Rugby World Cup 2011

[Kvinto]

Samoa were great but unfortunately South Africa were better. Stupid red card by Paul Williams...

 

[Tank Engine]

Samoa were great but unfortunately South Africa were better. Stupid red card by Paul Williams...

I didn't see the match as I was working. From the report, the end was very tense and Samoa were unlucky.

No big surprises in the Welsh squad for Sunday. The only notable absences from the starting line-up are John Davies and Alun Wyn Jones, who are rested after being the only guys to start all three games and are on the bench. Scott Williams deservedly gets the opportunity to prove himself in a competitive game after scoring a hat-trick against Namibia and Charteris comes back into the 2nd row.

Fiji have been a bit of a bogey team recently having knocked us out in the qualifying stages 4 years ago after a close, high scoring match and drawing last year in Cardiff. However, the Welsh team in Cardiff was pretty experimental. Thanks to the development of some really good young players we seem to be on the up and Fiji have been less impressive than Samoa so far. Something really crazy is going to have to happen for Wales to get knocked out this time, so hopefully the lads will play this as a normal game. If we play a disciplined game, this should be a reasonably comfortable win.

I'll probably watch at least the second half of the England vs Scotland game.

 

[Kvinto]

I didn't see the match as I was working. From the report, the end was very tense and Samoa were unlucky.

I was lucky to watch the match being at work The first half decided the game, though in the second half Samoa were the better side (maybe not completely better but...)

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Rugby World Cup: Scot sails to New Zealand for match

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/15130127.stm

 

[Zam_Olyas]

that was a great game to watch.

 

[Tank Engine]

that was a great game to watch.

Unless you were (like me) a pretty neutral observer, or should I add a to the quote. Two minutes from a traditional Murrayfield Calcutta Cup kickfest. Nicely taken try though.

Edit: I guess from the previous posts and time we're talking about England vs Scotland

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Unless you were (like me) a pretty neutral observer, or should I add a to the quote. Two minutes from a traditional Murrayfield Calcutta cup kickfest. Nicely taken try though.

not great in the skills dept, lotsa mistakes but the excitement factor was good

 

[Midnightfright]

Nobody has looked particuarly impressive so far. Seems like its going to be the world cup of attriton.

 

[elapid]

Nobody has looked particuarly impressive so far. Seems like its going to be the world cup of attriton.

The All Blacks have looked dominant in every game they have played. Agree with you for all the other teams though. France played woefully to lose to Tonga, and were not convincing against minnows Canada and Japan. While the England-Scotland game was a great game to watch, England just squeeked past a team that finished second to last in the Six Nations, were beaten by the Pumas, and could barely account for Georgia. South Africa won against Wales in a game most people thought that they were lucky to win and their showing against Samoa was hardly convincing. Australia lost to Ireland and let in three tries against Russia, while suffering further injury losses with winger Mitchell out with a hamstring. At the very least, the quarters and semis will be interesting with so many teams struggling to find scintilating form. Based on form to date, and this has been said in previous RWCs to add to the hoodoo, the All Blacks are by far odds on favourites.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

The All Blacks have looked dominant in every game they have played. Agree with you for all the other teams though. France played woefully to lose to Tonga, and were not convincing against minnows Canada and Japan. While the England-Scotland game was a great game to watch, England just squeeked past a team that finished second to last in the Six Nations, were beaten by the Pumas, and could barely account for Georgia. South Africa won against Wales in a game most people thought that they were lucky to win and their showing against Samoa was hardly convincing. Australia lost to Ireland and let in three tries against Russia, while suffering further injury losses with winger Mitchell out with a hamstring. At the very least, the quarters and semis will be interesting with so many teams struggling to find scintilating form. Based on form to date, and this has been said in previous RWCs to add to the hoodoo, the All Blacks are by far odds on favourites.

I seriously want them to win this time around....the all blacks that is.

 

[ramjambunath]

Lost the channel which covers the RWC and have missed quite a bit.

Dan Carter is injured. McCaw will sit out of the Canada game with a niggle as well.

Colin Slade and Victor Vito will replace them.

Tonga will be rue their poor performance against Canada, but their support deserved an upset. Squeaky bums quarterfinal England vs France then.

 

[Kvinto]

that was a great game to watch.

result sucks

 

[The Hitch]

Seeing Samoa, Tonga, Scotland, Italy, all teams with the ability to rattle the top teams, go out in the knockout phase, i would prefer if they invited 6 more minow teams and made 8 groups of 4, so that you have a round of 16 before the quarters.

result sucks

Yeah Scotland deserved to win imo and theyve been very unlucky in 2 matches now, but I think Argentina and England going through will make for a better knockout phase.

