Still, I think the Aussie vs NZ game was one of the most exciting to watch in the whole series. What a game.

I don't know about the calls, I think there were more loose calls for both sides. There were numerous times where I think players were entering from the side of the ruck and I think he only penalized them 2 times, one for each side.

New Zealand 8 France 7.


Ooooh that was close.


The French were really good, expansive attack, ferocious defense, nearly took the game. The All Blacks were tenacious but - like Australia last week - were too keen to kick the ball away and missed a lot of kicks at goal. The AB try was very nice, although the French failed to defend their line-out properly.

What impressed me most about this tournament was the sportsmanship. There was no dirty violence like eye gouging or biting or even high tackles, no open fights, only a tiny bit of pushing and shoving outside the actual game. There was virtually no diving - I saw one French guy fall theatrically last week, but the ref had none of it - and the only hint of time-wasting tonight - French guy being slow to get to a line-out - was immediately penalised.

Go you All Blacks, eh?!

Great Job to the All Blacks, great game.

So the French got fined $10000 for walking up on the Kiwi's when they were doing the Haka.

Fucking rude to fine them if you ask me. Why do the NZ's get to do their special little dance while everyone watches and if someone doesn't do what they expect, they get fined? Hello, the Haka is a war dance. The idea of war is to take people by surprise.

I guess the French won that round huh?

I did not hear about that? How stupid. I think they should be allowed to do their own little intimidation movement, and if it entails walking enmass up to the Haka why not? As long as neither team passes the 50m line I see no problem in what the French did. Stupid IRB.

Well they did step over it, but not by much.

I dunno, I just think it's unreasonable under the circumstances.

Agreed....

Check this out:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/destina...s+christchurch

As I saw it, the French went about 5 metres over the half way. Definitely breaking a rule there.

I remember another team, I think Wales, doing the same years ago, and also getting in trouble.

It does give the All Blacks a minor psychological edge, getting the last say in the pre-game build up. It is very smart coaching to have some way to reply to the challenge with equal machismo.

Well, my view on the subject is, why should the NZers get to do their special little dance all the time and the opposition just has to suck it up.

I remember during on League match, the aussies walked right up into their faces while they were doing it and I thought that was fair enough. They didn't touch them. Just faced them down. The same as the French did at the Union match, and although they did break the rule about crossing the line, I still believe that it was fair enough.

I just think some people in the international community are a bit sick of the Kiwi grandstanding before every match, and I believe that's why the French did what they did.

There must be boundaries, that is the 50m line. Step over it pay the price. But hey wouldn't have been awesome if every team that played them came up with their own mocking haka that mimicked the NZ Haka? I can see it now, each time they broke it out the other team broke out with something like a haka but mocking. It would have set them back on their heels.

I like the idea of the other teams just completely ignoring it. Turning their backs and just organising their own game plan.

Especially the Australian teams. There's a lot of rivalry between us and them and you can see the Haka puts the younger players off.

Sure the Kiwi's can do it, but why do we have to allow them the upper hand?

That is what I am saying, don't allow them the upper hand, snatch it away from them. Mock them. Pull their pants down and moon them when it is over, pay the fine, do what ever you have to do to take the wind out of their sail. Imagine the seriousness..... NZ does the Haka..... everyone is in awe..... the Aussies walk to the 50 m line menacingly and turn around and moon the whole team. Holy shit! the Haka would be an afterthought!.

Whatever YOU do in response ... YOU took the bait. They already have you thinking about it and not the game. Bush league tactics. Do your "thing" when the whistle blows ... If they start this game I know zero about with a whistle.

You obviously do not follow Rugby....

Yeh, no shit. I clearly said that already.