Rugby World Cup 07

[Nobody]

First round was as expected, they put the all blacks, Australia and england against weak teams and they saw them get demolished, though america did pretty good, South Africa will do the same to Samoa tonight. France was meant to do the same but didn't.

If you like to watch slaughter, wait for New Zealand v Portugal it will be worse than italy.

From the First matches i think the All Blacks have been the best, england didnt score to much against america,

Australia got a huge score but japan are really weak, i remeber the abs getting over 100 against them in South Africa. Plus they had a slow start compared to the All Blacks who came out fireinig.

France showed that they are a joke, they got demolished by New Zealand in paris and here in new zealand. They have no hope against any of the tri-nations if they cant be agentina. I think they have a real chance of not making the 1/4 finals, if ireland can beat em.

The best game coming up will be South Africa and England on the 15th, and maybe aussies and wales.

 

[TopDog]

Riffraff i hope you didnt get the NZ commentary for the NZ vs Italy game. It was so poor. If it wernt for a try every couple of minutes i wouldnt have stayed awake.

 

[Harbourboy]

I think there might be one or two more "surprises" coming up in this tournament. England will need to watch themselves against South Africa and Samoa if they couldn't even piece together a creditable performance against USA.

 

[Riffraff]

Keep watching, Riffraff! As with most sports, the more you watch and learn, the better it gets.

The "static situations" or set pieces, like scrums and lineouts, are often where the game is won or lost, as dominance in those areas allows the backs the space to run (the part of the game you enjoyed).

Yeah, definately will continue watching - especially as I need to find excuses for not studying for my upcoming exams

Riffraff i hope you didnt get the NZ commentary for the NZ vs Italy game. It was so poor. If it wernt for a try every couple of minutes i wouldnt have stayed awake.

No its being shown by a German TV station who obviously commentate in german. Thats also quite good, as they know many viewers will be unfamiliar with the sport and try explaining the technicalities occasionally. Problem is, I'm not sure they've 'mastered' the sport themselves.

 

[Harbourboy]

I would love to hear what the German commentators were saying. Not that I understand German, but it would be fascinating to hear what they are saying. Rugby is not the easiest game to get to grips with (how many people really understand what happens at a ruck?). I assume it might be a bit like a bunch of New Zealanders trying to commentate on an American Football game.

Looking forward to South Africa v Samoa tonight. South Africa should clean up but I'm interested to see Samoa's form ahead of their English clash.

 

[kryszcztov]

France was meant to do the same but didn't.

No, everyone knew the Pumas are really good, especially against us (see our common, recent history). Wanted us to do the same ? Give us Namibia then.

France showed that they are a joke, they got demolished by New Zealand in paris and here in new zealand. They have no hope against any of the tri-nations if they cant be agentina. I think they have a real chance of not making the 1/4 finals, if ireland can beat em.

While I agree anything is possible (unlike you, with your certainty), those comments just make me laugh. So, if France played poorly in their first match, that means they will play poorly in future matches ? Where's the logic behind that ? Surely you remember the World Cup last year, where Spain was supposed to crush the hell out of the French team in the 1/8-final. While I know rugby is less prone to surprises, I maintain there is a chance for us to beat a top dog. And if it has to be the Blacks in Cardiff in the 1/4-final, so be it. Remember the 1/2-final in 1999.

 

[Harbourboy]

Remember the 1/2-final in 1999.

Yes, I was at Twickenham that day.

South Africa are pulling away from Samoa here, but I've seen enough now to suggest that Samoa will be a real handful for England. Maybe England will be the first champions to get knocked out in pool stage. They really have been the worst performing champions I have ever seen in any sport. Ever since 2003, they have been dreadful.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

Yes, I was at Twickenham that day.

Apart from a few kiwis everyone in the pub was rooting for the french that evening.

South Africa are pulling away from Samoa here, but I've seen enough now to suggest that Samoa will be a real handful for England. Maybe England will be the first champions to get knocked out in pool stage. They really have been the worst performing champions I have ever seen in any sport. Ever since 2003, they have been dreadful.

I wish I could find some convincing reasons to show why you're wrong but I'm stumped. Yesterday's match makes it even worse. Now that SA have a viable back line it seems even more likely that we'll lose to SA.

 

[MCdread]

I only watched the France-Argentina match so far, but judging on the results, it seems that neither England nor Ireland got that much of a big score given the opposition.

It's kinda sad (from a french perspective) to see the amount of years Laporte has spent experimenting with the french XV only to come up to the first game of the home RWC and play such a crappy game. All credit due to Argentina who are a class team, brought their manacing pack to do what they usually do and have some nice backs as well (Contempomi et al.), but really France was completely dominated in the first half and their backs were pretty lame (oh... and the the kicking...). To be honest, ever since Laporte is in charge of this team, they seem to have forgotten their running game roots and they never seemed likely to sparkle on Friday.

Anyway, Portugal scored a try against Scotland! I'm sure the fans from the major rugby power nations will point out that currently that's not exactly the hardest thing to accomplish but for our small and mostly ameteur team that's already a nice feat. Now we better get prepared for the 150 points the All Blacks are gonna put on the scoreboard.

 

[Nobody]

Now we better get prepared for the 150 points the All Blacks are gonna put on the scoreboard.

I dont know, seems they might be getting let off

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/070909/10/1m23.html

 

[Harbourboy]

MCDread - great to see someone from Portugal here. Just how popular is rugby in Portugal?

 

[MCdread]

MCDread - great to see someone from Portugal here. Just how popular is rugby in Portugal?

Not much but this RWC has brought it some unprecedented exposure. Hopefully some of the people that justed turned on for it will remain fans after the tries continue to flow in the coming matches and the RWC ends.
I think the only area where rugby is only moderately popular is in some middle class neighbourhoods of Cascais and other adjacent suburban towns west of Lisbon, although most clubs themselves are located in Lisbon proper (and a handful few in other cities). Most of them have originally been university clubs, but nowadays I think only the name and maybe some weak institutional link is kept, at least for the Lisbon clubs.

Well, from the people I know or normally socialize with, I'm the only one who's interested it, although I'll be working in the vicinity of that Cascais area starting next week, and already met there a colleague that's going to see the game with the All Blacks at Lyon.

 

[Harbourboy]

It'll be a bit like how everyone in New Zealand was interested in basketball in 2004 when we made it to the final four in the World Basketball Champs (ahead of the USA) when nobody has been interested before or since.

 

[ainwood]

France showed that they are a joke, they got demolished by New Zealand in paris and here in new zealand.

I think that's a bit harsh. The team they sent to NZ was a 2nd XV. France will get better.

England will need to watch themselves against South Africa and Samoa if they couldn't even piece together a creditable performance against USA.

I wish I could find some convincing reasons to show why you're wrong but I'm stumped. Yesterday's match makes it even worse. Now that SA have a viable back line it seems even more likely that we'll lose to SA.

Personally, I think the World cup will be won by Aus, NZ, SA or France. England won't beat SA. In fact, I think SA will demolish them. They're a 'form team', with their only real weakness being 'away games'.

 

[LAnkou]

I've been lucky to get some tickets for South Africa - Samoa, and even if South Africa was hardly threaten in 2nd Half, i still believe that giving the 2nd try to samoa would have totally change and Samoa wouldn't have crumble.

I know i'm a little repetitive and even if referee's decisions is definitely not the cause for the lost for France (no way that argentina should always win the ball after an up-and-under, being shot by themselves or by France) and Samoa, I still think that these two particular referees weren't that good.

The English referee didn't seem to whistle any offside (and from the stadium, there was a lot of them) in the opening match
The NZ referee was very very bad for the match between Samoa and SA. The 2nd samoan try, the unlimited scrum at the end of the first half, Burger's aggressions (well, all the south africans were very uncivilised, but particulary Burger), etc...

But i was in the stadium and may not have all the

I really like the samoan team, as almost all of the public (well, all the stadium minus South africans). Their number 8 was devastating. Too bad Brian Lima got knocked out, his first action was trully impressive....
England have to worry, manu samoans are coming!!!!

 

[Nobody]

Your so lucky to get to go see the games, hopefully next world cup i will get to.

 

[dionysos2048]

I maintain there is a chance for us to beat a top dog.

France still is a top dog.

As for NZ, they're like Brazil in football. All confidence, everybody's faves, and then all sad and surprised when they lose.

 

[LAnkou]

i wish that....

 

[Harbourboy]

Looking forward to that "superstar" Andy Farrell tearing the Springboks apart in a few hours time. I bet Percy is shaking in his boots. I'm in Singapore at the moment so that means a 3am kickoff. Hope the massacre is worth it!

 

[Sam_Yeager]

Looking forward to that "superstar" Andy Farrell tearing the Springboks apart in a few hours time.

Having seen the lineup I'm not expecting anything fantastic from England.