Rugby World Cup 2011: Bring me those lamb chops…the good and the bad of an amazing tournament

The hangover is gone, the mild blues are gone and I've caught up on sleep – the past six weeks had taken their toll. The hangover is easy to explain – the All Blacks won and we celebrated with gusto.

Fit for the Cup. And a bbq...

The mild blues? I always get them after a Rugby World Cup. It's an event I look forward to for the best part of four years. And then, when the lights dim for the last time after the final, the rugby landscape just seems so barren again. We don't even have autumn internationals to look forward to this year.

But what a ride it's been. The early-morning fixes while I watched games on telly in the UK – I missed a total of only two games – and the time I spent in New Zealand were, as Kiwis like to say, just simply awesome.

What a tournament! In today's money-hungry times it may not have made the most sense to award RWC 2011 to New Zealand, but nobody in the world brings as much single-minded passion to the event as the rugby-mad Kiwis. Take a bow, it was a brilliantly organised and the most fun World Cup I've been to! And so a few other acknowledgements and disappointments (and please let me know yours, I fully appreciate there are countless other highlights and lowlights out there)…

RWC JOYS

The All Blacks finally shaking off that four-yearly monkey. Nay, it was a bloody gorilla on their backs! They've been the most consistent and impressive team at this tournament – and for most of the years between world cups since 1987 – and it's simply grand that they've now got the cup to show for it.

The hosts – warm, welcoming, always ready with a beer and some banter. There was a fear they'd care only about the All Blacks, but they embraced one and all. 

The so-called minnows – always gallant in defeat, always immense in their contribution. I've changed my mind on an earlier suggestion to limit RWCs to the top 12 teams in the world. Their commitment to RWC 2011 was outstanding… none more so than Tonga getting one over France. Will South Auckland ever forget that day?   

RWC DISAPPOINTMENTS

A lot of the refereeing – inconsistent, often overbearing, often lax. None more so than at the crucial breakdown. Always a great pity when referees, not the players, decide matches. And it's something that demands urgent IRB attention. Springbok and Wales fans will always claim – rightly or wrongly – that referees cost them a shot at glory.

France being fined for advancing on the haka – what an absolute lot of nonsense. France made a fantastic gesture, and the All Blacks, I have no doubt, would have respected that acceptance of the challenge. Pull your heads in, IRB. What a petty, pedantic response by the blazers.

Quade Cooper – so much promise, so much lip, so little class. And Sonny Bill Williams, who was meant to set the World Cup alight, but never more than flickered.

Dan Carter's injury – this was meant to be his big moment on home soil, but he was cruelly robbed of that opportunity. Big credit to the man for the way he dealt with the hammer blow.

England – what a rabble who couldn't maintain discipline for a maximum of six weeks. Even more lamentable was their constant defending of the antics – "it was all the media's fault" – and the misguided belief that they were playing well. A team that believed its own hype and hot air, only to plummet to earth. Fair play then to Lewis Moody, for describing them as 'at best naive and at worst totally unacceptable'.

And finally, just before this blog takes a break, a few thanks: to each and every reader of this blog. We've agreed and disagreed – and I would not want it any other way. You've been great. And to Maximuscle, for being the power behind my adventure to New Zealand. Your support for a trip of a lifetime was immense.

My rugby cup has runneth over… See you soon again.

Sponsored by Maximuscle and the Cyclone Challenge – build muscle in 30 days or your money back – www.maximuscle.com/cyclonechallenge

A Dalek – quintessentially English?

Went to a presentation launch for RWC 2015 to be held in England ( and a bit in Wales ). Behind the dias on which there were various formalities, was  a giant backdrop frieze of all things English, a bit of Big Ben, the Angel of the North, Houses of Parliament,  London Gherkin, a bit of countryside and… a bloody dalek. What on earth was that doing there?

Anyway, here's my top ten items for that backdrop as well as pointers for RWC 2015.

1 ) Twickenham Stadium.. may have been there, should have been centrepiece, from Old Billy's Cabbage Patch shot to modern stadium

2 ) Red stuff – postbox, phone box, double-decker bus

3 ) Beer, proper beer, oh for a beaker of the deep south of England after seven weeks of Kiwi  ****

4 ) Was the Olympic Stadium there? If not, why not? Surely it's supposed to be a landmark.

5 ) Buck Palace, HorseGuards, a bit of pageantry

6) The Lake District, the Dales, Cornwall - we too can do New Zealand spectacular..

