Rugby World Cup

[Redskin in Canada]

Well, the English rugby team have done a fine job of lowering expectations over the last 4 years.

Well, they certainly improved their entire outlook today. AAs I understand it, the people of Tonga had been chanting on the streets in support of their team a full 18 hours ahead of the match.

The only other place in which I have seen this happen is Rio de Janeiro when a big championship match among Carioca soccer teams is going to be played.

Congratulations and good luck on tyhe next round UK! A well -earned- victory!

[welch]

Irn-Bru wrote

Well, I'd watch pro rugby, anyway.

Could it be that you've played the game?

[UK Skins Fan]

It certainly was a tough game, but not as close I thought it would be. The Tongans are a good side, and I tip my hat to them. Their back row and their centres are genuine quality.

I think England won partly because they were motivated by fear of failure. That's not always a positive form of motivation, but this time it worked. The forwards were powerful, and there was more confidence and greater cohesion in their three quarters.

They can compete against the Aussies, but I don't think anybody would begrudge me from claiming underdog status for that game! The Aussies will want this win very badly.

[SkinsJock]

..Congratulations and good luck on the next round UK!

Now they get the opportunity to play the Wallabies again

There will be 2 great Aussie rugby players playing their last rugby game for their country, Steve Larkham and George Gregan - they both have been looking forward to possibly playing against the team that beat them in the last Rugby World Cup - this should be a good game of rugby

In my opinion there are very few Americans that play professional sports that understand that in other countries, most players (maybe not soccer!) would consider playing for their country, an honor that goes beyond any monetary reurn.


The World Cup Rugby matches are getting to the stage where the loser goes home - well worth the money if you can get a game on TV

bring it on UKSF

[UK Skins Fan]

Does Larkham actually have a chance to play next week? He seems to have a bad knee condition, from what I've read.

It's a shame that Matt Dawson retired after the last World Cup-with him and Gregan on the field, you knew there were at least three referees officiating the game!

The problem for England in this game is that, although they have an advantage in the forwards, it is not sufficient to compensate for the Aussies' huge advantage in terms of creativity and running ability in the backs. My expectations are low for next week's game (I may not even be able to watch it ), but my hopes are high - the opportunity to break Aussie hearts is always one to stir the sinews.

[UK Skins Fan]

I forgot to add: Go Fiji!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Redskin in Canada]

Now they get the opportunity to play the Wallabies again

There will be 2 great Aussie rugby players playing their last rugby game for their country, Steve Larkham and George Gregan - they both have been looking forward to possibly playing against the team that beat them in the last Rugby World Cup - this should be a good game of rugby

I certainly expect Australia to win the next game against England. Having said so, the depth in the Wallabies is not great. The backups do not measure up to the starters (sounds familiar, eh?).

If these two guys can play and they are not limited by injuries, Australia will easily move ahead. But even without Larkham and Gregan, the Wallabies are a better team than England right now. The score will be tighter if England plays with pride and a bit of luck.

In my opinion there are very few Americans that play professional sports that understand that in other countries, most players (maybe not soccer!) would consider playing for their country, an honor that goes beyond any monetary reurn.

It did not used to be like that, you know. But gigantic commercialisation and gigantic salaries without any proportion with reality have destroyed the games of American football, Basketball and Baseball. It is our fault too as fans though.

The World Cup Rugby matches are getting to the stage where the loser goes home - well worth the money if you can get a game on TV

bring it on UKSF

Rugby is being broadcast freely in the Southern Hemisphere. In Canada, Sports Network is carrying them live. It is worth every cent/penny.

Go the ALL Blacks!!!

[Redskin in Canada]

My expectations are low for next week's game (I may not even be able to watch it ), but my hopes are high - the opportunity to break Aussie hearts is always one to stir the sinews.

I have the impr4ession that it is payback time. Sorry to support your expectations.

I forgot to add: Go Fiji!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, you gave me a hard time for not supporting Canada as one of my favourite teams, which by the way played with heart against Australia, and you are now supporting a non-UK team??? Go the not-so-United Kingdom! Wales is out. Fiji held on to dear life and won. Great match.

[UK Skins Fan]

I don't support Fiji - but they won a great game of rugby against the Welsh, and for that I am grateful. In sporting terms, the UK is very much dis-united. Frankly, I hate the Welsh rugby team. Maybe not as much as the Scots, but I hate them all the same.

As for Scotland versus Argentina in the quarter finals, there's one game that I won't be tuning in for.

I suspect that England and Scotland are not the two UK nations that would have been expected to progress before the tournament started - Ireland just didn't show up for this tournament, flattering to deceive us into thinking that they were contenders. And Wales blew it, big time.

Ha ha ha.

[BearSkins]

Yeah, there is nothing much United about the United Kingdom. Like most Scots I only root for 2 teams - Scotland and whoever are playing England.

[Redskin in Canada]

I don't support Fiji - but they won a great game of rugby against the Welsh, and for that I am grateful. In sporting terms, the UK is very much dis-united. Frankly, I hate the Welsh rugby team. Maybe not as much as the Scots, but I hate them all the same.

If you did not watch the movie "The English man who went up a hill and came down a mountain" with Hugh Grant, you should. Funny contrast between English and Welsh cultural values. I laughed so hard that I bought the DVD. I had friends in the Ordnance Survey.

OK guys, given our collective failure in the NFL Hognostications, let us try a mini-Hognostications of the next round of the World Rugby Cup:

06 oct 2007

Australia v. England
New Zealand v. France

07 oct 2007

South Africa v. Fiji
Argentina v. Scotland

My picks are:

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland.

Make my day.

[UK Skins Fan]

I don't support Fiji - but they won a great game of rugby against the Welsh, and for that I am grateful. In sporting terms, the UK is very much dis-united. Frankly, I hate the Welsh rugby team. Maybe not as much as the Scots, but I hate them all the same.

If you did not watch the movie "The English man who went up a hill and came down a mountain" with Hugh Grant, you should. Funny contrast between English and Welsh cultural values. I laughed so hard that I bought the DVD. I had friends in the Ordnance Survey.

Unfortunately, anything with Hugh Grant in it makes me want to hurl, but I have seen it.

[UK Skins Fan]

OK guys, given our collective failure in the NFL Hognostications, let us try a mini-Hognostications of the next round of the World Rugby Cup:

06 oct 2007

Australia v. England
New Zealand v. France

07 oct 2007

South Africa v. Fiji
Argentina v. Scotland

My picks are:

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland.

Make my day.

Well, employing standard hognosticating rules, I can't pick against England, so my picks are England, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

[SkinsJock]

OK guys, given our collective failure in the NFL Hognostications, let us try a mini-Hognostications of the next round of the World Rugby Cup:

06 oct 2007

Australia v. England
New Zealand v. France

07 oct 2007

South Africa v. Fiji
Argentina v. Scotland

My picks are:

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland.

Make my day.

Well, employing standard hognosticating rules, I can't pick against England, so my picks are England, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

I continue to be surprised at the insight you bring RiC I agree with a lot of what you feel about the upcoming England vrs Australia match but would also add that I feel this game will hinge on Australia making the most of the chances when they come - the England team have been improving through this WC and will be very determined to gain back some respect from the rugby world - The England forwards will almost certainly want to keep control of this match and that should also prove interesting - Gregan will play and Larkham will almost certainly start but I'm not sure he can play for long but Giteau (or Barnes) will be able to handle this position if needed.

I will select Australia, France (to upset the All Blacks who always disapoint their front running fans) South Africa and Argentina

This will then result in Australia playing South Africa and sending 2 of the greatest at their positions off to retirement in 2007 World Cup glory

[Amberion]

Australia - because we cant lose to the Poms 2 cups in a row

New Zealand - because it isnt the semi final yet

South Africa - because it isnt the semi final yet

Argentina - Southern hemisphere is better than northern

[Redskin in Canada]

Argentina - Southern hemisphere is better than northern

Only in the summer.

The united clans of Scotland shall prevail !!!

[UK Skins Fan]

Australia - because we cant lose to the Poms 2 cups in a row

The Aussies have lost the last two times they've played England in the World Cup. 1991 is a long, long time ago.

But the Aussies might just be due this time around...

Then again, England have absolutely nothing to lose this week...

[UK Skins Fan]

Argentina - Southern hemisphere is better than northern

Only in the summer.

The united clans of Scotland shall prevail !!!

Only if Argentina lose their nerve. They're a better team right now, and by quite a distance.

The same could be said for Australia against England of course.

[SkinsJock]

chin up old chap - this won't be too bad to take

[Redskin in Canada]

chin up old chap - this won't be too bad to take

That Test may end up giving the term "a stiff upper lip" a whole new connotation.

[UK Skins Fan]

chin up old chap - this won't be too bad to take

Just remember that you might just lose on Saturday and, unlike me, you won't have the virtue of stiff upper lip to keep you going. English hopes rose today when Jason Robinson passed his fitness test.

Heck, we might even get within 20 points.

[Englands Team]

No we won't. We are far to experienced these days and our legs are far to old. I can see Argentina beating Scotland and i think France are the only side capable of beating the All Blacks.

Prefare League myself. Go Saints. Let Wigan win the final eliminator and we can do the pies in the final.

[Redskin in Canada]

... and i think France are the only side capable of beating the All Blacks.

Anything can happen on a given day. The playing field is level and worse oddities have been known to happen but I do not feel that France, right now, can defeat the All Blacks. I would call that the upset of the Tournament.

I am concerned about Australia because they know how to play against New Zealand. It is a great rivalry where pride goes a long way further ahead than the level of the teams, which are normally great anyway.

The team that gives me the greatest concern is South Africa. They are a very defensive and physical team. If the final Test takes place between New Zealand and South Africa we would witness not only a match between two of the greatest teams ever put together but also two different PHILOSOPHICAL approaches to yhe game. New Zealand's forwards speed, strength and highly offensive play against a the best defense in Rugby with some of the most physical back players in the world. It would be a great example of great offense against great defense.

But I agree nobody should see beyond the next match from now on. Anything can happen to any team and it probably will.

By the way, New Zealand is representing well the whole of Polynesia as well: 4 Fijians, 3 Samoans and 2 Tongans.

[SkinsJock]

.... If the final Test takes place between New Zealand and South Africa we would witness not only a match between two of the greatest teams ever put together but also two different PHILOSOPHICAL approaches to yhe game. New Zealand's forwards speed, strength and highly offensive play against a the best defense in Rugby with some of the most physical back players in the world. It would be a great example of great offense against great defense.

It may surprise you guys but that would be a really great game of rugby - at this time I just hope we can get by Jonny "field goal" and play the All Blacks

By the way, New Zealand is representing well the whole of Polynesia as well: 4 Fijians, 3 Samoans and 2 Tongans.

must be a little strange having all those foreigners doing the haka


If any of you are going to watch the All Blacks play rugby, be sure to turn on the TV early as the All Black war dance/haka is a must see event.

[Redskin in Canada]

must be a little strange having all those foreigners doing the haka


If any of you are going to watch the All Blacks play rugby, be sure to turn on the TV early as the All Black war dance/haka is a must see event.

Samoa has its own version and in Tonga the Haka is actually named the Sipi'tau. It is an ancestral Polynesian war dance, often practiced to avoid battle in the first place.