Ireland are Out!

 

so Argentina won the group:stunned:

Yep

 

Aussies vs. England

New Zealand vs. France

South Africa vs. Fiji

Argentina vs. Scotland

4 south teams out of 4 in the semifinals...

There are 5 Southern teams in the quarter finals (Fiji)

There are 5 Southern teams in the quarter finals (Fiji)

 

GREAT FIJI:D!!!!:P

an all southern hemisphere semis then?

an all southern hemisphere semis then?

 

I wouldn't bet against it

I would put the house on it but someone might not approve :uhoh:

England v Australia (Sat)

 

 

England v Australia

Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Saturday, 6 October

Kick-off: 1400 BST

Live on BBC Radio 5live and the BBC Sport website

 

England will kick off Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Australia knowing their reign as world champions may have just 80 minutes to run.

 

Australia will start as strong favourites in Marseille but the weather forecast predicts a 25% chance of rain, which could help England.

 

England have made five changes, bringing in Simon Shaw, Jason Robinson, Mike Catt, Phil Vickery and Mark Regan.

 

Berrick Barnes replaces the injured Stephen Larkham as Australia fly-half.

 

Larkham misses out as he recuperates after a second knee operation but there is better news for the Wallabies concerning captain Stirling Mortlock.

 

The hard-running outside centre is fit again after missing Australia's last two games with a dislocated shoulder.

 

England had originally planned to play former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell at inside centre but were forced to turn to Catt after Farrell strained a calf in training.

 

Their plans were further disrupted on the eve of the match when Olly Barkley pulled out with a dead leg, Toby Flood taking his place on the bench.

 

The champions have picked a massive pack for the encounter, with Shaw, Regan and Vickery adding ballast to the tight five, while Lewis Moody edges out Tom Rees on the open-side.

 

The champions look set to try to take Australia on up front and pin them back with a kicking game before turning to the backs.

 

Two years ago England loose-head Andrew Sheridan destroyed the Australia scrum but the Wallabies are much improved up front since John Connolly replaced Eddie Jones as coach in 2006.

 

However, their back division remains their strength and the match should be a clash between England's tighter approach and Australia's more fluid style.

 

Matches between the two age-old sporting rivals are always spicy affairs and they go into the Stade Velodrome game level at two wins apiece in World Cup encounters.

 

The last time England and Australia went head-to-head was four years ago in Sydney, with Jonny Wilkinson's last-gasp drop-goal securing England their first World Cup.

 

Since then they have gone from the top of the world to a lowly seventh in the rankings, lost two coaches and stumbled their way through their opening games of the tournament.

 

Even though they showed some signs of life in their final two pool games they go into the game as massive underdogs, but coach Brian Ashton is remaining determinedly upbeat.

 

"We are not even talking about going home, to be honest," he said.

 

"It has been an interesting five weeks, I can tell you, but the players have been fantastic. You cannot fault the commitment and effort of the players either on or off the field.

 

"There is massive anticipation about this game. I don't think we share the same sense of outcome of the game as a lot of other people do."

 

His defiant words were echoed by captain Vickery, who regains the tight-head prop spot at the expense of Matt Stevens.

 

"We all know what is at stake - it is not schoolboy rugby, it is the quarter-finals of the World Cup," he said.

 

"If we get the performance right, I am sure we can make it very difficult for Australia."

 

The Wallabies are the only side to have won the Webb Ellis trophy twice but coach John Connolly admitted: "One-off games make everyone very nervous - you're playing for so much."

 

He also shrugged off suggestions that the Wallabies would struggle if the match was played in wet and windy conditions.

 

"We don't play in a lot of windy stadiums in Australia or New Zealand or South Africa so it does bring a different factor into play and England are comfortable in those conditions because most of their club grounds are very open," he said.

 

"But I think we're definitely more confident with all conditions.

 

"Eden Park [in Auckland, New Zealand] last year was tough, windy and very wet and we were very comfortable going into that game and I think Berrick Barnes is quite comfortable in these conditions."

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

England: Robinson; Sackey, Tait, Catt, Lewsey; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Sheridan, Regan, Vickery (capt), Shaw, Kay, Corry, Moody, Easter.

Replacements: Chuter, Stevens, Dallaglio, Worsley, Richards, Barkley, Hipkiss.

 

Australia: Latham; Ashley-Cooper, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri; Barnes, Gregan; Palu, Smith, Elsom, Vickerman, Sharpe, Shepherdson, Moore, Dunning.

