Rugby World Cup 2011

Friday, June 3, 2011

Who will be the Wallabies captain for WC 2011

Elsom wants to retain Wallabies captaincy

Rocky Elsom is once again in a race against the clock to retain the Wallabies captaincy after being diagnosed with ankle syndesmosis. While the Brumbies have yet to write him off, Elsom is almost certain to miss the rest of the Super Rugby season and possibly Australia's Tri Nations campaign as well.

Scans on Monday confirmed the damage after Elsom hurt his left ankle in his comeback game for the Brumbies against the Western Force on Saturday night following six months on the sidelines with a chronic hamstring injury.

The club's medical staff will continue treating Elsom this week before determining just how long he will be sidelined for. But out of finals contention, the Brumbies only have four more games in 2011, meaning the off-contract flanker may also have played his last match for the franchise.

Of far greater concern, though, is Elsom's immediate Wallabies playing future.

Robbie Deans is on record as saying Elsom will be the Test captain if picked for the Wallabies, but the 28-year-old's latest setback must be a major concern for the national coach.

Wallabies legend Mark Ella earlier this month claimed Elsom shouldn't be picked for Australia if he didn't play Super Rugby this year, while fellow great Tim Horan said Queenslanders Will Genia and James Horwill were better captaincy material.

Will Richie McCaw leave NZ..

Richie McCaw confirms he’s staying in New Zealand

All Blacks skipper and 2nd row Richie McCaw has signed a four-year deal to stay with New Zealand rugby through to the 2015 World Cup. The All Blacks skipper joined star five-eighth Dan Carter in re-committing to the All Blacks and Super Rugby franchise the Crusaders and both are now in line to compete at a fourth World Cup.

McCaw has a "sabbatical" clause built into his latest contract allowing him to play overseas for a period if the lure of the riches on offer outside New Zealand becomes too tempting.

It means the New Zealand Rugby Union have managed to keep their top two players, easing fears about the effects of an exodus after the World Cup in New Zealand from September 9-October 23.

"I'm pleased to confirm that I have re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) for four more years," McCaw said in a statement.

"I still have the hunger and desire to continue to play for the All Blacks and the Crusaders and there are still things I want to achieve as a player."

The deal means McCaw will have played his entire career in New Zealand, even though the 94-Test veteran could command a huge pay packet from cash-rich overseas clubs.

McCaw, a three-time International Rugby Board player of the year, is New Zealand's most-capped Test captain, having led his country in 57 internationals.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry hailed McCaw's move, describing him as the most influential player in world rugby.
"His on-field impact is immense, he's an outstanding player who leads and inspires others by his actions," Henry said.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Rugby WC 2011 Pools and Fixtures

Pool A B C D

The participating 20 teams have been devided in to 4 group with each having 5 nations and will play against each other.

Pool A

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	TF	TA	BP	points
Canada	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Japan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tonga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

P=Played; W=Won; D=Draw; L=Lost; PF=Points For; PA=Points Against; TF=Tries For; TA=Tries Against; BP=Bonus Points; points=Points

Pool B

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	TF	TA	BP	points
Argentina	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
England	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Georgia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Romania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Scotland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

P=Played; W=Won; D=Draw; L=Lost; PF=Points For; PA=Points Against; TF=Tries For; TA=Tries Against; BP=Bonus Points; points=Points

Pool C

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	TF	TA	BP	points
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ireland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Italy	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Russia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
USA	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

P=Played; W=Won; D=Draw; L=Lost; PF=Points For; PA=Points Against; TF=Tries For; TA=Tries Against; BP=Bonus Points; points=Points

Pool D

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	TF	TA	BP	points
Fiji	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Namibia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Samoa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
South Africa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wales	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Less than 100 days to the World Cup

The seventh rugby world cup is just 20 days away... It will be starting on New Zealand on 9th September with the participation of 20 nations and will be concluded on 23rd October.

The World Cup event is expected to cost about NZ$310 million to run and to generate NZ$280 million in ticket salesThisIt will be the largest sporting event ever held in New Zealand, Around 70,000 visitors from overseas are expected to travel to New Zealand for the associated games and events.

Already some questions over New Zealand's praparations for the Rugby World Cup have been raised.

The first one is the process of upgrading the Eden Park to maximise the capacity to the 60,000+ figure required by the IRB is still not achieved.

The construction of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium has also been another question raised regarding the New Zealand World Cup preparations.

Twenty teams will participate in the 2011 World Cup. The bellow 12 teams qualified for the 2011 World Cup by finishing in the top three of their group in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

The remaining 8 teams qualified for the 2011 World Cup through IRB regional qualifying tournaments.

Russia will be the debutent in 2011 Rugby World Cup.