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| Hightower takes the game very seriously. |
Though the Eagles are ranked a modest 13th in the world, they did win the Olympic gold medal. In 1924, but that's hardly relevant. Coach Gary Gold's squad recorded the US's first-ever tier 1 win last summer, knocking off Scotland, 30-29. The team followed that up with a win over Samoa. Most observers believe that the Americans find themselves in the World Cup's Group of Death, where they'll face France, Argentina, England, and Tonga. (As an aside, the Tonga Toast at Disney's Polynesian resort is absurdly good, especially accompanied by french press coffee, and has the added benefit of carrying enough calories to get you through an entire day.)
Those observers believe that the U.S.A. will be lucky to get one win out of the event, most likely against Tonga. I think we all know what Brian Hightower thinks of that conventional wisdom. The Eagles play England in Kobe on September 26 to kick off their tournament.
As for the rest of the entrants in the 20-team tournament, USA Eagle legend Dan Lyle frames it this way, "I call this the five-five-and-five. You’ve got five teams who can absolutely win it. You’ve got five teams who have beaten those five, and then you’ve got five more below that that have beaten those five."
That first five consists of the legendary All-Blacks of New Zealand, Ireland, England, South Africa, and Wales. A punter putting cash down on any of the other 15 sides is in it for a lark.
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| Your likely winners. |
Our fearless (and clueless) prognosticators have pooled their limited mental resources. Here's the official G:TB Rugby World Cup prediction:
Pool A: (Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Samoa, Russia)
Winner: Scotland
Runner-Up: Ireland
Faux-knowledgeable Commentary: The hosts are an up-and-comer, and could give the Scots and Irish a tumble, but there's too much quality from the traditional powers.
Pool B: (New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Canada, Namibia)
Winner: South Africa
Runner-Up: New Zealand
Faux-knowledgeable Commentary: They really needn't bother play out all the matches in this one. The drop in quality from the top two teams to the rest is river deep and ocean wide. New Zealand will rest their best players against South Africa, which will give the Springboks a chance to take the group.
Pool C: (England, France, Argentina, USA, Tonga)
Winner: England
Runner-Up: France
Faux-knowledgeable Commentary: What was all that crap about the USA making the semi-finals? Turns out we've never won more than one match in a World Cup, but this year we're gonna beat Tonga and upset Argentina, so...progress! And Remember 1924!
Pool D: (Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Uruguay)
Winner: Wales
Runner-Up: Fiji
Faux-knowledgeable Commentary: We're going a little out on a limb here. The Fijians are playing (sort of) close to home, they're fast and creative, and we really feel bad about picking chalk in all the rest of the pools. Vei Lomani!
Quarterfinals:
England over Fiji
Ireland over South Africa
Wales over France
New Zealand over Scotland
Semifinals:
Ireland over England
New Zealand over Wales
Finals:
New Zealand over Ireland
And if the All-Blacks do lift their fourth Webb Ellis trophy, the guy second from left in the shot below won't be all that happy. Drunk, but not all that happy:
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| If you get Fairfax County Public Access television, you can watch Mr. KQ wax knowledgeable about all things Rugby World Cup while wearing that hat. |
Follow this space for plenty of coverage from Japan. (Note: not likely to be plenty, and probably not from Japan, unless Zman or TR makes another trip there.) There will be plenty of Hightower references here over the next few weeks, though.
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60 comments:
Whit will be happy to know I discussed Tribe rugby w/ my boys when we had lunch at College Delly over Labor Day w/e. I showed them Lud in a pic and explained he lost his life in 9/11.
Lots of the same old funny/sad photos still up: Marino with his 80’s fro, the Rush family (MLB ump dad, W&M catcher son) and other black/white shots from way back when. Owners refurbished the patio rather well. And they now serve booze!
japan 30, russia 10. suck it, putin.
As I mentioned last night, the end of Houston-Tulane was bananas.
tr, i have a call with al albert later today. shall i let him know of your displeasure with the current state of the tribe soccer program?
Umm, yes! Samantha Huge needs to act. 0-3-2 is embarrassing. We have lost to High Point and St Joe’s. We managed to tie NC state, which was ranked at the time.
And I found out that her last name is pronounced Hoo-ge. So keep that tidbit at the ready for your next Tribe athletics cocktail party.
I haven’t trolled the Tribe soccer Insta account yet this year, but may need to let loose soon.
is that hoog like krug or hoo-gee like loogie?
I knew Pete Alonso was a beast but I don’t think even Pete Alonso saw himself doing anything close to this as a rookie. Shit, maybe ever.
I usually laugh at the Mets, but I’ve been rooting for them during their wild card rally. Unfortunately, Milwaukee is not losing enough, despite the absence of Yelich. But it’s fun to see it go down to the wire.
The AL wild card could not be lamer. Tampa, Cleveland and Oakland. No fucks to give with any of those teams.
Utah - USC has been fun. Zero chance I make it to the end, but still fun.
Agreed on USC-Utah. Competitive, physical football that I will also have to look up tomorrow in order to find out who won. Individually, I hate USC’s colors but those uniforms fucking work. Utah’s uniforms tonight are poop.
Speaking of USC, everybody excited for Urban Meyer to take the reins in a few months?
I used to be an enormous baseball fan as a kid. Like most of us, that passion has waned with age. I bet I don’t watch 9 innings of live baseball in totality during the regular season. It will regularly occupy my second TV very soon because my old man loves the Cardinals and it’s fun to share the drama of playoff baseball with him.
I’ve always loved the Trojan unis. I have vague memories of Marcus Allen from college, which means I’m old. I love unique patterns and consistent looks.
Poor Helton is a dead man walking. The new AD will want to have their coach there. And that coach ain’t Helton.
