Rugby World Cup

[Dioltach]

The RWC 2007 starts this Friday, with France v Argentina. Having seen several of the warm-up matches, I reckon France have a good chance of winning the tournament: it will probably be them or the All Blacks. Their backs all look like locks and back rowers, but they're still very fast.

I was impressed with Scotland when they played Ireland and South Africa (even though they got blasted away in the last match). From what I've seen of Ireland, I think they might struggle to perform to their potential. Italy have improved greatly over the past year (look at the Six Nations, for example), and I think Argentina might prove a threat. Wales and England will have to produce something amazing, I think, to be in with a shout: neither team seems very cohesive. I haven't seen anything of the big Southern Hemishpere teams other than Scotland v SA, so I can't comment on them.

What are your thoughts, comments, worries, predictions?

(My biggest concern at the moment is that the BBC doesn't have the rights, so I'll have to see whether I can get the matches on one of the French channels, which is the only other option where I am.)

 

[Hawklord]

Really looking forward to this one, even though I don't think any of the Home nations have got a decent shoot at getting past the semis.

Scotland did look nice and beefed-up but I really don't think we've got the depth of world class players to go the distance.

My money is on an All Blacks vs France final with France to win !


ITV have got streaming video of their live transmissions on their website - although you have to download some DRM crap from Microsoft to watch it . I'm hoping that the games will be on there so I dont get grief from the missus watching rugby all the time for the next month or so!

cheers

 

[Dioltach]

Thanks for the tip on ITV -- I'll see if I can check it out for England's game tomorrow. I can at least watch France v Argentina tonight on one of the French channels. By the time things get really exciting, though, I'll be on holiday in Australia, and I'm sure I'll be able to catch some of the action there.

Some of the quotes on the BBC website are funny: Philippe Sella says France can win if they beat Argentina today. Zinzan Brooke tips the All Blacks to win. There was another quote a while ago from some South African saying that the Springboks would win. And then you have Andy Robinson, saying that England can reach the semis ...

Personally, I think that yes, it will be a France v NZ final, and I think that the crowd will get behind France and the players will deliver like only they can. It would be sad for the All Blacks, who have dominated world rugby for the past two years at least, but I reckon the home advantage will tell in the end.

But whatever the case, it will be great to watch. Of course, I doubt anything could match last RWC final for drama!

 

[Horacio]

I will watch the match life at tv this evening, while sipping a cold beer.

I guess sometimes living in France is an advantage

 

[Dioltach]

Well, it was a sad display from the Northern Hemisphere nations, by all accounts. I could only watch the France v Argentina match (sadly, the ITV online video only works if you're in the UK), but I reckon only Italy acquited themselves decently.

Deep down, I'm hoping it's just a ploy, particularly on the part of England, to make their opponents underestimate them.

 

[Tonguez]

Well, it was a sad display from the Northern Hemisphere nations, by all accounts. I could only watch the France v Argentina match (sadly, the ITV online video only works if you're in the UK), but I reckon only Italy acquited themselves decently.

Deep down, I'm hoping it's just a ploy, particularly on the part of England, to make their opponents underestimate them.

Italy! please I only managed to watch half the AB vs Italy mismatch and found that to be uterly boring common they were like 32-0 in the first 15 minutes!

 

[Hawklord]

Well, it was a sad display from the Northern Hemisphere nations

Yeah, not looking too promising at all (unless you're a kiwi)!

France looked like they had stage-fright and got duly stuffed by Argentina. Ireland and England just looked pedestrian; Wales were thoroughly inconsistent (as usual) and Italy and Scotland flattered to deceive - I think they will struggle against decent opposition.

I must admit though I really enjoyed the Georgia/Argentina game this evening. Even though Georgia were soundly thrashed in the end, they put up a good game and really went for it.

Cheers

jim

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Those France predictions aren't looking so good now!

And what's the deal with the Aussies playing Wales at Cardiff. The last time I checked it wasn't in France!

Olaf the Stout

 

[Hawklord]

Both Cardiff and Edinburgh have been annexed by the French for the tournament! Dont think they had enough stadiums over there that were big enough!

Still, on recent evidence I don't think that home advantage will be enough for Wales against the aussies.

 

[Dioltach]

Nick Mullins, on the BBC website, alleges that the French bribed the Celtic nations (i.e. with the promise that some of the games would be held in their countries) for their votes to give France this tournament instead of England (you'd think that they wouldn't need to bribe the Celts to vote against England, wouldn't you?).