Rugby World Cup 2011 - New Zealand

[MrPlum]

So it ended with the best team on the day losing. Gripping game, but.......

So how do you rugby gurus rate this WC?

Not a guru just an enthusiastic spectator. NZ made the WC worth watching, for me. Pleased they just shaved it today. Richie McCaw said you couldn't predict the outcome of the final based on the previous result against France and he wasn't wrong!

[lindosfan1]

Congratulations to BigBoy for winning the competition. Thanks to PHarvey for organising, as a consolation prize you get the pick of the sheep.

[redzonerocker]

After exhausting every legal loophole (& illegal ones ) i have to concede the title to a deserving winner.
Well done Big Boy


Not quite the final expected but an interesting game nonetheless.

Fair shout to France, probably the better side on the day but the AB's were the best team in the tournament & deserved winners overall

[JimmyGreaves]

Get rid of the 2nd tier nations and hold the competition over the same time frame is my opinion of the competition. It's such a arduous game if that's the right word that too many games get played which are worthless.

[Big Boy]

Congratulations to BigBoy for winning the competition. Thanks to PHarvey for organising, as a consolation prize you get the pick of the sheep.

After exhausting every legal loophole (& illegal ones ) i have to concede the title to a deserving winner.
Well done Big Boy

Not quite the final expected but an interesting game nonetheless.

Fair shout to France, probably the better side on the day but the AB's were the best team in the tournament & deserved winners overall

Thanks for those few kind words guys. I've really enjoyed the competition.

I hate to admit it, but my success is purely down to England's demise at such an early stage, and my strong dislike of Welsh rugby. As soon as England were out, I did not have to show loyalty to anybody. Then when it looked as if Wales were favorites get into the final, I found it quite easy to sacrifice the competition rather than look as if I was supporting Welsh rugby. I'm pleased to say, most went with the Welsh in their last 2 games.

Apologies for my (semi) trolling after Wales' defeat in the semis - I was just so delighted at being back in the competition (I'd already mentally conceded to Jass) that I couldn't help myself. I was a good bit of banter though

[Arcadian]

In most ways I dislike many things French, before this game I was rooting for NZ, but towards the end I was really wanting France to score, they deserved better. Not the runaway victory predicted by the "experts"

[charlesh]

Yeah observed Mc Caw putting the knee somewhat belatedly into the head of a downed froggie resulting in him leaving the field for the duration and a rather nice swinging arm with clenched fist into the head of another froggie later in the game. The game maybe played in heaven but perhaps not entirely by gentlemen, Anyhow much more of a spectacle than fallover round ball ha, ha.

[pharvey]

Yes, congrats to BB on a completely undeserved, flukey, heinous victory ( )........

Completely different French team turned up yesterday, as did a different All Blacks side to that that was seen in the previous matches of the RWC, which actually made it into a far better spectacle than I was expecting. Thierry Dusautoir had a huge game, as did his back-row partner Harinordoquy - obviously fired up for this encounter. McCaw put in his usual performance, living offside and ''massaging'' the laws of the game somewhat..... to good effect!

A couple of shockers from a few of the AB players however, Weepu in particular - the big occasion getting to a few again?

Get rid of the 2nd tier nations and hold the competition over the same time frame is my opinion of the competition.

You don't want to play England in 2015??

Thanks to PHarvey for organising, as a consolation prize you get the pick of the sheep.

[pharvey]

Get rid of the 2nd tier nations and hold the competition over the same time frame is my opinion of the competition. It's such a arduous game if that's the right word that too many games get played which are worthless.

In all seriousness, further to my last response to your post JG: -

I'd actually be completely against it, but perhaps you don't realise who the Tier 1, 2 AND 3 teams are. I understand where you are coming from, and believe you are really talking about Tier 3 teams more or less. There are a couple of Tier 3 teams who are up and coming and deserve the chance - let's be fair, you only improve when playing better teams on a regular basis....... look what happened with the English clubs who played against the Welsh sides before the game went professional...

I would also love to see a 2nd tournament (perhaps played somewhere where you want to expand.... China for example) - maybe the ''Shield'' or something, with Tier 3 nations (top 16 or 20 teams with the exception of the top 3 or 4 who qualify for the cup) competing. It's not going to happen of course, but one can only dream. Surely this is the way to broaden rugby union's appeal?

Tier 1 & 2 Sides

Would you really want the likes of Samoa out? Tonga who beat France, ran Wales close - Argentina who really should have beaten England and will as of 2012 be a part of the newly formed 4 Nations? I don't think so.

Tier 3 Sides

But let's remember - Georgia and Russia gave a few of the top teams a bit of a scare.....

[GLCQuantum]

Seems pretty dismal to me that you can only muster up 10+ teams to compete...

Might as well just go straight to the quarter finals.


In my youth I used to play for London Irish schoolboys but then turned to football.I agree whole heartedly that the guys that play rugby are tough, VERY unlike the fairies that play football (Wendyball to you Pharvey ) but EVERY aspect of the game is inferior IMHO to football hence it, unfortunately, will never in our lifetime be much of an outing. The skill levels involved, technically, is way below that of the skill needed to play professional football. Muscle is one of the main requirements to play Rugby... much like weightlifting.

We used to have a half Irish chap at our school. At 13 he was already 6 foot. The guy couldn't get picked for a team if he paid money, be it football or rounders, as he was a flat footed oaf, but... London Irish alongside myself... you betcha! He was big, he was strong, he could throw a rugby ball 10 foot (even got the hang of spinning the ball he did!) so he was in the team. Technical skill... nada.

I enjoy watching some rugny nowadays and I loved playing it 12 years ago but... it is simply not as gifted as football, only stronger.

Anyways .. a shite World Cup with a crappy outcome.. Cheers

[GLCQuantum]

Just re-read the above and was horrified that I started a sentence with 'In my youth...' I'm 28 FFS!

On a more positive note I reckon Wales are gonna make it to the next World Cup (sorry I mean the real one) and I will be rooting for 'em the whole way.

[JimmyGreaves]

No I actually do mean only the tier one teams maybe the tier 2 teams can have a mini tournament with the top 2 or 3 qualifying.

Most of the tier 1 teams only have a game or two against each other and if they shag up one Ireland/England in this years tournament for example then they're out . I think that they should at least be tested against 4 tier one teams.

[Jimbob]

Congratulations bigboy.
I believe the mildly interested league competitors, and therefore not one-eyed nationalists, do very well on these leagues cos they are can see clearly.
But I came last.
Yes I played Rugby...once upon a time.

The near chokers are now touring the Land of the long white shroud to 'mussive crowds, bro'.

Thank Pharvey for your passion for rugby.

[Randy Cornhole]

Well done Mr BigBoy on your victory...

[MrPlum]

Wales slip down the rankings...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_u ... 442324.stm