The Cellar - Rugby Union World Cup 2011

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Rugby Union World Cup 2011

The world's no.2 ranked country, Australia, just took the Bledisloe cup off the world's no. 1 ranked country, New Zealand, for the first time in 10 years.

The World cup begins in a little over a week, in New Zealand, where sport is king and Rugby is God. Despite usually being favourites, the All Blacks have been notorious chokers and have only won it once, in 1987.

Are we interested?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 753454)

Are we interested?

I like the All Blacks logo. The whole New Zealand fern thing is cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 753454)

Great news. Now get to work on your Palma Rifle ranking, you're only #3 and as Lightning McQueen says, "There's one winner and two losers."

Quote:

The PALMA Trophy Team Match
The PALMA Trophy Match Team is shot in three stages of slow fire in the prone position. The first stage is two sighting shots and 15 shots for record per shooter at 800 yards. The second stage is two sighters and 15 shots for record at 900 yards per shooter. The third stage is two sighters and 15 shots for record at 1000 yards per shooter. Each national team consists of 16 shooters who form ranks and shoot on four targets at each stage.

The PALMA bolt action rifles are 7.62mm NATO caliber (Winchester .308) and fire Match Grade ammunition using a 155 grain bullet.

Micrometer aperature (iron) sights are used for sighting.

The target is six feet square and has a 20 inch bullseye (10 ring). An aiming black circle of 44 inches includes a 9 and 8 ring. A possible score of 150 points can be achieved by each team member in each stage of fire. This adds up to 7,200 possible points for each national team per day of competition.

I'm looking forward to the highlights.
Rugby is best like sushi - bite sized portions.

USA did fairly well against Ireland. Even if they lost, they certainly made them pay for every meter gained. It was a hard hitting game, and the USA left a mark. The next two should be a bit easier, even though no one expects them to make it to the final rounds.

We here in the sunshine state have high hopes for The Reds, ooops, I mean Australia. :D

I think the wallabies are looking pretty good so far.
They had a solid 32-6 win over Italy, who are quite respectable.

The other major teams didn't do so well first up.
England struggled to beat Argentina 13-9. Wilko missed lots of kicks.
South Africa (defending champs) just barely edged past wales 17-16.
France needed a late surge to beat Japan 47-21. (The Cherry Blossoms, what kind of name is that for a rugby team?)
Even the All Blacks only beat Tonga 41-10, when they normally beat them by about 70 points.

Early days, and our winger Digby Ioane copped a broken thumb playing Italy.

Hey, you Merkins get to play Russia next!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 756138)

Even the All Blacks only beat Tonga 41-10,

That be racist!

You know what the NZ basketball team are called?

The Tall Blacks.

I think the Aussies are going to take this one. Everyone else seems to be struggling.

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/te...d=2050793.html

Russians closing gap, aiming for debut glory

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 756138)

(The Cherry Blossoms, what kind of name is that for a rugby team?)

Bloody good one I say.
I may be biased.
Especially as I have a cherry blossom motif on my personalised post-its...
(what? they're really useful for sending little messages home to Tiger-mum)

cherry blossoms isn't really very manly though is it?

Neither are rugby players...