Kevin's Watch

Unfortunately our World Cup ended today as Argentina beat us fairly comprehensively in our quarter-final today. I always knew that this game would be a real test (Argentina have beaten us twice before in previous World Cups) and it turned out that without our strongest team we weren't really able to compete with them. It's very disappointing for us as this is the best team we have ever had in a World Cup and we had our hearts set on making the semi-finals for the first time.

However, disappointing and all as it was for Ireland it was heartbreaking for Scotland who lost to a last minute Australian penalty. Australia were very poor and Scotland put in the performance of their lives and still came up short. I feel for the Scots, but it's better for the competition as a whole because, for me, Australia are one of the two best teams in it and if they aren't in the final then the All-Blacks will win it easily.

The All-Blacks have SA in the semi-final, but I expect them to win that game comfortably as SA haven't looked real contenders at any stage so far. My hope is that the physicality of the SA game will soften NZ up and so make the final a really close dramatic affair.

u.

Well, Australia have their shit performance out of the way hopefully, and can now concentrate on good performances! Scots were unlucky in the end.

NZ look unbeatable but hopefully SA will give them a good run for their money.

Well, that was a tight game with Wales. Only watched the second half, but the Welsh defence was rock solid and our kicking was lousy. Just squeaked through in something was pretty much the opposite of a running game.

Here's hoping for an upset against NZ.

--A

Ouch...out by the narrowest of margins. And Argentina too. Aus - NZ final.

--A

SA went close alright but weren't creative enough when NZ were down to 14 men. The All-Blacks won that period 3-0 and essentially that is where the game was won and lost.

Oz did the job on the Pumas and boy was there some amount of blood spilled! The Argentinians never really looked like scoring a try and Australia ran in three relatively easy ones.

The two best teams are in the final. I'll be shouting for the Aussies as they have been the team I've most enjoyed watching throughout the tournament. If McCaw is cited and misses the Final the Aussies will have a real chance.

u.

Yeah, our defence was solid, but we couldn't get it together on the attack.

--A

And the All Blacks took it, surprise surprise.

--A

They deserved it, as much as it pains me to say

The Aussies put up a good show but made waaaay too many mistakes. The All-Blacks were in control for most of the game and closed it out well. I was a bit disappointed with the Final as it was fairly predictable and not really that exciting unless you were a Kiwi.

In hindsight it was SA who had the best approach to possibly defeating the Kiwis. They seriously disrupted them in the first half of their semi-final and with a bit more creativity could have won.

u.

Sadly, our rugby team is renowned more for brute force than creativity.

--A

Up to a point, Av, but no one was going to beat NZ this time by trying to be more creative than them. Power was the thing that came closest to unsettling them, and if SA had held onto the ball more when they were a player up they would have had a real chance of beating the Kiwis.

u.

Yeah, I nearly thought we had it for a while there.

--A