Who's watching the World Cup?

[Edward Smith]

Who here is watching the Rugby World Cup? Who are you going for?

I have been watching all I can but they are only showing 3 matches a week on free-to-air in Melbourne.

I hope we can get a discussion going that lasts the whole cup.

Go the Wallabies!

[Gavin Strelitz]

I just got back from the SA v Wales game in Wellington. Very lucky win for SA, Wales played there hearts out.

Wellington was absolutely buzzing, great atmosphere and the Kiwi's are excellent hosts.

[swarovski]

hey ed,

OBVIOUSLY me!!!

just like every time the RWC comes around I subscribe for 6 months trial of sky-tv...

I have only missed the '87 so far, it wasn't broadcasted in Italy as far as I can remember. Went to england in '99 and australia in '03.

Poor Italy, we have no hope without a top tier flyhalf, plus we made so many mistakes in the second spell, when you play that kind of matches every mistakes becomes points for the opposition and once a lower ranking team is 10 or more points behind, pride is all you got left with.

I feel so sorry for wales, that penalty was in, ref should have called the tmo, I believe they should have been the winner.

Great rungby from minnows as well, impressed with romania, namibia, usa and japan.

The opening ceremony was quite a disappointment though, looking forward to watch mighty samoans tomorrow.

I support AB as I lived in auckland, but australia is now playing the best rugby, think they deserve a place in the final.

[Edward Smith]

I support AB as I lived in auckland, but australia is now playing the best rugby, think they deserve a place in the final.

No matter what country were from, I think we can all agree on one thing. That neither England or South Africa can allowed to win this world cup (otherwise it may be the end of days).

[Gavin Strelitz]

Well, being South African, I would have to disagree with that, but I would obviously like a Southern Hemisphere team to win it. I can't see SA taking it anyway, not with this coach and his first choice team. The Kiwi's should win it easy.

[Edward Smith]

I was seriously disappointed that England beat Argentina. Argentina played so well for a team that never plays together, and the English are such bad winners (the halfback's try (Ben Foden is it?) was good it wasn't great.

I'm really happy to hear Argentina is joining the tri-nations next year (making it the four-nations). That will be such a good initiative in developing their national team. Next world cup or the one after, Argentina will be a serious contender (up there with England and France).

Gavin I hope I haven't insulted you, I'm sorry if I did. Merely meant in a sense of jest.

Also, I'll be heading over there, to Auckland, this friday. So I'm glad to hear about your positive experience, from my experience the Kiwi's are extremely hospitable.

Who do you think out of Samoa V Wales, I'm thinking a close one.

Ed

[Gavin Strelitz]

No insult taken at all.

Wales v Samoa could be very close. This is the type of game the Welsh really struggle with and the Samoans will be up for the physical challenge of handling Jamie Roberts at inside centre and the running game of the Welsh 8 (Tuilagi I think)

I really dislike the fact that England has chosen a black strip for a World Cup based in New Zealand. The lack of respect for the All Blacks is staggering. They should have lost to Argentina as well.

[Roy Yorke]

Hi,

I'm an England supporter (for my sins!).

Never mind the Group of Death, England look set to top the Group of Dirge. My first thought when I saw England's group was that any England fan expecting to enjoy watching the group stages was likely to be disappointed. Argentina, England, Georgia, Romania & Scotland is not a recipe for exciting, free flowing rugby!

ed x wrote:

Argentina played so well for a team that never plays together

Totally agree that Argentina play well above the level that could be expected of them given their lack of Tests and am very pleased that they have finally been given the place they deserve in a regular top level comp (would love to have seen them join the 6 nations but Tri nations seems a more sensible option).

Gavin S wrote:

I really dislike the fact that England has chosen a black strip for a World Cup based in New Zealand. The lack of respect for the All Blacks is staggering.

I won't be buying one, although I'm tempted purely on the basis that the stains wouldn't show if I spilled my beer on it! It's not as though the players or the management team have chosen it. Someone at Nike chose it and to be fair to that person it has generated a lot of publicity. Wales have a black away kit, as do several other teams. I can see why it's a talking point but really (as Martin Johnson has said when questioned about it) "it's a jersey mate".

Gavin S wrote:

Wales v Samoa could be very close. This is the type of game the Welsh really struggle with

I'd be very nervous if I was a Wales supporter. Samoa look very dominant today, including at the set piece (albeit against Namibia). Wales played very well against the Bokke but may have peaked in the first game of the tournament and still lost.

My second team is Japan as I live here and Mrs Yorkie is Japanese. For me the France V Japan game has been the highlight so far. I love the way the Japanese side play. They have really built a decent side now with a very high tempo, accurate and expansive style of play (things England so often lack). They are no strangers to the physical aspect of the game either (won the Pacific Nations Cup this year!) but they needed to win that game to have any hope of progressing past the group stage given that they face the ABs next. I thought there was a real chance of it happening for them when I saw the French start to lower their heads as there have been some serious issues with their psychology when they're not enjoying themselves.

