Rugby World Cup 2007

The September 18th match at Murrayfield in Edinburgh (between Scotland and Romania) marks the mid-point of the Rugby World Cup, the premier international Rugby Union tournament. So far there have been quite a few surprises, like EnglandВ’s defeat with zero points at the hands of the South Africans on 14th September and IrelandВ’s lacklustre victory over Namibia (just 15 points more) and Georgia (just 4 points more).

So far, none of the minor players have produced a nil-points game, to their credit. New Zealand is romping ahead with massive wins over all their opponents. The other two Tri-Nations boys, Australia and South Africa, are also showing impressive results. But who knows whether a promising outsider, such as Argentina, may not steal their thunder in the end. By the way, who decided to locate two games in the UK (Cardiff and Edinburgh) when France was hosting this event? 

Tournament results so far

7th September

Pool D: Argentina 17, France 12

8th September 

Pool C: New Zealand 74, Italy 14

Pool B: Australia 91, Japan 3

Pool A: England 28, USA 10

9th September

Pool B: Wales 42, Canada 17

Pool A: South Africa 59, Samoa 7

Pool C: Scotland 56, Portugal 10

Pool D: Ireland 32, Namibia 17

11th September 

Pool D: Argentina 33, Georgia 3

12th September

Pool A: Tonga 25, USA 15

Pool B: Fiji 35, Japan 31 

Pool C: Italy 24, Romania 18

14th September

Pool A: South Africa 36, England 0

15th September

Pool C: New Zealand 108, Portugal 13

Pool B: Australia 32 Wales 20

Pool A: Ireland 14, Georgia 10

16th September 

Pool B: Fiji 29, Canada 16

Pool A: Tonga 19, Samoa 15

Pool D: France 87, Namibia 10

Forthcoming gamesSeptember 18th В– Scotland versus Romania in Edinburgh

September 19th В– Italy versus Portugal in Paris

Final В– October 20th - at the Stade de France stadium in the Saint Denise sector of Paris

The winners of The 2007 Rugby World Cup are awarded the William Webb Ellis Cup, named after the Rugby School pupil credited with the gameВ’s invention, reputedly in 1823. The tournament is one of the largest international sporting competitions in the world. England won the last event in 2003 and previous cup holders were Australia (1999 and 1991), South Africa (1995) and New Zealand (1987).