The West London's RWC blog

What To Wear

Jonny  - the face of Hackett, as advised an chaperoned by our very own Neil Bugler. Or Serge and the 'Quinze' range of goodies. Or maybe Yvon Rousset, Jean Baptiste Lafond, Philippe Guillard, Franc Mesnel and Eric Blanc - the 'Showbiz 5'  very racy - very Racing Club! Without doubt, their Eden Park  concept has made a big impression on the rugby fraternity. Or maybe more traditional stuff suits you sir...Cotton Traders, cut on the "generous "side (ie: for tankers and other odd shapes...) - as was Fran Cotton who created the range with fellow ex-England player Steve Smith. And. Just so there is a bit of balance here, 'Rugbygirl' does exactly what it says on the site - and a very open friendly one it is too!
Keep warm...in London this morning, at 08:00 it's 7.9 degrees, Brrrrrr! (All due credits and acknowledgements to the sites linked here).

Tuesday McMatch

Scotland used to have a decent rugby team.
Those days are past now,
And in the past
they must remain,
Their second rows are rubbish and have trouble jumping.
But we can still rise now,
A lot of 'grandma was a scot' imports were selected by the coach. The crowd wanted Scotsmen, asking them to get sorted out;
And be the nation again,
All the players got selected.
That stood against him,
Meanwhile, in England;
Proud Edward's Army,
Realised he was a bit of a wuss in the Marines.
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.
Of Algernon, his favourite teddy bear...
Tomorrow's game sees two of the minor sides doing battle in that far flung French colony of Murrayfield. As the sides fall into the 'lesser nations' category, I think this might be a power packed dust-up, with a lot of open play from the Scottishmen. It is a nice way to think of sleeping...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I like Scottish games because I like to spot flight lieutenant Timmy Fairbrother Smythe...or whatever Princess Anne's husband is called. Oh yeah! Commodore Tim Laurence maybe? (He deserves another medal for turning up to watch that lot on a regular basis.) Scots wayhay!

Loup de Mer

There! That got you didn't it! "Loup de mer" is French for sea bass. Sea Bass is the (English) nickname of the caveman. The 'Caveman' is the (French) nickname given to one of the players from the French national team, Sebastian Walters er... Chabal.
He flies like a butterfly and stings like a behemoth - yes - it's the hairy hunk looking for a transfer to Stade Francais so he can appear in their calendar and earn even more €s! Good on him - if we were all paid for being a bit ugly I wouldn't have to work again!
Anyway, a disturbing disease has affected damsels in this country...mostly ones in distress, that dress or just wearing tracksuit bottoms with a muffin top...Four years ago Wilkinsonitis Hackettitis took hold in the UK and reduced women of all ages (mental and physical) to swooning wrecks. They are being called Chabalists. Shabby Miss more like - after all that money spent on bloody Eau Savage and Old Spice, what do we real men have to endure..? Someone who looks like a cross between a mop and a sack of spuds. Next thing you know he's going to appear on telly wearing a Breton fisherman's stripey shirt, reciting Eric Cantona poems. Next thing we know, all the women will be worshipping players with daft names - 'Cedric' or ' John the Baptist' for example... but for now at least men, it's hairy time.

Very hairy!

The Trek to Toulouse...

Profitable  - as expected for France (and the caveman's advertising income). Walk in the park for Fiji (!) and Samoa became my first prediction mishap so far.
I guess they will be making amends for their conservative, restrained rugby by knocking lumps out of England. Tomorrow is a day of rest and fun - what are you lot doing? (Going to write something?)

The France team warm up before the match...

Doppelganger Shock to France XV on Matchday...