7 ) Big sporting crowds in full voice…

8 ) Something to connect public and event.. been a warm feel to RWC2011. England will have numbers and generate revenue but needs to engender sense of fun and community

9) Rugby School – it is, after all, where it all began

10 ) Finally, a decent team.. England have to do better than it did here. Over to you, whoever you may be

 

Rugby World Cup 2011: What was really said in the England, Scotland, NZ and France dressing rooms…

Wonderful thing, this technology, allows me to eavesdrop on coaches in their dressing rooms. And given events of the past 24 hours, there’s been a lot of cheering and cussing.

This is what was said around New Zealand yesterday:

England’s Martin Johnson: “Jesus Christ, you bumbling idiots age me prematurely. Was getting ready to pack my bags when finally you played some rugby. Well done, lads, I thought we were done for. That said, thank the Lord we don’t have NZ, the Aussies or Saffas in our half of the draw because we would have been on a plane very soon.”

Scotland’s Andy Robinson: “Ah for ***** sake, how many times must I tell ye lads this game is 80 minutes long. You run and tackle and kick yourselves hoarse for 75 minutes, then get caught cold by what England are terrible at… running the ball to score tries. I figured out limp show against Argentina would come to haunt us. Let’s go home, we all need a strong wee drink.”

New Zealand’s Graham Henry: “Ah ****, ****, ****. Anyone but Dan Carter. Ah ****, ****, ****. Without him we’re just pants. Phone the PM and see if we can make Felipe Contepomi a Kiwi by Friday.”

France’s Marc Lievremont: “You are le merde, le stupid, le losers, le pathetic. My contract runs out on Oct 24 but I’m of good mind to fly home now. Then again, may as well stick around for this last week, we’re out of here after the quarter-finals. You stinking bunch of escargots.”

Tonga's Quddus Fielea: "Life is sweet, bro, pass me a beer. Sheesssss, what might have happened if we'd not folded to Canada. No worries, bro, next time."

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Rugby World Cup 2011: Predictions – Too little too late for Scotland, Samoa and Italy in battle of bonus points

Take your pick of headlines for this weekend’s rugby… Sweet and sour success for Scotland; Big hits but little luck for Samoa; Pasta and basta for Italy.

All three are tantalisingly close to the play-offs, but for different reasons they’ll all fall short of a quarter-final place.

Welcome to the start of the real world cup, a newspaper headline in Auckland read today, and they’re right. Come Sunday night and there will be elation and depression in almost equal measure. It’s the weekend of the bonus points.

Amazingly at this late stage in the pool games, only New Zealand are absolutely guaranteed a quarter-final berth irrespective of what happens in Pool A. Canada could still pip France to the runners-up place, but only a double-deluded dunce would see them beat the All Blacks with a bonus point in the process and France lose heavily to Tonga. So that’s settled.

Then it becomes interesting. Pools B and D will require bonus points to upset the current standings. Argentina will no doubt smash Georgia, so Scotland need not only beat old foe England at Eden Park on Saturday, but do so with four tries and deny England a losing bonus point.

A haggis or two too far? Absolutely – as Scottish fans here in Auckland readily admit. And yet, will this required hell-for-leather approach liberate the Scots for once and see them throw all caution to the wind?

I’ll predict Scotland to actually score a try or two – despite their lame duck performances at RWC 2011 so far – but to fall short in the end (and possibly even get beaten by England at the death as the clock ticks down and the dream dies fast). Scotland 21 England 19.

Likewise in Pool D, where the current table topper could still depart home on Monday. On most days I’d say smash-and-run Samoa have four tries in them, but they’ve looked hesitant at RWC2011 while South Africa are showing sharp and ruthless signs. Wales will do the business comfortably against Fiji on Sunday, so it’s goodbye Samoa at North Harbour on Friday. South Africa 37 Samoa 22.

The biggest and most intriguing battle looms in Pool C, where unbeaten Ireland could still exit early. And Italy don’t even need to score four tries to make that happen – though they’ll have to deny Declan Kidney’s team a losing bonus point.

But that’s poppycock. Italy's forwards are mostly awesome, but their backs often make a plate of spaghetti look orderly and organised. So Ireland 28 Italy 13.

Fair calls or ramblings of a madman as we start this weekend of shock and awe? Your calls please…

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Rugby World Cup 2011: RWC stats, numbers and facts … how many would you get right in a pub quiz?

Sitting at a Wellington cafe mulling over Pools B, C and D… will we see the pre-tournament favourites go through to the knockout phase, or will we see an upset or two this weekend? But that, and my predictions, will have to wait until tomorrow, so please come back and let me know how you see the final pool games unfolding.

