World Cup Rugby 2007

[brod]

Didnt that knee go all the wrong ways....
It was the best game that Ive seen of RWC 2007, and hopefully a taste of whats to come with the 1/4 finals ect.
As one of the commentators said it would be so frustrationg to support Fiji, talk about all or nothing

[JAS]

Another team through to the quarter finals...well done Scotland

Italy 16
Scotland 18

Not the most exciting game but very evenly matched...high tackles and sin bins for both teams...both brought their handbags with them too...pretty average game really.

No news yet about Nicky Little of Fiji...according to SkySports web site he was taken to hospital and a medical report is pending.

Regards
JAS

[Dog_ger]

I saw it as a top game JAS....

Italy had its chance.....

Rugby, I am just learning.....

[Dog_ger]

28 sep 2007

ENG 36-20 TGA Paris

29 sep 2007

NZL 85-8 ROM Toulouse
AUS 37-6 CAN Bordeaux
WAL 34-38 FJI Nantes
SCO 18-16 ITA St-Etienne

30 sep 2007

FRA - GEO Marseille
IRE - ARG Paris
RSA - USA Montpellier

[JAS]

I saw it as a top game JAS....

Italy had its chance.....

Rugby, I am just learning.....

Oh dear...sorry again Dog_ger

I just meant that IMO there was nothing really outstanding about the game. Don't get me wrong as I said before I love watching Italy play...always have...no matter how badly the odds are stacked against them they have always played with a hunger and passion that other teams could learn from. In the last couple of years their game has improved in leaps and bounds...sorry Kiwis I'm afraid that coincides with the departure of John Kirwan and arrival of Berbizier...guess the southern style of rugby just didn't suit them. Would love to have seen them make the quarters this time but wasn't to be...maybe next time.

Hope you're enjoying the tournament though...a great way to learn more about the game (never stop learning) and get to see different playing styles IMHO

Regards
JAS

[Dog_ger]

I think Australia plays England in our next game......?

If this is so, I am worried......!

A hard game for a 1/4 final.....

Forgive me if I am wrong.....

[JAS]

Spot on Dog_ger...hopefully it will be a cracker of a game...don't want to scare you but...2003 RWC finalists playing for survival...

Australia v England will kick off on Saturday 6th Oct at 1400 UK time I think thats about 2230 Adelaide time.

A few other games being played first though
Go Georgia
Go Ireland
SA v USA...doubt there's much contest there...heehee love to be proved wrong tho

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Half time

France 30
Georgia 0

Oh ...starting to doubt that Georgia will pull off a surprise win in this one

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

75th minute

Georgia player deliberatly and viciously spear tackles a French player...believe it's supposed to be an automatic red card...the ref gives a yellow card/10 minutes in sin bin to the wrong player...crazy Can understand Georgia's frustration but resorting to those tactics is out of order.

Full time

France 64
Georgia 7

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Half time



Ireland 10
Argentina 18

Still time to pull this back

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Full time

Ireland 15
Argentina 30

What happened to the team I love...the same men that beat England 43-13 back in February...they've lost their way and now they go home BUT...make no mistake...we WILL be back and better in four years time. Maybe it was better to have a quick death against the Argies than an almost inevitable hammering from New Zealand next weekend As the Irish would say....fair play to you Argentina you've shown that it really is time for the rest to sit up and take notice

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

P.S.

Hope Ireland won't take any knee-jerk reactions...IMHO it is far to easy to blame the coach for everything...hero when they win, villain when they lose...the players must bear some of the responsibility too. Not saying the coach isn't to blame but I think this reaction is much too soon (less than 24 hours)...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 020577.stm


Regards
JAS

[JAS]

The last of todays offerrings...
Half time

SA 24
USA 10

Yep thats right...you're not seeing things...the Boks are most definately NOT having all their own way...the Yanks are really making them work for every point...got to love the performances of the lower ranked teams

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

75th minute and a nice touch by the Yanks...no chance of going any further in the tournament so they take 6 players off and put 6 on to ensure that everyone in the squad earns a cap and gets to play

Final score

SA 64
USA 15

No one expected the Yanks to get close to winning but they desrved a higher score...excellent game from a team whose country barely knows the sport exists. Lets hope this RWC helps raise it's profile. Might just be me watching through the bottom of a glass but there did seem to be an awful lot of quite spectacular blood injuries.

Well that's it until the quarter finals on Saturday and Sunday.