Betting on sports is a good way to remind yourself that you’re not nearly as smart as you think you are.
My first USC memory is Rodney Peete. Then it’s Harold Miner.
USC’s biggest issue is the tradition/culture BS they cling to. Much like Michigan, too many boosters and other influentials have hard ons for the tradition of the USC family. I mean, how else do you justify hiring Pat Haden and Lynn Swann as ADs? You’d think that Pete Carroll’s success would have taught them a lesson.
You’re the region’s premier program by a mile and you have one of the nations 3 most fertile recruiting grounds in your backyard. So...
Step 1: Hire a great salesman and a capable
manager.
Step 2: Dominate the West Coast.
australia not happy with our prediction, hammer fiji 39-21. the all blacks laugh at our faux knowledge, stopping south africa, 23-13.
just scored tickets to see new pornographers at the lincoln on 11/6. got one extra, gheorghie friends.
Hahaha. Wolverines suck.
I’m not a big Harbaugh fan but I did not see this coming. Michigan is fucking awful. Would they fire him?
Tennessee is so bad. Jeremy Pruitt may not get a third year.
Joe Dirt for Heisman
My neighborhood block party is just starting. Either I will get bored quickly and go inside to watch TV or I will drink too much keg beer from a dirty tap, act a fool, and have terrible mudbutt in the middle of the night. I’ll kee you updated.
Mudbutt, mudbutt, mudbutt!!
Greetings, gheorghies. Love the rugby World Cup preview. Pulling for the Welsh and Irish after our lads from the US of A. And I appreciate the Hightower’s gig announcing the matches was cause for him to come swill Guinness with us in Dublin in February. Research and all.
I’d give quite a bit to see ODU beat UVA. I have plenty of Virginia grad friends who aren’t obnoxious dbags but there are more than a few around town who say things like “all we do in Charlottesville is win championships these days.” Bring it, Monarchs.
Florida State and Tennessee being shitty at the same time is my happy place.
neighborhood party here, too, hosted by a cool couple that always have killer food and drinks. i anticipate waking up in pain tomorrow.
Pitt UCF game solid
ND loses by 18 tonight, making GTB nation so sad.
Pitt scores to tie w philly special....min left
It’s hard to explain how annoyingly, myopically obnoxious UCF fans have become out of thin fucking air. I really enjoyed that L.
Akin to Mark’s comment... UVA fans here in the Dirty Buffalo (Z, you need to get here) are strangely perplexed and mighty quiet. This may well not last, but for now, I’m enjoying it.
Former Rutgers great Brian Leonard attendee my block party. He did not bring Ray Rice.
My kids chugged grilled octopus at a Greek restaurant tonight. Nice to see them be aggressive.
Dad chugged scotch and wine. Mom drove home.
The Padres fired their manager after 154 of 162 games. Feels like a fuck you.
Did Danimal make the jaunt to Athens? I don’t blame him if he passed. I probably would’ve too, though I definitely need to catch a high profile game at Sanford Stadium before I’m too old.
I saw he (Andy Green?) was fired after four seasons and quickly realized I hadn’t the slightest clue who he was. Such is my baseball fandom.
Props to TR for raising kids who eat octopus. Grilled octopus is dope.
I thought Brian Leonard was going to have a much better NFL career.
Lastly, I’m getting drunk because there’s good football on and the wife is back after two days out of town for work. She’s getting drunk because our oldest is out for her senior year Homecoming dance.
Book has been impressive. Brian Kelly’s clock management on that last drive? Not so much.
I eat the pus. I smoke the kush.
At best, you do only one of those, Zman.
Prove me wrong by bringing trees to my house.
Lookit TR with the modern reference. That was more of a quote than an affirmation. But swing by the block party in an hour. Tree scents is dominant can’t be covered with incense.
I am home as fulck, Zman. Have fun.
Watching from home Mark. Me of little faith.
Well, UVa predictably pulled away, but I got to witness a lot of would-be arrogant fans somewhat soiling themselves.
Don’t blame you, Danimal. I’d have done the same if Florida played in Athens this year.
Trees is such a tristate weed reference.
D’Andre Swift just D’leaped over the souls of ND fans. The momentum pendulum seems to be moving against the Irish.
Fromm throws that back shoulder well.
Complete momentum shift.
Fromm is something else. Bkowout/spread cover commmences.
Swift is a beast. The amount of big time tailbacks Georgia has had over the last 10-15 years is fucking absurd.
It is insane.
Nd has no explosive types on O. Book throws a pick here.
I just bet on the Pats to cover against my Jets. They’re giving 20.5.
What I tell ya
Book doesn’t have the difference makers on the outside that he needs in this game. Notre Dame has been pretty good at the skill positions recently but they’re lacking this year. Georgia figured that out and started pressing the ND offense.
I’m still more impressed by the Irish than I expected.
I don’t think Scotland will beat Ireland overnight Rob. We shall see.
I’m more impressed by Bob Loves Abishola. But the big question is - Does Abishola love Bob? He’s an ugly white dude w/ a mustache. Hard to see it.
Oh boy
Missed Danimal’s comment about ND’s lack of explosive guys on O. He beat me to it. That was the difference tonight. Moral victories are bullshit but the Irish impressed me tonight. Shit, they’re better than Florida. Much better.
That was fun.
Many positives....all signs pointed to it turning into a 2 plus td game but they hung in.
In the end, they have too many moral victories in these games.
But seriously...Abishola?
Too many moral victories is true, and likely the ultimate issue with Kelly at ND. May have more to do with Notre Dame in this era of CFB than Kelly as a coach/leader.
I couldn’t be more thankful that Tennessee didn’t hire Mike Leach.
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