Excitment has reached epidemic levels in New Zealand with 3rd/4th play off tickets sold out.

Just thought I would get that one in before the Aussies bring it up ;)

I am kinda excited, but I think I would be more excited if I understood the game. thank gods for Setanta

thank gods for Setanta

Amen to that....they just started carrying Setanta on Dish network here in the States which I can get. It was here on DirectTv previously but their satellite is in a bad place on my horizon (too many tall trees) for me to get.

I'm SO stoked to be able to see the World cup this time around....I missed the last two altogether.

Here's hoping the AB's don't choke this time around. :) Even if they do, at least our goalkicker doesn't look like a constipated monk every time he kicks a penalty attempt ;)

Craig looks like we should be right for the final, assuming the aussies don't bushwhack us .... again ... flaming mongrels.

Pre tournment the teams that look like winning are (in no particular order)

New Zealand ... Graham Henry is keeping things up his sleeve

Australia ... never discount the sheep stealers

South Africa ... Habana could make a difference in a close one.

France ... playing at home should storm into the final

England ... after a few bad results seem to be getting things right

Suprises possible from

Wales ... will be there or there abouts if they don't suffer an injury toil, backup players not in same class as the first choice squad.

Ireland ... can beat anyone on their day, BOD is a serious blow

Argentina ... best pack at the World Cup imho.

Suprises possible from

Wales ... will be there or there abouts if they don't suffer an injury toil, backup players not in same class as the first choice squad.



You obviously didn't see Wales v France on Sunday. Wales are currently looking v poor and may reach the quarter-finals if they are lucky. Ireland didn't impress against Italy (lucky to win in Belfast with a disputed try in the dying seconds).

Australia ... never discount the sheep stealers :D

Actually, this time around I suspect the AB's will not be complacent about the Aussies and I'm not too worried about that game. I'm most concerned about the French and the South Africans. France have been bloody impressive to my mind in their belt-outs against the English (I missed the France-Wales game but I'm not surprised the French downed the Welsh like so many rugby-jersey-wearing snails). Haven't seen much of the South African crew but they can never be ruled out....although this time around the All Blacks hopefully have their own chef along so that should help.

Not too sure what to make of the Irish side. They looked pretty good against England but they lost their chief whiner...er, Brian O'Driscoll who is a pretty good player once he actually gets on the field.

Watched the USA Eagles hit-out vs Munster last night. Not going to be loosing much sleep over them. Their No 11 is a pretty impressive runner but someone needs to teach him how to catch the darned ball when it is passed to him! Have to say, though, I admire the commitment of the USA players. 18 of them were refused time-off work to go to the world cup so they quit their jobs and are living together in a barn in the lead-up to the cup. Can you imagine the US Olympic basketball team doing something like that?

I think this is probably the most open World Cup ever. I don't think any team is consistently champion material over the last year or two.

Naturally, will support the Wallabies, but our form has been pretty woeful of late. We don't have match winners like Eales or Horan any more.

All Blacks will always be there or there abouts & I expect France to do very well.

Mostly, hope for lots of upsets from the 'minnows'. Tournaments (of any sport) are usually much better spectacles if a bunch of outsiders start overturning applecarts!!

You obviously didn't see Wales v France on Sunday. Wales are currently looking v poor and may reach the quarter-finals if they are lucky. Ireland didn't impress against Italy (lucky to win in Belfast with a disputed try in the dying seconds).

Just ran across the result this morning. Either the French are hitting their straps at exactly the right time or the Welsh have completely disintegrated from where they were a year or so ago.

Ouch for the Irish, though Italy are getting better season by season imho. The other team i will be watching will be the Canadians who seem to be also improving over recent seasons.

Australia, who I had written off a year ago, suddenly seem like the buisness. Of course that overseas win percentage is something of a worry for convict supporters. (Actually better make sure none of the Wallaby supporters in my office are looking over my shoulder).

Well, first round underway and I have to say, the home-nations and france aren't looking too flash so far. I'm surprised by the french though: they're just lucky they're not up against SA/AU/NZ for their other 'major' pool game. Ireland look even worse than france so they should be right for the quarter final vs NZ. I'm picking Argentina to beat Ireland too. ;)

Managed to catch the Wales v Canada game, at the weekend.

Was torn when Wales won it, as I had to weigh up whether celebrating a victory for my homeland was worth incurring the wrath of my Canadian beloved.

Tough call there :) Followup your celebration with a discussion of Canadian dominance of ice hockey and you might still have it both ways ;)

Closing on the quarters and the Saffas, Aussies, and kiwis are going okay.

England look not a trace of the 03 team, the French are a shambles, and other six nation sides don't look to hit.

Los Pumas doing well, though they could still be nudged out if Ireland down them by four tries and 7+ points.

Yep...I'm still backing the Pumas over the Irish (much as I love Ireland their rugby has been shoddy this tournament). I expect a NZ - France quarter final at Cardiff. I hope the AB's make a point to watch their semifinal loss to france from 1999(?) the day before the test. I think when the AB's focus and determination is finally sharpened up they'll step it up to a new level like they did for the first half of the Italy game. Of course, they're taking a couple of days R&R so here's hoping they don't come back too relaxed! ;)

Was amazed that Tonga took it to SA as well as they did. Makes the England-Tonga matchup even more intriguing :)

I'm looking foward to S.A winning and making me some bucks!! (Im british btw) and i look foward to England loosing so they will train that little bit harder over the next 4 years.. its wat they deserve for being crap the last 4 yrs.... bastards

Ok. Time to pick quartefinal results:

Aus v Eng.....I'm picking Aussie (despite my personal motto: I support two teams....NZ and anyone playing Australia)

SA v Fiji....S.A. by 20+ points

Arg v Scotland.... Argentina by 15 points

NZ v France ... NZ: Or there'll be rioting in Kiwiland. :D

I'm looking foward to S.A winning and making me some bucks!! (Im british btw) and i look foward to England loosing so they will train that little bit harder over the next 4 years.. its wat they deserve for being crap the last 4 yrs.... bastards

I guessed they trained a little bit harder than you thought :p

I guessed they trained a little bit harder than you thought :p

Does that mean we won, again:cool:

Does that mean we won, again:cool:

Vive la France! :D

http://www.understandfrance.org/Images/FrenchFlag2.jpg

Gutted, very disappointed. Have to say New Zealand must hold the world chocking award. Just can't believe that after the year that we have had, that we go down to the frogs.
But we have been here before. We'll be back.

Go Argentina!

:D
..."I'm most concerned about the French and the South Africans. France have been bloody impressive to my mind in their belt-outs against the English (I missed the France-Wales game but I'm not surprised the French downed the Welsh like so many rugby-jersey-wearing snails)....


Just how right you were mate. :(

Gutted, very disappointed. Have to say New Zealand must hold the world chocking award. Just can't believe that after the year that we have had, that we go down to the frogs.
But we have been here before. We'll be back.

Go Argentina!

Is it really true that this caused an economic depression last time it happened?

I dunno about an economic one...but there's a black depression eating at me right now :(

Before the cup started I was concerned about the french...but I got lulled into a false sense of confidence by the pool matches. Congratz to the Poms and the French.

Once again the AB's have offered the best of rugby and the worst of rugby. *sigh*

Yea, Dan, that could happen. We take our Rugby very seriously here mate. The autopsy of the game will go on for weeks. People will spend hours talking about it, trying to make sense of where it went wrong etc. And depressed people don't work as hard as happy people.
So, a downturn, yea I can see it.
We feel cursed, once again this year we had a great build up, we won the tri-nation cup. The Bledisloe Cup and smashed all European teams that tried to stand up to us. We had one of the best All Black teams ever. And yet we could not make the finals of the World Cup, AGAIN.

