Throughout the side the passing was precise and it didn't matter whether you were labelled a back or forward the support play excellent. The second try really put Ireland on the back foot and from then on the men in green were always playing catch up. Strangely the injury to Tommy Bowe was another psychological blow to the Irish. 'Oh wow is me, no Sexton, no O'Mahoney, no O,Brien, no O'Connell and now no Bowe'. The hoards of travelling fans kept up the noise and the Irish rode this to fight back with two good tries. Sadly it wasn't to be as Argentina took the Irish apart in the last quarter and secured a well deserved semi final spot.

So to 4pm Sunday. Scotland with no chance of victory, Australia with an excellent chance of going all the way and one of the best referees in the world the stage was set for an Australian masterclass. Oh how wrong we all were. Scotland were magnificent playing an expansive game and taking the battle to the gold and green. To a man the men from north of Hadrian's Wall (and of course the high veld, the South Island and Zimbabwe) stood and were counted. Laidlaw was the ring master and Finn Russell purred at outside half. The Gray boys and Denton were like wildebeests on heat. Tremendous stuff.

Let us take a step back and say that Foley at #10 for Australia was off colour and his kicking was poor. The scrum was shaky as opposed to the dominant force was saw against Wales and England. Australia also scored three tries against Scotland's two.

Fast forward to the closing minutes and one of the 'best' referees in the world; Craig Joubert. Up until THAT moment I thought he had had a good game and then calamity. He got it horribly wrong so now all the vitriol is being targeted at him. The Ozzies touched the ball so it was not a penalty. Referees make mistakes BUT throughout this tournament there has been one feature that has given rise to comment: the TMO. It is no excuse that he couldn't have gone upstairs for a second opinion. We have TMOs chirping in referees ears about all matters, including the occasional well done for a decision. It is ridiculous that this was missed. Scotland were robbed. (For the record I give him the benefit of the doubt with regard to the deliberate knock on)

This wasn't the worst of it. The fact Joubert legged it like a petty thief caught shoplifting at Poundstretchers. A coward and an embarrassment. I hope his World Cup is well and truly over....... not for the mistake but for insulting the great work referees do throughout our game.

Ok a couple of comments to ponder. During the tournament there were many references to players from around the world joining English clubs once RWC 2015 is over. The RFU and English rugby need to be aware that they are drifting very rapidly towards the situation France find themselves in.

Of the 6 Nations here is the order in which I think they have 'finished': 1. Wales, 2. Scotland, 3. Ireland, 4. England, 5. Italy, 6. France. Wales have snuck it on the basis they had the tougher group and they were not able to rest any of their players in big games unlike Scotland who sacrificed the South Africa group game. England are lucky to make spot #4 because Italy and France were pretty awful.

What a weekend.