All you rugby fans are in for a treat today as ITV are showing 3 games of live rugby. In fact my favourite quote from last nights opening game was

With this much live rugby, its hard to know when to go to the fridge.

Any way, today we have the first glimpse of New Zealand (vs Italy in Pool C), as they start their campaign. This is closely followed by what should be a very high points scoring game with Australia taking on Japan in Pool B. Finally we see England opening their defense of their crown with what should be an easy win over the USA in Pool A

Happy Watching…

08/09/07 New Zealand Italy C 12.45 ITV 1
08/09/07 Australia Japan B 14.45 ITV 1
08/09/07 England USA A 17.00 ITV 1

France suffered their first ever loss in the pool stages of the world cup.

In the opening game of the 2007 Rugby World Cup the hosts have been beaten 17-12. If the rest of the results in their group go against them France could be out of the world cup, or may have to face New Zealand in Cardiff. If France end up as runners up and New Zealand win their group then the two will meet in the Quarter finals, which despite this being France 2007 will be held in Cardiff.

Personally I’d like to see a France vs New Zealand quarter final.

You can of course follow all the news of the World Cup right here, alongside with the rugby tv schedule.

According to the Guardian the media boycott of the rugby world cup has escalated to include some major newspapers, including L’equipe.

The full story can be found on the Guardian website

You can of course still watch the live rugby on ITV.

Reuters is suspending all coverage of pre-tournament events and training sessions of the Rugby World Cup 2007, across text, pictures and TV.

This taken from the following press release on the reuters website.

Reuters say the would like to be able to offer coverage of the rugby…

However, freedom of the press and our editorial integrity are at the core of our business, and these must be respected.

You can of course watch all the live rugby games on ITV - and by following our handy television guide to the world cup.

I have just blogged about ITV’s new Fantasy Rugby competition which they have created for the rugby world cup.

As I was browsing through the site something wasn’t quite right, and then it hit me… That favicon isn’t a rugby ball…. For some reason itv have decided that the best favicon for their fantasty rugby competition is a football… Go figure.

As well as showing all the rugby games on tv for the Rugby World Cup, ITV are also running a Fantasy Rugby Competition.

So for those of you like me who have to watch the rugby on television, you can join in the fun, and even compete against your friends or colleagues.

The BBC are getting in on the act and have released a re-enactment of the moment almost 4 years ago when Johnny Wilkinson kicked England to the Rugby World Cup Final.

Personally I’m a bit disappointed that the BBC aren’t showing the games as I think they do rugby extremely well. However ITV seems to have lined up a decent list of pundits. It obviously won’t be the same without John Inverdale or Jonathan Davies, but they will be back in the Spring for the Six Nations, where we will obviously have the full six nations tv schedule for you.

So apart from ‘that drop goal’ what are your memories of the Final four years ago?

I was looking into getting tickets to watch Wales vs Japan in Pool B. I would have loved to have gone and watched Wales against Australia, but can’t really afford it.

Any way, luckily I looked into train tickets to get to Cardiff Central from London, before I purchased the ticket, since by the time the game has finished the train home would take 7 1/2 hours..

Well since you ask, the route they suggest is

Depart: 22:00 Cardiff Central (CDF)
Arrive: 23:00 Bristol Temple Meads (BRI)

Depart: 23:44 Bristol Temple Meads (BRI)
Arrive: 00:39 Taunton (TAU)

Depart: 02:47 Taunton (TAU)
Arrive: 05:24 London Paddington (PAD)

So it looks like I will have to watch the rugby on television like everyone else..

Watch Rugby on your PC

We have just teamed up with Live Sport on TV who can offer live Rugby Coverage streaming to your PC.

So if you are going to be stuck in the office during the world cup, ensure you lunch time isn’t wasted and start watching the Rugby World Cup on your PC.

Live Sport on TV also offer options including American football, Cricket, Football, Golf, Racing, Motor Sport, Rugby Union, Tennis and Wrestling.

So what’s stopping you, sign up now and watch streaming rugby on your PC.

There was an interesting article in the Sunday Times called Taking on the World which amused me slightly. This was the day after the French game (that England lost 21-15) and two days before the squad for the world cup should be announced.

What intrigued me was that the 4 experts (Stephen Jones, Neil Back, Jeremy Guscott and Stuart Barnes) were so different in their selections. The obvious difference is Lewis Moody, considered good enough to be in the starting line up by Neil Back, but not considered good enough to be in the squad of 30 by Stuart Barnes and Jeremy Guscott.

Like with all big decisions we all have our opinion and I love to ‘play along at home’ and work out who I would pick. I was just shocked at how much of a difference there was.

Brian Ashton’s England Squad going to the Rugby World Cup

Taken from

Backs: M Cueto, J Lewsey, J Robinson, P Sackey, D Hipkiss, J Noon, M Tait, M Catt, A Farrell, O Barkley, J Wilkinson, A Gomarsall, S Perry, P Richards.

Forwards: G Chuter, L Mears, M Regan, P Freshwater, A Sheridan, M Stevens, P Vickery, S Borthwick, M Corry, B Kay, S Shaw, L Dallaglio, N Easter, L Moody, T Rees, J Worsley.

Omitted: N Abendanon, D Cipriani, T Flood, J Haskell, C Hodgson, T Palmer, M Tindall, K Yates

Who the pundits left behind…

Just for comparison, lets see who the pundits left behind, and see how close we get. Bold matches Brian Ashton’s squad

Neil Back left behind: Nick Abendanon, Toby Flood, Kevin Yates, James Haskell, Tom Palmer, Nick Easter

Stuart Barnes left behind: Danny Cipriani, Toby Flood, Kevin Yates, Steve Borthwick, Lewis Moody, Nick Easter

Jeremy Guscott left behind: Paul Sackey, Andy Farrell, Toby Flood, Perry Freshwater, Steve Borthwick, Lewis Moody

Stephen Jones left behind: Nick Abendanon, Mathew Tait, Toby Flood, Andy Farrell, Steve Borthwick, Nick Easter

Pundits - wrong, wrong, wrong

Neil Back wins guessing 5/6 correctly, followed by Stuart Barnes with 3/6, Stephen Jones with 2/6 and trailing behind Jeremy Guscott only getting 1/6 right.

You can watch how well the England team do by following them on television.

I’ll open it up for comments. - Who would you have left behind?