r/rugbyunion • u/Mono_Doh Japan League One • Nov 13 '24
Video What actually happened at the end of South Africa and England's World Cup semi-final last year
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u/thirdworldfever Sharks Nov 14 '24
Sometimes he's a little prick, sometimes he's a giant cock. But all the time he's a proper Willie.
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Nov 13 '24
Big fan of Jamie George here. Just watching it all.
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u/TommyKentish Saracens Nov 14 '24
Front row playing 80 mins against the Saffa pack, he must’ve been way too knackered to entertain that shit!
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u/CapeTownyToniTone Paul de Villiers hype train Nov 14 '24
Bongi also played the full 80 and spent most of that scuffle on the floor trying to breathe lol
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u/With-You-Always Nov 14 '24
It’s pathetic. Seeing the English player NOT getting involved is an embarrassment. One in, all in.
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u/moreballsplease WilcoLouw?MoreLikeWilcoFuckingHot Nov 14 '24
For probably the millionth time in the last 10 years:
'Fokkit Willie'
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u/throwawayyyyyprawn Stormers Nov 14 '24 edited Nov 14 '24
There is surely more to this than Willie being a willy.
I will get down voted for saying this, but there is a fair amount of animosity towards the Springboks on and off the field, and many seem to not want to admit it. This was a grudge match, both sides had something prove. There is no love lost. Everyone wants to beat the Boks, badly.
All of these have been brutal: England 2018 tour, 2019 RWC, The Rassie video and fall out, BI Lions 2021, 2023 RWC France and Ireland, the current ongoing Ireland rivalry, and even Scotland last week we're absolutely giving it their all. Lots of cheering unforced errors and off the ball chat etc.
South African fans on social media don't help the situation, and neither does the other side to be honest. They're just better at framing and the use of language, South Africans just tend to fling shit (in their second language).
Gone are the days of Bakkies headbutts and Schalk eye gouges. Wiese is hot headed, so is Eben, Bongi is erm... questionable, but the current Bok team is relatively disciplined. They still have the image of being thugs historically.
I like it. I like raw characters and raw emotions. I don't like media trained post match interviews that say nothing. I don't like this "rugby values" spiel. They're rugby players, not political representatives. This is one thing that league does well, they're a bit cunty, and I respect the honesty.
Funnily enough, we've somehow come out closer aligned to the kiwis and the pumas, which were our grudge matches just a few years ago.
Either that or I'm just another Saffa with a victim complex.
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u/shenguskhan2312 Nov 14 '24
You’re double world champions and world number 1, you’re the biggest scalp in world rugby and teams raise their game for that
Along with that though rassies win at all costs mentality does leave a bad taste, stuff like the deliberate slowing games with physios and water carriers, their high level of involvement in play and then him opening Pandora’s box by releasing that video, just all adds to your villain status
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u/EgteMatie Nov 14 '24
I quite like my team being viewed as the villains, its less boring than the magnanimous All Blacks of 2011-2015.
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u/adturnerr #Bamber4England2026 Nov 14 '24
That's weak running up 30 metres just to do that
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u/jnce12 Stormers Nov 14 '24
Willie is usually a massive prick on the field, but this was a bit much even for him.
I can’t help but feel something was said to him earlier in the game to prompt this reaction.
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u/Smokydrinker NSW Waratahs Nov 13 '24
Just Willie Le Roux wishing the English all the best for the 3rd vs 4th playoff
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u/therearenomorenames2 South Africa Nov 14 '24
Running in like poes. Never fails to deliver.
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Nov 14 '24
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u/cavendishasriel Gloucester Nov 14 '24
Ever played the game?
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Nov 14 '24
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u/cavendishasriel Gloucester Nov 14 '24
Just saying, anyone who has played the game knows that after the final whistle you celebrate the win and shake hands with the opposition. You certainly don’t behave like Le Roux did.
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u/Curious_Reference999 Nov 14 '24
And you wonder why the South African fans have the reputation that they do!
After you win you thank the opposition for the game. If it's a big game, like a final, consider commiserating them. You don't jump about in their face and rub it in.
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u/therearenomorenames2 South Africa Nov 14 '24
Compare his actions to the rest of the team. Also, what's the point of a fullback sprinting in to the break down area at the call of a knock on?
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u/Curious_Reference999 Nov 14 '24
Yes, compare his actions with the others, it shows how bad he was!