The Wallabies look genuine contenders. If they have lost Digby Ioane for the tournament it'll really disturb their plans though, particularly because he does all Quade Cooper's defending for him! :wink: :wink: :wink:

[swarovski]

I had high expectations for samoa, had a few team mates from there, but after what I've seen against namibia I'm pretty disappointed. So many handling errors, and the lack of their feared continuity revealed a game of scrapping action, namibia did all wrong, their n10 in particular playing so differently than against fiji. Fiji were much better than samoans even if the final score doesn't say the same. More likely than not, just like in 2007, only fiji stand a real chance with wales.

as for the jerseys, England's nike are a joke, it seemed someone ironed (badly) numbers on those. AllBlacks' Adidas are more a first layer than anything else and ripped apart. Kooga are lacking style, seems football ones. The only cool one are the CCC (canterbury) even if I liked the 2007 neck better.

Hope for the best possible final: AllBlacks-Wallabies

[Roy Yorke]

swarovski wrote:

after what I've seen against namibia I'm pretty disappointed... only fiji stand a real chance with wales

I'm surprised by that

I thought Samoa played well in parts without having to get to too high an intensity. The game was effectively won at 25-0 at half time and they could easily have been up by more than that. Admittedly they were bad at times too but for the first game of the tournament it could have been a lot worse. Their biggest problem is not having much rest before the Wales game, they picked up a couple of injuries didn't they?)

Do you really not give them a chance against Wales? At the very least they'll be a handful and by the Fiji game Wales may well have some injury worries of their own. I still think I'd be very worried if I was a Wales supporter.

[swarovski]

not a chance is too much of a call, they surely will make it tough for wales, but I think the match will just slowly slip away from them. The one thing 6N has clearly taught to italy, is that mistakes and missed opportunities aren't affordable at the highest level.

I doubt their error rate can drop significantly in such short span, they seemed not very used to play together, top pick doesn't provide team cohesion by itself, then just as you said, add this to the fact that 2 of their key men won't probably be fit to play and you have wales able to come out with 4 points.

By the way, Tuilagi's hat trick didn't impress me as much as epic jonah's or rocketman's used to.

[Roy Yorke]

Yeah, I guess a realistic predicition for this game is Wales to get (or maybe just miss out on) their 4 try bonus point and win by around 15 points. I really want to see Samoa rise to the occasion though.

In other news, Dan Carter has decided to rest his back this weekend. Could this prove to be a miscalculation that allows the Brave Blossoms a second chance to turn this group on its head??? :wink: :wink: :wink:

Ganbare Nihon!

[swarovski]

yeah, I'd like to be proved wrong by samoans.

yep, the all blacks seems struggling with injuries already, not a good sign for their campaign. Still it won't be easy for japan as when the all blacks stormed with 145 points in '95, second choice player were in... if I don't remember wrong marc ellis still has the record for most tries in a single RWC match with 6 from that match even if he was a reserve...

[Roy Yorke]

Hmm... Well Japan managed to keep the ABs from getting over 100! :roll:

In fairness that was far from Japan's strongest side. If Ryan Nicholas and maybe Tupuaili had started in the centers they might have been able to stop Nonu occasionally. I expect to see a stronger Japan again for their games against Tonga and Canada where they'll be targeting at least one win.

I also suspect that there's not much wrong with the various All Blacks who were kept out of this game. :wink:

Ireland V Aus to look forward to tomorrow. Ireland are due to put in a good performance and have plenty of experience and quality. What do you guys think?

[Michael Miskelly]

Ireland are due to put in a good performance and have plenty of experience and quality

Go on the Irish!

[Roy Yorke]

Well done Ireland! That'll be appreciated supporters of the Northern Hemisphere teams as it's now quite possible that Aus will play South Africa (who looked VERY good against Fiji) in the quarter finals. That would practically guarantee a Northern  Hemisphere team in the final I think.

How do you think Italy's pack will do against Ireland's Swarovski?

Commiseration ed x. I know this game will have been tough viewing for Oz fans. I fealt a little sorry for Beale in particular as he's a great player and played his heart out.

Meanwhile England looked pretty unconvincing for most of the game again today despite scoring 6 trys. Why do England teams always give away so many stupid penalties? So frustrating! :x

I'm hoping Canada can beat the French now to keep Japan's hopes of making the knockout stage alive! :wink: :wink: :wink:

[Gavin Strelitz]

Yeah, I was impressed by the Springbok performance on the weekend and the Bok camp looks to be gaining some momentum. Let's see what happens there. It would be a good idea for SA to throw the game against Samoa (I know they wont, just making a point) and get an easier route to the finals.

Australia looked terrible. Good perfomance by the Irish but the Aussie pack just didn't arrive at all. The Irish played the right game plan and it worked a treat.

Good win for Wales, that was a danger match but they are pretty much assured QF rugby at least.

