Well done to Argentina and the US! Argentina for beating France, and the US for holding England to only 18 points! (Anyone else watching?)

I'm watching with my hubby. He's cheering for South Africa and I'm cheering for SA, the UK and the USA. All 3 teams are in the same group so I'm finding myself in a conflict. At the end of the month it should be interesting when SA plays the USA.

That's going to be an interesting household as the tournament progresses! :-) The bookies (bookmakers - i.e. betting shops here) were offering 10-1 on Australia yesterday, which I think was probably the best bet. I think SA might sneak this (you read it here first)...

It's going to be very interesting when England play South Africa. My mom, dad, brother and his fiance will be cheering for England. My hubby, brother, sister and her husband will be cheering for South Africa.

Despite the middle of the night games for us I've been trying to watch as much as I can and with the Twenty/20 cup starting this week too I doubt I'm going to have much sleep in the coming weeks. .
That England/USA result was a huge surprise. It would seem the England aren't the force they were four years ago.

I'm still backing a Kiwi win but if I'd seen 10/1 on Australia that would ahve been hard to pass up.

That's cool! Be nice to talk as the tournament progresses. I'm going to Paris to watch Italy v Portugal - just want to be there

It's been quite a decent day for England teams today:
We beat the USA at Rugby (albeit rather shabbily).
We drubbed India in the one day series at Cricket...
and we beat Israel 3-0 in the football.
Not a bad day at all

I think England didn't perform as expected because of Johnny Wilkinson not playing. I felt sorry for Japan playing against Australia. I was cheering for Italy because they were wearing blue. Quiz_Beagle do you have any idea what odds the bookies are offering on New Zealand winning.

That'll be great, Beagle - hope you enjoy it. You can be the man on the scene and give us a match report lol

Sorry had left the window open and didn't check if there were any replies so the above message was in reply to QuizBeagle's comment about going to a game.

LA Best - the betting site for my state has NZ at 1.65, Australia at 7, Saffers at 6, England 31 and France at 8.50.

I wonder what the chances are of an England vs New Zealand final with England winning. Or is that more wishful thinking.

To L A Best - I see the odds from Copago - a NZ-England final is possible, but not hugely likely! The brilliant thing about this (for me) so far is how well 'the minnows' (i.e. not traditional Rugby countries) have stepped up to the plate with pride, passion and commitment. Something some of the 'big boys' (no names, no pack drill) have singularly failed to do.

I want to know if anyone thinks that Canada can get out of their group or is that wishful thinking on my part.

Also, what do they have to do to get to the next round? I know they lost to Wales. Can someone tell me their chances.

Trevor -
Canada lost to Wales after a marvellous first half and Wales having to bring on their big, experienced guns. They have to play Japan (winnable), Fiji (winnable) - and Australia. But so do Wales, and depending on points, who knows?
That's the wonderful thing about the World Cup!

Did anyone else watch Argentina v Georgia today? Ferocious or what? And bad luck, Georgia - you really took it to them!

Thank You Very Much, Quiz Beagle

Something for the Weekend (and next week) NB - I'm taking a week as Friday to Friday

Is this all a Cunning Plan by the World Cup holders? Surely they really can't be relying on someone who hasn't kicked a ball in two years? Seeing as it's South Africa they're playing..
'Men of England, stop your dreaming
Can't you see Habbanah's beaming..'
(With apologies to 'Zulu')
It's beginning to look as if the French tactic of awarding matches to the Celts to get the World Cup may have backfired on both them and the Scots. Scotland have to go from a hyped-up France, where everyone's talking Rugby, to play Romania at Murrayfield, which can be a very lacklustre venue, and France could end up having to play NZ in Cardiff! Wales may have done well out of the deal, though (If you believe the Aussies that they're nervous of playing the Millennium Stadium). I think Ireland v Georgia could be a...robust..game! Good luck to the gallant little Portuguese (Britain's oldest ally, remember) against the All Blacks. Also this week, a titanic Tonga v Samoa clash should be worth watching, Wales play Australia *and* Japan - will the Welsh revival continue? Canada up against Fiji, France v Namibia - France can't afford to lose again. And of course, the match I'm going to - Italy v Portugal. All to play for for everyone! Enjoy!

Can anyone tell me if a team can finish third and get to the next round. I realize Canada is not a factor in Rugby but if they finish third, can they make the next round? It sounds like a stupid question but I am not into Rugby so I don't understand the format. Thanks!

No, they can't, Trevor. There are four groups of five teams and only the top two go through (and it's not a stupid question - formats of sports competitions are whatever the organisers want them to be)

Thanks Again, Quiz_Beagle!
Trevor

Well, Wales were thrashed by Australia yesterday, and Canada play Fiji in (checks watch) 3 hours, so definitely all to play for! Georgia were robbed yesterday - they so deserved to beat Ireland and it was a great game. Also, I finally succumbed yesterday and bought a ticket to Scotland v New Zealand, so the day I get back from France, I'm belting up to Edinburgh! If I've got to see my team beaten, it might as well be by the best! ;-)

I´m Argentina and as you can very well imagine we are very proud of the Pumas. We know we cannot beat New Zealand, Australia or South Africa but our duty will be fulfilled if we beat Ireland.
I saw Argentina vs Georgia and the team didn´t play so well as against France but we won.
The best of luck for everybody.
Papo2228

Copago, it is the taking part that counts, not the winning so as we are still basking in the glory of winning the football world cup in 1966 we really don't need to win the rugby one again just yet so we will let you win it back.

Well, having just got back from Paris, thoroughly enjoyed the Italy v Portugal game (though I was *very* disappointed Mirco Bergamasco didn't play) I am driving up to Edinburgh tonight, so watch out for a Quiz Beagle in the audience for NZ v Scotland tomorrow. Paris is jumping - watched Wales v Japan in an Irish pub (O'Sullivan's on Bde. Montmartre - highly recommended) and France v Ireland in a French restaurant where my friend and I were probably the only 2 Anglo-Saxons!

Quiz, I am enjoying the World cup even though Canada is not doing well. I hope they win at least 1 game. This is my first time watching it. My question is who do you think will make the quarters, semis and finals. I am very curious. Also, who do you think will win the cup.