The Rugby Union World Cup 2007

[Banquo's Ghost]

I'm surprised that a thread for discussing the most important football tournament of the year ( )hasn't popped up already, so here it is.

Here's a link to the schedule for France 2007. Here's a run-down of the teams. There's some tough group games and a lot more possibility for upsets at this stage than previously.

My head tells me that this is the All-Black's moment to finally shine as they deserve in a World Cup. They have an awesome team and frankly the Webb Ellis trophy shouldn't have any other names engraved on it - but somehow, they keep coming up short.

And there's where the heart comes in. It just feels right to believe that France will win at home. It's their best team for a very long time. They are disciplined (well, as much as any French team can be, and stay French) and they have rare desire. I beleive we will see some incredible rugby from them, and well as some of the grind needed to be champions.

The current champions, England, are likely to end up as a joke. In common with most English teams that win something, they have spent the intervening four years resting on their laurels instead of building for another win. They are old, broken and possibily formidable because of that. But they won't beat wither of the flair teams, IMO.

What of Ireland? Well, I'd like to believe we will make it to the semis. We have the talent - on a really good day, the talent to go to the final in fact. I suspect we will frighten, but not beat, the French in the group, and then we'll have to see.

It looks like the most competitive World Cup in years - tonight's kick-off may porduce the biggest upset to start with as the Pumas go for the French. I can't wait.

(Oh and the USA are participating, so no excuses for our trans-Atlantic friends to avoid the thread... )

[Subedei]

I watched 2 documentaries on rugby this week: one on the leagues in France/Ireland/Urugay and the other about the Samoan team this year. Everything very interesting. So, since Tuesday I am a rugby fan....So I will watch the game tonight!

My favourit teams are Tonga & Samoa. Well, always with the underdogs!

[Banquo's Ghost]

My favoutrit teams are Tonga & Samoa. Well, always with the underdogs!

Just watch those guys tackle. They rattle one's fillings even over the TV.

[Quid]

I have been waiting for this moment for...well four years, really. I could not stand the sight of Mr Wilkinson getting that drop goal late in the game.

I think BG hit the nail on the head. The All-Blacks definitely deserve to win the trophy the second time. They have been, for the most part of the last 15 to 20 years, the team with the most flair and most exciting rugby.

I would also have to agree about the French. I think they are, on avarage, the most watchable in Europe (by a long shot) and presumably the strongest European team. Good luck to them. They are a little bit like the Germans in football...

The Irish have an outstanding team and if they get their act together, they have a good chance to come far in the tournament. Unfortunately, they also often fall short on expectations because of injuries. They simply do not have the depth of other teams and when the first choice falls short on fitness, they often fail to be able to deliver an equally strong player.

I would like to see the Scots do well also. However, they also have the problem of the Irish and Welsh, for that matter.

As long as England does not do well, I am quite happy, to be honest. Don't ask me why...it's just one of those things...If not the Germans, then it's the English...

Quid

[Banquo's Ghost]

It's very well worth keeping an eye on the Springboks and Wallabies too. Australia are likely to meet the All-Blacks in the semis, and traditionally they have taken great delight in popping their bubble for them.

The 'Boks look very strong too - it will be interesting to see if they follow through and demolish England in the group stages.

[Yawning Angel]

Woohoo proper World Cup time again!

Still have fond memories of the 2003 final, up early off to the bar to watch it, started on stupidly strong lager for 8am, agonising extra time, finally winning and being banjaxed (sp?) before midday \o/. The attempt at 10-pin bowling just after this was . . . interesting.

Would like to be all patriotic and say England are going to win, but think its a stretch too far (semi's is probably the best we can hope for). I agree with the others and think that the All Blacks deserve to/should win it, but they have had a habit of peaking between World Cups and not bringing the goods in the competition itself (excepting the first one obviously).
South Africa and France are the other stand-out form teams atm, and with the French having home field advantage they have got to be a force to be reckoned with. Ireland should be the best bet for a home-nations shot, although I can't quite see them getting past the 3 mentioned above.

Here's to 6/7 weeks of good competition and decent stuff to watch on TV while lying on the sofa recovering from injuries sustained while actually playing the damn game on Saturday afternoon! And its on terrestrial TV

[Quid]

Here's to 6/7 weeks of good competition and decent stuff to watch on TV while lying on the sofa recovering from injuries sustained while actually playing the damn game on Saturday afternoon!

...and brag about it to whoever will listen...brilliant!

Quid

[monkian]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaales ! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaales !

[Yawning Angel]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaales ! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaales !

* great fishes are Whales,
they swim in the sea,
eat plankton for tea,
* great fishes are Whales



* insert front room friendly word here (rugby songs are hard to transcribe for here)

[drone]

(Oh and the USA are participating, so no excuses for our trans-Atlantic friends to avoid the thread... )

At least until the 30th. England and South Africa in the group? Ouch. Have fun in France guys, don't drink too much before the games.


15th in the IRB rankings? There must be a significant dropoff after the usual suspects.

[Meneldil]

Allez les Bleus !

[scotchedpommes]

Catalogue of errors from France. I know it was poor play from them, but I do
enjoy seeing breakaways like that.

[ShadesPanther]

France have definately been playing very badly. But, Argentina are a very good team and do deserve to be in the 6 Nation or the Tri-Nations.
France really do need the opposition to stay back and let them play because if you get in their faces they make lots of stupid errors.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Wow! Big upset as Argentina beat France 17-12.

The Pumas played superbly and France - well, I'm glad to see they suffer from their own version of the Croke Choke!

Turning point of the match had to be the goal line defence by Argentina as France broke strongly after half-time. That and the fact that Skrela missed some very important kicks whilst his team-mates seemed to have idea that the game consists of passing to the fellows in hooped shirts.

Can a Frenchman tell me what on earth Heymans was doing on the field as full-back instead of Poitrenaud? He had a nightmare of a game.

Now I have to hope two things. a) That was Argentina's game of the tournament, and therefore they won't turn Ireland over in the same way; b) France will play as badly against us as they did today. Putting them out of their own World Cup will be a slight revenge for them taking our Grand Slam away.