Rugby Union World Cup

[brod]

NZ has been given a favorable draw IMO, surely this is the year they finally get the monkey off the back and go all the way?!

Not sure how.

Semi Finals should be
1 v 4
2 v 3

[Wedgie]

Ohs Noes, James O'Connor might be out of next weeks game as he slept through a press meet and greet for the announcement of the Wallabies the other day. The daughter will be distraught!

[godoubleblues]

Springboks defeated ABs overnight 18-5
ABs scored the only try while the Boks kicked 5 penalties and a field goal

other warm up results
France def Ireland 26-22
Scotland def Italy 23-12

[Wedgie]

Watched the NZ v South Africa game, geez, watch out with Steyn in the side, a penalty anywhere withing 50 metres of the try line is an automatic 3 points!
Saw a bit of the Italy v Scotland game this morning, saw a great try from the Italians in the first half!

[Jim05]

All Blacks were taking the piss out of South Africa. They were not even interested last night, they know they have the tri nations stitched up and they are more worried about WC than a meaningless game.
Agree about Steyn but thats why i hate watching the Boks, because he is so good as soon as they get a penalty within 60m they always have a crack and they have lost a fair bit of their running game because of it. One of the most boring sides to watch now

[SteveW]

O'Connor didn't just sleep in he was out on the piss on the Wednesday night at 2 Sydney Hotels and didn't even make it back to the team hotel that night.
It was not just a press meet and greet and announcement he missed.
There was a Team meeting at 8.00am he missed, the World Cup Official Team photo he decided not to turn up for and then failed to board the bus for the Official World Cup Squad announcement with all sponsors and ARU hierarchy all present.
Plus ARU Officials tried all Thursday morning to contact him but he could not be reached.

[Wedgie]

O'Connor didn't just sleep in he was out on the piss on the Wednesday night at 2 Sydney Hotels and didn't even make it back to the team hotel that night.
It was not just a press meet and greet and announcement he missed.
There was a Team meeting at 8.00am he missed, the World Cup Official Team photo he decided not to turn up for and then failed to board the bus for the Official World Cup Squad announcement with all sponsors and ARU hierarchy all present.
Plus ARU Officials tried all Thursday morning to contact him but he could not be reached.

Yeah, heard there was a bit more to it this morning. He's a silly boy!

[james07]

O'Connor didn't just sleep in he was out on the piss on the Wednesday night at 2 Sydney Hotels and didn't even make it back to the team hotel that night.
It was not just a press meet and greet and announcement he missed.
There was a Team meeting at 8.00am he missed, the World Cup Official Team photo he decided not to turn up for and then failed to board the bus for the Official World Cup Squad announcement with all sponsors and ARU hierarchy all present.
Plus ARU Officials tried all Thursday morning to contact him but he could not be reached.

Yeah, heard there was a bit more to it this morning. He's a silly boy!

Surely one of his team mates wouldve gone to his room to pull him out of bed unless he was real bad

[Wedgie]

O'Connor didn't just sleep in he was out on the piss on the Wednesday night at 2 Sydney Hotels and didn't even make it back to the team hotel that night.
It was not just a press meet and greet and announcement he missed.
There was a Team meeting at 8.00am he missed, the World Cup Official Team photo he decided not to turn up for and then failed to board the bus for the Official World Cup Squad announcement with all sponsors and ARU hierarchy all present.
Plus ARU Officials tried all Thursday morning to contact him but he could not be reached.

Yeah, heard there was a bit more to it this morning. He's a silly boy!

Surely one of his team mates wouldve gone to his room to pull him out of bed unless he was real bad

Latest reports are he wasn't even in his bed!

[Booney]

O'Connor didn't just sleep in he was out on the piss on the Wednesday night at 2 Sydney Hotels and didn't even make it back to the team hotel that night.
It was not just a press meet and greet and announcement he missed.
There was a Team meeting at 8.00am he missed, the World Cup Official Team photo he decided not to turn up for and then failed to board the bus for the Official World Cup Squad announcement with all sponsors and ARU hierarchy all present.
Plus ARU Officials tried all Thursday morning to contact him but he could not be reached.

Some of these young lads on huge $$'s just dont get it, do they?

Ignoring calls from ARU officials, what a huge mistake.

[Wedgie]

O'Connor didn't just sleep in he was out on the piss on the Wednesday night at 2 Sydney Hotels and didn't even make it back to the team hotel that night.
It was not just a press meet and greet and announcement he missed.
There was a Team meeting at 8.00am he missed, the World Cup Official Team photo he decided not to turn up for and then failed to board the bus for the Official World Cup Squad announcement with all sponsors and ARU hierarchy all present.
Plus ARU Officials tried all Thursday morning to contact him but he could not be reached.

