Who will win the 2011 Rugby World Cup?

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:36 pm

The 2011 Rugby World Cup will be the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. At a meeting of the International Rugby Board (IRB) held in Dublin on 17 November 2005, New Zealand was selected as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa.

It will be the largest sporting event ever held in New Zealand, eclipsing the 1987 Rugby World Cup, 1990 Commonwealth Games, 1992 Cricket World Cup, 2003 America's Cup and 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Around 100,000 visitors from overseas are expected to travel to New Zealand for the associated games and events.

The event is scheduled to be played over seven weekends from the weekend starting 10 September and culminating the weekend starting 22 October 2011. The weekend of the final was chosen so it falls on a long weekend caused by the New Zealand public holiday of Labour Day (Monday, 24 October 2011). The final is scheduled to be played in Auckland at Eden Park.

As of 19 February 2008, New Zealand's progress in preparing and implementing plans for the event received an A+ rating from the International Rugby Board's chairman and chief executive.

After speculation that the number of participating teams would be reduced to 16, the IRB announced on Friday, 30 November 2007 that the 2011 tournament would again feature 20 teams. Twelve teams qualified as a result of finishing in the top three in each pool in the 2007 tournament. The remaining eight berths were determined by regional qualifying tournaments.

Argentina

Australia

Canada

England

Fiji

France

Georgia

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Namibia

New Zealand

Romania

Russia

Samoa

Scotland

South Africa

Tonga

USA

Wales

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/index.html

Reality Bytes · Post by **Reality Bytes** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:10 am

No prediction from me it's wiiiiiiide open given its in New Zealand then the AB's are going to put up a heck of a fight, on the other hand they have lost their last 2 games 1 was "excusable" since it was their 3 string team but the first team were beaten resoundingly by the Wallabies today (good on ya!). NZ also suffer from "nerves" they've choked more than once in world cup games and theres every chance they will do so again with the immense pressure they are going to be under to perform and win in their home country.

Aus are playing very well indeed but .... biiiiig mistake dropping Mat Giteau no matter how poor he's been playing, thats was a whole heck of a lot of "politics" and thats never good for team spirit, plus they have just beaten the ABs and that took a lot out of them I suspect they might just run out of steam. They will win their group for sure, after that they face either The Boks or hopefully Wales and we both will have had far tougher games and played more real rugby than Aus at that point so I can see them being beatable by either one.

Springboks .... dirty cheating bastards but beatable we have them in the "group of death" Wales CAN beat them but .... nerves will tell .... if we beat them then watch the odds on Wales winning drop through the floor.... we dont "have" to beat them to get out of the group but if we dont then I shall be wibbling like the wibbliest wibbly thing when we face Samoa. I was feeling confident about us beating the Boks until we lost a few key players through injury now it's definately in the balance. Boks will most certainly make the semis if they win the group if they are runners up I would like to think Aus will take them...but I cant really see it.

Wales - see above it all hinges for us on the first bloody game against the Boks if we win the group its a clear run to the semis and with that momentum we CAN win the whole damn thing if we lose to the Boks we must then win all our remaining games and we'd end up facing Aus in the quater finals - injuries and hard games will determine what happens there.

Ireland have no chance at all based on all their warm up games - fuck knows whats gone wrong there but they are not playing well enough to worry anyone.

France depends what team turns up

the one I saw last week was very impressive ... scarily so ...but France have a habit of forgetting how to play should get out of their group as runners up but either the Argies or England could scupper their chances of getting past the quaters ... personally I'll be cheering Allez Le Blue if they face the English

England ... must have paid someone a whole lot of cash to get the pool draw they have ... the only team remotely capable of beating them is Argentina the rest have no chance even against the crappy English team thats going out there they have a nice pass straight through to the quaters where I really really really hope they get the AB's cos that will be that

but I suspect they'll get France.

Argentina verrrrry capable "on the day" but temperament might do for them.

I am getting very excited now ....can't wait!!! Cymru Am Byth!!

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:21 pm

'Fitter than ever'

Former hooker analyses Rugby World Cup challenge

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_u ... 804144.stm

loCAtek · Post by **loCAtek** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:20 pm

I'll be the judge of that ...let's see them nekkid!

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 12:06 am

Oh, our American chums will be pleased to know that the USA are in the same preliminary groups play offs as Australia. (Also, Ireland, Russia and Italy.)

I'll keep you updated on their scores and progress shall I?

Edited to add;

I have $10 on Wales winning the world cup, $630 I get back if they win!!

