Rugby World Cup 2007

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Don't know how many on the board are big Rugby people, I'm playing for Texas in September and I have my dorm room fully decked with my WALES stuff, I for one cannot wait. Anyone else?

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Would a real sport please stand up?

Alright, this is finally enough, Rugby is the most physically brutal sport in the world, youtube it if you don't believe me, we've always agreed States, but this time you're completely ignorant.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Ok.

USA will beat England in September! Suck it Lions!

You might already know this, but actually rugby is pretty big in California. Rugby in CA is kinda like a smaller version of lacrosse in the northeast from what I gather.

I saw on video the USA defeat Uruguay to qualify for the WC and a couple other matches (saw Wales tie the Aussies last year I think) and that's been the extent of my rugby watching. Would consider playing recreationally but I'm not in a large enough city that would have a club team.

First, England will never lose to the US no matter how many injuries the England side has.

Second, the English aren't the Lions, the combined team of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland is known as the British and Irish Lions.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

WALES 2007!


Absolutely robbed in the firwst test against Australia. Rugby is a sh**tty sport if you can lose AFTER THE GAME IS OVER!

Glad to see someone's paying attention, as to that first game... that's the way it goes, can't let uo, even after its over. Besides, we proved ourselves unworthy in that second game, perhaps they all went to eat at the same restaurant the night before?

[The Man From G.O.P.]

England was quite hapless, though I will make no gloating knowing the recent history of Wales v. Austrailia.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Looks like Springboks for us, joy, than again we could screw up and not get out of group....


Depressing overall, this is our sport, I'm looking for less excuses in the future, and byjesusgodsonofmary have an "injury" occur and put in GAVIN HENSON already, can't hurt at this point.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

HORRIBLE


AWFUL STUFF

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Yep, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I remember checking the scores in the first half... first time was 3-7, then 3-15, then 3-18, then 3-24...

They have got to do something about their dire showings during the first half. Second half; fine. Good side in the second half. First half; dreadful, leaning diabolical.

Try firing our uppity ass-hat of a coach.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Why can't we have a British national team ?

Dave

It would significantly reduce the number of regular competitive games playable in the Northern hemisphere. The 6 Nations (or whatever it would then become) would presumably be dominated by such a team with only France able to compete against them.

It would be quite silly, especially if Ireland was part of it.


Sigh...... I am quite depressed, my Grandpa sent me an essay he wrote a few years ago about how Welsh political and economic well being seems to mirror the success of the rugby team, hopefully this year wll be the exception, because we are truly in a miserable state.


However, there are some exciting prospects for a new coach, and in the words of JT "we're bringing sexy (Gavin Henson) back" and not a moment too soon.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

If the US diverted its focus into Rugby it would probably be world champions in a short time indeed I'm sure it is the most popular game across the pond in an alternate universe.

It's mildly popular in a few areas of the country (New England, Gulf Shores, Southern California) the problem is sub-proffessional sports in New England is the worst in the country, and American Football dominates the South and SoCal, not to mention feminine diseases like lacrosse have infected quite a few cowardly kids in the NE and West Coasts. I for one will back rugby teams here, and play in college, hopefully one day I will have a US team I can be proud of.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Are the Welsh obsessed with rugby?

Well... they'res not alot else to go on, with England dominant in soccer (tho Welsh Euro chances look very mildly possible) we have to focus on one thing, they do alright for such a little country.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Are the Welsh obsessed with rugby?

Well... they'res not alot else to go on, with England dominant in soccer (tho Welsh Euro chances look very mildly possible) we have to focus on one thing, they do alright for such a little country.

Good point. Scotland, up until 10 years ago was a regular performer in football on the international stage (despite not reaching the second round of any major tournament) and Rugby played second fiddle and was seen as too middle class a pursuit. The nation, particularly young people are getting more interested in rugby because, well we can win something in it sometimes. This year however Scotland sits atop it's group in the Euro 2008 qualifiers (after loosing out on the bid to host it) and if we qualify and Glasgow bags the 2014 Commonwealth Games, then as a nation we will get a boost.

We've got decent rugby and high unemployment, thanks for the latter Labour.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

We've got decent rugby and high unemployment, thanks for the latter Labour.

If you're going to make a pointless (not to mention off topic) partisan point, at least try to make it an accurate one; unemployment in Wales these days is around about the U.K average.

The country is miserable, in the ten years I've been sharp enough to notice when I visint in the summer, it doesn't get any better, they knock down historic buildings to build a shopping center so it can go out business in two years.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

We've got decent rugby and high unemployment, thanks for the latter Labour.

If you're going to make a pointless (not to mention off topic) partisan point, at least try to make it an accurate one; unemployment in Wales these days is around about the U.K average.

But what an average

''Official figures from the Department of Work and Pensions reveal that the 957,000 people claiming jobseekers' allowance are joined by 2.7m people on incapacity benefit and 777,000 lone parents deemed not to be in "the field of work".

An extra 368,000 people were judged not to be in paid work but instead caring for relatives and hence eligible for a special benefit. A further 314,000 people are in a special disability category, separate to Incapacity Benefit. The total amounts to a massive 5.29m people in receipt of out-of-work benefits, equivalent to 16% of Britain's working-age population. .

There is also a sharp regional variation, with the figure peaking at 31% in some parts of the Welsh valleys. In Glasgow and Liverpool, over 25% of the workforce is now jobless. This rises to 60% in the more deprived suburbs of large cities. Britain's long period of economic growth has completely bypassed 2.39m people who have been dependent on benefit for five years or more, the vast majority in categories which are not included in the official unemployment claimant count or survey, the analysis also reveals. ''

Edit. Off topic. I'll be good now. Obvious dig at government, not the disadvantegment of the Welsh Valleys or indeed my own local Lanarkshire coal belt.

Yeah nvm, go Scotland and England as far as I matter at this point.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

I hereby officially endorse Fiji.

My uncle who is camped in France (refuses to go home) says he will go for Fiji.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

It's not uncommon to hear support for Anyone but England around this country, and certainly I have been known to be not entirely displeased when England are less than  sucessful, but the level and vociforousness of comment in this thread has been quite remarkable - especially towards Mr. Wilkinson.

Yes, especially with how cute he is huh?

I don't know, I don't like and never have liked South Africa, but if England wins again, I know the rest of the Home Nats' will NEVER hear the end of it, and I don't like my Six Nations laced with English snobbery.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Worst. Final. Ever.

By. All. Measures.


Congrats anyway.