Rugby World Cup 2011

[Busty St Clare]

It is that time again. Football may be the World game but Rugby is the game they play in Heaven. The Gods have spoken and the 7th Rugby World Cup begins the 9th September in New Zealand. 20 teams from around the globe are gathering in Aotearoa for what looks to be a pretty open championships. William Webb Ellis is home.

The New Zealand All Blacks again start as favourites, as they always do, but as history shows the favourite has never won since 1987. The Australian Wallabies and South African Springboks will each stake their claim while England, France and Ireland will no doubt push for a place in the final on October 23.

The 4 round robin pools kick of in Auckland with NZ playing Tonga and I have selected my predicted highlights...

Pool A New Zealand vs France Sept 24, Auckland

Plenty of history between these two countries both on the field and off. As always it depends on which team the French decide to run on with. They can be either brilliant or pathetic. I wouldn't be surprised if the final at the end is a replay of this match.

Pool B Argentina vs England Sept 10, Dunedin

Should be an interesting battle of the forward packs. The Puma's were the surprise packets 4 years ago making the semis while England have played in 4 finals, only winning in 2003. Just don't mention the Falklands. The match is being played in Dunedin's brand new Glasshouse stadium.

Pool C Russia vs USA, Sept 15th, New Plymouth

Realistically neither team should make it into the knock out stages but you just know when these two former Super powers meet in any sport there will be plenty of passion and blood.

Pool D South Africa vs Samoa Sept 30, North Harbour

Samoa are big and strong and have a history of pushing (and even beating) a lot of the bigger names at world cups. Have recently beaten a second string Australian side so they have the strike power to really match it up front with the Spring Boks. Expect plenty of big hits from both sides.

 

[Care]

I watched a game of Sevens the other day at a friends house. Seemed like a sport I could enjoy in the right atmosphere, but tbph rugby is non-existant where I live and this is the first ive heard of the world cup.

 

[Percodeth]

i wish i could watch live at the stadium with pals

 

[Tude]

Football is for sissies. Rugby's where it's at!

 

[Percodeth]

you got some more pictures to share em, that ones really nice

 

[Volundr]

A lot less interested now that it's confirmed my cousin won't be in the all blacks squad (wasn't expecting it, but would've been nice) Will be supporting NZ still but I do like France and wouldn't mind them winning it.

 

[Chaos Butterfly]

Ah, well the world cup has just become a little bit more interesting what with the Wallabies beating the All Blacks in the final Tri-Nations match on Saturday. What a game! What a time to smash the All Blacks!

This is going to be a great World Cup.

I think that the only way that South Africa are going to get close to the final is through teams playing stupidly against them. Don't give up penalties in your own half. Don't give them opportunities to kick for goal. They haven't been a potent try-scoring force in the past couple of years (away from home) and they will try and win the game off the boot of Morne Steyn (or Franz Steyn or whoever is on the field...)

New Zealand have their best chance in forever of winning the Cup. Home soil will help them immensely, but they have a history of choking at the wrong time. If they have to play France, well beware, because as shit as France can be, they have a tendency to knock the All Blacks out of the cup. If they don't make the final it will be surprising, and they could quite likely win it.

Australia are playing better than they have been in ages. They have a balanced dynamic squad that has really beefed up its defence. If they don't at least make the final, they will be bitterly disappointed. They also have a great chance of winning this year.

In terms of the Northern Hemisphere teams, well you can't ever really write off England, Ireland or Wales. France may surprise - they have a habit of being difficult and at least making the semis.

I don't know if Argentina can back up their from from 4 years ago. Will be great for them if they can.

Would love to see Samoa, Fiji or Tonga bash their way past the group stages. I think that Samoa are the most likely to progress.

Really looking forward to this kicking off

CB

 

[ChainsawWilliams]

Its really all about the all blacks this year. I think Ireland will do well though. Hopefully.

 

[Busty St Clare]

As much as the win over the all blacks was impressive on the weekend the wallabies lack any mongrel to win it this year. They came out guns blazing but faded badly as soon as NZ decided to get more direct and got back to their forwards. Against the northern hemi teams Australia's scrum and general softness up front will be found out. They have a sorry recent history against physical teams (Samoa and Scotland ffs).

NZ's biggest problem is trying to life up to their legacy to play entertaining rugby. Rather than grind out boring wins they prefer to want to throw it around and score tries rather than settle for points. It is admirable but foolish when at the world cup. It is why aust v NZ is usually so entertaining to watch. I still think they will be too tough to beat at home. Eden park is a fortress and I can't see anyone coming close in the final.

10 more sleeps......

 

[Busty St Clare]

The wait is over motherfuckers! I could hardly sleep last night. All all kicks off tonight with New Zealand vs Tonga.

