There are only 7 days remaining until the Rugby world Cup 2007, and on Wednesday this week, the host organizing committee of the Rugby World Cup 2007 made tickets for the semi-finals and final of the RWC 2007 available online. More than 2 million people tried to access the site, and the tickets were sold within a few hours.
With the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 almost a week away, the final World Rugby Rankings have been updated, and will remain as they are going into the World Cup.
With all the Rugby World Cup warm up games happening in the past few weeks, the rankings have been changing. The most notable change in the final list is Ireland who move from 6th to 5th, overtaking the Los Pumas of Argentina.
The New Zealand All Blacks remain on top, followed by the Wallabies and then host nation France in 3rd. The Springboks who are tipped off as second best favourites to win the Webb Ellis Cup, are in 4th place.
The full and final list of the World Rugby Rankings for the Rugby World Cup has been updated.
The United States Eagles Rugby side have lost their final Rugby World Cup warm up match to an Irish club called Munster. The game was by no means one-sided by the Irish, in fact the USA Eagles dominated most of the match but the final score was 10-6 to Munster.
A crowd of about 8600 turned up in Chicago to watch the match. The USA Eagles were first on the scoreboard with a penalty kick from captain Mike Hercus in the 25th minute, to put the score at 3-0 to the Eagles. Another penalty kick by Hercus 9 minutes later put the score at 6-0 to the Eagles, with the half time whistle blown 5 minutes later.
Rugby World Cup 2007 host nation - France have destroyed The Red Dragons from Wales in the final build up warm match before the Rugby World Cup starts on the 7th of September next month. The full time score was France 37 - 7 Wales.
France have been in spectacular from recently, having defeated the current World Champions’ England, for two weeks in a row, but nobody expected them to dominate Wales in such a manner as they did this afternoon.
The home advantage played no part for Wales in Cardiff this afternoon, in fact it set a stage which let France crush Wales in front of their home fans.
An early penalty from kick from Frenchman Lionel Beauxi and a converted try from his fellow team mate Jerome Thion gave France the upper hand straight away with the score at 10-0.
Today will be the final Rugby World Cup warm up match before Official Rugby World Cup games begin on the 7th of September. Later today we will see the host nation France (who are on top form) take on the Red Dragons of Wales.
Host nation of the Rugby World Cup 2007; France have defeated current World Champions’ England for two weeks in a row, showing that they are more than capable of taking the Webb Ellis Trophy at the tournament.
Wales on the other hand are also going into the game confident, after being victorious over 5th ranked in the World Argentina last weekend.
If previous records are anything to go by, it will be in favour of France today. Since 2000 the countries have played 8 games, France have won 6 and Wales have only won 2.
Match information for the RWC Warm Up Game France Vs Wales Sunday 26th August:
Kick-off: 13:45 GMT
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Weather: Sunny, light westerly breeze - 23°C max, 13°C min
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Simon Mcdowell (Ireland)
Team Line-Ups:
The Springboks have silenced their critics after putting on a dominating display in tonight’s Rugby World Cup warm up match in Murrayfield, Scotland.
The game started with neither side showing any real progression to getting any points, but after 10 minutes the Boks conceded a penalty which gave Scotland the lead with a kick from Chris Paterson.
Jake White’s men were quick to reply when Percy Montgomery kicked a penalty 3 minutes later to put the scores level. The Springboks seemed to take control from there with 3 consecutive tries, the first by Bryan Habana in the 22nd minute, then one from Jacque Fourie and the third from Fourie Du Preez in the 28th minute. To put the half time score at 24-3 to the Springboks.
The last point of the game came from a penalty kick by Montgomery during an extremely boring second half in comparison to the first
Montgomery showed some marvelous kicking technique today, showing that he is definately not too old for this, and deserves his spot in the Springbok side for the Rugby World Cup.
The final score after 80 minutes in the final Rugby World Cup warm up game for both sides was Full Time: South Africa 27-3 Scotland. The next time these teams play will be in Official Rugby World Cup pool games.
Tomorrow’s final Rugby World Cup warm up game see’s host nation France take on Wales at 13:45 GMT at the Cardiff Millennium stadium.
Full Score Card of the Rugby World Cup warm up game between Springboks and Scotland on 25th August 2007:
Later today in Murrayfield Scotland the South African Springboks will play against Scotland in their final Rugby World Cup warm up match for both teams before the Rugby World Cup begins in 13 days time.
The Springboks dismal display against the Irish club side on Tuesday will surely allow Scotland to fancy their chances at a win against the team tipped off at second best favourites to win the Rugby World Cup.
Scotland are also going into the game with a victory over 6th ranked in the world- Ireland 2 weeks ago. So will be confident about their chances.
Meanwhile Jake White’s Springboks have their own problem’s to worry about with the latest announcement that Akona Ndungane will be out for 3 weeks, and will miss the first 2 games of the Rugby World Cup. The Springbok wing damaged a chest muscle against Connacht on Teusday and has flown back to South Africa for treatment.
Game info for Springboks V Scotland Saturday 25th August 2007:
Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Weather conditions: Partly cloudy with chance of rain, a high of 19°C.
Television match official: George Clancy (Ireland)
Team Line Up’s for the RWC Warm Up:
Ireland have managed to defeat the Azzurri of Italy in one of the most dramatic Rugby World Cup warm up matches so far. The final score was Ireland 23 - 20 Italy.
The game was extremely intense from the start. With a penalty kick at 5 minutes from fly half Irish flyhalf Ronan O’Gara. It was only at the 21st minute where Italy managed to level the scores with an amazing drop goal by Italian forward David Bortolussi.
By the 46th minute the game, the score was locked at 13-13, with no clear sign of a winner. Irish player Ronan O’Gara took a chance at a dropgoal in the 72nd minute which put Ireland up at 16-13.
Italian player Matteo Pratichetti managed to score a try in the 75th minute and a conversion by De Marigny looked to seal the match at 20-16 to the Italians.
But Irish player Ronan O’Gara had a moment of brilliance when he broke through the Italian defence at a dramatic time -in the 77th minute and managed to score a magnificent try to put Ireland at 21-20. He then rounded off his amazing display in front of the Irish crowd by converting the try in the 80th minute which left the game at a full time score of Ireland 23-20 Italy in their Rugby World Cup warm up clash before the World Cup starts on the 7th of September.
This weekend will be the last of all international Rugby World Cup warm up matches before the Rugby World Cup kicks off on the 7th of September.
The recent results from Rugby World Cup warm up matches have been very surprising, with the Springboks only managing to beat a club side with a final score of 18-3 where as the previous week they beat Namibia by 105-13. The Springboks will play Scotland on Saturday(25th), the Scottish will be fancying their chances after seeing the weak performance by the Springboks this past week.
One team that has looked on top form are host nation France, beating defending champions’ England for two weeks in a row.
Upcoming Rugby World Cup Warm Up Games this weekend:
The Azzurri of Italy will clash with the men from Ireland later today in the first of this weekends Rugby World Cup warm up matches!
Only two weeks remain until the Rugby World Cup officially kicks off and this weekends game will be the last warm up games for almost all the international teams.
Ireland Vs Italy tonight will be played in Belfast, Ireland. Italy will be confident going into this game after beating Japan 36-12 last weekend.
The team line-ups for tonights Rugby World Cup Warm Up Match in Belfast:
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