Heading back up to Auckland first thing on Friday, in time to see the pools-deciding matches of South Africa v Samoa, England v Scotland and Fiji v Wales (and watching the rest on telly in a pub).

In the meantime, some interesting figures relating to the Rugby World Cup, courtesy of the RWC News Service.

2,246,685 - Record total attendance for a RWC tournament (2007). Attendance in NZ currently stands at about 760,000.

82,957 – Record crowd for a RWC match – Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Australia (2003 Final Australia v England)

12,278 - Points scored in RWC tournaments (1987-2007)

1,711 -  Most points scored by a team in RWC tournaments – New Zealand (1987-2007)

1,429 - Tries scored in RWC tournaments (1987-2007)

1,053 -  Penalty goals kicked in RWC tournaments (1987-2007)

1,014 - Conversions kicked in RWC tournaments (1987-2007)

975 - Most points conceded by a team in RWC tournaments – Japan (1987-2007)

361 - Most points by a team in a RWC tournament – New Zealand (2003)

249 -  Most points scored by a player in RWC career – Jonny Wilkinson (ENG) 1999-2007

233 -  Total number of matches played in RWC finals tournaments (1987-2007)

162 - Most points in a RWC match (New Zealand 145 Japan 17, 1995)

142 - Biggest winning margin in a RWC match (Australia 142 Namibia 0, 2003)

126 - Most points scored by a player in a single RWC tournament – Grant Fox (NZL), 1987

106 - Drop goals kicked in RWC tournaments (1987-2007)

45 - Most points scored by a player in a RWC match – Simon Culhane (NZL) against Japan (1995)

40 - Age of the oldest player in the RWC (1999) – Diego Ormaechea (URU)

25 -  Most points scored by a player in a RWC Final – Matt Burke (AUS) 1999

24 - Countries to have participated in the RWC (1987-2007)

23 -  Most drop goals kicked by a team at a RWC tournament – England (2003)

22 -  Most matches by a player in RWC career – Jason Leonard (ENG) 1991-2003

21 -  Countries to have participated in at least two RWC tournaments

20 - Most conversions kicked by a player in a RWC match – Simon Culhane (NZL) against Japan (1995)

19 - Age of the youngest player in the RWC (1987-2007) – Thretton Palamo (USA) in 2007

18 -  Most consecutive matches by a player in RWC career – Martin Johnson (ENG) 1995-2003

17 - Highest losing score in a RWC Final (England 20 Australia 17 aet, 2003)

16 -  Countries participating in the first RWC (New Zealand 1987)

15 - Most tries scored by a player in RWC career – Jonah Lomu (NZL) 1995-1999

14 - Players sent off in Rugby World Cup matches

13 - Most RWC matches hosted by one venue (Murrayfield, Scotland, 1991-2007)

12 -  Most successive RWC victories – set by Australia between their 1995 quarter-final defeat by England and the loss to the same team in the final eight years later.

11 - Matches lost by Namibia at the RWC (1999-2007) – every match they played

10 - Occasions that 10 or more conversions have been kicked by a player in one RWC match

9 - Players who have scored at least 100 points in one RWC tournament.

8 - Most tries scored by a player in a RWC tournament – Jonah Lomu (NZL) 1995 and Bryan Habana (RSA) 2007

7 - Players who have represented two countries in RWC history

6 - Most tries scored by a player in a RWC match – Marc Ellis (NZL) against Japan (1995)

5 - Most drop goals kicked by a player in a RWC match – Jannie de Beer (RSA) against England (1999 quarter-final)

4 - Most tries by a forward in a RWC match – Brian Robinson (IRE) 1991 and Keith Wood (IRE) 1999

3 - Most red cards in a RWC match – South Africa v Canada (1995)

2 -  Hosts to have won the RWC – New Zealand (1987) and South Africa (1995)

1 - Northern hemisphere countries to have won the RWC – England (2003)

0 - RWC winners who have successfully defended their title

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Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand v France … the All Blacks to shake off their French choking syndrome

New Zealand v France, it’s probably fair to say it’s all Kiwis versus the rest of the world, such has the fascination become with the All Blacks’ famous ‘choking’ at World Cups.

And it's comforting to see that there appear to be tens of thousands of Frenchies in town, kitted out in berets and yelling 'Allez Bleus' at anyone who cares to listen.

So, to ease my own anxieties I turned to the stats guru  to see if facts and figures can provide some comfort – and yes, they do (at least regarding the overall picture)

First the good stuff. Consider that over the years New Zealand and France have faced each other 49 times, the All Blacks winning 36, losing only 12 with one draw.

Consider too the ‘fortress’ that’s Eden Park. Played 67, won an impressive 55, with 10 defeats and two draws.

And break that down to these two teams playing at Eden Park, and New Zealand lead 6-2 from their eight encounters.

But then comes the sobering stuff… In RWC clashes they’ve both won two matches – who could forget France reducing the All Blacks to quivering wrecks in 1999 and 2007, .while NZ emerged on top in 1987 and 2003.

And then there’s the Eden Park omen. While NZ have been unbeaten there in the last 24 tests (23 victories, one draw), their last defeat – in July 1994 – was against, well, none other than the French. Who then, just for good measure, proved they like facing the ABs in New Zealand by beating them in Dunedin in 2009.

Thankfully, much as stats can be interesting, they can also be lies and damn lies. And Saturday night will all come down to what makes rugby the spectacular game it is… Mighty collisions upfront, clever running lines at the back, heroic defence, the odd lucky bounce of that strangely shaped ball, the passion, the grit (and hopefully not a single contentious decision by a match official).

Time to stick my neck out again. The All Blacks to rip that RWC hand from around their throats and deal to the French true and proper. Something like 34-14.

What do you make of it? And predictions please.

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Wales Robbed by Duff Call and Question Marks about Ball

Why, oh why didn't Wayne Barnes go to the TMO when there was clearly doubt about James Hook's penalty kick in the 14th minute? The technology is there. Use it. It may not even have been conclusive but while there is doubt, there is controversy. Wales deserve better, so does the game.

 

But what a game. Not one of the Welsh bleaterd about the result or Barnes' stance. Good on them. That shouldn't stop us though. Was he right or wrong?

 

A few other thoughts before heading out of rainy Wellington to Queenstown where England are based.

Is there anything wrong with the World Cup ball or did Jonny just have a nightmare evening? James Hook missed a late one too, not to mention drop goal miss by Rhys Priestland.

Is there a better prospect in Britain and Ireland than Sam Warburton? A Lions captain in the making.

Didn't England look a ragged bunch in those black shirts, numbers falling off their back. Mind you, no-one in England complains when the Kiwis wear a white change strip. Too precious by half AB fans. It's the silver fern that defines the shirt not a shade of colour.

Rugby World Cup 2011: No chance of All Black complacency this time around

Just arrived in Dunedin, 36 hours after leaving home in Brighton…

First impressions…

1 ) It’s a long way.. and will that put off the supposed thousands of overseas fans headed this way? I don’t know a single person bar colleagues coming to RWC.

2 ) It’s expensive. Three quid for a bottle of water.. five quid for a sandwich.. $90 dollars ( c £55 ) for airport to Dunedin city centre.. see above, perhaps another deterrent.

3 ) It’s not as brass monkeys as feared. In fact, it was a lovely day. Stunning scenery as ever on flight Auckland to Dunedin via poor old Christchurch.

4 ) RWC stuff everywhere so there’s a sense of a buzz building which is to the good.

5 ) But not if it’s all focussed on how well the All Blacks do. This is about the World Cup not about the All Blacks.

6) People as laid-back and friendly as ever.

7 ) But they’re edgy about the ABs doing well. And that could be the best thing for the Blacks. There will be no complacency this time around. They’re going to have to win it.

Five days and counting. I had my reservations about this tournament. I no longer do.

First Impressions of NZ 2011

Just arrived in Dunedin, 36 hours after leaving home in Brighton…

First impressions…

1 ) It’s a long way.. and will that put off the supposed thousands of overseas fans headed this way? I don’t know a single person bar colleagues coming to RWC.

2 ) It’s expensive. Three quid for a bottle of water.. five quid for a sandwich.. $90 dollars ( c £55 ) for airport to Dunedin city centre.. see above, perhaps another deterrent.

3 ) It’s not as brass monkeys as feared. In fact, it was a lovely day. Stunning scenery as ever on flight Auckland to Dunedin via poor old Christchurch.

4 ) RWC stuff everywhere so there’s a sense of a buzz building which is to the good.

5 ) But not if it’s all focussed on how well the All Blacks do. This is about the World Cup not about the All Blacks.

6) People as laid-back and friendly as ever.

7 ) But they’re edgy about the ABs doing well. And that could be the best thing for the Blacks. There will be no complacency this time around. They’re going to have to win it.

Five days and counting. I had my reservations about this tournament. I no longer do.