Rugby world cup opener

[bronnie34]

I went to the world cup opening ceremony and Aust V Argentina last night and just have to say it was fantastic.
The day started up early with my sister and I going to Rugby zone and getting on it early and watching INXS put on a great concert.
The opening ceremony was pretty dull so spent most of my time lining up for a beer (which oh my god were six dollars each).
But the game was pretty good, not that it was the best game ever played but it was the right result. The atmosphere was the best part with the people around us fantastic (no stuck up old people). Singing Waltzing Matilda was great and good old 'International Del' scoring a try. Gee the crowd really gave it to Del all night which was so funny.
The only bad part of the night was my sister who I went with drinking way to much and making a total ass of herself, falling down the stairs, falling off her seat, the list goes on and on.
She also got lost after the game, I think she passed out in the toilet. I went looking for her for an hour and she wouldn't answer her mobile so I went home.
I woke up this morning and she eventually make it home and she doesn't remember anything after the opening ceremony. How sad is that?
I drink but know how much I can handle, other than that it was a tops night.
Looking forward to going to france and scotland and the final.
Did everybody watch it and party on afterwards?

 

[the_knights_rule]

i watched the game but im not HEAPS into union so some of the rulings got me a bit confused :? . does anyone know what kind of injury that guy got? i forget his name lol but his head slammed into the ground adn it looked really bad!

im going to the france v scottland game too . we have seats in the same bay and row as i sat in at the grandfinal

 

[bronnie34]

The guy was David Giffin and he received a very heavy concussion and had to go the hospital but has also injured his shoulder so probably won't be back for a couple of games.

 

[the_knights_rule]

oh ok thanks bronnie ;-)

 

[antonius]

I watched todays game between NZ and Italy, the Kiwi's absolutely anihalated them 70-7. They were devastating.

 

[keeney]

i watched the game but im not HEAPS into union so some of the rulings got me a bit confused :? . does anyone know what kind of injury that guy got? i forget his name lol but his head slammed into the ground adn it looked really bad!

it was giffin, but i don't think it turned out to be as bad as it looked, bruce macaveny said the concern was his shoulder as opposed to the concussion, and he will only miss one game

 

[Doctor]

im not HEAPS into union so some of the rulings got me a bit confused

I used to find it similarly frustrating to watch, but it was because I didn't understand it.

I quite like the sport now - but only on an international level where they play the game correctly.

The reason for kicking in your own territory used to confuse me - particularly how sometimes they'd get the ball back after kicking it out on the full, and other times they wouldn't. I now understand what it is all about (you can kick from inside your own 22 and it is allowed to go out on the full).

Some of the penalties used to make me scratch my head, but I'm now fairly up-to-speed on what is going on - all it took was to watch a few of the Wallabies' matches over the past 12 months, and asked a couple of questions of Ben - who has gone on holiday again I suppose ?? ;-)

Anyway it is quite a good game, especially when they score tries instead of kicking penalties all night.

 

[Danish Moo Cow]

I still don't like it. When a team is down 36-6 and decides to go for goal with just a minute before half-time, well you know you've got a boring exhibition in front of you.

Poor John O'Niell. He's been playing up the international quality of his sport for near on 2 years now and we still haven't had a close game yet. The closest game I've seen so far has been Australia scoring three times as many points as their opposition. Other than Uragauy last night, we've still got the real minnows to come.

 

[princess plj]

i have been watching the last 2 days and thinking some of the teams that have played should not be there....i mean to be thrashed by the big teams...sure they are playing for their country and thats good but to compete with the big teams. i mean the springboks vs uraguy 72-6 ....

 

[CoastieChik]

I won sum tix 2day 2 c the seppos n d japs!! Should b a good game jus 4 the fact that they'll both probs b playin 4 their 1st win of the tournament!

Jus lookin fwd to bein a part of it all - should b fun (but more fun if the aussies were playin )

Bronnie, how much were ure tix 4 d final???

 

[Doctor]

I won sum tix 2day 2 c the seppos n d japs!! Should b a good game jus 4 the fact that they'll both probs b playin 4 their 1st win of the tournament!

Jus lookin fwd to bein a part of it all - should b fun (but more fun if the aussies were playin )

Bronnie, how much were ure tix 4 d final???

English please - that is just ridiculous quite frankly. :?

 

[CoastieChik]

woah - ease up turbo! =;

It is just shorthand!!

 

[The_Ben]

I'm not on holidays yet chook. Just been scouting around here and not replying too much. I'm not going overseas again until Feb next year, so it's a long stint here in Oz until then.

In relation to the minnow teams, They really have to be there otherwise we couldn't really call the competition a world cup. The same goes with the cricket world cup and soccer too. The minnow teams get the experience and the game in general gets exposure to these countries.

On the injury side, we saw some significant injuries over the weekend. Australia's only real concern was 2nd rower David Giffen who will miss just the 1 game due to a shoulder injury received in the the now infamous head knock.

Kiwi's received a few injuries which may play some part in the chances later on. Rokocoko, Umaga and Spencer copped some injuries. England have also called up Martyn Wood from overseas after unjuries to Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken.

 

[foetus_head]

All i can say is that the little japs rock

Im tipping Aussies to beat the japs in the GF, and that the poms will lose johnny wilkonson and wont be able to even make the top 4 . Hey its not a crime to dream!

 

[Misanthrope]

I find it ironic that the competetiveness of international league is questioned when every game this weekend was a thrashing. Save for Australia's win, but let's face it, the Wallabies need some serious work.

I guess all it takes for a competitive international scene is four solid sides, a few mediocre ones, and a few more to make up numbers. If that's the case we just need to get New Zealand and England up to par- push Lebanon up to compete with Tonga, PNG, and the home nations- and say that USA beat Morocco and Tartastan to qualify.

Chris

 

[The_Ben]

Let's not forget that the Scotland V Japan game over the weekend was entertaining as well. There was only a few points in it until well into the 2nd half.

 

[tigermite]

I'm still trying to figure out England's tactics. Against Georgia, they were expected to win by about 80, which they did. But their first points came from a penalty kick... what's the go with that?? Surely they knew that they would score plenty of points, so why just go for the 3?? It seems that it's been planted in their heads, that if they have the chance, than take the shot at goal. And that's what really annoys me about Rugby... oh, and 3 point field goals :roll:

 

[Misanthrope]

It seems that it's been planted in their heads, that if they have the chance, than take the shot at goal. And that's what really annoys me about Rugby... oh, and 3 point field goals :roll:

Amen to that. Three points for penalties and field-goals basically makes Union soccer.

Chris

 

[foetus_head]

But Engl;and had never played Gorgia before and they may have turned out to be the new champs, which they obviously werent. Either way I feel sorry for Gorgia cause they can only afford to stay in tents and their only medical equipment is several cans of spray on deep heat, you break a leg then they cover you in deep heat...