The RFU 2011 Rugby World Cup Thread

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

The Rugby World Cup in Aotearoa the land of the long white cloud, kicks off tomorrow at Eden Park Aukland, where there will be much posturing, tongue pulling and throat slitting gestures as the All Blacks face Manu Samoa in a morris men type dual prior to the actual game.

ITV have the TV rights, so no need to hunt for illegal streams to catch the action & they will be showing the majority of games. Here's the schedule...

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/poolstage.html

Friday 9th September
New Zealand 41v 10 Tonga

Saturday 10th September

Scotland 34 v 24 Romania
Fiji 49 v 25 Namibia
France 47 v 21 Japan
Argentina 9 v 13 England
Fiji 49v 25 Namibia

Sunday 11th September
Australia 32v Italy 6
Ireland 22 v 10 USA
South Africa 17 v 16 Wales

Wednesday 14th September
Samoa 49 v 12 Namibia
Tonga 20 v 25 Canada
Scotland 15 v 6 Georgia

Thursday 15th September
Russia 6 v 13 USA

Friday 16th September

New Zealand 83 v 7 Japan


Saturday 17th September
Argentina v Romania Pool B 4.30am ITV1
South Africa v Fiji Pool D 7am ITV1
Australia v Ireland Pool C 9.30am ITV1


Sunday 18th September
Wales v Samoa Pool D 4.30am ITV1
England v Georgia Pool B 7am ITV1
France v Canada Pool A 9.30am ITV1

Tuesday 20th September
Italy v Russia Pool C 8.30am ITV4

Wednesday 21st September
Tonga v Japan Pool A 8.30am ITV4

Thursday 22nd September
South Africa v Namibia Pool D 9am ITV4

Friday 23rd September
Australia v USA Pool C 9.30am ITV1

Saturday 24th September
England v Romania Pool B 7am ITV1
New Zealand v France Pool A 9.30am ITV1

Sunday 25th September
Fiji v Samoa Pool D 3.30am ITV1
Ireland v Russia Pool C 6am ITV1
Argentina v Scotland Pool B 8.30am ITV1


Monday 26th September
Wales v Namibia Pool D 7.30am ITV1

Tuesday 27th September
Canada v Japan Pool A 5am ITV4
Italy v USA Pool C 7.30am ITV4


Wednesday 28th September

Georgia v Romania Pool B 7.30am ITV4

Friday 30th September
South Africa v Samoa Pool D 8.30am ITV4

Saturday 1st October
Australia v Russia Pool C 3.30am ITV1
France v Tonga Pool A 6am ITV1
England v Scotland Pool B 8.30am ITV1

Sunday 2nd October
Argentina v Georgia Pool B 1am ITV1
New Zealand v Canada Pool A 3.30am ITV1
Wales v Fiji Pool D 6am ITV1
Ireland v Italy Pool C 8.30am ITV1

Saturday 8th October
Winner C v Runner-up D QF1 6am ITV1
Winner B v Runner-up A QF2 8.30am ITV1

Sunday 9th October
Winner D v Runner-up C QF3 6am ITV1
Winner A v Runner-up B QF4 8.30am ITV1

Saturday 15th October
Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 SF1 9am ITV1

Sunday 16th October
Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 SF2 9am ITV1

Friday 21st October
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 Playoff 8.30am ITV4

Sunday 23rd October

Winners SF1 v Winner SF2 Final 9am ITV1


Other Stadiums include
The Westpak Stadium known as 'The Biscuit Tin' in Wellington.

A new indoor Stadium in Dunedin

Which is where England will play because the Stadium in Christchurch has been condemned because of damage sustained in the Earthquakes (about a season after completion).

So Here's to a bit sport on free to air tv for once.

SWING LOW !!

 

[chicoazul]

Really looking forward to this. I've got my Welsh shirt ready to wear with pride.

 

[andrewkgsmith]

I generally don't watch Union at all and prefer League but I think I'll watch the world cup. Are England any good at all in this?

 

[chicoazul]

England have a very decent squad going into this. I doubt they've got the fifteen to win it but they should do alright.

 

[Dublintoff]

Looking forward to it myself. As usual Ireland go into it in dismal form, but i think Declan Kidney is astute enough to turn that around. Engerland look in good shape and should go well. The All Blacks are 4/7 favourites to win the whole lot which i think is a bit of a skinny price. On their day, SA and Australia are well capable of beating them. Also France and England could run them close.

 

[ijjysmith]

I will try to care about this...

 

[Elong]

All Blacks lost their last two games, few injuries in the squad, the wheels are starting to fall off as they do every 4 years!
Going to watch USA Russia next week not the greatest talent on show but a good reason to get on it like.

England paying 12-1 over here, it's possible...

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Not often I support them, but I hope Australia win as they play rugby the right way. New Zealand are the only side that come close. If history is a guide though a stick it up the jumper side like England or SA will do well though.

 

[chicoazul]

I reckon the All Blacks or the Springboks will win it.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I just hope a team wins it by playing the right way, y'know, scoring some tries. After all the game was formed when they picked the ball up and ran with it, not kicked it. Far too much reliance on set pieces to win penalties in the northern hemisphere game, although Wales tend to play some reasonable stuff, or try to at least. With Wilkinson set to start at 10 for England it looks like England will be reverting to type for this tournament, forgetting the nice strides made by Ashton, Youngs, Foden et al and bashing up the middle trying to win penalties.

Last time out such negative rugby was good enough to reach arguably the dullest final ever as the Boks played much the same game. Hopefully either NZ or Aus 'spoil' the party this time out. Some quick ball at the rucks and real flair from the backs, with the likes of SBW and Cooper running things.

 

[chicoazul]

Agreed. Although you have to credit France in the Northern Hemisphere for trying too, similar to Wales mate. I do like the shape of the Wales team and the character, they really need someone like Hook in at number ten to make the magic happen.

The thing is with England is they have a really strong squad, if there's injuries or players not performing then there will be replacements without weakening the team too much. Johnson knows how to win a World Cup, with Wilkinson being the catalyst, but they will play percentages rugby, methodically like a machine. They'll be disciplined and not get turned over easy.

Depends if any of the northern teams gain any momentum as it carries teams far in Rugby World Cups. Really looking forward to it all, and hope for a good tournament.

 

[Nordecke]

USA USA USA!!!

OVER THERE!!! OVER THERE!! SEND THE WORD, SEND THE WORD, OVER THERE!!!! THAT THE YANKS ARE COMING!! THE YANKS ARE COMING!!!

 

[icburns]

I keep reading RFUS world cup ffs.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

I keep reading RFUS world cup ffs.

RFUS Four Cup that is mate.

 

[MapleLeafEvertonian]

O rugby, developed quite a taste for it in the past few years. Don't think my Canada has much of a chance, so ill be keeping an eye on Ingerrrrland. I've actually met Courtney Lawes, and this is coming from a ft6,3 guy, he is a giant! Absolutely terrifying.

Remember folks, the men from the great white north, are coming....