Getting the job done.

Wham, bang, bosh it was all over as these old fashioned marauders took the French rugby team apart. They look like a team kitted out in the "Chariots of Fire" era team shirts and shorts. Old fashioned with socks down at the ankle, large men playing in what used to be the boys outfits.

And there the resemblance to anything old or associated with fashion ends, these guys were awesome as they romped in try after try.
We had been held on the edge of our seat in the afternoon by the titanic contest between Wales and South Africa. If you were in the pub in Wales, as Angela was, the shell shocked atmosphere of defeat was bitter. The boys in red who due to injury had a much diminished side playing their heart out were eventually beaten by a try which was conjured out of brilliance. It always seems so unfair for a team which didn't seem like there was a try in them to produce this final piece of magic but there you go, who said there was justice in sport. Territorially South Africa were always in the right position to kick the penalty when it came, and penalties have been a feature of the tournament. The complexity of the breakdown and staying on your feet in a maul is ripe for judicial judgement and the ref's have no option but to blow up. The one insurance policy is to play in the other teams half.
Anyway with their beer rapidly watering down with tears of frustration, the Northern Hemisphere have all their hopes pinned on Ireland now to put up some sort of fight but,without the leadership of Paul O'Connell they will be hard put to beat the antipodeans.
Given the All Black display was magnified against a dejected and bewildered French side one wonders what the game plan of the South Africans will be to match the Kiwi. South Africa have not looked a dominant side and although they have ground out wins after the humiliation of the Japanese defeat it hasn't been attractive rugby, unlike the trouncing the Aussies gave England and last nights display by New Zealand.
The deep, manly growl and physicality of the Hakka's challenge will still be the lasting memory for me of a side and a tradition dreamed up on a tiny island set in the rough seas of the South Atlantic. Not known for its outward blown character, much like its rugby kit understated until you meet the true character of the people who live there, with farming and simple life in their blood they eschew flamboyance for getting the job done and last night they did just that !!!