Rugby World Cup

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Watched opening ceremony and first half of the NZ-v-Tonga match last night before the footy started.

Have to admitt I do enjoy watching the world cup matches. And today there's 4 matches on back to back to back to back!

I'm expecting New Zealand or Australia to take it out, after them there's the usual suspects of England, South Africa & France.

Dark horse for mine is Ireland. Anyone else taking an interest in it?

[Striker475 696]

Keeping an eye on it, don't really care til the QFs though. It's minnow stomping til then.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Well Ireland have just beaten Australia 15-6 in a huge upset. Turns the whole comp on it's head.

Australia will now likely finish 2nd in their group and have to play South Africa in the quarter finals and even if they win that will then have to play NZ in the semis. While Ireland on the other hand will get to play Wales, Fiji or Samoa in the quarter finals before coming up against an England or France in the semis.

I know I tipped Ireland as my dark horse at the start of the comp, but this result has still caught me by suprise. Only way Australia can top their group now is if Italy can score an upset win over Ireland , that game's in a week or so. Then the positioning in that group will come down to point difference and that type of thing.

[biggestred 5,108]

Someone give the dees a copy of the south Africa game.... That's how you win. With guts guts and more guts.

[Toot182 7]

God I hope we get it done over the AB's on the weekend. Living with a Kiwi housemate (who barracks for Geelong) it's about time I got one over him... Struggling for the last few years

[QueenC 74]

All Blacks will win this tournament finally and probably with plenty of points to spare.

They completely out classed the Wallabies last weekend, and should do the same to the French, who to this point have been wholly unimpresive, despite making the final.

Tonight the Aussies won the bronze medal match against Wales and played far, far better with Barnes and Sharpe in the opening fifteen. Makes you wonder???

But it has been a long time waiting for the Kiwis and personnally I hope they beat the French on Sunday......

[Jonathan Steffanoni 101]

All Blacks will win this tournament finally and probably with plenty of points to spare.

They completely out classed the Wallabies last weekend, and should do the same to the French, who to this point have been wholly unimpresive, despite making the final.

Tonight the Aussies won the bronze medal match against Wales and played far, far better with Barnes and Sharpe in the opening fifteen. Makes you wonder???

But it has been a long time waiting for the Kiwis and personnally I hope they beat the French on Sunday......

So the All Blacks did end up taking the cup in 2011. Nice to get some closure on this thread.

Sometimes it's better to look the other way...

[MadAsHell 4,212]

So the All Blacks did end up taking the cup in 2011. Nice to get some closure on this thread.

Sometimes it's better to look the other way...

Haha, think I was out the night of the final and posting on it must have slipped my mind.

Yes a good hard fought victory for the All Blacks and a brave effort by France. Now only 2 years till the next World Cup!

[MadAsHell 4,212]

BUMP

Given i started this last one, i thought i should bring it up again given Rugby World Cup 2015 has started.

Being held in the UK this year. Kicked off last night with England beating Fiji 35 - 11.

Australia in a very tough group with England and Wales, so even getting to the quarter finals will be an effort. Fiji and Uruguay the other teams in their group.

Anymore people taking more of an interest in this World Cup then the last one?

[Macca 17,009]

Japan cause one of the greatest World cup upsets in history by defeating South Africa ... only recorded the France/Italy game thinking that would be the game to watch overnight ... wrong!

However, the Springboks remaining 3 games are against Samoa, Scotland & the USA - they still should progress.

Highlights of the match ...

[Robbie57 2,021]

[Macca 17,009]

BUMP

Given i started this last one, i thought i should bring it up again given Rugby World Cup 2015 has started.

Being held in the UK this year. Kicked off last night with England beating Fiji 35 - 11.

Australia in a very tough group with England and Wales, so even getting to the quarter finals will be an effort. Fiji and Uruguay the other teams in their group.

Anymore people taking more of an interest in this World Cup then the last one?

As usual, it's the All Blacks World Cup to lose TD... they're normally nominal favourites. But anything can happen on the day as the Kiwi's have often found out.

Our group is the toughest by the looks of it but we'll probably just need to win at least one of the games against England & Wales to progress. (providing we also defeat Fiji & Uruguay) I'd expect us to get through alright.

The QF's is where the real action starts though - avoiding the All Blacks is of paramount importance so the winning of the group really matters ... the Wallabies are in group A so can only possibly meet the All Blacks (group C) in a semi-final (depending on results and group placings)

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Not wrong Macca, we've certainly scored the group of death. We could well top the group, but at the dame time there's every chance we could miss the knock out stage all together. England and Wales are both very good teams and Fiji is capable of anything on their day.

That win by Japan also turns that group on it's head with both Samoa and Scotland no doubt loving their chances to go through in their group.