 

[Ragerod]

The All Blacks have looked dominant in every game they have played. Agree with you for all the other teams though. France played woefully to lose to Tonga, and were not convincing against minnows Canada and Japan. While the England-Scotland game was a great game to watch, England just squeeked past a team that finished second to last in the Six Nations, were beaten by the Pumas, and could barely account for Georgia. South Africa won against Wales in a game most people thought that they were lucky to win and their showing against Samoa was hardly convincing. Australia lost to Ireland and let in three tries against Russia, while suffering further injury losses with winger Mitchell out with a hamstring. At the very least, the quarters and semis will be interesting with so many teams struggling to find scintilating form. Based on form to date, and this has been said in previous RWCs to add to the hoodoo, the All Blacks are by far odds on favourites.

The All Backs are the favourites by some margin but if they have to play someone decent without Dan Carter then they're in trouble because Colin Slade has looked a liability.

The concern for the southern hemisphere teams is that they'll take too much out of each other as they are all starting to struggle with injuries. Besides England and Ireland have a habit of playing at the level of their opponent and have the players to cause anyone problems.

 

[Kvinto]

Seeing Samoa, Tonga, Scotland, Italy, all teams with the ability to rattle the top teams, go out in the knockout phase, i would prefer if they invited 6 more minow teams and made 8 groups of 4, so that you have a round of 16 before the quarters.

it would be a good idea but it may need an additional week...

 

[The Hitch]

it would be a good idea but it may need an additional week...

Even better.

I would love to see Tongo or Samoa or Scotland play New Zealand or RSA or Australia or England in a last 16. Would make for some great games.

 

[Kvinto]

Even better.

I would love to see Tongo or Samoa or Scotland play New Zealand or RSA or Australia or England in a last 16. Would make for some great games.

4 groups * 10 games in one group = 40 games in a group round
8 groups * 6 games = 48 games
it's 8 games more + additional 8 games of 1/16 = 16 games more (it rather require even 2 weeks)
On the one hand it's good - more games and more interesting play-offs but on the other hand what a quality of matches will we have on a group round? The team should enter the World Cup on merit and not only because we wanted (i would have liked this to happen too) to see Samoa, Tonga, Scotland or Italy in the play-offs... It all seems to be too complicated...

 

[The Hitch]

A shame Argentina have to play New Zealand. Last year 3rd place. Rugby was getting big for the pumas. Now a quarter final exit and they still arent part of the trinations which is the most important thing for Argentinian Rugby imo.

Oh and Carter out of world cup. Shame as I wanted a rugby player in the Laureus final.

 

[LukeSchmid]

4 groups * 10 games in one group = 40 games in a group round
8 groups * 6 games = 48 games
it's 8 games more + additional 8 games of 1/16 = 16 games more (it rather require even 2 weeks)
On the one hand it's good - more games and more interesting play-offs but on the other hand what a quality of matches will we have on a group round? The team should enter the World Cup on merit and not only because we wanted (i would have liked this to happen too) to see Samoa, Tonga, Scotland or Italy in the play-offs... It all seems to be too complicated...

With more groups there is more games that could be played in parrallel so I am not sure the group stage has to be any longer, in fact it could be shorter as each team plays 1 less game in the group stage. It would mean more games played off of the weekends.

 

[daveinzambia]

Starting to get to the point were i want the All Blacks to win just because they are the only ones that really look like they deserve it (despite the fact that i am south african born, england raised, by a scottish dad, now living in Australia, and so New Zealand is one of the very few rugny teams i do not have a reason to support).

Australian loss has nicely split the draw across nothern / Southern lines so at least now the final should be the best of the South v the best of the north, which i like for a world cup.

Really looking forward to the Springboks - Wallabies match next weekend now.

 

[Kvinto]

With more groups there is more games that could be played in parrallel so I am not sure the group stage has to be any longer, in fact it could be shorter as each team plays 1 less game in the group stage. It would mean more games played off of the weekends.

You're right (my mistake). 3 rounds on a group stage with 16 games per round is very likely to be all the same 3 weeks or even less.
Wales are great so far! second try in 15 minutes

 

[Kvinto]

Welshmen are blowing Fiji away. 31-0 on a half time.

 

[Kvinto]

66-0. the Welshmen were doing all they wanted all match long. pretty impressive.
edit: what a pity they lost that game to SA

 

[ramjambunath]

66-0. the Welshmen were doing all they wanted all match long. pretty impressive.
edit: what a pity they lost that game to SA

Wales were brilliant but would they have been as dominant (they would have still won) if Fiji had played better when they were attacking in the first half. George North stomped all over the opposition with his running.
Officiating was not great again, one of the tries was a clear forward pass.

 

[Kvinto]

Quarter-final round:

8 Oct, Ireland v Wales
8 Oct, England v France
9 Oct, South Africa v Australia
9 Oct, New Zealand v Argentina

i'm highly disappointed about the first quarter-final, because i'd like it to be a semi final