Rugby League World Cup - Fixtures/Results and News

[Bravehearts_RL]

Originally Posted by Scottish_Republican

The games are on Sky (satellite TV) which I don't have.

Don't know any bars showing it either...

OK then, can't blame you for that

I'm suprised pubs aren't showing it though, I suppose they're playing Football replays instead

[Scottish_Republican]

It's nearly always football, although the Six Nations sometimes gets a look in, and Andy Murray is on occasionally. Oh, and golf. That's about it!!!

I was going to say, why are the Pools so small?

[Bravehearts_RL]

Originally Posted by Scottish_Republican

I was going to say, why are the Pools so small?

The reason I beleive is the RLIF wanted to condense the number of teams playing to avoid blowout scores. The 2000 RLWC lost money with a 16 team format and produced blowout scores like Australia beating Russia 110-4. 10 teams seemed a pretty good option to me although 12 would have been as good.

It is a quite un-orthodox fomat but it works for me, makes lower ranked team earn their spot against the big teams.

The tournament has been sucessful to date even though not on the scale of the RUWC WC but then again anyone who expected it to be was always going to be dissapointed. This tournament is all about building International RL for the future, the profit made will help fund tournament like euro, atlantic and pacific cups and 4 nations tournaments.

The european tournament next year will be a great foundation to build upon with Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Lebanon, Serbia and Russia all to take their place and it will work in 2 pools of 3 with top of the pool progressing to the final. A pacific tournament has also been mention to include Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, USA and either South Africa, Jamaica or the Cook Islands - To be held in the US. Ofcourse the 4 Nations would be Australia, England, NZ and France to be held in England/France next year, this is almost certain but the RLIF have yet to confirm France as the 4th team.

The next WC in 2013 should be a big improvment and will liekly feature 12 teams. I know the RFL has made a bid for it based on a 12 comp, I presume they may take games to Wales and France aswell.

[Bravehearts_RL]

Originally Posted by Bravehearts_RL

Pool A
# Team - P|W|L|PD|Pts
1 Australia - 2|2|0|+72|4
2 New Zealand - 2|1|1|+18|2
3 England - 2|1|1|-38|2
4 Papua New Guinea - 2|0|2|-52|0

Pool B
1 Fiji - 2|1|1|+34|2
2 Scotland - 2|1|1|-16|2
3 France - 2|1|1|-18|2

Pool C
1 Ireland - 2|1|1|+16|2
2 Tonga - 2|1|1|-6|2
3 Samoa - 2|1|1|-10|2

Nov 5th - Ireland 34 def Samoa 16 - Parramatta Stadium, Sydney - 8,602
Nov 5th - Scotland 18 def Fiji 16 - Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford - 9,720
Nov 8th - 2nd Pool 2 V 2nd Pool 3 - Scotland V Tonga - Browne Park, Rockhampton -
Nov 9th - 3rd Pool 2 V 3rd Pool 3 - France V Samoa - CUA Stadium, Sydney -
Nov 10th - Semi Final Qualifyer 1st Pool B V 1st Pool C - Fiji V Ireland - Skilled Park, Gold Coast -
Nov 15th - Semi Final (1) - TBD V TBD - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane -
Nov 16th - Semi Final (2) - Australia V TBD - Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney -
Nov 22nd - FINAL - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane -

The final 2 Pool B and C games were played last night and two upsets. First of all the Irish got a great win over Samoa and Scotland pulled off a massive upset against Fiji. This now means each group finished with each team winning one game and Ireland and Fiji go through on points differential.

Unfortunatley this means Scotland can't make the semis but we did manage to beat Fiji who were massive favorites after flogginf France last week. Game of the tournament for me, up and down scoreline and some great Rugby.

Gongratulations to our Northern Hemisphere neighbours Ireland who now play Fiji for a spot in the semis. Ireland were tipped to be the whipping boys for Tonga and Samoa but did very well against both of the dark horses and beat Samoa quite comprehnsively to go through. So far Europe's biggest hopes England and France have been dissapointing and it has been refreshing to see the under-dogs doing well. Samoa and France will now play off for 9th spot when many tipped them to be playing the semi final qualifyer.

[Scottish_Republican]

Some good footage of Scotland's win over Fiji here -

BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Scotland 18-16 Fiji

[Bravehearts_RL]

So now we are down to the final game of the tournament, Australia V New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.

On recent results one would Think Australia will take it but NZ have pulled off upsets in the past. They beat Australia 24-0 in the 2005 tri-nations final and lost 16-12 on golden point in the 2006 final. However they have struggled to put together a full strength side the last 2 years and for this tournament are missing Roy Asotasi (Captain), Jeff Lima, Brent Webb, Steve Matai, Frank Pritchard and more. Also they lost arguably there best player Sonny Bill Williams wehen he walked out mid-season to play Union in France.

One thing on NZ's side is that Australia have had an easy run into the finals and may be lightly prepared, whilst NZ have 2 hard fought wins over England.

[Duthill]

And the Winner was ............. Ngati Kiwi