I can't believe it after last week's nightmare...

I can't believe it after last week's nightmare...

Yep, me too!! Maybe they have been abducted by aliens xD

England 0-16 France HT

 

What a load of sloppy schoolboy shit!

 

Amen to that. Wish I'd stopped in bed for some extra shuteye!

 

Terrible basic errors. scrum, lineout, defence.

 

Loved the french tag team on tuallangi, took ashton totally out of the game.

 

France knock England out of World Cup

 

Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France

 

England's World Cup dreams fell apart under a French onslaught on a night when their shortcomings were brutally exposed at the quarter-final stage.

 

First-half tries from Vincent Clerc and Maxime Medard opened a lead of 16 unanswered points as England shipped penalties and made basic errors across the park.

 

England struck back with a fine try from Ben Foden and closed to within seven points with three minutes left when Mark Cueto capitalised on a break from replacement Matt Banahan.

 

But they ran out of time and inspiration as Les Bleus set up a deserved semi-final clash with Wales.

 

France, so poor in their pool matches, were a side transformed as they took revenge for their World Cup defeats of 2007 and 2003.

 

The defeat will leave manager Martin Johnson under pressure after his gamble of pairing Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood at 10 and 12 failed to ignite the England back line, while his forwards were repeatedly second best at the set-piece and in the loose.

 

Johnson's contract expires in November, and four weeks as memorable for scandals off the pitch as any achievements on it will do little to appease the notoriously twitchy committee-men at the Rugby Football Union.

 

France were supposedly a team in pieces, beaten by Tonga just a week ago and with coach Marc Lievremont publically berating his players, but so clear-cut was their victory that much of the atmosphere had been sucked from the contest long before the end.

 

England had an early opportunity with a line-out deep in French territory after a clever grubber from Foden only for Lionel Nallet to burgle back possession, and they then tore into France again as Alexis Palisson was smashed backwards after taking a garryowen and Manu Tuilagi thundered into Morgan Parra.

 

But it was the most fleeting of false dawns. Dmitri Yachvilli slotted a penalty from distance after Flood failed to release his man on the deck, and France took a grip they would never relinquish.

 

Wilkinson was struggling, sending the re-start straight into touch and flinging a pass the same way, and France then went close to the first try of the contest as Clerc took a long pass out on the left and was just bundled into touch by the corner flag.

 

Yachvilli made it 6-0 with a second sweet strike from 45 metres after Matt Stevens was penalised for collapsing a scrum, and then slid another penalty just wide from the same spot.

 

England's players had talked of "blitzing" France in the first 20 minutes, but it was Lievremont's men with all the menace and danger.

 

Another line-out was stolen, and when the ball was sent left Clerc stepped and spun through limp challenges from Wilkinson, Chris Ashton and Foden to dive over and make it 11-0.

 

England were once again static in their few attacks, only Tuilagi's bullocking runs offering any threat, Flood reduced to aiming a long-range drop-goal pit which missed by a street.

 

Louis Deacon shipped another sloppy penalty, allowing Yachvili to kick to the corner, and after thunderous drives from the forwards left wing Alexis Palisson and Medard combined out wide to put the full-back in for France's second try.

England were in disarray, only Yachvili's failures with the conversions keeping them in the game, and when they finally created space for their wingers Cueto was dragged down metres from the line before another wayward pass from Wilkinson shut the door on Ashton wide out right.

 

England had never before come back to win from a margin of more than 12 points, and the errors continued to come thick and fast as Tom Croft became the latest to cough up the ball.

 

They grabbed an unlikely lifeline when Ben Youngs took a quick tap and go to release Foden, who jinked and dummied his way over to make it 16-5 with 23 minutes left on the clock, Wilkinson popping over the conversion for 16-7.

 

Johnson threw on his replacements but England kept wasting what good field possession they could work.

 

Flood popped out a careless off-load deep in the French 22 to allow a clearing kick to snuff out the danger, and when Nick Easter tried to rumble from deep within his own 22 his hospital pass to Tuilagi triggered another knock-on.

 

France, led by man-of-the-match Imanol Harinordoquy, set up camp in front of the English posts, and when the ball was fed back to Trinh-Duc the replacement fly-half slotted the drop-goal to make it 19-7.

 

Banahan's late charge allowed Cueto to touch down for a try at the death, but with Flood's conversion sliding wide England needed a converted try to force extra time - something they could neither conjure nor say their performance deserved.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm

 

Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales 22-10 Ireland

 

Wales crushed Ireland's dream and reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987 with an impressive display in Wellington.

