Rugby World Cup!

[iamafish]

Anybody else following it? USA and Canada both have teams and the USA just played very well in defeat to the Irish. Canada play their opening game on Wednesday against Tonga.

http://www.espnscrum.com/2011-rugby-wor ... 86293.html

This isn't a bad site if you want to follow the comings and goings of the tournament.

I just hope there aren't any Argentinians around after yesterday's England game against them...

[WBAGNR]

Wales were desperately unlucky, but from the bits of the match I saw, it was a good game. Two goal attempts could have won it, shame they missed them.

[Merrymaker_Mortalis]

I don't really care for sporting events. But since this is a sport which Wales is *actually good at* then I suppose I may show a bit of undercover intregue. Australia will win again however.

[Lord Chrusher]

Guess who has two thumbs and will be at the Canada Tonga game? This guy!

For some reason a year and a half ago I bought tickets to Canada's four pool matches not thinking how much work I would miss or how much it would cost. I leave for New Zealand for three weeks the day after tomorrow.

In addition to Canada Tonga, Canada France, Canada Japan and Canada New Zealand I have tickets to Fiji Samoa, South Africa Namibia and France Tonga.

[aeric90]

Lord Chrusher I hate you very very much... but that's mostly jealousy...

I've watched two games so far at odd hours. For once TSN is actually covering the RWC here. I'm frankly quite shocked at the almost upsets in the Romania Vs Scotland and Argentina Vs England game, particularly the later since the Pumas got the point for the spread.

I'm obviously hoping for Canada to get 2 wins in their pool but North American rugby is so focused on sloppy rucking that my hopes aren't up to high.

[Tim]

I don't understand the scoring, really. Five points for getting into the endzone and two points for the kicked conversion, I think? How else can you get points?

And you aren't allowed to throw the ball forward, right?

[WBAGNR]

Yeah, all good so far, Tim.

You can also score a penalty, which is like a field goal in American Football, in that it's kicked off a tee. That's worth 3 points.

As well as that you can score a 'drop goal' which is a kick from open play where the ball in kicked as it strikes the ground, rather than a punt. Same thing applies, got to go above the cross-bar and between the two uprights.

[Elomin Sha]

Hopefully I'll get to watch Canada vs Tongo in Victoria. Any rugby fans want to meet up and watch?

[Tim]

Can you explain a drop goal a bit more? Does the ball have to bounce off the ground before you kick it? How many points is it worth?

[Trymantha]

I live within 750 meters of the stadium where the England Argentina game was played. and where most of England's pool games are being played.


I couldn't care less to be honest

Can you explain a drop goal a bit more? Does the ball have to bounce off the ground before you kick it? How many points is it worth?

no and 1 I think

[iamafish]

yes and three.

do totally wrong try

you have to kick the ball on the half volley for a drop goal, and it's worth 3 points, the same as a penalty.

[WBAGNR]

I live within 7500 meters of the stadium where the England Argentina game was played. and where most of England's pool games are being played.


I couldn't care less to be honest

Can you explain a drop goal a bit more? Does the ball have to bounce off the ground before you kick it? How many points is it worth?

no and 1 I think

Hang your head in shame- call yourself a Kiwi! (Only joking mate )

This is a drop goal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DkPOO2tF0o&feature=player_detailpage#t=19s

It should be noted that most drop goals are kicked closer to the posts. For example, this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaDjtEkAGQc&feature=player_detailpage#t=35s

[Trymantha]

yes and three.

do totally wrong try

you have to kick the ball on the half volley for a drop goal, and it's worth 3 points, the same as a penalty.

shows how much I care about rugby

[Elomin Sha]

Kill the non-believer.

[Lord Chrusher]

I live within 7500 meters of the stadium where the England Argentina game was played. and where most of England's pool games are being played.


I couldn't care less to be honest

Can you explain a drop goal a bit more? Does the ball have to bounce off the ground before you kick it? How many points is it worth?

no and 1 I think

Hang your head in shame- call yourself a Kiwi! (Only joking mate )

This is a drop goal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DkPOO2tF0o&feature=player_detailpage#t=19s

It should be noted that most drop goals are kicked closer to the posts. For example, this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaDjtEkAGQc&feature=player_detailpage#t=35s

Drop goals are worth 1 point in rugby league though.

[WBAGNR]

Yes true.

Who played last night/ today?

[Lord Chrusher]

No games today or tomorrow I am afraid.

One of the Canadian players, Sean White, was in the same year as my younger brother and played school and club rugby with him. I played a bit of rugby with his older brother who was in the same year as me.

[iamafish]

Drop goals are worth 1 point in rugby league though.

but that's irrelevant because league is rubbish

[Lord Chrusher]

True league is rubbish but it might explain Trymantha's confusion.

[iamafish]

true...

[aeric90]

I think we discused this before but I'm pretty sure Chrusher was a forward, right?

[aeric90]

Oh! Incidentally I was shown on the NBC broadcast of the USA vs Ireland match yesterday during their segment on Mark Bingham, one of the founders of the gay rugby movement in North America and a victim of 9/11. My ass is apparently visible during footage from last year's Bingham cup.

[Elomin Sha]

Stay classy aeric.

[Lord Chrusher]

I think we discused this before but I'm pretty sure Chrusher was a forward, right?

In my limited rugby playing career I played prop or lock.

I assume as this was American television aeric90's ass was fully clothed.

[WBAGNR]

So Canada beat Tonga. That's a shock result, but a good one for Canada