Why are we so good at the rugby?
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<p>In regard to the RWC drought, I thnk it can be attributed to our legacy as much as our winning...that saying 'the legacy you face is more intimidating than any opposition' works both ways.</p>
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<p>How many greats of our game had played and failed in a RWC, going into an event as favorite, with the cloud of failure hanging over those great ABs that had gone before you must play on your mind; if they couldn't win, how are we supposed to?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="593148" data-time="1467321728">
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<p>MAN!!! I was getting nervous watching that and I already kknew the result! That was really incredible! Who didn't touch the ball?</p>
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<p>Ritchie. Pretty sure he was the only one!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="593149" data-time="1467321812">
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<p>In regard to the RWC drought, I thnk it can be attributed to our legacy as much as our winning...that saying 'the legacy you face is more intimidating than any opposition' works both ways.</p>
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<p>How many greats of our game had played and failed in a RWC, going into an event as favorite, with the cloud of failure hanging over those great ABs that had gone before you must play on your mind; if they couldn't win, how are we supposed to?</p>
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<p>Agree with this, and I think conquering the mental side of this challenge has helped the ABs perform so well in the last six years.</p>
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<p>If you compare the England football team, and I don't think they are comparable, because they fall down in the skills and many other areas, I think the mental side of things absolutely cripples them.</p> -
I think the World Cup drought taught us a lot of lessons , <br><br>
I think the brains trust addressed the problems front on rather than side stepping around them and we have come out the other side stronger . <br><br>
You almost sense now under Hanson , the bigger the occasion the better off we are when it comes to focus and mind on the job , that couldn't be said during that drought period. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Emerican AB" data-cid="593106" data-time="1467288031">
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<p>I'm guessing many of you have seen this, but I coach (not rugby) for a living so it was great to see all that excellence distilled into 15 points! Maybe it helps answer the question, maybe not. You guys would know better than me. But interesting, nonetheless. </p>
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<p>Cheers for posting that EAB, I've never seen it before.</p>
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<p>It's all good stuff aside from the No Dickheads section as they tend to just make up what that is on the spot.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="593148" data-time="1467321728">
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<p>MAN!!! I was getting nervous watching that and I already kknew the result! That was really incredible! Who didn't touch the ball?</p>
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<p>fucken true. nonu, smiths, read, franksx2, crotty, cruden, barrett - all brilliant.</p>
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<p>but really, ireland choked terribly there. they outplayed us in that game, and just needed to hold possession for another few seconds and kick it out - and that's down to them, not brilliance or mental strength by us. not to mention the missed kick which would have put it outside one score.</p>
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<p>that happening the way it did certainly increases the chances of a future irish choke in a similar situation though, as that sort of thing lives long in the memory. and i guess that is another factor in our success - that history of not being beaten is intimidating, even at a subconscious level. on the other hand with the period of relative weakness the saffas are going through at the moment and our golden run, there is no game that we go into with any sort of mental 'can it be done' block. </p> -
<p>I dunno, having the right mental attitude and belief that you can still win in the dying minutes was hugely important in that match, whereas if the shoe was on the other foot, hugely unlikely another team could have pulled that off, they would have been resigned to 'yet another close loss'</p>
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<p>Yes the Irish choked, and you'd have to wonder if there weren't a few players probably already thinking to themselves "shit, we are gonna beat these guys"</p> -
<p>Had to watch again!</p>
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<p>24 passes and only one pick and go and the most crucial pass being Coles to Crotty.Magnificent!!!</p>
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<p>Funnily enough to reiterate the points being made above, the deft pass was made by a front rower and the only pick and go was made by a back!</p>