Pool D: Ireland 15 - Australia 6

Ferdy says:

Wow!  Have there been some amazing games at this RWC or what? A tryless test, yet every bit as thrilling as an 83-7 point exhibition match. By upsetting Australia, Ireland have put this tournament on the map and have brought some much needed respect from the south for northern hemisphere rugby.

I hate to gloat - but I've had the Irish down as dark horses of this tournament ever since November. (And I drew them in my office sweepstake). It got me thinking, if NZ have to lose the RWC - then I could *almost* handle a team like Ireland winning it, because they always endeavour to play a style of rugby that isn't just about kicking at goal.

What happened to Oz? Hardly any old wise heads meant the youth couldn't turn this match around. Quade Cooper was rudderless (shades of Carlos Spencer on a bad day). Oz missed Ioane and Pocock desperately. And as for that Eden Park hoodoo? The last game Oz won in Auckland was 1986.  It has to have knocked the wind out of their sails, especially after a successful Super 15 and Tri Nations campaign. Good.

Irish defence was immense (keeping the Wallabies tryless is no mean feat). The Irish back row I will now admit is arguably one of the best in the world. Their backs did all they had to do. They played with passion and heart, spurred on by a crowd of 55,000 Irish supporters (56,000 there tonight).

This victory for Ireland has now changed the shape of the draw. All going to plan, they will play NH teams until the final and Australia will have the daunting prospect of facing the Springboks for a quarterfinal and the All Blacks for a semi. Although I didn't want to meet Australia before the final, I'm kind of glad we won’t have to overcome two Tri Nations teams. Or maybe the ABs could put Jimmy Cowan on one wing and Piri Weepu on the other for France next Saturday?

Pool D: South Africa v Fiji

Slugso says:

Once again, a great atmosphere at The Cake Tin last night. The Bok fans are so colourful and noisy it was like a home game for them again (North Shore’s match will be!) ... but the Fijian fans an supporters were hugely visible too, just a shame their team didn’t really get to show their style more.

I have to say last night’s games have really turned this World Cup on its head. Australia’s loss to Ireland (see Ferdy’s post) has kncked the wind out of the Wallabies’ sails and restored some pride to the Northern teams ... and means Australia will proably meet the Boks in a quarter-final.

So what of the Boks? Well, they may have fielded a slightly tweaked XV but they really announced their presence last night. The defence was huge ... bigger than a Fijian No. 8! They never let Fiji get quick ball or even any real line breaks ... first and maybe second tackles nailed them, and stopped any Fijian Sevens Rugby. The game was probably quite 50/50 in terms of the numbers, but South Africa were superbly clinical when they had the  ball - they really converted their scoring opportunities.

They showed more determination to attack last night -was this the difference of having Frans Steyn at 12 maybe? Man, no disrespect to Morne Steyn (who to be fair got a try and hit thr line more last night than recently) ... but what could a Bok inside back combo of du Preez, Lambie, Frans Steyn & Fourie do? Would be awesome.

I think they have the players to really go all the way: JP Pietersen was a rock, Danie Rossouw a deserved MOTM, Hougaard is a game-changer ... it goes on. I see them as a huge favourite now, though Samoa could still be a banana skin. However, if Samoa were to beat Wales then the Boks may wheel out a 3rd XV on that game.

Bokke! Bokke! Bokke!

 PS Can someone get Jacques Fourie onside ;-)

Pool B: Argentina v Romania

Pool A: New Zealand v Japan

Ferdy says:

I watched this on a small computer screen at work while trying to pretend to do some work (hopelessly executed) so I have probably missed a lot of things.

What I didn’t miss however is Nonu’s Rolls Royce form right now. The guy is on fire! Backed up by the ever dependable Conrad Smith, and excuse me while I dip into my bag of rugby clichés here, but the centre with a law degree really did run some good straight lines. Also, loved SBW (one would have to be in coma not to love that man).

Adam Thompson – as I say, a small screen at work so I couldn’t say whether I liked him or not. He got a try which was nice for him, but no, I don’t feel it for the guy generally. To me he is flashy (I don’t know whether it’s the blonde hair). I want Reid and McCaw to come back. Loving Kaino BTW as well.

ITV commentators (including Fitzy, Pienar and Dallaglio) are complaining a lot about Henry’s rotation. They make me nervous. But I want to trust that Father Ted knows best.

In saying that? What is our top team? I know I would be very happy to see a starting team with these baby blacks in it: SBW, Israel Dagg, Richard Kahui.

Slugso says:

Conrad Smith is so good, beautiful lines eh, Ferdy? True. There is just something more graceful lurking under the directness with Smith/Nonu, they straighten it with a 6th sense that it is the right time to do so. Nonu truly man of the match!

Ellis started passing very, very flat again, – scarily so, but in this game Owens was really policing the offside tonight. Paddy had a word?

Its just our new plan of wide passing (one, two big passes wide from a ruck) occasionally throws up a floater so that a spot tackler can rush up and get us - this happened in last Bledisloe game 2-3 times. And we all know what happened in 2003. Works better with a little more depth for runner, like for Slade’s try off Ellis/Toeava break in first half.

Ferdy - you still not feeling it for Thomson? I thought he linked well tonight, didn’t get penalised and deserved try. What you got against blondes? Kaino was class - if Read comes back, we are lookig good.

So, what the hell is our top team?! Poor old Zac Guildford, he can’t buy a game if he is not in the Top XV and he can’t even get on the field against Japan?

SBW on wing: Loads of space for him was a good thing; two tries. Though that one handed ball carry was a technique crime!

Pool C: Russia v USA

Bugger me, but sorry, I was raised under the fear of a Nuclear Winter. MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTIOJ!!!!  I was led to believe that should I ever hear the phrase on television, “…Russians about to breach the American lines…” then it was really time to duck and cover. Mushroom cloud. All over, red rover.

