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!

OK... I’ll take that bet (let’s make it a charity donation)

Of course it will be very difficult to judge who wins (we will both have to donate then of course) but my bet is on being able to find and post links to a lot of negative reviews about the WC over the next few weeks...

Like I said, just a friendly fiver as it will be impossible to prove which of us was right. My logic was that I've yet to see the BBC criticise union. ITV aren't going to slag off the sport they've ploughed millions into and Sky Sports put a positive slant on every sport whether it be speedway, baseball or conkers.

BBC already a little critical Rugby World Cup splutters into life - Opening ceremony outshines first match www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/alastaireyky ... _into.html

BBC already a little critical Rugby World Cup splutters into life - Opening ceremony outshines first match www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/alastaireyky ... _into.html

Serves you right mate,you will get no sympathy from me.

Each to their own mate,but don't expect me to agree if that's alright with you.

You are my kind of guy jonny.

Now I never thought I would say this because I am straight but I think I am in love.

Francis Meli will be crushed.

Why's that then Catalancs.

Amazing stat I've just seen. This afternoon Saints had a higher percentage of English born players then England in the union world cup this morning.

Aye 15 out of the seventeen where brought through the academy including Jon Wilkin who played several games in the academy and a win also,nice one,see you in the play offs Catalancs.

I see that Japan’s side today included several traditional Japanese names in their starting 15... Shaun Webb, Ryan Nicholas, James Arlidge, Luke Thompson and Michael Leitch

When the squads started to come out a few weeks ago I posted something to that affect. I think I'm right in saying that it's the case for almost every squad at the tournament.

And almost every sport on the planet... but it’s only Rugby League fans that label their own international sport a ‘joke’ for doing it

We get more than our fair share of help on that front from the press and media.

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/rugby-world-cup/8753459/Rugby-World-Cup-2011-ITVs-familar-faces-struggle-to-rise-to-the-occasion-during-opening-game-between-New-Zealand-and-Tonga.html?ITV coverage gets the thumbs down.[/url Just read some of those comments



[url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10750724Northern arrogance masks mediocrity[/url
[i'Most of the rugby played in the Northern Hemisphere for the past four or more years has been best suited to staging on a garbage tip. I suspect this tournament will be come-uppance time for most of those sides.'[/i

[url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2035904/Rugby-World-Cup-2011-Red-faces-ITV-Haskell-turns-air-blue.html?Language please![/url