Rugby World Cup 2011: Wallabies Beat Wales to Win Bronze Final; Barnes Stars

It's the game that no one wants to be in, and traditionally the game that no one wants to play. But for the first time in years we saw two teams who both looked as though they genuinely wanted to win the Bronze Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 take to the field last night.The weekend had been billed as a repeat of the final week of the 1987 World Cup, with New Zealand meeting France in the Final and Australia taking on Wales in the third and fourth playoff.But unlike 1987 it was Australia who emerged victorious this time around, winning a reasonably open game 21-18.Both teams played as though they... 

Quade Cooper: Unfairly Targetted or Overrated Show Pony

For most players, the World Cup is the pinnacle of rugby and a memory that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.For Australian star Quade Cooper, however, the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will be short of memories he will like to keep.Intense pressure and criticism from fans and media in New Zealand—combined with shockingly poor performances for the Wallabies throughout the tournament—have made Cooper's first World Cup an event to forget.His rivalry with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, which hit its highest point when Cooper kneed McCaw in the head during the 2011 Tri... 

Rugby World Cup 2011: What If the All Blacks Don’t Win, Ridiculous as It Sounds?

What if the French were to score an upset, would it be the end of the world for New Zealand? Since beating the Wallabies, New Zealand has become a land abuzz with confidence. A country brimming in the glad anticipation of seeing a second All Black captain triumphantly hoist the William Webb Ellis Trophy. All that needs to happen is a repeat of what occurred in 1987 and for us to beat the French.  It’s been a long time between drinks. It’s a celebration the country has earned. Here’s a foretelling of what would happen if the French were to win. (1) The use of the word “choke”... 

Rugby World Cup 2011 Preview: All Blacks Will Win Final in Emphatic Fashion

After four years of preparation, 40 pool games, two weeks of sudden death knockout games, we are finally down to just two teams.The All Blacks meet France on Sunday in a game that will decide who gets to wear the title of world champions for the next four years.Both teams have followed very different roads to the Final, with the All Blacks playing some great rugby along the way, while the French will be slightly surprised to find themselves where they are given the way they have played.The fact that they are in the final is quite astonishing really. They were comprehensively beaten by the All Blacks... 

Rugby World Cup 2011 Final: Enough Is Enough, France Do Have a Chance

As a nation we’re collectively saying that the All Blacks have already played their final. Meanwhile the French continue searching for their best game. Is this the dangerous mixture that will make Sunday’s clash a closer affair than what many experts are predicting?  In New Zealand, the hype mill is starting to produce oodles of confidence that the host nation is finally going to win another World Cup. Following the magnificent performance the All Blacks gave in their semifinal victory over Australia, the mood of the country has changed. The tense atmosphere that sat over the nation... 

England Rugby: What to Do About the Openside Flanker Spot After the World Cup

The England National Rugby Team finds itself with a gaping hole in one of the most important positions on the field: the openside flanker. Outside of an injury-prone Lewis Moody, England lacks proven internationals at this crucial position. For anyone who is unsure of what the role of the openside flanker is, he is usually the smaller, faster flanker, responsible for covering the larger side of the field at the scrum. He has to be a fearless defender and a solid ball carrier, as well as being talented at the breakdown.This area is the most important of an openside's duties. A true openside is the... 

Rugby World Cup 2011: Where Do Ireland Go from Here?

With Ireland crashing out of the Rugby World Cup in the quarters, and a number of the "golden generation" never to feature again at the highest level, the onus on Declan Kidney and Co. will be to rebuild and reconfigure a team that has left us with such bittersweet memories from this tournament.While the victory against Australia was laudable, historic even, one cannot forget that Ireland have been on something of a downward trajectory over the past two years since their epic grand slam win in 2009, despite unearthing some fine talent and the good performance of its provinces.So without further... 

Rugby World Cup Semifinals: All Blacks-Wallabies, Another Battle in This War

When asked which team they did not want to see win the 2011 World Cup, 80 percent of New Zealanders opted for the Wallabies.When it comes to rugby there exists a fierce rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, that has been stoked over the years. These two nations first played against each other in a battle of nations in 1903. A match the New Zealanders won 22-3 in Sydney.So in total these countries have contested 142 games of test rugby. New Zealand 96 wins (68 percernt)Australia      41 wins  (29 percent)Draws         ... 

Warburton’s Wales on Verge of Greatness: And Still England Get All the Headlines

Sorry folks, but I can’t resist it. I’ve got to have a quiet gloat at England being Frog-marched out of the Rugby World Cup—and the emergence of my beloved Wales as contenders to become world champions.Every self-respecting Taff—male and female—is a rugby union fan. And to see our boys (and most of them are little more than boys) playing so brilliantly over in New Zealand makes me immensely proud.Even if Wales lose to France in this weekend’s semi final, the team have done the nation proud. I mean, there are only three million of us—or one Dragon for every... 

Rugby World Cup 2011: All Blacks Must Play Tight Game to Beat Wallabies

The All Blacks face their biggest test of Rugby World Cup 2011 thus far, a showdown with their trans-tasman rivals, the Wallabies. Despite entering the tournament as overwhelming favourites, many are predicting their downfall this weekend as they come up against the most likely team to beat them in the tournament.Many have cited the All Blacks' World Cup history as a reason that they won't win, calling them chokers. That may well be the case, and incidentally, two of these chokes have come against none other than the Wallabies. However, history also says that the All Blacks are very hard to beat... 

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