Replacements: Freier, Baxter, McMeniman, Hoiles, Waugh, Huxley, Mitchell.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7030422.stm

New Zealand v France (Sat)

 

 

New Zealand v France

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Saturday, 6 October

Kick-off: 2000 BST

Live on BBC Radio 5live and the BBC Sport website

 

France face a stiff battle to keep alive their dreams of winning the World Cup on home soil when they take on favourites New Zealand in Cardiff.

 

The hosts are in danger of crashing out in Wales after a second-place finish in their pool denied them a Paris quarter.

 

New Zealand are undefeated in the event and are expected to continue their push for a first World Cup win since 1987.

 

France are hoping for a repeat of the 1999 semi-final against the Kiwis when they came back from 10-24 to win 43-31.

 

Eight years ago at Twickenham, in what is arguably the greatest-ever World Cup match, New Zealand were cruising to victory after two tries from giant wing Jonah Lomu.

But in 13 second-half minutes, France scored 26 points to leave the rugby world spellbound and New Zealand devastated.

 

"I think 1999 was a mugging," said New Zealand hooker Anton Oliver, one of two survivors, along with Byron Kelleher, in Saturday's side from the Twickenham clash.

 

"It went so quickly, once the wheels fell off we couldn't regain our composure and we were completely lost."

 

France retain Raphael Ibanez, Fabien Pelous, Christophe Dominci and Pieter de Villiers from the 1999 squad but the Six Nations champions go in as distinct underdogs after a surprise 17-12 loss to Argentina in the opening match.

 

The defeat put them on the back foot and they ended up second in the group behind Argentina, setting up a meeting with the mighty All Blacks in Wales, as opposed to the Pumas' seemingly easier tie against Scotland in Paris.

 

"Playing an away game while hosting the World Cup is a strange feeling," said De Villiers.

 

"But if you want to become world champion you have to beat any team on the pitch. The World Cup comes down to that."

 

France have not beaten the All Blacks since 2000 and have lost the last seven matches against the Kiwis.

 

"We have to get ready for war against the best team in the world. (But) there is a fine line between respect and too much respect," added De Villiers.

 

Coach Bernard Laporte has left out the gifted but inconsistent fly-half Frederic Michalak and opted for the greater kicking threat posed by 21-year-old Lionel Beauxis.

 

He also surprised some observers by switching centre Damien Traille to full-back and preferring veteran lock Pelous over Lionel Nallet.

 

The All Blacks, by contrast, are Tri-Nations champions and have yet to be tested in this tournament, but semi-final defeats to Australia and France in the last two events have seen them labelled "World Cup chokers".

 

But their star fly-half Dan Carter has been passed fit to play after missing the Romania win with a calf strain and expectation is high.

 

"I have spoken to the guys in the last couple of days and they are feeling quite good. The jitters will start shortly but they are very prepared," All Blacks legend Zinzan Brooke told BBC Sport.

 

France won the toss and will play in their new dark blue shirts, forcing New Zealand to drop their famous black colours and resort to their silver "away" kit.

 

"The jersey doesn't decide whether you play well, it's the players who wear the jersey that decide," said New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

 

The flanker, who has signed a new two-year contract on Friday to stay in New Zealand to 2009, will play in his 59th Test on Saturday and become the All Blacks' most capped loose forward, surpassing Brooke.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

New Zealand: MacDonald, Rokocoko, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Robinson, Williams, Collins, McCaw (capt), So'oialo.

Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Jack, Masoe , Leonard, Evans, Toeava.

 

France: Traille, Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Heymans, Beauxis, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez (capt), De Villiers, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Dusautoir, Bonnaire.

Replacements: Szarzewski, Poux, Chabal, Harinordoquy, Michalak, Dominici, Poitrenaud

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7030471.stm

I would put the house on it but someone might not approve :uhoh:

 

The hamster??:rolleyes:

Wallabies expect 'dirty' English

 

 

England v Australia

Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Saturday, 6 October

Kick-off: 1400 BST

Live on BBC Radio 5live and the BBC Sport website

 

Australia have accused England of dirty play ahead of their World Cup quarter-final in Marseille on Saturday.

 

Wallaby coach John Connolly has even spoken to referee's manager Paddy O'Brien to make sure the game is clean.

 

"By the forwards they have chosen it's a pretty rough pack," said Wallaby forward Hugh McMeniman. "You can expect anything from the English.

 

"Definitely off the ball stuff. If you are on the ground you can get anything... a scratch on the eye."

 

Connolly suggested that the selection of feisty hooker Mark Regan was a sign of how England planned to play.

 

"England picking Regan at hooker delivers an intent," said Connolly.

