# Rugby World Cup - Down to the last Eight. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2003, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127 "2003-11-03T08:50:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/101 "2003-11-16T13:51:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by calm kiwi \* > \*\*Well Aussies would never say the Irish were nonces. That would be slagging off bread-knicking-grandparents. \*\* Ignore the other post, I ballsed up, comments apply to this ---
**Author:** ![lurksfromwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@lurksfromwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurksfromwork)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/102 "2003-11-16T13:54:19Z")
**spogga** ,yep…throwing ourselves a huge party cause the poms put up a good fight but not enough to win over our antipodean asses. Might throw a prawn on the barbie, they’re in season and $13 bucks a kilo ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/103 "2003-11-16T14:08:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurksfromwork \* > \*\*get off…I’ll call my granny a nonce anyday, especially if she hasn’t knicked any bread for dinner! > > And if aussies ruled the world, a war would consist of the leaders of the two opposing countries seeing who could piss further up the wall, the looser having to shout all other countries a beer. Sport would be religion and pies would be a vegetable. \*\* Unless it’s a Dubya war eh 😉 See we are losers but all nuclear free and everything :D…shit we nned something now! Oh and thank you Poms NOT for well wishes against the Frogs! ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/104 "2003-11-16T14:14:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spogga \* > \*\*Listen you Antipodean drunken lout, No not you Kiwi, the other one, this time next week not only will you be throwing another prawn on the barbie, you’ll be throwing yerself. \*\* And OI POM I was defending your tripe eating arse! Don’t be throwing the drunken lout this side of Tasman! (ok present company excluded…I turned 37 today and felt the need to have a vino or lots) ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/105 "2003-11-16T15:19:19Z")
As an unbiased supporter of a team already elininated I offer this prediction of next Saturday: As the WRC final got under way with England playing Australia, England found the form they had been missing so far in the competition and after the half-time whistle blew they found themselves ahead 50-0, with Wlikinson getting five tries and five penalties. The rest of the team decided to head for the pub instead of playing the second half, leaving Jonny to go out on his own. “No worries,” Jonny told them, "I’ll join you later and tell you what happened. "After the game Jonny headed for the pub where he told his team mates the final score - 95-3. “What!!!”, said a furious Martin Johnson, "How did you let them get three points? "Jonny replied apologetically, “I was sent off with 20 minutes to go.” V ---
**Author:** ![lurksfromwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@lurksfromwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurksfromwork)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/106 "2003-11-17T00:41:52Z")
Nice one **Vetch** might happen if the dopey poms actually find the stadium without any help, let alone finding a pub where they’ll be welcome during the game. Poor buggers will probably ask for the stadium lights to be dimmed so that they don’t get sunburnt. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/107 "2003-11-17T07:40:29Z")
KIWI: You’ll beat the Froggies mate, all you have to do in a ruck is mutter Agincourt, Crecy, Waterloo etc and their collective bottle goes:) ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/108 "2003-11-17T08:22:22Z")
I think the Final will \*probably \*be harder than most of the group games – except for Saf Efrika – and probably a little easier than the French game. But that’s okay, our third toughest opponents of the tournament. Suits us! ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/109 "2003-11-17T13:34:51Z")
In other news: IRB Rankings (brackets indicate ratings prior to the weekend) ```auto RANK COUNTRY RATING 1(2) England 92.13 2(4) Australia 88.44 3(1) New Zealand 88.17 4(3) France 84.66 5(5) South Africa 81.23 6(6) Ireland 80.53 7(7) Argentina 78.02 8(8) Wales 76.92 9(9) Scotland 76.36 10(10) Samoa 73.46 ``` Will anyone bother watching the 3rd/4th place playoff??? Grim ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/110 "2003-11-17T14:17:03Z")
Yeah I’ll watch Pixie, I like a good giggle ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/111 "2003-11-17T14:58:39Z")
I won’t watch it, as it’s being played on a work day at 9 am, in this part of the world. Much as I love rugby, the only time I’d take time off work to watch a match _on the telly_ it would have to be a match a) my team were in b) there was a point to I’m sure it’s pure misery for the teams in the 3rd and 4th place play-off in any sport. Why do they do it? Let 'em all go home or off on holiday or whatever it is you do when you are a seriously pissed off professional sportsman. If the reason the IRB does it is for the ranking positions, then why not add up the games won/points scored in the competition to differentiate the teams that way? Both losing semi finalsists had played and won three pool games and a quarter final, but surely they hadn’t scored the same number of points? ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/112 "2003-11-17T15:02:41Z")
