The West London's RWC blog

Stop press: Tom and Jerry Cock Tales

Scene: the after match cocktail bar in 'a secret location in France...' Occasion: Rugby World Cup... Cast: Little Jerry Collins, a sad old tart clamouring for attention, and an all black haired lady. Supporting cast - Tom Collins, Ricard, pression and an extra strong chinstrap!

Different - divers

2007 in France sees a group of West London boys in their beer proof drinking garments. Yes it's the All Black Street Boys on their European tour - starting in France and finishing in  er France. Here they are posing before diving into several jugs of beer. At some point in the proceedings these fern emblazoned super surfers hope to be tickling a few sea bass and making out with a few Bettys.. (or should that be bêtises?) Who are they? What do they do? Where are they now? Are they only there for the beer? I think we should be told.

Lots of News is Good News

Throughtout the tournament, we all turn on tune in and drop out.  Well, maybe not to Tim Leary's excesses but nevertheless we absorb loads of information.  Here's a site which is non-stop  - available in any language you like as long as it's   vbgrin edshgs oerugnw fv!
You must have others that we should take a look at - do you? Or do you just lurk around not saying anything?  France 24 - for those who want good news -  worry not, it's in English too!

Friday showdown.

Big games galore this weekend with France, South Africa, England, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand likely to be the top dogs by the time the last whistle has been blown on Sunday evening. Anyone got a view on the Irish side? Or any of the others come to that?
The only team that has 'improved' this tournament (according to my prognostications!!!) is Scotland. They seem to have that extra bit of stamina - late into the second halves of their games. For any number of reasons they will need all of that and more to get past Italy but, just for now, it looks possible - just.
Going back to the France v Ireland game, I think the French will win it through significant efforts by Heymans and Clerc. They get well looked after by the very good Dusautoir and his back row colleagues, and I think they have too much talent - even against the  Irish rugby passion (that we spectators are still waiting to see!) No Geordan Murphy either, which will be another handicap to a busted Irish machine. Still, hope for the best and it may happen - it used to be a Double Diamond that worked wonders... after tomorrow it could be a few pints of  Guinness!

A Woolley Jumper...

Agent Tony has uncovered the new England kit for 2008. Sales are at an all time high in South Africa he writes. If things carry on the way they have been, the telephone company is going to run out of numbers...

Friday's Newspaper Headline - for Sun Readers

"Wales hunts Japan"
(but only for scientific porpoises...) . Also, there is bound to be a lot of 'noise' about Jose Mourinho. He is just so hacked off that his dentist, lawyer, chef etc... in the Rugby World Cup are getting more publicity for being  decent blokes than he ever will - that 'The Special One' has thrown a hissy fit and gone. Ugh! soccer - it's just so boring!

Thursdai's Match

Here we are again - stuck in a pub in Cardiff drinking Brains Dark, it's raining, old Dai Stedford is selling copies of the South Wales Evening Post (a Welshman's nearest thing to Le Parisien) and coachloads of portly gents in red blazers are brylcreeming down their hair ready for  a  towering rendition of 'The Bloody Great Fishes Song' once they have taken their place on the sacred turf of Cardiff Arms Park. Yes friends, it is World Cup Rugby at its most romantic - Wales v Japan.
It is a well known fact that the Japanese kill Wales given half a chance...but they do it in the interests of scientific research. It is as near as they will get unless Thenations 6  malaise rears its ugly head once again. I say this on the grounds that one of the top British Isles sides must strike some truly convincing form before it's too late. Wales can do that job if they put their minds to it. ("Pay attention at the back there Jenkins!") We will see - as ever. Picture shows a Vera Lynn classic - 'Whale Meat Again'.

Match report - Italy v Portugal

Another outbreak of the virus Thenations 6 struck last night as a debilitated and directionless Italy plodded past the closely related team of Portugal. This is the World Cup of the underwolves and the Lobos gave another competent demonstration that they can defend, even if they lacked a bit of speed of thought when attacking. It is a truly sporting moment when the crowd warms to decent endeavour and they were well rewarded with a nicely  worked try just before half time. Never mind - another 'nearly' game that keeps us thinking. Roll on tomorrow - another sun soaked game in the French climate...oh hang on a minute it's in Cardiff. Again. So it would have been raining then except that the roof will be on. Bet the players will be slipping over as usual!

Wednesday's La Matcha

Hello folks, still staggering around the streets of Edinburgh eh? Well, today's offering has a genuine latin flavour as the geezers from Portugal take on the moderately successful Italy (the ones that walloped Scotland in the last six nations - for those that need a reminder of their abilities.) The Portugal team will have two Mateus in their rosy red shirts, along with three 'Uvas'.(Not often do rugby teams play three sweepers...) For Italy, expect Troncon to bully his forwards as usual, with Martin Castrogiovanni slipping into the hairy monster berth in the vestiares -  the changing rooms. A win for the Azzuri again - listen out for their anthem...the 'best in show'! (I'll talk about this as another topic.) Have a good day. Here's some classic camerawork!

"ALI HOGGS THE TRY SCORING, AS SCOTLAND 'ROR' THEIR WAY TO VICTORY OVER ROMANIA"

Tonight was a historic evening for Scottish rugby.
In front of a packed house, the kilted warriors annihilated (or is that Annie elated?) the Eastern bloc monsters of Romania. 42- 0 the final score, with Ally Hogg scoring three McTries. All in all, a satisfactory prelude to a thumping by an upcoming Sunday match against New Zealand. Special soldiers have been drafted in to look after the visitors to Murrayfield this Sunday...a spokesman said that a detachment of the All Black Watch was on permanent standby to protect the team against the imminent threat of faggots and deep fried mars bars. Commodore Tim 'Larry' Laurence thought that a haka was someone who broke into his computer - "Aye Aye your majesty!"