 

Wing Shane Williams squeezed over for Wales' early opener, Keith Earls responding in kind after the break.

 

But in-form scrum-half Mike Phillips' clever dive and centre Jonathan Davies' burst past prop Cian Healey settled the contest in Wales' favour.

 

Rhys Priestland added seven Welsh points to Ronan O'Gara's five.

 

Wales, led by outstanding flanker Sam Warburton, held off the challenge of an Ireland side that topped Pool C to book a semi-final meeting with France, who beat England 19-12 in Auckland.

 

Lock Luke Charteris epitomised the Welsh effort, making 16 tackles before being replaced by Bradley Davies at the break.

 

Whenever Ireland threatened, Wales seemed to have enough numbers and commitment to cope, other than when wing Earls made the most of his chance.

 

The Welsh line-out also stood up to the notable challenge of Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan, while at the scrum Ireland were unable to repeat the effort that led to victory over Australia.

 

Jamie Roberts was again the focus of Welsh efforts with ball-in-hand and, with Priestland guiding their play and Phillips continuing a rich vein of form, Warren Gatland's side proved superior in midfield to the O'Gara-O'Driscoll axis on which Ireland have relied in the past decade.

 

Wing Williams extended his Welsh record try tally to 56 in the third minute as the Pool D runners-up began with an assurance that belied the occasion.

 

They patiently built a multi-phase attack in which Roberts took a high ball going forward before Halfpenny put Williams over in the right corner.

 

Video referee Giulio de Santis confirmed the score and Priestland converted from the wide angle.

 

Indiscipline and Ireland's ability to build pressure denied Wales the chance to capitalise on their good start.

 

In quick succession Faletau went over the top at a ruck, George North failed to roll away from a tackle and Dan Lydiate was caught offside at a breakdown but, instead of kicking for goal, the Irish settled for a series of attacking line-outs.

 

When Roberts eventually managed to put Wales on the front foot, O'Driscoll intercepted Phillips' pass to launch Ireland's best attack of the opening half, in which Gordon D'Arcy's dummy and run underlined the threat posed by Declan Kidney's side.

 

However, Shane Williams somehow managed to hold Sean O'Brien off the floor as the flanker crossed the line to deny Ireland a first try.

 

An O'Gara penalty finally got the Irish on the board after the Welsh again fell foul of the tackle laws but Halfpenny's long-range penalty restored Wales' seven-point advantage by the interval.

 

Ireland returned rejuvenated for the second period and drew level shortly after the restart when Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe combined to give Earls the time and space to cross at the corner, with O'Gara adding the conversion.

 

The scores were tied for only five minutes as Phillips stole away on the blindside after Alun Wyn Jones' drive to give Wales an advantage they would not surrender.

 

Priestland failed with the conversion and also saw a penalty rebound off the post, but Wales went further ahead when centre Davies made the most of Healey's appearance in the midfield defence to fend off the prop and burst clear to score.

 

The time, Priestland was able to add the conversion to put Wales 12 points ahead with 15 minutes remaining.

 

Ireland's attempt a response saw replacement scrum-half Eoin Reddan conjure a superb pass to O'Brien.

 

But the Irish flanker was halted three metres short and knocked on before Healey was penalised at the scrum, allowing Wales to clear.

 

Ireland threw all they had left at Wales in the closing stages, but the defence coached by Shaun Edwards proved equal to the task.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14830264.stm

Ah well, roll on 2015 where hopefully the team will be better.

 

Come on Wales!

Ah well, roll on 2015 where hopefully the team will be better.

they can't be much worse!!

They can be, they could have gone out at the group stages :P

I don't know how they managed that, sheer luck :p

 

Australia dump South Africa out

 

Rugby World Cup 2011: South Africa 9-11 Australia

 

Australia knocked champions South Africa out of the World Cup with a remarkable quarter-final victory.

 

The Springboks dominated possession and territory in Wellington, yet failed to capitalise on their superiority.

 

Australia captain James Horwill scored the game's only try, powering over from close range early in the first half.

 

Fly-half Morne Steyn struck all South Africa's points, with two penalties and a drop, but the Boks were left to rue an inability to finish their chances.

 

South Africa, with the experienced Victor Matfield outstanding in the lineout, denied Australia much ball to work with throughout the game.

