I know it's a little early to start this, but I had to get away from that *^%$!@:, err sorry, damn puzzle. September will be upon us very soon and, provided nature has settled it's self by then, the Kiwi's will be hosting one of Sport's finest competitions. I shall be posting quite regular on this one, the run up, group matches, results you name it, or to coin an Idiom, The Full Nine Yards, Snowcrash.

Watch this space.

I'm assuming (which is all I CAN do, being a bloody Yank, and all) that you're referring to... Er... The Rugby World Championship? Yes? No? Maybe?

I too, like Rugby but was wondering what this thread was about.

As long as we keep the site a wendy ball free zone, I'm happy. (that's football to the whole world except USA who call it soccer)

Absolutely Snowcrash, this thread is STRICTLY Webb Ellis.

Had a thought today, what about a WRC section? It's all the same letters but more world rally championship.

I shall go and sit down now. 1 thought a day is enough 

Been watching the Wales/England friendlies over the last 2 weeks. First performance was ok but second was very lack lustre.

Hopefully they will settle down once the final world cup team is announced. I hope so anyway.

Just a quick bit of info, the 30 man World Cup Squad will be announced on Monday 22nd August.

Here is the Thirty man squad. Interesting choice, Lewis Moody as Captain.


England Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards
Player   Club
Dan Cole   Leicester Tigers
Alex Corbisiero   London Irish
Tom Croft   Leicester Tigers
Louis Deacon   Leicester Tigers
Nick Easter   Harlequins
Dylan Hartley   Northampton Saints
James Haskell    Ricoh Black Rams
Courtney Lawes   Northampton Saints
Lee Mears   Bath Rugby
Lewis Moody   Bath Rugby
Tom Palmer   Stade Francais
Simon Shaw   London Wasps
Andrew Sheridan   Sale Sharks
Matt Stevens   Saracens
Steve Thompson    London Wasps
David Wilson   Bath Rugby
Tom Wood   Northampton Saints
Backs
Player   Club
Delon Armitage   London Irish
Chris Ashton   Northampton Saints
Matt Banahan   Bath Rugby
Mark Cueto   Sale Sharks
Toby Flood   Leicester Tigers
Ben Foden    Northampton Saints
Shontayne Hape   Bath Rugby
Joe Simpson   London Wasps
Mike Tindall   Gloucester Rugby
Manusamoa Tuilagi   Leicester Tigers
Richard Wigglesworth   Saracens
Jonny Wilkinson   RC Toulon
Ben Youngs   Leicester Tigers

Well, the first round of group matches are over, with none of the winning teams showing any true World Champion form. In my humble opinion, only one team has stood out from the rest showing grit and determination and has to be Wales.

Playing against the current Champions, Wales received a truly unjust loss having played the most inspired Rugby I have seen them play in many a year. If they keep playing to that form, who knows what could happen. SA 17-16 Wales

England have started their campaign as usual, doing just enough to secure a win, with no thanks to Wilkinson's boot. Time, I think, to allow young Toby Flood to shine. England 13- 9 Argentina

Scotland secured a ten point win over Romania, the latter being more used to being beaten by a phone number score. Scotland 34-24 Romania.

Ireland also made a win against the Good Old US of A. The State's ripped ten points from Ireland, a good showing. Ireland 22-10 USA.

Very early day's yet, but, for me, only two teams are in World Cup Form, the current favourites, New Zealand and Wales.

I missed the Wales match but thought the Kiwis are looking good. But they often do at this point and seem to struggle to get past the semis. You can never discount the Ausies, France and England and SA seem to be on fair form too.

I feel England are not settled with their line up and there are too many changes between games. 

I am also rooting for Namibia this year 'cos that's what I picked in the works sweep stake. Fat chance of me winning that. 

Just found this on the net, will be using again. Here are all the pool results to date plus pool match fixtures and venues.





Pool A
09/09 - 20:30 New Zealand 41 - 10 Tonga Auckland
More
10/09 - 18:00 France 47 - 21 Japan Auckland
More
14/09 - 17:00Tonga20 - 25 CanadaWhangarei
More
16/09 - 20:00New Zealand83 - 7 JapanHamilton
More
18/09 - 20:30France46 - 19 CanadaNapier
More
21/09 - 19:30Tonga -  JapanWhangarei
More
24/09 - 20:30 New Zealand -  France Auckland
More
27/09 - 17:00 Canada -  Japan Napier
01/10 - 18:00 France -  Tonga Wellington
02/10 - 15:30 New Zealand -  Canada Wellington
Pool B
10/09 - 13:00 Scotland 34 - 24 Romania Invercargill
More
10/09 - 20:30 Argentina 9 - 13 England  Dunedin
More
14/09 - 19:30 Scotland 15 - 6 Georgia Invercargill
More
17/09 - 15:30 Argentina 43 - 8 Romania Invercargill
More
18/09 - 18:00 England 41 - 10 Georgia  Dunedin
More
24/09 - 18:00 England -  Romania Dunedin
25/09 - 20:30 Argentina -  Scotland Wellington
28/09 - 19:30 Georgia -  Romania Palmerston North
01/10 - 20:30 England -  Scotland Auckland
02/10 - 13:00 Argentina -  Georgia Palmerston North
Pool C
11/09 - 15:30 Australia 32 - 6 Italy Auckland
More
11/09 - 18:00 Ireland 22 - 10 USA New Plymouth
More
15/09 - 19:30 Russia 6 - 13 USA New Plymouth
More
17/09 - 20:30 Australia 6 - 15 Ireland Auckland
More
20/09 - 19:30 Italy 53 - 17 Russia
23/09 - 20:30 Australia -  USA Wellington
25/09 - 18:00 Ireland -  Russia Rotorua

If you fancy an in-depth look, here are a couple of links for you.

                                                                                http://www.rfu.com/

                                                                       http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

I see England have been found cheating by switching the ball.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/worldcup/2011/0929/rwc_england.html

Well done England, if you cant win fairly why not cheat?

Cheating is nothing more than using an unexpected resource! 

Switching 1 legal ball for another legal ball is cheating but eye gouging and generally scratching and putting the other side off isn't?
Look at the facial injuries of the sides playing France or Argentina!!

Oh well. There is but one rule. Don't get caught.