Rugby World Cup 2011 Thread

[Coogee]

World cup build up kicked off this morning with Australia beaten by Samoa in Sydney. Bad news for Wales who have Fiji and Samoa as well as the springboks in their pool.

All blacks play Fiji next week and the Tri Nations kicks off with the Wallabies playing the Springboks.

Rugby every weekend now until the world cup starts between the Tri Nations and warm up games.

[raZor]

Strange one, I fancied Australia for a while to win this outright, long way to go before the actual WC though might be the kick up the hole they need.

I'll be at the Ireland game in Murrayfield anyway and will probably go there for the Scotland-Italy game also.
Been on holidays for the past two weeks, saw Leamy in Faro airport this morning, I thought he would have been in the training squad at least, was he dropped?

[Coogee]

yeah the aussies will get their act together for the world cup. This win will spur the samoans on though and Wales are probably shitting themselves.

Dont think Leamy made the training squad. Not sure if he was injured or just dropped. In fairness he is behind the likes of Heaslip,Ferris,Walla ce, O Brien, Mcgloughlin & Jennings at the moment.

[raZor]

The Fijians won't hold any fear having beaten them in 2007 also.

Good point when the other players are listed out he's quite a good bit behind them alright.

[Coogee]

they will take the six back rows listed above bar injury and the 4 lock position may go to Donnacha Ryan as he can play back row also

[Eoin]

Yeah, Australia will definitely sort themselves out before the world cup starts. I still think we have a chance against them though.

[Coogee]

Wallabies team named for Saturday

15. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
4. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

Run on Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. Pekahou Cowan (Western Force)
18. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
19. Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
20. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
21. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
22. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)

i suppose Giteau at 12, Palu at 8, Sharpe in the second row and Robinson at prop would be their strongest team.

It will be interesting to see how they bounce back after last weeks defeat.

[Lapsy Pa]

I see england are wearing their new all black kit (second kit) for their opening WC fixture.

Not only have they New Zealanders playing for them but they'll be wearing all black jerseys as well.

[cit_gym_rat]

mind games by the English and the all blacks are so rattled by it that I think all nations should change their alternative kit to an all black kit

[duffer31]

Have polio and mars bar head been in yet to start their bit....?