Rugby World Cup 2007

**Fincave** · **09-07-07, 06:27 AM**

I somehow doubt that this thread will generate very much interest but here goes anyway. A quick run down as to the whole competion.

Twenty teams are divided up into four pools or groups for the initial round robin phase. The winners and runners up of each pool then progress to the next round which is a knock out round (quarter final), you lose you go home. The final will be played on 20 Oct with the bronze final a day before ie. 19 Oct. After the group phase winners play runners up.

Pool A

England
South-Africa
Samoa
USA
Tonga

Pool B

Australia
Wales
Fiji
Canada
Japan

Pool C

New Zealand
Scotland
Italy
Romania
Portugal

Pool D

France
Ireland
Argentina
Georgia
Namibia

The first game kicks off this evening and sees hosts, France with a tricky opening game against Argentina. Every game is important as to win your group 'should' give you a slightly easier oponent in the next round. England are defending champions though nobody seems to think they have much chance of defending the title successfully. New Zealand are favourites, they almost always are, followed by South-Africa and then hosts France. Australia also cannot be written off, Ireland could surprise someone as could England. Most of the predictions I have seen so far have been for a New Zealand vs. South-Africa final which I would have no problems with especially if the winner is the same. SA beat NZ 15-12 in the 1995 final played in Johannesburg.

I will try and post results of the pool games here when I have the time. Should be some interesting matches and may the best team win!

**Fincave** · **09-07-07, 11:16 PM**

First game and first upset! Argentina stunned France in the opening game by winning 17-12 putting them on four points in the group, France also get a point as they lost by less than seven points.

Today's games see six teams in action, New Zealand take on Italy, Australia face Japan and the final today sees England play USA. I don't see where any surprises will come from today and New Zealand, Australia and England should all win their games comfortably.

**Sonnie** · **09-07-07, 11:22 PM**

You mean the USA has a rugby team...

**Fincave** · **09-07-07, 11:33 PM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

You mean the USA has a rugby team...

Surprising is it not? Unfortunately I would not bank on them going through to the next round, they may however win a game in the group stage as they could beat Tonga. They have actually taken part in the World Cup before and have won a couple of games, maybe/hopefully today they can beat a big boy ie. England.

**terry j** · **09-07-07, 11:53 PM**

not really sure why Argentina were regarded as such an outside chance though, they've won four of the last five games against france now, and the one they lost was only by a couple of points.

Not sure the USA will do much good though sonnie, but good on 'em for being in it.

Yeah, the All Blacks most certainly do deserve the favorite tag, but don't write off the wallabies (but I may be biased).

Personally don't think the boks will go all the way, but they certainly can't be underestimated.

I would imagine the viewing times for you are a bit better than for us Fincave, up at 5 am for the opening game, won't get to bed till after 1.30 tomorrow morning after the aust game, long day but have been waiting for four years ha ha. Will skip the england game that starts at 1.30...will get some shuteye.

**Fincave** · **09-08-07, 12:10 AM**

I actually did not get to see the game as rugby is not popular here! France's group is tough and they now made things harder for themselves but it is still early days! I expected France to win though not easily as Argentina do play with a lot of passion, playing at home can give you an extra man on the field but it also increases the pressure. I am biased as well as to who I would like to win, Springboks all the way. Realistically I do not see us winning it, would have to go for the All Blacks. I do believe that it will be a Southern hemisphere team that triumphs, the big question being which one? It would be foolish to write off Australia, I reckon they pretty much have a semi-final spot booked as they should win their group which should give them the runner up from Pool B which I reckon will be England. There are still alot of games left and a lot can happen, am looking forward to it!

**terry j** · **09-08-07, 05:50 AM**

Just had a look where you live Fincave, in Finland (obviously), so am curious about your following SA so strongly...family connections? That might explain your interest in Rugby, seeing as how you are 'alone' in that.

Hope you get to catch some (most) of the games. I guess I now have a greater interest in how SA goes! Ps, what has to happen for Aust to meet them?

**Fincave** · **09-08-07, 06:09 AM**

I live in Finland now but was born in SA and lived there for 21 years before moving abroad, hence the connection. SA are in Pool A and Australia in Pool B, the winner of A plays the runner up from B and vice versa so the possibility of the two meeting in the next round does exist. I am kind of hoping that they avoid each other for now. Here is a link to the official IRB world cup site, loads of information there.

**Fincave** · **09-08-07, 09:02 AM**

A pretty one sided game! An expected result and the All Blacks do look very strong, not taking anything away from their performance today but Italy did not play well at all and so it is hard to get an accurate picture of where New Zealand are at the moment. The next game Australia vs Japan has just started, the Wallabies should win this very easily!

**Fincave** · **09-08-07, 10:48 AM**

Impressive! If the previous game was one sided then am not too sure what term to use for this game. Australia were in a class of their of their own. Japan played to their best ability and it must be said that they never gave up and played with a lot of heart, they stood no chance however. The Wallabies look to be in very good form and very fit, good rugby against a side that were really in it over their heads. Will be very inetersting to see how the Aussies fair against tougher opposition but they hardly put a foot wrong today.

Next game starts in about 15 mins, England vs USA, afraid it will be another one sidd affair.

**Fincave** · **09-08-07, 01:47 PM**

USA were probably never going to cause an upset by beating the defending champions but they did make a go of it. A very spirited display by the Eagles saw them hold their own for periods of the game, against a side that looked decidely ill-prepared. It will be very interesting to see how USA play against the other smaller sides in their group, Tonga and Samoa. I may be slightly biased but England did not impress at all, they looked ragged, lacked pace and played without any flair, IMO they need to do a lot of hard work if they mean to pose a serious challenge on Friday when playing the Springboks. (I hope that last statement does not come back and bite me on the buttocks!)

