What's happening
Australia - Romania

October 18 Match

WHAT'S HAPPENING? (posted 19th October 2003)

It was quite a real party atmosphere heading up to Suncorp Stadium this week for the match between our beloved Wallabies and Romania. The crowd was, as you would expect, massive! The stadium was a sea of green and gold. I was a bit more than happy to realise that our best friends were sitting in the row behind us. How's that for luck in a crowd of around 50,000 fans! Unbelievably, the screamer from last week was there - teeth gnash- but she was seated about 5 rows down, far enough away not to annoy us overly during the match. Interestingly, my friend's kids tell me she attends their school. There is no truth to the rumour that I was quizzing one of them as to the amount of dosh I'd have to part with for him to belt her :)) A quick seat rearrangement saw all five of the kids sitting together, and us grownups being able to sit together to enjoy the game. Yay!

After the anthems the crowd tried singing Waltzing Matilda - let's just say we need John Williamson to lead us? I'm still wondering why it is, that if the IRB says we're allowed to sing the song that we don't have John or someone else out there leading the crowd? Beuhler? Anybody?

We had kickoff and within 18 seconds Elton Flatley screamed over for a try! The stadium thundered! Elton Flately converted, and the Wallabies began their steamroll to a 90-8 victory. Matty Rogers bungled some ball in hand during the match but in the process he also scored three tries - ooh yeah! Matthew Burke even scored a couple of tries - I know I know I know - I want Stirling Mortlock playing instead of Burke, I still do :) When Mortlock came on he bunged on a try though! Actually, there weren't too many Aussies who didn't score tries - the exception being Wendell Sailor who even when spurred on by the crowd chanting 'Give it to Wen-dell, Give it to Wen-dell' couldn't manage to break through the Romanian line. Stephen Larkham did though - twice, and Joe Roff, Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri (nice to see Jones trot out Lote for some game time), and George Smith all scored a try a piece. I particularly enjoyed seeing George Smith, the ball ferret flanker go over for a five pointer. He is one fantastic player! The crowd support was deafening throughout the match - well it seemed like it was almost continuous cheering from the Australian supporters given all those tries and everything :) Elton Flately - what a kicking display! Eleven from thirteen conversions - he must be doing his kicking practise daily :))

Romania scored one try during the match - that came from Petrisor Roderasc, and Tolan kicked a three pointer for Romania as well. While the Australian effort saw the Wallabies break a pile of Aussie statistics, such as the match being their biggest world cup win, there was certainly room for improvement in the Wallabies' game. The backline still hasn't quite got its shit together and the breakdown of play needs to be a lot tighter when they face the other big boys!

With the game over I couldn't resist one little dig at the screamer. 'Goooo - FiiiJEEEEEEEEE!' I screamed out (much to the disgust of my better half who rightly so saw that as immature and childish). The screamer must have known though - she was looking around frantically with a 'who said that' look on her face! Ahh... wonder if my mate's kids will fill her in at school tomorrow :))

So, move over England, France, and NZ - AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE! Footnote: the train carriage full of people on the way that we had singing the 'I am, You are, We are Australian' song were good fun sports. What a game! What a party!