*** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

The every-four-years Rugby World Cup starts Sept 7

I'm guessing not many people on 2+2 care, but it's a huge big deal for the south half of the world (well the Caucasian part of the south anyway). The theme this year is "will New Zealand destroy the way they're expected to". In the warmup matches they've completely outclassed all the competition; their seconds squad has beat the first teams of their major rivals, which is pretty unheard of in any sport.

The format is really similar to the soccer/futbol World Cup, four pools play round robin, then the top two of each pool advance and those eight teams play a single elimination tournament.


Pool A
England (ENG)
South Africa (RSA)
Samoa (SAM)
United States (USA)
Tonga (TGA)

Pool B
Australia (AUS)
Wales (WAL)
Fiji (FIJ)
Canada (CAN)
Japan (JPN)

Pool C
New Zealand (NZL)
Scotland (SCO)
Italy (ITA)
Romania (ROM)
Portugal (POR)

Pool D
France (FRA)
Ireland (IRE)
Argentina (ARG)
Georgia (GEO)
Namibia (NAM)




The first match is Sept 7 ; France vs. Argentina.

It'll be hard to find on American TV but it seems there may be some games on Fox Sports World.

A Rugby game can really be a great thing to watch if it's being played clean and the referees allow so flow. On the other hand, if both sides are playing sloppy and/or the referees are being sticklers, it can turn into one of the worst spectator sports with constant stoppage and no really nice plays, so be warned; if you catch a bad game don't think they're all like that.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

[ QUOTE ]

Pool A
England (ENG)
South Africa (RSA)
Samoa (SAM)
United States (USA)
Tonga (TGA)

[/ QUOTE ]

We're going to get owned. That is all.

Also annoying to see Argentina get shafted by the seedings AGAIN. Italy > Scotland could be a very sexy upset pick, otherwise I can't look past the big eight getting through to the quarters.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

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Also annoying to see Argentina get shafted by the seedings AGAIN.

[/ QUOTE ]
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7...l20logoys1.jpg

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

In

I am a welshman and we are not looking too great. should get to the quarters fine but no further.

just need to beat australia so i can have bragging rights over all of my aussie mates

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

Serious question. Does Fox Sports World still exist? I thought it got replaced by the Fox Soccer Channel, but maybe they just added that and moved all the soccer programming and now they only show rugby and curling or something on FSW.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

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Serious question. Does Fox Sports World still exist? I thought it got replaced by the Fox Soccer Channel, but maybe they just added that and moved all the soccer programming and now they only show rugby and curling or something on FSW.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I think you're right, it looks like all the regional FSW channels are gone, only FSW-Canada is left, so if you get a bajillion channels you might get that.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

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We're going to get owned. That is all.


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We as in the USA right? Yeah if we can beat Tonga that would be huge; I read some quotes from US players saying their goal is to just be competitive.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

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We as in the USA right?

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I meant England, but everything's relative. SA should kill us and pacific island teams are never easy.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

If you have DirecTV you can order Setanta Sports for $14.99 per month and have access to the Rugby World Cup. I'm not sure if they are televising all the games but I'm pretty sure most will be available.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

The way Wales have been playing recently its not certain that they can even make the QFs. Its sad to see how far they have fallen after the Grand Slam of 2005. The 'performance' against England the other week was embarrassing.

Argentina are a good side and have a really good chance of qualifying for the next stage. New Zealand all the way though IMO

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

I might go down to Kell's here in Portland and check out some of these games. I have seen a few rugby games and have generally liked watching all of them. Odd sort of game, but very free flowing.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you have DirecTV you can order Setanta Sports for $14.99 per month and have access to the Rugby World Cup. I'm not sure if they are televising all the games but I'm pretty sure most will be available.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's Setanta's schedule:
http://linux11744.dn.net/setanta/jsp.../RWC_07_NA.htm

Looks like they'll air every game, though only half (or so) will be live.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

There will be at least 7 games on Versus: All 4 USA games, Argentina-France, England-South Africa and France-Ireland. These will be on 48 hour tape delay, but it's better than nothing. I'll probably end up getting Setanta Broadband so that I can watch every match live.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

Hey Birts, one thing I don't understand is why the UK sends separate teams from England, Wales and Scotland. It seems like separated they have almost no chance to do well, but with one team they would be at least in the top tier. I mean, in the unified Lions tours they are at least close to the good southern teams.

Reading some junk about soccer, it seems that it's not the governing bodies of the sports, but rather the home nations of the UK which are opposed to sending a unified team. Seems silly to defend your right to send your own team when it just means you ruin your chances.

But I guess if North America was allowed to send a single team they'd probably refuse too...

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

Cbloom,

In rugby, at least, there is no chance in hell that the Scots, Welsh or English would want to be in the same team for anything other than Lions tours. England managed to win the World Cup in 2003 without the help of the others and there is some great history in matches between the Celtic nations and England. With Scotland considering independence and with the Welsh national identity being tied to rugby, it will never happen. Do you remember how crazy the Welsh went when they won the Grand Slam in 2005? A British team winning the World Cup wouldn't create that level of excitement or passion.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

[ QUOTE ]
But I guess if North America was allowed to send a single team they'd probably refuse too...

[/ QUOTE ] uh, yeah, because the US/Canada isn't even close to the same thing as Wales/England/Scotland.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

hedgie - it comes down to this, everyone hates the english [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

plus, rugby is a game of tradition and pride, so Im irish and I therefore want to support Ireland. I dont have a gigantic interest in the loins, apart from the fact its an intertesting tour from a rugby POV. I think its a dead man walking tho, as the lions are not going to able to compete with the professional sides anymore IMHO.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

don't know which thread to use but this one was here first

just got a new hdtv to watch wales beat australia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

..is it on order for the 2011 world cup then [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

Hey hey, a few matches are going to be shown on Versus in the US :

http://www.versus.com/nw/article/vie...e&catID=76

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

New Zealand obviously favourites, but I wouldnt put South Africa and Australia that far behind them.

