Rugby Union World Cup

[brod]

Less than one month until the Rugby Union World Cup starts on September 9 in New Zealand

POOL A
New Zealand (1)
France (5)
Tonga (13)
Canada (16)
Japan (12)

POOL B
Argentina (8)
England (4)
Scotland (9)
Georgia (15)
Romania (18)

POOL C
Australia (2)
Ireland (6)
Italy (11)
Russia (19)
USA (17)

POOL D
South Africa (3)
Wales (7)
Fiji (14)
Samoa (10)
Namibia (20)

(World Ranking in brackets)

[JAS]

Can't wait for it to start All family and friends have been warned to check time zones and match times before thinking about phoning or visiting while it's on.

In advance...no offence...I still love you all really...well some of you...BUT...GO IRELAND...do me proud and take the skippys

Regards
JAS

[brod]

Can't wait for it to start

In advance...no offence...I still love you all really...well some of you...BUT...GO IRELAND...do me proud and take the skippys

Regards
JAS

17 September in Auckland (well we all know how well the Wallabies play Eden Park )

[JAS]

Can't wait for it to start

In advance...no offence...I still love you all really...well some of you...BUT...GO IRELAND...do me proud and take the skippys

Regards
JAS

17 September in Auckland (well we all know how well the Wallabies play Eden Park )

A girl can but hope...especially given your last couple of games could be a close one.

Hope the SANFL don't change anything...so far doesn't clash with footy finals on Sun 18th.

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Official website for anyone who hasn't found it yet...

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

Regards
JAS

[Dogwatcher]

New Zealand singing sensation HAYLEY WESTENRA launches
THE OFFICIAL RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 ALBUM
‘World In Union’


The world’s biggest-selling soprano, Hayley Westenra, launches The Rugby World Cup 2011 Official Album, entitled World In Union, to be released on Decca (a Division of Universal Music Operations Limited) in September.

The new Rugby World Cup 2011 album opens and closes with the title track ‘World In Union’ (based on Jupiter from Holst’s Planets Suite) – which has, over the years, been adopted as the global anthem for all Rugby World Cups. This rousing theme has become the only enduring official song for a major international sports event that is recorded anew for each Tournament, this year’s choice being the hosting nation’s own Hayley Westenra. This coincides with Hayley celebrating 10 years in the music industry.

The 24-year-old singer follows in the footsteps of another of the country’s most celebrated singers, fellow New Zealander Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who topped the charts with her version for Rugby World Cup 1991.

Hayley has not only recorded the song in English and Maori, as heard on this album, but also in Italian, French and Japanese – each version is expected to be heard played in the relevant countries.

The album continues with 20 more stirring tracks from around the globe, featuring some of the world’s most successful singers, that will both unite and inspire.

Representing ENGLAND is “the Nation’s Favourite Tenor” Alfie Boe with The Band of the Coldstream Guards performing the rousing Jerusalem, and rising star Laura Wright with her tender, acoustic version of Swing Low, a great rugby anthem that is also contrastingly performed by Russell Watson. For SCOTLAND the song Now’s The Time, based on the tune of Loch Lomond, is here sung by Scottish Tenor Luigi Corvi. The traditional Flower of Scotland is also featured, performed by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. From WALES we have none other than The Fron Male Voice Choir with Land Of My Fathers, as well as music from Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins. And IRELAND brings its official song Ireland’s Call featuring Brian Kennedy representing the North and Paul Byrom the South, and introduces new Irish songstress, Mairead, with her rendition of The Fields Of Athenry.

Also included is a recording from International superstar violinist André Rieu from HOLLAND, with singer Mirusia Louwerse from AUSTRALIA. From AFRICA comes The Kenyan Boys’ Choir, and Roberto Alagna represents FRANCE with his version of the French National Anthem.

Rugby World Cup 2011 will be the largest sporting event ever to be held in New Zealand, with over 85,000 visitors expected to flock from overseas – but wherever you are in the world, this album will provide the perfect soundtrack.

About Rugby World Cup 2011:
Rugby World Cup is the crown jewel of the sport and a prominent global property – with television coverage of Rugby World Cup 2007 spanning more than 200 territories, reaching a cumulative audience of 4 billion viewers. Rugby World Cup 2011 is being held in New Zealand for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987. Teams representing 20 nations will compete in 48 matches across 12 Host Cities between 9 September and 23 October 2011.
See www.rugbyworldcup.com

[Wedgie]

Cant wait. Looking forward to this much more than the soccer world cup. Going to be a sportsfest this September/October!

[godoubleblues]

really looking forward to this one myself
there will be some blow out games but there should be some crackers and some upsets as well

a lot of work for us to do and the ABs would go in as justified faves

[MightyEagles]

Bring Back Bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wedgie]

Another ripper warm up match tonight with the Springboks playing their A side against the Wallabies, on TV just after midnight tonight!

[godoubleblues]

Another ripper warm up match tonight with the Springboks playing their A side against the Wallabies, on TV just after midnight tonight!

this will be a big test for both sides, Springboks are taking this one seriously

[Jim05]

Aus 14-9
Good win for the Wallabies at a very wet and windy Durban.

[Wedgie]

Deserved win by the Wallabies, loved James O'Connor's step to set up the only try of the night.

Sets it up for a big match when I'll be in Brisbane in two weeks!

[The Sleeping Giant]

I'm looking forward to games like Georgia vs Romania. Seriously.

[Jim05]

Looking forward to the rematches of the heavyweights, NZ v Japan to see if the All Blacks can top their 145-17 win in 1995 and Australia v Namibia to see if the Wallabies can beat the 142-0 hiding dished out in 2003

[godoubleblues]

Looking forward to the rematches of the heavyweights, NZ v Japan to see if the All Blacks can top their 145-17 win in 1995 and Australia v Namibia to see if the Wallabies can beat the 142-0 hiding dished out in 2003

I was at the Oz v Namibia blockbuster at Adelaide Oval, in the end the crowd cheered whenever Namibia gained half a metre

[brod]

Wallabies World Cup Squad will be announced tomorrow

[brod]

Matt Giteau has become the first major casualty of Robbie Deans' youth policy after being overlooked for the Wallabies 30-man World Cup squad.

The final squad is set to be publicly unveiled on Thursday morning, but the out-of-favour 28-year-old revealed the bad news on his Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon.

"Thank u ballboys, thank u linesman? That's it..." the 92-Test veteran tweeted.

Later in the day he took to Twitter again to say: "Really wanna thank everyone for the support! Was a huge honour to get the chance to represent my country as often as I did."

[Phantom Gossiper]

NZ has been given a favorable draw IMO, surely this is the year they finally get the monkey off the back and go all the way?!

[Wedgie]

Horwell replaces Elsom as Captain and Barnes and Mitchell included in the squad.