Some of these young lads on huge $$'s just dont get it, do they?

Ignoring calls from ARU officials, what a huge mistake.

Dunno, the problem is if Australian Rugby gave someone like O'Connor with his skills and marketing potential the flick then overseas or League would throw literally millions at the lad.
Mind you I find it funny that rapes, orgies, fights, etc get in the news with AFL and NRL but the worst a Union player does is a start a food fight or not go home for the night. Give me Union players of footy or League players any day collectively.
Mind you I reserve the right to change my mind as I'll be at a Wallabies function this Friday night in Brisbane.

[SteveW]

I couldn't care less if he wants to go out and drink and have a good time.

We all like having a drink and enjoy having a good time.

But as one of the Wallabies high profile players and superstars of the team, if you can't front up the next morning and fulfil your responsibilities to the ARU, Team mates, Sponsors and the General public then don't drink or at least be responsible at those particular times.

All members of the team knew what was expected of them, and all fronted up the next morning apart from him.

It is weak as piss to not even have the balls to answer your phone the next morning or let your team mates know what is going on is.

You are about to go and play the biggest Rugby competition in the world that only comes around every 4 years and you need to know you can trust your team mates.

[Wedgie]

England and Australia to visit Christchurch
Tournament organiser RNZ 2011 today welcomed the decision of the England and Australian RWC 2011 teams to include Christchurch in their itineraries

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/newsid=2044854.html

[brod]

Bit of potential added interest:

Cooper has put a massive target on his head by getting away with a knee to the head of Richie McCaw that has upset an All Black outfit who see him as a cheap-shot merchant.
The Wallabies five-eighth breathed a huge sigh of relief on Sunday when SANZAR judicial officer Jannie Lubbe dismissed a striking charge from Australia's Tri Nations triumph at Suncorp Stadium.
The news didn't go down well in the All Blacks camp as coach Graham Henry and back-rower Victor Vito noted Cooper had built a reputation for taking cheap shots.
"I was disappointed (with the incident)," Henry said on Sunday morning. "I thought it was outside the spirit of the game.
"It's happened before, it creates an irritation obviously."
Vito said: "I didn't get much of a view of it but apparently it was more than once anyway.
"Some of the guys are starting to say that sort of stuff about him."

[brod]

All Blacks forwards Kieran Read and Adam Thomson will miss New Zealand's opening Rugby World Cup match against Tonga in Auckland because of injury, team medic Deb Robinson said Tuesday.

[Wedgie]

Theyll definately have some sore boys as we thumped the bejesus out of them physically early on Saturday.

Im sure they wouldnt be too concerned with the crazy amount of depth they have when players like Sonny Bill Williams cant get into a squad.

QC was always going to get off as he disguised it well enough to make it look accidental. Seeing the game.live I can tell you the Kiwis definately dont like QC especially McGaw. Lots of niggles and flying arms.

[Wedgie]

Wallabies name their side for their first World Cup game on Sunday against Italy, same side starting that beat the All Blacks but a few changes to the bench. One of my favs finally back from injury, Polota Nau!
Good to see they're taking no chances against teams like Italy and Ireland, that loss to Samoa earlier this year could help in that regard.
They're now in NZ after having to get on the team bus in Sydney aroudn 3am! A few tired lads at the moment but Quade Cooper tweeting away as usual.

15. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
13. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds, captain)
4. Dan Vickerman (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

Reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
19. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
20. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
21. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
22. James O’Connor (Western Force)

http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1516/ArticleID/4367/Default.aspx

[Dog_ger]

IRB World Rankings Top 10 - 05 September 2011 Position (last week) Member Union Rating Point

1(1) NEW ZEALAND 90.55
2(2) AUSTRALIA 88.84
3(3) SOUTH AFRICA 85.69
4(4) FRANCE 83.78
5(5) ENGLAND 82.89
6(6) WALES 80.79
7(7) SCOTLAND 78.83
8(8) IRELAND 78.50
9(9) ARGENTINA 78.40
10(10) SAMOA 74.54

RE - http://www.irb.com/rankings/

[Wedgie]

Looking forward to a few games this weekend but especially England v Argentina and South Africa v Wales, should be great games!
3rd pick of the weekend would probably be the Wallabies for the Azzuri, Go Aussies!

[Jim05]

Aussies to win the Cup.
We will rack up a big score against Italy