The Kiwis don't think the welsh are Village Idiots anymore...!

From Rugby Heaven NZ

It may not be such a big night in the bars and pubs of Wales on Friday night.

Sales of Brains Bitter will be down and there will be an eerie silence along the notorious Chip Alley in central Cardiff.

The reason for this is because the nation will want to be up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6am on Saturday morning to watch Wales play Ireland in the World Cup quarterfinal and no other place, including New Zealand, puts so much hope and passion into how their national rugby team fares.

The blind optimism the Welsh show in their team sometimes escapes the reality of their actual situation, but this weekend there will be genuine belief across the country that they can get into a World Cup semifinal for the first time in 24 years.

The obsession with Wales doing well on a rugby field can be suffocating for the players, but being on the other side of the world it does give the team a chance to be away from the hype and focus on beating Ireland, something that they've done on more occasions than they haven't through their history.

Since 1882 they have beat Ireland 63 times and lost on 47 occasions.

But while it will all be going off in Wales on Saturday morning, in Wellington the players have been able to quietly go about their business.

"Obviously we're away from things and cocooned in our environment here," said Wales first-five Stephen Jones, one of the nicest men in world rugby.

"Hopefully there is a bit of excitement generated in our performances so far at the World Cup and people can be proud of the way we're playing."

Jones, a veteran of 102 tests for Wales and six for the Lions, doesn't get fazed by the hype, for him this week has been about preparing the best he can.

"As a player you're so engrossed in your preparation through the week and you just want to get your own house in order, no matter whether it be back in Wales or over here," he said.

"It's just making sure that you're professional in your approach and that you prepare to the best of your ability."

Because Wales play Ireland every year and the players compete in the same Celtic league for their week-in week-out rugby, there is so much that these two teams know about each other.

It will be the 12th times Jones has played a test against Ireland, but he says this is one that will really stand out.

"It is special, it's as simple as that, because of the excitement of the occasion and what it means," he said.


"It's the quarterfinal of the World Cup. OK, we do play against each other in our domestic campaign and internationally quite a bit.

"We do know the players well, but it is going to be a special game this one, it's a one-off, winner takes all.

"The players and management are happy with the way we've been progressing," he added.

"What's important is that we're a healthy group and we've been fortunate with injuries.

"Our game has been evolving and developing quite nicely and it's up to other teams, if they've been studying our form or not, but with the way we've been progressing we're happy."

I've read that twice and I can't see any evidence that you aren't village idiots?

Colin Meads has a jug of beer riding on the Wales Ireland game,against his brother Stan, Pinetree thinks that wales will win and thinks they can also go on to make the final.
Many New zealanders have been critical of Wales over the last couple of years,but what we now see is a team that through a lot of hard work have improved immensely, and are playing very good rugby,and we should be the first to acknowlege that...

aucklandlaurie wrote: Colin Meads has a jug of beer riding on the Wales Ireland game,against his brother Stan, Pinetree thinks that wales will win and thinks they can also go on to make the final.
Many New zealanders have been critical of Wales over the last couple of years,but what we now see is a team that through a lot of hard work have improved immensely, and are playing very good rugby,and we should be the first to acknowlege that...

It is great to hear such accolades from Kiwis, a Nation that we all have the upmost respect for...!

The thing that strikes me about this world cup is that that there is genuine respect for all the quarter finalists. That's not always the case in NZ. Ireland and Wales are seen as definate finals prospects and they haven't been written off as potential winners. Even though we expect to beat Argentina, there is a recognition that they are a quality side, who are suffering more than most from the injury toll and lack of preperation.

I think we have traditionally been regarded as having talked ourselves up without justification. We have lost a lot of respect and been ridiculed for that reason, the team that can beat anyone blah blah, fact is we have failed to fulfill our potential. Getting to a 1/4 is a huge step up but it's what i expect from wales and for me the true test is how we handle it.

Yeh, I can't see the relavance of the title and the article??

so what were the kiwis then hamlet idiots

maestegmafia wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote: Colin Meads has a jug of beer riding on the Wales Ireland game,against his brother Stan, Pinetree thinks that wales will win and thinks they can also go on to make the final.
Many New zealanders have been critical of Wales over the last couple of years,but what we now see is a team that through a lot of hard work have improved immensely, and are playing very good rugby,and we should be the first to acknowlege that...

It is great to hear such accolades from Kiwis, a Nation that we all have the upmost respect for...!

Up until the 70's NZers considered Wales as one of the main forces in World rugby. It took until 1967- during Meads career for the AB's to even the ledger. Oz were not a force at the time so it was really the Boks and Wales we considered the real foes.(and the Lions).

The Lions 71 tour magnified that thinking and as far aswe were concerned the team was largely Welsh. The Deans try of 1905 also entered the equation as a reason to build the drama between the two. You have to imagine the feeling here at the time that after the Lions tour of SA we honestly thought that the rugby powers had completely shifted to the north. We couldnt beat them, the Boks were hammered.

