Rugby League World Cup - Final Oz V Kiwi's (1 Viewer)

[The Military Workshop]

Dear Forum members,
Looking at other threads seems there are some sports fans out there.
So I thought it my duty to let you know that The Rugby League World Cup final is on Saturday ! Australia V New Zealand.
I am more of a Rugby Union fan but it has grown on me since coming to Oz.
Only 10 teams in the event. No USA, no Canada or South Africa.
Fairly predictable result but I am sure Kiwi and Vandilay will disagree !!
For those interested in more info and the results so far go to
www.rlwc08.com
England caused a minor stir when they did not face up to the Kiwi "Haka" (war dance).
The "pools" were interesting. Pool A was Oz, NZ, England and Papua New Guinea with 3 of those 4 going through to the semi finals. The other two Pools of 3 each were playing for the one other semi final spot.
Apologies to the fans out there but it sure beats baseball !!!! (stir, stir).

 

[Louis Badolato]

Wow, Austrailia vs. New Zealand, talk about a grudge match between neighborhood rivals!! Good luck to both. Just for the record, playing Rugby is popular in American universities (I played Texas Cup League for the University of Dallas back in the 80's as a flanker and second line hooker).

 

[Russell]

I've watched rugby on TV before: England, Scotland, France, Italy, Ireland et cetera. Is this the same rugby?

 

[The Military Workshop]

Russell,
The Rugby you have been watching is called Rugby Union and they have scrums and lineouts and their own World Cup was in France last year when South Africa won. That is a more international game than League.
Union is 15 players and League 13.
Australia tend to dominate in the League internationals and not enough good competition. However I think the Kiwis did win a game against Oz about three years ago.
Biggest League story of the year here this year was the Kiwi player Sonny Bill Williams who walked out of his contract (still had 4 years to go) with an Australian team without telling anybody and ended up playing for a Union team in France.
The more interesting League series is called State of Origin which is New South Wales against Queensland and the teams are based on where the players are from originally and not which team they play for. So for example Melbourne players (based in Victoria State) can play in NSW or QLD team depending upon where from. Best of three series and at the moment Qld has won the last three series. I suppose would be like if USA had a North V South game.
I recall having an American exchange student in my school in the late 70's and he had a bit of difficulty adjusting to the fact can only pass backwards ! Oh yes, and no helmets or padding !!!
Regards
Brett

 

[Tony Neville]

I've watched rugby on TV before: England, Scotland, France, Italy, Ireland et cetera. Is this the same rugby?

Also you would have watched by the looks of it the Tri nations! Which is a local European cup between the above mentioned countries. Grown from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland to include France and i think of recent years (last 10 at least) Italy................i can be corrected!

On a rugby note. My Nephew Dan is now playing very hi standard in HK and doing very well. so fingers crossed he may come out of it well. he is heading towards getting into the HK 7s

Tony

 

[The Military Workshop]

Tony,
I remember the HK 7's very well. Always a great week end. I was there at the first one and also there when the Aussies got the crowd upset and as a result have been "booed" every year since.
Always great (sometimes) to see the less well known teams facing up to the Kiwis and Fijians etc. One of the highlights I recall was a small Korean guy doing a very courageous tackle on a massive Fijian in full stride. The crowd went nuts.
Only bad point was getting the tickets. I do remember having to line up overnight outside the stadium and that was an event in itself.
Andy needs to organise a K&C dealer convention around the time of the 7's !!!!

 

[The General]

The road to the final:

AUSTRALIA
Kangaroos

Pool match: Won 30-6 v New Zealand
Pool match: Won 52-4 v England
Pool match: Won 46-6 v Papua New Guinea
----------------------------
Quarter Final: Won 52-0 v Fiji
----------------------------
Final: v New Zealand


NEW ZEALAND
Kiwis

Pool match: Lost 30-6 v Australia
Pool match: Won 48-6 v Papua New Guinea
Pool match: Won 36-24 v England
---------------------------------
Quarter Final: Won 32-22 v England
----------------------------------
Final: v Australia​

 

[vandilay]

Well I was as amazed as anyone to see the score this morning
Kiwis winners 34-20 over Aussie .
The All Blacks also beat Wales leaving only England Between them
and a grand slam .

 

[The Military Workshop]

Oops !
Well done to the Kiwis for winning 34 - 20 in what the newspaper described as biggest ever upset in League Internationals.
Oh well, at least we beat the French in the Rugby and the Kiwis in the Cricket.
Regards,
Brett

 

[damian]

Well I was as amazed as anyone to see the score this morning
Kiwis winners 34-20 over Aussie .
The All Blacks also beat Wales leaving only England Between them
and a grand slam .

Well 42-6 should have softened them up.