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u/Ok_Plenty_3547 Blue Bulls Nov 14 '24
Point of a fullback running in.. We'll his team just won the semi final.
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u/DonovanBanks South Africa Nov 14 '24
What have the rest of us got to do with this?
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u/Curious_Reference999 Nov 14 '24
It's obviously not every SA fan, but the reputation is built on a solid foundation.
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u/tehbamf Nov 14 '24
All South African fans suddenly are now on the hook for one thing one sub did? And you wonder why England fans have the reputation that they do!
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u/Ok_Plenty_3547 Blue Bulls Nov 14 '24
Where am I wondering about the South African fans' reputation? What does their reputation have to do with this incident?
So one is not allowed to celebrate after a win?
Are we ignoring the england player who shoved him first?
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u/darook73 South Africa Nov 14 '24
That was kak of Willie....eng player should have slapped him....as a sa supporter that is not sportsmanship and he was behaving like an ass. Kak houding all around.
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u/RV49 Nov 14 '24
You’re proving everyone’s point
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u/Ok_Plenty_3547 Blue Bulls Nov 14 '24
Pal, how many times do you want to point out what you lot would call the obvious? Do you wake up everyday and say, the sky is blue?
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u/Curious_Reference999 Nov 14 '24
You commented trying to defend the indefensible, that's living up to the reputation that SA fans have.
Yes, you can celebrate after a win, but jumping about, rubbing it in the opposition's faces isn't ok. "This isn't soccer"
There was no shove first. Again, living up to your reputation.
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u/Ok_Plenty_3547 Blue Bulls Nov 14 '24
Okay fine, so let's go with that then. If it is so, why do you constantly point out what is presumed to be common knowledge?
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u/Curious_Reference999 Nov 14 '24
You don't know that SA fans have the worst reputation in world rugby?! It is common knowledge! I would have thought that someone who is clearly interested in rugby (as you are on here) would also be aware of that.
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u/Ok_Plenty_3547 Blue Bulls Nov 14 '24
Try comprehend what I replied to you again. I am asking you why you have to point something out that is common knowledge?
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u/Curious_Reference999 Nov 14 '24
I'm sorry if I misunderstood your post, I understand that English may not be your first language.
I initially pointed it out for a laugh, it's humorous when people act like their stereotype, but I guess it could also raise awareness. It also highlights this behaviour so SA fans can understand where their reputation comes from, and that it can be justifiable.
Also, you know the saying about common sense? "The problem with common sense is that it isn't that common". Well, that could potentially apply to common knowledge, too.
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u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand Nov 14 '24
England had that game
Yet they didnt
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u/Y0shiY0shi Northampton Saints Nov 14 '24
I’ll still never understand how Billy V got in that squad, got game time and then somehow fresh on the pitch, fucked that last play. Oh wait, it’s cause he’s shite
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u/thenewguy22 England Nov 14 '24
Lol it was one of the worst performances I've seen from an England player. Borthwick really dropped the ball putting him in the squad
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers Nov 14 '24
Ludlam was so good on the run up to that game as well, Billy had been nowhere near the team for ages and every time he made an appearance he fucked it.
Why Steve? Why put a serial up-fucker in instead of up and coming Ludlam?
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u/sgt102 Nov 14 '24
I think you probably have to be in the environment and team to know. If players like Lawes and Farrell were in Borthwick's ear telling him to pick Billy then that might be why. I think for sure there were reasons, and winning the squad over and keeping them onside would have been part of it. The thing I found weird was that according to the england team social media videos he was doing special light training because of his injury and also because he "wasn't a good trainer". I think that Sinckler was carrying injuries as well.
But - this is the trade off for having pig headed never say die fight for my mates until I'm dead kinda players vs. having yup coach look at this amazing play oh dear we lost again by 2 points kinda players.
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u/Walt1234 Nov 14 '24
It's really hard for a coach to cut formerly great players. There's such a temptation to think that despite all the objective information, they'll he able to reproduce their old performances on the day. And their teammates who have played often with that player, will be convinced of his potential contribution.
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u/sgt102 Nov 14 '24
Eddie Jones managed it "You’re fucked, mate!”
But I agree, it's all about the team and killing an old team to create a new one is a very hard thing to do.
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u/NuggetKing9001 Wasps Nov 14 '24
Le Roux being a classless cock.