The All Blacks have loaded the backline with a few fringe players and although Tonga will compete for the first 30minutes, they will be no match for the Kiwis. The biggest talking point will be the Hakas before the match. I was present when these two teams played at the 2003 World Cup and to say the Haka was exciting would be an understatement. Rather than wait for NZ to finish the Tongans answered back and threw down the challenge as thunder and lightening erupted around the stadium. It was enough to make the hair on my arms stand up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGCsEQ15L4

Plenty of Tongans in Auckland will make the atmosphere even more special this time around.

 

[moonyham]

I live in auckland and thus the RWC is very much so apparent and unavoidable for me. Add to that i work in hospitality, and its a mix for very sore legs and no tendency to have after work drinks. Going to the france vs japan game tomorrow/today which should be fun, never been to a rugby game before! Mate won the tickets and im buying the piss haha!

 

[Jackal]

Great stuff from Ireland yesterday! Bring it back home lads%)

 

[Busty St Clare]

I'll be damned if I'll allow the World Cup to go to a team that can't score any tries.

Best day to be alive in a country though with 20 million silent Aussies. Got to love the Auckland crowd all booing Australia, it was if it was played in Dublin. :D

No real surprises over the first week. England have hardly set the world on fire yet are (luckily) unbeaten. NZ vs France next weekend should be a cracker.

 

[suburu]

How ye all feeling about it now people?

Getting really excited about 1/4 finals. Ireland Wales bring on the 6am start!

Very hard to call this game. Will be very close, i reckon just a penalty in it. Come on Ireland!

 

[suburu]

Piri Weepu is incredible leading this. Kapa O Pango version of the haka against the French http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Si_W26kRI0

 

[benson7]

Fuck it I'm backing England here, we'll come alive in the knock outs. As long as someone else can knock out the All Blacks first...

 

[Busty St Clare]

Losing dan Carter was a real kick in the teeth but the more time I have had to dwell the morexi realized that there is more than enough strike power in the all black back line to win. the springboks look the most likely to beat them. They don't play pretty but tough forward play and taking the points has won more world cups than not. If the wallabies do beat them this weekend I just can't see Australia backing up and knocking off NZ. England should fall over a pretty woeful French side while it is a toss of a coin between the welsh and Irish. I expect a nervous start against Argentina but the all blacks should put 20 points on the pumas. But stranger things have happened in the past so it is still anyone's cup to win. thank god the real stuff starts tomorrow. I have been going stir crazy this week.

I have already thrown myself on a granade and promised the little lady a trip to ikea tomorrow morning so enough brownie points should be in the bank to pull two back to back double headers this weekend

 

[suburu]

Sweet. Agreed on everything. Carter is a massive loss alright. Fantastic player but he shouldnt be missed tommorow. The semi finals will be very tasty though. Going on a proper session myself tonight. Have work of 4 hours then we have the football. European Champs Qualifiers, Ireland Andorra and then the 1/4 finals!

England France will be very interesting considering all the shit thats surrounding both. Id be very surprised if Lievremont managed to rally the troops. Really hope the Boks knock out Australia. I have loads of aussie mates and its insane how arrogant and graceless they are. Cant accept how shit they are when Pocock doesnt play and how we focused on their weakness' and choked the fucking life out of them. If they lose against SA it'll be the same, ref was shit, we dont like the rain, grass wasnt green enough, blah blah fuckin blah.

Im worried about Rory Bests shoulder now, they say hes ok but i'll be surprised if he lasts 50mins in such an intense game. My old pal Sean O'Brien will be like herucles again. Very close but im going Ireland by 3 points. If we lose though i wont begrudge the Welsh and hope they make the final. I'm praying for Ireland England semi final though. C'mon to fuck

 

[Busty St Clare]

You want to try living in Australia. You are spot on with their bleating. An excuse for every loss. They have already started to bitch about the ref and how he doesn't respect the Australian scrum. I actually want the wallabies to win because I fancy the all blacks chances more against them than South Africa. Also I have plenty of Hakas loaded onto my iPod that I plan to pipe through my work sound system all week while I'm treating patients

Cant wait for tonight's games. The welsh backline is pretty slick while the Irish backrow is unforgiving. I guess it will come down to conditions. It's been a wee bit wet this week. The game should be more exciting than the French England bore fest.

 

[suburu]

I lived there for 3 years, thats why I have to listen to the nonsense now, and they dont half fancy themselves. I was looking forward to watching them at the World Cup too after the Tri Nations and because we were playing them (and they've screwed us in some games in the past so we owed them one)but reading what the media write and listening to their fans has put me off. Starting with that numpty Tim Horan. The Boks have come in right under the radar. Always a dangerous side.

I guess it will come down to conditions. It's been a wee bit wet this week

Probably rains 80% of the year in Ireland and Wales so players will relish the conditions. The players know each other inside out from Celtic League and Heinken Cup, its practically a local derby so there'll be no surprises. Hoping for a monster performance from Sean O'Brien.