2011 Rugby World Cup!

**CDNSushi** · 23rd October 11, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

Then you would like Australian rules football Jim

I do! Problem is getting access to games. It's not exactly widely broadcast in my part of the world...

**Downunder Kilt** · 24th October 11, 12:40 AM

Just heard on the nightly News that a group of Tongans went to a rugby match in a town in the USA to watch a fellow Tongan play in a game. The team with the Tongan player lost and his mates, to give him a bit of cheer, started to do the Tongan version of the Haka. The local police in attendance at the match had never seen this and fearing a riot was taking place, pepper sprayed the Tongans mid haka.

**CDNSushi** · 24th October 11, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

The local police in attendance at the match had never seen this and fearing a riot was taking place, pepper sprayed the Tongans mid haka.

Common sense weeps...

**Tony** · 24th October 11, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

...But being a football fan myself,
......... I like games where there is constant, non-stop action... ......

One of those statements in incompatible with the other

The older I get, the more I appreciate rugby. (and baseball)
Yesterday's game was riveting, and the French came to win, while the Kiwis seemed to play not to lose.
I wouldn't necessarily call it a good game - both teams played too tight, but also too many mistakes. Thoroughly enjoyed it, though had to turn the sound down on the NBC commentators.

**Tony** · 24th October 11, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

Just heard on the nightly News that a group of Tongans went to a rugby match in a town in the USA to watch a fellow Tongan play in a game. The team with the Tongan player lost and his mates, to give him a bit of cheer, started to do the Tongan version of the Haka. The local police in attendance at the match had never seen this and fearing a riot was taking place, pepper sprayed the Tongans mid haka.

blurry

**CDNSushi** · 24th October 11, 07:03 AM

Something wrong with that vid... Why would a group of Tongans perform New Zealand's "Ka Mate" haka?

In any event, it's sad that a cultural misunderstanding would cause such a reaction....

But let's not get into it here -- inevitably it will get political, PLUS it's way off-topic.

I'd prefer to get back on the topic of Rugby World Cup... England 2015!!! That should be interesting. I wonder the British Isles teams will be fired up enough and see enough of a home turf advantage to propel them past the typically strong South hemisphere powerhouses: NZ, OZ, S.A...

**Mike_Oettle** · 24th October 11, 01:12 PM

The final was oddly disappointing. As has been said, the French played to win (but lost) and the All Blacks played to lose (but just managed to win).
I was intrigued to see that a solo singing spot was given after the game to a girl called Amy Westenra. There is a tartan registered to the Westenra family of Christchurch – her family, I shouldn’t wonder.
The name looks Dutch to me, but then that is not a hindrance to having a tartan.
Regards,
Mike

**saxandpipes** · 24th October 11, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by Mike_Oettle

The final was oddly disappointing. As has been said, the French played to win (but lost) and the All Blacks played to lose (but just managed to win).
I was intrigued to see that a solo singing spot was given after the game to a girl called Amy Westenra. There is a tartan registered to the Westenra family of Christchurch – her family, I shouldn’t wonder.
The name looks Dutch to me, but then that is not a hindrance to having a tartan.
Regards,
Mike

Well, I saw the match here in Holland yesterday morning. Indeed, I thought the French played a far better game than the Kiwis, but never mind... Still happy that they won!

Luckily here on Dutch television we were spared the trauma of having to hear Hayley Westenra (her family are from Christchurch, and I believe that her name is Dutch (Fries?)). Anyway, she's a bit of a celebrity singer, something of a sort of cross-over Sarah Brightman type- but something about her voice and "musicality" just kind of gets to me. Considering, we as a nation have produced the likes of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major, Jonathan Lemalu, Oscar Natzka, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Sir Donald McIntyre among others...

Anyway, I hope she didn't embarrass herself too much :S

Cheers!

Michael

To The All Blacks! ;)

**CDNSushi** · 24th October 11, 07:58 PM

I enjoyed Hayley Westerna's performances. She has a lovely voice and she's easy on the eyes too!!! :-D Yes, I could do without some of the fame and adulation surrounding her, but that doesn't take away from her talent.