07 Rugby World Cup Official Thread

[nvd001]

don't think there has ben any mention of the up and coming World cup, so i thought it best to maybe get the ball rolling!!

i'll be honest and say that i don't usually follow Rugby that much but like to keep an eye on what's happening with the Aussies etc and love to jump on the "Fan" bandwagon come World Cup time!!

IMO i think the All Blacks have lost a bit of their invincibility aura that they had last year. it seemed like they were unbeatable there for what felt like 12-18 months, but i think they have come back to earth a little and think that this World Cup is anybodies this year!!

it looks like the Aussies are being treated like Kings in the little village where they have set up camp.

this is an article from the Courier Mail....i saw the story on Sports Tonight the other night...

THE Wallabies have had an amazing unofficial World Cup welcome to Montpellier with 9000 French fans turning out for a training session.

The Australian squad was cheered on to the Stade Yves-du-Manoir for the 90-minute session and then were given a standing ovation as Waltzing Matilda was played over the PA during a lap of honour
The picturesque town which hugs the Mediterranean at the south of France has taken little time to embrace the Wallabies, who arrived two days ago.

More than three-quarters of the specially constructed 13,000-seat stadium was filled on a balmy Sunday afternoon.

"I thought it was a bit of a gee-up that in our team meeting before we came here it would be a full house and it pretty much was," a surprised Scott Staniforth said after the sharp training run.

Even though the Australians were 50 minutes late for the session, partly due to a traffic jam surrounding the venue, the local fans quickly got into spirit of the occasion with a group of Bandas musicians entertaining the crowd before and during the work out.

"Everyone was saying 'What's going on here?' and then afterwards it felt like we played a game," utility back Staniforth said.

"Waltzing Matilda was playing and and we were thanking the crowd."

Montpellier, to host the Wallabies' third pool game against Fiji on September 22, was chosen as Australia's World Cup training base over two years ago and Stade Yves-du-Manoir was specifically built as a training venue.

While the town's official welcome occurs on Monday night, Montpellier's citizens got in early, with many waiting back later for autographs before the team bus departed.

They cheered every line break during attack drills and "tries" in the Wallabies simulated gameplay, as well as a couple of long-range field goals potted by Matt Giteau.

Lote Tuqiri was a crowd favourite, playing up to the fans immediately by running to each of the four stands and clapping the supporters.

His teammates responded with calls of "jambon, jambon", French for ham.

"He was hamming it up," fellow winger Drew Mitchell teased.

Playmaker Stephen Larkham was stunned by the reaction.

"They've taken us under their wing and I suppose we're their second team in the competition now," he said.

"It was amazing, fantastic. All the guys got a buzz out of that.

"We were lined up in the corridor before we ran out and everyone was getting nervous.

"And afterwards it was like we won a game."

And, going by the story on Sports Tonight, they basically have a police escort everywhere they travel in town, plus the towns gym has been 'shut down' 24/7 for the entire World Cup so it can be used solely for the Wallabies to work out!! LOL

GO THE WALLABIES

GOOD LUCK

 

[steve-o]

go wallabies even tough i am half new zealand

 

[Chris_paul]

Well im from South afrika so come on all you Zulu warriors ! and Australia aswell.

 

[Matt26]

Go the Wallabies......hopefully there wont be too many "nightclub incidents"

Cheers
Matt

 

[basketoz74]

I hope the Wallabies go well....however jus have the feeling that if the Frogs get enough games at home, they will be hard to knock-over if they reach the final four...

 

[AndrewG23]

go wallabies even tough i am half new zealand

likewise my friend! Go Wallabies

 

[TCAC]

I think it is the All-Blacks cup this time round. They have stuffed up the last 3with average teams.

Their stumbles have been due to lack of competition over the last 2 yrs, and not properly preparing 100%, like when we lost the Ashes in 2005.

Hope the Wallabies put up a good show, have a good team on paper.

Should be an interesting tournament.