Rugby World Cup thread

[SirFozzie]

Have to rely on dodgy sources for some games, since they want $100 for live matches, but.. I can say that I've now seen a bigger upset then the Miracle on Ice, bigger then the Sox coming back from 3-0 down to the yankees, all that.

Japan 34-32 South Africa

Coming in to this game, Japan's Rugby World Cup record was 1 win, 1 draw, 21 losses.

South Africa were 1/1000 favorites.

[bhlloy]

Yep, pretty much. I can't think of anything I've ever seen like it.

That being said, the rugby naturalization rules really annoy me and take something away from it. Half of that team is about as Japanese as I am

Wales are hosed. Lost two of their best three backs before the tournament and are the third seed in the group of death with England and Australia. It really would take a miracle to advance at this point.

[Butter]

Don't understand why things like this and the Cricket World Cup are still PPV events, yet NBCSN is showing garbage like car auctions 4 hours a day.

[Groundhog]

Yeah, I believe 7 Japanese players are NZers? Not All Back standard, but still.

[Alf]

Argentina was on a mission vs New-Zealand and they were very good for 50minutes. They would have deserved getting the defensive bonus.

France will play either NZ or Argentina in 1/4 finals, and I am not sure I like any of those matchup.

[bhlloy]

So far I wouldn't be surprised to see England, France and Ireland in the semis with NZ. The Southern Hemisphere sides seem to be well below par so far, although that doesn't mean they won't settle in as the tournament goes along.

Wales had a guy score a hat trick against Uruguay and then go down with a torn hamstring and out for the tournament. Also all three props picked up knocks and not clear if any of them will be available moving forward. I don't think it's more than a 50-50 shot against Fiji at this point. The welsh media are talking their usual pie in the sky stuff and trying to say that they aren't underdogs against England, which is absolutely absurd