 

And when the Wallabies did get possession, fly-half Quade Cooper tended to kick it away. Australia were able to stay in contention through a combination of superb spoiling at the breakdown, with flanker David Pocock again to the fore, and a lack of precision from South Africa.

 

The Springboks' lack of control at the breakdown proved particularly costly after 11 minutes, when Horwill bullocked over for the opening try of the game.

 

The Boks had a lineout close to their own line and chose to run the ball. Schalk Burger spilled the ball in contact though and Australia quickly capitalised, with a neat offload from Adam Ashley-Cooper allowing Horwill to power over from close range.

 

On a sunny day in Wellington, both sides seemed committed to running rugby from the off. It was Australia's back line that always carried the greater threat though, with full-back Kurtley Beale and winger James O'Connor particularly to the fore.

 

Both players had thrilling runs from deep in the first half that had the South African defence scrambling desperately.

 

South Africa thought they had drawn level early in the second half, when the impressive Jean de Villiers sent Patrick Lambie sprinting over, but the pass was adjudged to have been forward. It was a marginal decision.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14830348.stm

New Zealand 33-10 Argentina

 

New Zealand struggled before overcoming Argentina to secure a World Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Australia.

 

Argentina gave the nervous hosts a scare through Julio Farias Cabello's converted try but four Piri Weepu penalties gave the All Blacks a 12-7 half-time lead in Auckland.

 

New Zealand's dominance finally paid off when Kieran Read went over for a try when Argentina were down to 10 men.

 

Brad Thorn added a second try and Weepu kicked 11 points to seal victory.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15231891.stm

So the only unbeaten group leaders left is New Zealand. The New Zealand result wasn't a surprise, but the Aussie result over South Africa is a surprise for me (I was expecting South Africa to win)

 

So Wales vs New Zealand final, they were pretty tight in the group stages, but I reckon Wales might just have it in them to pull of a shock (and then won't shut up about it for 4 more years)

Your assuming australia will lose then. I think the aussies might beat us,the all blacks have a history of cracking under pressure,and also they should not have struggled to beat argentina!!

 

Buoyant Wales set for French test

 

2011: France 28-9 Wales

2010: Wales 20-26 France

2009: France 21-16 Wales

2008: Wales 29-12 France

 

Wales approach arguably the biggest match in their history confident they can reach their first World Cup final.

 

Saturday's semi-final with France is their first since the inaugural event in 1987, while Les Bleusare in their fifth straight last-four clash.

 

About 65,000 fans are expected to watch the match on a giant screen at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

 

"We know the whole nation is behind us. We have to deliver for them," assistant coach Shaun Edwards told BBC 5 live.

 

France have won nine of the countries' last 11 meetings over the last decade, Wales' only victories coming in their Six Nations Grand Slam years of 2005 and 2008.

 

But Edwards insists France's greater World Cup pedigree means little to a well-drilled 22 featuring eight players under 23, eight British and Irish Lions and 10 Grand Slam winners, all bursting with energy and confidence.

 

"They really couldn't care less if France have been in five straight semi-finals or whatever," the defence guru said. "They are in front of us, so they need sorting out tomorrow."

 

Edwards remains wary of the threats in the French backline, in particular the "exceptional" full-back Maxime Medard - "one of the best broken-field runners in world rugby" - and the support play of wing Vincent Clerc. "He often scores tries on the opposite side of the field to where he plays," Edwards noted.

 

He also believes Wales will have to counter the combined threat of number eight Imanol Harinordoquy, scrum-half Dimitri Yachivili and converted fly-half Morgan Parra. "They will have a big say in the tactics. That is a link we have to try to disrupt as much as we can."

 

Wales will also need to maintain their improved work at the set-pieces, but if they can match France there, their superb fitness levels may prevail.

 

"[France tight-head prop] Nicolas Mas likes to bore in a bit on the hooker, so it is up to us to hold our scrum strong, and to stop their driven line-out," Edwards added.

 

"If we can do that, keep the ball in play and make it a really testing game fitness-wise, then we will have a chance."

 

Wales have been forced into one change to their starting line-up, after fly-half Rhys Priestland - a stand-out performer in their run to the semis - was forced out with a shoulder injury.

 

But with James Hook, who will be winning his 58th cap, coming in to replace him, France coach Marc Lievremont believes Wales will be even stronger.

 

"It's not great news for us," said the Tricolores coach. "Priestland is a good player, but James Hook is an experienced player and Wales will undoubtedly be stronger with him.