The France team has been thrown into turmoil before tonight's game against Namibia following the revelation that, allegedly, one of it's World Cup team is an Englishman.
Track back to early 1977, the clubhouse was rocking after another French victory at Twickenham. (3-4).  (Remember folks, this is 'West London Old Skool'  - Old Gaytonians - although many were not called either Tony or Ian...) Anyway, undigressing, there was a young 'toyboy' hanging out down there by the name of  Chris 'Shabby'  Walters. Louche in extremis, it was not long before the French supporters that travelled to Twickenham and then to the Club for a beer were enraptured by his caveman like looks (let alone his habits). This was a man who licked raw eggs from tables, ate curry and drank anything (including your beer if you put it down). Fast forward to 2007 and the scandal erupts! What happened? Did 'Shabby' really do a 'pas des deux' with the young impressionable caveman lover lady from Valence? Why was she there anyway - it's miles from Paris?) Bernard Laporte has left the door open for explanations but we can only speculate that Shabby has been reincarnated...Doppelganger!  Sebastian Chabal's grandmother was unavailable for comment  last night - she is pictured here to indicate the  hereditary trend  that might help unravel the mystery. Watch the news after tonight's game for further information.

Sunday's Games

Most of you will be back from church in time to see Fiji and Canada display their rugby wares on the  high table of Welsh  rugby - an eventual win for  the Islanders I feel...
Samoa and Tonga. Montpellier. The weather . Should make for an interesting game - sponsored by 'Band - Aid' and 'Plasters of Paris Ltd'. I expect nothing less of ITV than to add in the Batman and Robin style cartoon exclamations at every contact..."Bosh" "Argggh"  "Kapow" "Boooooooooooom!"   - you know the sort of thing...
Then the weight of the nation, the future of the government, the lucrative contracts with Nike - France have everything Toulouse. However, all will be well with the world by 10pm this evening, and the 'Rive Gauche' in Paris will be awash with the Hegelian merits and Socialist revolutionary tendencies of long hair in professional rugby... ie: a win for France.
It is a bright, sunny morning in London - enjoy the day - and the rugby too!

When Irish Eyes Are Shining

Another duffing up for a six nations side. Ireland got put through the mincer by the Georgian pack this evening. Where next for the most agressive bunch of forwards in the six nations...(get a few games with a cushy, rich English club and float away into obscurity..)?
Great entertainment for the paying spectators though. Except those who were Irish - and paid!

Saturday's Games

Today will see wins for NZ, Australia and Ireland. Although a singing crowd for the big fishes might create a bit of a stifling atmosphere for the Wallabies...but I doubt it. The Georgian forwards are not going to take a pasting in their match against Ireland - they were big against Argentina but I think the Irish have a storm brewing in their forwards after getting bossed around so often by Namibia in their previous match.
"Portugalled" by early afternoon I'm sorry to say...this is going to be the tournament's first 100 point match. This will not deflect from the pride that 'Os Lobos' will feel at representing their country, and, playing against New Zealand's finest. Oh well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...but this is Pro v Am stuff of the first order and any follower of rugby will be cringing at the prospect of such a mismatch. Alternatively, the gardening, shopping, washing the car beckons...
Enjoy the matches.

Point Percy at the Posts Again

Oh dear! In the baby grand scheme of things, England are virtually out of the tournament. They do not seem to be mentally astute in the face of pressure, or physically combative against determined, indeed any, opposition. The fans must be disappointed to see capitulation on such a scale and it remains to be seen how many of the current selection are retained in the future. Apart from the lack of nous from England, South Africa did not have to play much rugby to win - they were never under sustained attack. On the odd 'go forward' occassion there was either a knock on, a big hit loosening the ball or a misdirected pass. Once, the England second row Ben Kay threw the ball at his left foot (2nd row 'chip n chase ) with Sackey outside him. I sense not just disappointment but a real irritation about this side's lack of competitiveness. Still, if we go out of the Cup we might get into the hyperbole...
Well done South Africa. You well and truly walked all over the England doormat on your way to the kitchen for a peek into the larder of the quarter finals. Mmmm! -  plenty to eat in there!
And the South African players are very hungry...
Samoa, meanwhile, were in the Bois de Boulogne snapping small trees across each other's heads - training to beat England. A more wooden, static performance would be difficult - but hey! England are not finished yet.
England also got whacked in the cricket. Roll on tomorrow and some fun - goodnight.
It was a nice walk across the river to Waterloo though... hurrying home to see...