the rugby world cup

[russtafa]

this is so wrong i think there should be more than one cup and another division so that countries like Japan,Russia,Namibia can get more encouragement for their efforts and boost the popularity of the game in that country .what do you guys think?

[Stavros]

No -World Cups should be knockout competitions, there is a group stage and some are easier to win than others, but I dont think the smaller nations would want to be fobbed off with a compensation prize for being crap -thats just how it is. In football, there are anomalies because it is based on regions and in some regions the football is dire -the Caribbean is an example and explains why Mexico goes to every football world cup, they are the strongest team in their region. The minnows just need to up their game like the African teams have done -not to mention South Korea and Japan who are now outstanding players....er...and of course Australia...who were robbed at the World Cup game with that penalty for Italy.....

[russtafa]

yes but it's demeaning to countries that get beaten by 47 points

[russtafa]

i just saw the results from the Australia vs USA game 67 to 5 but with a terrible injury toll for Australia

[Stavros]

I think the point is that the Rugby world cup is where the football world cup was 40 years ago when no hopers from regions got through and were clearly out of their depth. If Rugby Union becomes genuinely popular through these world cups, AND gets money pumped into it, AND young lads take it up, in ten years time the hopeless might not lose by such massive margins, and still get beaten, but it will all the time get closer and more unpredictable.

Haven't seen the Aus-US game (no tv at the moment we have switched from analog to digital and I don't have the latter) but it sounds like Aus it out of this tournament in the long run. Guess they are as useless as their cricketers.

[russtafa]

we aint beaten till the fat lady sings

[russtafa]

because we are ANZACS i put my second preference on the ALL BLACKS NZ 37 FRANCE 17

[robertlouis]

because we are ANZACS i put my second preference on the ALL BLACKS NZ 37 FRANCE 17

I don't believe that for a moment Russ!

I was in Sydney during the 1999 World Cup and there wasn't much love for the All Blacks.

Now for the crunch. England vs Scotland to qualify for the quarters. I don't like it one little bit, and that's putting it very mildly.

[russtafa]

and there's the Irish in our group

[Stavros]

Ireland look most likely to be the spoilers and I expect them to reach the semi's; Scotland are still going through a lean patch and will only win if England lose their discipline. South Africa look the strongest overall side to me, I can't decide if NZ flatter to deceive and will be beaten by a stronger side than they have faced thus far.