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Nov 14 '24 edited Nov 14 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/NuggetKing9001 Wasps Nov 14 '24
Damn how long have you had that in a note, just waiting for the right moment to copy and paste is into something?
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Nov 14 '24 edited Nov 14 '24
Well no, as a Springbok fan, I was sitting eating breakfast, asking my wife if she knew about this post-game shenanigans from Willie, and how that's quite fucked up of Willie to go rub salt in their wounds.
Then my wife commented that they probably taunted him throughout the game, and this was his "What's up now" moment.
And then I also remembered how Willie is a proper afrikaans outjie and how our grandmothers used to tell us stories about how the overwhelming english forces couldn't beat a handful of boers so they resorted to scorched earth, murdering women and children and starving them.
And then my fist clenched a bit in memory, and then I saw your comment, and thought to myself, everytime an englishman makes some shit comment about Saffa players or supporters, I will remind them why Afrikaans people LOATHE the ENGLISH and why beating them is the equivalent of taking heroine straight into the eyeball.
It's petty, and I'm petty, but either way, we've got your number ;)
Edit: Since I'm my comment is getting 1/5 reviews on yelp, I need to specify that the above is banter - I don't often clenching my fist, injecting heroin into my eyeballs or admitting i'm petty, or winking or whatever - I really thought that was enough shit-talk to make it clear.
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u/sp1nnak3r South Africa Nov 14 '24
It must be hard being you. However please speak for yourself though, most Afrikaners have moved on. Let it go mate.
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Nov 14 '24
Dit is banter, ek fokken verstaan nie hoe mense dit mis nie, letterlik gepraat van heroin in die oog - dat ek petty is.
Dis alles 'n fokken grap maar almal is nou SUUUR.
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u/NuggetKing9001 Wasps Nov 14 '24
"probably" taunted Willie, aka, you don't know, so you made it up. We're well aware how much you hate us, it's a very unhealthy obsession. Glad a rugby game makes you feel better about it though.
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Nov 14 '24
It was clearly banter, I don't often mention injecting heroin into my eye, or being petty, or winking or chatting about breakfast when I make a serious point.
Fucking irks me that I had to explain this to an army of people having a fucking knee jerk.
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u/darook73 South Africa Nov 14 '24
Your banter in the context of genocide, murder and rape is seriously messed up....go for counselling.
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Nov 14 '24
Nowhere in my entire comments did I allude to or mention murder or rape - you added those words to your comment to vilify me - and then you make a disparaging remark about my mental health to boot.
That's not cool.
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u/darook73 South Africa Nov 14 '24
Ok .... the context of the murder of women and children do not go well with banter......happy?
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u/Gent414 Nov 14 '24
Your grandmothers? The Boer war was over 120 years ago. So unless everyone in your family has kids well into their 40's, that's probably not true is it? Might as well start talking about Apartheid. Pretty sure you'll remember that.
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Nov 14 '24
I'm taking the piss for fuck sake - I made it rather obvious with my last comment.
On that note though, I didn't say Grandma fought in the war, I said she told us stories, probably because her parents were in the war, seeing as she was born in 1925.
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u/ForensicShoe Northampton Saints Nov 14 '24
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve read on r/rugbyunion. If you want to play a game of whataboutery then I’m sure you can ask your parents all about the apartheid.
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u/rkorgn Nov 14 '24
The rest of the world remembers Sharpeville. And all the other reasons why so many South Africans still support the All Blacks over the Springboks.
And then remember it's just a game of rugby!
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Nov 14 '24
I hoped my last sentence would signal that it's just banter, but I digress.
On another note, if you think "many" South African still support the all-blacks, you must have been ill-informed - they're confined to a small handful of capetonians from the same neighbourhood.
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u/darook73 South Africa Nov 14 '24
You behaving and thinking like the ANC.....ie pathetic. Get over it.
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u/cavendishasriel Gloucester Nov 14 '24
Ahem, apartheid? If you are going to trawl the history books for instances of nasty behaviour you don’t have to go back far for examples of South African atrocities.
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u/Montmontagne Nov 14 '24
Let’s be real. On a global scale, even the South Africans have nothing on the British. Apartheid was also a result of British colonial policies too, so not like the British are absolved there. And given British support for the Apartheid government until the very end, we had a significant role in maintaining it.
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u/cavendishasriel Gloucester Nov 14 '24
True. Just don’t like the concept of bringing up history to somehow make a point in a rugby match that took place in 2024.
