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It's possible, I guess, but the Boks don't seem to be taking any team lightly. They played their first XV against the US. If England wins it, they more than deserve it. They're way past where I thought they'd be in this thing, especially after seeing their match against the US. Good on them.

I actually have an old-school England jersey that I wear for training. I'm a fan except against the Springboks.
 
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This is a laugh from the official website with the caption identifying the ball carrier as Bryan Habana against Argentina.

GYI0050830492_3527_SQ_MEDIUM.jpg
 
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The Springboks want this one. Badly. They have been working toward it just like Woody used to work toward the TSUN game, for more than two years. In the South African press, the team repeatedly is dismissing the shellacking they gave England earlier. They say the slate is wiped clean and they expect the game of their lives.

I think they will win easily.
 
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RugbyBuck;963323; said:
Have you heard whether Mandela is planning to be there for the Final, Steve?

Never too soon to look ahead, I think we should plan a trip to the 2011 RWC in NZ to see the Boks defend the crown.

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PHOTO:BBC

He has met with the team but it is felt that he is now too old to travel and get caught up in a crush on the field. (Link)

Nelson Mandela urged the Springboks on Thursday to emulate their 1995 World Cup victory when his appearance in a gold and green jersey became one of the iconic images of the post-apartheid era.

The ageing former South African president, who will not be travelling to France for Saturday's final against defending champions England, said in a pre-recorded video message to the team he was convinced that they would return home triumphant.

"I do not doubt for a moment that the Springboks can win back the trophy," Mandela, 89, said in comments carried by the Sapa news agency.

We know that our boys have the ability, strength and determination to be victorious once more, because we are a winning nation."


While the government renewed its warnings Thursday that the white-dominated Springboks would have to become more racially representative, Mandela said the huge public support for the team could act as force for unity.

"We are powerfully reminded of that historic day in 1995," he said.

"We not only won the Rugby World Cup, but more importantly we were one nation united behind our victorious team."

Mandela presented the 1995 trophy to South Africa captain Francois Pienaar at Johannesburg's Ellis Park while dressed in a Springbok jersey, a move seen as a gesture of reconciliation towards the minority white population a year on from the end of apartheid.

Last month, South Africa beat England 36-0 at the Stade de France, the venue for Saturday's final, in what was the title-holders' record World Cup loss.
 
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So, I get to the English bar, and these pathetic wanker, wanna-be fucks don't have the match on because it's pay per view. The bartender wouldn't tell me where it was on, but the couple next to me clued me in that it was at Fado an Irish bar a couple of blocks away, so I make my way up there.

$20 cover to get in, and there's a waiting line. End up watching the second half of the first half through the window with some Brits. We make a 7-11 run for a pint of Bushmills which we finish by the half at which point some people are leaving and we're first in order to get in. Go in at halftime. The place is fucking packed...all three floors...people sitting two-by-two on the stairs to watch the match. Buy my first Boddingtons. The crowd is about 70% Brits;20% South Africans 10% Americans. Group of Aussies see my hat and start yelling, "Go Bucks." End up watching the second half with them. They're for England, but all is friendly and good (Ohio State is their favorite American football team). Many Boddingtons; many shots of Bushmills. Great defensive match--damn the Boks have gotten fast since their dark period earlier this decade...they were always big and strong but slow as shit; that's changed!...damn that one gigantic dude is tough as shit, cracks his cranium, has the trainer come out and bandage his dome and never leaves the field...only thing he was missing was the fucking bolts in his neck.

End of the day, the best sporting event that I've ever watched in a bar. Match ends...catch a cab up to Roscoe Village for the second half of the Buckeyes game and the epic beatdown of Notre Dame.

Picked up some lobster bisque and a massive dry aged prime steak at whole foods on way back to Lincoln Park...about to cook it while I watch my new dvd of Shaft in Africa. All is well.

Go Hockey Bucks...Kick Fredo of Ohio's ass tomorrow!
 
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Congratulations, South Africa! Great match, if you like defense and kicking.

I was wrong, this was not the beat down I expected. Good job by the English of not being run off of the pitch and for even being in the Final at all. They have nothing to regret. They did a better job of defending the title than anyone thought. It will be interesting to see how the next English generation does as so much of this team will have retired by 2011.

I think the call against the English try was wrong. From the reverse angle it certainly looked like a try to me. That would've made it 10-9 and possibly a different game. Nevertheless, the Boks played excellent Tressel-rugby with good defense and superior kicking, took advantage of the penalties they were given and rode the boots of Montgomery and Steyn to victory. Very well played.
 
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Had lunch today with a table of rugger-buggers from all over the world. A good time was had by all, celebrating the South African WC! Apparently, not much got done in SA today, due to the hangovers!:biggrin:
 
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Steve19;968160; said:
Had lunch today with a table of rugger-buggers from all over the world. A good time was had by all, celebrating the South African WC! Apparently, not much got done in SA today, due to the hangovers!:biggrin:

A well deserved recovery day. Interesting how things turned out for the Tri-Nations teams. White's strategy of sending B-sides to OZ and NZ certainly seemed to pay off although he was roundly criticized for it at the time.
 
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