The West London's RWC blog

The England Team

The first game against USA is looming and it gives the 'mecs' of England a chance to 'beat about the Bush' by taking it out on some unfortunate American rugby players...
...or will they?
No pressure, plenty of fitness and a will to win can drive the Americans forward and make England's initial foray a bit awkward. Here in England we hope that superior skill will prevail and that the pack will flatten a less experienced opposition. In America, they are worried about the amount of ice needed for David Beckham's knee and er...I mean will be cheering on the Eagles come Saturday. OUCH! He's injured already!

Referees..."What's on André?"

Everyone knows the referees have it easy. They often get it wrong, and have to listen to whingers like Richie McCaw  harping on for 80 minutes.  However, the armchair pundit knows best.
Here you can post a comment about the multi-talented arbitrators, from those that blow the pea out of the whistle, to the gentle nice Mr Allan Rolland, the super Joel Jutge, the 'rosbif' Wayne Barnes, and ending with the dynamic duo of  Stuart Dickinson and Steve Walsh, who seem to be neck and neck in a    " I have my head so far up my backside" competition.
Luckily, André will not be in Paris...

Ruff Stuff!

Brilliant T - shirts for the World Cup can be found at this delicious site. English bcbg - without a doubt. Move over Serge Blanco (comment va ta regime Serge? :¬)  ) Shove along Eden Park... here comes Jack Russell. WOOF! Picture shows my dog Jack who was on the bench for the last game he played..."Cheers Cock!"

http://www.jackrussellclothing.co.uk/search.aspx?type_id=5

Don't Try For Me Argentina

Ah! 'La chanson d'Evita...OK - it's a bit corny but don't beef.
The Argentine XV are ready for a forward battle this Friday evening. Coach Laporte is scared of his forthcoming promotion to the French government   worried about the formidable Argentine spirit which has seen them pressurise the best of sides - for 80 minutes. He needs the result as much as the team as it represents the aspirations of government in France...  There will not be many 'gift' games like the one Scotland presented to Italy in the six nations last year but early success for the Pumas will make life difficult for France. Stay cool. The photo shows an Argentinian barman preparing for the match. His personal trainer is to the right and there is even a picture of 'Ben' in the background. You can get 66-1 for Argentina. 6-1 for France.

England United but Jonny in a State...

Ho hum - the injury list has started with Wilkinson sore. We knew there would be a twist in this World Cup - maybe this was it. Now the roast beefs will have to bank on Barkley to make the breaks and control the game. As it stands, tonight, England are 33-1 (la cote est 33 contre 1  - putain!)
The England coach, Brian Ashton:  " admitted there is concern over Wilkinson's injury, although he was reluctant to put a timeframe on his return to action." - I think he had better put a bandage on it - not an effing timeframe!
Anyway, Dallaglio, Rees and Worsley  add a sting to the back row.. I read some 'bons mots' in all the newspapers and it seems like a load of   (I don't want to write bullshit here because it doesn't seem like the right word but you know what I mean ...) stuff like " I will believe white is black and black is white if I have to...etc" Let's hope England get to meet the All Whites then Lawrence - that should be colourful.
So. In short, a good opener, with the England coaching staff preparing their first tranche of clichés as I write.

Oh ho the hakki wakki...

Can't post this direct to your screen but this video is worth  a look just to see how the Haka used to be...before the days of McDonalds in NZ! A case of Syd Going, going gone!

Your Best World Cup Match

For me, it has to be the France - New Zealand semi-final  in 1999. A great game made even more special by the first visit of the Plessis - Meudon Folklo (old gits XV) to our then clubhouse at Sudbury Hill. What a Sunday!
A lot of the older (nay - ancient) West London players and families have shared memories for 30 years or more, with rugby as the common bond. By the end of the 20th century, we were getting on a bit and it seemed fitting that a few of these veterans tours took place. (The art of inventing a piss - up). All this added to an atmosphere that was at first a bit sullen as New Zealand powered to a twenty something points to not many...
...then the fluid French machine kicked off and the clubhouse was in upheaval. A great game made better by the people around me - as it usually is.

Betting on Tonga - latest oddity

This is a bit stupid I think  - but there you go - I'm poor and Epi is rich. In 'the good old days' , if you said that you could play wing, centre or No 8, it would probably have been at the end of a session in the White Horse, held under the watchful eye of a personal trainer  - Syd Carter maybe, or Chris Walters. There was so much bullsh*t on the pub floor at closing time it was hard to stand up (Well, that was my excuse). Fast forward to the 21st Century and here we have a man changing his name by deed poll, can play wing, centre or No 8 at international level, and is partial to a bit of Irish prime cut...
On a serious note (there will not be many, je t'assure) Unibet were not allowed to race in the Tour de France because advertising gaming organisations is illegal. So Paddy Power - on your bike!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4187516a10295.html

Saturday's match at Twickenham

Watch out France - les rosbifs are coming! Big, strong, fit and full of energy. Wales? Minnows more like. They were stuffed  - like olives - and then munched by the hungry pack. The only positive for the Welsh coach is the realisation that the conditioning staff had better get ther fingers out!

Welcome

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