Anyone else following the fortunes of the twenty nations currently battling it out for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand? New Zealand France Tonga Canada Japan England Scotland Argentina Georgia Romania Australia Ireland Italy USA Russia South Africa Samoa Wales Fiji Namibia http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/poolstage.html
Of course! Ireland got a good start this time. I cheer for Namibia and Tonga too for no particular reason. Matches are on odd time and it’s kind of weird to start drinking at 8 in the morning but you simply can’t watch rugby without beer.
Definitely!
I have always loved the game. Will be drawn in as usual.
Nice to see England above Scotland in the table ;-). Stefan
@Walrus1985 When hasn’t that been the case since 1990? My great-uncle was chairman of the SRU for a couple of years just after the '90 Grand Slam…don’t think the national team replicated their success to any real extent during his tenure! As far as RWC 2011 goes, I’m frustratingly unable to watch it due to my laptop being slow and ITV insisting on uploading the games in HD. Far too juddery!
I would love to watch these games but since I’m in America and the games are in New Zealand most of the matches take place far too early 3-5am or so my time so I am unfortunately unable to keep up with them 
Of course! Ireland got a good start this time. I cheer for Namibia and Tonga too for no particular reason. Ireland’s feeble win over minnows USA was unconvincing, but beating Australia 15-6 was a delight to watch for the shell-shocked expression on Aussie faces. After Ireland experiencing four consecutive losses before the tournament few thought they could win against the mighty Wallabies. Ireland now plays Russia this Sunday, but the result is almost a foregone conclusion, as is England’s match against Romania the same day. Today’s New Zealand v France match is better sport. France might win, but the mightfulness is terrific - indeed they are already 19 points down after 25 minutes.
I cheer for Namibia too since their team must be the most inept contender in the entire tournament. But at least their recent 87-0 defeat by South Africa shows improvement since the 2003 tournament. The Australians sportingly fielded their B-team against Namibia in 2003 and still beat them 142-0. The match involving Tonga I particularly recall was not based on sporting prowess, but the ridiculous pre-match war dance Polynesian teams perform. In 2003 the All Blacks performed the Haka nose to nose with their opponents simultaneously engaged in the Sipi Tau. Such a lot of fierce posturing. Such a lot of nonsense.
Good reasons there to cheer for Namibia and Tonga! Ireland should win Russia easily tomorrow but it is interesting to see Vasily Artemyev, who played rugby and studied here in Dublin at Blackrock College and UCD 2002-2008. He is one of us, even speaks English with Dublin accent!
I will be rooting for Ireland as well after Scotland’s (almost) inevitable demise. I live in England and love the place dearly, but can’t quite bring myself to cheer for the rugger team! 
South Africa is defending their title but we, as fans, have little hope because our stubborn, so called coach keep on selecting old has beens like Habana, Matfield and Smith. As for Namibia against South Adrica, Namibia was quite lucky to get that nil points, it could have been worse.
Didn’t one of the Namibian players at the last world cup, play international cricket as well? Can’t remember where I read that, it just seems to stick in my mind. Stefan
The All Blacks looked formidable against France. I understand the French have an easier draw…and they are notoriously unpredictable, volatile, mercurial, so perhaps they are not finished yet. Hats off as usual to New Zealand for continuing to play the game just about as well as it can be played. Lovely running.
“South Africa is defending their title but we, as fans, have little hope because our stubborn, so called coach keep on selecting old has beens like Habana, Matfield and Smith.” Much the same criticism was levelled at the 2003 England squad (grumpy old men), and we all know how that tournament ended. Anyway, Habana and Matfield didn’t, I recall, play in the win against Fiji.
“Didn’t one of the Namibian players at the last world cup, play international cricket as well? Can’t remember where I read that, it just seems to stick in my mind.” Yes, Rudi van Vuuren. He participated in both the Cricket and Rugby World Cups of 2003.
Scotland v Argentina tomorrow should be interesting. The Puma’s believe the Scottish scrum is too weak and inexperienced, but whether the Argentine pack tramples them underfoot remains to be seen. If Scotland win (which they should, given their forwards) then they are set up for a tussle with the auld enemy in the final pool match. Any match between England and Scotland or Wales annoys me over the increasingly vexed question of anthems. As a nation England has been unified since the days of good king Athelstan in 927. Strange, then, that alone amongst the competing nations, England is the only one still without even a de facto national anthem. France has “La Marseillaise”, Wales has “Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau“, Scotland has the unofficial “Flower of Scotland”, but England - like the little piggy in the rhyme - has none. http://anthem4england.co.uk/
It should be Jerusalem. That’s got to be one of the most stirring, songs to get you wound up before a match. Altogether now! #And did those feet in ancient times Walk upon England’s mountains green? And was the Holy Lamb of God On England’s pleasent pastures seen? And did the countenance divine Shine forth upon those clouded hills? And was Jerusalem build’ed here Among those dark Satanic mills? Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me arrows of desire, Bring me my spear, oh clouds unfold Bring me my chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England’s green and pleasent land!# Thank you. Stefan
I’d think we’d go with Elgar. Though the idea of England as a land of mystics after Blake does appeal. Watched the unfortunate Scots a few minutes ago. The big clashes are coming up. I like the idea of a Namibian CB Fry. (I think Fry’s were cricket, soccer, and Olympic gold long jump. He was born just down the road from me in this fascinationg laughing stock of a town.)
South Africa won by one point against Fidji. Samoa is going to beat Fidji. South Africa plays Samoa on Friday. South Africa is going to lose against Samoa. Agree??