:freak:

Congas on the Champs Elysees and joy in the Frog and Rosbif

 

Last updated at 00:08am on 14th October 2007 Comments (5)

The streets of Paris were painted red and white last night as England fans celebrated the incredible victory over France.

 

There was no trace of Les Bleus as fans of 'les rosbifs' lit red and white flares all over the French capital.

Celebrations were good natured – with congas down the Champs Elysees and in front of the Eiffel Tower, where large crowds had gathered to watch the match on big screens.

Much of the fun centred on The Frog and Rosbif pub in Chatelet, which had become the unofficial headquarters for England's hordes.

 

We've done it: Ecstatic fans at the 02 Arena in London can hardly believe England's stunning victory

 

Owner Paul Chantler announced: 'I moved to Paris more than a decade ago but this is the proudest moment of my life. I want to salute the team but also our magnificent fans, who have made Paris their own.' Despondent French fans, meanwhile, were overheard cursing Jonny Wilkinson as they stormed home.

Travelling England fan Peter Jones said: 'You have got to feel sorry for the French but I will be singing God Save The Queen all night along.'

Back in England, there was an atmosphere of stunned jubilation at the last-gasp victory.

There were wild scenes at the O2 Arena in London's Docklands among the 5,000 England fans who had gathered to watch the match on big screens. Some of the younger female supporters burst into tears after Jonny kicked his winning drop goal and there were chants of 'Jonny, Jonny, Jonny'.

Elsewhere in London, many bars were also packed, many with outnumbered French supporters.

In The Rugby Tavern in central London manager Amy Hellyer said: 'We are packed. The mood is very, very good. Our customers are happy, apart from the French who are in here.'

Supporters watching the match at Sale Sharks rugby club went mad when the final whistle blew in Paris. They laughed, they cried and they danced in the street. Barmaids danced around the room and impromptu congas were formed.

Drinkers burst into a round of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' at The British Queen pub in Portsmouth as the win began to sink in.

Landlord David Place said: 'We are jubilant. When Jonny kicked the first penalty everyone was cheering and jumping about. When he did the drop goal, the place erupted.'

ohhh

we're attack by english Alien

lol

frog= french....and rosbifs= england....right?:P

lol

right

johnny wilkinson's style of game has single handedly ruined rugby. winning on penalties as opposed to running the ball and try-scoring is a disgrace. yes, england played better both against the aussies the french, but its very annoying that type of rugby wins tests. rugby is not a game of drop goals and place kicks, its a game of deft running, deking and physical contact. where did it go?

johnny wilkinson's style of game has single handedly ruined rugby. winning on penalties as opposed to running the ball and try-scoring is a disgrace. yes, england played better both against the aussies the french, but its very annoying that type of rugby wins tests. rugby is not a game of drop goals and place kicks, its a game of deft running, deking and physical contact. where did it go?

 

Complete and utter drivel. Rugby is a game of many skills, of which scrumming, mauling, tackling and kicking are every bit as important as running and try scoring.

You do whatever you need to do to win a match, as long as it's "legal".

There's nowhere to hide when you're on the field of play in rugby, which is one of the reasons it's so attractive.

My uncle played for England and the British Lions, and I'm sure he is very proud of the true grit England have displayed in those last two matches.

At the end of the day, if you don't play well enough, you don't deserve to win, and both Australia and France let themselves down in this respect.

Jonny Wilkinson is one of the greatest rugby players of all time, always gives everything (even now he's playing with various injuries), and you are just full of sour grapes because you lost (yet again) when it really mattered.

Please go away and come back after you've read up on the rules and the history of the game, which was of course invented in ENGLAND, which is therefore the home of rugby AND football.

Case closed.:smug:

Also, whether England now win the final or not, what they've achieved this time is arguably even more impressive than when they won four years ago, as on that occasion they went into the World Cup somewhat as favourites and were expected to do well, whereas this time around they were dismissed (deservedly) as no-hopers who would be lucky even to make the quarter-finals.

After they were thrashed by South Africa, there can't have been anybody who even gave them a hope.

To come back from a mauling like that and reach the final is a phenomenal achievement.

