Though lighter on the Rugby (disappointing for this former and now occasional rugby player) than on the subject of Mandela, Invictus is an entertaining movie covering Nelson Mandela’s backing and support of the 1995 South Africa Springboks rugby team, and their efforts in that years Rugby World Cup (the third most watched event in world sports, for my uneducated American friends). Up to that point, the blacks hated the Springboks as a symbol of white supremacy, and Mandela threw his weight behind the team as a symbol of unification.
Invictus (see the poem at the end of this post) is directed by Clint Eastwood (which is reason enough to go see it), and stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Morgan Freeman plays Mandela, and his performance ranks right behind The Shawshank Redemption (IMHO) in a long line of excellent work. Damon plays Francois Pineaar, captain of the South African Rugby team. (more…)
“Grammy says you are too old to play Rugby,” my nephew, who had a short college Rugby career of his own, tells me.
“She’s probably right,” I reply, “but I’m still playing.”
Master’s Rugby players get a lot of grief from friends and family, about why they are still playing (note the timely Sunday Mother Goose and Grimm (4/10/09) comic my wife found for me right before the tourney).
Last weekend, New Orleans played host to the 2nd Annual French Quarter Masters Rugby Tournament. The Texas XXX’s showed in force, along with teams from Memphis, New Orleans and part of a Birmingham team. Undoubtedly, the economy kept this year’s tourney from being as successful as the first one, but we got in two good matches and lots of bourbon street.
Master’s Rugby is for players over 35 years old. The rules are modified to protect older players, but what happens in reality is that the team captains meet before the match and decide on the restrictions. (more…)
The Talking Head’s live album “Stop Making Sense” was the staple at our Rugby games, the tunes that got us jazzed up to play. The movie of “Stop Making Sense” (cue the visual of Byrne dancing in his over sized suit) really pounded that album into my brain.
Byrne has re-united with Brian Eno who produced several Talking Head’s albums for a new album called Everything that Happens will Happen Today. The streamer for it is embedded below. Good to hear you again, Mr. Byrne, and please bring back the suit.
Unfortunately for U.S. Rugby fans, the matches are normally broadcast onpay-per-view channels such as Setanta Sports, which is an expensive addition to cable or dish.
South Africa beats reining champs England 15-6 to claim the 2007 RWC Championship. In pool play on September 14, South Africa had beaten England 36-0. After that game, Jonny Wilkinson returned to the team, putting them on a four match win streak. But the Springboks gave Wilkinson little opportunity to put his mark on the game! Wilkinson scored all of England’s points on two penalty kicks, but missed two drop kicks, whereas Percy Montgomery, the leading scorer in this RWC, had 12 points for South Africa on four penalty kicks.
South Africa and fans are very happy that instant replay is used in RWC play! At the beginning of the second half (South Africa led 9-3), center Matthew Tait made a great run setting up Mark Cueto for what was called a try on the field. But instant replay did show that Cueto’s left foot touched out of bounds just before the ball was put down for a try when he was tackled by South Africa number 8 Danie Rossouw (a winger tackled by an 8??). The try, which would have been a game turner, was not to be. (more…)
Jonny Wilkinson almost went from hero to goat. After coming back from injury, missing the first two matches of pool play, the England flyhalf led his team through to the semi’s including an upset of Australia. But, through minute 75 of England’s semifinal match with France, Wilkinson had missed 4 of 5 kicks, and his team trailed France 9-8 with just five minutes remaining.
But a penalty kick in minute 75 and a trademark dropkick in minute 78 has Wilkinson on the verge of leading his team to a 2nd consecutive RWC title, by beating France 14-9 (nice BBC article on Wilkinson’s kicking here).
England will meet South Africa, winners against Argentina 37-13. (more…)
In two somewhat stunning turns, the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the world, New Zealand and Australia, are sent to the sidelines by England and France who will meet in one semi. Argentina, winners over Scotland 19-13 (sorry Gordon) and South Africa (37-20 over Fiji) meet in the other semi. (more…)
larry | Rugby, Travel | Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Quarterfinals are set with three excellent matches and one potential road kill; and, yes Gordon, pic of Jason White from Scotland!
With some outstanding matches and a few blowouts, the pairings are set for the eight teams entering the knockout phase for the Rugby World Cup. The Quarterfinal matches are:
Australia vs. England
New Zealand vs. France
South Africa vs. Fiji
Argentina vs. Scotland
England had won its way in on Friday with a 36-20 win over Tonga, with Jonny Wilkinson scoring two penalties, two conversions and two drops to move to within 5 points of Scotlands Gavin Hastings for the RWC points lead. England plays long time rival Australia in what would have been a runaway for the Wallabies if not for the return from injury of Wilkinson which seems to have stepped up the play of the entire England side. (more…)
larry | Rugby, Travel | Sunday, September 23rd, 2007
Quarter final pairings get closer, but five matches next weekend will decide who moves to the knockout round!
With five mostly blowout matches and one surprisingly close one with South Africa besting Tonga only 30-25, the Rugby World Cup setup five great matches for next weekend to decide who moves on to the next round.
Australia, winner of pool B, will play the winner of Tonga vs. England (Sep. 28). Tonga is playing well, but it is hard to bet against the English side when Jonny Wilkinson seems to be playing injury free. Wilkinson scored 24 points with 3 conversions, 4 penalty kicks and 2 drop goals, and also setup tries and overall played extremely well. He moved to second on the RWC Overall Points standing, with 206 to Gavin Hastings of Scotland’s leading 227. Wilkinson has an excellent chance to break the record in next weekend’s match with Tonga. (more…)
New Zealand looked everything the favorite as they beat Portugal 108-13, even with many second tier players playing and some out of position.
Neither Jonny Wilkinson nor his replacement Olly Barkley played as England lost the first clash of the titans to South Africa 36-0. It certainly does not look like the defending champs belong in the ranks with New Zealand, Australia or South Africa. It is likely that England’s match with Tonga (winner of their first two matches are current 2nd in pool A behind South Africa) will determine if they even get through to the quarters this go round.
entertaining movie covering Nelson Mandela’s backing and support of the 1995 South Africa Springboks rugby team, and their efforts in that years Rugby World Cup (the third most watched event in world sports, for my uneducated American friends). Up to that point, the blacks hated the Springboks as a symbol of white supremacy, and Mandela threw his weight behind the team as a symbol of unification.
