Federer celebrating Rugby World Cup win with South African team

[NeutralFan]

I didn't know Fed was a big union fan, he was seen in the stand last night with a South African flag. I didn't like the way SA win thos world cup with many decisions going in their favour when matches has been so tight but I didn't mind them over cocky NZ team. Anyway, Happy to see him

enjoying this victory.

 

[peRFecto]

Former Pro Player Talk

Discuss retired pros and senior tour players here

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[Mivic]

Those guys could certainly teach Fed a thing or two about the warrior spirit.

 

[mahatma]

Former pro player section pls

 

[NeutralFan]

Those guys could teach Fed a thing or two about the warrior spirit.

Fed didn't have referee in their pockets like these guys did have against France, England and NZ where they won by tiniest margin.

 

[Holmes]

Please move to Former pro player section

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Fed didn't have referee in their pockets like these guys did have against France, England and NZ where they won by tiniest margin.

SA had the referee in their pocket when New Zealand scored a try with a pass-forward.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

What a treat for the South African team.

 

[ND-13]

Prize of being super famous .. mobbed wherever he goes

 

[NeutralFan]

SA had the referee in their pocket when New Zealand scored a try with a pass-forward.

Yeah blame the referee for not understanding the rules and when you win finals with zero try and all points come from penalty, even with one more man lol, go ask French team and English team how every second 50-50 decision was given to them.

 

[NeutralFan]

Prize of being super famous .. mobbed wherever he goes

He holds SA citizenship and went to school there, it's not about being famous here but about celebrating his country's triumph. Wholesome moment for everyone out there.

 

[Impressario]

There is no former player section when it comes to Federer. Federer is tennis

 

[Mivic]

Fed didn't have referee in their pockets like these guys did have against France, England and NZ where they won by tiniest margin.

Not really relevant to what I was saying.

 

[Gizo]

It is pretty funny that New Zealand have comprehensively dominated the Tri Nations (pre-Argentina's participation) -> Rugby Championship (following Argentina's entry), winning 20 out of the 28 editions, including each of the last 4 and 10 out of the last 12, but that South Africa have won more World Cups than them. In fact New Zealand were the last of the traditional Southern Hemisphere powerhouses to win the World Cup for a second time.

South Africa winning 3 of the last 5, and 4 of the last 8 World Cups, is very good going.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

It is pretty funny that New Zealand have comprehensively dominated the Tri Nations (pre-Argentina's participation) -> Rugby Championship (following Argentina's entry), winning 20 out of the 28 editions, including each of the last 4 and 10 out of the last 12, but that South Africa have won more World Cups than them. In fact New Zealand were the last of the traditional Southern Hemisphere powerhouses to win the World Cup for a second time.

South Africa winning 3 of the last 5, and 4 of the last 8 World Cups, is very good going.

New Zealand before 2011 were known to be World Cup chokers, they had fewer titles than Australia and South Africa, even having won all those Tri-Nations. They were the Alex Zverev of Rugby. They shed that title by winning the trophy in 2011 and 2015 but they might not have broken the "curse" had they not played at home in 2011. With those two titles, they surpassed Australia (who haven't won since '99) and South Africa so they were the undisputed kings of the sport, but now South Africa is ahead again with the last two despite not having played two events.

 

[innoVAShaun]

As seen from https://www.gettyimages.com/editori...rtraits-rugby-world-cup-france-2023/776055333

 

[innoVAShaun]

As seen from https://www.gettyimages.com/editori...a-final-rugby-world-cup-france-2023/775954303

 

[Gizo]

New Zealand before 2011 were known to be World Cup chokers, they had fewer titles than Australia and South Africa, even having won all those Tri-Nations. They were the Alex Zverev of Rugby. They shed that title by winning the trophy in 2011 and 2015 but they might not have broken the "curse" had they not played at home in 2011. With those two titles, they surpassed Australia (who haven't won since '99) and South Africa so they were the undisputed kings of the sport, but now South Africa is ahead again with the last two despite not having played two events.

Yes South Africa are clearly the most successful team in World Cup history now, with 4 titles from 8 attempts, compared to New Zealand's 3 titles from 10 attempts. Plus 2 of New Zealand's 3 titles came at home, compared to only 1 of South Africa's 4 titles.

IIRC most people were expecting a New Zealand-South Africa final in 1999 (they looked to be the 2 strongest teams going in), but they were both upset in the semis (by France and Australia). Australia were considered to the weakest of the 3 Southern Hemisphere powerhouses at the time, but won the prize.

In 2003, England were the clear favourites after their run of form during past 1-2 years, but New Zealand were expected to join them in the final. IIRC they demolished Australia in Sydney in the Tri Nations tournament during the summer, but a few months later lost to them in the World Cup semis in the same stadium (Australia went into that tournament with low expectations).

And in 2007 they were definitely huge favourites to win the tournament given their dominance during the previous couple of years. But they lost to France (in Cardiff despite France hosting the tournament), who they had convincingly beaten something like 4 times during the past year (twice in France).

 

[Waves]

Look at all those manly men cozying up to that gutless tennis player…what are they thinking???

That’s got to stick in pencak’s and the other haters craw…what sayest thou mivic?