Very true. Newcastle, Leeds, Wasps, even Sale...all looking grim. Leeds looking ever more likely to go the way of Waterloo, Orrell and London Scottish. One of two things happens now- either the RFU formally accept the licencing argument (rather than just the informal method of trying to keep out the povo clubs) or someone goes bust within 5 years.

Its understandable that Gatland had these thoughts. And I dont think that it would have been that big a deal if in a couple of years time he'd "written" a book in which he disclosed the discussions that took place in the box.

What really makes me want to puke is the way he's made these comments now in an attempt to claim the moral high ground over the ref who sent off the Welsh captain. Despicable.

...a decision that was 100% correct when following the letter of the law in Union.

I don't get it.....if that had been a frog that dumped a taff on his neck then everything would have been OK.
Simple fact, Wales, even with 14 men should have hammered the french....but they didn't. That's why he's bitter.......he thinks Graham Henry has his job and he's upset that the AB's made the final.......

According to Jamie Roberts, after their performances at the World Cup, Wales are now a global force which is a bit strange as they have lost to France, South Africa and Australia. They did of course beat those giants of the world game Fiji, Namibia and Samoa (and Ireland of course)

If you take out the top three, who are on a different level in my opinion, you could argue that Wales [iare[/i a global force. It's also a good idea to ignore the fact that apart from one side from South America all other contenders to the global force that is Wales are European.

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
------------------------------------
France, Wales, England, Ireland
------------------------------------
Argentina, Italy
------------------------------------
The rest

Bit harsh on Scotland that list – they are consistently better than Italy

Anyway, my point is that if you made that list before and after Wales performances in the World Cup, nothing would have changed... get beat by the best teams, hammer the also ran’s and competitive against the home Nations and France. The fact Wales got to the semi finals is testimony to the way the knockout stages unfolded, not their quality

....yep, it's not like Tonga and Samoa are getting better over time is it?

I'd also point out that whilst there is still a bit of inevitabilty about the RU, with the same 4 or 5 teams there or there abouts at the final, it's in a lot better state than the other code....where there are 3 teams and 2 of them are playing for the chance to meet the third in a final every time there is a tournament.
Couple of pretty boring semi-finals in this RWC, but I'd rather that than a niling of Fiji in a semi-final

Missed the Jocks. I'd put them on the same level as the Italians and Argentina.

There you go again bringing up rugby league when we're talking about international union on a union board. Get that chip off your shoulder son.

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/22/bill-beaumont-international-rugby-board?Beaumont on ropes as IRB vote descends into Fifa-style farce[/url 'The meeting turned ugly when it became clear that the associations representing the smaller unions, such as Asia, Africa, North America and Europe, held the balance of power. They were wooed with offers, but some delegates were warned about the consequences of voting for the other side, threatened with the loss of financial support and an end to development tours.'

Talking of financial problems in the game;

[url=http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/10691481/lomus-old-french-club-goes-under/?Lomu's old French club goes under.[/url

[url=http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/152889.html?CMP=OTC-RSSWasps will not pursue their interest in Pumas flanker Genaro Fessia after boss Dai Young conceded he was out of their price range.[/url

I would love France to win today just to spoil NZ's party.
I can't see it of course, but you never know.
They haven't won the cup for 24 years, and considering they are the best team in the world and have been for many a year, they are serial underachievers.
Long may it continue.
Fook them and fook their haka!


Why can't opposition teams show their @rses to the haka?

That would be as much an obscenity as the haka itself, bring it on.



Why we let them perpetuate this gross intimidation is beyond me.
It's clearly not anthemic, hence why all the machismo gesticulations? It's an invitation to violence.
In fact we should exclude them from world rugby until they stop this nonsense.

Waht an abysmal final, France edged it in the open play and but for a few dubious decisions from the ref would have had a deserved win.

ITV making out that because New Zealand won nobody will care how poor the game was. Well actually not everyone just watched the game to see the Kiwis win, I wanted a good game of rugby.

So near to an upset!
Shame.

that was !

All Blacks in high pressure game are just like every other union side.

Engrossing game of RU ......... thoroughly enjoyed it.

Harinordiquy was immense at the lineout, allowing the French to win lots of vital possession. And of course McCaw was everywhere; some of his work at the breakdown defies belief, his ablity to slow down the opposition's ball, and sometimes even pinch possession is a joy to watch.

Well done to the All Blacks, they've been the best team for most of the last decade, and now have a Championship to go with it.

Another awful game of Rugby, dressed up as a classic by the Union-loving media.

The most frustrating thing is that it had all the potential of being a very good game, but as always with Union, sides just seem intent on stifling all signs of life from the game.

The negative nature of the game was summed up by the last 3 minutes, when the All Blacks literally hid the ball from the opposition and refused to budge from the same square metre of grass until the referee called time on things.

Yes, by all means kill the clock, but to be able to do so in such an obvious, negative way shows a massive disregard for supporters of the game, who surely want to be entertained?

You're making a huge assumption as to what entertains supporters.

I thoroughly enjoyed those last few minutes, and appreciated the skill of the All Blacks to recycle possession under immense pressure , in a series of absorbing mauls.

Similarly, I watch RL for the defence, as I enjoy discipline of the organised defence, the tackles and big hits ..... all that "basketball" played by the poofs in the backs bores me silly.

Disappointed by the tournament as a whole. The All Blacks were deserved winners as they're head and shoulders above their nearest rivals. If they can keep this level up then they'll be unstoppable as I think the standard of rugby union played by the other three or four 'big' nations has worryingly dropped.
Next time I'd like to see fewer teams and a maximum duration of 4 weeks. Going off what I've read on here and elsewhere on t'internet, I've been lucky to have had Canal+ commentary rather than ITV.

There's nothing wrong with strong defence or being able to maintain possession, but to simply kill the action in the way the All Blacks did, is mind-numbingly dull, whatever the occasion and the situation....they're was no re-cycling in that last 3 minutes, just an unorganised mess that was highlighted by the session where the ball laughably disappeared and everybody just stopped, even though the match was still 'live'.

Not sure how you can come to the conclusion that New Zealand are head and shoulders above their rivals after an 8-7 win. It’s not as if the All Blacks were playing all the rugby and France were playing a negative game trying to close it down and grind out a result – if anything it was the other way around. If you were watching that game without knowing which team was which, for me you would say the French were the more skilful and athletic team

I'm not just talking about this mornin, I'm talking about the past few years and of course it's just my personal opinion. It looked to me that NZ were more concerned with not losing than going out and winning the game.

Ok, fair point, the All Blacks have been the best team of the last 4 years. I do get frustrated watching them play a lot of the time as they have some very talented players and yet very rarely cut loose as they should... although much of that can be put down to the constraints of the game itself than the players

considering Sonny Bill can not get into the first 15. What is the point of him staying in Rugby Union?