Boys will be boys

So, the World Cup is up and running. England have started in their usual stuttery way, Australia still look like winning it and, with any luck, this weekend we'll see Samoa ending any chance Wales have of qualifying for the knockout stages.

It’s been a good start to the competition. The “minnows” are doing their upmost to cause a few scares and New Zealand are hosting well and doing everything they can through social and online media to engage the rugby public during the hours when we’re actually awake but no rugby is taking place.

All good news then? Well, nearly. Now this may come as a bit of a shock to those of you who are regular readers of this blog, but something’s made me absolutely, unapologetically and apocalyptically angry.

What’s caused this sudden gush of fury, you ask?

Well, according to most sane sources, Sunday night at the Altitude Bar at Queenstown’s Base hostel (high quality backpacker accommodation at a very reasonable rate) went something like this…

The England boys go for some drinks in a bar where entertainment is being provided by some small people – midgets, if you will. The England boys have some drinks and have some photos taken with some of the midgets and fans. Mike Tindall talks to a girl. They all go home.

But the fetid toilet bowl that is the British press have done their usual trick of taking some photos, video footage and hearsay and turning it into the scandal of the century. Every element of the story appears to have been taken out of context, sensationalised to the nth degree and written up in the gutter-press' usual spiteful manner.

So they went for some beers after winning their opening game. So they had some high-jinx (which, unlike some papers would have us believe, didn’t include tossing dwarves). So they talked to some girls. Errrr, hello? They’re professional rugby players with an average age of about 25. They’ve actually been pretty fucking restrained if you ask me.



And do you know what the really laughable thing is? The paper leading the charge on this moral crusade is the same paper whose owners, former editors and reporters are under investigation for allegedly hacking into the phones of murder victims and their families. Moral fucking high ground? Fuck off you cunts.

Keep up the good work England. Life's too bloody short.

Too Close For Comfort

Anyone who has experience of playing rugby at university, or at a club post-uni, will recognise many of characters and scenarios that make up this genius set of videos.

I pray they make some more. Enjoy.





Thanks to Rugby Dump for the links.

Twickenham on Pacific?

In what will hopefully be an absolute demolition of Welsh rugby tomorrow, England’s mid-field will line up with the best part of 200kg of solid south sea brawn.

The thought of two players born on the other side of world donning the red rose of England may make the rugby purists spit out their pints of mild in horror. But the prospect of seeing Flutey and Tuilagi in action for England TOGETHER is making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and my not insubstantial balls tingle.

The vision, guile and creativity of Flutey, combined with the pace, power and sheer ferocity of Tuilagi has the potential to be something quite special indeed. And with Wilkinson pulling all the strings at 10 it could be a very sexy match.

That said, a full international as the players’ first pre-season warm-up game means that errors are likely. But as long as young Manu can avoid situations like this…



I’m sure he will have a major impact on the game.

He certainly seems ready to take centre stage and if this interview is to be believed (courtesy of the awesome fellows at Sportsvibe.co.uk) then he’ll hopefully have his temper under control. He’s clearly not the brightest spark, but hopefully those around him will keep a close eye on his temperament during the game.



Good luck on Saturday, Manu and good luck England. Keep an eye out for Charlie Sharples as well. I genuinely believe he could be England’s surprise package this world cup. You heard it here first.