Rugby World Cup 2011 is alive and kicking, and doubts that people would turn out to watch matches have been well and truly erased. There were excellent crowds in Invercargill to watch Romania play Scotland, and in Rotorua for the clash between Namibia and Fiji. North Harbour Stadium was close to capacity for the Japan versus France match, and there was a full house in Dunedin as England all blacks (lower case intentional!) played Argentina. There now seems little doubt that ticket sales will at least reach the pre-tournament target of $268million.
Yesterday's weather helped; it was terrific to see rugby being played with sun on the players' backs; in the first two matches at least. Today might not be so lucky!
Scotland rallied late to beat Romania in Invercargill. With time ticking down, Romania led 24-21, but a late Scottish try saved some blushes in what could have been RWC's biggest-ever upset. The Scots emerged with a 34-24 victory and five competition points, but not before the Romanians had given them a great contest and a huge fright.
Right-winger Vereniki Goneva was the star of the show in Rotorua scoring four tries as Fiji overwhelmed Namibia 49-25. The sun shone on Rotorua International Stadium, and with a huge local contigent of Fijian fans, our island neighbours must have thought they were playing at home! Namibia tried hard, and first five-eighth Theuns Kotze did enough to suggest that he was a graduate of the Pretoria Drop Kick Academy with three field goals in the first 15 minutes of the match. It was a terrific game of rugby with action aplenty.
France was expected to run up a cricket score against Japan at Albany, but the Japanese showed a lot of courage before going down 47-21. France played as France so often does; brilliantly in fits and starts, but their coach suggested after the match that there was a bit of complacency. The French probably have even more work to do before their next match than the All Blacks, and their defence was particularly suspect. Meanwhile, we suggest that John Kirwan's Japanese side will be targetting the matches against Tonga and Canada as chances to add to the sole RWC win against Zimbabwe in 1991.
The big match last night was the night match in Dunedin. Argentina matched England for long periods of the match, but will rue a number of missed kicks at goal as the English battled to a 13-9 victory. The English scored the only try in the match, but they conceded penalty after penalty through their negative play. There was plenty of niggle throughout the match as one would expect from teams who have been rivals at more than just rugby! Dunedin's new stadium looked magnificent with a full house in, and the noise was deafening at times.
That was Day Two; what does Day Three hold in prospect? Australia makes its torunament debut against Italy at Eden Park at 3.30pm, and we doubt that there will be quite the same transport chaos as Friday night. Italy have been the improvers of the Six Nations in recent seasons, and this match is not a foregone conclusion.
Attention then shifts to New Plymouth where Ireland takes on the USA on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. We had hoped to be going up to this match today, however circumstances have conspired against us. It should be a cracking good game, and the Americans will be pumped for it; of that there is no doubt.
The day's big clash is in Wellington, where a near-capacity crowd will see South Africa and Wales go head-to-head. South Africa has shown its hand with three front rowers named in its reserves, and a five forward/two back split; they will look to assert physical dominace over the Red Dragons. Wellington will come alive this evening.
And then we get a breather. RWC2011 is up and running, and thus far, it's been wonderful entertainment. Five matches down; only 43 to go!
12 comments:
Bryce Lawrence was as woeful as both teams' kicking in Dunedin last night. Guesswork at scrum time, a complete inability to see blue & white shirts lying on the wrong side of the ball and a determination to be the star of the game. England failure to adapt for so long was a worry, but we're up and going.
Is there something about that stadium when full that makes kicking more difficult?
James I went through most of the penalties using the old mysky and I found most of them were correct. While I'm not saying there were other times when penalties should have been called the ones he gave seems to be correct
You think Bryce was bad. You should wait to see the refereeing at the the semi finals / final stages. It is going to be a great tournament destroyed by a man with his pee
Like Ozy, I thought Lawrence had a reasonable game. The English were getting penalised when the Argies had ball in hand and vice versa. It's good to see referees getting tough on negative play, which some would call cheating; Mark Reason; where are you?
As for the goalkicking; excuses, excuses. Perhaps Father Time is just catching up with Jonny.
I watched the game in the company of two Brits and I can tell you they were squirming for much of the match, despairing of their lethargic team and enormously relieved by the final result. Wilkinson's wobbly boot caused much consternation in our lounge. The English penalty rate in the first half was disturbing ('thugs' was a word that couldn't be used aloud here, but it hung in the air) and the weakness shown by their wing was, again, not widely discussed :-)
Good game though. England needs to stir from its torpor.
Excellent summation Robert, which will surprise some!
Robert G. well said.
England were dire.
If the Argies had some-one who could kick they would have won in a canter.
Courtney Lawes (I think) may have some issues with the citing commissioner following his later arrival kneeing of one of the argies in the 2nd half.
The Namibia-Fiji game was good and the Scots were on the receiving end of some old fashioned forward play and were lucky to escape with a win.
I enjoyed the Nip/Frog game although seeing Japan use damned near as many imports as NZ spoilt it slightly.
The Poms were dire and dirty, the Argies just dire and Lawrence suited the game.
By the way it is Australia v Italy today at North Harbour stadium. The Australia Irish gane is next week at Eden Park.
It might be a rather dire game as it is raining with the promise of both more rain and plenty of wind.
No Lawrence was at his abysmal worst...
I'm not making excuses for Jonny, but when three international kickers miss eleven between them it makes me wonder what's going on.
Being at the stadium in Dunedin was amazing - and to our surprise wearing blue and white didn't put us in a minority.
In my biased and uninformed opinion, Argentina deserved to win.
If Argentina had been up 15-3 at half time England wouldn't have a chance. I think this shows that the Pumas are no longer a tier 2 rugby nation and should be treated as equals - much like Italy.
Bryce Lawrence did call a lot of penalties that we normally see left to keep the game flowing, but Referees were told to penalise these (and the teams advised) so the English have no right to complain.
Post a Comment