Rugby World Cup 2011

[Lungzyn]

I'd like to hope that the Canucks could beat Tonga and Japan considering we should theoretically be good at rugby, but... Canada has a strange ability of not showing up at World Cups. Basketball, baseball, rugby, soccer, hell even hockey a lot of the time...

It's dissapointing to see that there is such a gap in the skill level of teams like the All Blacks compared to the Canadians since the Canadians are fourteenth in the world, which doesn't sound like much I suppose, but still high enough that I would expect a more competitive game against the Kiwis. International rugby seems to suffer from the same problems as international hockey; get out of a small group of teams in each sport and the skill level drops dramatically. Which is a shame, becuase rugby (for now) is still one of the games we can constantly beat the Americans in. :tongue:

It's tough since no team has a great record against the All Blacks. South Africa is best at 33-45. Only five teams have ever beaten the All Blacks in history, and only four have done it recently (Wales last won in 1953). Their all time points differential is 12,303 to 6,066. They have always been a level above everyone else results wise, except in World Cups :o
I think there are five teams that can win - New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England and France. After that it gets very unlikely, but quite a few international team sports are similar to this.
There have been close matches with underdogs just yesterday though, like Romania almost beating Scotland, Japan hanging with France for most of the game and Argentina had a chance to beat England. Argentina made the SF and Fiji the QF last world cup.
The game doesn't lend itself to upsets as much as something like Soccer would though.

Australia/Italy, USA/Ireland and South Africa/Wales up today. I know the US team is wearing black armbands in memory of 9/11.

 

[tartanterrier]

Looks like Wales are kicking Kaffa's arse :nanner:

 

[tartanterrier]

Looks like Wales are kicking Kaffa's arse :nanner:

Now big Kaffa has just kicked Taffy's arse.Best game I've seen so far

 

[Lungzyn]

Yeah really close but not quite enough there for the Welsh. Lost 17-16 to defending champs South Africa.
Also Australia beat Italy 32-6 after being 6-6 at halftime, while USA did well against Ireland in losing 22-10.
No upsets yet but there have been some close calls.

Gap now until the 14th, then it's Tonga/Canada, Scotland/Georgia and Samoa/Namibia.

 

[wigster]

Good start to the world cup. England and South Africa were a lot closer then most people expected, but they still managed to get wins.

I think the 2nd and 3rd matches is were the good teams will start picking up and playing the kind of rugby people expect. It's looking like it's going to be a close competition.

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

Canada wins! Canada wins!

... Against a team that opted to rest a bunch of its starters, apparently. I guess Tonga never had any plans to attempt to make it out of the round.

 

[Lungzyn]

Maybe they were rotating the squad being on shorter than usual rest.
But it was a stunning win, a boilover! http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/5625098/Canada-stun-Tonga-in-World-Cup-boilover
Maybe they don't know Canada is less than one rating point behind Tonga + only two ranking places.
Close game, good one :ak47:
A couple of the Canadians have some impressive beards

The best Pacific Island team Samoa also won 49-12 against Namibia

 

[tartanterrier]

We just beat Georgia and I think that will be the end of it if we don't
get our fingers out

 

[wigster]

We just beat Georgia and I think that will be the end of it if we don't
get our fingers out

A lot tougher to come for you guys, Argentina will be a very tough game. I think they will employ the same tactics they used against the English, frustrate them into making mistakes.

And then of course against the English which depending on how well there playing could be a very, very tough game.

Unfortunatly i see both Argentina and England beating Scotland. But hopefully Ireland and Wales will make it through to the knockouts.

 

[Lungzyn]

USA beats the red Russians 13-6. I saw at least one Soviet flag in crowd.
John Key was there with the deputy Russian Prime Minister trying to look cool.

All Blacks/Japan tomorrow

What is this I don't even...
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...-blonde-at-dwarf-throwing-party-16050106.html

 

[Lungzyn]

Japan blown out 83-7 against the All Blacks, Ma'a Nonu gets Man Of The Match :hatsoff:
13 tries to 1.
The Brave Blossoms will have a better time against Tonga and Canada at least.

Australia/Ireland the premier match tomorrow.

 

[sexmadwife]

Australia/Ireland the premier match tomorrow.

Oh I'd better set my alarm! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[wigster]

Argentina vs Romania, South Africa vs Fiji, and Australia vs Ireland. Argentina and South Africa should win quiet easily. I also think Australia will win comfortably, though i'm never really sure with Ireland, it all depends what team turns up. They have a good enough side to do well. But i'd still expect Australia's class to show through.

 

[tartanterrier]

I hope the Irish will beat the Aussies,so it gives this tournament a lift.It's
all getting a bit boring now

 

[wigster]

Argentina beat Romania 43 ~ 8, South Africa beat Fiji 49 ~ 3, And Ireland beat Australia 15 ~ 6. The first 2 results not really surprising. But the last was a shocker, Ireland played fantastic and really deserved the win.

 

[Lungzyn]

They did it, Ireland :hatsoff:
15-6 over Australia, they could win the pool now

Coopers intercepted no-look pass dashed any last minute hopes :stir:

BOD feels like he is Dublin :beer: Might be the first time he has won a rugby game in New Zealand

 

[larss]

Very good win for Ireland. Their backs looks strong with some great scrums.

SA look as if they are pulling themselves together. I know it was "only" Fiji, but they looked a lot better set that last week.

 

[wigster]

Wales beat Samoa 17 ~ 10. And England beat Georgia 41 ~ 10. Great weekend for the six nation sides. Amazing performance from Ireland, Improved performances from South Africa, and England.

All that's left this weekend is France vs Canada. France should win comfortably. Good weekend of rugby i think.

 

[Lungzyn]

France end up winning 46-19 but it was actually very close for a large part of the game, just some lapses at the ends of each halves ballooned the score out a bit.
Canada has been doing well this tournament, if they finish third in the pool that means automatic qualification for the next world cup. Have to beat Japan now to clinch that.
Quite a few of the second tier nations have been putting up good fights in fact, looks like they are developing decently.

No games tomorrow.

 

[Lungzyn]

Getting through the mismatches lately, 67-5 Australia def. USA, 87-0 South Africa def. Namibia yesterday.
New Zealand/France tomorrow though, should be better. Richie McCaw's 100th test :hatsoff: