As long as the team don't get overconfident after a few early walkovers.

can't see them crying "win-na" after a few walkovers.

my greater concern is injury. woodcock is bruised as well now.

He's thrown a kettle over a pub you know. What have you done?

So what happens if the RWC turns out to be a parade of such games? Will we be all jaded and shit about winning the thing?

Of course, we'll never be happy :)

Nah the knock out games will be good.

But about the game: I found it incredibly dull after a while.

So what happens if the RWC turns out to be a parade of such games? Will we be all jaded and shit about winning the thing?

How can I national character truely be measured with all of this miscegenation?

Whut?

But about the game: I found it incredibly dull after a while. The last few minutes were good though (Italy should've got that last try).

England v USA looked good. USA looked equal parts intense and…

Anyone checked out the England cricket team recently?

all of them wearing all black jumpers...

watching the italian game ( yes! they have just scored!), I was wondering how many of your lot are from New Zealand? , and yes I have heard of Maoris

21 of the squad of 22 were born here, I think. The exception being Sivivatu, and he played here for…

With the exception of Sivivatu, all those funny brown people in black were born or brought up in NZ.

How about a new IRB rule where you had to at least attend primary school in a country to represent them? We keep all bar Sivivatu. How many other nations…

I seem to remeber the All Blacks Red Tape over their Steinlager sponsored jerseys a few years back.

In Canty DB are infamous for taking kids CD raincoats off them in the pouring rain. Not that anyone would see the CD over the…

Also, surely we're all excited to watch the opening game?

France. Argentina. It's got "upset" written all over it.

Damn you're good.

I do alright, send all money to The Dropkicks

Yeah, I was, and I sent them a nastygram.

But we have to face it. The Nazis did pioneering work in mass communication and propaganda. Any big campaign runs…

The Romanians had trouble getting a Team together when the privious team died fighting for Ceauşescu. They were the secret police.

i'm not sure that's entirely accurate. the two main teams were based around the army and the police.

after the revolution the teams lost funding, so started to go…

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200608/r101750_311053.jpg
http://www.wotzon.com/event_img/5009535_1.jpg
http://old.thesilverfern.co.nz/images/photosport/wallpapers/muliaina_1024.jpg

Nationalistic sports campaigns tend to embody a few dodgy sorts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rugby_union

After the defeat of France in 1940, the French Rugby Union authorities worked…

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/flash/page/0,,2162924,00.html

No more years. Go the All Blacks.

Hmmm, can't see Los Puma's springing an upset though, methinks that canny Laporte has the Frenchies brewing nicely and they will win their group in a canter.

.... have a very limited future as a professional tipster.

Also, surely we're all excited to watch the opening game?

France. Argentina. It's got "upset" written all over it.

Damn you're good.

I will say to Craig though, we are fully allowed to complain about the refs if they don't do their job correctly.

Sure – far be it from me to crush anyone's dissent. (Though the prospect of sports talkback being reduced to dead air is a most attractive one.) :)…

From: H1 via H2
To: Michael Cullen

Re-election strategy:

1. Get down the TAB and put the entire surplus on "Any Other Nation" to win the Cup. Currently paying over 2 to 1 (yes, really). A much better bet than the Kiwi dollar.

2. When the…

Dude, that's my upload! 25,000+ views!

not any more. now it is our upload. :)

and thought from memory it might be williams. but the pc i'm currently on doesn't show me videos.

i can't see if it is hayman very well, but i'm assuming you're talking about the second video on this post.

Dude, that's my upload! 25,000+ views!

It's Ali Williams dumping Gregan there.

A couple of Tracey Nelson's game stats packages this season have shown what an incredible player Hayman…

I love the flurry of activity World Cups and like prompt in En Zed's blogosphere and look forward to joining in properly once me…

And we can only pray that Big Carl continues his miraculous run. When you look at the work that man does in a test match, it's scary.

i can't see if it is hayman very well, but i'm assuming you're talking about the second video on this post.

"Beginning the World Cup by playing this mythical team is a great honour," said Berbizier.

if Kellerher got injured I'd be comfortable with Leonard starting.

I'm not worried so much about ability, but big game experience in a crucial position

My biggest concern when Weepu got dumped was the lack of depth we have at halfback in this squad ...

I'm not particularly worried about halfback — if Kellerher got injured I'd be comfortable with Leonard starting. The locking positions are where cruel fate has left us very thin indeed.…

He says its gonna happen now, When exactly does he mean? see we’ve already waited too long

Bit of a sporting wonderland at the moment – if the stars align nicely we will in about 7 weeks time see AB's getting the worlds biggest sporting monkey off their backs, the Warriors winning the NRL, and Liverpool still top of the table :)

go with 2 of 3…

My biggest concern when Weepu got dumped was the lack of depth we have at halfback in this squad, and the rest of your predictions worry me greatly too! (esp number 5!)

FWIW, I do believe we'll win.

Andy Ellis will be called on for some significant game time late in the tournament

Sitting on my desk is the match programme from th 1999 semi final against France. It lists the three half backs as Marshall (34 caps), Kelleher (3 caps) and Rhys Duggan (uncapped). My biggest concern…

Happy to be proved wrong though.

And I always thought JM was a bit of a whinger, who played well when surrounded by others playing well.

I always thought Marshall was an extra loose forward, which can be useful in the league-style phase attack game played so often in the tight ones.

and let him talk.…

But, for now, I'm just waiting for 11.45 tomorrow night. Finally, this thing starts. There is nothing to keep in reserve now. I'm not nervous yet, but this is going to be a long six weeks.

Ok, time for a NZ prediction or two then:

1. Dan Carter is going…

I will say to Craig though, we are fully allowed to complain about the refs if they don't do their job correctly. However, I don't think anyone will buy it from us this time around.

And I…

The nadir of selfishness.

Shouldn't that be zenith of selfishness? (pendantry ahoy)

With fear and trembling, I'll attempt to defend Justin.

He still strikes me as the kind of guy who walks up to women in nightclubs and says 'Hey babe, it's your lucky day'. Probably while tossing his curls and looking round for Tom Hanks.

But oh no, he couldn't depart the big stage so easily, people were watching, and he was a passenger for the next 30 minutes as Aussie took full advantage.…

and the Wallabies George Smith crunching Marshall in a very late tackle

Causing Meg to oscillate wildly .....

Have a nice time folks, and I'll see y'all in a month's time.

You're not the one for me, Rugby
You're not the one I really, really love...

Yes Merc, that was my point...yours is?

And I for one have an innate mistrust of blokes who bleach their hair blonde...being a hardcore surfer is the only way to achieve that look with integrity.

Point of history, no hardcore surfer ever bleached, the sun just did it anyway, it used to indicate a lengthy spell (some…

and as for robyn starting this meme, sheila, take a bow.

Aw, thanks. Looks like I started something I couldn't finish.

I guess Justin is just nostalgic for the days when he was the boy with the Thorne in his side ...

That was coffee-out-the-nose funny, ow! Who would have…

1/ Laporte has powerful friends in the French government.

2/ Our innocent Anglo-Saxon heritage means…

It's a stretch but on the day of the final, A Rush & A Push & the Land (Cup) Is Ours (enough of the Smiths, pleeeese!)

I like what you did there, and no, there is never enough...

Scotland v Italy
England v SA
Wales v Australia

Would like to think Samoa could knock over the Poms & Fiji could beat the Welsh, but I wouldn't bet the house…

He fails to understand that most All Black fans (and most Kiwis for that matter) don't warm to people who talk themselves up or whinge when the tide turns.

Well, I certainly hope the AB's – and the press pack – are going to avoid whinging about the refs. Perhaps…

If [Flavell] goes, he might just surprise.

you mean when he punches someone at the wrong moment, causes a penalty and we lose by 3 points?

That's the only reason it scares me put him in the squad. Any other tournament, no worries.

and the French are looking good, I…

and as for robyn starting this meme, sheila, take a bow.

He fails to understand that most All Black fans (and most Kiwis for that matter) don't warm to people who talk themselves up or whinge when the tide turns.

And I for one have an innate mistrust of blokes…

me never get over 1981 Springbok Tour

me still fascinated how many ardent '81 protestors did

me should just take blue pill and wave All Black flag

rah rah Go Kiwi!

"hate the playa, not the game" ???

Honestly having a hard time remembering a time when he has done anything but in the media.

Hmmm, can't see Los Puma's springing an upset though, methinks that canny Laporte has the Frenchies brewing nicely and they will win their group in a canter.

Justin Justin Justin, there is a fine difference between providing 'good copy' and making yourself look like a dork.…

strange days, here we come.

I would LOVE to see that.

> France. Argentina. It's got "upset" written all over it.

So... you'd expect France to win, right? Hmmmmmm

The tournament starts tomorrow morning (Fra – Arg) not with the All Black game.

For the next month (pool play) there are bugger all possibilities for upsets, and tomorrow morning is one…

If he goes, he might just surprise.

But when you start to play like poos, and on the cusp of being dropped bail to play for someone else in another country, then…

(Holy shit. I just wrote a comment about rugby.)

Signed off with a Smiths song title, no less. Snap-ity, snap, snap, snap!

I think people haven't moved into full-on "Justin is awesome!!!" hero worship yet because a) he's still young…

what the hell does he want, a life-time supply of glory?

Of course he does, you silly pudding. And I want to shag Daniel Carter until his eyes pop out, but that's not going to happen either.

As for the Brits being "very receptive of their players", WTF planet is…

France. Argentina. It's got "upset" written all over it. Not to mention the awe and pageantry of the opening ceremony. Lights, fireworks, dancers in fabulous costumes interpreting native customs, and speeches by old men. All in front of an unappreciative…

he's from a country where people worship the ground an all black walks on, and he's having a little tissy about not getting enough recognition?

what the hell does he want, a life-time supply of glory?

oh, wait... he already had that...

Have a nice time folks, and I'll see y'all in a month's time.