I need some crazy/ fun/ insane World Cup quick facts

[smartcooky]

There have been only three draws in World Cup history. 2 of those 3 were between Canada and Japan.

And the other one was?

 

[Canuck]

And the other one was?

France-Scotland in '87

 

[Jaguares]

except they've only won 2....

Nope. 1991, 1999 and 2015

 

[Mhumhain]

And in the quarter finals of the WC were a fag paper away from knocking the eventual champions out! Some of the names in that Irish side th make it seem like so long ago. It must have been a roller coaster ride being an Irish fan in those days, I have painful memories of a slightly more recent team of Irish "no hopers" putting a confident England in their place with Eric Elwood doing most of the damage and the English not knowing what had hit them.

Ya been an Irish fan in the 90's was like been in a cult. Lots misery and blind faith and little hope! How times change. It was a distant 4th behind Gaelic football, hurling and soccer, it really is a different planet now with Ireland players the most high profile sports stars in this country.
That Gordon Hamilton try was one of only a handful of highlights in the 90's the others been back to back wins over England in 1993 and 1994 Simon Geoghans try in Twickenham. The 90' s were write off for Irish rugby. But we still haven't got any further in a world cup than the quarter finals! Please God we'll break that habit this year.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Nope. 1991, 1999 and 2015

I really hope you are right mate, but I'm not going to feel confident going into the tournament.

2011 we went in expecting to top our pool, Ireland had other ideas - which meant we encountered both SA and NZ before the final.
I wonder how things would have worked out if we played Wales and France on our way to the final.

This year we are arguably a weaker team and to think people were saying that the Wallabies would be on top by 2015 once superstars like Beale, O'Connor and Cooper became more experienced. trying hard not to laugh here.

 

[smartcooky]

I don't think anyone is saying the NZ team didn't have food poisoning. I think the LOLs come in when the conspiracy theories start flying.

This is Africa. I eat in mostly and when I dine out 99% of the time it's at very highly respected establishments many of which have made the world 100 best lists on numerous occasions and if you so much as think of eating (and more importantly drinking!) elsewhere you run a very real risk of food poisoning. Hell, I've even had food poisoning from tke outs from world renowned franchizes on several occasions. I suspect touring teams will be eating out every single meal and will be visiting the 'disadvantaged' communities as well.

"I was a police officer, I worked with facts. What my eyes told me that night was that the team had deliberately been poisoned."

That sentence alone should be enough to discredit this clown looking to cash in.

Err, the eight or so players who dined out were fine, its the ones who dined at the hotel where they were staying who became ill.

IMO, if there was any conspiracy, it did not involve SA Rugby. I don't believe for one moment that anyone in the South African team, management or administration had anything to do with what happened.

Indian bookmakers are my pick as the culprits; anyone who has been involved with horses, particularly racehorses (and I have) will know that it is not uncommon for them to be nobbled with a compound made from dried elderberry flowers that are crushed to a fine powder in a mortar & pestle. This compound is tasteless and can be dropped into any liquid or food for consumption by the target. It poisons the victim and mimics the all symptoms of gastroenteritis with one exception; there is no biological trace. The more water you drink, the more ill you become. This is exactly what the doctors observed; all the visible symptoms of gastroenteritis, but with the pathology showing no trace of the bacteria that causes it. The symptoms last for 24 to 36 hours after consumption by humans (just a few hours in a horses as they have a faster metabolism)

The compound is known as "Indian Trick", due to its frequent use by Asian betting syndicates to nobble cricket players, hockey players and racehorses in the Asian subcontinent.

 

[Kiwi_]

There's a lot of corruption in SA sport. There's no doubt there was some foul play. I agree with what smartcooky said.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Err, the eight or so players who dined out were fine, its the ones who dined at the hotel where they were staying who became ill.

IMO, if there was any conspiracy, it did not involve SA Rugby. I don't believe for one moment that anyone in the South African team, management or administration had anything to do with what happened.

Indian bookmakers are my pick as the culprits; anyone who has been involved with horses, particularly racehorses (and I have) will know that it is not uncommon for them to be nobbled with a compound made from dried elderberry flowers that are crushed to a fine powder in a mortar & pestle. This compound is tasteless and can be dropped into any liquid or food for consumption by the target. It poisons the victim and mimics the all symptoms of gastroenteritis with one exception; there is no biological trace. The more water you drink, the more ill you become. This is exactly what the doctors observed; all the visible symptoms of gastroenteritis, but with the pathology showing no trace of the bacteria that causes it. The symptoms last for 24 to 36 hours after consumption by humans (just a few hours in a horses as they have a faster metabolism)

The compound is known as "Indian Trick", due to its frequent use by Asian betting syndicates to nobble cricket players, hockey players and racehorses in the Asian subcontinent.

There's a lot of corruption in SA sport. There's no doubt there was some foul play. I agree with what smartcooky said.

Well, of course I am in no position to say this happened or that happened. You can get food poisoning anywhere. Maybe it was deliberate though probably not iMO.

