Rugby World Cup 2007

air_mood

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Joined
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Starting in 8 days. All Blacks should win judging by their performances over this past year or 2. Logically, England and South Africa should clear Pool A with ease. As will the Aussies and Wales from Pool B, the All Blacks and the Scots from Pool C, France and Ireland from Pool D although the Argies might have something to say about it. The Samoans might make life tough for England and South Africa in Pool A as well.

Bring on 7 September!!!
 
I don't watch rugby much but I play it (well, used to play it until I broke my fecking ankle in the middle of a game, never got it fixed.)
I was good at it too :(
But, I'll defintely watch the rugby world cup.
Since I'm just getting into watching it, you (air_mood) wanna do me a favour and tell me which games are gonna be good to watch and which teams to watch for.
 
ecantona7 said:
I don't watch rugby much but I play it (well, used to play it until I broke my fecking ankle in the middle of a game, never got it fixed.)
I was good at it too :(
But, I'll defintely watch the rugby world cup.
Since I'm just getting into watching it, you (air_mood) wanna do me a favour and tell me which games are gonna be good to watch and which teams to watch for.
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I'm pretty sure that Setanta is broadcasting every game. I could be wrong about that, but they will definitely be broadcasting all of the really good games.
 
ecantona7 said:
I don't watch rugby much but I play it (well, used to play it until I broke my fecking ankle in the middle of a game, never got it fixed.)
I was good at it too :(
But, I'll defintely watch the rugby world cup.
Since I'm just getting into watching it, you (air_mood) wanna do me a favour and tell me which games are gonna be good to watch and which teams to watch for.
Click to expand...

Teams to watch for will obviously be the usual. New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, France. I'm a fan of the All Blacks and me personally would say thay are the favourites based on recent form.
 
All blacks are definitely favorites. The England/SA game in the group stages will be a good game along with the games between these three: France/Ireland/Argentina.
 
O'Driscoll won't be available for the 1st few games won't he?? There's going to be heavy reliance on O'Gara then I reckon.
 
Maybe this is one for the Admin Forum but, if we had a dedicated section for the Cricket WC earlier in the year, is there the demand for a temporary one for the Rugby World Cup too?

Hearts says England [somehow], head says New Zealand or South Africa.

The Kiwis have faltered right at the last in years gone by, though this time you'd think they're too good for that.

Who out of Scotland and Italy do you reckon will take up the other place in New Zealand's Pool?

It would be good for the sport if some of the 'lesser' nations can step up some this time round. A bit like how Ireland, Bangladesh and Kenya have done in Cricket.
 
I'd go for Fiji, Samoa or the Argies as lesser nations that may spring a surprise. Maybe even Tonga. The island nations tend to spring surprises.

For those who love huge hits, keep and eye for Brian "The Chiropractor" Lima of Samoa, Sebastien Chabal of France and Jerry Collins of the All Blacks. Collins is basically a battering ram as well, smashing his way thru everyone. Me personally prefer the tandem partnership of Ali Williams and Chris Jack of the All Blacks.

Don't think there's enough rugby fans here that this will get it's own forum.
 
Zidane to meet with All Blacks


Two of the more gifted playmakers of their generation will trade secrets when French soccer great Zinedine Zidane meets the All Blacks on Thursday.

In a cross-code meeting organised by apparel sponsor adidas, Zidane will visit the New Zealand team and carry out some promotional work with first five-eighth Daniel Carter. It is unclear what the promotion involves but it is believed to include a group of French children.

Zidane, among the most gifted players of the last decade, is best-known for his head-butt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi for which he was sent off in last year's World Cup soccer final.

He was raised in a poor suburb of Marseille and is glorified there.

All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina was surprised when told of Thursday's rendezvous.

"I'll probably be in awe, I'll try and get his autograph and get a photo," Muliana said.

Meanwhile, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will travel north tomorrow to be involved in a promotion in Paris involving all 20 World Cup captains ahead of the first game of the tournament there on Friday.

The skippers will sign a statue sculpted by former French captain Jean-Pierre Rives.

http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=displayNews&newsArticle=6750

2 geniuses with the ball meeting each other. If only Spencer was there. He's another genius with the ball, possibly Luke McAllister too.
 
Ireland have to start well and win the group if they are to have any chance of getting to the semi's. However I don't think they will especially after watching their warm up games.

Argentina are a very good team and have the ability on their day to beat Ireland or France. Even if we do win against them it will be a tough encounter and revenge for the summer tour may result in disciplinary punishment or injuries.

We never beat France so I think the best we can do is finish second in the group and face the All Blacks in the quarters.

O'Driscoll should be back for the toughest matches in the group. O'Sullivan and the IRFU should be shot for arranging the match against Bayonne as a World Cup warm up game.

New Zealand are clear favourites unfortunately. I would love to see anyone but them win it. France and South Africa are the onlt two team that can challenge them however the refs usually see that the All Blacks come through. Australia are a good outside bet.
 
I`ve never really watched any rugby so I don`t know anything about it. Which country is rated as the best rugby nation? Who is the Brazil of rugby?

Are rugby players famous? Do they make a lot of cash? Do they have real teeth?
 
