missionary says...

@ Trinats. Yeah Loe is a wind-up merchant and always has been. Always liked Kearns...not too objective but entertaining to listen to. I know a few Aussies...generally good people. But then there is you....

Posted 02:57 17th August 2012

olepete says...

Trinats says Argentina pushed NZ in the RWC, but the score was 33-10! Love the trophy....

Posted 17:13 16th August 2012

Trader2 says...

Big call Trinats to say the Sydney winner will take out the Championship. I would be happy to run naked through the Bourke Street mall if the Wannabies won this one, sadly my wife won't allow it (phew). AB's by 11.

Posted 15:41 16th August 2012

startledwombat says...

I lost all respect for Richard Loe when he tried to remove Greg Cooper's eyeball. He shouldn't be a commentator nor in any role that has anything to do with rugby.

The trophy looks like a piece of medical equipment or a poseur's barbecue.

Posted 11:22 16th August 2012

TheTruthHurts says...

I think there is a competition to make the trophy look as bad as possible, a serious piece of junk???? But as we all know winning the comp is all that counts forget what the silverware looks like etc..

I am quite excited to see Argentina in the comp now! It;s been long overdue...

Predictions hmmmm anything less than NZ walking away with the spoils will be seen as a failure for them... with success comes pressure, scarily they seem to handle it well these days. I honestly think it's going to be a 4 horse race, let to spectacle begin! ;) Go you Aussie's.....!!!

Posted 10:48 16th August 2012

whizz52 says...

Trinuts you have got to be joking...my prediction AB's 10+ in convict town.

Posted 09:26 16th August 2012

markpat says...

Can someone please explain "But unlike the Azzurri - who are still struggling to break into the ranks of the world's top five - given the right conditions (like participation in Super Rugby at club level), Argentinean rugby has the ability to become a consistent force in the global game in the near future."

Italy may have never actually broken into the top teams, but why does Argentinean rugby have the ability to but Italy didn't?

Argentina has a smaller population and less rugby players, plus a more limited set of opposition either above their level or below it. (Tri-nations teams are above, south american teams are below).

When Italy joined the 5 nations, they had already beaten a couple of the teams, I believe, and have constantly been at a similar level to one or both of Scotland and Wales each season.

Not saying that Argentina will also fail to stup up (I hope they will, personally), but to suggest that they have more chance than Italy had seems a bit strange to me.

Posted 09:05 16th August 2012

melkdave says...

I dont think the players or coaches will care much ,about how the trophy looks .Its the bragging rights and knowing you are the best in the world if you win it.Thats all the players coaches and fans wil care about.NZ should win it this year ,but they have to seriously think about blooding some more youngsters starting next year.Also HM has to come up with a new gameplan for next year,perhaps his waiting for J.Gooson to be fit ,as i feel he is the only FH in SA who could perhaps add some backline expansion to their forwards power game and not just kick and chase from the backs.As for Australia well stil la youngish team ,but the lack of quality in depth is frightening ,still capable of putting out a very good 15 and decent 22 ,but for how much longer i wonder,as their forward problems are well known , and now its showing signs in their backline espically at centre which i think is starting to be a problem as big as their front 5 .Argentina will surprise alot of peope this RC ,and i expect all their games willbe closer than alot imagine .I also wouldnt be surprised if they got 2 maybe 3 wins either.Though they to have alot of aging players ,but they showed they have sme depth by beating the french and italians this summer ,just how much is debatable.

Posted 03:11 16th August 2012

hayj05 says...

Lol yeah, the trophy is really disappointing. I don't think it's as bad as the super rugby trophy but it's not far off it. Were they created by the same company? Because both are quite similar, are over the top & are just plain ugly.

Classic, simplistic trophies are the best, none of this new age crap where every part of the design has to incorporate the sport or the competition in some way.

BTW am I the only one to thinks that Argentina have the ability to challenge all 3 teams on their home turf, they can be incredibly powerful when they're in the mood at home & I'm sure they're not going to wait around for Australia to try & create history.

For example the last 2 tests the AB's played in Argentina resulted in a 24 - 20 win in 2001 in which the AB's scored a last minute try to win it & 25 - 19 in 2005 after holding out Argentina on their own line in the final minutes. There was also a draw in 1985.

South Africa have been challenged as well. Last 3 tests in Argentina were 34 - 23, 39 - 7, & 37 - 33. They haven't had as much trouble as the AB's but they were still tested in a couple of them.

And sure completely different teams played on those days but it still shows that they can take it to the heavyweights on home soil.

I wonder how the ticket sales are going for the tests over there?

Posted 21:06 15th August 2012

jmanngod says...

ironic that the world's best rugby teams and show-case tournament must endure a trophy that looks like a bar stool that had a satellite crash into it...

Posted 19:52 15th August 2012