FF:NZ Rugby World Cup

Well, it's under way.

NZ had a stunner against Italy today.

70 - 7 or something very similar.

Umanga injured half way through 1st half. Nonu came on and had a blinder. Daniel Carter was kicking well from what I saw. Rokocoko played well but pulled up short on a try with a hamstring cramp or the likes.

Unsure on how Tana will be and Rokocoko should be ok.

Looking good.

Ireland also ended up with a good win over Romania.

this from nzoom.com

The All Blacks opened their 2003 World Cup campaign with a solid 70-7 win over Italy at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Tri-Nations champions piled on 11 tries to one as they got pool D underway.

Goal kicking was a bit of a concern as was minor injury worries to Tana Umaga, Joe Rokocoko and Carlos Spencer.

From the kick-off the All Blacks were awarded a penalty from directly in front.

Spencer had little trouble in putting the first points of the All Black's 2003 campaign on the board and New Zealand had an early 3-0 lead.

It was all New Zealand in the opening minutes, Brad Thorn winning the first line-out off the Italian throw.

But a couple of handling errors inside the Italian 22 saved the Europeans.

The first All Black try came through rugby league convert Brad Thorn, who strode over three Italian defenders in a 15-metre run to score.

Spencer missed the conversion midway between the posts and the touchline.

All Black captain Reuben Thorne got the second try of the afternoon when some quick hands found an overlap out wide.

Spencer was again unsuccessful with the conversion but the All Blacks had a 13-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Handling at times remained a problem with a couple of blown opportunities but in a match with such a carnival atmosphere, one could not blame the All Blacks for pushing the passes.

A collision between Spencer and Umaga left both players limping.

Moments later Umaga left the field, replaced by Wellington team-mate Ma'a Nonu.

Italy finally got some ball in the All Black danger zone but when a chip ahead was claimed by Rokocoko, he found Daniel Carter. Carter ran the ball out from his own line stepping between defenders and found Doug Howlett, who ran 40 metres unopposed to score.

Carter took over the kicking duties from Spencer and added the the goal for a 20-0 lead.

Italy had two opportunities to kick penalties from a handy range but turned them down in search of a try.

As the half wore on, the All Blacks lack of match fitness showed with some fundamental mistakes.

The speed and quick hands of the All Black back-line put Spencer away for the All Blacks' fourth try, giving them a bonus point.

Spencer missed the conversion but the All Blacks led 25-0 at halftime.

Howlett got the second half going when a high ball bounced favourably for the All Blacks.

Spencer put two kicks into the air of the of the Telstra Dome, with its roof closed, in a change of tactics.

Carter converted and the All Blacks were out to a 32-0 lead.

Italy were twice held up over the line but after attacking for the All Black line for five minutes, Kiwi-born Matthew Phillips crashed over to score Italy's first points of the World Cup.

Gert Peens converted and Italy found themselves on the scoresheet.

More quick hands from the All Black back-line put Rokocoko over in the corner.

Nonu sliced through a gap moments later and drew Peens to put Spencer in out wide.

Carter could not convert but New Zealand were now into the 40's.

With 17 minutes remaining in the match, All Black coach John Mitchell went to his bench, bringing on 1999 World Cup veterans Kees Meuuws and Mark Hammett in the front row.

Justin Marshall took a quick tap from right in front and the Italian defence was tired by now and he had little trouble strolling through some ordinary defence to score.

Carter converted for a 49-7 lead.

A neat little spin move from Rokocoko allowed him to slip through the defence and offload to Carter, who brought up the All Black 50.

The Cantabrian converted for a 56-7 lead.

 

From nzherald.co.nz

Centre Tana Umaga may be out of the World Cup after injuring ligaments in his left knee during the All Blacks' opening pool D match against Italy on Saturday.

Umaga collided with first five-eighths Carlos Spencer as he was tackled and was replaced by Ma'a Nonu after 20 minutes of the game, which the All Blacks won 70-7.

"It is serious," All Blacks coaching co-ordinator Robbie Deans told a news conference.

"It appears to be ligament damage and if that is the case he could be out for the tournament.

"Potentially it is a rupture. If it is ruptured then a decision would need to be made as to whether an operation is required.

"But we don't know until he goes to hospital and has a scan."

"We don't know if it was Carlos or the Italian tackling him, but he took his full weight on the knee."

All Blacks coach John Mitchell added: "It's a very disappointing for Tana. He is very experienced, he's our vice-captain, but you have to deal with those situations. We have depth in our squad and we have the options."

Winger Joe Rokocoko also came off injured with a minor hamstring tear just after scoring his second try late in the second half.

Deans said he had been replaced as a precaution and should be available next week.

You really should talk in the YJCC Rubgy World Cup thread, so you can hear from everyone else around the world.

 

Just thought I'd up this. No particular reason

e: Oh yeah, and I was going to share a joke I heard on the radio this morning. It's probably doing the rounds, so you may have already heard it.

The All Blacks were feeling lazy one Saturday evening, and decided they'd rather go out for a beer than play the Wallabies. So they asked Carlos if he'd mind playing the game for them.
He agreed, so the All Blacks went off to the pub for the evening. Eventually, they remembered the game, and switched on the TV to see how Carlos was doing all by his lonesome, against the Wallabies. They saw the score was 7-0 to the All Blacks, and cheered. Then they switched off the tv, and went back to their beer.
At the end of the night, they realized fulltime must have passed, so they turned on the tv again, and saw the score was now 7 all.
They went back to the locker rooms, to congratulate Carlos on a game well played.
He says "I'm sorry guys, I let you down."
They say, "What are you talking about? You drew single-handedly against the Wallabies! That's amazing."
And he says, "No, I'm really sorry, I let you down. See, I was sent off at half time .."

ba-ding!

 

WE are going to 0wn tonight!

 

Let us never speak of this again!

 

So, who watched the match?

 

Well done Wallabies. But we'll be back next World Cup for a rematch

And look on the bright side ... at least we didn't loose to France again ... the Wallabies have always been worthy opponents.

 

OK - new best case scenario.

France beat England

NZ Beat England

France beat Australia



I just want to wipe that smug grin of Woodward's face. Now it can't happen in the final, we have to hope it happens in the Loser's Playoff.

 

Ah well, Sith happens.