The Rugby World Cup.

[Trumpton]

Deuce Bigolo wrote:

> Teams playing their second best when coming up against the
> heavy weights so their stars are fresh for the matches that
> really count
>
> It really is a joke of the highest order

I agree. Teams should play their best players for every game - it's the World Cup of god's sake!
>
> They might as well seed the top teams and place them straight
> into the quarterfinals so none of this tanking goes on

Or reduce the number of teams participating. This is happening in the next World Cup - but I think it should only be contested by 12 teams.
>
> Seeing Scotland lose 40-0 at home so they can be fresh for
> Italy is taking the mickey out of the paying fans

NZ cocked-up a number of try scoring opportunties, so the 40-0 margin was deemed only just acceptable by the All Blacks.

Scotland aren't certain to beat Italy to qualify for the quarter-finals.

[Deuce Bigolo]

What is the point of qualifying for the Q/Fs if your running scared of the big 3 from the south?

Rather sad to think that a team judges where its at by where it finishes in the world cup and not how it measures up against the best

[ATS]

Deuce Bigolo wrote:

> What is the point of qualifying for the Q/Fs if your running
> scared of the big 3 from the south?
>
> Rather sad to think that a team judges where its at by where it
> finishes in the world cup and not how it measures up against
> the best

So true, like England before they played South Africa
All the moaning was about not having a recognised goalkicker
Pretty obvious the didn't think they would cross S.A. line

Beaten before they started and going out with wrong frame of mind
Boring, boring, boring - show some flair, try and score some tries
for God's sake! Stop relying on crock Wilko

[Trumpton]

Deuce Bigolo wrote:

> What is the point of qualifying for the Q/Fs if your running
> scared of the big 3 from the south?

Teams which fail to reach the quarter final stage will have to play a series of qualifying matches to reach the next World Cup.

[mart]

Will England set a new record?
The first previous winner to be knocked out at the first stage.
Given their respective performances against South Africa, Tonga could win.
And doesn't that mean that England won't automatically qualify for 2011?

Mart

[Trumpton]

If England fail to qualify for the quarter finals they'll face the
embarrassament of having to play a series of qualifying matches to qualify for the 2011 RWC.