A word or two
There was more than enough banter about during the World Cup and here at rugby365.com we have kept our ear to the ground and picked out the best of the chatter – both on and off the field.
Amid all the hot air from commentators, referees, players and coaches alike we have selected the top 13 comments passed during the tournament that made us chuckle.
The man with the whistle will always hold court on the rugby field, so there is no surprise that the referees have their chance to drop in a quip here and there… just to break the tension!
* During the United States versus Russia match referee Dave Pearson was knocked down during play. He stood up and said to the player who was getting agitated: “Calm down and you’re getting my washing bill.”
* Another referee, Nigel Owens was organising a line-out and the Samoan hooker Mahonri Schwalger threw in prompting Owens to bark: “What part of ‘wait’ don’t you understand?” Schwalger grumbled after his scolding to which Owens replied: “I’m never going to make a hooker and you’re never going to make a referee.”
* The assistants on the touchline were also able to get in on the action and Romain Poite from France received more than he bargained for during the play-off between Australia and Wales. A loose pass from Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny was collected by a stunned Poite with an open tryline in from of him. Kiwi commentator Tony Johnson’s advise was: “He just needed to keep on running and he would have scored!”
* The witty Johnson was at it again in the quarterfinal between Wales and Ireland after Mike Phillips scored a quality try and the cameras cut to a shot of impassive coach Warren Gatland: “If Warren Gatland is happy with that, his face doesn’t know it yet.”
* Former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall was for the very first time in his life left speechless… well almost. After England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson missed a fifth kick at goal against Argentina – a baffled Marshall said: “I don’t know how I can say I’m speechless without actually not speaking. If you don’t hear anything from me – you’ll know what I mean!”
* After discovering that Italian powerhouse Salvatore Perugini hadn’t scored a Test try, English commentator Stuart Barnes explained: “He mines in the dark places!” The cheerful Barnes then added his own insight into what it takes to be in the front row and threw in a dig at the wobbly Aussie pack for good measure: “I’m talking about bad scrums and I’ve said Australia – that’s Freudian.”
* Before the Springboks had even made it to the airport to depart for New Zealand, wing Odwa Ndungane’s nerves had the better of him when he told the media: “I have got goosebumps in my stomach.” It’s comments like Odwa’s that leaves each of the rugby365.com team with a tear in the throat and a lump in the eye.
* No tournament would be complete without Peter de Villiers adding his voice to the crowd, and one of his very best comments was after being asked for the umpteenth time by a journalist about the Bismarck du Plessis v John Smit debate. Divvy replied: “… what the team needs now is John Smit… and he instills fear to people like you too… ” (You will be missed, Div!)
* There were also some touching moments from the minnows like Romania’s captain Marius Tincu after losing to Georgia and said with a broad smile: “It’s the end of this World Cup. I hope to be at the next.” He is now 33.
* French legend and former Sharks player Thierry Lacroix added his own bizarre metaphor – speaking on television about Berrick Barnes playing at inside centre, along with Quade Cooper at flyhalf for the Wallabies: “He can help Cooper when the spider goes to the top of his [Cooper’s] mind.”
* With the biggest day of his rugby career looming, All Blacks coach Graham Henry claimed he had nothing better to do than entertain the media before the RWC Final: “We’ve got a very experienced group of players who’ve basically taken over the team. They’ve taken on a huge responsibility and I’ve basically got nothing to do. I’m just wondering what I’ll do all day. It’s good to talk to you guys, it gives me something to do in the morning.”
* One of the more verbose Kiwis and a joy to have back in the commentary box is Murray Mexted. As the hardy Georgian and Romanian players marched out of the tunnel for their World Cup clash Mexted announced: “You look at the faces of these characters and they’ve got MAN written all over them.”
* Steve McDowell, a former All Blacks prop, is coaching Romania and Mexted added another pearler when he quipped: “The easiest name to pronounce in the whole of Romania.”
By Timmy Hancox
* Was there any other chatter, chirps or yapping that amused you during the World Cup? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
