Oct 4th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 18 Comments | print
And then there were 8. The quarter-finals of the 2007 RWC are set to kick off in a few days and to be honest, the match-ups are quite interesting. Even if you are a die-hard All Black fan, I think the fixtures are going to captivate rugby enthusiasts of all persuasions. → continue reading
Oct 4th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 1 Comment | print
“Nothing left but the crying” is probably the sentiment for many Irish, Welsh, Italians and Tongans this week as the pool stages end and the 3rd place finishers head back and start thinking about either retirement or the 2011 RWC in New Zealand. For a World Cup that was supposed to be a predictable spectacle by the ‘top-tier’ teams, the so-called ‘minnows’ flexed their might (and their hearts) and produced more flair and excitement than the championship favorites like France and the SANZAR nations. Here is how it breaks down pool-by-pool. → continue reading
Sep 8th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 2 Comments | print
RWC 2007 Predictions 4 - Pool C
There’s no arguing that New Zealand will do anything but crush every team in their Pool as warm-ups for their all-but-certain Quarter Final against Australia. Once we get past this though, there is an interesting match-up in Pool C: Italy vs. Scotland on Sep. 29th. Italy has made HUGE improvements in their rugby program since joining the 5 Nations in 2000 (to create the Six Nations Championship). Italy finished 4th above both Wales and Scotland in the 2007 Six Nations campaign, and turmoil in the SRU since then could spell trouble and a pool-round exit for the Scots.