The commentators, yes – for some of the games the half time comments didn’t seem to be about the half I had just seen. They knew what they believed, or wanted to believe, and were not going to let reality interfere. I read two different newspapers on Sunday , with reports on all of the games. I found myself asking if some of their expert reporters had ever touched a rugby ball. The English played well, the Welsh won. There were mistakes and brilliant play on both sides; one of those Welsh tries was so good that this Englishman was on his feet applauding. It may be something I get wrong, but although I wish we had won, I don’t really believe that losing a game as good as that to Wales was a national disaster or disgrace.

I got into trouble this morning. I wear black when I go to the gym. Today, without thought, I put on a shirt decorated on the left chest with a fern and the words “New Zealand”. Whoops!

Well! “Another 5 points would be wonderful, but I’ll take any win” and we did indeed get another 5 points! Sitting pretty at the top of our pool table and if anyone had said, a couple of weeks ago, that that would happen – I think I might well have laughed. It may not last so we might as well enjoy it. If only we could play two halves in the game next Saturday like the two second halves we’ve already played … (if that makes sense).

The AB’s next game will see a future star of world rugby arrive on the world scene, this guy could be equal or better than Lomu if he can stay fit and is looked after while he matures, His name is Waisake Naholo, a NZ born Fijian. He’s played 1 test match against the Argies plus he had an amazing Super Rugby season for Otago Highlanders, then he suffered a broken leg

Have a look at his highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6khjoV_oss

This guy is a 96kg (212lbs) human wreaking ball, and I’m picking the poor players from Georgia will be run over many times trying to stop this guy scoring tries.

Irrespective whom you might support watch and enjoy this guy play rugby, he’s going to be around for a long time

ten minutes to go and this is seriously underwhelming! I hate to think what the score would be if we were playing Australia or South Africa! Yikes guys, you need to pick up your game before the quarters… Dan’s haircut seems to have robbed him of his strength. Yay, Savea just got a third try – makes the score look better but not the play.

I have just watched Japan beat Samoa. For 40 years my contact sports were Rugby and Judo. This Japanese team treats Rugby like Judo – use your opponents strength against him.

For the record, as a Kiwi I support the All Blacks and anyone playing Australia, but at half time in Aus v Eng, England are going to have to step it up to make the quarters.

Damn, the Ozzies played well, or was it the Poms playing badly, whatever looks like Ozzie & Wales through to the Quarters in that half of the draw.

Join the club Coda, it’s not How but How Many points scored at this stage of the Comp.

I wonder how many cheap tickets there are available now for the Finals now our friends in White won’t be there??? Could be worth a quick trip over if ticket prices came down a bit

Couldn’t agree more with you Hans (not very often a Kiwi agrees with an Oz, but there you go 🙂

Your guys played as well or even better than their last game in Sydney when they rolled the AB’s. Hope they haven’t peaked too early mate…

Hansen’s boys are on a slow steady build up, 14 points from 3 games including 2 BP’s, the same as Ireland and France so we are all on track

Anyway looks like a very interesting final week of Pools, a couple of big games coming up, the Ireland v France one the most interesting for the AB’s, will determine whom we play at Cardiff in the first QF, talk about deja vu if Ireland beats France…..

And don’t forget the Yarpies, they have bounced back after their first shocker against Japan, but the loss of de Villiers is a hard one for them to fill.

I live in a household with an English born wife, albeit she was very young when she left and I’m reminded often enough when it suits, however at times like this she’s a Kiwi…..

If I may add a 5:2 comment to this thread, not only have I seen England knocked out, I have put on 5 pounds doing it. Too much television with a drink in hand.

The comments from you guys I expect and can live with – the last time I was at Twickenham we had a lot of fun with the Aussie supporters. It is the “I told you so” and “the management must go” from the English media that is a pain. We got rid of the management too quickly the last time we failed to be world champions.

I live about 5 miles from Wales, spend a lot of time there and very recently have considered buying a red shirt. Unfortunately I can’t sing.

Action Hero, for your fellow feeling I thank you. But Tetley? Graffiti seen in a local pub, “Don’t take the piss out of Tetley. It needs all the flavour it can get”

FITZY: Regarding Irelands last game, don’t worry. I play golf and there is a saying on the golf course “You don’t draw pictures on a score card how you played the hole, you just write down the score, that’s all that matters” A win is a win, take it and move on, I’m sure Hubby would agree if he could as well. Tell him every Kiwi here in NZ feels sooooo sorry for England and we offer him our fondest thoughts during these times of sadness (tongue in cheek emote) 🙂

PENGUIN: OK, my knowledge of Pommie beers is limited, sorry for offending 🙂 Love your graffiti quote…. we have beers like that here in NZ too

EXPAT Now you are talking, I was born in Dunedin, the home of Speights Brewery. Remember this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lR1sEn8nMI

When we visited NZ in 2011 we watched Ireland v Italy in Dunedin and took the Speights tour whilst there. It was great in the tasting room at the end! We also had a tour of Cadburys!

ELFSTONE: Don’t let the Ozzies intimidate you, they couldn’t score a try against Wales which must be worrying them after that match, it’s all about on the day and everyone’s beatable

Ha ha lol!

ELFSTONE: I meant to comment earlier, Scotland is very lucky having John Hardie playing for you guys, he plays for the NZ Team I support, the Otago Highlanders who won the Super 15 Rugby comp this year. He’s a Southland boy, born in Lumsden, you can’t get better rugby stock than that. Seemingly his Grannie came from Scotland so that’s his qualification for the Blue jersey. He’s a quality No 7 and would compete well with Ritchie McCaw here in NZ.

Good luck against Ozzie, if the Scots can put them under some early pressure Ozzie have been known to collapse and fall apart in the forwards then if Scotland’s backs can capitalise it will be all on.

EXPAT: “hate” is a word I wouldn’t call it, “friendly, intense, competition” is more like it, you guys are big in everything you participate in and little NZ can only punch above our weight in certain areas like Rugby and League, so we try hard and normally win our share.

Like all Kiwis we mostly support all NZ teams and anyone else who plays Ozzie, just because we do, a bit like the Scots against the Poms, it’s all about History and it comes down to “tradition” without anything else too vindictive.

I have been to a couple of Bledisloe Cup games in Ozzie and like you, if I wear a Silver Ferm amongst the croud I’m given enough grief to make it exciting. I also play a lot of golf in Ozzie and some of my best friends are Ozzie Golfers, but we still hassle each other about our two teams.

Anyway, go the Highlanders, I spent many a great Christmas and New Year in Wanaka as a teenager, know the place very well, have attended many great and memorable New Years parties at Glendu Bay and Wanaka, so well done you for still enjoying that part of Otago.

We will swap further notes in a couple of weeks time after the Semis and Finals and I’m sure one of us will have the bragging rites 🙂

A Pom walks into a bar.

In the usual story there is normally a Welsh man, an Irish man, and a Scotsman in the same bar, except this time they are still at the world cup…. 🙂