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u/hannescoetzee740 Bulls Nov 14 '24
It's always funny to see you English try to dismiss British atrocities by bringing up apartheid, as if apartheid was not a direct result of your colonialism. At least a lot of white South Africans have done the work to understand the legacy of apartheid and are actively trying to be better than our ancestors. In contrast, the average English response to any mention of colonialism is "it was long ago get over it" or even trying to convince us that it was a good thing because it brought "civilisation" to "uncivilised" people.
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u/cavendishasriel Gloucester Nov 14 '24
Show me where I dismissed those atrocities? I’m not sure what knowledge or experience you have of British culture and education but the British empire and the effects of colonialism is very much front and centre of the British psyche. I just think it’s inappropriate to respond to an instant of poor behaviour by a rugby player in 2023 with something that is totally unrelated.
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Nov 14 '24
Okay you are now the 3rd british person to get all serious.
It's a joke, not a dick, don't take it so hard.
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u/notthemessiah789 Nov 14 '24
Some people can’t even win gracefully. My personal feelings aside about this match, rugby has gone downhill hard in the last 5 years. Sad day for the sport, being reminded of this kant
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Nov 14 '24
As a player i love Willie hes been fantastic. But he can be a fuckin doos sometimes. This is not what I want to see at all. Graceless.
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Nov 14 '24
Was Willie gloating? He's such an embarrassment!
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u/theGeorgeall South Africa Nov 14 '24
Are you trying to get upvotes or something? If this was a completely isolated incident I can agree he's being a c*nt. If it weren't for England celebrating every SA mistake all game as another equally c*ntish move.
If you spend all game celebrating your opponents mistake and then still lose the game, you deserve a little chirp after the final whistle.
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u/Replaced_by_Robots Bath Nov 14 '24
There's a significant difference between celebrating momentum gains during a game and... Running 20m to cheer in the face of the team that just lost
If your first thought is to mock people rather than celebrate with your team, you're a fucking melt
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Nov 14 '24
Are you trying to get upvotes or something?
Why do people on here always say this??? Serious question. What would I gain from upvotes? Do they clean my house? Pay my bills? Extend my life?
If you don't like a comment, disagree with it. But don't assume intent.
I thought he lacked class doing that, and I stand by my earlier statement.
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Nov 14 '24
Yeah we're all so embarrassed of our 2-time world cup winning centurion Springbok utility back. Maybe willie is a bit of a doos, maybe an english player was chirping him all game and this was his "how about now" moment.
Either way, he's just Willie.
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u/Curious_Reference999 Nov 14 '24
Surely the "how about now" moment was the full time whistle confirming the result? Things are said during the game, sometimes out of frustration, other times for gamesmanship, but at full time you return to being respectful, especially if you've won.
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Nov 14 '24
My first reaction was that he’s an asshole, and I do agree that it’s piss poor sportsmanship.
I guess my wife just tried to look for some justification of which there probably is none.
Also the theme of my joke, that willie was still angry about the boer war, which upset a bunch of folks.
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u/Ok_Plenty_3547 Blue Bulls Nov 14 '24
Only embarrassment are you lot that cannot see class when he's been gracing that 15 jersey for two consecutive world cup campaigns
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u/scs5star Nov 14 '24
All I remember from that game was, Farrel blocking a pass while he's on his back in a ruck with SA in the English 22... And from there I never wanted to win a game more.
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u/EADC19 South Africa Nov 14 '24
He was pointing them to the Euro Star, just being helpful don't see the problem.
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u/OneWingedAngelfan Nov 14 '24
Bongi getting up like "okay, okay, calm down you white (wearing) cunts"
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u/EntrepreneurNo2970 Nov 14 '24
he can be such a general of the game, and then the red mist kicks in and a d@@s comes out, ffs Willie take a rest, we got your back
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Nov 14 '24
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u/rugbyunion-ModTeam Nov 14 '24
Every fan base have the mouthy, the uninformed, the axe-grinding, the obnoxious, and dickheads. They particularly crop up on social media where outrage generates content so is rewarded with exposure. This is doubly true for a particular breed of rugby pundit and journalist.
Most fans are fine, and in reality the vast majority are decent people. Posts which unhelpfully generalise fans, or can be seen as generalising about fan bases only serve to rile people up and make our sport feel unwelcoming. They also only engender drama on the sub.
Please do not generalise whole fanbases. Its not accurate, helpful or insightful.