Results from 2007 tri nations:
SA 22 - 19 Aus
SA 21 - 26 NZ
Aus 20 - 15 NZ
Aus 25 - 17 SA
NZ 33 - 6 SA
NZ 26 - 12 Aus

Also bear in mind that SA sent their B team for the away games.

Watch out for Schalk Berger on the flank, and Brian Habana on the wing.
Francois Steyn is a good young player who has played at centre, wing and fullback before.
Ruan Pienaar is another good young player, but he probably wont make 1st choice scrumhalf. Hes played at wing before so I hope they find a place for him there.
And like all saffa teams there are some dirty [censored] forwards.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

Hehe, great clips, love the comments in Youtube.

I've seen a lot of people saying SA has the best back line in the world, and that could take them past NZ.

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NZ is the favorite, no doubt, but I disagree with OPs claim that their B team destroyed everyone else's A team. Everyone took Tri Nations lightly this year. I think SA has a decent chance of beating NZ in the finals. Their players looked very good in Super 14, which featured an all South African final.

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Australia will win the tournament, NZ will choke in the semis as usual. Can't see England making much of an impression [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

I really hope the All Blacks do it. They have been brilliant for rugby for so long, and deserve it.

I dont think Australia will get beyond the semi, playing the All Blacks [and maybe *fingers crossed* Ireland!]. They have a weak pack, and somewhat like us [ireland] they rely on a small number of stars, and if one of them gets injured [like stories of Larkham going down over last few days] they are much less of a team IMHO

I really think it would worth be a gamble on the winner of Semi 1, which will be France versus South Africa. I would not mind a new name on the trophy, and france could get lifted, ala their soccer team in 1998 [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

only teams with a legitimate shot are france, nz and SA imo.

I know it's usually not wise to write off the aussies but i don't think they've got enough to win it.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

So excited for the whole tournament.

Going to Paris for Ireland v Argentina at the end of the month. My first live game of rugby ever and hopefully one of the best group games. Wales v Australia and Italy v Scotland should be good as well. Will die laughing if England get beaten by Samoa.

I think it's unwise to write off any of the top nations.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

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just got a new hdtv to watch wales beat australia [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]Are any of the matches going to be aired in HD?

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

they are in australia

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

I'm very fired up here, as is pretty much the whole country I think.

NZ go in as favourites, deservedly so with their record over the last few years and the depth of the team. Obviously lots can go wrong though, and they have a tonne of expectation on them.

Be very interested to see who emerges from the France/Ireland/Argentina pool, not least as 2nd place gets the dubious prize of meeting NZ in the quarter final.

Also really not in favour of the suggestion that Scotland aren't even going to put up their first team against NZ in the pool. One of the traditional rugby nations giving up on a big game like that seems pretty poor to me.

Picking NZ to be too strong up front for the Aussies in one semi, and the French to have too much flair for the South Africans in the other. Then NZ too strong for France in the final, really can't wait for it to get underway though.

Oh and I'm up for some small scale prop betting if anyone is interested, I'll lay 2:1 on a last longer for New Zealand vs any single country.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

none of the games are in HD in the uk, [censored] itv wankers

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

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I'm very fired up here, as is pretty much the whole country I think.

NZ go in as favourites, deservedly so with their record over the last few years and the depth of the team. Obviously lots can go wrong though, and they have a tonne of expectation on them.

Be very interested to see who emerges from the France/Ireland/Argentina pool, not least as 2nd place gets the dubious prize of meeting NZ in the quarter final.

Also really not in favour of the suggestion that Scotland aren't even going to put up their first team against NZ in the pool. One of the traditional rugby nations giving up on a big game like that seems pretty poor to me.

Picking NZ to be too strong up front for the Aussies in one semi, and the French to have too much flair for the South Africans in the other. Then NZ too strong for France in the final, really can't wait for it to get underway though.

Oh and I'm up for some small scale prop betting if anyone is interested, I'll lay 2:1 on a last longer for New Zealand vs any single country.

[/ QUOTE ]

ok, how about a prop bet. SA vs France last longer bet, even money. I take SA. I will do anything up to $5k. Name your price before tourney starts.

Re: *** Official 2007 Rugby World Cup
 

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Oh and I'm up for some small scale prop betting if anyone is interested, I'll lay 2:1 on a last longer for New Zealand vs any single country.

[/ QUOTE ]

ok, how about a prop bet. SA vs France last longer bet, even money. I take SA. I will do anything up to $5k. Name your price before tourney starts.

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds like a fair bet, but to be honest I'm only really interesting in betting on New Zealand, where the emotional investment is already pretty high.

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watching the opening ceremonies for this. Utterly confused, I have no idea what that was all about. It seemed poorly orgainzed as well. The worst opening ceremony type thing I've ever seen for a major sporting even.

Regardless, I'm really pumped to be in a place where I won't have to pay per view to watch the matches this time around and also that I won't have to wake up at 4 in the morning to watch them. I'd like to see Argentina go far but France is one of my favorite teams as well. Always loved watching Serge Betsen play. One guy I'd never ever [censored] with.

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lol at the opening ceremony.

3-3 after 7 mins. Argies have made a strong start

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Other then the missed drop some solid kicking from the pumas.

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Nice positional kicking from the Pumas. They are playing there balls off and France is making some mistakes. If they can stay away from some of the stupid penalties like the one to end the half there and win some of their OWN line-outs they could stay win this.

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some bad ass defense!

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gooooo france, have a big accumulator going and need them to win

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sigh