I have a sneaky feeling that the 3rd and 4th place play off business is two fold 1. To give a crumb of comfort to those playing 2. Filthy lucre ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/113 "2003-11-17T15:28:06Z")
THis rugby mullarkey is all very confusing but I do have one simple question: What happens if it’s a tie? Extra time? And after that? Just my luck to be completely oblivious to the only sport england are any good at. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/114 "2003-11-17T15:43:36Z")
If the games and team placements were renamed to the gold, silver and bronze winners or somesuch it probably wouldn’t feel like such a letdown to play the consolation. I can empathise with the Kiwis, being a Canadian and following world cup hockey (at least when I did follow it). It always sucked to not get to the finals because we felt ours was “The Hockey Country”, but people would still watch a bronze medal match cause, hey, it is a medal. I’m not suprised that Oz beat NZ, all these guys are top Super 12 players. On any given day one of these teams can beat the other. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/115 "2003-11-17T15:51:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*THis rugby mullarkey is all very confusing but I do have one simple question: > > What happens if it’s a tie? Extra time? And after that? > > Just my luck to be completely oblivious to the only sport england are any good at. \*\* Oh Yes!? We are the world marbles champs I’ll have you know ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/116 "2003-11-17T15:56:09Z")
If it’s a draw after normal time there is extra time played, if still a draw there is a fight to decide the winners, kicking,gouging,hacking of the shins,use of blunt instruments and sharp objects are all permitted but firearms are not, WMD in extreme cases can be used but only if they can be found 😃 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/117 "2003-11-17T15:58:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spogga \* > \*\*Oh Yes!? > > We are the world marbles champs I’ll have you know \*\* Probably attracts about the same interest… ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/118 "2003-11-17T20:54:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*THis rugby mullarkey is all very confusing but I do have one simple question: > > What happens if it’s a tie? Extra time? And after that? > > Just my luck to be completely oblivious to the only sport england are any good at. \*\* Here you go: 1. Extra-time: Following an interval of five minutes, extra-time of 10 minutes each way (with an interval of five minutes) shall be played. 2. Sudden-death: If the scores are tied at the conclusion of extra-time, and following an interval of five minutes, then a further period of extra-time of 10 minutes maximum shall be played. During this period the first team to score any points shall be declared the winner (sudden-death). 3. Drop-goal competition: If after this sudden-death period no winner can be declared, a drop-goal competition will be organised between the two teams. The winner of that competition shall be declared the winner of the match. More information from here(it wouldn’t let me post a link) [http://rugby.itv.com/Latest\_News/story\_32456.shtml](http://rugby.itv.com/Latest_News/story_32456.shtml) V ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/119 "2003-11-17T21:00:25Z")
OK, so it made a liar of me. (I couldn’t get the little sub menu thingy up) V ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127/120 "2003-11-17T21:56:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*I think the Final will \*probably \*be harder than most of the group games – except for Saf Efrika – and probably a little easier than the French game. But that’s okay, our third toughest opponents of the tournament. Suits us! \*\* Well then my good friend, I’d suggest that ONE OF US is going to have to eat some humble pie after Saturday night and offer a fine display of magnanimity to the other. One thing’s for sure though - that Olympic Stadium is a great stadium. Even though my favourite in all the world is still a toss up between Milan’s San Siro and Twickenham, the Sydney Olympic Stadium is an impressive venue nonetheless. And I’m told we have at least 20,000 England supporters in the country who have tickets to the final so I can expect huge seas of white in the stands - along with huge seas of gold too. All in all, a great occasion in the making featuring two sides who have a shared rivalry which goes back at least 150 years. Whoever wins, the game itself will be the winner I suspect. I just hope the IRB can work out a way to swing some of the huge cash flows which exist in world Rugby these days to the developing nations of the world. It’s the right and proper thing to do for mine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-world-cup-down-to-the-last-eight/211127.md?page=7)