Rugby World Cup Blog | Jonah Lomu | 2007

Tough Draws for the minnows....

Thu Sep 27 11:20AM

Yesterday we travelled by TGV to Bordeaux to spend two nights at Chateau Cheval Blanc. We will tour some vineyards today and will attend a Rugby Legends Tournament in Begles. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to sample the regions' specialties!

We took a walk around St Emillion and like everywhere I've been in France we bumped into some rugby fans from Canada and South Africa. The older gentleman in the group played for Canada and was in the team that beat the British Lions at 72 he's still playing masters.

I did enjoy watching the two games yesterday but I think it's really tough for some of teams for example Romania had to play Portugal and then they face the All Blacks just four days later. What can you expect from them. Of course they won't be, they can't be as strong as they want to.

And for Georgia after their first ever win, and what a win for them, they will face France. It's too much for them to turnaround that quickly. It has been great to watch then play and they've done well in what is their first World Cup. But it's really unfair to play France (for Georgia), Australia (for Canada) or South Africa (for USA) so soon after another game. It's just impossible with only three or four days rest.

If we want to see these teams improve, you have to give them more opportunities to play against the top teams. They seriously need to look at that on the calendar. They want to change the World Cup calendar and go from 20 teams to 16, and if it's because they don’t play well enough then that's tough because you can't expect great results with that sort of draw. If you asked the big guns to play with just three or four days rest, they will say no and they are in a position to do that.

SAMOA v USA
I was really pleased by the way Samoa played in the first half. But during this World Cup, they haven't played their best rugby which is a shame. USA played quite well also. It was also difficult to watch Fifita Mounga stretchered off the field and I really hope he's okay. I think with Peter Thorburn, they've really made huge improvements. Now, they need to work on how they start their games being competitive from the beginning of the match for 80 minutes. When you watch their second half, they started to come together and it ended up being a close match.

I'd like to add a last word on the referees. I think they use the video referee too much and yesterday Wayne Barnes was a good example of that. If the touch judge makes a call and is confident with it, the ref should go with it. They really don't need to ask the TMO all the time and it would be interesting to see the stats on how often they are used.

Yesterday was also the last game as coach from Michael Jones. He is an amazing man, and has made a massive contribution to rugby as a player and as a coach. He has given so much time and he will be missed and cherished by the rugby world. For me, he is one of the first stars of rugby. He is still to me one of the best guys to have pulled on an all black jersey. Thanks Michael and God bless. Jonah

Comments1 - 10 of 10

26 september is hystorical day for us.georgian's boys are heros.they are our pride.jonah says thruth.we need to play against the top teams.and soon we'll be the top team
From lakushka on Thu Sep 27 12:25PM
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26 september ishystorical day for us.georgian'sboys are our pride
From lakushka on Thu Sep 27 12:29PM
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Well done Georgia, hope to see you in 2011.
From cnrwatson on Thu Sep 27 01:14PM
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Jonah Thank you for your everyday reports. For us, small countries, Rugby is much more than only game. We, Georgian had a ball-game named "LELO", like Rugby, before Christe. So we now call tries "lelo"-s. We need a support from IRB, and I promise, that potencially we can defeat many Top-teams. VIVA GEORGIA!!! Sakartvelos gaumarjosssssss!!!!!
From ssano999 on Thu Sep 27 02:08PM
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Georgian nation is verY enthusiastic with our team. TheY are heroes for us. RUGBY became the most popular sport in our countrY.საქ&#430
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From da_to_g on Thu Sep 27 04:53PM
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Italy were only just beaten by the all blacks so go home new zealand
From sean.oaten on Thu Sep 27 07:56PM
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wher does the hakka originate from
From sean.oaten on Thu Sep 27 07:57PM
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100% agree with you on the turnarounds.Think the old farts at IRB are just trying to get as much money as they can out of the cash cow before anyone rumbles them.Unfortunately none of the big unions have complained about the issue so the IRB merely look the other way.
In answer to sean.oatens question about the haka it originates from the Maori war dance that has been around before the Europeans even knew New Zealand existed.
From mjtanuvasa on Fri Sep 28 07:50AM
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come on england!!!!!!!!!
From jimluck on Fri Sep 28 06:24PM
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England vs Tonga : Congratulation for England. It was a great match.Great back on track to the world cup (a french guy)
From patricech on Sat Sep 29 12:11AM
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