Hi all,

if you don't follow rugby, just close this thread and move on.

My little country is shaken and stirred by the Rugby World Cup 2011, which we have the honour to host this year.

Not surprising, as a native German, rugby did not exist for the first 40 or so years of my life. After settling in New Zealand, though, that was bound to change, of course. But it's quite a learning curve for someone who was brought up on football (or "soccer", for those other nations).

I've successfully dodged rugby for the better part of the last ten years, but now I feel I have to make the effort. A friend recently introduced me to the rugby rules, or "laws" as I've learned I should call them, and to the fact that there are several distinct varieties, like League, Union, Ozzie Rules, etc.

Fine.

So, I'm trying to get my head around the League "laws". It's hard. Not so much because of comprehension challenges, -- once you find someone who is eloquent enough to actually put words to the rules, it's really starting to make sense -- but more because of the (genetically induced??) conditioning that makes me want to claim every tackle as a foul, or that grabbing the ball with your hands is a no-no. These things are hard to overcome.

These last few days, we've been watching a lot of rugby on the telly. I find myself sitting on the sofa, framed by my two boys, to whom the concepts of rugby seem to come as easily as eating "Weet-Bix" for "brekkie". Being taught by an eight-year-old can be quite enlightening. Sobering, even.

Is anyone here interested in the RWC? How does it compare to a (Soccer) Football World Cup? Less, same, or more interest?

For the last Football World Cup, we've seen spreadsheets posted and bets being taken. The RWC does not seem to attract that kind of interest.

Are you following following the RWC? If so, which games have you watched? Which teams do you peg for a chance at the cup?

Since I don't really have a clue, please enlighten me: Do the All Blacks stand a chance at all?

cheers,