The Silver Fern

Yesterday I was simultaneously happy for the victorious Boks, and pissed off at the manner of England's defeat. Last night I watched "Building Jerusalem", though, and felt relatively sanguine about the loss. Winning Bill is hard, there's a thousand things that need to go right in execution and even then you need a dollop of good fortune along the way; in contrast only a few things need to go awry, or the breaks don't fall your way, and you're farked. I don't believe in fate, I think , but I do like Terry Pratchett's idea of the narrative imperative - that some stories are just so good they have to happen. History loves a good narrative, and Kolisi's was just a great story! England will rise again, and win it again - 2023 looks a good shout given the age of the current squad and the quality of the age group cohorts coming through.

A couple of other random thoughts (before I forget my Silver Fern password until at least the 6N):

Japan - excellent hosts, honoured by their gallant and exciting national team.

Medalgate - I don't care how pissed off the England players were, awarding medals to the losers is part of the ritual - flush it down the hotel bog afterwards for all I care, but whilst you're at the ceremony suck it up and play your part with grace. Given the politeness of Japanese culture I thought that it was poor show by those who balked at the medal. But it's equally poor show that some will take this incontrovertible evidence as an opportunity to trot out all the tired old xenophobic tropes about arrogant hateful English rugby, the bane of the global sport. Hey ho.

@MiketheSnow unless Rob H had a bet on the first conversion hitting the post...

@ShadowTrooper Not sure I'd agree that England are playing "crash-bash" rugby. And certainly haven't heard anyone of note suggest that the RWC is in the bag. But keep going, please. I've nearly got a winning line on my "lazy stereotypes" bingo card...

Comiserations to all you kiwis, your team let you down, but in fairness they never gave up. But that performance from England would have beaten anyone. Relentless.

The likes of Matt Dawson calling for a law change miss the point completely. The real story here is how sloooow England were to adapt. When they did adapt (intermittently, it has to be noted - wtf? Did they just keep forgetting what the appropriate countermeasures were?) it was oneway traffic. At the risk of sounding like Abe Simpson, this reminds me of a time.... way back in the early 90s I played in the Northampton Business Sevens for my then employer. We were a team of predominantly fatties from various Beds and Northants junior clubs, and definitely not going to terrify anyone by spreading the ball wide. In one of our games we found ourselves playing against a bunch of young tyros from Saints, contemporaries and mates of Dawson. Having been fairly comprehensively outplayed in the first half, at halftime we decided to play to our strengths and scored twice thereafter from a long series of pick and drives up the centre. I'm pretty sure someone in the crowd suggested that our tactics were against the spirit of sevens, but I responded with my characteristic wit ("Fuck off", I quipped merrily).

Time to take a summer break from the Fern, thanks to all posters for amusing, amazing or appalling me to various degrees on various topics. Best rugby forum in the world.

I get the whole "holding the team to a higher standard" thing, but that doesn't necessarily need to translate into being stinting in praise of others, even if their efforts are relatively uninspiring by comparison. For instance, when my kids were little, their Lego efforts were crap compared to mine, but I praised them enough to keep them trying. My wife can't serve for shit, but I tell her that a fair proportion of the double faults are unlucky (or maybe even "in", if I'm on a promise). If you're just going to tell the unadorned truth all the time you might as well be Dutch. And celibate.

Based on England's performances over the last year, I'm surprised no one has suggested fluffers and chokers...

@nzzp said in England vs All Blacks:

@kiwiinmelb said in England vs All Blacks:

My take, England unlucky , not because it was incorrect but because that stuff doesn’t always get pulled up ,

But a similar type situation awarded the lions a draw against the Allblacks last year in the third test ,

And they celebrated like they had won the World Cup ,

Can’t have it both ways .

Actually, I was thinking more about the 2nd test, where the Lions won on a really dodgy penalty that was probably 'correct in law' (player jumping to catch a pass).

One of the things that is starting to piss me off about rugby is the partisan nature of the fans. Feels like it used to be people would cop it, and take it as part of the game; 'yeah - bit lucky to get away with that one'. Now there is so much explaining about how the call was actually right (Itoje was onside, Farrell tried to wrap, and 'accidental offside doesn't exist as he didn't play at it and anyway Read of was offside').

It's really frustrating.

Rather than enjoy the game, and celebrate wins or losses, there is shitloads more argument about the laws we're playing under. Maybe I'm just getting older and more cynical, but it's not as much fun as it used to be

In part I blame internet fan forums (Not intended as a facetious remark). I also blame endless punditry pre, during and post games, rather than good old-fashioned comms, also the exponentially expanded 24hr media - gotta keep feeding that beast - and the far greater access for the everyday joe to reams of video footage support their arguments, be they rational or tinhatted.

