RWC2011

It's here again!

Another four years have passed!

The Rugby World Cup is upon us once again!

With it being based in New Zealand this time around we won't be getting many lie in's on my days off from work. All the decent games kick off at breakfast time. I've got to be honest it felt weird watching rugby eating cornflakes and drinking tea, instead of stuffing crisps and supping a can of Brains!

I do have some issues with the RWC though. Unlike most other world cups there are only a few teams that can win it.

Rugby isn't a world sport as much as football is. I wish they would split the competition into two halves after the group stages, to give the developing nations something to continue playing in. A World Plate perhaps. They do it in the World Sevens competition.

There are a lot of mismatches in the opening phases in the competition. Yes, there will undoubtedly be a shock result here and there, probably in Wales's group to be honest. Ireland look there for the taking too! But when it comes down to it, it is hard to see the winner coming from the Northern Hemisphere. Will New Zealand choke again? France are always dangerous. England are not the complete article, but could gel. Wales, well, they have a hard group, they will do well to get out of that, and then anything can happen I guess.

Whatever else happens, Wales will no doubt be saddled with a burden of ridiculous expectation.

I've had this blip in mind all week. And to be honest I couldn't wait to dig this brilliant board game out again. I haven't played it for ages. A huge amount of thought went into it. It's called the Rugby Addicts Board Game, I think it is still available on eBay and the Gren Website. Every facet of the game is included, knock ons, penalty kicks (it has a flicky thing to try and score goals/ conversions), scrums, lineouts, even dodgy reffing!

Anyone want to come over and give me a game? ;o)