Rugby League World Cup

[wastou]

Huge Rugby League fan and wondering whether we have any other fellow fans on here, really looking forward to this competition and should be a really competitive tournament.

[Welshman]

Won't this be a walk in the park for the Aussies (again)?

[wastou]

Their certainly big favourites but I and many others certainly think were in with a chance even if in the end we only come second, and if we get the Aussies in the final its a one of game and anything can happen.

[Deuce Bigolo]

Bit of joke the rugby league world cup

Australia seems to be streets ahread of the only 2 perennial challengers New Zealand & England and the rest might as well not be there

I see Ireland are using the usual recruitment methods favoured by the lesser nations to get a few players from the ARL over...if your grandma was Irish and you can play come on over

Why they dont just make it a similar tournament to the rugby union tri-nations till the other countries are up to the same standard is beyond me

[gingerbloke]

My mate from work and 26 others are off on the 28th for 5 whole weeks i'm not pissed off honest.

[wastou]

I'm off for the final three weeks so I'll get to see England's last group game against the Kiwis as well as both semi finals and the final, hopefully England will be in one of the semi's and go onto win the whole thing.

[ATS]

Keep your fingers crossed that Rob Burrow doesn't get
injured as there's no real back up srum half on board

[wastou]

Absolutley if burrows goes down with an unjury were nackered however I was impressed by young myler against wales. to mutch to step up for him now but definitley one for the future.

[colonel]

Yeah, I like it and am looking forward to it- but why are England, Aussie and New Zealand all in the same Group? Seedings??

[ATS]

Think it was to try and ensure that the smaller nations don't
get a thrashing from the big three. In theory the way pool 1
works all the big 3 should qualify for semis. If you finish top you
get the best advantage for the semi finals

The smaller nations are in pools 2 & 3.
The winner from each of those groups must then play each other
in a play off to qualify for semi final

Pool 1 winner say England then play winner of that game in
semi final (say Ireland)
Those that finish 2nd and 3rd in pool 1 (i.e. Aus v NZ) play in
the other semi final. Those winners then meet in the final

The heat and humidity in Townsville for England v PNG in the
first game will be the biggest worry for us.
Also need to get a good kicking game lined up for this
tournament. It has let us down in recent times