[Roy Yorke]

Gavin S wrote:

It would be a good idea for SA to throw the game against Samoa (I know they won't, just making a point) and get an easier route to the finals.

I think if anyone's going to throw a game it's France V the ABs. That would mean New Zealand go through the group stage pretty much untested (unless Canada give them an unlikely scare!) and then would have to play their most familiar opponents in the QF & SF. Could this all count against them if they reach the final?

Also, who knows how the French respond if their coach potentially denies them their chance of a customary beating of the All Blacks!

[swarovski]

samoans played better than I thought but still not as an experienced and well organized team, they played mostly a fierce 1v1 battle than a XV game.

ireland deserved the victory, very well structured and able to keep the big oz firepower with no ammunition.

france is always a big question mark, nobody knows if they're gonna play very well or very poorly. Up to now they haven't played flowing rugby we all like to see.

italian pack has to think about russia, not an easy task at all, and then usa. Unfortunately with such irish won things are very much more complicated for us. I don't think italy can qualify, ie beat ireland.

Fiji really struggled with SA, this pool won't give us any surprise.

Scotland can surprise us against argentina.

my (obvious) quarter final predictions are:

IE-WA

EN-FR

SA-AU

NZ-AR

wow... sadly for rugby, even after 25 years of RWC, take the top 8 in world ranking and place them straight in the quarter finals...

the gap is closing, but 30 ranking points difference between the first and the 20th team in the RWC are still too much, it will eventually take 20 more years or so, when there will be only 10 ranking points difference, to see an unpredictable rwc.

[Edward Smith]

Just got back from New Zealand, having been to Aus V Ire and Sam V Wal.

First let me say congratulations to the Irish, played there hearts out, and nothing I'm about to say comes from being a sore loser. The game was absolute shit though (please excuse my language). Neither of the teams ever seriously looked like scoring and there wasn't ever much serious running of the ball. This was due to a few things, firstly the weather didn't help, then we were battling it out in the forwards (which the Irish beats us in in general play and especially scrums) , Quade Cooper needed to take more control of the game and we missed Pocock and Digby. However, what made the match so bad was the refereeing. Not in that referee got heaps of calls wrong (although some of the calls for the scrum were pretty suspect) but that he blew everything up straight away, giving no time for advantage.

[Roy Yorke]

swarovski wrote:

Scotland can surprise us against argentina.

Definitely. Scotland have beaten Argentina (in Argentina) the last two times they played each other.

swarovski wrote:

my (obvious) quarter final predictions are:

IE-WA

EN-FR

SA-AU

NZ-AR

Thanks for your confidence in the England team Swarovski, but on the day England play Scotland I`ll be hiding behind the sofa, praying for dry weather (along with most other England supporters I imagine).

[rant] In fact I`m tempted not to switch on the TV until half-time, by which time they will have had at least one player carded and may have decided to knuckle down and play rugby. When I was 17/18 and had to suffer the indignity of playing for Old W@nktonians 3rd team on a Sunday, even they would fine people after a game if they had given away silly, needless penalties. Maybe someone with a brain needs to be charged with doing something radical like communicating with the referee and getting him on side a bit. Unfortunately the evidence suggests they`re all either too inexperienced or are simply morons! [/rant]

I think Italy`s front row will stand up better to Ireland`s than the Australian one did (I`m a little biased as I was a Leicester Tigers supporter when I lived in the UK so I`m also a big Martin Castrogiovanni fan!) But Ireland will be playing to a different game plan on that day of course.

ed x wrote:

we missed Pocock and Digby

Both excellent players but the Irish could certainly play that card too. They didn`t have their first choice in every position and a few of those who started are on the brink of falling apart. I believe O`Driscoll spent part of the warm-up in a neck-brace! If they make it through to the end of the tournament it`ll finish some of them off for sure! Your point about the time given for advantage is absolutely valid, it`s so inconsistent from one ref to another.

[swarovski]

well, I think argentinians will be favourite winners versus scotland, even if previous results are against them, world cup matches are a different story. Don't forget that most argentinians players are often unavailable for internationals tour tests.

England is a strong side and they won't waste the chance to be the pool winner.

castro is very tough, so is sergio and few others, but you're just as strong as your weakest link, and with orquera or bocchino at firstfive, plus not being mirko very reliable from the tee, we definitely need an outstanding performance, lots of luck (bad weather, poor irish handling, ecc) and a ref that favour our game to beat ireland. I guess not an expansive game at all...

[Gavin Strelitz]

However, what made the match so bad was the refereeing. Not in that referee got heaps of calls wrong (although some of the calls for the scrum were pretty suspect) but that he blew everything up straight away, giving no time for advantage.

Bryce Lawrence, for me, is the worst ref in the world at international level. As you say, he never plays advantage, and is random in his interpretation from ruck to ruck and at scrum time.

One other thing is that most people underestimate the absence of Moore. He is one of your most abrasive and robust forwards and you missed him badly, especially in a game like that one against Ireland.

Looks like an early tri-nations clash of Aus v SA.