Usain who?



Just thinking, how could a game on the other side of the world that kicked off at 9:30 in the morning affect the attendances of two domestic games played at 7:45pm later that same day?

I'm particularly amused by his dismissal of Aussie Rules (which despite being a bit odd I do enjoy) as being limited to 3 states. Well, firstly, it isn't; secondly, I can see it spreading even to New Zealand within 20 years; and I'm convinced that it's going to be the fastest-growing sport on earth in the next fifty years.

And in Australia at least, it won't be RL that is the victim, it'll be Union.

I am yet to meet one person who has mentioned the yawnion WC. I never realised what a fortunate lifestyle I lead.

To be honest, I have seen and heard far less interest in this WC than the last couple. We have a TV in the reception here (London) and I walked through at about 10.00am and there were about 40 men and women in their 20’s there and only one was actually watching the All Blacks game

If that had been a World Cup football game there would be a lot of interest whoever was playing. Not very scientific I know but reflective of a lack of interest in the wider tournament (I’m sure the home nations game will be followed closely of course)

Now- I must admit that I play Union (it's a good game to play, even though it's rubbish to watch)- and the union players are the only people I know who have been discussing it. But to be fair to them, a fair few also have been discussing RL.

Other than that, just the usual sprinkling of "oooo it's a big tournament" gloryhunters who couldn't tell a fly-half from a half of mild.

Their friends in the media seem to be trying their best to promote it, especially the newspapers I have seen, but it is not having the desired effect. Whether people have written this one off already I don't know. No doubt when a few plucky minnows have been put to the sword the shirts will be out.

Just watched Jeremy Guscott's Rugby World Cup ones to watch, you can tell I'm bored... news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 827087.stm If that is the best bits of the best players then it is going to be a long tournament!

Just watched Jeremy Guscott's Rugby World Cup ones to watch, you can tell I'm bored... news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 827087.stm If that is the best bits of the best players then it is going to be a long tournament!

Now I know you are obviously a Wire fan and I can live with that.

Now though you are saying you play union has made me see you in a completely different light,I thought you where a decent guy until you mentioned this.

How long is this union WC on for,three or four weeks.

Make yourself comfortable, final is October 23rd.

Most World Cups start to lose momentum when the frequency of the games reduce after the group stages. There has to be real interest to keep the public engaged for this long

The cricket World Cup gets criticised for being too long and anti climatic with the groups and then super 8’s and I think the RWC is in danger of the same with 4 group games per team and then the quarters, semis and final. By the end of October there may be a lot of people saying “is that still going on?”

I'm there on 9 September.

Round where I live and work I don't think anyone is aware that the tournament is taking place at all, let alone England are about to play their first game. I haven't heard anybody mention it whatsoever.

20 teams is too many IMO. There should be a maximum of 16 with 4 groups of 4 as there are some teams there that shouldn't be anywhere near a world cup.

Yes, but without the whipping boys and their porous defences, how else do they get any trys in the tournament?

Surely plucky, developing nations?

Haha! Not a lot of League round here, and not always got car access- so you take what you can get. But Union is a good game to play- but everything that makes it good to play makes it god-awful to watch.

But in other news- England's indiscipline in this game is hilarious.

I’ve just put it on for the last 10 minutes... so Jonny Wilkinson has missed 5 kicks at goal and has just kicked a conversion in front of the posts to convert an England try and put them 10-9 up

If England win this game then ‘Jonny comes to the rescue’ will be all over the back pages

From their cheap and nasty shirts, with their cheap and nasty numbers that don't stay on, to their total lack of attacking ideas, England were rubbish.
They won ... the only consolation.

They have been in a training camp since June.
What they have learned seems to be how to give penalties away like freebies, miss penalty kicks, take the ball standing still, kick the ball away for no good reason, etc etc.

Martin Johnson, well done!

In Rugby League circles we complain about the lack of outside backs but our three quarters are light years ahead of the England RU team who seem genuinely unable to attack with speed and accurate passing

England will now grind through 3 more group matches and not face another tough game for a month (unless the Scots raise their game)

was watching pre game today with the argies- england game and it went through all the positions .. lock, full back etc..all numbers have a specific name except no8 lol.. he is just a number 8.. no position? whats that all about

Right that's me done till the knockout stage. Can't believe I stayed in for that when the rest of my mates went to the beach.

The no8 position in union is called...suprisingly No8. Strange, but true.

Got some bad news for you CJ. 6 weeks.
6 weeks of this dross with people pretending it's good and interesting.
Well it's not.
I promise not to watch a minute of it, I turn off the TV and radio every time it gets dragged up.

I think that there is a real possibility that this World Cup will get a negative reaction from the UK public. There was a real surge in interest in Union after it went pro and then England won the WC in 2003 (international success will naturally drive interest in any sport)

But the England Argentina game saw 16 penalty shots at goal taken (5 successful)... of course diehard fans of the sport will say its tactical and nail biting stuff but there is no way that this will appeal to the wider public.... the Emperor’s new clothes will be seen for what they are

I'll have you a friendly fiver it doesn't


I agree about the Emperor's new clothes (as often put forward by tigertot), but the people who watch the coverage on ITV will more often than not repeat the views spouted by the commentary team down the pub in an effort to sound knowledgable.
As I posted this morning I'm done till the groups are finished. I can't believe I gave England [ianother[/i chance and missed the NRL games!