Is it time to get behind Wales or France for the semis?

First topic message reminder :

OK, First off I want to say congratulations to Wales on their superb win against Ireland, and to France for pulling some form out of the fire and seeing us off (as to be fair most English fans thought you may do). Was astonished to see the Boks lose to Australia and by God didn't Argentina throw everything they had at the AB's!

I was really NOT looking forward to this mornings post match WUM fest but was pleasantly surprised to see many of our beloved posters on here like TGG, being quite chivalrous & supportive of England at times, although Viewtothetoilet never misses an opportunity does he!

OK. The point of this post....

A question mainly directed at the Irish & English fans... now we are out of the RWC who do we get behind and support?

Is this a case of the suppossed Celtic connection? Maybe a european connection? Who are the NH great white hope? Which team has the most realistic chance of putting up a fight against OZ / AB?

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:In this RWC NZ is the only home nation. We invite you into our home. Don´t s**t on the doorstep. Put your feet up, have a beer and enjoy the show.

Was it you welcoming England to NZ? I think they took it literally...

I am bitterly disappointed that IReland didnt make the Semis...but having said that the match ups this weekend are absolutely mouth watering. I think we will get two cracking matches.

Wales France games are usually highly entertaining and open (although I think Wales are a little more pragmatic).

In terms of support...I lived in France for a short period in the distant past and have many good friends there and holiday there regularly so will be supporting them.

I also enjoy New Zealand rugby but I just think the Aussies are really looking forward to this....

I'll be supporting the Frogs, cos they're the underdogs and if Wales or the Aussies win we'll never hear the last of it.

Don't mind losing to the Irish, the Scots, the French, but there is something slightly when the Welsh and the Aussies win against us, or win a competition. They love to rub it up the wrong way, their fans and their players.

From the pubs I've been to, the games I've watched live, the ratio of gloating idiots:Magnanimous Victors is not good.

When the French, the Italians, the Scots and the Irish win they commiserate and you want to party with them banter and all.

But never the Welsh and the Aussies.

damage_13 I value your opinion but when you are happy with yourself other peoples opinion will not upset you.
I can happily cheer on any of the home nations but obviously Wales is my No1 side

I'm supporting the Kiwis but that's for family reasons.

damage_13 wrote:I'll be supporting the Frogs, cos they're the underdogs and if Wales or the Aussies win we'll never hear the last of it.

Don't mind losing to the Irish, the Scots, the French, but there is something slightly when the Welsh and the Aussies win against us, or win a competition. They love to rub it up the wrong way, their fans and their players.

From the pubs I've been to, the games I've watched live, the ratio of gloating idiots:Magnanimous Victors is not good.

When the French, the Italians, the Scots and the Irish win they commiserate and you want to party with them banter and all.

But never the Welsh and the Aussies.

You clearly don't frequent the same pubs that I do, I'm gonna go ahead and say that this is a good thing. You also were clearly not in Cardiff on final six nations weekend in 2005 or 2009, on both occasions there were many thousands of Welsh and Irish fans congratulating and partying with each other. There is always some idiot who is prepared to judge an entire nation on a few individuals he has had the misfortune to meet, thankfully there seem to be fewer of them on the new version of 606 than before.

NO TEAM HAS EVER WON HAVING LOST A POOL GAME

irfon17 wrote:

damage_13 wrote:I'll be supporting the Frogs, cos they're the underdogs and if Wales or the Aussies win we'll never hear the last of it.

Don't mind losing to the Irish, the Scots, the French, but there is something slightly when the Welsh and the Aussies win against us, or win a competition. They love to rub it up the wrong way, their fans and their players.

From the pubs I've been to, the games I've watched live, the ratio of gloating idiots:Magnanimous Victors is not good.

When the French, the Italians, the Scots and the Irish win they commiserate and you want to party with them banter and all.

But never the Welsh and the Aussies.

