The West London's RWC blog

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...

And They're Off!

Ooooh! What an ugly bunch of blokes.
Have a good match.

Cattastrophy...

...or he will have if he can drive his back line through the weak South African midfield defence. A win here will give confidence and put England firmly back at the top of the tree. (REmember, the Aussies will get wiped out, the South Africans will just lose all discipline if they lose this one, and th All Blacks...well, we know they are going to choke somewhere along the line...)
It's time for Catt to stop pussyfooting around and give some value for all the super size meals he seems to have eaten these past few weeks. Andy Farrell was always a beautiful rugby league playmaker, and it would be great to see those skills on display tonight. The forwards? Well, I reckon 50/50 overall contest. Burger would have made a big difference for South Africa but now his absence might make a big difference for England - and Rees in particular - as chief speedster and ball grabber.
Perry at scrum half will need to be at his bubbly best, not ponderous in his delivery, otherwise it is going to be Babychambles behind the scrum... "Get yourselves ready for a tackle in five minutes boys, I'm just about to pass the ball - oh, when I have let Butch know so that he can line you up etc..."
Overall, the second biggest match of the tournament, a week after the opening spectacle that has seen France reduced to a psychologically deficient rabble - a nation in despair!
There is a Springbok Bar in Bedford Street London where this corespondent will be headed in order to 'capture the moment' (and then I'll rush off and get the train home as I can't stand all those big, South Africans in their parrot kit -  yuk! )
May the best team win -and if they don't they'll come second.

Farrell Langs Ayne my friends...

Tomorrow evening's game looms large: Here's a quote from coach Ashton that will stir the cockles in every English fan's heart:
Looking ahead to the South Africa match tomorrow night, Ashton said: "There is a mood in the squad that I've not seen before, not since I took over in January. I've disregarded that last performance [against the USA]. That will not happen again. Nobody wants to be associated with a game like that." Asked to clarify what that mood was exactly, Ashton replied simply, "we're ready".

Boom!

Meanwhile, the French replacement fly half (demi d'ouverture to you and me) Lionel Beauxis has been receiving a few last minute pointers from the renowned French coach Alfred Cartebleu. He is also receiving tips on how to manage his hectic social schedule from 'Mr Nightlife', J- P  Betsenboy. A winning combination if ever there was one...