Whatever's drIven it, I share your dislike of the trend, but I think it's here to stay.

@crucial Surely they can get hairstyling and makeup tips elsewhere?

As an Irish(ish)man I hope that Ireland will go through regardless, although they need to wake up and smell the coffee after that showing. I'm just so stoked for Japan. I've always been a fan of the Brave Blossoms. Call me a sentimental old fool, but I just love the way they play: a lot of skill, speed, precision and total courage. Best result for the tournament too, of course.

Yet again Best causes me to doubt the theory of nominative determinism. Now, if he was called Choker...

@MiketheSnow said in Stormers V Chiefs:

@Bones said in Stormers V Chiefs:

@MiketheSnow I reckon we could get DoTW to write a letter and we could co-sign. @Disgusted-of-TW ?

I'm in 😀👍

No problem, I have the quill permanently at the ready for just such consumer injustices. Just let me know whether you want wordy or pithy. Also, if they should send any compensatory stash (as if), it's only fair that I get first dibs.

@antipodean I think what I enjoyed most about the clip was it reminded me of all the various games I played towards the twilight of my shelflife, where we'd be scrabbling around trying to get 15 men on the crappy 3rds' pitch, having driven to said crappy pitch across miles of wet East Midlands Saturday (crammed into an eclectic selection of builder's vans and salesman's Mondeos, with borrowed boots and/or damp smelly shirts), there to do battle with an equivalent rabble, in matches that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. Ah, good times.

@mariner4life said in England Vs All Blacks:

@sparky said in England Vs All Blacks:

The citing officiers have elected not to look into the Owen Farrell tackle so he is free to paly against the ABs:

Nov 4, 2018  /  Sport

Owen Farrell escapes being cited over André Esterhuizen tackle

Owen Farrell has been cleared to face New Zealand on Saturday after escaping punishment for his controversial late tackle in England’s dramatic victory

I think i speak for the whole rugby world when i say i am so sick of England getting a free ride from both the officials and citing officers...

(i agree with this citing decision)

Ah yes, the Illuminati-like influence of the RFU. Citing Commissioner for this one was Keith Brown. Bloody one-eyed pom-favouring, er... kiwi.

Right decision re citing, I thought, didn't meet the test for a red card. Wrong decision by ref, should have been a penalty for no attempt to wrap arms, with a possible yellow (although card was purely academic at that stage).

Personally I enjoyed the 2nd half, but the first half set the bar pretty low. Looking forward to next week, I just have a sneaky feeling that England will win. (Caveat, I predicted a Hillary presidency and a Remain vote for Brexit).

Underhill's had a great game - coolheaded finish

Harsh call. Harsh, harsh call

@NTA said in RWC: Japan v Scotland (Pool A):

@canefan said in RWC: Japan v Scotland (Pool A):

@NTA said in RWC: Japan v Scotland (Possible) (Pool A):

@akan004 said in RWC: Japan v Scotland (Possible) (Pool A):

@Blackheart said in RWC: Japan v Scotland (Possible) (Pool A):

@akan004 neither team has beaten the ABs but I agree Japan would be a better choice...anything than those bloody Micks...they know how to beat us.

Yeah. Ireland will be very tough so best to avoid them. We should beat either Scotland or Japan comfortably enough.

That's pussy talk

I spent a lot of money to attend that game. As much as I'm confident we'd beat the paddies I would prefer not to chance it. Besides, a Japan/Scotland, England, SA path to the final would be more desirable

And now I'm confused as to whether you're a pussy or just chicken

I know that there's possibly a joke of some sort to be made here about being unable to differentiate between a pussy and a cock, but after passing on an earlier opportunity to caption the flooded tunnel footage from Japan's training session ("...so THAT's why that call it a pool game"). I no longer trust my judgment.

@Siam said in RWC: England v Australia (QF 1):

@Disgusted-of-TW yes it was a nice and genuine gesture to the spectators and simply an inconvenient scoreline

The inconvenient scoreline was the following week with that draw. If Goldie had been penalised for holding onto the ball right on front of his posts, England could have held on to win, and I would have had a great "I was there" moment to crow about. But on the other hand I've enjoyed 22 years of pedalling " we was robbed" to anyone who'll listen, so it's swings and roundabouts

Sometimes no punchlines are necessary