Rugby (6N, Tri-N, IRB 7s, etc.)

[OHSportsFan9]

6-6 at the end of the 1st half (40 minutes).

[Jake]

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Veteran fly half Mike Hercus accounted for all the scoring as the USA defeated Canada 12-6 Saturday to take a narrow edge into the second leg of the total-points Rugby World Cup qualifying series next weekend in Edmonton.

The July 4th win was the first over Canada for the Americans since a 20-19 decision in June 2005. Canada had won all four matches since then, outscoring the U.S. 167-45 in the process.

The Canadian Press: U.S. defeats Canada 12-6 in first half of Rugby World Cup qualifier

[RugbyBuck]

The Tri-Nations kicked off last weekend. I watched a replay of the first match between Australia and New Zealand last night. It was hard fought and Australia, in my estimation, outplayed the home team and still lost 22-16. Not a great game if you like lots of try scoring, but it showed that the series will be just as physical this year as always.

South Africa is, of course, my favorite and favorite to win this year. The test series against the B&I Lions gave them a great launching pad into the 3N and their first three matches are at home. All Blacks play the Boks this weekend.

[Steve19]

Originally Posted by RugbyBuck

The Tri-Nations kicked off last weekend. I watched a replay of the first match between Australia and New Zealand last night. It was hard fought and Australia, in my estimation, outplayed the home team and still lost 22-16. Not a great game if you like lots of try scoring, but it showed that the series will be just as physical this year as always.

South Africa is, of course, my favorite and favorite to win this year. The test series against the B&I Lions gave them a great launching pad into the 3N and their first three matches are at home. All Blacks play the Boks this weekend.

The Springboks really put a reserve side into the final test against the British and Irish Lions, who whined the entire tour. I think they will be ready for NZ!

[BB73]

Originally Posted by Steve19

The Springboks really put a reserve side into the final test against the British and Irish Lions, who whined the entire tour. I think they will be ready for NZ!

There's now a vBet for this game in this forum.

Steve is the start of the game really 1 a.m. Sunday morning, Columbus time?

[Steve19]

No, BB73, it will be at 11:00 this week.

A list of the times for the games is available at the SA Rugby site (link)

The time difference between South Africa and Columbus is minus six hours.

So, if the game starts at 17:00 (5pm) then it will be 11:00 (11am) in Columbus.

[BB73]

Originally Posted by Steve19

No, BB73, it will be at 11:00 this week.

A list of the times for the games is available at the SA Rugby site (link)

The time difference between South Africa and Columbus is minus six hours.

So, if the game starts at 17:00 (5pm) then it will be 11:00 (11am) in Columbus.

Thanks. I couldn't find the game time, other than a betting site that had a cutoff time of 1 a.m. EDT, and it didn't make sense to me that they'd start that early in the morning. Maybe the 1 a.m. was a typo.

[Steve19]

Originally Posted by BB73

Thanks. I couldn't find the game time, other than a betting site that had a cutoff time of 1 a.m. EDT, and it didn't make sense to me that they'd start that early in the morning. Maybe the 1 a.m. was a typo.

I'm hoping the All Blacks wish it was 1am. This is like Ohio State - TSUN in the sense that it is a bitter rivalry and, on the day, anything can happen.

[RugbyBuck]

I didn't like the All Black side against Australia. They've got a lot of new players and are having to replace (as much as I hate the guy), one of the best players in the world, Dan Carter, at flyhalf (like point guard). Donald, his replacement was ok, but not brilliant. Richie McCaw, the AB captain and currently their best player (kind of like a really active outside linebacker) was outplayed, in my estimation, by his much less heralded opposite number for Australia.

They're out of sorts having lost to France and barely beating OZ. It will be hard-hitting, but I think the Boks take it handily as long as they take the match seriously.

Note - Steve, I do question the Boks' replacement of Steyn at flyhalf. He played really well against the Lions, but is back on the bench.

[RugbyBuck]

Clearly, NZ has made a strategic paradigm shift in pursuit of the Rugby World Cup. Rather than being world beaters leading up to the RWC and then dropping a big load on the pitch, the All Blacks seem to have decided to melt down now and catch the world by surprise in 2011.