What's happening
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October 10 Archives

WHAT'S HAPPENING? (posted 10th October 2003)
Well, after 4 long years of waiting RWC 2003 is ready to kick off tonight in Sydney. The opening ceremony starts at 7.00pm (AEST) and the first game kicks off at 8.30pm. Tonight my beloved Wallabies take on Argentina's Pumas - and I'm hoping that my boys will win! Sadly that sentiment isn't shared by everyone. Just this morning I heard a couple of Poms on the local radio carrying on about how they hope the Pumas eat the Wallabies tonight. Go England and all that rot. Bah! You see, that's just one of the things that really annoys me. Just because the Poms want to win they feel compelled to wish misfortune on us Aussies. The Kiwis are just as bad. Last World Cup after they got whipped by France in the semi-final their whole country decided that they wanted France to beat us in the Final! Big sooks! Actually I think that sulking is a national sport in NZ, one that the entire population excels in.

But I digress (how unusual :) The Pumas and the Wallabies have met 16 times previously with the Wallabies winning 11 of those games and one being a draw. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another win. The Wallaby team for tonight is looking pretty good - though Chris Latham is apparently still not well enough to play. He'll be missed, as will Stirling Mortlock - also not well enough to play. The good news is that Nathan Sharpe is on the starting bench (go you big man!) and Ali Baxter is getting his first test cap. I can't help but feel for Toutai Kefi who won't be playing at all this world cup after having his shoulder smashed by the Kiwis during the Tri nations series :/ Go Wallabies!

Alright what else is happening....
Tomorrow is more rugby world cup games. I'm off to Brisbane to watch the France - Fiji game. It kicks off at 7.30pm Cool!
But, before I head off to the game there's the New Zealand - Italy game being played in Melbourne at 2.30pm, then Ireland take on Romania in Gosford at 5.00pm. While I'm in Brisbane, South Africa will be taking on Uruguay over there at Subiaco Oval in Perth. Looks like I'll have to watch the replay for that one :)

After all that there's more on Sunday. Wales, the fantastic hosts of the last world cup take on Canada in Melbourne at 6.00pm, Scotland v Japan up in Townsville at 8.00pm, while England (the tournament red hot favourites - and aren't we sick of hearing about them?) will be a formidable force against Georgia in Perth at 8.00pm. I don't think the Poms will play Jonny Wilkinson in the first match. I suppose you can't blame them for wanting to keep the kicking freak out of harm's way for the time being. He's an awesome fly half as well. Ah Jonny, you should have been an Aussie :))

Anyway, that takes us up to the end of the weekend. There's more games during the week. More on that later.
Cheers!