# It's Tri Nations Time... (rugby) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339 "2003-07-14T10:06:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kiwiboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/35a633/32.png) [@kiwiboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwiboy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/1 "2003-07-14T10:06:22Z")
Well the annual battle for Southern Hemisphere rugby domination has begun with South Africa beating Australia in a close match in Cape Town. After some pretty scratchy efforts against Scotland and Argentina the Boks managed to continue the good form against the Aussies at home. But will it be enough when they meet the All Blacks in Pretoria this Saturday? After a narrow loss to England and comfortable (if slightly unconvincing) wins against Wales and France the All Blacks look distinctly beatable at the moment. Particularly on the veldt… So who do you think will win the Tri Nations this year? With the World Cup coming up it’ll be a great chance to see the relative strengths of the southern big three. Which one of them (if any) can stop the English? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/2 "2003-07-14T10:16:49Z")
All Blacks - Springboks: too close to call. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/3 "2003-07-14T10:36:36Z")
Although delighted with our victory on Saturday, I am sure it will once again come down to which team can win thier away matches. With this in mind, I await next week’s encounter with baited breath… World Cup - I’d expect it to be either England or NZ, much as it pains me to say it. And with the boks in the same group as England, and due to meet the All Blacks in the Quarters if we come second in the group, it is not going to be a pleasent time for me and mine. 🙂 Grim ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/4 "2003-07-14T11:09:36Z")
You wouldn’t know Rugby Union existed living in Darwin :(. I’m hoping for the All Blacks of course, but I haven’t seen any of their games this year so don’t have any feel for how they are playing compared to the others. I watched the Aus/England match last month and felt that Australia weren’t playing anywhere near their best. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/5 "2003-07-16T10:59:31Z")
I loved the following comment on All Black coach John Mitchell’s selections for Saturday’s match against the Sprinkboks: > [@](#): > > Mehrtens can’t run, so he’s out. Cullen can’t kick, so he’s out and Blair’s in. But wait - Blair’s out, Muiliaina can’t kick and can’t even run as well as Cullen [who also can’t kick], but he’s in, and Spencer [who can run but can’t kick in the big games] will kick. The best kicker isn’t in the squad, because he can’t run. The best runner isn’t on the squad, because he can’t kick. Is Mitchell making any sense? On the [Planet Rugby](http://www.planet-rugby.com/) website. 🙂 Grim ---
**Author:** ![kiwiboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/35a633/32.png) [@kiwiboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwiboy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/6 "2003-07-17T08:29:43Z")
Mitchell’s bizarre selections and increasingly metaphysical comments are causing some concern here in New Zealand. The sports press hereseem to be baffled by the man, as does the public. I can’t divine any consistent method to his madness and am reduced to hoping that talent alone will see us through, but who can see. One thing’s for sure, in a little over 48 hours we’ll see where Mitchell’s ‘journey’ is headed. ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/7 "2003-07-17T10:09:50Z")
I think the boks will win (but I’m biased), however they are coming in with a lot of momentum. Everyone was not expecting them to beat the ozzies but they played damn well and came through. I am really looking forward to the World Cup though as it seems to be the first WC where the northern hemisphere, and more specifically England, will actually put up a decent challenge for the title. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/8 "2003-07-17T10:14:24Z")
Who knows about the rugby…just cross ya fingers for the netball kiwiboy! ---
**Author:** ![kiwiboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/35a633/32.png) [@kiwiboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwiboy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/9 "2003-07-18T08:23:58Z")
The netball seems to be going fairly smoothly so far, nothing really troubling until the semis. Just hope they don’t choke in the final (again). I’m really looking forward to the World Cup, it’s kind of nice to see a Northern Hemisphere team looking competitive for a change. And France aren’t looking too shabby either. Just a day and a bit to go! ---
**Author:** ![kiwiboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/35a633/32.png) [@kiwiboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwiboy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/10 "2003-07-21T09:50:59Z")
Sorry for the bump (especially to any South African dopers) but I just have to comment on last Saturday’s game… What a thrashing!!! The All Blacks totally owned the Boks. Oh and we won the Netball as well… Very good weekend for NZ sport. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/11 "2003-07-21T10:03:26Z")
☹ At least I was busy this weekend and couldn’t watch the game - it would have been too depressing to sit through… Grim ---
**Author:** ![kiwiboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/35a633/32.png) [@kiwiboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwiboy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/12 "2003-08-21T06:37:30Z")
Well the results are in and the [DVD’s available](http://members.hn.ozemail.com.au/gerardandkim/) .😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tri-nations-time-rugby/188339/13 "2003-08-21T22:32:45Z")
Hehe! Great site **kiwiboy**. Only 50 days to go!