If South Africa make the final, everyone will be expecting them to beat England easily, which might well work to England's advantage.

Whatever happens now, England have done the nation proud.;)

Complete and utter drivel. Rugby is a game of many skills, of which scrumming, mauling, tackling and kicking are every bit as important as running and try scoring.

You do whatever you need to do to win a match, as long as it's "legal".

There's nowhere to hide when you're on the field of play in rugby, which is one of the reasons it's so attractive.

My uncle played for England and the British Lions, and I'm sure he is very proud of the true grit England have displayed in those last two matches.

At the end of the day, if you don't play well enough, you don't deserve to win, and both Australia and France let themselves down in this respect.

Jonny Wilkinson is one of the greatest rugby players of all time, always gives everything (even now he's playing with various injuries), and you are just full of sour grapes because you lost (yet again) when it really mattered.

Please go away and come back after you've read up on the rules and the history of the game, which was of course invented in ENGLAND, which is therefore the home of rugby AND football.

Case closed.:smug:

 

love the fact you took it personally mate ;)

 

physical contact implies scrumming, mauling and tackling, what i'm saying is its not true (traditional) rugby to win off someones boot ( and it sure as hell isn't entertaining to watch. look at all the great players of the past, lomu, campese (all physically intense) whereas the modern game has been turned into a tactical battle of pretty boy flyhalfs and their kicking boots. thats the shame. that includes dan carter too.

 

wasn't cricket invented in england too? oh yeah about that... missing the ashes? i mean after all you invented the game. and england would know all about choking, look at the world cup. ahem. case closed. at least we've won two world cups. get a second and we'll talk...

and as to where it went, wasn't it the england scrum that beat australia and stopped them from playing the game they wanted?

and as to where it went, wasn't it the england scrum that beat australia and stopped them from playing the game they wanted?

 

Yup. I'm afraid those Aussies are just the sorest of losers. If you don't want to lose through penalties, then don't give them away (by cheating).

As for drop-kicking, when it's done by the likes of Jonny, it's an art-form, and should be revered for its beauty.:smug:

3pts to that!

love the fact you took it personally mate ;)

 

physical contact implies scrumming, mauling and tackling, what i'm saying is its not true (traditional) rugby to win off someones boot ( and it sure as hell isn't entertaining to watch. look at all the great players of the past, lomu, campese (all physically intense) whereas the modern game has been turned into a tactical battle of pretty boy flyhalfs and their kicking boots. thats the shame. that includes dan carter too.

 

Sniff, sniff - what's that awful smell?? Oh, yes - it's those sour grapes hanging from the vine........................ :rolleyes:

 

wasn't cricket invented in england too? oh yeah about that... missing the ashes? i mean after all you invented the game. and england would know all about choking, look at the world cup. ahem. case closed.

 

The difference is that when we lost the Ashes we admitted we sucked and your guys deserved to win. When your lot lost the previous times you were all moaning and crying in your beer, because you can't take defeat. ;)

 

at least we've won two world cups. get a second and we'll talk...

 

Come next weekend, you might well be eating your words.;)

ditto. it wasn't the kicking game that won last night (both teams scored 9pts off the kicks. Easy to forget that) it was Englands forwards. Michelac was stiffled and the french scrum neutralised.

 

I'm no expert, but even I can appreciate team tactics. In any sport you play the opponents you're up against at the time. Even the sport I was involved in for years (cycling) has the same methodology.

 

Funny really. If the Aussies had gone for field position and then the drop goal at the end of the quarter final instead of slicing the penalty kick it might have turned out differently. So it's not just England playing the kicking game. Just that were pretty good at it.

 

 

S

ditto. it wasn't the kicking game that won last night (both teams scored 9pts of the kicks. Easy to forget that) it was Englands forwards. Michelac was stiffled and the french scrum neutralised.

 

I'm no expert, but even I can appreciate team tactics. In any sport you play the opponents you're up against at the time. Even the sport I was involved in for years (cycling) has the same methodology.

 

Funny really. If the Aussies had gone for field position and then the drop goal at the end of the quarter final instead of slicing the penalty kick it might have turned out differently. So it's not just England playing the kicking game. Just that were pretty good at it.

