Well, I'd like to say South Africa and I'm going to be supporting them. But theyve had "internal issues" lately and thats going to affect their game.

So my guess is Wallabies, and if not them, then All Blacks.

I think France's last time was just fluke.

The Red Sox!!!!! Hell, once they finish off winning the World Series, I think they can do anything.

I disagree that England are over-rated. They won a grand slam in the northern hemisphere and beat everyone of note in the southern hemisphere. A great year. What more can they do? Granted they tied up NZ and made it difficult to play, but then thats sport you play to your strengths not your opponents.

Granted NZ will walk over every team in the tournament except Australia and England. Both games will be immensely tough and will depend on the kicking brilliance of Wilkinson and the lethal english wingers. The supreme ability of Spencer, if only he could kick. Don't discount Australia, they probably have 2 of the top 4 flankers in the world, along with the best scrum half.

I'm so looking forward to it. Took friday off work to watch the opening day, a day of rugby and beer life can not get better.

England isn't over-rated, they play some good footy. However, I still contend that the ref controlled that test match between the Blacks and the Poms and slowed it down so much, he basically gave the match to the Poms. If the ref that does the judging for the Blacks/Poms match, lets the game flow, the Blacks should dominate with their amazing speed. Remember, their prop was the fastest in the 6K time runs. I guess it's like a train, once it gets goin, you can't stop it.

Arrrr, maybe not the Wallabies but didnt Sydney put on a great opening show this morning?

Those boyo's sure do know their shit :)

Err they beat us this year.

Hate to say it but they would have to be the favourites. So long as the kiwis or poms don't win it, i'll be reasonably happy, but we're definetely going to have to improve from the Argie match.

Phil

GO JAPAN!!
(its half time against Scotland atm, and their only losing 15-6!! i think thats called improvement)

and

GO GEORGIA!!
(i´m definitely cheering them on later against England!!)

Japan have played really well. Just a shame that Scotland's fitness has enabled them to win by 21 points. They definately didn't deserve to lose by that much.

England up next, anybody think the world record could be in danger of being broken here.

Okay it's chucking it down in Perth. England to win by 50 points plus.

at least. but i´m hoping they put up a decent fight.

what a shame Japan didn´t get on top of the Scots... you´re right Zubrei, they just didn´t have the fitness to keep up the intensity.

i reckon the US will have a real match on their hands against the Japanese. later on in this competition.

**edit - ok, so its half time in this one... and its a bit of a blow out... and after half time i think its going to get a lot worse... with Georgia getting tired... but GO LELOS!! ... they´re putting up a decent fight!!

New Zealand to take England out in the final.

AUSTRALIA WILL. And if the Penrith Panthers were involved they would take it out.

LOL!!

i like you more already!

i reckon they should run the Panthers up for Australia in both the League and the Union.

(just don´t rub the whole panthers thing into cchris... he won´t take it well - haha)

Bundy- I live in Penrith. You should see this place, its like Day of The Dead, all these people/ bums/ derros wandering around in old Penrith Jerseys. Its amazing. Its done alot for the town.

oh, please don´t get me wrong, i´m really pleased for the Panthers, and for the good its doing for the area... i hope they can back it up with another trophy next year (and that the Panthers boys in the Kangaroos do Australia proud against NZ and England).


back to the Rugby...

AMERICA, you should be getting well and truly behind your rugby team!!!

they played GREAT rugby against Fiji the other day... they were very unlucky to lose (i mean, that Australian, Hercus... thats right, he went to school in the year above me at one of my schools top rivals - could have won it with that last conversion).

the Yanks have really surprised everyone.
this isn´t to say that they are going to compete against the real top tier teams, it just means that for a minnow in this competition, they are going to kick ass.

another great surprise was Japan!! i can´t wait to see the US vs Japan match on the 27th.


i´d be really interested as to how many ex-pats are playing for other nations in this competition...

i mean, there are many many Kiwis playing for other teams, like Japan. quite a few Aussies playing for other teams like Scotland.
i´d also be intersted in how many other countries have Australians and Kiwis on their coaching staff. (like Mark Ella for Japan - if yoy were wondering why the Japanese backs played out of their skins against Scotland - thats the reason).

i wonder how the Japanese will cope against the French on Saturday night... i mean, they´ll lose.. but will the usual dirty tactics from the French team play a factor (i wonder if the Japanese are used to eye-gauging??)

4 SAfricans in the US team, apparently I think we have about 10 at the WC playing for other teams.
2 England
2 france
4 Yanks
I think 1 Italian
1 Aussie
Plus a few for Namibia

thats right, i´d forgotten about Dan Vickerman. he´s a damn good player... thanks South Africa.

I'm damn proud of the Eagles, taking Fiji to within a conversion of upsetting them. We also had the lead at one point. It was a heartbreaker, but hey, they still did a damn good job.

hey Doos, looks like all my cheering for the Bokkas last night wasn´t enough. bloody english!

yes, thats right, this little Aussie was backing South Africa last night, because hey, i mean, theres this little saying, ¨Anyone, but the English!¨

(actually, being an Aussie, i was really barracking for a big Van Niekerk hit on Wilkinson causing him to be put out of the cup - but lets not say that too loud, since thats not a nice thought!!)


might i bring up the age old question - why are teams like Uruguay, Namibia, Romania and Georgia even playing in this cup - i mean, they are just making up the numbers.

i know that teams like the US and Japan have really been putting a good fight. they are clearly capable of upsetting second tier teams, or maybe just challenging them ...

AUSSIE,AUSSIE,AUSSIE,OI,OI,OI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I finally got to watch the US/Fiji test match (Fox Sports World is broadcasting matches on a 72 hour delay schedule and Pay Per View prices are just too high at 20 bucks a pop for a match) and I gotta tell ya, I'm just a little disappointed after seeing that match. Too many mistakes by the U.S. side to give up that lead. I know it's asking a lot, but hey, I'm a stickler for mistake free anything if it means a mark in the "W" column. It seems like the Eagles got on a high off of scoring that beauty of a try from Hercus' torpedo kick (someone's been watching too much American Football and the punters) and just forgot to play their game and let Fiji come back. Overall, it was a good effort, but I don't think I'm the only Yank that's tired of just "moral victories" for our side.

On a side note: I've been watching way too much rugby (if there is such a thing) I've started to say things like "bugger" around my friends. They're starting to look at me strangely whenever I start talking like a Kiwi and saying phrases like that.

Quick update on the standings for the RWC, they look pretty strange;

Pool A
Ireland w/ 10 points
Australia w/ 9
Argentina w/ 5
and Romania and Namibia tied w/ 0

Pool B
France w/ 10 points
Scotland w/ 5
Fiji w/ 4
USA w/ 1 *yeah, we have a point in the standings, amazing isn't it?*
Japan w/ 0

Pool C
Samoa w/ 10 points
England w/ 9
S. Africa w/ 5
and Uruguay and Georgia tied w/ 0

Pool D
New Zealand w/ 10 points (duh).
Wales w/ 9
Italy w/ 4
and Tonga and Canada tied w/ 0

England needs to start scoring some tries or else they're gonna end up in the runner up position and possibly facing elimination at the hands of the All Blacks.

Remember that Argentina were crap for a few WC and now are very competitive.

For me, the problem is that most of the new boys lack the infrastructure and finance to step up one more level.

I think England have a really great chance this time. If not maybe the all blacks.

That's exactly right, because besides the Aussies, Kiwis, Brits, Scots, Irish, and the South Africans, nobody has the structure to get their ruggers up to the speed of the perennial powers, although, those Minnow teams now, will eventually come around and start takin names and kickin butt.

Bugger :-( SA lost to England. Means we now face NZ in the quarters.

Not looking good, not looking good <b>at</b> all.

Well, if Samoa keeps goin on its big run and England stays pretty consistent with the W column, and if SA doesn't get its act together, the Bokkas might not even MAKE it to the Q-finals. Ahhh, it's a wonderful time to be a Kiwi Supporter.

You know the Argentineans are still on the basic grant of whatever it is that the players receive from the WC as a stipend? Something like $275 (Aus) a day?

Well, as the Kiwi says, we might not even make the quarters ;)

don´t believe that for a second.
boks will get through... to the quarters at least.

letting Georgia in for 19 points is pretty slack.

i´m going to the France vs Scotland match tomorrow night at Telstra Stadium ... can´t wait... i know it´ll be a run-away scoreline for France since the Bravehearts are in such poor form (esp with Andrew Mower injured - fyi, he went to my school a few years above me).

but i´d really love to see an upset.

well, no upset for me (or Scotland).

great to see a packed out stadium for this match.
crowd was absolutely pumped (and very vocally behind the Scots).

ladies and gentlemen, 142-0.
now thats a huge scoreline. (i think its the biggest win ever... i know that NZ won 145-17 against Japan a few years back, but they still let in 17).

well done to the Aussie B squad.

Update on the Pool Standings

Pool A
Australia 14
Ireland 14
Argentina 11
Romania & Namibia 0

Pool B
France 15
Scotland 10
Fiji 9
USA 1
Japan 0

Pool C
England 14
South Africa 10
Samoa 10
Uruguay & Georgia 0

Pool D
New Zealand 15
Wales 13
Italy 8
Canada & Tonga 1

Shoe Ins: Australia, what more can you say, biggest scoreline in RWC history and they ain't gonna make it, yeah right, in France's dreams. Ireland, the Argies are no longer a threat because they can't score any more Pool Place Points. France, c'mon, all they have left to play is the Eagles, man, that's gonna be uglier than Janet Reno in a thong.
England only has Uruguay to play, yeah, an upset will happen when the Eagles win the World Cup.
New Zealand, everybody surrendered and fielded their B Sides against the All Blacks, these guys were in from day one. Wales, Italy, like the Argies, can't score any more place points.

On the Edge: Scotland and Fiji, whoever wins this moves on to the Quarterfinals, same situation for South Africa and Samoa.

Everyone else is just playin for pride.

Here's how I see the Quarters matching up.

New Zealand v. Samoa, I don't think that the Bokkas have gotten focused enough to win against Samoa and move on.

Australia v. Scotland, the Aussies have too much talent to not win against the Irish.

France v. Ireland, see above.

England v. Wales, the ultimate rivalry, besides Australia and New Zealand.

I watched the England/Samoa game, England look VERY shaky, the only thing that saved them was Wilkinson's sharp up-n-under to put the nail in the coffin, but his goal kicking was attrocious.

A NZ/Samoa Quarter final would be cool :D considering a lot of the Samoans play their club rugby in NZ (like the Lions' blistering winger Lome Fa'atau).

England however have an unbelievably easy road to final, but I hope they lose to somebody, they are just too overrated and I can't stand their style of rugby, they just play flat out dirty and boring rugby.

Okay, I have NO idea how the hell the game is played, but, damn it looks like a lot of fun. Caught some of the New Zealand - Tonga games last night. Confusing? You bet? Hard to follow (at least for this american)? Yup. Fun as hell to watch or possibly play? ABSOLUTELY! In fact, growing up, my buddies and I did play this game only we called it, "Kill the guy with the ball" or "Get the hat" :D Seriously though, it was cool to watch. I think I'll check it out more often. DirecTV is showing some of the games.

The game is getting more popular in the Chicagoland area. More high schools are starting to play it. Very cool! :cool:

man that England v Samoa match was a great game.

dirty English playing 16 men.
should be penalised more harshly in my opinion.

totally agree with those Quarters ... having seen Samoa play like that they definitely deserve to go further than the boks.

the Aussie team looks like its making it hard for the selectors.

i mean, all of our squad seems to be hitting some good form... hope this match against Ireland helps Eddie Jones finally pick the best squad.

scotland haven´t been playing very well at all in this cup, so i figure that´ll be an easy one for the wallabies, but hey, anything can happen.

nz should account for samoa (thats if they get in), but that should be a great game to watch. can´t wait for that one. nz v boks should be a walk over, but it would be a tough physical match.

england v wales should be a walk in the park for the cheating poms. wales will give a lot of heart, but thats not enough. same story for the french and the irish.

that´ll lead to an interesting grand final - i mean Southern Hemisphere against Nothern Hemisphere.

bill has never been won by a northern team. and i´d hate to see the poms take it home...

Almost EVERYBODY would hate to see the Poms win. You'd never hear the end of it.

Not happenin, basically all of the Southern teams have way too much speed and when England played the Wallabies and the All Blacks at the beginning of international play (when each team played the Poms), the ruggers on the Aus. and NZ side had just come off of the Super 12 championship and there was still that feeling of "I don't quite like you very much right now..." and there wasn't that great of a chemistry between the players. However, now that both the Aussies and Kiwis are running on all cylinders, I predict a Pommie/All Blacks showdown with the Blacks dazzling them with their speed, and showing plenty of flash.

Update on RWC Pool Standings (just winner and runner up this time)

Pool A
Australia-18
Ireland-15

Pool B
France-20
Scotland-14

Pool C
South Africa-15
England-14 (The Poms still have Uruguay left to play tho)

Pool D
New Zealand-15
Wales-13 (These two still have to play as well).

some good, and some bad rugby played last night.

firstly, a complete and utter Bokka destruction of Samoa.
boks played well, samoans played poorly... end to a fairy tale for the islanders.

i have to admit while i was cheering on the boks, a tiny piece of me would´ve loved to have seen the islanders get through to the quarters.

(btw, Doos, i met the cutest africaan girl last night... damn fine lady!! please send more - i´m such a sucker for that accent)

and as for the Aussies, well, i have to say that i was hurting watching that second half.

we started off well, dominating the first 20minutes. but after that the wallabies just retreated into a defensive mind-set. no one in the backline really played well. roff had a shocker, as did latham, rogers and burke.

we only just held on.

if that was against the boks, the French, the Kiwis or the Poms, we´d have been absolutely thrashed.

but hey, we got through... next stop Scotland... and then it´s NZ...


**edit - oh, and Rod McQueen - the greatest rugby coach ever - has been warning everyone about the French... he says their discipline atm is more than enough to upset any of the major teams. after two losing RWC finals, could this be the year?? (i doubt it)