RED DAWN!!!

But no. The Cold War Rematch did not really deliver to the level of other so-called ‘Minnow Match-ups’ that RWC2011 has coughed up so far. To be fair I think the Russians need to come back to another World Cup to get it. Somewhere in Russia lurks a line-out dominance that was embarrassingly absent tonight, they just lacked the polish of a Top 20 nation ... it will come.

USA: Well, they showed real pace and munter-ability, but it does not get any easier for them either in this pool. Are they the most populous nation to appear at RWC? I think they are. But I expect better frankly - this ‘sleeping giant’ bullshit needs to grow legs. They have pace, they have power, they have sheer bloody determination in the likes of Clever, but they will not really sprout into the Top 10 unless they knuckle down and do it ugly to begin with. They can’t Wham Bam Super Bowl it to the Rugby World Cup knockout stages without playing Test rugby. Hyper Power maybe but baby steps in Test Rugby.

Reposted with correct team now - I was enjoying a leetle too much of the sponsor’s product earlier. Hic.

Pool B: Scotland v Georgia

Wet. Turgid. Three pointers all the way. Not the most exciting game so far, but ... Scotland are two from two and can now target the Argentines. Not sure if that is wise, but hey. Braveheart and all that. My highlight, just seeing a wild beast the likes of Richie Gray running about in a Southland paddock. Glorious. I hope he puts a dent in Courtenay Lawes if they can meet up.

Remember, these pretty graphics are only the tip of the statto iceberg out there. If you want to go deep, and get the really, really strong, pure, uncut stats ... then go to ruckingoodstats.com and dowload his in depth reports that are generated live throughout each game by a computer named BORIS.

Pool A: Tonga v Canada

A lot of people are saying ‘upset’, but these two teams are only two IRB ranking spots apart, it should not really be a big surprise. Canada deserve a lot of praise for standing up to teh physicality of this Tongan side, but let’s not patronize them. They played bloody well.

And Canada’s Adam Kleeberger surely must get the award for best beard in a World Cup ever. It was immense ... bigger than W C Grace’s. They could have smuggled the ball inside that thing!

Pool D: Samoa v Namibia

Pool D: South Africa v Wales

The wife and I had a great time last night at this game, it was awesome - my best experience at the Cake Tin since All Black Tests a few years ago, back in Tana’s captaincy - there was just such a positivity- inflected edge to it all; pressure & banter but in good spirit. So close, and though Wales sprayed two more chances to win it, I am still surprised that Barnes did not go to the TMO for that kick. This is the World Cup FFS and that game’s result has significant impact on the whole draw, definitely the pool.

I maintain that Wayne Barnes is simply not up to that level. That is not a direct jibe because of Cardiff in 2007. He is just not good enough. Jacques Fourie and Fourie du Preez were constantly offside!!!

Warburton was immense for Wales, as was Jamie Roberts. But Brussouw! What a scrounger, and F Steyn was class. Remains interesting in that Pool as Wales & Sth Africa only have one points differential, that could come into play if Samoa can rack up a win or two close games.

The Bokke fans were in great voice, as were the Welsh ... plus I think most Kiwis were backing the Red Dragons, as I was. That’s not out of any real dislike of the Boks, for me it was more backing the underdog - and frankly, I like the enterprise of the, always have, even if it sometimes falters completely.

The weekend was so good! Japan were real quality. Namibia can play some good rugby. Romania nearly beat a 6N team. Aaargh. And no one has cracked 50 pts against a 'minnow' yet? brilliant.

Pool C: Ireland v USA

Pool C: Australia v Italy

Pool B: Argentina v England

Again, these pretty graphics on territory and possession don’t mean diddly if ruckingoodstats.com doesn’t crunch the numbers. Chur!

Pool A: France v Japan

The Brave Blossoms indeed, for a minute or three there they absolutely put the wind up the French in a spell that saw them go wide, go tight, kick long, chip, turn the French around. Really clever rugby I thought.

Shame it could not be sustained for longer, but they did their fans proud. And won’t John Kirwan’s mum be pleased watching from the stands? I think so.

I know the stands may not have been full today, but there is certainly atmosphere.

I remain a fan of the French - I believe their backs are some of the players in the world: Rougerie, Clerc, Medard & Heymans are World Class. I look forward to the game against the All Blacks. France had a patchy start, just like us, so it will be a doozey.

Besides, when we both go through, we could still meet again ... in the final?

Again, these pretty graphics don’t mean squat if ruckingoodstats.com doesn’t crunch the numbers. Thanks, dude.

Pool D: Fiji v Namibia

The Namibians are the lowest ranked side at RWC 2011 - they did not play like it.

Pool B: Scotland v Romania

Big nod to Ruckingoodstats.com for his live data collection and analysis.

Pool A: New Zealand v Tonga

Well, we’re underway. Six tries to one is fine by me, as our back three looked potent enough, but even Ted only gave this one 5 out of 10. Now he was a Headmaster, so he knows that is not great ... kind of a “See me after class, boy” in his world.

Lots to work on, though Kahui and Dagg looked great, and SBW stepped up with some tasty offloads. Forwards seemed to go okay, but man did we go off the boil in the second half. I don’t know what to make of teh game really, I do not think Tonga played one of their best games yet they were drilling us in our own 22 for a while.

Really think that game has not answered any questions for the selectors, its clarified nothing. Though Toeava may get the drop, he was the worst of the backs. Nod to Colin Slade as well, his cool thinking, and use of a timed pass put Nonu in for his try when it looked to have gone begging.

One down. Six to go. But they are bigger games to come.

Big nod to Ruckingoodstats.com for his live data collection and analysis.