 

"He is more of an all-round player, more experienced, and experience at this level is very important when you see the youth in the Wales team."

 

Lievremont admits the increasing potency of the Welsh at this World Cup has given him sleepless nights about the outcome. "Yes, I am afraid," he shrugged. "Above all I am afraid of the Welsh.

 

"Right now we are running on adrenaline. I keep telling myself I can sleep in 10 days' time. I don't need much sleep generally, but it is true, I am more stressed right now.

 

"What we need to remember is that we had never beaten England at such a high level. That's something we can take strength from."

 

With Yachvili recovering from a thigh injury to take his place at scrum-half, France field an unchanged starting side, but another number nine - Jean-Marc Doussain - and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo come onto the bench.

 

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; James Hook, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), Toby Faletau.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15307018.stm

Wales's captain sent off for dangerous play, there's still an hour to play with a man short! Adv. France

Welsh try a man down! game on

 

France 9-8 Wales

most stressful game ever!

Wales were robbed! Crap referreeing. That ref should never be seen at this level again!

 

Brave Wales edged out by France

 

Wales' World Cup campaign ended in controversial fashion as France edged a nailbiting semi-final in Auckland.

 

Wales took an early lead with a James Hook penalty but had captain Sam Warburton sent off for a dangerous tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc.

 

Morgan Parra kicked three penalties to put Les Bleus ' 9-3 up but Mike Phillips gave Wales hope with a try.

 

But replacement Stephen Jones missed the conversion, one of four missed kicks at goal that cost Wales dear.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15307018.stm

Red card?

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cps2a0i1Klw]Sam Warburton Red Card Vs France 15.10.11 - YouTube[/ame]

Technically the ref was correct. If the player raises opponent off the ground and then either forces the player into the ground or drops him without care then it's a red card.

 

The interpretation of the rule in this case was abysmal. It was in no way a red card. Penalty and a probable yellow yes. Red No.

 

Utterly spoiled it, but WHY did Wales not go for the drop goal when they had field position with less than 5 minutes remaining. They were 20m from the posts and in front of them!!

 

Hopefully a better game tomorrow. Need someone to finally beat the pretty poor French side!!

Wales were robbed! Crap referreeing. That ref should never be seen at this level again!

 

 

 

Yeah,there seems to be a lot of bad refeering in this world cup!!

Captain McCaw (left) is fit to lead the All Blacks against Horwill's Australia

 

Rugby World Cup 2011 semi-final: New Zealand v Australia

 

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has admitted Sunday's World Cup semi-final against Australia is anything but "just another game".

 

"You acknowledge that, but you've got to do a lot of the things exactly the same to ensure you perform," he said.

 

"What's different is the excitement and what's at the end - the big thing is not to let that get on top of you."

 

New Zealand bring in Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Richard Kahui, while Australia call up Anthony Fainga'a.

 

Australia have lost full-back Kurtley Beale to a hamstring injury, so Adam Ashley-Cooper moves to that position and Fainga'a comes into the centres.

 

Dagg returns at full-back for the All Blacks after missing the quarter-final victory over Argentina, while third-choice fly-half Cruden takes over from the injured Colin Slade, who had in turn replaced star number 10 Dan Carter, who is out of the tournament with a leg injury.

 

Kahui displaces Sonny Bill Williams, with the high-profile convert from rugby league starting on the bench.

 

New Zealand, the tournament hosts and the world's number one-ranked team, are attempting to win the tournament for the first time in 24 years, and have not reached the final since 1995.

 

McCaw said the team are well aware of the expectation but that "you learn to put it to the side".

 

"Bits of excitement keep reminding you of what you're in for," he added. "You just keep reminding yourself that's what you need to go through to play on Sunday."

 

Wallabies skipper James Horwill insisted recent matches between the countries will have no bearing on the contest.

 

The Wallabies beat the All Blacks in the 1991 and 2003 World Cup semi-finals and also won the last encounter between the rivals in the Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane earlier this year.

 

However, they have not won at Eden Park for a quarter of a century, including a humbling defeat by the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations in August.

 

Ten of the Australian team were not even born when the Wallabies last won at Eden Park, but Horwill is unconcerned by such statistics.

 

"History is history," he said. "This is a World Cup semi-final. That's all we're worried about and history means nothing.

 

"The mood has been good this week. The boys are relaxed and we are looking forward to it. We understand the magnitude of the game at hand, but everybody is pretty relaxed and pretty calm. I think that is a good sign.

 

"You do not want to be walking around too stressed and uptight about what's coming."

 

New Zealand captain McCaw's duel with David Pocock will be one of the key battles at Eden Park but the Australia open-side commented: "You can't get caught up in the one-on-one battle.

 

"It's often put across by the media, but it's very much a team effort and whoever wins [the breakdowns] goes a long way to deciding who is better as a number seven on the night."

 

McCaw, who has been battling persistent pain in his right foot after surgery earlier this year and barely trains during the week, insists he is "good to go".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15307850.stm

 

Awesome All Blacks crush Australia (Rugby World Cup 2011 semi-final: New Zealand 20-6 Australia)

 

ALL BLACKS AT WORLD CUPS

1987 - Champions

1991 - Lost in semi-finals

1995 - Lost in final

1999 - Lost in semi-finals

2003 - Lost in semi-finals

2007 - Lost in quarter-finals

 

New Zealand moved a step closer to ending their 24-year World Cup wait as they overpowered arch-rivals Australia with a controlled semi-final display.

 

The Wallabies had beaten the All Blacks in the semis of both 2003 and 1991 but were rocked by a blistering start and never truly recovered.

 

An early try from Ma'a Nonu and six points from the misfiring boot of Piru Weepu gave the home side a 14-6 lead at the interval.

 

And with the All Blacks forwards in the supremacy and Australia's key men Quade Cooper and David Pocock unable to exert a decisive influence, two second-half penalties sent a capacity Kiwi crowd away into the Auckland night in delight.

 

New Zealand will now meet France in Sunday's final, and on the evidence of this weekend should start as hot favourites to win their first World Cup since 1987.

 

The Wallabies were immediately on the back foot when Cooper put the kick-off directly into touch and then watched as Weepu drilled a low kick into the corner to pile on the pressure.

 

It was all New Zealand, Cory Jane and Israel Dagg both threatening with scything runs, and it was a burst through midfield from the impressive Dagg that brought an inevitable first score - Rocky Elsom was handed off, O'Connor unable to prevent a wonderful off-load as Nonu came up inside to power over in the corner.

 

Weepu missed the conversion and then a straightforward penalty after Pocock - ominously for Australia - was pinged for going off his feet.

 

A side-stepping run from Digby Ioane set up a penalty for James O'Connor on Australia's first foray into opposition territory but Cooper then spilled an up-and-under to cede possession again, Weepu making it 8-3 with a simple penalty but then missing an even easier one.

 

Aaron Cruden, third choice fly-half a fortnight ago, was orchestrating the attacks well and nailed a drop-goal from distance to dispel any fears that the occasion might be too much for him.

 

Australia lost tight-head prop Sekipe Kepu to injury but then finally began to get into the game. A series of drives from the forwards gave Cooper the opportunity to pop over a drop-goal, but a daft offside from Adam Ashley-Cooper allowed Weepu to extend the lead to 14-6 with a penalty from 40 metres just before the interval.

 

The Wallabies had missed 15 tackles in the first period, and they slipped further behind almost immediately as Pat McCabe held on in the tackle and Weepu stroked over his third penalty.

 

Neat footwork from their much-vaunted backs gave them good field possession but handling errors repeatedly took the wind from the green and gold sails.

 

Cooper was being booed and jeered with every unhappy touch, Pocock having nowhere near the same success against Richie McCaw at the breakdown as he had in the quarter-final win over the Springboks.

 

The All Blacks forwards' increasing dominance at the scrum gave Weepu a long-distance pot which fell short before Dagg sliced a drop-goal attempt horribly.

 

But the Wallabies' tight five were being mangled at every set piece. When another scrum collapsed under intense pressure, Weepu - back on as a blood replacement for Andy Ellis - made it 20-6.

 

Although replacement Sonny Bill Williams spent the last five minutes in the sin-bin for a shoulder charge on Cooper, the tired Wallabies could make no impact with the extra man.

 

As the final whistle sounded the home crowd celebrated by bellowing "Four more years!" in happy reference to Wallaby scrum-half George Gregan's famous taunt after that 2003 Wallaby win.

 

Just seven days and an under-performing French side now stand between the All Blacks and the ultimate rugby redemption.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15307850.stm

What was the score when New Zealand played France in the group game last month?

 

Come on New Zealand!