The Rugby League World Cup

[tw25rw]

It was good to see so many English blokes belting out Flower of Scotland with pride as well.

SC

England needs a song like that instead of the old German hymn..

[StreetCowboy]

As we approach the end of the Group stage, USA and Italy have been the standout teams, while Wales and Papua New Guinea have failed to live up to expectations; in their game against Samoa last night their high error count cost them the game, while Samoa got the better of the refereeing to run up a big score; 38 - 4 at full time.

Samoa will be optimistic going to Perpignan, while Papua New Guinea face a daunting match against New Zealand at Hedingley.

SC

Edited November 5, 2013 by StreetCowboy

[smokie36]

Tryless after the first quarter of the game, Scotland open up a 14 - 0 lead, but Italy pull back to 14 - 12 down for half time on a cold Cumbrian evening. At least the rain has stopped.

Some great half-time shots of the chip van, bytheway, gives me a bit of a hungering for a haggis supper

SC

There, there, my good man.

25190.jpg

Apologies for the mayo soaked broodjes you have been offered.....

Ahh now that's better!

[StreetCowboy]

Lovely! Is that the Daily Express?

What has the World Cup coverage been like in the Scottish press?

SC

[Dancealot]

Lovely! Is that the Daily Express?

What has the World Cup coverage been like in the Scottish press?

SC

They advertise cheap flights to Bangkok.....

The article about Queensland is a good read. I have never flewn Quantas.

[StreetCowboy]

Ha ha! What has America got to challenge the mighty Scottish mealy pudding? I'm off to bed, so I'm relying on you boys for the commentary

SC

[David48]

As SC correctly points out ... Scotland v USA is on in 45 mins

EDIT ... and to warm SC and all his fellow Scots - Scotland are warm favourites @ $1.42

The next game I can see is - New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea ... but that's not for another 24 hours

Edited November 7, 2013 by David48

[David48]

I'm off to bed, so I'm relying on you boys for the commentary

SC

The line of the night has to be ...

happy in the highlands and beaming at the boarders ...

[StreetCowboy]

I was chortling gleefully all day, and my colleagues kept giving me strange looks, but it would have been too difficult to explain rugby league to these chaps from Singapore, so I just said "Sorry, lads, I'm losing the plot with the mindless tedium of this meeting", and they all nodded sympathetically. So it's all down to Tonga keeping the Itais in check,

SC

[Dancealot]

I was chortling gleefully all day, and my colleagues kept giving me strange looks, but it would have been too difficult to explain rugby league to these chaps from Singapore, so I just said "Sorry, lads, I'm losing the plot with the mindless tedium of this meeting", and they all nodded sympathetically. So it's all down to Tonga keeping the Itais in check,

SC

I'm listening, Streetcowboy.

[StreetCowboy]

The line of the night has to be ...

happy in the highlands and beaming at the boarders ...

It's a night of tartan delight

[Dancealot]

Watching the Australia - Ireland match..

[tw25rw]

The Ireland game was ok. The Irish did their best, but it was always going to be one sided. It's been a good tournament so far and now we are getting to the games that matter.

I'm not convinced by this Australian team. NZ are dangerous and England the best I have seen them.

[StreetCowboy]

What do you reckon are the chances of an upset in the Quarter-Finals? Samoa / France v Fiji is the only one that I would bother placing money on, if I was a gambling man - but only because the France team have been so disappointing.

The semis and final are on at convenient times, at least.

It really has been an entertaining competition, and the tiered group stage has worked well - I wonder if Union should take notice. Although I was looking at the pools for 2015, and certainly in Scotland's group I see a lot of tight matches. Samoa, Scotland, Japan, USA (some assumptions on qualification there) should all be very competitive

SC

[David48]

I reckon the Cook Islands could be a strong showing ...

[Jubes]

One thing I have been impressed by is all the talent from the Nrl and Super league spread across each individual team in this tournament. Ok so there might be a few ring ins here and there but can only be good thing for the international game, bar a few teams lacking experience in key positions namely in the halves who can put the polish at the end of the sets the international games are looking awesome an its only going to be more competitive in 4 yrs time. I really did think it was going to be a fizzer of a tournament but have shown it is quite healthy.

Has been Great to watch. Go the kiwis!!!

[StreetCowboy]

I reckon the Cook Islands could be a strong showing ...

Should be a close game against Wales - Cook Islands did well against Tonga.

I doubt I'll stay up for the Tonga - Italy game, which will decide who goes through to the Quarter-Finals between Scotland and Italy.

SC

[David48]

Tonight's games ... in just over 4 hours ...

Wales v Cook Islands

followed by

Tonga v Italy

I have nothing against Wales ... but I would like to see the Cook Islands emerge on top tonight.

SC ... what the best outcome for Scotland from the Tonga v Italy or doesn't it matter to the outcome?

[Jubes]

I like the look of Isaac John's the halve for cook lslands. Watched him play for the panthers this year and seen some good things but this bloke could be anything, he directed the team around nicely against Tonga the other night but were unlucky on the THAT try try. He will be definitely one to watch and I bet the warriors are spewing they got rid of him

[StreetCowboy]

Tonight's games ... in just over 4 hours ...

Wales v Cook Islands

followed by

Tonga v Italy

I have nothing against Wales ... but I would like to see the Cook Islands emerge on top tonight.

SC ... what the best outcome for Scotland from the Tonga v Italy or doesn't it matter to the outcome?

If Italy win by 1 point or more, they go through on For and Against (currently equal).

if they draw or lose, Scotland go through.

Wales v Cook Islands, I'd like to see Wales play well, as they grossly underperformed to date. From Cook Islands v Tonga, though, Wales' best might not be good enough.

Anyway, I've had a busy day already, what with the recordings from earlier in the weekend and a nice day out at MBPJ, Kelana Jaya, so I might let Tonga look after themselves this evening while I make some Zeds in preparation for the week ahead.

SC

[StreetCowboy]

... And we're going to Hedinglee!

Hedingleee! Hedingleee!

Tonga stick it to the Italians in a frantic game (according to the reports, I've not watched it yet) and a 16-0 score line hands the group wooden spoon to occasional group favourites Italy, while Scotland meet New Zealand in the Quarter Finals in Leeds on Friday night.

SC

[StreetCowboy]

... And we're going to Hedinglee!

Hedingleee! Hedingleee!

Tonga stick it to the Italians in a frantic game (according to the reports, I've not watched it yet) and a 16-0 score line hands the group wooden spoon to occasional group favourites Italy, while Scotland meet New Zealand in the Quarter Finals in Leeds on Friday night.

SC

[tw25rw]

I thought, and hoped, Italy would go through..

[David48]

Tomorrow morning ... NZ vs Scotland ... may the Laddies be brave ... very brave.

Best round of the QF's will be Samoa vs Fiji ... Sunday afternoon, early Monday morning ... depending on where you live.

I hope to feel the hits from 1/2 world away ...

[tw25rw]

I'd love it if Scotland won, but they won't..I have a strong feeling that NZ will win the cup.

[StreetCowboy]

Well, that's our Wembley dream over... No chance of a semi-final against the auld enemy. So I'll be off to Hampden Park for a round-ball friendly kickabout with the lads from the USA - ah, I see from the news reports that game was contemporaneous with the Headingley match, and the score was 0 - 0. At least the League boys managed to get a score... and the final Scotland game of the weekend will be against the Springboks, at the nematode-infected pitch at Murrayfield.

Tonight, both games are on live; the USA, probably still out of breath from their kickabout last night at Hampden, meet Australia in Wrexham, while the French get a chance to stick it to the English at the home of the Pie-Eaters, the DW Stadium in Wigan. As usual, the best game of the weekend will come from the Halliwell Jones in Warrington, where Fiji meet Samoa. I expect Ray and Allan will be warming up as soon as the Lord Rodney opens

SC

[StreetCowboy]

And the USA miss out on their first trip to Wembley as well, slipping to an unflattering 62 - 0 defeat.

SC

[David48]

Don't forget tonight/afternoon ... in 10 hours time.

A double header

First up ... New Zealand vs England

Followed by Fiji vs Australia

[StreetCowboy]

Wembelee! Wembeleee!

The England - New Zealand game is on live on Astro, but the Australia Fiji game after not. The Scotland - Australia test in the other code is on though, but a 6 pm kick-off is too late for me, so I'll watch the recording in the morning, probably.

I'm looking forward to the England - New Zealand game. I'm expecting a lively crowd at Wembley and a good runout for Sam Tomkins before he heads off to NZ Warriors. There's some right ruffians in the squad as well - Gnasher Graham, who's been offered a part in the remake of Jaws, and boxer Benny Westwood might have more difficulty against an opponent who's standing up... I wonder how they'll cope with the NZ Heavyweight champion?

Roll on this evening... not such a convenient time for you chaps down South, though

SC

[David48]

Don't forget the Georgia vs Saoma match in just under 9 hours time