The Marshal Petain Cup (trading as IRB Rugby World Cup 2007
Group A
England
Should win: It will heaps upset Australian rah rahs.
Shouldn’t win: Shameful co-opting of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” as theme song. Paul Robeson is coming for to kick your arse, wankers.
Wikipedia says: Kalbarri Airport in Western Australia. A clear link with the fortunes of the Western Force. England Rugby Union will be caught handing out player payments in paper bags and/or players either be will be found running on mysterious brown pills.
South Africa
Should win: It will heaps upset Australian rah rahs.
Shouldn’t win: Oh geez, even I don’t want to see the Springboks win anything. Wikipedia says: Redmayne Baronet. South Africa is asset rich, but cash poor like a lot of those peerages. Perhaps a little … inbred too? Scrape through to second stage on reputation but crash out limply when the crunch comes.
Samoa
Should win: Feature The Rock on homepage.
Shouldn’t win: Feature The Rock on homepage.
Wikipedia says: Communist Party of Vietnam. It’s 2007 and the they’re still hanging around, despite it all. Is Wikacle suggesting Samoa could linger til the knockout stage and surprise us all?
USA
Should win: Will annoy the French. (See this tantalising headline quoted in Wikipedia but not linked: U.S. Team is Hissed by French When it Wins Olympic Title, N.T. Times, May 19, 1924. If the Marshal Petain Cup features massed hissing, I could get converted. )
Shouldn’t win: Stupid mission statement: “We believe in owning our performance.â€
Wikipedia says: Open Sync software. USA the plucky upstart in a rah rah world of Microsofts? Your Yankee get up and go plucky spirit won’t help you here. Doomed.
Tonga
Should win: Beat Australia in 1973. Due for a repeat.
Shouldn’t win: Team is nicknamed the Sea Eagles.
Wikipedia says: Wyalusing. Why ya losing? Do they need a reason?
