Rugby World Cup 2011 New Zealand: rugby star ad tribute
Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand: When the All Blacks were expected to win, what usually happened? Just ask "Sonny Wool"
At 5:45 a.m. Eastern, I'm currently watching the first game between New Zealand and Tonga -from Eden Park- on Universal Sports, DirecTV Channel 625, and the game will be repeated from 5-8 p.m. U.S. Eastern later on Friday.
(Universal Sports is currently being shown on a Free Preview basis on DirecTV thru September 30th, and starting October 1st, it will be offered as part of the Sports Pack, which I already subscribe to. Since the Rugby World Cup will still be going strong, there's the possibility of seeing lots of high-quality action.)
Reminder: Auckland is 16 hours ahead of Miami/Eastern US
The Telegraph
Rugby World Cup 2011: let battle commence
Rugby’s World Cup will be about thunderous combat, with none of football’s petulance.
By Ian Chadband
9:10PM BST 07 Sep 2011
Here are some things you should know about the Rugby World Cup, which will kick off in New Zealand tomorrow. It will be interminable, running on and on for some seven weeks; it will be predictable, with the chances of a new winner’s name being inscribed on the trophy minimal; and it will be peppered with lots of awful mismatches, taking its cue from tomorrow’s opening game, when New Zealand will roll over plucky little Tonga like 15 big All Black bulldozers.
Read the rest of the article at
Meanwhile, in the world of psychic animals and sports predictions... AFP is reporting that:
A rugby-mad sheep touted as the world's latest animal pyschic picked the All Blacks to win their opening World Cup match Friday, in New Zealand's answer to the late, great Paul the Octopus.
Read the rest of the article at:
Telegraph video: Rugby World Cup 2011: England arrive to haka welcome in New Zealand
And despite what the Kiwis say, don't sleep on Martin Johnson's England side.
They play their first match of the WC against Argentina on Saturday, though team captain Lewis Moody will not see any action in Dunedin.
AFP video: England rugby squad named for 2011 World Cup
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