You clearly don't frequent the same pubs that I do, I'm gonna go ahead and say that this is a good thing. You also were clearly not in Cardiff on final six nations weekend in 2005 or 2009, on both occasions there were many thousands of Welsh and Irish fans congratulating and partying with each other. There is always some idiot who is prepared to judge an entire nation on a few individuals he has had the misfortune to meet, thankfully there seem to be fewer of them on the new version of 606 than before.

few individuals? as I stated, I am fairly well travelled in lots of rugby bars, sports bars and the occasional live game since 1999, no, to my regret I haven't been to Cardiff. Maybe its just the Welsh who live in the South of England or their away support and maybe its just how Welsh and Aussie fans react to wins versus England, but from my 11+ years of watching rugby the ratio, like I said, does not stand well balanced (I did not say all, I said ratio).

That is my opinion, it does not make me an idiot. In the realms of spending time with winning aussies or welsh as an Englishman (there has been a few over the years) that time was mostly fairly unpleasant, loud mouthed and unfriendly gloating.

"In the realms of spending time with winning aussies or welsh as an Englishman (there has been a few over the years) that time was mostly fairly unpleasant, loud mouthed and unfriendly gloating."

Unlike the anglos on here who supported and sympathised with us welsh when Fiji knocked us out of the RWC and who seldom mention 2003. Without knowing it you are actually putting yourself in the same bracket as all these fans you detest - its not just the welsh or Aussies mate - If you can't stand the heat then that is solely down to you. I have lived in England for over 20 years and get pleasantly ridiculed for every welsh defeat - It happens but this V2 site appears a healthier place to be.

.

Actually I thought that was a cracking match (on par with the opening match of 2007) and my few welsh rugby supporting colleagues were on the end of nothing more than sympathetic leg pulling.

Unlike the idiots down the pub who set themselves up for the fall. My father, a French supporter and a few saffies ensured the banter was both amusing as was richly deserved. But it was never even bordering on the unpleasant or OTT as I have seen and heard over the years. We shall have to just agree to disagree ... until I meet some magnanimous welsh victors.

Some of the French players are as mad as they are brilliant, how can one not support a team whose coaching staff are as disorganised and stereotypical as the French.

I live in Madrid Englishreign but I think they certainly took the fiesta, siesta culture from here...

I want the strongest NH challenger to get to the final - but which that is I am not sure, mainly because like most I don't know what French team will show up. They didn't play particularly well against England whereas Wales played well against a clueless Irish side which makes the call even less clear.
The Welsh record against all three sides still in it, is pretty poor, so perhaps this is their time.......!

damage_13 wrote:I'll be supporting the Frogs, cos they're the underdogs and if Wales or the Aussies win we'll never hear the last of it.

Don't mind losing to the Irish, the Scots, the French, but there is something slightly when the Welsh and the Aussies win against us, or win a competition. They love to rub it up the wrong way, their fans and their players.

From the pubs I've been to, the games I've watched live, the ratio of gloating idiots:Magnanimous Victors is not good.

When the French, the Italians, the Scots and the Irish win they commiserate and you want to party with them banter and all.

But never the Welsh and the Aussies.

As someone in his late 50's who has lived in England since the age of 13,I have had plenty of the English lording it whist Wales have been in the doldrums.I assume that you are younger than me.You will learn that the wheel turns around and ALL countries have gracious and ungracious winners.You may have come across some unpleasant Welsh and Aussies but trust me there are some unpleasant English out there too!

Yes, the wheel turns theory fits with the Welsh fall from grace since the 70s and some of their reaction to any win since.

I have met some of these unpleasant English before, wendyball fans the lot of them, I have had occasion to put my considerable shadow in their path and say 'If you can't celebrate graciously, then the football is next week/whenever'.

it ruins the atmosphere.

Mind you, the atmosphere in sports pubs for rugby these days is nothing but a shadow of its former self. No singing, banter etc.

damn i need to find another venue again