SA & Samoa share a contemplative moment
This was a belter of a game in what has been a very good World Cup. Samoa arrived to North Harbour needing to win to have any hope of going through to the quarter finals. South Africa has stuttered against Wales but PdV seemed to have settled on his strongest team and selected it for the match against the Islanders. Continue reading
He's not so tough
The big news from this game is that the Italians fourth try, eked out from the intense pressure that their scrum could exert on the American set piece. This means that Ireland have no get out clause next week and that, just like we assumed would happen at the beginning of the tournament, we have to beat Italy to qualify* for the quarter-final stage. Continue reading
Jonathan Sexton lines up a kick at something, possible someone standing three metres to the right of the posts
Donal Lenihan was one of a few commentators who said in the aftermath of the RWC11 squad selection that Tomás O’Leary would have been better crying off sick from the warm-up game against France in Dublin. That would most likely have seen him selected ahead of either Isaac Boss or Conor Murray – it was clear that head coach Declan Kidney wanted him in New Zealand. Continue reading
Ireland haven’t scored thirty points or more in an international match since they beat Fiji 41-9 in November 2009. Continue reading
Sporting Argentine philosopher Jorge Valdano. Not pictured: shit on a stick.
Argentina grabbed the win with the only bit of magic in the match. It was leader Felipe Contempomi’s best moment, in conjuction with his conversion, the only mildly difficuly kick he got all game. A wonderful finish to a tight and hard game. Continue reading
Alesana Tuilagi not on the scoresheet tonight, but a big force
A contest that many [including the Mole] hoped would provide a festival of running rugby was instead entirely underwhelming. Continue reading
Couldn't pick his nose
This was a poor, disjointed and very disappointing match. As unlikely as it may have seemed, everything that Peter Bilge blustered about came to pass. Continue reading
That's a pretty text-book front-row engagement right there
England once again put on the counter-puncher’s gloves and scored a rake of wide-out tries through their three-quarters against a not-too-powerful Mighty Oaks. Continue reading
M*A*S*H/Wallaby HQ
The Wobblies put a hurting on Eddie O’Sullivan’s Eagles in Wellington, running away with an eleven tries to one victory after a competitive first half hour. Continue reading
When Willem Alberts heard his opposite number was Jacques Burger, all he could think of was the next meal. At Fergburger.
South Africa just put an eighty-burger on the hapless Namibians. Continue reading
Digging Like a Demented Mole 