I`ve never really watched any rugby so I don`t know anything about it. Which country is rated as the best rugby nation? Who is the Brazil of rugby?

Are rugby players famous? Do they make a lot of cash? Do they have real teeth?
 
New Zealand wing Joe Rokocoko has not even made the bench for the All Blacks' opening World Cup match against Italy.

Sitiveni Sivivatu and Doug Howlett fill the wing berths for Saturday's match, while Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith form the centre partnership.

Up front Keven Mealamu earns the nod at hooker ahead of Anton Oliver for the World Cup favourites.

Earlier this week All Blacks second row Keith Robinson was ruled out of the match because of a calf strain.


New Zealand coach Graeme Henry told their official website: "All of the players are very enthusiastic. In fact, we probably need to be sure that we play sensible rugby on Saturday and don't get over-excited.

"Italy showed their competitiveness in the Six Nations early in the year and against Ireland two weeks ago and they will have a lot of supporters in the stadium.

"We'll need to be accurate and patient to meet their challenge."
 
Don't think it's a real big deal that Rokocoko is not in the squad for the Italy game. Howlett and Sivivatu are both class wingers as well. Great to see Luke McAllister and Conrad Smith start for the All Blacks as well. Thought they were going to go with Mauger as usual.
 
air_mood said:
O'Driscoll won't be available for the 1st few games won't he?? There's going to be heavy reliance on O'Gara then I reckon.
Click to expand...

O'Driscoll has declared himself fit for the first game this evening. But as it is only Namibia Im sure they wont risk it and make sure he is ready for the bigger games. Would relaly love to see Ireland do well in this and go really far.

All Blacks to win it, but if anyone can stop them I have a sneaky feeling for South Africa....
 
air_mood said:
Don't think it's a real big deal that Rokocoko is not in the squad for the Italy game. Howlett and Sivivatu are both class wingers as well. Great to see Luke McAllister and Conrad Smith start for the All Blacks as well. Thought they were going to go with Mauger as usual.
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Agreed, I was sure Henry wouldn't drop Mauger as much as I wanted him to, so it's great to see the more skillful McAllister get the nod. Hopefully Smith gets in some form in the pool games as he is a class centre.
 
Rooney24 said:
O'Driscoll has declared himself fit for the first game this evening. But as it is only Namibia Im sure they wont risk it and make sure he is ready for the bigger games. Would relaly love to see Ireland do well in this and go really far.

All Blacks to win it, but if anyone can stop them I have a sneaky feeling for South Africa....
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Don't count out Australia, Latham and Mortlock are two class players and if they hit their straps then Australia will certainly be a team to watch out for.
 
Would like to see Ali Williams return the favour to Sebastien Chabal as well. Or maybe Jerry Collins could have the honour.
 
It seems to me that Henry has never really been a big fan of the free spirited rocket man, Joe Rocks. Doug is a proven winger but Rocks should get the nod ahead of both Siti and Doug.
 
Rokocoko is not preferred maybe because it's just a match against the Italians. I'm positive that he'll play in matches against the somewhat bigger teams like Scotland.
 
Eto'odinho said:
It seems to me that Henry has never really been a big fan of the free spirited rocket man, Joe Rocks. Doug is a proven winger but Rocks should get the nod ahead of both Siti and Doug.
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Siti is our best winger atm, however like you I would have preferred Roko on the other wing as he's improved his team play immensley over the last few years. It's only the first game though; he still has a big role to play. One really must feel sorry for Rico Gear though, he'd be a starter in most other teams yet can't even make the squad due to our depth on the wings
 
I second the request for a dedicated forum!!

Come on ireland .....

its imperitive we win our group, and hopefully we do....

i wonder will it end up in a points situation, ie france ireland and the argies all taking points off each other???

the french are sterotypically bad starters so hopefully the argentians will catch them on the hop tonight!!!
 
Well i hope England manage to retain the cup, but we're all at sea at the moment and seem to rely on Wilkenson too much.

If i'm being realistic i have to go for the All Blacks to win, they have a great side.
 
from the beeb:

"14 mins: Pichot does really well to nick the ball off Imanol Harinordoquy but can't find Hernandez. More importantly, I've just split cold gravy all down my trousers. Rubbish. "
 
utdalltheway said:
from the beeb:

"14 mins: Pichot does really well to nick the ball off Imanol Harinordoquy but can't find Hernandez. More importantly, I've just split cold gravy all down my trousers. Rubbish. "
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:lol:

Sounds like a great match.
 
My friends wanted to do a sweepstake for the rugby world cup and I got France. Obviously I'll be supporting Wales first and foremost but I won't be holding my breath.

Not sure about having to support France second though. Makes me feel a bit dirty.
 
carpy said:
My friends wanted to do a sweepstake for the rugby world cup and I got France. Obviously I'll be supporting Wales first and foremost but I won't be holding my breath.

Not sure about having to support France second though. Makes me feel a bit dirty.
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agreed. you dirty whore!

ask for another pick - and make sure it's Ireland.
 
carpy said:
My friends wanted to do a sweepstake for the rugby world cup and I got France. Obviously I'll be supporting Wales first and foremost but I won't be holding my breath.

Not sure about having to support France second though. Makes me feel a bit dirty.
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You make me feel sick :p
 
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