League "World" Cup

[rowan]

Just having a look at the "Italian" squad and in among the Jacks, Joshes, Ryans, Gavins, Richards, Colins, Terrys, Brendens, Nathans, Shannons, Jaydens & Joeys, we find a certain Mirco Bergamasco - 89-test veteran for the Azzurri and now in his mid-30s. The "Lebanese" team, meanwhile, is full of Robbies, Mitchells, Dannys, Jamies, Andrews, Tims, Rays & Jasons...

[rowan]

Australia beat England 18-4 in the opener. No, I'm not getting interested; just stopping to gawk at the scene of an accident...

[morepork]

I think people are pretty clear where you stand. Maybe change the record now?

[rowan]

I think people are pretty clear where you stand. Maybe change the record now?

& I think we're all well enough acquainted with your moronic responses to perfectly inoffensive posts, so perhaps it is you who needs to change the record, because there is nothing remotely clever about being a moron.

[morepork]

Your grasp of the English language is truly astounding. I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but do you over react to a bit of banter this much in real life?

[rowan]

Your grasp of the English language is truly astounding. I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but do you over react to a bit of banter this much in real life?

This from the resident moron & precious defender of the mullet-wearing brigade

Joins a thread with the juvenile intention of winding somebody up and ends up in a frothing seizure himself.

Anyway, just having a larf. I don't mind a good test match in either code, and at least these two teams actually speak the languages of the countries they're playing for:

[morepork]

"A frothing seizure"

[Mellsblue]

Thank you.

[morepork]

Thank you.

Weirdo.

[Mellsblue]

Thank you.

Weirdo.

Simple things.

[rowan]

PNG giving Wales a right old pasting at the moment. 44-0 3/4 mark.

FT 50-6.

[Digby]

So basically it's a World Cup, Sam Burgess was only on the pitch a short while, and England got humped by Australia. How things change

[rowan]

Just learnt this is being co-hosted by NZ & P N G

New Zealand and Papua New Guinea joined co-hosts Australia in making winning starts to the Rugby League World Cup, posting emphatic victories Saturday.

After Australia beat England 18-4 in the opening match of the tournament in Melbourne on Friday, Papua New Guinea posted its largest-ever test victory in beating Wales 50-6 in Port Moresby, while New Zealand defeated Samoa 38-8 in Auckland.

The wins ensured the three host nations were in first place in their groups at the end of the tournament's opening weekend.

In the last match Saturday, Fiji led the United States 20-0 after 16 minutes and 35-6 at halftime, beating the American side 58-12 at Townsville in north Queensland state. Jarryd Hayne, who played a season with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, scored one of Fiji's 11 tries.

http://sobserver.ws/en/29_10_2017/sport ... peners.htm

[rowan]

Tonga just smashed Scotland and the Aussies disguised as Lebanon beat one of the tournament's few legitimate teams - France.

So purely as a passing observation I'd have to say international league looks as though it has gone backward somewhat, certainly since rugby turned pro two decades ago, with only the Pacific Islands showing any improvement - and I suspect that has more to do with lax eligibility laws than the strength of their domestic leagues.

[morepork]

More rain bomb than passing observation I'd say.

Taumololo, Vatuvei, Kata, Fusitu'a...poor Scotland.

[rowan]

More rain bomb than passing observation I'd say.

Taumololo, Vatuvei, Kata, Fusitu'a...poor Scotland.

3/4 guys you just named were born & raised in NZ.

[morepork]

I know. So was I. Is my contribution also subject to your narrative mission?

[rowan]

So Oceania teams are 3-0 against European teams thus far, scoring a combined 118 points to 14 along the way.

Looking at the attendances for the big game, I see 22 K were on hand for the Roos v Poms opener, and just 17 K for the Kiwis v Samoa clash. Lots of thrilling pre-match war dances tho

[rowan]

On the same day that I read a BBC report about the "blissful brotherly love" at the Rugby League WC, I am reading this unpleasant news from much closer to the action:

Samoan and Tongan rugby league fans have been caught on camera in a mass brawl that blocked a South Auckland street.

Simmering tension between the rival fans has led to Samoan boxing legend David Tua making a public plea for peace ahead of the two countries squaring off in the Rugby League World Cup in Hamilton this Sunday.

Video footage has emerged on social media showing groups of young Tongan and Samoan supporters arguing and fighting in the street on the corner of Great South Rd and Avenue Rd, Otahuhu.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11939262

Thank goodness we don't have that in uni

[morepork]

You are like some sort of warped eugenics guru.

[rowan]

You are like some sort of warped eugenics guru.

It's not me that chooses to live in a country that actually applied eugenics - excessively. So, get over that massive chip on the shoulder and stick to talking about the topic at hand. You're from Auckland, right? What do you think about Samoans and Tongans brawling in the streets over league? I don't think it was anything too serious, judging by the video clip, but that's the first I've ever heard of sport causing racial violence in NZ. Very sad indeed.

[morepork]

You are like some sort of warped eugenics guru.

It's not me that chooses to live in a country that actually applied eugenics - excessively. So, get over that massive chip on the shoulder and stick to talking about the topic at hand. You're from Auckland, right? What do you think about Samoans and Tongans brawling in the streets over league? I don't think it was anything too serious, judging by the video clip, but that's the first I've ever heard of sport causing racial violence in NZ. Very sad indeed.

I grew up in South Auckland (from the age of 9 or so, at least). Sport doesn't cause racial violence in NZ, sorry.

[rowan]

Roos beat Frogs 52-6 predictably. Remember it's only 4 for a try in league, 2 for a con or penalty, and 1 for a droppie, so anything over 50 while your opponent is still in single digits must be considered a blow-out.

Meanwhile, more on the street brawls in Auckland:

A Tongan Advisory Council member has hit out at the organisers of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, after clashes between fans has marred the build-up to the Tonga vs Toa Samoa match in Hamilton tomorrow night.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zea ... -world-cup

[kk67]

I'm no fan of hooliganism or indeed partisanship......but the Samoa v Tonga rivalry/antipathy has always seemed a tad amusing. Probably by having played against or alongside both representatives I've found it's all rugby at the final whistle.
Blydi good singalong with London Tonga in the bar.

[rowan]

Tonga, the smaller of the two, ruled Samoa for several centuries and treated its people as slaves. That came to an end in the 16th century, I believe, but has never been forgotten by the Samoans, of course. So they have a similar thing going to Britain and Ireland, or Britain and France, or England and Scotland.