Anyone following the rugby world cup?

[jMcQuarrie]

Completely off topic for this forum, but;

Is anyone here following the Rugby World Cup? If so who are you supporting and how far do you think they'll get?

I'm hoping (dreaming, I know) Wales and Scotland get to the final and then I'm happy what ever the result :D

[ses5909]

I've only just started watching more Rugby since moving to Europe. I still have so much to learn but I am enjoying it.

[jMcQuarrie]

The World Cup is a great time to get into it. Some brilliant games coming up

[davemcnally]

Nope, never really been a fan of rugby.

[jMcQuarrie]

Having grown up in Wales I had no choice but to get into rugby ;) Brainwashed from a young age...

[malique]

i do.

btw, did you watch last night's match between Argentina and Namibia? argentina should stick to soccer/football! so many front passes!

[jMcQuarrie]

:) - No missed that game, did see the other games though and it would have been amazing had South Africa lost to Samoa. I love it when the "smaller" teams give the big boys a run for their money :)

[malique]

i was much more amazed when england lost (http://www.mrmalique.com/index.php/disappointing-english/)!

anyways, heres a live update for TBE.

All Blacks 35 - Scotland 0

[malique]

final score, New Zealand 40 - Scotland 0

And can anyone please tell me im not alone, i hear the referee say 'hushh hushhh' everytime a player tries to argue/negotiate. Hahah!

[Simon]

I'm supporting Wales all the way. As always. Being a Llanelli boy I have mixed feelings about Gareth Jenkins as a coach. I know how good he can be, but he's making some strange decisions that are unsettling the team. And our defence is looking well dodgy!

[jMcQuarrie]

I heard the "hushh hushhh" too. And sat very slightly as Scotland defended alright in the second half, but had nothing in attack. Poor, poor game on Scotland's behalf. And to be honest, the All Blacks will have to raise their game if they want to win the competition this year, far too many handling errors.

[HAWK]

But of course!

I'm supporting the ABs and I'm pretty sure we'll win.

[jMcQuarrie]

Hawk, as much as it pains me to admit it, you guys are looking pretty unbeatable this year. :)

[malique]

i have a feeling home team will win.
but im hoping for aussie or new zealand. :D

[jMcQuarrie]

@ Simon - Llanelli boy? Fantastic, I grew up near Carmarthen, been to plenty of Scarlett's games back in the day. I have to admit that Gareth Jenkins wouldn't be my first choice coach; he never comes across as being focused enough for my liking. Wish we were looking more promising, but I've feeling we'll not make it too much further. Shame, after our Six Nations performance a few years back I was really starting to feel like Wales were going places...

[malique]

new zealand and australia out! OMG!

i hope to see springboks against the english in the finals.

[jMcQuarrie]

Due to going to a friends wedding and other commitments this weekend I missed all the games. I can't believe it. NZ out. Aussies out. Scotland out. Of all the weekends of the year to get married, she had to choose this one...

I'd personally like to see a France vs. SA final, but it would be one monumental come back if England makes it.

[adalante]

I rarely watch the game and if i ever did it would be for the NZ's Hakka routine..just love it :D

I'm hoping France makes it to the final, but only because i want to see more of Sebastien Chabal hurting someone.

[malique]

wheres hawk!

[jMcQuarrie]

Hiding? ;)

[HAWK]

Not hiding. Mourning.

We choked again. What's with that?

[jMcQuarrie]

On paper you guys win hands down every four years. In fact, this year if the All Blacks had entered their first and second team (on paper) it should have been a AB vs AB final.

Count yourself lucky though, Wales were rubbish and have been for some time now

[tater03]

I don't watch it. We don't get it here in the states. Now I do think if you have satalite cable you can get the games on TV but sadly I don't have that yet.

[HAWK]

We rocked all the way up until last weekend when we badly, badly sucked.

[ses5909]

Ok, so I wanted to watch the England/France game tonight and was pretty hyped about it actually. I subscribe to SkyTV but apparently they are only showing it on the paid sports channels. So no luck for me.

[ses5909]

Ok, I found it on something called ITV. Oh that was such a cool match!

[malique]

the match was spectacular!!! England managed a try within 1 minute of the game!

i really hope the springboks win the next match.

[jMcQuarrie]

All I can say: Wow.

[malique]

england meet the springboks in finals! OMFL!

James, whats your take on the final spots and who do you think will gain bragging rights for the next 4 years.

[ses5909]

I watched that match as well. I'm learning all about it now. Slightly obsessed actually :|

[HAWK]

I'm backing SA to take it, although I would prefer it went back to England. My husband hates English rugby because he doesn't think you should be able to win if you can't score tries. (All they ever seem to do is drop kick it.) I reckon you do what you can to score.

[ses5909]

I think I'll back England only because they were the actual first match I watched and it was awesome watching!

[jMcQuarrie]

My Welsh up bring would lead me to support SA (always support anyone who is playing against England). Having said that, if England win it would be the BEST comeback in sporting history, and they would be the only team ever to successfully defend their title. With that in mind I'm going to be shouting for England all the way on Saturday.

[malique]

Hello and Welcome to the live match between the England and SA.

Will Johnny play a game of football(soccer) or will we see Bryan Habana sprinting all the way home? Let the England and SA team sing their hearts out, we'll see you in halftime.

[ses5909]

Good game so far. I'm so glad I found the channel that is playing it!

[malique]

We have Sara Ses live on the field, "Sara..how is the atmosphere and tell us more on whats happening"

[ses5909]

OMG... I can't believe the video ref's eyes. England should have had that try. Even I could see that!

[malique]

Springboks The Winner! Wooooo!

[ses5909]

awwww :( :( :(

[malique]

we have James, our roving sports journalist on location.

James, can you hear us? Hows it like with the celebration there..

[jMcQuarrie]

Possibly one of the most boring games I've seen? There was no commitment to play from either team. SA (quite rightly, it's about winning not playing "sexy rugby") stuck to their kicking game and pinned England back, challenged their line out and basically played England at their own game of keeping it tight and doing nothing fancy.

England on the other hand tried to play the same game plan, but their kicking wasn't up to it and neither was their control (two stupid, stupid penalties).

Evidence of SAs tight game? Not a single break by Habana. The ball never got that far...

I don't think it was an England try (toes of his boot were on the line) but it would have been a better game had it been awarded. Both teams would have had to open up a bit.

In the end not half as exciting as it should have been. But in fairness, well done SA.

Roll on the six nations. :)

[malique]

i have to agree. the final match was quite boring. it lacks something. oh what is it? A TRY OF COURSE! James, did u check out the cup? the trophy was broken! oh god the horror! i have some details on it on my blog if u wanna read.

[ses5909]

Well there should have been a try but the refs sucked

[HAWK]

The refs sucked throughout the majority of the competition!

[malique]

like new Zealand's lost to a forward pass try. :(