Crazy Fool's Newsround

manu et mau
July, 20th 2011 15:03 PM

SPORT

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The rugby bit:

Published 21.7.11

Just like Bruce’s Lee’s No.1 law to never underestimate your opponent, the media never fail to set the public a-frenzy, all bubbling in their own expectations and foregone conclusions, but where blind faith is carried by the underbelly of some scrupulous hard graft extenuated by the sword it exudes it seems the Wallabies fell on theirs without checking if they deserved to be carrying it in the first place – confused? Good.

Genia has that blind faith, he told us last week, so does Cooper, Horwill, O’Connor, but were they playing? No, would they have made a difference? No. Was Samoa’s full brigade on show? No, and don’t ask me to remember their names because that would be like learning Quantum physics in Vietnamese, but I’d bet a dollar to a pinch of Rupert Murdoch’s eventual clasp of a majority share in bskyb that each and every player on this planet and especially those in the Anz Stadium in Sydney last Saturday never under-estimated theirs – Australia were beaten by the better side on the day – fact – more fact and probably more fitting and polite should read Samoa deserved a well earned win over Australia in Sydney and proved, at last, the world threat they are.

Don’t let any supporter of any nation tell you any different vis-à-vis Australia fielded a weakened team, it was their first outing since the European tour, which incidentally as it was the Manu’s too, but just except the fact that this World Cup is going to be a cracker with anyone in for a shot.

Manu Samoa assistant boss Mclean isn’t settling for anything other than a quarter final spot in New Zealand, and their 32-23 – there, knew I’d get around to actually announcing the score – over Australia stamped a warning to pool opponents; South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Namibia (dark horse!) that topping their pool is very possible.

The point being; no team bar the Blacks are on any consistent footing and as we all know their country’s expectations will grind them into a nerve-wracked nation of fingers and thumbs leaving the door open for a common underdog, whether it be wearing black, blue, green, gold or that other green and gold together.

Good, now I’ve got you completely at odds to what ever it is I’m saying we’ll crack on with Samoa’s win over Australia, which saw them dominate the breakdowns and create a more wholesome creativity in the backline.

Of course not to forget the islander’s prolific defence, which is where the first try stemmed from, following a thumping tackle of Tuilaga on Mark Gerrard. Seilala Mapusua then rounded up loose ball from Matt Hodgsen who was left isolated and flicked to Tuilaga who ran in to score.

Mapusua was also in action for the second try, putting a chip kick that Nick Phipps charged down, yet was gathered up by Paul Williams to touch down. After a series of scrums where the Samoan’s struggled, compared to a huge improvement in the Aussies tick box, Digby Ioane ran in after a rushed defence left holes.

17-10 at the break and Australia had to do something if they were to stop this Samoan tide; they didn’t and immediately opened the door for lock Kane Thompson to stroll over in the 47^th minute, eight minutes later they handed George Pisi (‘s-easy) a similar red carpet treatment following a clever Tuilaga chip.

However, the head start they so obligingly gave turned to a frantic grasp of reality of losing as the tick-tocked away, but to be fair the Aussies became a team they had promised some 58 minutes earlier. Scott Higginbotham did some great work to end up chipping for The Git in the corner but that was that and all too late, as they say; they also say, don’t count your chickens, and something about fat ladies singing when at the end of the day it gets very dark, which I’m sure it is in Australia as I write this drivel, but should it be? I don’t know – Tune in next week when we see how South Africa’s excuses go for fielding their second string mob against a battle-ready Wallaby in the Tri-Nations opener.

fool says:

South Africa will win the Tri-Nations – bet you weren’t expecting that. In fact, that’s what I predicted last, which, by the way I’m not changing, nor the fact that men in black will win the World Cup, but back to this week, and I am suggesting the ‘is-it’s’ will lose to the Wallaby’s this weekend.

Some shorts:

*England in black for the World Cup – why not? The Kiwi Prime Minister John Key called them ‘All Black wannabees’ but as a marketing tool there’s no comparison. Keith Quinn from the Dominion Post reminds us, ‘They are thumbing their noses at a New Zealand tradition. It’s bizarre.’ Or is it bizarre that certain countries get to do their little dance in the open – sure if England were allowed to do their traditional Morris dance on the pitch as opposed to their dressing room would that be akin to the pot calling the kettle a proverbial shade of dark humour!

*Lomu in the meantime is pinning his dark horse on the Green, which if you were in Lignano Sabbiadoro in Italy this weekend you could’ve caught up with the International Super Rugby Beach Rugby 5’s starring teams from NZ, Specific Islands, Tonga, Italy, France, England, Wales, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia and Lansdowne RFC from Ireland who’s first visit to the comp broke new ground in the clubs 140 year history of always being on the grass.

Tri-Nation dark horses, ney-hey

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end rugby here!

Tapas & Bodega: bodega, oh baby when you dance like that… Sangria, mojito’s, plenty, plenty, plenty of wine and beer; Plus, The best Spanish cuisine in Saigon this side of Spain - Which is just to the right of Vietnam, and perhaps a little off centre of Phuket. Cracking live music too.

A willow the wisp of cricket now:

And now ladies and gentlemen a thribble on the light side:

Surely I’m done here.

No, not done, not just yet, as apparently there is some news this week, as we wait for the Lords Test with England and India, but alas it’s all what might be and not what has been, such as, if England win by two games they become top and if The Sach knocks up, what would be his first ton at Lords, then that would make an incredible 100 100’s which by all accounts is akin to 200 football or kick ball goals, depending on where you come from or 150 tries or 20 golf or tennis majors, but as it stands that hasn’t happened yet, nor is it likely with the weather the way it is, so I think I’ll leave this report till next week. Those that have already tuned into this week’s thribble on the light side I apologise but can categorically state that the usual thribble will return next week news permitting.

It’s early now and… - I’m done

The team that likes roll mops and partying and belts and rum and temptations and feathers and Steve Finn and proverbs and coordinates and pigeons and tiddly winks and Jessie’s! And spin and the Beatles and Buddy Holly and side-show Bob and Ant and Dec and capes and japes and basketball and indoor cricket and psyche and a good rib-dig and loose ends and first balls and a good roasting, and triple tons and whoa-ha-ha’s and cooking and cradles and Yorkshire puddings…and 2010/11 Ashes, and the Gods