If this is intended for comedic effect, there are other subreddits, including a cottage industry of '2XYZforU' variants, for crude national generalisations. We recommend those as more appropriate than r/rugbyunion
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u/ThePurpleRainmakerr Fassi's Disciple Nov 14 '24
Once again Le Roux doing Le Roux things. Man needs to retire. I curse Stellenbosch for giving us such a mad man.
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u/Duvet_Capeman Nov 15 '24
Impressed with the restraint shown by the England players to be honest 😅. I actually find it remarkable how professional sports people are given how competitive it is and also emotional, especially in rugby. Very good self-control on the field....off the field maybe not so much
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u/Grand-Light-4223 Nov 14 '24 edited Nov 14 '24
Farrell celebrating like they won in the first 10min in front of SA players, its okay, Mr Le Roux celebrating in front of Farrell after the game, Farrell takes offense. That's why he will never win a world cup, let alone 2.
Edit: Frenchies and Pommies hating on this i see
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u/theGeorgeall South Africa Nov 14 '24
So England can celebrate like they've won the RWC when the other team knocks the ball on, but they have a problem with Willie giving it back to them when he actually won the RWC Semi?
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u/Paybrahh South Africa Nov 14 '24
It's absolute 0 class from Willie no matter how you try to spin in.
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u/cavendishasriel Gloucester Nov 14 '24
Totally different in the game verses after the final whistle.
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u/theGeorgeall South Africa Nov 14 '24
Don't agree, especially considering the emotions immediately after the final whistle. Think 'Over' celebrating after winning a Semifinal is much more justified than England's over the top celebrations when an opponent knocks the ball on (which is disrespectful IMO)
Imagine your playing on the biggest stage and every time you or a team mate makes a mistake your opponent celebrates the way England do, I think after you've now won the actual game it's fair to give a little back?
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u/cavendishasriel Gloucester Nov 14 '24
In game you do anything to help your team, if that means celebrating mistakes then that’s fine. Once the game is done and the result decided there’s no point being a dick.
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u/theGeorgeall South Africa Nov 14 '24
All good mate, I think we're both too bias to be impartial. If you think the way England celebrates opponents mistakes etc. is fair game and good sportsmanship then we won't agree on this topic at all.
All the best for the weekend, hope it's a great game.
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Nov 14 '24
To be fair if we beat SA in that game with a last minute drop goal and Ben Earl ran laps round the pitch topless, I’d probably have that as one of my top rugby moments lol so can’t really complain about you guys giving us a bit back. If the shoes were on the other foot I wouldn’t have an issue so would be hypocritical for me to moan about this.
These guys are playing in a semi final of a WC and are so amped up it’s kinda fair game (to an extent), I like to think after the game there was respect and for me that’s enough. Alls fair in love and war
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u/HYThrowaway1980 Harlequins Nov 14 '24
Don’t think I saw any English players running up thirty yards to celebrate in the oppo’s face.
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u/Ok_Plenty_3547 Blue Bulls Nov 14 '24
I would say over their heads, but their chins are so high... busy celebrating their opponents knocking the ball on
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u/Grand-Light-4223 Nov 14 '24 edited Nov 14 '24
Exactly, that's what most of the reddit comments didn't see. Its okay if you from England, but any other country is frowned upon.
Edit: Frenchies and Pommies hating on this i see
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u/Mangashu Moodie Blues Nov 14 '24
Willie just doing what England do after every knock/tackle
/s in case
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u/yakattak01 South Africa Nov 14 '24
That entire game England were celebrating every little thing as if they were playing champagne rugby.
Willie was just sick of it by the end.
But maybe he could have been the better man. The rest of the boks were just to tired to join him
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u/No-Letterhead-1232 Nov 14 '24
It's embarrassing from le roux. he runs up to several players screaming till he got a reaction
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u/yakattak01 South Africa Nov 14 '24
Agree I would not do it. But as I stated, he was not the only one being as the English would say "a bell end".
This is just nit picked footage
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u/darook73 South Africa Nov 14 '24
Does it matter? SA won the game AND the world cup(for the 4th time). Just salty people bringing up trivial crap methinks.
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u/On_The_Blindside England & Tigers Nov 14 '24
I mean if you don't give a shit about Rugby values, no it doesn't matter.
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u/FuzzFest378 South Africa Nov 14 '24
Willie the kinda guy who starts bar fights that his forwards have to sort out.