Vive la France! :D

http://www.understandfrance.org/Images/FrenchFlag2.jpg

C'est la vie

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/europe/uk/images/england-flag.jpg
:cool::p

Who would have thought a bunch of broken down old war horses and an out of date game style could make it to the final.
Now I know how the English felt going down to Portugal in the football world cup.

Just wish I was the man with the radon $20 "Pick Six" from the betting office with that last few results.

Who would have thought....

Who would have thought a bunch of broken down old war horses and an out of date game style could make it to the final.

Yes but South Africa were fairly much in control though. The Argies never really threatened them.

Col

Well, at least Bernard Laporte won't be hoisting the cup. :) Never thought I'd see the day when I cheer for SA in the world cup final. ;)

Who would have thought a bunch of broken down old war horses and an out of date game style could make it to the final.
....

Sounds like sour grapes to me.:p:cool:
PS is it true that a lot of the teams kicked out are still stuck in Paris because their tickets home have the wrong dates on them leaving France?:confused:

All our boys are home or on drunken binges in the UK somewhere.
It an't sour grapes Rich, just dumbfoundment.

http://worldcup.planet-rugby.com/Opta_Stats/0,21241,2903024,00.html
http://worldcup.planet-rugby.com/Opta_Stats/0,21241,2906517,00.html

I know that Stats don't win games, scores win games. Seems adidas is right, nothing is impossible.
I will watch the game, don't really care who wins. Just happy it an't the Aussies.

I will watch the game, don't really care who wins. Just happy it an't the Aussies.

Now that's a bit harsh isn't it cous??

We both failed miserably, but I don't think anybody really thought the Wallabies would win this

Can't stand the thought of the Poms winning though (just give it to Jonny & he will kick us a win) Booring as all hell!!

Speaking of booring, has anybody noticed ANY innovative back play? I sure haven't noticed any

England - too old, too slow, too stupid

England - too old, too slow, too stupid

You mean that biased Aussie who turned down a perfectly good try.

Brian

Now that's a bit harsh isn't it cous??

Speaking of booring, has anybody noticed ANY innovative back play? I sure haven't noticed any

I always thought rugby was supposed to be boring, just a pile of men having a love in most of the time.

Brian

England - too old, too slow, too stupid

Well that's odd, how did they manage to beat you yet again?:confused::rolleyes:

Well that's odd, how did they manage to beat you yet again?:confused::rolleyes:


Beacause we have a front row row that seems to think that falling down in every scrum will win a game!!! - I never thought we were good enough to win the cup, but thought we should have been good enough to beat England

As they say - Read the results in the papers!!!

I always thought rugby was supposed to be boring, just a pile of men having a love in most of the time.


In general northern rugby is a bit slow and a bit boring. Grind it up the middle, force an error, get a penalty, kick the goal, get the points and do it all again. Southern rugby, with the pacific island influence is fast, bloody fast. They seem to want to spin it wide and quick, run the other team off their feet, give 'em no time to rest.

In a few short months the Super 14 is starting up, going to be a great year.

Well done the yarpies, see, having a government department pick your team worked out well in the end :D

Southern rugby, with the pacific island influence is fast, bloody fast. They seem to want to spin it wide and quick, run the other team off their feet, give 'em no time to rest.

Won't the anti-depressants slow 'em down a bit :confused: ;)

I always thought that its the taking part ..???

Won't the anti-depressants slow 'em down a bit

No chance, we are over it. One of the underpinning mantra of New Zealand is...

"Forget about the last one, get yourself another."

So this little island of 4mil will set about trying to beat the planet again.
Go the AB's ;)

In a few short months the Super 14 is starting up, going to be a great year.

It would be even better if some of the Aus/NZ/SA provinces got dumped and Samoa / Tonga / Fiji were included.

The perpetual 'big 8' keeping things amoungst themselves has got to stop

If nothing else, this world cup has shown that Wales, Ireland & Scotland and probably on the past 3 years form you could add Australia to that, do not measure up any more as top ranked teams

Argentina and the Pacific Islands must get regular, competitive tornaments to play, not just once every 4 years