 

"We've spoken to Paddy O'Brien to make sure he behaves himself... just to make sure the game's fair and clean, as opposed to the other side of it."

 

But the comments were laughed off by England centre Ollie Barkley, who knows Connolly well having played under him at Bath.

 

"It doesn't surprise me he's starting rumours," said Barkley.

 

"I'm sure he did it with a smile on his face. It's part of his preparations for a game."

 

McMeniman said the Wallabies' assistant coach Michael Foley, who has worked extensively in Britain, had also warned his players to watch out for unsettling tactics by the English.

 

And he stressed that while he had not encountered any foul play in his previous meeting with England, all international sides were inclined to play the same way.

 

"It's something you don't want in the game but it happens a lot," said McMeniman.

 

"There's a lot of teams in the world that do it to try and get over the top of their opposite player mentally but you've got to deal with it.

 

"If it happens on the ground I guess you have to deal what you feel is right then... but it's not going to have any effect on us.

 

"I would like to see us play the sort of game we want to play, I get more enjoyment out of that, more so than coming down to fisticuffs on the ground with some blokes."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7027993.stm

I'm watching in rightnow, for the time being AUS 10/ENG 6.

FULL TIME

 

Australia 10-12 England!

 

:dance:

 

Swing low sweet chariot!!

Congratulations ! :D I've watched the game.

Oh my God! We won!!!!

Oh my God! We won!!!!

 

It was fully-deserved. They gave everything and didn't let the Aussies settle at any stage.

Whatever happens in the semis, they've done themselves proud, as nobody expected this result.;)

England through to the final four

 

Super boot: England's Jonny Wilkinson

 

MARSEILLE, 6 October - England defeated Australia 12-10 in the first IRB Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Stade Velodrome, Marseille.

 

The win came on the back of a dominant forward display, keeping England's defence of the Webb Ellis Cup alive after a big stumble against South Africa in the pool stage. They will play the winner of New Zealand and France in the first semi-final at the Stade de France on Saturday, 13 October.

 

Australia scored the only try of the match but it was not enough, with fly half Jonny Wilkinson kicking four penalties.

 

Trailing 10-6 at the break, but looking the better side for most of the first stanza, England started brightly forcing a turnover to go deep inside Australia's 22.

 

A dropped ball from Wycliff Palu at the back of the ensuing scrum presented veteran Mike Catt with a try-scoring opportunity, but he spilt the ball in front of the posts.

 

With Australia's pack under immense pressure, Jonny Wilkinson's third penalty in the 52nd minute reduced the margin to one.

 

Australia regained their composure by the hour mark after several backline raids, but a poor pass from George Gregan on half way saw England toe the ball through and regain territorial control. Another Wilkinson three-pointer followed and it was England in the lead 12-10, which they clung to despite late pressure from Australia.

 

After a tentative start by both sides Australia captain Stirling Mortlock got the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty in the seventh minute, giving his side a 3-0 lead after England were penalised for hands in the ruck .

 

Some good early work by the England pack was undone with some ill discipline at the breakdown before a promising passage of play, breaking the Wallabies line on several occasions and dominating the scrum and rucks. It was rewarded with two unanswered Wilkinson penalties to give the defending champions a 6-3 lead on the half hour.

 

Starved of possession, Australia's forwards strung several phases together before wing Lote Tuqiri broke his duck in the tournament scoring out wide in the 33rd minute. Mortlock converted to give Australia a 10-6 advantage.

 

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=101/match=10113/report.html#england+through+final+four

i hope the all blacks do the "convict" area of the world proud and break both wilkinson's legs.

 

grrrrrrr so angry right now

back to bed now, we'll do the celebrating ;) :P

ah shuddup you. we played terrible, the poms played well. still i don't have any idea why cooper was started at 14 instead of mitchell. utter f&$k-up on the selectors behalf.

 

i'll wait till the olympics next year... then we'll show you who is superior in the sporting world.

 

*doubly pissed off because i bought one of the official wallabies jerseys with RWC 2007 on it.... greatttt

 

WHERES YA ASHES ENGLAND???

WHERES YA ASHES ENGLAND???

Lords, England.. where they're always kept :P

ah shuddup you. we played terrible, the poms played well. still i don't have any idea why cooper was started at 14 instead of mitchell. utter f&$k-up on the selectors behalf.

 

i'll wait till the olympics next year... then we'll show you who is superior in the sporting world.

 

*doubly pissed off because i bought one of the official wallabies jerseys with RWC 2007 on it.... greatttt

 

 

Well you can always use it as a shammy!!:P

hang on now they didn't quite get leathered :P

.... and tonight, it's our turn.:laugh3: