Originally posted by danger zone
You're full of crap pal. Soccer is the worlds game and has about every nation involved. There's a lot more competition involved than rugby, where the same teams are always the best. Even if Brazil have made three cup finals in a row you don't know before the tournament that they would make it that far do you? Did anyone think Argentina would get knocked out of the first round? For gods sake man Holland never even made it to WC 2002. At the rugby WC you know NZ, Aus, Eng, SA, Fra will all make it to quarters. Italy will never be a rugby power because Italy doesn't care about rugby. Just like the USA. Italy can beat Scotland all they want. but no one cares. They've been saying Italy are a rising force since the 87 wc, but where have they gone? Nowhere. Rugby's never going to change, it'll always be the same teams on top and it will continue to be a farce in the early rounds at every WC. And if you seriosuly think the USA will ever improve then you are what your name suggests. Come and live over here, where the Rugby WC has all the profile of underwater nude tractor racing.
Yeah and this is only the 5th World Cup of Rugby not 30th of Soccer or whatever.
90 teams entered the qaulifiers for the WC. Norway vs Luxembourg was the first match in November 2000. Ireland didnt get automatic qaulification *(yes they had to play Georgia and Spain but they still had to qualify and they are third best team in the world according to rankings).
Ofcourse Brazil were going to make it as was Germany look at the history of the WCR you say well look at the WCS and tell me you dont see a pattern of Brazil Germany and Italy?
The rugby world cup is third best tornament beghind Soccer and Olympics and the greatest sporting event this year (hell if it only has the appeal of nude tractor racing then why did you make a thread about it?)
But ofcousre im full of **** - I only work at the WC and see for my self the mangatude of the event. Rugby is third on the list of all time sporting events thanks to audience numbers in part.
You say it has no appeal? look how many threads are in a soccer forum.
Soccer has a headstart I know that but Rugby is coming... 220 or so nations play Soccer 90 play Rugby also.
To those who say WC should only be 10 teams
OK you got Six Nations + Tri Nations + Argentina?
What about the USA probably the best performers so far that isnt recognised professionally
Japan who took it to both France and Scotland
Fiji Somoa and Tonga all have rugby history
Fiji are World Seven champions for 5 years running
Somoa has been to the quarter finals and even a Semi final in the first World Cup i believe
Tonga has taken many scalps over the years.
so thats 15 teams with merit of being there
which leaves only 5 teams
Romaina (have been to 2 WC's and are Six Nation B winners)
Georgia (A fourth team from Europe not from UK and are learning the ropes of International Rugby)
Namibia (a second team from Africa and second WC beat both Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe both have made it to WCs)
Canada (have produced their own scalpes over the years and are just as powerful was Wales is)
Uruguay (still learning the ropes 2nd WC).
You can say "ohh but Soctland and Wales performances are on the waine in Rugby" well so are England Scotland etc etc powerhouse of soccer who wont win either so stop making pathetic excuses for poorly minded remakes.
EDIT: Uruguay nearly knocked USA out of qualifingonly for USA to come back through a repecharge against Spain.
LETS TAKE A LOOK AT TEAM USA
While continually improving year-on-year, the US is a typical example of a country that has still to reach its potential as a possible rugby power.
There is no question of this vast nation has the athletes to rival any rugby playing nation has 60,000 players registered (double that for social players) also David Lye has played for the Barbarians (2000 - prop) and David Hughes plays for Llanelli (in Wales).
I dont know how many play soccer in the USA but 60,000 is a high number for a country that likes Baseball, NFL and basketball
Also their goalkicker comes from here in Queensland and has even played for Super 12 side QLD Reds.