Rugby World Cup 2007 Update!

Updates! Updates!

All Blacks 40 - 0 Scotland
Well the All Blacks won there match against Scotland. 40-0 Scotland basically didn't start off as well as what they should've of. Most of the time they spent defending and making errors. All Blacks on the other hand played a different game of rugby, having the forwards score tries and Doug Howlett making is record of being the top try-scorer with is double against scotland. Simple handling errors were made and the option of not going wide coped them with their decisions.
The All Blacks outlined their intentions before kickoff by performing their valued Kapa O Pango haka for the first time at this tournament.

Australia beat Fiji 55 - 12

The seven-tries-to-two victory garnered the Wallabies a bonus point and a safe passage to the knockout stage of the tournament. Centre Matt Giteau scored two tries in his 50th international, adding 17 points with the boot.
However, Fiji continued to plug away and were rewarded with a try to flanker Aca Ratuva after Mosese Rauluni broke through the Wallabies defence at the line-out. Captain Seremaia Bai converted to bring his side back to 28-12. Giteau's third penalty at the 50th minute mark extended Australia's lead to 31-12.
Making clean breaks and picking up on handling errors Fiji made. Unforunately Fiji's defence wasn't the best but they did make a great effort.


Argentina beat Namibia 63-3

The match was 26 minutes old before they found the Namibia line courtesy of loosehead prop Rodrigo Roncero, who crashed over following a series of strong forward surges.A dominant scrum and growing composure in attack enabled Argentina to start to assert their ascendancy, with further tries to Manuel Contepomi and number 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon to lead 25-3 at the break.The Pumas were all business following the resumption and the bonus point was safely banked when fly half Felipe Contepomi ghosted through the Namibian defence to score under the posts from where he easily converted.


England 44 - 22 Samoa

It was do are die for the Manu. England team wasn't as impressive, okay they had Johnny Wilkinson back on board and they won against Samoa, but I question their defence and attack methods. Injuries from the Manu seeing Cenus out of the game. The Chiropractor veteran Briam Lima ending his record of being in 5 rugby world cup competitions.
Samoa defintely played better against England.




South Africa 30 -25 Tonga

This game had me on the edge of the seat! Seeing the Tongan boys go hard and play their game of rugby and applying pressure to the South African defence line. This Tongan team is possibly the best composed Tongan team I've seen in a while and good on the boys for setting the standards against the big guns South Africa.





Thoughts:

Which brings to the issue of the IRB. These Pacific Island teams who play well.

Are they going to make more avenues for pacific Island teams to get more of a chance?

How much support and money are they willing to help with developing their teams?

Because Australia and New Zealand seems to take take and take these players from smaller nations. Tie them up with contracts and then puts players in a disadvantage especially with rules and regulations, where they could be playing their mother nation.

Hats off to the boys who play for their Mother Nation. Because these smaller countries do have talent, the only problem is having enough resources and that where the challenge is to the IRB.

On a Sad note: I just heard from news back home from Wellington, the passing of Tana Umaga's father. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, mother, brothers and sisters during this time of sorrow Tana.