Respect for NH rugby- primarily Wales- was at peak.

Then as if someone just shut the door never to open it again it all stopped. And the door has been shut ever since it seems in these parts.

The respect will always return when a team is winning, showing a lot of guts and determination and most of all is worth watching. Wales and Ireland have both fallen into that category during this cup. Guys like Meads remember those days fondly and seeing Wales up there in the final returns them to the good old days when the AB's and the players they met on the field were at the top. I can't speak for Meads obviously but that will be part of it because playing Wales was a big part of his career.

Good to see I reckon and good luck to both sides Saturday. Just a pity theyre first up.

Yes it's true.

Of course if you guys lose tomorrow to Ireland thinking will revert and we'll ask you to wear colourful hats with bells and a stripy tights and dance your way to Auckland airport with linked arms.

From what ive seen gg they wouldnt stand out anyway.

There is evidence they are village idiots Steve Jones is not in the 22 at all.

Hey stop taunting our little brother

ScarletSpiderman wrote:There is evidence they are village idiots Steve Jones is not in the 22 at all.

Considering the way he has been playing the last two years and how desperately we have been looking for an alternative/back up for him, I consider his omission a very good thing for Welsh rugby. Immediate and for the future.

It would be interesting to get Chris Ratues opinion now. Bet he still thinks Wales are village idiots

Same as above completely irrelevant title which is completely unrelated to anything said in the article.

mckay1402 wrote:It would be interesting to get Chris Ratues opinion

There's a sentence I never thought I'd read.

maestegmafia wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:There is evidence they are village idiots Steve Jones is not in the 22 at all.

Considering the way he has been playing the last two years and how desperately we have been looking for an alternative/back up for him, I consider his omission a very good thing for Welsh rugby. Immediate and for the future.

Maesteg - I meant that Rugby Heaven NZ are village idiots as the whole article is based around Steven Jones and they say

It will be the 12th times Jones has played a test against Ireland, but he says this is one that will really stand out.

I didn't mean the Welsh are village idiots for leaving him out. Sorry if there was confusion there.

The title alludes to a Kiwi journalist who previously called Wales the village idiots of world rugby. It´s not in the article but it refers to Wales´genuine attempt to stake a claim for the final and the impressive manner in which they have been building their performance over the tournament playing good, hard rugby (attractive is not the right word as people are attracted to different things in rugby. Cari, for example, is attracted to Tommy Bowe and Kahui!)

Similarly Ireland have a big point to prove on the international stage as well so that just adds extra spice to the game. Hopefully it´s a great game. It certainly shapes up to be that way.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/need-to-read/2011/08/30/notorious-kiwi-rugby-writer-insists-he-has-no-regrets-over-village-idiots-wales-jibe-91466-29323865/

Here's Rattue a wee while ago. At least he's sticking to his guns. Would be nice to see him vs Stephen Jones in Celebrity Death Match.

The pen is mightier than the sword. These guys would fight though with their swelled egoes. Hopefully they´d knock each other out simultaneously. The loser tag sits so nicely with them.

maestegmafia wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote: Colin Meads has a jug of beer riding on the Wales Ireland game,against his brother Stan, Pinetree thinks that wales will win and thinks they can also go on to make the final.
Many New zealanders have been critical of Wales over the last couple of years,but what we now see is a team that through a lot of hard work have improved immensely, and are playing very good rugby,and we should be the first to acknowlege that...

It is great to hear such accolades from Kiwis, a Nation that we all have the upmost respect for...!

Can we have smileys created for 'brown nosing' and 'self-appointed-spokesman-for-an-entire-nation' please?

damngoodOvalball wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote: Colin Meads has a jug of beer riding on the Wales Ireland game,against his brother Stan, Pinetree thinks that wales will win and thinks they can also go on to make the final.
Many New zealanders have been critical of Wales over the last couple of years,but what we now see is a team that through a lot of hard work have improved immensely, and are playing very good rugby,and we should be the first to acknowlege that...

It is great to hear such accolades from Kiwis, a Nation that we all have the upmost respect for...!

Can we have smileys created for 'brown nosing' and 'self-appointed-spokesman-for-an-entire-nation' please?

or maybe just :hump: but with a dog and a leg!

I just hope we don't let everyone down by reverting to the bad old days on Saturday!

Taylorman wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote: Colin Meads has a jug of beer riding on the Wales Ireland game,against his brother Stan, Pinetree thinks that wales will win and thinks they can also go on to make the final.
Many New zealanders have been critical of Wales over the last couple of years,but what we now see is a team that through a lot of hard work have improved immensely, and are playing very good rugby,and we should be the first to acknowlege that...

