Sweden receive the kick off and immediately secured the ball and through a series of play advance up the field applying pressure on the favourites, this was not what the Croatians expected and eventually succumb to foul play, conceding a penalty for a high tackle. A successful kick gives the visitors a 0-3 lead.
Sweden continue to press their advantage and attack down the right wing and are quickly awarded another penalty, which was unsuccessful this time. Then the Croatians making inroads into the Swedish half are awarded a penalty of their own which earns them 3 points.
The direct play of the Swedes though is unsettling the home side and after a well constructed play a try is taken in the right corner, although the conversion was missed. This was soon followed by a try created and scored by two of the English players in the team following a quick tap penalty. The score is 3-12 and Sweden are bossing the game although the Croatians are dangerous in broken play.
Another penalty awarded to the visitors and the ball sails between the posts, this is becoming a rout.
Eventually the Croats wake up and through a couple of breaks and a touch of luck score a converted try themselves leaving a half time score of 10-15. Another missed penalty by the away team is a bit disappointing but the side is playing really well
Swedish rugby is looking good and the team continue the good work into the second half. They continue to pres and from a well worked set piece they ground the ball over the line and with the extra points being added Sweden are 10-22 up and playing with flair and confidence. This seems to galvanise the home side and they start to increase the pressure and start gaining more possession and ground, the Swedish defence is holding up well and keeping their goal line secure. After a number of efforts the hosts are eventually awarded another penalty, which they kick, reducing the score by 3. However that turned out to be the last success they were going to enjoy as the visitors took the game back to them, earning yet another penalty and increasing the score to 13-25.
By now Sweden were enjoying the game and were playing in a relaxed style which through some slick and clever play saw one of the most maligned players in the squad score and show just why he is in the ream. The try was converted and Sweden led 13-32. The remainder of the half saw no further scores, although both teams looked dangerous at times. The final whistle went leaving a dispirited home side and a jubilant Swedish squad.
The next match in the group is against Lithuania on the 6th November in Trelleborg. Let's hope that the good work continues and our warmest congratulations to all involved.
If you are talking about Paul 'WheelChair' Sullivan, who is not even good enough to start in the A team for Exiles, our player in the national squad still does not rate him and when we played Exiles we always hope Sullivan was playing so we could target his poor defence and lack of speed.
ReplyDeleteGuess everybody can stop complaining about the selections now ?
ReplyDeleteI love how Allan Mabon always tries to claim extra players for the 'Evil Empire' as he calls Exiles.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he ever bothered to ask Alex & Seb Taylor as well as Magnus Karlsson why they are still not playing at Exiles, or he just wants to claim them as his own when it suits.
Perhaps they left after playing juniors because like everyone else they could not force their way into the A Team due to all the imports.
For once I have to agree with the senile ramblings of Mabon Sr. He called our coach a "saint-like missionary" and he is right. Chris Richards is the best coach I have ever had. He not only knows everything about coaching rugby but he also takes a real interest in every player off the field as well. Robin Karlsson will credit Chris for making him into a Test player, and every other player will tell you how much he has improved us as people. Also ask Ricky Okpu one of the reasons he wanted to come to Hammarby. Let's hope he will be back in charge of Hammarby in 2011 because this 'saint-like missionary' is what Swedish rugby needs.
ReplyDeleteSomebody who is here for no airline tickets, no money, no job, just a wish to improve rugby in Sweden. Thanks Exiles for once again strengthening our team.
Before you Exiles players have a go, can you just for once pay credit where it is due.
Anonymous 25 October 15:39
ReplyDeleteYou have missed the point of my (not Allan's) posting on the Exiles website. Everybody here keeps bithcing that we do not contribute to Swedish rugby. Although clearly stating that other clubs have contributed to the development of the players in question, my point was that they came up through the ranks of the Exiles youth/Junior teams. The Swedish national team and Hammarby, both integral parts of "Swedish rugby" have both benefited from these players. Alex has been instrumental in raising the standard at the Stockholm Tens by every year bringing over top class players, who have made a habit of winning the tournament. Stockholm Tens is the worlds largest Tens tournament, which one would feel is a credit to Swedish rugby. Consequently Exiles have contributed to Swedish rugby. If they had all quit playing for whatever reason we would not have contributed to Swedish rugby. It's very simple.
If you feel that the Exiles policy of "imports" in 2009 - 2010 affected the decision of the Taylors to move back to Britain a decade ago or of Magnus Karlsson going to Hammarby in 2002, then you are either in possession of a time machine or some very strong pharmaceuticals...
Best regards
Hamish Mabon
(it is actually possible to submit postings under your own name, why don't you try it)
My money is on 'Saint Lover' being Mr Chris Richards himself (OOppss i mean Dr Chris Richards). I know for a fact that his team dont think that at all. Good try though...
