Happy Thursday, comrades. What a great final. My favourite quote from the RWC was we have to go to a dark place to win. But to win we have to know where the light switch is.
As always this is a fan run site and any contribution is always welcome feel free to reach out to me at happyman@greenandgoldrugby.com.au be it with an article an idea or an opinion piece. There’s also a ‘Submit a Story’ option. So feel free to have a crack as the more the merrier.
RWC – What Did We Learn?
- The top end of the game is decided by very fine margins.
- South Africa won the three knockout games by a combined total of three points.
- New Zealand gave it everything and came up just short.
- WR are serious about the high tackle framework, and it time the players and coaches figured that out.
- The onfield referees are very good.
- Personally, I’d get rid of the TMO, but fair play, they had the minerals to make the biggest decisions on the biggest stage.
Fine Margins – The Final Edition
This weekend’s game was decided by a few big decisions.
- The cards which IMHO the refereeing team got right on each occasion.
- Reiko Ioane going for the corner with the ball in the wrong hand and giving the Saffa defence a clear shot at him.
- The Kiwi disallowed try 4 phases after a knock on. Tough but fair.
- The Kiwi try after a very close to forward pass. Also tough but fair.
All of this leads up to IMHO the second best RWC final. 2003 being the best.
The Eddie Omnishambles
For those who have the time I’d recommend listening to the Phil Waugh interview in full. He doesn’t have an easy task of it going forward but, I’m hopeful that he can effect change. Let’s look at his playing history as a view of his character.
He was at his peak in the best 5 openside flankers in the world but never the best in Australia. As a Queenslander I hated him due to his win at all costs attitude and that he played for the Tahs. Hopefully he can bring that same attitude to RA
He is an insider a part of the inbred north shore/eastern Sydney clique that has been a consistent handbrake on the code. We’ve consistently seen how they knife outsiders in the back so perhaps someone from the inside can effect change.
Hopefully, he comes to realise that the code exists outside of the insular peninsular and eastern suburbs. I know Phil will be a regular reader so my advice is be bold and remember they can’t stab you in the back if you keep them in front of you.
Schadenfreude
Sir Richie’s halo falling.
Schadenfreude is a combination of the German nouns Schaden, meaning “damage” or “harm,” and Freude, meaning “joy.” It makes sense that schadenfreude means joy over some harm or misfortune suffered by another.
Ok I know I am being petty but the verbal excrement coming from the talking heads from across the ditch has made me feel a lot better about 2023 rugby. To be clear, the same excrement would be coming from South African media if they had’ve lost. Here are some of the highlights.
Steve Hansen having no self-awareness after being the beneficiary for a long time of many, many marginal calls.
All Blacks demanding answers from World Rugby over refereeing in Rugby World Cup final
Sam Cane red card: Who really made the call to upgrade All Blacks captain’s yellow to red?
The loudest ones are the usual suspects who talk the talk of respect the referee’s decision bro. I guess that is only true when it favours the Darkness.