The Hen · Post by **The Hen** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 12:37 am

I was wrong.

It is $670.00 for a Welsh win.

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 1:47 am

US to play first RWC game on Sept 11

September 11, 2011 - 11:34AM

Hours before running out for their first World Cup game, the American rugby team have attended a memorial service in New Plymouth, marking the 10 year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Hundreds of people filled St Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning, including the USA Eagles, Taranaki Daily News reports.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says the events of September 11 "reshaped our world and strengthened international resolve to fight terrorism".

"Our determination to fight terrorism, wherever it manifests itself, remains undiminished," he said in a statement.

"As we remember today those who died or were injured 10 years ago, I want to acknowledge those in military and civilian organisations around the world who risk their lives every day in the fight against terrorism."

In another event to mark the anniversary, a group of New Zealand firefighters will climb the 30 floors of the old BNZ building on Queen Street in central Auckland.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-wo ... 1k3s0.html

Online score tracker here; USA vs Ireland

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:33 pm

Damn!!

South Africa 17-16 Wales

Reigning World Cup holders South Africa survived a huge scare in their defence opener as Wales ran them close in Wellington.

Warren Gatland's side took a 16-10 lead after 54 minutes through their only try, by Toby Faletau.

But Francois Hougaard's try and Morne Steyn's conversion killed Welsh hopes.

Hougaard's was one of two Springbok tries, Frans Steyn going over early on while Morne Steyn and James Hook kicked the rest of their side's points.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_u ... 811173.stm

Ireland 22-10 USA

Ireland struggled to find their form for most of the match but eventually did enough to see off the USA in their opening Pool C match in New Plymouth.

The first half was littered with Irish handling errors but they plundered a Tommy Bowe try just before half-time.

James Paterson got the Americans off the mark with a penalty before hooker Rory Best and winger Bowe pounced for quick Irish tries.

Centre Paul Emerick ran through for a late intercept try for the USA.

The wet conditions at Stadium Taranaki made ball handling tricky, but the number of Irish mistakes must be a worry for coach Declan Kidney.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_u ... 810961.stm

Just to add insult to injury...

When it comes to names linked to anything to do with sport, a boy born in Samoa must surely take the prize, the glory and biscuit.

The birth, however, of Wales Manu Samoa 9-34 Moamoa Gale will bring back painful memories for the Welsh team that toured the South Pacific in 1994 and who took on Samoa in the trip's last Test.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_u ... 842946.stm

Reality Bytes · Post by **Reality Bytes** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:44 am

Wales "won" that game - we owned the Boks for most of it and if Wayne Barnes had done his job properly and fairly the score would have reflected it - Hookys penalty was over, Barnesy should have gone to the TMO. Whilst that might sound a bit like sour grapes/poor losers there is a difference this time ... in the build up to the RWC I have placed a few side bets with some English friends & colleagues, for weeks they have been trash talking and bantering about the WRC telling me Wales were no hopers etc. Within 5 mins of the final whistle whilst I was on the phone to Xeno ranting and raving and foaming at the mouth several messages were left on my answer phone from these English fans which I fully expected to be gloating and gleeful, instead they all rang to tell me that the penalty WAS over and we should have won - not one of them gloated, I then logged on to a series of emails from others whom I am in a competitive league with, all saying the same thing and commiserating with me for the "loss".

"Wayne Barnes" was trending on twitter for the whole day - Austin Healey was very outspoken about the poor reffing and questioning why the TMO wasn't used as was Wil Carling and several other English players and pundits, its not the first time Barnes has decided the outcome of a game in the WRC either.

Not again, Wayne! Referee Wayne Barnes and his assistants George Clancy and Vinny Munro were at the centre of a controversy that seemingly cost Wales an upset win over the Springboks last night.

Fullback James Hook's 15th-minute penalty attempt appeared to drift inside the right-hand upright but Clancy, of Ireland, and Munro, of New Zealand, stood motionless. The Boks led 7-3 and went on to win a cliffhanger, 17-16.

Barnes, remembered by All Blacks fans for his forward-pass howler in the 2007 quarterfinal defeat to France, didn't exercise his right to seek the television match official's opinion.

Hook said: "I was running back because obviously I thought it was over. If I was in any doubt I would have stayed there and watched it go over. Wayne Barnes was in the same position as me as well...

"He obviously didn't give it and I thought it was over so I thought that (ask the TMO) would be the best thing to do. Obviously not."

Asked if he was surprised at Englishman Barnes' inaction, Wales coach Warren Gatland said yes, and revealed a key prosecution witness from the opposition.

