Moan, Moan, Moan - 2011

[Lesley Cox]

Rather have emeralds myself. And Natalia photographed a beautiful diamond tiara.

[Lesley Cox]

I'm so happy that Dunedin's first Rugby World Cup match is now over, especially the Farmers' Market that preceded it in the morning. We had wall to wall people there, including literally thousands of visitors from around NZ and from overseas including the 3 gentlemen below. But I'm moaning because Argentina didn't win the game. I was never going to support the English because they've stolen the All Blacks' playing colours. No reason on earth to wear black and in fact when they first ran onto the field there was an uproar, not supportive, from the capacity crowd. Although the English won, the great Johnny Wilkinson missed several very easy goal kicks. Unfortunately the Argentinians missed more. They seemed to kick as if they had to compensate for wind direction, a no-brainer in Dunedin's brand new glass-covered stadium.
(Another moan, since Dunetin rate-payers are paying for most of it.)

[daveyp1970]

Lesley i watched the match and as a English man i was not pleased with the black at all,like you its not a colour i associate with England.I thought we played very poor and was very lucky not to loose it in the last few minutes.

[David Nicholson]

Of course Dave, you're the man to recognise "poorly playing"

[Anthony Darby]

The black shirt was specifically chosen to wind up the kiwis. It has worked. I think it is a daft choice, but then the All Blacks alternative strip is white!

[Lesley Cox]

It has worked in winding up the kiwi supporters, like me, but the All Blacks themselves just smile enigmatically and don't bother about it.

We watched Wales and South Africa last night, a bruising game which Wales only just lost. A shame as they played better I think and certainly had the better of the ball. I felt the last play was stopped too early, barely full time and the Welshman could have got up the field for a drop goal.

[Anthony Darby]

The alternative football strip of England is red. The Welsh are adult enough not to be wound up by that. No matter what colour you choose, there will be a team whose colours it is!

[Maggi Young]

The alternative football strip of England is red. The Welsh are adult enough not to be wound up by that. No matter what colour you choose, there will be a team whose colours it is!

Yes, but the Welsh haven't been called the "All Reds" for years and years, have they?
I think the All Blacks have a case for their annoyance. It's unnecessary for England to choose that strip and rather rude to their hosts. Whether it has been done out of malice or stupidity is a moot point 

[David Nicholson]

The alternative football strip of England is red. The Welsh are adult enough not to be wound up by that. No matter what colour you choose, there will be a team whose colours it is!

It's blue at the moment actually, thanks to the kit manufacturers who hope to sell millions of strips and make huge, and obscene, profits

[Anthony Darby]

Blue! Better than grey! There are several of the rugby teams that have chosen black as their alternative strip, with Wales, Argentina and Canada being three. The England strip is mainly white with some red. Couldn't they just reverse the pattern and make it mainly red with white?

[Lesley Cox]

I've often thought that the Warriors' woes (NZ's Rugby League team, playing in the Australian League competition) are caused by their having a new uniform every year and even more than once a year sometimes, with different colours in different proportions just about every time they're seen. Must give them some kind of split personality syndrome and it totally confuses the fans.

[David Nicholson]

I've often thought that the Warriors' woes (NZ's Rugby League team, playing in the Australian League competition) are caused by their having a new uniform every year and even more than once a year sometimes, with different colours in different proportions just about every time they're seen. Must give them some kind of split personality syndrome and it totally confuses the fans.

At least they are playing "proper" rugby not that namby-pamby 15 a-side game!!

[Colin]

David!  A Devonian supporting Rugby League, or a Notherner .who happens to live in Devon? Despite being a rugby union supporter I live close enough to RL territory and watch many matches on TV.  RL has come a long way in the past 20 years. As a result it is no longer 26 rather overweight lumbering guys training on pints and pies.  It is a fast attractive game with super athletes.  Unoin has some lessons to learn here I think. Unfortunately professionalism has ruined the natural rugby union game forever   I refuse to believe that my fellow countrrymen in Scotland XV are the best 15 players eligible for Scotland.  They are probably the best PROFESSIONAL players available.  The four home unions should look to reinstating amatuer international teams again.  There are many excellent club players who  simply cannot afford to turn pro
and we are robbed of their flair and talents.

[Colin]

Lesley.  Never mind the rugby - how was the Farmers' Market?  Bet they didn't expect the tunrnout !

[David Nicholson]

David!  A Devonian supporting Rugby League, or a Notherner .who happens to live in Devon?

.................training on pints and pies................................

I'm a Huddersfield lad by birth Colin and that's where the Rugby League was first formed. I used to play a bit in my youth, it was the training that attracted me