September 8, 201114 yr [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D20Ksgpsbw]Rugby World Cup 2011 - YouTube[/ame] Rugby World Cup set for kick-off Hosts New Zealand launch the seventh Rugby World Cup against Tonga on Friday hoping to end a 24-year wait for a second global triumph. The All Blacks, inaugural winners in 1987, have lost in the knock-out stages of each subsequent tournament. Auckland's Eden Park, which will also stage the final on 23 October, hosts the first of 48 matches in 11 venues. Tri-Nations champions Australia face Italy on Saturday, when Scotland face Romania and England tackle Argentina. The other two home nations, Ireland - who play the United States - and Wales, who confront defending champions South Africa, open their campaigns on Sunday. More than 90,000 supporters are expected to visit New Zealand over the next six weeks, almost a quarter of them from the UK. Matches will take place from Whangarei in the far north of the North Island, to Invercargill, some 1,290 km (800 miles) away at the bottom of the South Island, where Scotland open their campaign on Saturday. Fans in Auckland, where All Blacks flags have been draped over many houses and are fluttering from car windows, have been treated to impromptu haka warrior dances by a 54-strong group of young Maori men, who will perform at Friday's opening ceremony. The opening match (0930 BST, 2030 local time) which follows sees New Zealand, who have never lost a World Cup pool match, kick-start proceedings at the refurbished, 60,000-capacity Eden Park, where they have not lost a Test since 1994. The All Blacks, who were shocked by France in the quarter-finals in 2007, are desperate to set about proving their status as the world's number one team after months of build-up and reminders of their previous World Cup woes. "You'd be a mug if you haven't learned in the four years since then," said captain Richie McCaw. I've been involved in two (World Cups) where we didn't achieve what we were after and the shock sits in the back of your mind. But history has shown that what has happened previously - good or bad - means nothing come kick-off. I think we are just ready to go now. It's been a long time coming I guess." Tonga, ranked 12th in the world, gave South Africa a major scare at the last World Cup and include a quartet of players who ply their trade in Britain - Northampton prop Soane Tonga'uiha, Worcester hooker Aleki Lutui, Cardiff Blues prop Taufa'ao Filise and Nottingham flanker Sione Kalamafoni. "I think they will test us physically and they will test us with their athleticism," said All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith. "They are all good rugby players." England supporters were gathering in Dunedin on the South Island where they meet Argentina, while their counterparts from Wales and South Africa mingled in the capital city of Wellington ahead of Sunday's clash. Saturday's other matches see Fiji take on Namibia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament with only a few full-time players, while France play Japan in Auckland's North Harbour stadium. On Sunday, the Ireland and United States players will observe one minute's silence before their match in New Plymouth to mark the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. "Obviously 9/11 is at the front of their minds, so it will be emotional," said US coach Eddie O'Sullivan, who was in charge of Ireland at the last World Cup. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14842027.stm
September 8, 201114 yr I have some friends who will wake up at 4:00 am just to watch the inauguration and the first match. Well... I just think they're crazy :nod:
September 8, 201114 yr Author Friday, 9 September 2011 New Zealand v Tonga, PlA, 09:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 10 September 2011 Argentina v England, PlB, 09:30 Fiji v Namibia, PlD, 04:30 France v Japan, PlA, 07:00 Scotland v Romania, PlB, 02:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, 11 September 2011 Australia v Italy, PlC, 04:30 Ireland v USA, PlC, 07:00 South Africa v Wales, PlD, 09:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 14 September 2011 Samoa v Namibia, PlD, 03:30 Scotland v Georgia, PlB, 08:30 Tonga v Canada, PlA, 06:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 15 September 2011 Russia v USA, PlC, 08:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, 16 September 2011 New Zealand v Japan, PlA, 09:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 17 September 2011 Argentina v Romania, PlB, 04:30 Australia v Ireland, PlC, 09:30 South Africa v Fiji, PlD, 07:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, 18 September 2011 England v Georgia, PlB, 07:00 France v Canada, PlA, 09:30 Wales v Samoa, PlD, 04:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, 20 September 2011 Italy v Russia, PlC, 08:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 21 September 2011 Tonga v Japan, PlA, 08:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 22 September 2011 South Africa v Namibia, PlD, 09:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, 23 September 2011 Australia v USA, PlC, 09:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 24 September 2011 England v Romania, PlB, 07:00 New Zealand v France, PlA, 09:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, 25 September 2011 Argentina v Scotland, PlB, 08:30 Fiji v Samoa, PlD, 03:30 Ireland v Russia, PlC, 06:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, 26 September 2011 Wales v Namibia, PlD, 07:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, 27 September 2011 Canada v Japan, PlA, 05:00 Italy v USA, PlC, 07:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 28 September 2011 Georgia v Romania, PlB, 07:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, 30 September 2011 South Africa v Samoa, PlD, 08:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 1 October 2011 Australia v Russia, PlC, 03:30 England v Scotland, PlB, 08:30 France v Tonga, PlA, 06:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, 2 October 2011 Argentina v Georgia, PlB, 01:00 Ireland v Italy, PlC, 08:30 New Zealand v Canada, PlA, 03:30 Wales v Fiji, PlD, 06:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 8 October 2011 Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A, QF, 08:30 Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D, QF, 06:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, 9 October 2011 Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B, QF, 08:30 Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C, QF, 06:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 15 October 2011 Winner QF1 v Winner QF2, SF, 09:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, 16 October 2011 Winner QF3 v Winner QF4, SF, 09:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, 21 October 2011 Losers 1st S/F v Losers 2nd S/F, 3rd/, 08:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, 23 October 2011 Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, F, 09:00
September 8, 201114 yr Author I have some friends who will wake up at 4:00 am just to watch the inauguration and the first match. Well... I just think they're crazy :nod:What time are you getting up for Paradise?
