ABs on top....Officials on the Bottom

Well - in the wee hours of the morning - I logged into the big pool game that we've all been looking forward to. New Zealand vs. France. It was as good as I could have imagined it. Dagg with a couple, SBW scored up, Cory Jane (one of my favourites), and Nonu even got one through. It was fabulous and had me squealing like a 5 year old girl who got a pony for her birthday.

A few concerns coming from the substitutions. Isreal Dagg tried to play out the match but ended up getting pulled off. Thomson, injured again - we're running short on our back row. Boric was put in...I don't know how I feel about this. And then Cory Jane came out with a suspected blow to the end when he heroically took one of the high balls and got a France player right on top of him.

There's hope that these players will be fit for the Quarter Finals. Keiren Reid is due back for Canada's match against the ABs which may cause an audible breaking of my heart if they are annihilated.

One of the greatest moments, other than beating France, was Richie McCaw getting honoured for his 100th test cap for the All Blacks. He joins a sel

ective few in history. I hope that you get many more in that jersey Richie! And maybe you can make a sweet collection of those hats!

I would like to mention the chaotic official moment where the Ref called time off to talk to Richie McCaw on their 5m and the French went for a quick tape...with TIME OFF...meaning the game is not on. But instead of calling the play back on so that EVERYBODY can be ready. Ridiculous. The other ridiculous Official moment was when one of the Argentina players went down and stayed down for a significant amount of time with an apparent knee injury. Official didn't call time off - EVEN WHEN play overtook their position with the ref saying..."Play on, Play on". That's unacceptable to me. First off - for the medical staff. They shouldn't have to be risking their only lives to care for the players. If that happens, the Official is ignoring his Duty of Care in his position. Blow your freaking whistle and let the players get cared for. And to whomever is making up these stupid calls...STOP IT - you will get someone seriously hurt OR end an athlete's career.

And the upset of the weekend...Argentina beats Scotland (13 -12).

What this means for them now? A must win situation against England...and that's bad.
It's not a great place to be in but it's one they are in.


Scotland, it's time to Rise and be that Nation again.