 

 

S

 

Yes - that just about covers it.:laugh3:

The same happens in football, too. Not all teams can play like Arsenal or Brazil.

They have to play to their strengths. If every team played the same way, it would be boring.;)

we won 39-6:D!!!!!! Bari v Lecce i mean.....:rolleyes:

we won 39-6:D!!!!!! Bari v Lecce i mean.....:rolleyes:

 

What's that got to do with the World Cup?:dozey:

What's that got to do with the World Cup?:dozey:

 

:embarassed:....nothing....:P....but i was at the stadium watching it....;)..:cool:....

:embarassed:....nothing....:P....but i was at the stadium watching it....;)..:cool:....

 

Well congratulations...................... :rolleyes:

thx:P...at the end me and my friend....went on the pitch shooting with the balls of the team...:P..........next match at home i'll make pics!!!!

johnny wilkinson's style of game has single handedly ruined rugby. winning on penalties as opposed to running the ball and try-scoring is a disgrace. yes, england played better both against the aussies the french, but its very annoying that type of rugby wins tests. rugby is not a game of drop goals and place kicks, its a game of deft running, deking and physical contact. where did it go?

 

Is that the sound of a sore loser?

 

:P

Is that the sound of a sore loser?

 

:P

 

Sure is!!:rolleyes:

Ashton targets historic final win

England coach Brian Ashton insists his side are not content just to have reached the World Cup final and have set their sights on creating history.

 

England beat France 14-9 in Saturday's semi-final and now have the chance to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups.

 

"The players have come so far on a very difficult journey," said Ashton.

 

"I can't imagine they will be satisfied with reaching the final. They will want to create history."

 

England's achievement comes after being beaten 36-0 in the group stages by South Africa, who will play Argentina in Sunday's second semi-final.

 

And Ashton cited that early group game as the turning point in his team's fortunes.

 

"The South Africa game came at the right time because it gave us a massive kick up the backside and a wake-up call to make sure we got our act together.

 

"In many ways, that was the defining moment of the tournament for me.

 

"Since then we have won four games on the bounce and, hopefully, we will make it five next week."

 

Ashton said the experience within the England camp was crucial to their success so far and suggested their exploits had come as a bit of a surprise.

 

"We've got the players who know how to win a game," he said. "We have got the armoury within the side to get us in positions where we know we can win it.

 

"I think that was the big advantage we had over the French team.

 

"I'd be a liar if you'd have asked me that question five weeks ago - are you going to get to the World Cup final? I would have had to think deep and hard before I said 'yes'.

 

"But then again hindsight is a wonderful thing. You pick a squad to do a job and this squad was specifically selected to defend the World Cup and that is exactly what they are doing.

 

"Now that they are in the position they are in, it wouldn't surprise me if they completed the job."

 

The tense victory over France saw England score a try in the opening exchanges before falling four points behind just after half-time.

 

But they got over the finishing line thanks to the kicking of fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.

 

Phil Vickery captained the side and Ashton praised his skipper for helping the team raise themselves for the game.

 

"Phil is by nature a fairly quietly-spoken person," explained Ashton. "But for a prop forward he thinks pretty deeply about what he is going to say and always comes up with the right thing.

 

"He made a very moving speech to the team on Friday at seven o'clock, only for five minutes.

 

"It was about what it meant to him and what it should mean to everyone in the room about playing in a World Cup semi-final and beating France on their home ground.

 

"I can only assume with the performance that it had some sort of effect.

 

"From my point of view, and from the way I deal as a coach with the team, he is my ideal sort of captain."

 

Sir Clive Woodward was coach when England beat Australia to win the tournament four years ago and echoed Ashton's view about experience being the key to their success this time around.

 

"When you are playing under pressure you want experience," he told 5Live's Sportsweek.

 

"That's what England have got and is one of the big secrets of this World Cup so far.

 

"I would definitely keep the same team (for the final). You have got a real momentum going now and whoever they play will be very worried about the England team."

 

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7043770.stm

Sure is!!:rolleyes:

 

:laugh3:...but i think josh is not so wrong at all;)

:laugh3:...but i think josh is not so wrong at all;)

 

Although he is.............................. :rolleyes: