Me too, Astera, and for the same reason. Plus, I like the last-ditch drop-kick for one point. I was brought up on League in Toowoomba, which was the beating heart of League in Queensland, back then. My Dad and I used to walk down Arthur Street to the "Nigger" Brown Memorial stand every Sunday, when I lived at home. (I've read that the name of the stand had to be changed several years ago. Sigh.)

Well done to the ABs - onwards and upwards for them

A hugely defensive game from both teams

It was interesting to see how the ABs reacted to a ref that refereed properly wouldn't let them get way with their shit at the breakdown. They didn't like it and it showed in the penalty count

The Bokke had better overall discipline but when it went against us it was at key moments - Matfield getting the penalty overturned right in front of the AB posts was unforgivable

Carter's drop was crucial - it was brilliant

I could go on but it's the ABs in the final and they won it fair and square. Looks like McCaw could miss the final

League is rugby for meatheads

It's too static. 26 men running into each other for 80mins. Little differentiation between backs and forwards - a pathetic form of God's game

There's loads of reasons why union is much more popular than league worldwide but the basic deal is that only Australia and NZ are competitive in it, whereas with union 5-6 countries genuinely compete

5-6? 2 and a half at best.

League is so boring.

Run it up, kick, run it up, kick, run it up, kick. Oh a scrum, you call that at scrum.

The best part of league is extra time when they go for the drop goal. You know the drop goal leaguies always complain about in union.

I always think the issues leaguies have with union is they don't get it. Its too complex for them.

Oh, that must be it.

Can't score tries so the strategy is to keep racking up penalties. That's not rugby, it's a penalty extortion & kicking festival.

Heck, only a bent/stupid ref stopping rugby union looking like a comical excuse for a sport with Scotland actually being better than Australia according to the rules of rugby union...

Penalty, kick, penalty, kick, penalty... you'd think I'm writing about some football match in southern Europe with players falling over and just trying to get penalties as a tactic to win.

See that's where you've got it totally wrong.

Some games you will see try fests. Last week for example. Australia Scotland. New Zealand France. Argies Ireland. That should satisfy you and put your argument to bed. The NZ France game was quite dull even though it was a try fest.

Today's NZ Saffa game was far better. It was a slug. The sight of the NZ scrum being sent backwards was far more entertaining than watching NZ score tries at will against a French team who didn't want to be there.

Its all about diversity and league just hasn't got it.

I think you missed the point entirely. Scotland should have won as it was the better team in this funny game of rugby union, having scored less tries but racked up more points via penalties... until the ref came to the rescue, pushing Australia through (before running off the field in shame). You see, that's my point: in rugby union Scotland was the superior side.

Of course even in this thread people came to Australia's rescue writing about the very things I've just mentioned: that Australia "deserved" to go through as they were the "better" team that scored more tries. This is the irony of it: silly union rules where Scotland is the better team... _VS_... what the fans see as the deserved winner in how they see the game.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that perhaps the intellectual snobbery of a section of the fans that switches people off, and the constant comparison with other sports. It always seems to be the ones not quite as up on the rules as they make out that tend to do that too.

Oh yes. It always reverts to the class system. I guess its non argument then.

Whooo hooo. It was far from pretty, 4 tries for league followers. Wallabies in the final. Massive underdogs.

So exciting. Gonna be a big Halloween night next weekend. Four tries just for you Astera.

Australia really punches above its weight in RU, which is only the fourth most popular footballing code - after Aussie Rules, Rugby League and football/soccer. So, well done, the lads!

My prediction for the final is still intact. Well done Wallabies.


Hope they can do it.

Ho ho!

I always find this image good for a laugh (the big red bit). It's a bit old now, and no info for Argentina.

You voted Japan