Tomorrow sees four games being played: Wales vs Canada, South-Africa vs Samoa, Scotland vs Portugal and Ireland vs Namibia. The seeded teams ie Wales, SA, Scotland and Ireland should all win comfortably with the closest game being between Wales and Canada. Will continue to post results here as and when I have the time.

**terry j** · **09-08-07, 08:17 PM**

Quote:

Fincave wrote:

I live in Finland now but was born in SA and lived there for 21 years before moving abroad, hence the connection. SA are in Pool A and Australia in Pool B, the winner of A plays the runner up from B and vice versa so the possibility of the two meeting in the next round does exist. I am kind of hoping that they avoid each other for now. Here is a link to the official IRB world cup site, loads of information there.

Explains a few things, not least your excellent command of English, I know a lot of Europeans speak english but most times it's obviously a second language.

I couldn't help myself last night, just had to go to bed at half time in the aussie game, only around 25 nil or something at that stage. Hmmm, they must have put the foot down after half time.

AB's, admittedly Italys defence at times was atrocious if not downright schoolboy, but the AB's did look sharp. Was heartlifting to see Italy at times make some exciting attacks, if only they played the whole game that way, wouldn't have changed the result but would have made for a more entertaining game.

A couple of second string games tonight, will allow me to dial in my new subs ha ha.

**JCD** · **09-09-07, 01:15 AM**

Unfortantely, we in the states don't get to watch much rugby. In fact, I saw my first American Eagles game (they played a team from Wales) only a few weeks ago on tv. It's too bad, because it looks like a good game to watch. What's truly criminal is that I haven't seen my alma mater's team play yet (we've won about 20 of the last 25 collegiate championships).

Other than that, i have to go for the All Blacks. My sister recently married a kiwi (and currently lives in NZ). I will say, it appears to be their national religion -- when I visited, there was a LOT of advertising with the All Blacks.

JCD

**Fincave** · **09-09-07, 08:53 AM**

Unfortunately did not see the game as was following the Formula 1 grand prix at Monza. I did however keep up to date with the score and it appears that it was a fairly close game. Canada even lead at one stage and only towards the end did they fall apart. Canada led 12-9 at half time and extended their lead to 17-9 with an unconverted try just after the break, after that however Wales ran in five tries and converted four of them.

Next game is one that I am really looking forward, we (Springboks) take on Samoa. SA should win comfortably but it could be a very physical game of rugby.

**terry j** · **09-09-07, 09:53 AM**

half time, and SA are not looking too convincing, but if a lot of the earlier games are a guide, they could outrun the Samoans in the second half.

Canada were certainly crowd favorites for a while (go the underdogs) but a couple of inspired substitutions did the trick for Wales and in the end ran away with it.

**Fincave** · **09-09-07, 10:05 AM**

Definitely a bad display so far from us, scrappy and no discipline at all. Need to pick it up soon and make more use of Habana on the wing.

**Fincave** · **09-09-07, 11:03 AM**

In the end a comfortable win but I think the players will be feeling it after that game. A very tough and hard game and what Samoa may lack in pure skill they make up for with crunching tackles. I am obviously quite pleased with the end result but there is still work to be done, SA do not look as polished as they could, some sloppy passing and soft tackles but still a pretty good performance. Bryan Habana does need mentioning, the man is quick to say the least, good changes of direction, sleight hands and blistering acceleration.

**Fincave** · **09-09-07, 12:55 PM**

Will have to admit that I did not watch more than ten minutes of this game. Looking at the score and the stats it is obvious that Portugal had bo chance, as was pretty easy to guess even before kick off. Scotland ran in eight tries and converted all of them, Portugal did get to score a try, conversion and a penalty for their ten points.

Next game is Ireland vs Namibia which unfortunately will be another one sided affair. May watch some of it and will post the result here at some stage.

**JCD** · **09-09-07, 11:27 PM**

Good news here.. I found that SOME of the world cup games are being broadcast in the late hours on one of the more esoteric stations I have. I've got one recorded I'll have to watch after the she-beast.. er.. better half.. goes to bed.

It's taken a while, but I think I've got "most" of the game figured out.

JCD

**Fincave** · **09-09-07, 11:50 PM**

Another game that I did not watch but judging from the scoreline it was not the walkover for Ireland that it really should of been. Will be some very interesting games coming up in the group with Ireland still having to play France and Argentina, a tough group and difficult to predict at this stage which teams will progress.

No games being played today and only one game, Argentina vs Georgia tomorrow. Wednesday sees a few of the smaller teams in action, USA face Tonga, Japan take on Fiji and Italy play Romania in the final game.

JCD: No need to understand all the rules, it is just fun to watch. What game do you have recorded, am interested in thoughts and or comments.

**terry j** · **09-10-07, 01:57 AM**

Quote:

JCD wrote:

It's taken a while, but I think I've got "most" of the game figured out.

JCD

You can always ask questions here, but as Fincave says just start watching a few and go with the flow.

There is a spin off game called rugby league, but like most ripoffs it is a rather inferior game. What I enjoy about rugby is that at ALL times the game is a contest, you earn the right to have the ball by getting it or keeping it once you have it.

Rugby league gutted all those competitive aspects.

I too would be interested in how you go with it.

Seeing as how this forum has quite an international flavour, I'm surprised at how little the numbers are that are contributing to this thread.

**Fincave** · **09-10-07, 02:25 AM**

I am also a bit surprised at the lack of posters to this thread, maybe not that many people are interested in rugby?

JCD: Here are a couple of links as to the rules of the game, the first one is pretty thorough and not much fun to read, the second link is kind of a 'rugby for dummies' guide (am not implying anything).

Link 1

Link 2

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