Exciting quarters done, now for some tense semis

Many of you might disagree, but bar 1995 and the excitement it generated for our then newly born democracy, this NZ RWC2011 has been to me by far the most exciting. It all started in the knock out stages when the minows stood up and thought they were part of SA Census 2011...they were counted!Then the quarters didn't disappoint one little bit in terms of excitement. Wales v Ireland, youth and execution prevailed over heart and experience. It was a proper ding dong battle, but the Welsh prevailed, that menacing Jamie Roberts, the wiley Mike Phillips, that youngster Rhys at 10 and the midgets Williams and Halfpenny and the very accurate forwards put paid to the passion of the Irish, ably lead by captain my captain BoD, in my mind the best centre of his generation, a superb centre combination would have been him and Tana!! The Irish tried but this games was Wales'. Farewell BoD (and Co) thanks for the years of great viewing pleasure you gave us Then the game that gave me the most joy of the weekend. My lovely erratic French team wiping that smug arrogance off Martin Johnson's and his English teams faces! I knew the French had 1 big game in them and the old foe was the right fuel to light their fire within. They played just like only the French could, many questioned the choice of Para at 10, i guess those people can hush a wee bit now. The English have been woeful the whole tournament...actually bar 2003 they have just been such a random side to watch, watching a fly flying into a closed window has given me immeasurably more pleasure. For them to make it to another world cup final would have been a proper injustice to the game...in my humble opinion of course. Then the most controversial game of the weekend. Boks v Oz, I didnt watch the game live unfortunately, rugby had been the cause of me missing Church too often and even though i woke up with all intentions of watching the game, i was called and I answered. I managed to get the last 15 min or so live and from the little I saw, the Australians were properly owned. When i got home I watched the game and those 15 minutes were in fact a reflection of the whole game, bar a 'freakish' try in the first half for the Australians, they were absolutely nowhere. Genia and Cooper...who??? SA made all the play, but unfortunately they ended up on the wrong side of the ledger, I guess you can ask Wales and Samoa how that feels. The ref was incompetent in this game,properly toilet, but to say he favoured Australia may not be entirely accurate. He was bad for both sides, BUUUUTTT SA can feel aggrieved because they had most of the ball 60% or so and all the territory almost 80% so i guess most of the calls would not have favoured the Boks, but he didnt favour one side over the other he just decided to blow the obvious and not make any potentially controversial decisions. He was properly inept during this game. BUUUUUTTTT that being said if you own the ball and own the pitch and cant win....ah then i feel forkall for you. Many people wanna give Divvy a tough time as a bad coach, man he was a proper coach. territorial advantage, al the possession, make the opposition tackle you 150 times as opposed to your mere 50 tackles...tactics were spot on, then we have forward passes, marginal, but still forward, FdP knocking on twice in good positions...who can i blame??? the first 15 pummelled the opposition properly, then along came the clean up crew, bigger and badder to finish the job. great tactics i say...but couldnt get over the line...who do I blame??the 22 that took the field of course. It shouldnt be a blame game, I know, but the boys were just not good enough. The Australians, take nothing away from them, they resembled Sylvester Stalone in Rocky 5...street fight against Tommy Gunn, beaten hard, then he stumbles to his feet when Tommy thought the fight was done and muttered "Hey Tommy, I didnt hear no bell...one more round....they defended like trojans and hats off to them. But in the end there had to be a loser and unfortunately for Bok supporters Sunday wasnt their day. Honestly hard luck Bok supporters, I will be honest when i say i did want you guys to come home, because the thought of hearing world champions Boks, only team to defend the cup win it 3 times, blaah would have grated my cheese, that being said though, I wanted this tournament for PdV so that all you one eyed supporters out there who have no good to say about the coach and certain players of colour would know exactly where to stick it. for example, Chilliboy, we will never know whether he is better than Bissie or not, because he is always going to be no 2.On Sunday i felt a little for the Boks because for a change, they did all the play yet lost, which in my mind is totally unfair, but iiwii (it is what it is). thats life they say Many have maligned John Smit and PdV, Smit recently PdV forever. Respect to JS for his work, he lead