Put a sock in it!

After making a fool of myself last weekend by getting the quarter final results so terribly wrong, I thought it would be best for all of us if I'd rather stay quiet this week.. If only these guys did the same:

"They looked like they didn't want to play. They were shocked. They were kicking too much and giving 50/50 passes. If the opposition kept the ball more in their hands and ran with it, I'm sure they could have scored a few more tries. They looked like they wanted to run into their cave, they didn't know what to do. I didn't see much talk from their senior players and in the end I guess they were just shocked with the pressure on them." mmmmmmm... You'll be surprised to know that these remarks do NOT refer to the All Blacks, but that these comments were indeed made by NZ's very own Joe Rokocoko, after his assessment of France's performance against Argentina in the opening game. (NZ Herald, 11.09.2007)

"This forward pack is infinitely better than the one he produced in terms of power, skill and confidence and if Eddie is in the Springbok camp it will give the Wallabies more incentive and determination in saying 'Eddie this is a big mistake' " Alec Evans, the skills coach and "scrum doctor" of the Wallabies, on the Aussie pack in the post-Eddie Moans era. (Super Sport Zone - 31.07.2007) Sjym, Alec....

"In the England test we were outmuscled, outweighed, outskilled and we just weren't good enough." Guess who?? None other than Donut Dunning.... The only problem is that he uttered these words in an interview on May 14, 2007, and surprisingly NOT after last weekend's humiliation in Marseille. Nope, Fat Matt was actually referring to the 26 - 16 defeat to England at Twickenham, on 12.11.2005!! One would've thought that nearly 2 years later, they would have tracked down two props in Aussie who knew how to scrum.... Guess not!! (and Matt: are you sure they outweighed you guys????)

"France pose absolutely no threat to the All Blacks" NZ Herald's regular big mouth, Chris Rattue on Wednesday, 03.10.2007

"So an apparal conspiracy and a delayed coin toss to decide who wears the alternate strip have stepped in to fill the build-up breach.
Not that it matters, because the All Blacks could play in sackcloths and they'd still stomp all over France.
One thing is for sure. With Laporte in charge, All Black supporters can already break out the wine, and those who have travelled to the tournament can even break out bottles of wine with Laporte's logo on them." Still Chris Rattue.... And then they still wonder why the rest of the world enjoyed their defeat to France??

"We do all hate England. All I'm doing is stating the bleeding obvious. No one likes England" Somebody forgot to tell Wallabies rugby boss, John O'Neill, that the world's also not that crazy about his lot... Any case, did Brian Ashton's team need any more motivation??

"It's been phenomenal. They believe they're the best young sporting team that ever stays in their hotels, the most open and friendly and easy to get along with" mmmmm... Someone forgot to tell Ted Henry about Dougie's antics at the Heathrow Hilton, upon their arrival in Christchurch.. DOH!!

"There was drink involved" You don't say, Dougie?? And there I was thinking you just jump on cars for the hell of it...

"For me personally, I don't think we should show them any respect" Jaques Fourie before the Springboks quarter final clash against Fiji.. I bet at 20-20 these guys had your undivided attention, Jaques'ie!!!

"All Blacks by 15 points" Big Pik on 04.11.2007....

"Wallabies to take this one with 7 - 12 points" The same useless, Big Pik......

So, then: Any predictions this weekend?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Go Bokke!