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that our National team can take a unquestionable victory away against Croatia after having all kinds of problems during the build up to the game. It is just a pity that nobody recognizes it, but instead bitches and moans about the usual topic "poor us who get beaten by Exiles"!
ReplyDeleteHenrik Viberg
5 comments so far and all of them fairly negative. Not too many of them really related to the post.
ReplyDeleteLet's focus on the positives for a minute. Well done to the Swedish team. A simply fantastic result away from home. Here's hoping that they can get a result against Lithuania as well!
Herre min skapare!
ReplyDeleteAtt uttala sej om saker som du absolut inte har en aning om skapar ju bara en massa onödigt bitchande, Magnus Karlsson spelade ju i Exiles A-lag och lämnade klubben av helt andra orsaker, När det gäller Alex och Seb så skulle dom lätt platsa i Exiles, men resorna kanske dom tycker är lite långa.
Att ständigt racka ner på Mabons är ju bara någon form av avundsjuka som ni inte riktigt kan hantera, mitt tips är att ringa upp den av Mabons som ni inte är överrens med och prata om saken så kan vi disskutera possitiva saker om rugbyn här, självklart ska vi även disskutera mindre bra saker här också men kanske inse att allt inte är Mabons fel, dom gör säker sina misstag men jag menar ALLT kan ju inte vara deras fel.
I watched the whole match yesterday and it was interesting to see that there was a high tempo throughout the match. Good defensive game and many stages where you had the situation under control. It felt stable and secure. It seems that everyone worked for each other as they should be, with good scrums and safe lineouts. The defensive line also played well to secure defensive and fast balls out of the back line where, on several occasions was a chance for more experiments and tries.
ReplyDeleteOn the whole, it appears that Tatu and others have been to that little extra that we had bad luck last year and the pieces have fallen into place. The national team has a good group of players who want to play a modern rugby with quick movements and speedy moves over the pitch.
It feels like the team is finally ready to take the next step and with all good players who are selected can now manage to move forward and go up a level.
I think the squad is ready to take a step up in the next block and tackle the next group in Europe.
Saint Lover (Christopher Richards). How many different alias do u have on this blog??
ReplyDeleteJust to correct a few things :
ReplyDelete"Somebody who is here for no airline tickets, no money, no job, just a wish to improve rugby in Sweden"
Actually the oposite was true originally.
Not sure if the whole team feels this way. A few i talked in the team were actually embarrased by the abuse of other players from the sidelines, and constant ranting and raving.
Each to their own i guess.
Anyways, if he did improve the club that is great. Hope the same happens next year.
I thought Ricki wanted to come back to Hammarby for completely different reasons.... But then again it might have been rumours.....
ReplyDeleteGoing back to A and S, lets just say anyone involved in the national team at anytime throughout the past 5 years will know they raise the level every time they show up, complete professional attitude and get the most out of all of us in the team, taking it far beyond anything it would be without them. And probably until the arrival of daishy and lee still our star players. Who cares where they come from just happy to have them there. alex has asked no negative comments to come on these blogs from players involved in the squad, but I am sure he will appreciate some of these and Yes I am a player in the team but will remain Anonymous. Oh yes, one last comment, one of the 2 may be moving to Sweden, now that will be the signing of Swedish rugby who ever can get him signed up and play and coach their team, best of luck there.
ReplyDeleteBra jobbat av landslaget. Grattis!
ReplyDeleteTo the imbecile who has this neurosis about me, Hamish and I are the only ones who ever write our names instead of making foundationless allegations and then like a coward writing 'Anonymous'. Four your information I have never given myself a compliment and try and deflect and praise to the people who deserve it, in this case Hammarby.
ReplyDeleteNow, as to why I was writing today, firstly congratulations to the Swedish National team for your wonderful performance against Croatia. Self-belief is a wonderful asset for any team. I find it appalling that players representing their country can not even swap jerseys after the game with players from the opposition team. I am totally cognisant that rugby within Sweden is supposedly 'amateur' however, what astonishes me even more is that there is a person assigned to secure sponsorship for the team, however according to one player has never done so. Surely there is a compromise that can be made so that players have the ability to keep their playing gear after each game.
Lastly, to the infantile Australian Exile player that gets some type of self-gratification from being an anonymous bully, please don't despoil this Blog with your vendetta; otherwise I may be forced to respond.
One of the John "Anonymous " Doe has mentioned that he has watched the game. I was wondering where can one download or watch that video.
ReplyDeleteCheers lads
Janne johansson was "man of the Match"??
ReplyDeleteSome nice build up play, then the try from Sully.
ReplyDeleteBooooooooooooooom!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq9K776oWEY
Here you can download Croatia-Sweden http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5917790
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest statements Paul Sullivans little video shows and well the entire game for those who have watched it is this.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious that regardless of their club affiliations every single one of those players was playing for each other.
Goes to show that the negatives in Swedish Rugby come from those off the field of play. The armchair critics.
Well said 23:30!
ReplyDelete