"I thought it was interesting at halftime when we went in the tunnel and as coaches we were saying we thought the kick went over and Francois Steyn walked past us and I said 'yeah I thought it went over as well'," Gatland said.

Wayne Barnes has been hidden for too long. It's time to bring the English referee out to face up to his blunders.

Repeated attempts by Fairfax to question Barnes in the aftermath of his shocking performance in New Zealand's World Cup quarter-final loss to France in Cardiff four years ago were initially stonewalled by IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien and then refused by Barnes himself.

At one stage our organisation even doorknocked Barnes at his hotel in Cardiff but politely had the door shut in our face.

At a time when the refereeing organisation seems to be trying to be more transparent, Barnes is like a protected species.

The James Hook penalty kick controversy from Wales' one-point loss to South Africa last night is the latest issue to blow up in Barnes' face.

The Welsh have followed the All Blacks' line and won't publically bag the referee.

That's probably a sensible line, especially at this early stage of the World Cup.

But the tournament bosses have been deafening with their silence on the issue.

TV replays suggest Hook's kick went over although they can be deceptive, especially in regards to when the ball bent back to seemingly go through the posts.

If that's the case shouldn't someone be jumping to Barnes defence like they were last time?

But more importantly, shouldn't Barnes be telling us this himself.

He's been to New Zealand in the last four years officiating here. But his mantra seems to be "silence is golden".

Barnes' biggest blunder in this is that the didn't go to the TMO for inspection of the kick as he is allowed to under the rules. In an age where referees don't hesitate to use "the man upstairs" for seemingly obvious in goal decisions, this was too close a shave either way to ignore, particularly in a game at this level.

It will be interesting to see where Barnes goes from here in this tournament. He's down to control three more pool matches, including the Wales v Fiji match on October 2.

That's Wales' last pool match and it could be absolutely crucial to their qualification for the quarter-finals, especially after their narrow loss to the Boks.

Don't forget at the last World Cup, Fiji produced one of the boilovers of the tournament when they beat Wales 38-34 in their final pool match - a result that saw the Welsh miss out on the quarter-finals.

Wales are in the toughest pool of the tournament, one which also includes Samoa.

Yes, the Welsh need to make their own luck. But right now everyone seems to suggest they have been handed some very bad fortune.

How much more good fortune can Wayne Barnes be gifted? Will that extend to the playoffs of this World Cup? You wouldn't bet against it

Knowing that Barnes is reffing the Fiji game has put a dampner for me on the whole damned thing - he is bloody useless!! There are growing concerns about the refereeing of rugby games as all too often these days it seems that the outcome of the match is being decided by the ref and not by the teams playing the game.

That being said Wales were fantastic - best game of the opening stages by far.

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:29 am

Another downside to the world cup...

A parade of topless, motorcycle-riding strippers scheduled to take place in Auckland this month has been cancelled to preserve the Rugby World Cup's family atmosphere, organisers said Monday.

Sex industry entrepreneur Steve Crow has organised "Boobs on Bikes" parades, featuring topless strippers and porn stars riding pillion on motorcycles, in cities across New Zealand for the past eight years.

The next event was scheduled for Auckland on September 24, coinciding with a crunch pool match pitting the All Blacks against France at the Eden Park stadium in New Zealand's largest city.

Crow planned to have 20 topless women, each featuring bodypaint in the colours of a World Cup team, ride through the city centre ahead of the match.

But the businessman announced on Monday that he was cancelling the parade, saying there had been a public backlash against the idea of linking nudity to the World Cup, the largest event ever staged in New Zealand.

"For the first time in the history of boobs on bikes, the tide of public opinion is most definitely against us holding this event at the date and time proposed due to the 'family nature' of the big rugby thingy that is happening all over N.Z. at this time," he said in a statement.

Crow cited an online poll which showed 68 percent of respondents did not want the parade to proceed during the World Cup.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union ... z1Xj07RNOD

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:15 pm

Well done Canada...

WHANGAREI, New Zealand — Still basking in the glow of its victory to open the Rugby World Cup, Canada’s national men’s rugby team has little time to rest.

With momentum from Wednesday’s 25-20 win over Tonga, Canada’s next task at hand is a Sunday showdown with France.

“It’s just back to the drawing board to see what France is going to throw at us,” said wing DTH van der Merwe. “You really don’t know what to expect from them most of the time. So we’ll just take it step by step.”

