Hey Guys,

Slightly off topic, but just thought I'd point out that the RWC 2011 kicks off next week down here at Eden Park, Auckland, NZ. England, Ireland, France, South Africa, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Rugby is one of our main sports. Rugby Union, is New Zealand's main sport and our rugby team is well known and has always tipped to be a favourite to win.
Forum members from Canada and the USA not so much, it doesnt get much coverage but it would be good to get everyone interested and help some others understand the game and give your teams support. It's more hands on than grid-iron football, lots of injuries etc.. This is the world cup, it doesnt get better that this!!

To begin with, here is an explanation of the game in two parts for those who are uneducated on the sport:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQyCcageGg

http://www.irb.com/mm/document/training ... n_7391.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union

Now as I am an All Blacks supporter, this is how we roll down here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV3SQ9Gmlb0

I bet the English, French or the Wallabies cannot do that!!

Get behind your teams, get yer game faces on!! Support your countries!!

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Alright then...okay...bring it on.......
England are ready, like they always are for the World Cup, which means...England are not ready for this. However, like always, England start slowly and gradually improve and like in the last two World Cups, we end up in the final. So we'll see.
I hope the All Blacks haven't peaked too soon again, like they tend too. They haven't reached the final for a while eh?
NZ, Australia and S. Africa are always strong and will be again I think.
From the northern hemisphere, Wales, Ireland, France could challenge and of course England, if they get it together soon enough, could be 'formidable actually' but it's like our football team. You never know what you're going to get.
Anyway, looking forward to it....lets go.

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Let me tell you Rumba, the pressure is on the All Blacks to perform!! NZ are right behind them all the way. As allways, it's also how you play your team too. The last world cup saw a lot of our key players on the bench by the finals, something we dont want to happen.

But be wary of Tonga and Samoa, they are teams to keep an eye on.. breeding grounds for great football both in Union, League and also American Football players!! South Africa, The Wallabies, The Lions and France.. not forgeting NZ All Blacks, either of our teams are playing your guaranteed your moneys worth!!

If your watching, NZ vs. Tonga this Friday (Thursday your time).. it's going to be a hell of a game!!

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Meh, rugby schmugby.

Let's talk about cricket! England supporters are feeling pretty comfortable right now. I was there at the Oval the other day to see us dishing out the latest spanking. Aaaaah!

Even the Scottish guys in the seats behind us were supporting England - who'd have thunk? That's how good we are! (Also, we were sharing our hampers with them, which always helps.)

Cheers - C

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Aww come on, lets not divert the fact the lions are about to get a spanking!!

Cricket- never could understand the game. Perhaps why is that its a good kiwi custom to drink beer at the terraces during a game, being a good bloke and sharing the odd can.

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No no, let's try and divert attention from that fact just as hard as we can!



To me, the idea that good blokes can share beers all afternoon long at cricket matches in complete friendliness and without silly trouble is the very most important thing one needs to understand about the game. Your understanding is right on track so far, Bertles.

What's more, it is a game where when rain stops play (rain? England? Surely not...) the entire crowd joins in enthusiastic support as a mixed bunch of England and Indian supporters dressed as bright yellow Fyffes bananas set to playing a scratch game of cricket beyond the boundary using an inflatable banana as a bat, with the security guys joining in as fielders. Not many sports where you get to see a thing like that.

Anyhow. Back to your rugby. That was some nice CGI in your vid at the top of the thread... (Light blue touch paper and run.)

Cheers - C

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Do they have vuvuzelas there for this year too? Can't get me enough Bb vuvuzela drone. Actually that is all myself and many in the USA remember about the last World Cup. In case other Americans like me also forgot, I looked it up. Spain whooped up on the Netherands in overtime 1 to 0. Thrilling stuff!

Hi brotherdave: different sport, different world cup.

Though when any of them get played in South Africa, yes, you will hear the vuvuzela. That's what the TV's mute button is there for, far as I'm concerned...

Cheers - C

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You've got the wrong game brotherdave. That world cup was soccer, this is a game that men play, with odd shaped balls.

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Vuvuzelas. lol

Legend has, a story told to me was that during the soccer world cup there was the craze in south africa. A woman was standing in a mall store with her crying child, and in there was group of drunk people (hooligans!) waiting were blowing a vuvuzela. A person annoyed with the whole rackett, asked the woman if she could politely shut the child up as it were disturbing the vuvuzela sound.

I dont know if this is true, but I was told this story by a south african friend of mine who heard it on an internet radio cast. However, at the time of the world cup, it wouldnt surprise me at all if it were true

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Hey guys check out whats been happening around Auckland today- this is at Sylvia Park- a popular slightly upmarket shopping mall I like to visit. An impromptu unorganised Haka perfomed by our local. Note the people passing by who get in on the act These have been happening everywhere in the country, there was also one down in Downtown Auckland City and even in Melbourne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puXad30D ... re=related

Goes to show how passionate about our game and also how ready NZ is to take on the world.

Im going out to Eden Park to take some photos- hopefully I can get close to the grounds

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twas a good game (well the bit i watched).

now we just need england to play well, and hopefully their 6 nations win will give them confidence...

and in american rugby i hope the seahawks win too on saturday

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Hey !
What about France ???
I had a dream.....
Well I have to be reasonable just when I saw the NZE-Tonga game this morning, just a mere training for the All Blacks.
Whoa.. Their AKA scared me. Have you seen deep in their eyes...

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http://www.guitarmotel.com

Alain, the French always have a strong team, their free flowing rugby is the envy of the world. A joy to watch.
But are they good enough to win this tournament?...hmmm....it will be difficult I think.

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Personally I think France has a very good chance of getting to the semis. They will be a challenge for both NZ, SpringBok and the Wallabies- even the Lions. It's anyones guess tho, but hey like I said, they are a guaranteed a good game!!

All Blacks Coach Graeme Henry wasnt very pleased with the lastnights game, we played very solid in the first half, the second half saw the Tongans get through our forward pack a few times.
Nice to see Dan Carter score the first goal for the WC, that guy will become 'one of the greats' before long. Nice to see Jonah Lomu up there too!!

Here's the next weeks schedule:


http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtu ... endar.html


Now, I want to see some action from the USA or Canada- these guys have a massive pool of Football talent to tap into and if given the funding at grass roots level & support and exposure they could very well turn themselves a very good team to take on the rest of the world. The potential is massive for them I feel.

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