It is great to hear such accolades from Kiwis, a Nation that we all have the upmost respect for...!

Up until the 70's NZers considered Wales as one of the main forces in World rugby. It took until 1967- during Meads career for the AB's to even the ledger. Oz were not a force at the time so it was really the Boks and Wales we considered the real foes.(and the Lions).

The Lions 71 tour magnified that thinking and as far aswe were concerned the team was largely Welsh. The Deans try of 1905 also entered the equation as a reason to build the drama between the two. You have to imagine the feeling here at the time that after the Lions tour of SA we honestly thought that the rugby powers had completely shifted to the north. We couldnt beat them, the Boks were hammered.

Respect for NH rugby- primarily Wales- was at peak.

Then as if someone just shut the door never to open it again it all stopped. And the door has been shut ever since it seems in these parts.

The respect will always return when a team is winning, showing a lot of guts and determination and most of all is worth watching. Wales and Ireland have both fallen into that category during this cup. Guys like Meads remember those days fondly and seeing Wales up there in the final returns them to the good old days when the AB's and the players they met on the field were at the top. I can't speak for Meads obviously but that will be part of it because playing Wales was a big part of his career.

Good to see I reckon and good luck to both sides Saturday. Just a pity theyre first up.

Thanks for that its nice to hear positives about the boys for a change. However, shouldnt the bolded underlined bit read, Deans failure to score because he grounded the ball short? I dont recall reading that he actually scored a try? yep the ghost of Rhys Gabe is telling me thats how it was.

damngoodOvalball wrote:

mckay1402 wrote:It would be interesting to get Chris Ratues opinion

There's a sentence I never thought I'd read.

Rattue will wait until the game is over before he predicts the result. As usual.

Yes tycroes... Typically thats how the try or non try is referred to here. Rightly or wrongly.in the eye of the beholder i suppose.

more like Hamlet dwellers.

have the welsh ever been known as the village idiots of world rugby?

On their day, they were the match of a village idiot pretty much anywhere Comfort.

ahhhhhhhh, how i lust for it to be our day again

TheGreyGhost wrote:On their day, they were the match of a village idiot pretty much anywhere Comfort.

GG would know, being the representative of his own village

Taylorman wrote:Yes tycroes... Typically thats how the try or non try is referred to here. Rightly or wrongly.in the eye of the beholder i suppose.

God and you lot have a go at us for still going on about 2007 and the 11 point try that never was.....

TheGreyGhost wrote:

damngoodOvalball wrote:

mckay1402 wrote:It would be interesting to get Chris Ratues opinion

There's a sentence I never thought I'd read.

Rattue will wait until the game is over before he predicts the result. As usual.

No different to the Welsh equivalent Andy Howell.

Geez wheeler i wasnt going on about it. It was the scene at the time. One of those things thats links the countrues in the sport historically.
Plus difference with your try is there was 100% proof it wasnt scored moments after the attempt and the english chose to talk themselves out of what they were actually looking at.
(Now youve brpught it up that is)

Taylorman wrote:Geez wheeler i wasnt going on about it. It was the scene at the time. One of those things thats links the countrues in the sport historically.
Plus difference with your try is there was 100% proof it wasnt scored moments after the attempt and the english chose to talk themselves out of what they were actually looking at.
(Now youve brpught it up that is)

Cor. Did they? You'd think I'd remember.

Tiresome wasn't it? Listening to an endless procession of grown men with good eyesight swear blind that a foot that was clearly touching a white line, actually wasn't.

And then even more tiresomely bringing it up during every single TMO call for the next 4 years that and claiming "If that's a try, then so was Cueto's". You could set your watch by it.

True Tycos Dean`s went to his grave swearing he scored,A,C Wallace said so too.
No TMO then just an English ref not up with the field of play,a great talking point for both sides.
When you only play a side once every 10 or 20 years it makes a difference
after 1969.
When the All Blacks proved too good for THE Great Welsh side it`s been down hill ever since.
The current Welsh side seems to have excited the NZ public this year anyway.
As a Neutral good luck to both sides tomorrow.

Ill say Deans scored if you admit Hadyn dived.

emack2 wrote:True Tycos Dean`s went to his grave swearing he scored,A,C Wallace said so too.
No TMO then just an English ref not up with the field of play,a great talking point for both sides.
When you only play a side once every 10 or 20 years it makes a difference
after 1969.
When the All Blacks proved too good for THE Great Welsh side it`s been down hill ever since.
The current Welsh side seems to have excited the NZ public this year anyway.
As a Neutral good luck to both sides tomorrow.

scottish ref

TycroesOsprey wrote:Ill say Deans scored if you admit Hadyn dived.

Haden dived but it wasn't what Wales were pinged for.

Are we still on this?

Deans scored, Haden dived. But the penalty was not related to Haden's antics.