his country well both on and off the field a man that gains respect without even asking for it because of his mana...wish him and his retiring colleagues well. PdV, sorry for you guy, you tried hard and in my mind you did well in the context of SA rugby, but you were always going to struggle. People want Heineke Meyer, i wish him no ill, but lets see him coach this team and see what the results will be. How funny is it though. Fourie du Preez, has been so dog toilet this year, and last, but not a harshly negative word was uttered towards him, just a muttering of sheesh he is getting slow, he looks a little out of form, but had that been Ricky or even Bolla...hmmmm???!!! its a full time job i tell you being a "second rate" citizen!! All Blacks game, no real surprises in this game. The Pumas forward power was there, their latin passion was there, but not once during that game did i honestly feel the game was under threat. We took them lightly and it showed from the get go during the Haka, the ferocity and intensity wasnt there. Our game looked fractured most times, but when we had to turn it on in the last 60 we sure did. Piri at no 9...ayeye, how he has lost so much weight is beyond me but well done to him and to think a few years ago he was unwanted. But Jimmy Cowan, nah man, that bra must waai!! I am properly concerned about the well being of my main man Jerome Kaino, that guy is so underrated in the loose trio the amount of work he gets through and the amount of punishment he takes for the team is insane, he is my key guy in that forward pack. Captain Richie, he may not be the no 1 guy on the ground anymore, but what a game he plays, you miss a tackle and he is generally there to cover you, always there in support. Another guy who has become 'fulcrum' of the ABs backs. Colin Slade, happy birthday today bra, bummer about your injury cous, but alas man you are still a young man and there will be another world cup. Cruden, that little guy came on and said world cup quarters whaat??!! I got this. Played with much confidence as if tomorrow was not going to come and good on him. But then again if you beat cancer, what is a rugby game?? Cory Jane, might i suggest you go and get boozed again this thursday please because man did he have a game on the wing as did SBW. Even though the Blacks' depth has been properly tested, over the 4 years with DC's absence, 5 other flyhalves have had an opportunity to feature....Slade, Cruden, Donald, Delaney, McAlister so there are some reserves that can be called upon. Even though it wasnt the rotational policy that was employed in the lead up to 2007, but the 3 wise men have managed to build up stocks over the years and hopefully that will be enough to carry them through the next 2 games if its meant to be ofcourse :). Mils 100th game, pity he had to retire hurt, but what a player...what a man, mad respect!! Semis Notice that 3 out of the 4 teams in the finals are NZ coached...as are might I add, the top 2 teams in this years currie cup so far...The beauty about these last 4 teams is that currently in world rugby, if you take away Fiji and Samoa, they are by far the most exciting teams to watch in terms of what they do with the ball in hand and couple that with their ability in set plays as well (well some might argue Australia not so much but they are getting better, ask the Boks in Durban earlier this year)... Wales v France...I actually really like both these teams and before the world cup i called a France v Australia final which is still very possible and typing that my heart sank a wee bit. As much as i would dig Wales to make it because they have played pretty well thus far by far the most consistent team in the semis along with the host nation, but for some reason i have this feeling there is a movie script here which would result in the French making it to the finals. ABs v Oz, they (Oz) havent won in NZ since 2001, havent won in Eden park since 1986 havent .... all means nought! Its all down to 80 min on sunday. The Wallabies will be buoyed by their get out of jail free card on sunday. They will be buzzing. Quade and Will had a toilet game and they will be so eager to set the record straight. Robbie has won 2 out of the last 3 games against the Blacks, Tri Nations...Oz, S15...Oz, Bledisloe...Blacks. No DC. To beat this merry band of waltzing matildas, who have lots of belief we will have to monster them up front ala the Bledisloe cup earlier. Piri will have to play a territorial game and skop the ball out of the stadium! our back s will be interesting Piri, Cruden, SBW, Nonu, Smith, Kahui, Dagg/Jane. Tough game to call, but you know me I'm properly backing black. Bummed about the fact that the Blacks were denied the opportunity to play the Boks, but Australia are no 3 in the world so i guess i'll take it... Lets see what this Sunday Dishes out, how i'd love to face the French in the finals if its how its meant to be... Happy viewing all