[S4B]

I will take comfort from that thank you Bruvva xxx

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Tell you what, if you'd have told me that there was a good chance that England would be the only home nation team to qualify for the quarter finals before the tournament started I'd have thought you were mad.

They are small countries with a small mentality. England get there because they have a larger base to chose from but we dont have the right mentality either. I struggle to think of an English side or person in any sport that has dominated and stayed there for a decent period. England won the World Cup and sat back and the Cricket side did the same after the Ashes. When someone comes in with drive and an arrogance to be the best we tend to mock them.

[moonbeam]

Scotland thrashes Italy, i am so pleased

[Yudster]

Wales such a shame (ahem) and Australia looked suspiciously rubbish.

They'll still dump in the quarters. Their coach said there would be 13 changes. But this is as far as we could possibly have got, so its ok.

England didn't deserve to win and wales didn't deserve to lose. I'm kind of depressed

Oh you must be joking with both those statements! England still made massive mistakes and aren't a great side by a long long way, but no-one pretended they are - and they never looked remotely like losing the match. Wales played better than their opponents for 15 minutes of an 80 minute game. How does that mean they deserve to win?! Loving James Hook's performance by the way.

[Yudster]

Dump US. They'll dump us in the quarters. Australia are nowhere near their best, but they're plenty good enough to beat the current England team.

[S4B]

Wales such a shame (ahem) and Australia looked suspiciously rubbish.

They'll still dump in the quarters. Their coach said there would be 13 changes. But this is as far as we could possibly have got, so its ok.

England didn't deserve to win and wales didn't deserve to lose. I'm kind of depressed

Oh you must be joking with both those statements! England still made massive mistakes and aren't a great side by a long long way, but no-one pretended they are - and they never looked remotely like losing the match. Wales played better than their opponents for 15 minutes of an 80 minute game. How does that mean they deserve to win?! Loving James Hook's performance by the way.

England have not played a single decent game of rugby in the entire tournament. Wales have played some cracking matches. Even my English husband and every England rugy fan I know agrees that Wales were more deserving overall to go through than England. We will see what happens come 6 nations, I have to say I'm not worried about that at all!

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Haha yes because its the team that plays pretty that wins all the trophies.

Thats why Newcastle are the most successful team in football history.

[Yudster]

Wales were rubbish, they played well for little sections of games, but didn't seem to realise that the object of the game is to do that more than the opponents and score more points than they do. England aren't good, but the results were enough - just - it's nearly over though, even against a sub-standard Australia we have no chance. And I agree about the six nations, it has the potential to be a horrendous tournament for England.

Deeply enjoyed the Argentinian performance yesterday, I hope they have a good quarter.

[Ballbag]

I'd love to see Argentinia win it... not least because I've got them in the office sweep stake.

[Yudster]

I'd like to see them win it because their fly-half is HOT.

[Bruvva]

Well by crikey, that was unexpected...

Always good to see Aussies crying and I'm looking forward to seeing my workmate on Monday

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

That was a World Champions performance. Fair play to them whatever happens now they have proved they wont let their title be given away easily.

[S4B]

It wasn't a world champions performance ( well only in the sense that they are the current world champions) it was mediocre at best and the Aussies seemed to be in complete disarray the worst performance from them in the competition so far. Fair play you are now through and I'm pleased for you. Hope you English fans are now celebrating in style - who do you get next is it the All Blacks?

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Your bitterness towards England is amusing. The performance was excellent and the beat one of the best teams in the world.

[S4B]

I didn't deny that they beat one of the best teams in the world! They did not, however, beat them when they were playing at their best, can you honestly say Australia played well? (and to be honest I'm not bitter at all, I'm glad one of the home nations is through at least). Do you know anything about rugby union Gaspode? If you genuninely believe that was a brilliant match I sincerely doubt you do. There is a long way to go before it is a world class performance, there were moments of fantastic play but the rest was mediocre at best.

[S4B]

Now THAT was an exciting match! Can't believe France knocked out New Zealand! England V France in Saint-Denis next Saturday! Woo can't wait I will be supporting England but that does tend to mean that France will win (losing sides are my speciality!)

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

It was a brilliant match for the tension, the performance of players under pressure, the tremendous defence and that tackle by the lead singer of Bloc Party.

Maybe Australia didn't play well because England didn't let them? They certainly had a game play for Gregan that worked.

I don't claim to know a lot about Rugby Union but that was a great match just as New Zealand V France was. Clearly your knowledge isn't that great as the French won?

[S4B]

I don't claim to know a lot about Rugby Union but that was a great match just as New Zealand V France was. Clearly your knowledge isn't that great as the French won?

Don't understand that comment.

[Bruvva]

I didn't deny that they beat one of the best teams in the world! They did not, however, beat them when they were playing at their best, can you honestly say Australia played well? (and to be honest I'm not bitter at all, I'm glad one of the home nations is through at least). Do you know anything about rugby union Gaspode? If you genuninely believe that was a brilliant match I sincerely doubt you do. There is a long way to go before it is a world class performance, there were moments of fantastic play but the rest was mediocre at best.

It certainly wasn't a game full of flair and invention but it was tense and exciting in that it could have gone either way. It could be argued that England dragged australia into playing the kind of game that suited them and the Australians just didn't have the forwards to give their backs a chance. The performance of our forwards was world class (although it does help having a northern hemisphere ref who understands what the scrum is all about), it's a shame we don't have the backs.

I'll be amazed if we beat France next week but you never know

[S4B]

I think that if they keep their heads then they will beat them, I'll be cheering them on (which may not help I'm afraid), it'll be fun to watch 2 northern hemisphere teams in a semi when they were all written off months ago.

You shouldn't be amazed if France are beaten! Who on earth could have predicted this Semi? The amazement is all long gone now - everything and anything is possible.

[Yudster]

England have proved that Rugby Union is a game played as much in the head as on the pitch. Is not pretty, the way England do it at the moment, but we don't currently have the playerd to DO pretty. What we can do well is work out our game plan, soak up pressure and push really, really hard. The only thing that defines who "deserves" to win and who doesn't is the score. If we can work out a game to deal with Chabal and Michalak - France's only really effective players at the moment - we can win the semi. South Africa might have a different proposition with us in the final than the last time they played us.

Oh, who am I kidding, South Africa will beat France in the final.

[S4B]

I agree Lottie, it was amazing! Haven't enjoyed a game so much in ages

[Yudster]

Oooh, Fiji, so close! South Africa looked a little less than unbeatable though, can't be bad.

[S4B]

It's looking ok so far. At least the French decided to nobble their own star player Chabal by sticking fingers in his eye - that amused me.

England need to stay focussed - 1st try was amazing!

[S4B]

I'm not convinced they can beat the S Africans. Mind you anything can happen! Game full of Guts and Determination! Still need to keep their concentration but they did really well.