Regards
JAS

[magpie in the 80's]

well done JAS for your commentary and scores this weekend.
NOW go and answer some QUESTIONS

[MagicKiwi]

Logged in to post my commiserations to JAS

Phillosophically, France have been Argentina's bitches for some time so the chances of breaking into the top two in your Pool were pretty grim from the start. O'Gara must go. He has let your side down all World Cup. The last game especially with his kicking and this game, his kicking AND his delivery! Prompts Mr MK "is he the only one in the whole of Ireland that can kick a rugby ball"? Fair question, he should've been dragged last game. Depth will help for RWC 2011.

Try of the RWC so far goes to the USA today and they have put the rugby world on notice. They have a strategic plan to:

1. Have their college recruitment drive up and running (not everyone can get to the NFL.....);
2. 500,000 registered players before the next RWC; and
3. A professional league up and running NEXT YEAR to which they already have the sponsors.

Be afraid..... if money is pouring into American rugby, be afraid.....

The finest game of the RWC - Fiji Vs Wales - talk about heart and soul and self belief.

Let's hope South Africa continue to be unconvincing - they've played one good game (the one Mr MK turned all South African on me.....).

Once again a wonderful weekend in rugby - good on you D_gr for trying to get into it. It's a wonderful game and like any, made all the better for knowing the rules and how it's played. It's all up to Australia to finish off the drop-goal-scoring non-rugby-playing poms. They have done nothing for four years, beaten to a pulp in the last rugby season by whoever played them. They DO NOT deserve to be in this next round. Call me a rugby purist but that's the way it is. Pick up the ball, run with the farging thing and put it over the line. I still prefer the five day game in cricket as well.....

I will be up watching next Saturday night, cheering on the Aussies before one of the biggest days in 16 years for me. It doesn't get any better than this, grand final week.

Go you Cocks!
All Blacks, my soul.

[JAS]

Thanks MK...much appreciated.

Firstly... just realised you're a North barracker so huge congrats to you my dear and good luck for Sunday

Excellent write up...agree with all you said...ok maybe not the cricket thing. I prefer the faster pace of the 'one day' matches But as far as the rugby goes you're spot on. We all hate to admit it when players that have served our clubs so well for so long lose their touch/confidence etc but I do agree that O'Gara probably has to go...his bad kicking days now outnumber the good ones. Probably time for some others to stand aside and let fresh blood in to the side...afterall no one can play for ever.

The USA really are an improving team...I think they gave SA a hell of a fright at times...no bad thing either. Would maybe like to see an Americas tournament established that could include Argentina...I think they deserve to be in some sort of annual international competition now. I believe the Tri-Nations said no and although it's been suggested that they relocate to Spain and join our Six Nations I don't think thats fair on the Argentinian people...national team should be based in your own country.

Will definately be cheering on the Aussies at the weekend...might have been born a pom but I'm half Irish and everytime I see Wilkinson little butt sticking out I have an uncontrolable urge to kick it

I have really enjoyed watching Portugal...they obviously knew they hadn't a hope of getting past the pool stage and have just relished the whole experience...every time I've seen them play they are smiling and laughing and just loving being there...just wish they could sing in tune

This weekend should be another good one....can't wait

Go Aussies
Go Kiwis
GF...oh dear...friends on both sides...can I hope for a draw?

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Didnt that knee go all the wrong ways....
It was the best game that Ive seen of RWC 2007, and hopefully a taste of whats to come with the 1/4 finals ect.
As one of the commentators said it would be so frustrationg to support Fiji, talk about all or nothing

Update on Nicky Little's injury

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/ ... d+rwc+2007

Hopefully he will make a speedy and full recovery

Regards
JAS

[Dirko]

JAS, great commentry, pity re the Irish but as I posted earlier I though the Argies might get them.
New Zealand to play France. Wow, it'd be a huge upset if Le Frogs get over them, but they've done it to the Kiwi's
before. Australia SHOULD smash England. Would be absolutly magnificient to see the Fijians beat the 'Boks.
Can't see it but geez here's hoping. The Argies to continue on and beat the Scots which should be a cracker too.
My predictions are...Australia 34 def England 7, New Zealand 52 def France 12, Argentina 21 def Scotland 16 & France 30 def Fiji 24.

[JAS]

Can't argue with those predictions...would be so sweet to see a Fijian win...imagine how p*ssed the Boks would be

Hopefully a great weekend of sport ahead...already laying down rations and getting ready to repel all borders

Geez this is turning into a long week.

Regards
JAS