France is coming off an opening 47-21 victory over Japan, while Canada’s opening win is considered somewhat of an upset since Canada is ranked No. 14. in the world by the International Rugby Board, while Tonga is ranked No. 12.

The victory marked the third time Canada has defeated Tonga at the World Cup, the most ever by the Canadian side over one country.

“It is beyond huge,” said Canadian scrum half Ed Fairhurst. “It’s our first step hopefully on the way to the quarter-finals. That’s our goal.”

Through Wednesday’s matches, New Zealand and France sit atop Pool A with five points as each scored a bonus point in their opening wins and Canada is next with four. Tonga is winless through two starts, but has one bonus point, while Japan, still without a point, faces New Zealand on Friday looking for its first win.

Canadian flanker Chauncy O’Toole suffered an ankle injury on Wednesday and was expected to undergo an X-ray to determine the severity of the injury.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/sports/Quick+turn ... z1Xy3gQOKc

BoSoxGal · Post by **BoSoxGal** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:45 am

How's Fiji doing? I'm rooting for them!

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:07 pm

Sean, cause for celebration?

Ireland produced the shock result of the World Cup so far by beating Tri-Nations champions Australia in Saturday's Pool C clash at Eden Park.

Australia 6-15 Ireland

Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O'Gara kicked two penalties each and Sexton also landed a drop-goal for Ireland.

Two James O'Connor penalties were all Australia could manage and they were left without even a losing bonus point.

Ireland almost snatched a late try but Tommy Bowe was caught just short of the line after a surging break from deep.

Replacement scrum-half Conor Murray did get over but the whistle had gone for an offside offence.

The Irish are now top of Pool C with one foot in the quarter-finals.

It was a fantastic forward display by the Irish and to deny Australia a score in the second half was a tremendous effort.

The Aussies were minus influential flanker David Pocock and hooker Steven Moore and the outstanding Irish front-five went on to completely dominate the scrum.

Even though the sides were tied 6-6 at the interval, Australia were still fancied to go on and get their anticipated victory.
Paul O'Connell produced an immense performance for Ireland Paul O'Connell produced an immense performance for Ireland

But Ireland grew in confidence and secured their first World Cup win over the Wallabies.

Ireland, criticised after an uninspiring opening win over the USA, produced an encouraging first-half display.

Australia did nudge into a 3-0 lead with O'Connor, who had earlier missed, kicking over a penalty after a collapsed Irish scrum.

Sexton sent a penalty side for Ireland but was more successful in the 16th minute to level at 3-3.

The score sparked a good period for the Irish with their fired-up pack making inroads before Sexton landed a drop-goal to nudge his side 6-3 ahead.

O'Connor kicked Australia back on terms at 6-6 and both fly-halves missed further attempts before the break.

Despite the encouraging scoreline, the Irish must have been wary about an Australian backlash in the second half.

Six days earlier the Wallabies had been 6-6 with Italy at the same stage before scoring four tries in 17 second-half minutes to secure a 32-6 victory.

However, Australia were forced on the back foot as Declan Kidney's gutsy Irish summoned a mighty effort.

Sexton landed a 49th-minute penalty to restore the underdogs' lead.

The Leinster fly-half struck an upright with another attempt but O'Gara, on for injured centre Gordon D'Arcy, assumed the kicking duties and slotted over two penalties to put Ireland on course for the upset at 15-6 in the 71st minute.

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:14 am

Not really I'm about as Irish as you are Cornish...

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:25 am

I'm thinking of baking a cake to take into work on Tuesday, a Guinness cake

Depends how Wales does tonight though.

The Hen · Post by **The Hen** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:29 am

And tonight we feast on the Welsh national dish. A curry.

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:30 am

Result!!

HAMILTON: A late Shane Williams try kept Wales's World Cup hopes alive today as they ground out a tense 17-10 win over bogey side Samoa.

Samoa edged the first half 10-6 but Wales stormed back after the break as a Welsh-record eighth World Cup try for Williams earned their first ever win over Samoa in the tournament after major upsets in 1991 and 1999.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union ... z1YHbwE6ZN

dales · Post by **dales** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:02 pm

Knowing nothing about Rugby...I'm rooting for the Irish!

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:09 pm

I voted for South Africa, just because I saw Invictus for the first time a few weeks ago and Matt Damon is cute (at least he was until he shaved his head recently).

Gob · Post by **Gob** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:16 am

dales wrote:Knowing nothing about Rugby...I'm rooting for the Irish!

I thought that was more Scooter's cup of tea. Whatever floats your boat mate!

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