Rugby World Cup 2007 - Choke achieved

D'Juhn Keep on 8/9/2007 at 17:57

Pools

AEngland
* South Africa
<strike>* Samoa
* USA
* Tonga</strike>
BAustralia
<strike>* Wales</strike>
* Fiji
<strike>* Canada
* Japan</strike>
CNew Zealand
* Scotland
<strike>* Romania
* Portugal
* Italy</strike>
DArgentina
* France
<strike>* Ireland
* Georgia
* Namibia</strike>

(http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/standings/index.html) Tables

Results
France 12 - 17 Argentina
New Zealand 76 - 14 Italy
Australia 91 - 3 Japan
England 28 - 10 USA
South Africa 59 - 7 Samoa
Scotland 56 - 10 Portugal
Ireland 32 - 17 Namibia
Wales 42 - 17 Canada
Argentina 33 - 3 Georgia
USA 15 - Tonga 25
Japan 31 - 35 Fiji
Italy 24 - 18 Romania
England 10,000,000 - 36 South Africa
Wales 20 - 32 Australia
New Zealand 108 - 13 Portugal
Ireland 14 - 10 Georgia
Samoa 15 - 19 Tonga
France 87 - 10 Namibia
Fiji 29 - 16 Canada
Scotland 42 - 0 Romania
Italy 31 - 5 Portugal
Wales 72 - 18 Japan
France 25 - 3 Ireland
South Africa 30 - 25 Tonga
England 44 - 22 Samoa
Argentina 63 - 3 Namibia
Australia 55 - 12 Fiji
New Zealand 40 - 0 Scotland
Canada 12 - 12 Japan
Georgia 30 - 0 Namibia
Samoa 25 - 21 USA
England 36 - 20 Tonga
New Zealand 85 - 8 Romania
Australia 37 - 6 Canada
Wales 34 - 38 Fiji
Scotland 18 - 16 Italy
France 64 - 7 Georgia
Ireland 15 - 30 Argentina
South Africa 64 - 15 USA
Australia 10 - 12 England
France 20 - 18 New Zealand
South Africa 37 - 20 Fiji
Argentina 19 - 13 Scotland
England 14 - 9 France
South Africa 37 - 13 Argentina
France 10 - 34 Argentina
England 6 - 15 South Africa

The story so far...
France were beaten in a (not altogether) shocking result, given their history with the Pumas. They didn't play well, Argentina did and that was the end of that! It's now very conceivable that France fail to qualify from their group as they have to beat Ireland, not the easiest of tasks, especially as it looks like O'Driscoll is back.

New Zealand looked incredibly impressive against an Italian side which is no pushover anymore, as Scottish and Welsh fans could attest. A grim vision of things to come.

Australia's win was less impressive as they were up against Japan, who are hardly amongst the giants of rugby nations. They played well but need a test to show how well they're actually playing! The game against Wales should be more interesting.

England... oh dear. With a first half littered with mistakes and stuttering play, it wasn't promising. The US did well however and should have scored the first try but for a cynical foul from the England captain that was somehow unnoticed by the ref. England managed a couple of tries before half time after the US lost a man to the sin bin. The second half wasn't noticably better than the first. The US played well, in defense especially, and got a deserved try after Dallaglio got sin binned.

Unless England get their act together we'll be murdered by South Africa and stand no chance much beyond the group stage. Personally I'm seriously nervous about the Samoa match. I'd expect the US to beat Tonga but lose to Samoa and S. Africa.

Also, one of ITV's commentator's makes an early bid for Idiot Commentator Of the Tournament with "...the USA down to 10 men" and later repeatedly saying England were on 26 points when they were on 28. Any other, even foreign!, entries are welcome.

Fuegan on 8/9/2007 at 19:17

The best bit about this rugby thing is really (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rugbyworldcup/tom_and_ben/) Tom and Ben.

nickie on 8/9/2007 at 19:26

Well I was wondering what had been happening so thanks very much for the low-down. Please, please keep it up, D'John Keep, a one-stop shop for rugby news is just what I need. Many thanks.

Jakeyboy on 8/9/2007 at 20:31

Rugby is a game for thugs and inbreds.

Still, hoping for England to pull a hilarious miracle out of their asses. I would actually laugh till I seeped if they somehow held onto that cup.

Hioncoffee II on 9/9/2007 at 02:11

Rugby is not a game for thugs and inbreds, league is a game for thugs and inbreds.

I should be supporting Australia for this, but considering their recent form I think it's more likely to go the the All Blacks or the Springboks

D'Arcy on 9/9/2007 at 13:40

Well, this time I have the added interest of seeing Portugal participate in a World Cup for the first time ever. Yesterday I was watching the New Zealand vs. Italy game, and after just 19 minutes New Zealand were already 38-0 up. From that point onwards, they just seemed to be taking the game as a somewhat more serious practice. So I guess that if our 100% amateur team concedes less than 200 points against them, it can be considered a small victory.

Shayde on 9/9/2007 at 18:20

Yay for the bokke! The score vs Samoa was pleasing but our playing was less than stellar. Basic errors and bloody Montgomery never ever kicking to touch! Habana's 4 trys were awesome to watch.

D'Juhn Keep on 10/9/2007 at 08:41

Except when he was outside his 22 :cool:

I missed the 2nd half as I went out but the Samoans were giving SA a hell of a scare for a while. I'm not looking forward to either game :(

Edit: especially (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6986797.stm) without Vickery D: although nobody can complain about him being penalised.

Edit the second, I'll be editing my first post for updated results and fixtures!

Shug on 10/9/2007 at 09:17

Haha, awesome thread title Iggs.

Care to wager on England placing ahead of Australia this time around? :D

Hioncoffee II on 10/9/2007 at 10:31

Close to even money, with Australia slightly ahead.