Pool C - Australia, Ireland, Italy, Russia, United States

[James]

11 September 2011
15:30 Australia v Italy North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

11 September 2011
18:00 Ireland v United States Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

15 September 2011
19:30 Russia v United States Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)

17 September 2011
20:30 Australia v Ireland Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

20 September 2011
19:30 Italy v Russia Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

23 September 2011
20:30 Australia v United States Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

25 September 2011
18:00 Ireland v Russia Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

27 September 2011
19:30 Italy v United States Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

1 October 2011
15:30 Australia v Russia Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

2 October 2011
20:30 Ireland v Italy Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

 

[ripper868]

Arguably the easiest pool IMO

While Italy have improved I don't see them beating a full strenght Wobbles or Micks. The Cold war match will be intersting though.

 

[EddieM]

I agree. Although i would love it if Italy could cause an upset I can't see it happening.

 

[benchmark00]

Diggers to be first try scorer.

Going to be a good test for our forwards today. Italy aren't the worst in that area.

 

[Johnners]

Samo first try for mine.

 

[benchmark00]

Diggers to be first try scorer.

Going to be a good test for our forwards today. Italy aren't the worst in that area.

Especially considering it's pissing down

'




Outstanding kick by c00ps to get touch 2m out.

 

[Johnners]

Especially considering it's pissing down

'




Outstanding kick by c00ps to get touch 2m out.

Indeed....quite the opposite with teh penalty attempt though.

 

[Johnners]

No question who the star of the show is....and he's not wearing blue or gold.

 

[benchmark00]

Really do prefer this team with O'Connor in it.

 

[Hurricane]

Really do prefer this team with O'Connor in it.

Why isn't he playing?

 

[benchmark00]

Why isn't he playing?

Got dropped for the tri nations final for disciplinary reasons and couldn't break back into a winning XV.

 

[_Ed_]

Messy game so far.

 

[benchmark00]

**** I hope we don't have to put up with Ian Smith's annoying voice for every Wallabies game.

 

[Smudge]

**** I hope we don't have to put up with Ian Smith's annoying voice for every Wallabies game.

Yes. Now Greg Martin, there's a soothing voice for the eardrums.

 

[benchmark00]

Smith's just a bell end. Cricket commentary up there with the great Ian Healy.

 

[Johnners]

Nice, brilliant run from Diggers

 

[benchmark00]

Really do prefer this team with O'Connor in it.

Ind33d.

 

[Johnners]

Dibgy, what a machine

 

[Hurricane]

Well done Australia - Italy simply a less skilled team - dropped passes - the occassional poor kick - no attempt to open the game up when down by 10 points in the 2nd half.

But you will only ever see these great 1st half performances in world cups as the underdog seems to grow an arm and a leg for these tournaments. NZ's performance against Tonga is starting to look fine now.

 

[Somerset]

Funny how the introduction of O'Connor immediately resulted in Australia going on a try scoring rampage. Was hoping Italy would stay in touch with the Wallabies but to be fair they barely looked like scoring until Parisse badly messed up a pushover try in the final few minutes. I don't get to see Parisse play much and while he was quite impressive, I'm not yet in the camp that rates him as one of the 2-3 best number 8s in world rugby. For those that rate Castogiovanni as a scrummager, I can see that rationale, but he did nothing around the field. As for the Wallabies, I still maintain that Australia would be better off with O'Connor and AAC at 12 and 13 so it'll be interesting to see if Deans changes the Australian side up for their weaker pool matches; I can't imagine he'll make many changes at all for their next match against Ireland.