September 8, 201114 yr I won't get up :P I'll just wake up earlier than usual and listen to it before going to school ;) Anyway, I might watch England - Argentina match..
September 9, 201114 yr im going to America vs Australia lol "if you don't like rugby, you're not a true kiwi" statements like that make me want to go far far away from this country
September 9, 201114 yr Yeah!!! Finally!!! Tomorrow, france vs Japan. Will have to wake at 8 AM (french time) on a saturday on my freakin birthday just to see play the lads....I'm way too much dedicated to this WC! xD Pity the games are on mornings, will be at work 90% of the time :/
September 9, 201114 yr Author Looking forward to France v NZ in that group! Especially after the last world cup!
September 10, 201114 yr Author Rugby World Cup 2011: Scotland 34-24 Romania http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14809745.stm Fiji 49-25 Namibia http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14810629.stm
September 10, 201114 yr Author England labour to World Cup win Rugby World Cup 2011: England 13-9 Argentina Scrum-half Ben Youngs spared England a stunning World Cup defeat as his try pipped Argentina in Dunedin. Martin Johnson's side were 9-3 down with 13 minutes left when the replacement scooted under the posts. Jonny Wilkinson, who had missed five successive kicks, converted to put England in front. He added a late penalty, while Argentina missed six kicks as they failed to punish England's indiscipline. It was a worryingly poor display from Johnson's men as they gave away away eight penalties in the first half and should have been out of the game. But the radar of Felipe Contepomi, who landed an early penalty but then missed his second, and then Martin Rodriguez was amiss and the Pumas only led 6-3 at the interval. Rodriguez, who missed five penalties in all, increased the lead to 9-3 four minutes into the second half as it looked as if Argentina might hold on. But England belatedly managed to generate some quick ball and Youngs sniped over, Wilkinson converting and adding a penalty six minutes from time to give his side a narrow victory. The game was played in Dunedin's new Otago Stadium, the world's first fully-enclosed grass arena, which created a tremendous atmosphere, with England and Argentina fans split roughly 50-50 in the stands. Argentina, as expected, came charging out of the traps, swarming their England counterparts at the breakdown and very nearly scoring after four minutes, but Julio Farias Cabello's extravagant dive for the try-line was in vain. Contepomi, however, slotted the resulting penalty from bang in front of the posts before Andrew Sheridan strayed offside at a ruck, only for full-back Rodriguez to miss the three-pointer from long-range. England struggled to make any impact on the game in the opening 10 minutes, and when they did gain possession Pumas defenders were there in force, putting in some muscular hits. Wilkinson squared things up after Rodrigo Roncero went high on Ben Foden but the infringements continued to flow from England and they were lucky the Argentine goal-kickers were in profligate mood. Rodriguez missed another long-range effort after James Haskell was penalised for not rolling away before Contepomi tugged an effort right of the posts, although Rodriguez did give his side the lead after England tight-head Dan Cole went off his feet at a ruck. England finally managed to string some phases together midway through the half but they were unable to generate quick ball at the breakdown while their backs were too often devoid of ideas. Foden made the only clean line-break of the first half and found Delon Armitage on the left wing with a long pass. The London Irish wing fed Tom Croft but the Pumas scrambled back to concede a penalty, which went unpunished as England kicked for touch rather than goal. Cole was shown a yellow card on 34 minutes for repeated England infringements only for Rodriguez to miss again, but the Pumas nearly took advantage on the stroke of half-time, fleet-footed Exeter winger Gonzalo Camacho sashaying through the England defence before veteran hooker Mario Ledesma was sent flying into touch. If England manager Johnson's half-time team-talk was full of fire and brimstone, then it did not have the desired effect. First, Rodriguez opened up the England defence and then Marcelo Bosch, on for the injured Contepomi, waltzed through a gaping gap left by Nick Easter and Chris Ashton, who ushered him through. Rodriguez increased Argentina's lead to six points after 44 minutes as England's penalty count continued to mount before he and Wilkinson exchanged failed penalty attempts. Youngs replaced Richard Wigglesworth with 30 minutes remaining, but the appearance of the Leicester scrum-half did nothing to settle his half-back partner, with Wilkinson missing another penalty from the left touch-line, his third miss of the evening. Rodriguez then contrived to miss his fifth three-pointer before, remarkably, Wilkinson failed with a fourth as the game descended into an ill-disciplined mess. But when Camacho was whistled for a dangerous tackle on Foden, Wilkinson kicked for the corner and from the resulting line-out, Youngs darted over for his second Test try. Wilkinson kicked the conversion from in front of the posts to give England a one-point lead and increased that by three courtesy of a penalty with six minutes remaining. The ageing Pumas pack began to fade as the clock ticked down and, one by one, their old warhorses were replaced. However, their fire had not been entirely extinguished, and England had to be alive to a couple of late thrusts. While Johnson will no doubt trot out the mantra that a win is a win, the disjointed, ill-disciplined and guileless nature of the performance will leave him with plenty to ponder and give future Pool B opponents, including Scotland, plenty of hope. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14864362.stm
