Rugby world cup 2007

[silverpigeon97]

Who do people think will win the next rugby world cup. At the moment i think it will be New Zealand because they look invincible. They have the best flyhalf, lock, openside, scrumhalf, centres, and one wing.

[tomamar04]

England...because I'm optimistic

[T-MaN]

New Zealand looks pretty strong so far.

[Psychotic]

I don't like rugby, but if England win I'll be sure to pretend to like it so I can rub it in everyone elses' faces like I did last time. :)

[Mo-Nercy]

I woulda banked on Australia before, but seeing their recent form...I'm not so sure. New Zealand's probable now but I voted South Africa for kicks.

[Shoden]

whats Rygby and who are Enland?

[Loony BoB]

43-7 to NZ over Italy. 8-)

...and it's only half time :D

[Polaris]

Probaby England or NZ... I don't even know what the portuguese are doing there :rolleyes2

[cloud21zidane16]

:thumb: COME ON ENGLAND:thumb:

[Sergeant Hartman]

Wales represent! :hat:

[charliepanayi]

I'm going to be boring and say New Zealand, they have to finally come good after so many previous disappointments.

Cracking opening game last night, that Group D is a real group of death. Two things about the tournament though: it's too long at 6 weeks and there will be a lot of mismatches in the first round, which may get tedious after a while.

[Old Manus]

I watched NZ v Italy and Australia v Japan at work today, and I must say that both Kiwis and Aussies looked pretty incredible.

Also cymru ar y win

[Comet]

Australia of courzzzzz

[ReloadPsi]

I would like England to win so I voted for them even though I never really watch Rugby. I prefer it to football any day though :P

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

I don't know how well the non-European contenders are performing as of lately but I'll go with Australia anyway

[Big D]

I vote New Zealand, just for entertainment's sake. I don't really expect we'll win. New Zealand's major sports teams - especially the cricket and rugby teams - have proven time and again that they can look promising, perform admirably, then completely fail at the last minute, when success has begun to look inevitable.
However strong the All Blacks might seem now, they'll probably fall back into the old routine once the competition starts to heat up.

Aside from that, I don't really have any expectations or predictions for the World Cup. I'll probably watch the highlights on the news, and it'll be interesting to see who wins, but aside from that I'm not nearly as interested as I might once have been.

[o_O]

I vote New Zealand, just for entertainment's sake. I don't really expect we'll win. New Zealand's major sports teams - especially the cricket and rugby teams - have proven time and again that they can look promising, perform admirably, then completely fail at the last minute, when success has begun to look inevitable.

Usually that's at the hands of the Australians though, who are masters of coming back and snatching victory at the last minute. :p There's every possibility of a New Zealand - Australia matchup not actually eventuating, looking at pool B. They'll have to defeat Wales and Fiji and given their recent form, both teams are capable of an upset.
Following that, and assuming they win their pool, they'll have to defeat the winner of pool A which will probably be South Africa, but could be any of Samoa, Tonga or England.

I place my vote and prediction firmly on New Zealand. Australia's victory margin over Japan was formidable, but I don't think it's as impressive as New Zealand's thumping of Italy, given that the Italians would probably thrash the Cherry Blossoms by 50-odd. Australia really should have had Japan buried early in the first half.
I know England's form hasn't been great lately, but they should have dominated USA. France probably should have beaten the Pumas, but it's not a complete shock that Argentina won.

[Firo Volondé]

I don't care for rugby as much as other, better sports *coughcricketcough* but based off what I've seen, I'd say New Zealand or Australia look pretty likely to win.

[I Don't Need A Name]

Wales represent! :hat:

im with you matt! Wales FTW

[Jings]

After England's disastrous start to the World Cup against the Eagles they just don't look to be anywhere near the quality of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. One of those three countries will win it, I'd put my house on it and I'm going for New Zealand.

I was going to vote for Scotland to win out of sheer bias but I quickly saw sense. I think we'll get into the next round though.

[Heath]

I don't like rugby, but if England win I'll be sure to pretend to like it so I can rub it in everyone elses' faces like I did last time. :)

[Rocket Edge]

Its either gonna be NZ, Ireland, Austrailia or France who will win it. Based on recent form Ireland have looked not so great, while Argentina look strong.

[Loony BoB]

Sigh.

[Big D]

New Zealand's major sports teams - especially the cricket and rugby teams - have proven time and again that they can look promising, perform admirably, then completely fail at the last minute, when success has begun to look inevitable.
However strong the All Blacks might seem now, they'll probably fall back into the old routine once the competition starts to heat up.Yup, I called it pretty well.

[Heath]

In all honesty, I expected an Australia-New Zealand semi-final and am honestly quite surprised how things have turned out. I am, however, glad to see that England have started playing properly at long last.

[charliepanayi]

Sheer madness today, was great to see upsets in both games. I did feel sorry for the All Blacks, but then I'd have felt sorry for whoever lost that game. I love the way France can perform wonders sometimes though.

I'd like Argentina to make the final, would be nice to see the traditional order of things unsettled a little.

[Mitch]

Silly All Blacks treated it like a holiday, not a competition, which is why they're supposedly the worst All Blacks in any world cup competition.

The weather over town today suited the mood. Everyone's really depressed about it. I think it's funny.

[Mo-Nercy]

At this stage it looks like the Springboks are poised to take it out. But then again, it's been a World Cup of Upsets so far, so who can really say?

One thing's for sure, it's been very good watching.

Except for them gosh darn English o' course.

[Old Manus]

I watched England Vs Australia at work and was gobsmacked, along with the other staff who were resigned to the fact that we weren't going to win. 3 world cup wins against the aussies in a row feels like great justice.

[Aurons_Desciple]

HOW COULD WE LOSE TO THE FRENCH!!! :( Oh well, GO ARGENTINA

[cloud21zidane16]

I was shocked we beat Australia, but overall we deserved it;) the aussies thought they were going to walz through the game:rolleyes2

:thumb: Come on England:thumb:

[I Don't Need A Name]

I was shocked we beat Australia, but overall we deserved it;) the aussies thought they were going to walz through the game:rolleyes2

:thumb: Come on England:thumb:

they should have taken the hint really xD

i still dont think England will win this year

[Heath]

Holy crap, we're in the final. Really didn't think England'd make it, but by golly, what a last ten minutes.

[charliepanayi]

All credit to England, but from a neutral viewpoint....it's like the rugby equivalent of Chelsea or Greece, just not that interesting XD - of course England fans won't care, and why should they. So enjoy the next week guys and all.

South Africa to win tomorrow...I think.

[I Don't Need A Name]

yeah, south africa should win.
lets hope the final doesnt have the same result as in the groups :(

[charliepanayi]

I doubt it will, it'd be pretty boring if it did XD

England seem to have pioneered the 'Italy at the 1982 Football World Cup' tactic. Be utterly crap in the group stage than become impossible to beat after.

[Jings]

Good lord, I cheerfully supported England (and Scotland of course) throughout the tournament safe in the knowledge that there was no chance in hell they were going to win it. Good on me I thought, way to be British and support my fellow islanders, now the cold sweats are kicking in as I realise I have just cheered on England, ENGLAND, to the Rugby World Cup finals. I hereby resign my kilt, sporran and fine Scotch whisky.

Good luck in the final to my southern neighbours.





I hope South Africa destroy you ;)

[The Shoeless Hobo]

God I hate the English, they're a one man team... >.>

[Resha]

I'm hoping South Africa win :p I was pretty surprised England won, but meh -- I didn't expect an England-France semi in the first place. But it's funny to hear people singing "swing looow, sweeet chariot"

[I Don't Need A Name]

God I hate the English, they're a one man team... >.>

2 man team actually. Johnny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson ftw


I'm hoping South Africa win :p I was pretty surprised England won, but meh -- I didn't expect an England-France semi in the first place. But it's funny to hear people singing "swing looow, sweeet chariot"

:cry: how dare you Resha

[Rocket Edge]

Argentina to win it outright.

[Old Manus]

Bugger.

[Vivisteiner]

I have a funny feeling that South Africa are gonna win this one.

Ill bet someone?

Anyone?

[Resha]

I'll not be taking that bet :p

ahaha. I was quite surprised though that the game was...well, I expected higher scores and stuff :-( no tries, what?

[demondude]

Well damnit. :(

[I Don't Need A Name]

I'll not be taking that bet :p

ahaha. I was quite surprised though that the game was...well, I expected higher scores and stuff :-( no tries, what?

apart from the England try which was disallowed cause people dont open their eyes :eep:

[Old Manus]

I think it was disallowed because his foot touched the line before he lifted it back up again, but I still think it should have been a try.

England didn't deserve to lose by 9 points, but sloppy mistakes in the beginning cost them penalties which Montgomery was never going to miss. But with that and the SA lineout being totally top-notch every time, I think England made a game of it.

[Heath]

I think Manus really summarised the game for me. I was actually out with a couple of friends list night who largely don't like rugby so it was only by coincidence that the place we ended up spending the night was showing it, but I'd agree that I don't think we deserved to lose by such a margin.

I'm more annoyed over the derby than the World Cup, to be honest.

[Loony BoB]

Well, it's not like France won by a try that came about from a forward pass to beat New Zealand anyway. :shifty:

[cloud21zidane16]

I think England gave a really good performance considering the mess we were in just a few weeks ago, that shouldve been a try though:mad2: at least we knocked out Australia:D

[charliepanayi]

The better team won in the end, and South Africa have been consistently excellent at this World Cup. They're worthy winners.

And that decision not to award the try was correct I think.

[ReloadPsi]

I woulda banked on Australia before, but seeing their recent form...I'm not so sure. New Zealand's probable now but I voted South Africa for kicks.

Bastard :P

Since I don't understand the scoring rules I'm gonna ask whether or not a single try (had it not been disallowed) would have enabled the gap of nine points to close?

[charliepanayi]

A try is worth 5 points, and then you can get an extra 2 points if you kick the conversion after.

It would not have closed 9 points on its own, but if they'd gotten the conversion, it would have meant a penalty kick or drop goal (both worth three points) would have put them in the lead. And people would argue it would have given England a lot of momenum. But I think the decision was correct and all.