As you said Macca, the knock outs is where it really gets interesting. Also looking forward to the haka off between New Zealand and Tonga when they meet in the group stage!

[MadAsHell 4,212]

real upsets last night. Samoa got the job done in an entertaining match v USA. Wales accounted for Uruguay easily and Argentina gave a good account of themselves v The All Blacks with a 16-26 loss.

[Macca 17,009]

Not wrong Macca, we've certainly scored the group of death. We could well top the group, but at the dame time there's every chance we could miss the knock out stage all together. England and Wales are both very good teams and Fiji is capable of anything on their day.

That win by Japan also turns that group on it's head with both Samoa and Scotland no doubt loving their chances to go through in their group.

As you said Macca, the knock outs is where it really gets interesting. Also looking forward to the haka off between New Zealand and Tonga when they meet in the group stage!

Well, not only did we defeat England to guarantee a QF spot but we knocked them out of the tournament to boot.

That's what I call a win/win TD.

We'll need to defeat Wales to top our group ... finishing 2nd in our group would probably mean a QF match-up against the South Africans. A win gives the team an easier passage to the Semi finals.

We can, in theory, avoid the All Blacks until the actual final ... so far, we're on track to do that.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Yep, massive win for the Wallabies last night and unexpected. Our two performances heading into the game weren't great, so it was good to turn it on when it mattered. And knocking England out of their own World Cup makes it all the more sweet!

Looking ahead, if we can beat Wales and top the group we should get a Quarter Final against either Scotland or Japan. The results in Group B have been a bit all over the place, so it looks like South Africa will still top their group despite the losd to Japan. Get through there and likely semi final opposition will be one of Ireland, France or Argentina, so the match to come against Wales is huge for setting up their tournament.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Yep, massive win for the Wallabies last night and unexpected. Our two performances heading into the game weren't great, so it was good to turn it on when it mattered. And knocking England out of their own World Cup makes it all the more sweet!

Looking ahead, if we can beat Wales and top the group we should get a Quarter Final against either Scotland or Japan. The results in Group B have been a bit all over the place, so it looks like South Africa will still top their group despite the losd to Japan. Get through there and likely semi final opposition will be one of Ireland, France or Argentina, so the match to come against Wales is huge for setting up their tournament.

i think our coach is a Very shrewd mind.

wasn't Foley fantastic, & that guy in the blue head gear. others had they're moments of shining.

[Cards13 9,117]

One of the most complete games the Wallabies have played in years, was a pleasure to watch. The Poms have been all over the shop but some pressure on a couple of times during the match. It was so great to see us respond and run away with the game.

The Wales game is huge for us to finish top of the group and give us a much easier run late into the finals.

[dee-luded 2,959]

One of the most complete games the Wallabies have played in years, was a pleasure to watch. The Poms have been all over the shop but some pressure on a couple of times during the match. It was so great to see us respond and run away with the game.

The Wales game is huge for us to finish top of the group and give us a much easier run late into the finals.

I'm really enjoying the new style again, like the old days of Campese.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

After that win i've got a good feeling about the rest of the tournament.

In fact, correct me if i'm wrong, but i think we're still yet to loose a World Cup Match in the UK?

[Cards13 9,117]

Whilst that Eng game was great to see, the previous games we have looked just above average. Can we ever be content with the WBs play? We seem to have our moments but when the real pressure is applied we have not been able to get the job done since the early 000's.

I hope can get over the hump but I just don't feel like we have enough flair and finishing outside of Izzy.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Whilst that Eng game was great to see, the previous games we have looked just above average. Can we ever be content with the WBs play? We seem to have our moments but when the real pressure is applied we have not been able to get the job done since the early 000's.

I hope can get over the hump but I just don't feel like we have enough flair and finishing outside of Izzy.

this is a different team, with different coach, who seems to me, a different cat. And he has IMO, a strong strategic/psychological mind, that allows his charges to play well when needed, & to play 'off' when the pressure is less.

a different cat.

[Macca 17,009]

Great, gutsy win by the Wallabies. To hold out Wales the way we did was fantastic (for a lot of that time we were down 2 men) ... a top performance.

Next up is Scotland next week in the QF's (we've avoided South Africa who now play Wales)

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Huge win as we're now in the better half of the draw.

Feel for Japan with Scotland coming from behind to beat Samoa last night ending the samurai's hopes of their first ever quarter final appearance.

[Cards13 9,117]

Amazing win, totally different from last weeks, I think I liked this one more.

Wales got over the line 3 times with the ball for 0 tries with 2 held up and 1 dropped before being put down.

8 days for Issy, Pocock, Kepu and the team to rest up and get well. Good to be in the other side of the draw.

Have to feel for Wales, smashed by injuries they would have been daunting for all otherwise.