September 10, 201114 yr Yeah!!! Finally!!! Tomorrow, france vs Japan. Will have to wake at 8 AM (french time) on a saturday on my freakin birthday just to see play the lads....I'm way too much dedicated to this WC! xD Pity the games are on mornings, will be at work 90% of the time :/ Blame New Zealand being the other side of the world for the morning games, but don't worry the 2015 world cup is in England (before going to Japan in 2019). Come on England!
September 11, 201114 yr Author Rugby World Cup 2011: South Africa 17-16 Wales http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/14811173.stm Australia 32-6 Italy http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14810954.stm Ireland 22-10 USA http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14810961.stm
September 17, 201114 yr Author Awesome Ireland shock Australia Rugby World Cup 2011: Australia 6-15 Ireland Ireland produced the shock result of the World Cup so far by beating Tri-Nations champions Australia in Saturday's Pool C clash at Eden Park. Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O'Gara kicked two penalties each and Sexton also landed a drop-goal for Ireland. Two James O'Connor penalties were all Australia could manage and they were left without even a losing bonus point. Ireland almost snatched a late try but Tommy Bowe was caught just short of the line after a surging break from deep. Replacement scrum-half Conor Murray did get over but the whistle had gone for an offside offence. The Irish are now top of Pool C with one foot in the quarter-finals. It was a fantastic forward display by the Irish and to deny Australia a score in the second half was a tremendous effort. Even though the sides were tied 6-6 at the interval, Australia were still fancied to go on and get their anticipated victory. But Ireland grew in confidence and secured their first World Cup win over the Wallabies. Ireland, criticised after an uninspiring opening win over the USA, produced an encouraging first-half display. Australia did nudge into a 3-0 lead with O'Connor, who had earlier missed, kicking over a penalty after a collapsed Irish scrum. Sexton sent a penalty side for Ireland but was more successful in the 16th minute to level at 3-3. The score sparked a good period for the Irish with their fired-up pack making inroads before Sexton landed a drop-goal to nudge his side 6-3 ahead. O'Connor kicked Australia back on terms at 6-6 and both fly-halves missed further attempts before the break. Despite the encouraging scoreline, the Irish must have been wary about an Australian backlash in the second half. Six days earlier the Wallabies had been 6-6 with Italy at the same stage before scoring four tries in 17 second-half minutes to secure a 32-6 victory. However, Australia were forced on the back foot as Declan Kidney's gutsy Irish summoned a mighty effort. Sexton landed a 49th-minute penalty to restore the underdogs' lead. The Leinster fly-half struck an upright with another attempt but O'Gara, on for injured centre Gordon D'Arcy, assumed the kicking duties and slotted over two penalties to put Ireland on course for the upset at 15-6 in the 71st minute. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14811966.stm
September 17, 201114 yr That game was ACE!!! Ireland was brilliant!! I was rooting for them, so I'm so happy they won!!
September 18, 201114 yr Author England see off Georgia challenge Rugby World Cup 2011: England 41-10 Georgia England struggled to overcome a strong Georgia challenge before securing victory in their second Rugby World Cup Pool B game in Dunedin. Shontayne Hape scored two early tries but England lost their discipline. Dimitri Basilaia went over after Dylan Hartley was sin-binned and England were only 17-10 ahead at half-time. Dylan Armitage powered over after the break to settle England's nerves before Manu Tuilagi and Chris Ashton with two tries sealed the victory. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14959055.stm
September 19, 201114 yr Diving over the try line all the time, deffo an England thing. It's very worrying how they are like huffing and puffing to get results lately against teams they should easily put to bed.
September 22, 201114 yr Author [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4XfO42naVs]Martin Johnson plays minder as Tindall faces the media - YouTube[/ame]
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