2011 Rugby World Cup

[jim 546 43]

The tournament is already well under way down under, but I'm not surprised such a thread hasn't been created. I'm interested to see who this forum thinks will win and who is into the sport, or who is new to the whole thing and is just enjoying watching the games.

A poll has been added, don't be shy, VOTE!

  Edited September 12, 2011 by jim 546  

[Hamish 1,369]

Being a New Zealander I hope we win, whether or not we can I still don't quite know. It'll be the France game that will tell if we can or can't. Played well against Tonga, but didn't quite seem to all come together like we should have.

I have been very impressed with some teams so far. Japan is on the top of my list for their very good performance against France. Followed by Italy who disrupted Australia in the first half. Namibia played quite well against Fiji, although just let it slip in the last few minutes of the game, and Romania weren't bad against Scotland either.

Not saying one of these teams will win, but I have been impressed with their performance. Its a shame Japan won't go through, they really gave it their all against France, even if the score doesn't reflect it.

[Ded 30]

I'm not particularly surprised there wasn't a thread already - despite the hype in our little, wee homeland - Rugby just isn't a major sporting event by global standards. It's very much a minority sport - even football/soccer is more widely played here in NZ these days than Rugby is. I hope New Zealand wins, though if we don't it shan't affect me too much - I don't understand anything sport related - but, I know it'd mean a lot to a bunch of people here if we won on home soil, and it'd certainly bring a little bit of a brighter spirit here.

[ee99 150]

Anyone see Wales match? Don't know how the refree missed that penalty by wales.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Good luck and fine sportsmanship to all participants. I am slightly in favor of the Kiwis since the tournament is there.

[Joe 90 358]

Anyone see Wales match? Don't know how the refree missed that penalty by wales.

It did look good on first impression, but I suspect what happened is the ball passed directly over the post. You can see on the replay it was in line with the post at one point, and we can't tell when the ball actually passed the posts. I'm giving benfit of the doubt to the TJ, who was standing at the base of the post after all.

I'd have loved Wales to win, since that would have put England, France, Australia, and South Africa on the same side of the playoffs!

All Blacks to win it all for me (naturally), but I've been very impressed with the minnows so far. Not one proper blowout to date, and potentially a couple of upsets if they only believed they could actually beat a top side.

[Joe 90 358]

The Cold War is back. USA v Russia on now.

[jim 546 43]

New Zealand smash minnows Japan.

Well, All Black winning the match was expected, but to run in eleven tries is almost unheard of these days. Didn't see the match though, they're on at 4/5am for my time zone so I only watch the big matches or ones Wales feature in. NZ/France will be a cracking game.