Fact is though the SA team also had many down with food poisoning prior to our game vs Aus in 1995 and Andre Joubert played with a broken hand and Joost van der Westhuizen played with a broken rib in the final. Had SA lost it'd be just as easy to through around accusations that the players that injured these two KEY players did so deliberately. Where does one draw the line? Apart form the coach noone in the NZ camp made these wild accusations which I can respect. It just irks me a little the general posters seemingly trying to take away from SA's accomplishments though I can understand the conspiracy theories as I would be surprised if there weren't shenanigans involved with NZ winning the 2011 RWC if I look at the SA vs Aus match and the final; I'm sure that irks NZ fans. We are all passionate supporters of our national teams- what can one do..

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well, of course I am in no position to say this happened or that happened. You can get food poisoning anywhere. Maybe it was deliberate though probably not iMO.

Fact is though the SA team also had many down with food poisoning prior to our game vs Aus in 1995 and Andre Joubert played with a broken hand and Joost van der Westhuizen played with a broken rib in the final. Had SA lost it'd be just as easy to through around accusations that the players that injured these two KEY players did so deliberately. Where does one draw the line? Apart form the coach noone in the NZ camp made these wild accusations which I can respect. It just irks me a little the general posters seemingly trying to take away from SA's accomplishments though I can understand the conspiracy theories as I would be surprised if there weren't shenanigans involved with NZ winning the 2011 RWC if I look at the SA vs Aus match and the final; I'm sure that irks NZ fans. I suppose we'll just never know.

Now now Stormer... Corruption is JUST in SA Sport.... It's unheard of in other countries. It was JUST Hansie Cronje that has ever been guitly of match-fixing in cricket.

What I'm still wondering is that if these players were poisoned before the game, why did they still play?? If they were physically so ill that it would have an effect on their ability to play, why not play someone else?? Pierre Spies had to miss out the whole 2007 World Cup because of an illness, even though there wasn't anything that physically dampened his ability to play...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Now now Stormer... Corruption is JUST in SA Sport.... It's unheard of in other countries. It was JUST Hansie Cronje that has ever been guitly of match-fixing in cricket.

What I'm still wondering is that if these players were poisoned before the game, why did they still play?? If they were physically so ill that it would have an effect on their ability to play, why not play someone else?? Pierre Spies had to miss out the whole 2007 World Cup because of an illness, even though there wasn't anything that physically dampened his ability to play...

Makes for a very handy excuse. Any politician worth his salt will know to always have a scapegoat ready. Sport is nothing other than politics.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

The compound is known as "Indian Trick", due to its frequent use by Asian betting syndicates to nobble cricket players, hockey players and racehorses in the Asian subcontinent.

Wow, and all this time I thought I'd just ordered a dodgy Vindaloo

 

[Kiwi_]

The food poisoning often overshadows the real injustice of the tournament, which was the French disallowed try in theSF vs SA which would have put them through to the final. Criminal.

 

[TRF_heineken]

The food poisoning often overshadows the real injustice of the tournament, which was the French disallowed try in theSF vs SA which would have put them through to the final. Criminal.

I think this is enough of your petty attempts in trying to rile us up and derailing the thread...

How about we stay on topic.

Brian Lima is the only player to have played in 5 tournaments

 

[Kiwi_]

I think this is enough of your petty attempts in trying to rile us up and derailing the thread...

How about we stay on topic.

Brian Lima is the only player to have played in 5 tournaments

Maybe you should skim through the thread and you will see it was your compatriots coming up with incorrect "facts" that derailed the thread.

Cheers.

 

[gaston le gaff]

while you are all debating food poisoning etc there was a certain solid Gold Rolex offered to a certain referee by SA, but of course he did not stay for dinner !!!!!

 

[nickdnz]

In 2007 Waynes Barnes broke through all barriers of discrimination when he became the first blind referee with learning difficulties to referee a quarter final of a RWC.

 

[TRF_heineken]

In 2007 Waynes Barnes broke through all barriers of discrimination when he became the first blind referee with learning difficulties to referee a quarter final of a RWC.

and in 2011 the IRB allowed the first mentally disabled referee to take charge of a knockout match between South Africa and Australia. Due to the severity of the damage to the brain of the referee, he had to take an early retirement from his refereeing duties and will not feature in the 2015 tournament. This referee was also recently honoured in several Super Rugby games in 2015 to honour his legacy and also bring the term "brainfart" as an official refereeing term which will be implemented by World Rugby.

 

[Tony Manx]

and in 2011 the IRB allowed the first mentally disabled referee to take charge of a knockout match between South Africa and Australia. Due to the severity of the damage to the brain of the referee, he had to take an early retirement from his refereeing duties and will not feature in the 2015 tournament. This referee was also recently honoured in several Super Rugby games in 2015 to honour his legacy and also bring the term "brainfart" as an official refereeing term which will be implemented by World Rugby.

Just the one................I thought that they all were......................well according to the many posts on this Forum about the abilities of each and every ref from time to time?!!

 

[SelimNiai]

This thread is a "Understanding Online Sarcasm" training course

 

[TRF_heineken]

This thread is a "Understanding Online Srcasm" training course

I still think there must be a Sarcasm font... It would help so much...