Monday, October 24, 2011
Rugby World Cup Daily, IRB Rankings, and IRB Awards
New Zealand have been partying hard since Richie McCaw lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy at Eden Park on Sunday. Rugby World Cup Daily covers the build up to it, and the reactions after the win. The IRB Awards evening has also taken place, and there's been an update in the IRB World Rankings.
A ticker tape parade through the streets of Auckland was greeted by hundreds of thousands of All Black fans as the team, coaches, and support staff showed off the much sought after trophy. The same thing will happen in other parts of New Zealand over the next few days.
They've also attended the IRB Awards Evening, where the All Blacks picked up Team of the Year, and Graham Henry got Coach of the Year. Also in attendance were France, with their captain Thierry Dusautoir earning the prestigious IRB Player of the Year title.
"This tournament was hard for me because we had our ups and downs. After the Tonga game it was really hard for all of the boys, but then we had the the quarters, semi and final, a great semi, and we are happy to be here, even if we're also disappointed," he said.
Other notable awards went to Cecil Afrika as IRB Sevens Player of the Year, England's George Ford got the IRB Junior Player of the Year award, and Radike Samo picked up the IRPA Try of the Year.
The IRB Official World Rankings were released today, with New Zealand unsurprisingly staying on top after their World Cup win. Australia, who came third after beating Wales, stay second, while France and South Africa are at third and fourth respectively. Wales' loss to Australia cost them, as they finish the tournament in eighth place despite reaching the semi finals.
Below are the current Top 20 teams. You can view an explanation of how the rankings work here.
The last Rugby World Cup Daily show looks forward to England 2015, wraps up what went on with the final, and they reflect on the tournament.
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Posted in Rugby World Cup 2011
Viewing 55 comments
MacKurdi October 24, 2011 4:04 pm
I think the rankings are bullshit, cause Wales definitely deserve to be a lot higher
HenkBerg October 24, 2011 4:34 pm
I agree the rankings are bullshit. and the world cup is bullshit.
Jaunard_du_Cantal October 24, 2011 4:35 pm
Agree with MacKurdi, Wales should definitely be higher. And Samoa above Tonga.
WelshOsprey October 24, 2011 4:39 pm
Wales beat ireland and got further than argentina in the WC but are somehow behind them?
Also well done to dusautoir for getting IRB player of the year, he deserved it
Also well done to dusautoir for getting IRB player of the year, he deserved it
A October 24, 2011 4:50 pm
Why do you think Wales should be higher than 8th - because you managed to beat Ireland in the WC. Its all about Winning games, not nearly winning.
To be fair though, I do agree though that on current form Wales are probably the 4th best team in the world behind the Tri Nations, its just that they have been crap up until now.
To be fair though, I do agree though that on current form Wales are probably the 4th best team in the world behind the Tri Nations, its just that they have been crap up until now.
ReesS93 October 24, 2011 4:54 pm
what determines these rankings wales should be 5th and samoa should be alot higher than they are
i love bacon October 24, 2011 5:09 pm
Rankings explained:
http://www.irb.com/rankings/explain/index.html
If that doesn't help, here's more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRB_World_Rankings
http://www.irb.com/rankings/explain/index.html
If that doesn't help, here's more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRB_World_Rankings
Christophe October 24, 2011 5:07 pm
The biggest theft ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBqetaCfgo
The Irish say it ! 2 ways of referring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBqetaCfgo
The Irish say it ! 2 ways of referring.
UHtiger October 24, 2011 10:58 pm
You got to laugh, in 2 of the clips they show, it clearly shows the french infringing, no mention of those.
i love bacon October 24, 2011 5:30 pm
A large part of the reason Wales is lower now than they were before the WC (from 6th to 8th) is due to the fact that they made it to the finals stages, where wins and losses are multiplied by a factor of 2.
Before the semifinal, they had made it as high as 4th place, and were above France on the rankings. That means that when France beat them, Wales lost a lot of points.
A team like Tonga, on the other hand, managed to beat France in pool stages, so that shot them up a few spots (they had lost a few matches before that and were way down at 13, but they beat France - who were 5th at the time - and took them to 9th). So, the ratings favor underdogs - teams who are ranked lower beating teams ranked higher gets them a lot of points.
The rankings don't necessarily mean that a team is "better" or "worse" at the moment than those ranked above or below it. It means that historically, they've performed in a way that puts them in the spot that they currently occupy.
So yeah, in a way, they are "bullshit" - just take the rankings with a grain of salt before getting indignant your side isn't higher up.
What all teams ought to be doing is aiming to take down the kiwis. Those boring bastards have been #1 for so long, any team other than Australia who beats them has a good chance of getting ranked pretty high after that.
Before the semifinal, they had made it as high as 4th place, and were above France on the rankings. That means that when France beat them, Wales lost a lot of points.
A team like Tonga, on the other hand, managed to beat France in pool stages, so that shot them up a few spots (they had lost a few matches before that and were way down at 13, but they beat France - who were 5th at the time - and took them to 9th). So, the ratings favor underdogs - teams who are ranked lower beating teams ranked higher gets them a lot of points.
The rankings don't necessarily mean that a team is "better" or "worse" at the moment than those ranked above or below it. It means that historically, they've performed in a way that puts them in the spot that they currently occupy.
So yeah, in a way, they are "bullshit" - just take the rankings with a grain of salt before getting indignant your side isn't higher up.
What all teams ought to be doing is aiming to take down the kiwis. Those boring bastards have been #1 for so long, any team other than Australia who beats them has a good chance of getting ranked pretty high after that.
Pretzel October 24, 2011 5:51 pm
I was rooting for france, and I must say i was somewhat disappointed they didnt produce an upset... that being said though, the refereeing decisions against them and non refereeing that was going on against NZ was appalling.
But, really look at all the facts and figures, on the SH side of things we had:
NZ beating Argentina... inevitable..
Aus beating SA... impressive..
NZ beating Aus.... NZ dominated all guns blazing.
On the NH side of things:
Wales beating Ireland.... One sided...
France beating England.... In some ways the english fans should be glad their team didn't limp into the finals...otherwise the score line would have been a "blackwash"
then France beating Wales.... Huge controversy, did france deserve to be in the finals?
so it all boils down to NZ, one team who fought into the finals playing well... and France, one team who tripped stumbled and staggered with surrounding refereeing controversy...
Now picking best of a bad bunch, I'd say NZ deserved the win on their tournament performance... but realistically, France on the night deserved to win as they "played" better, (which is apparently imported to SH fans) but did France deserve to be there at all?!?
I'd say Joubert, and the IRB have a lot to answer for...
But, really look at all the facts and figures, on the SH side of things we had:
NZ beating Argentina... inevitable..
Aus beating SA... impressive..
NZ beating Aus.... NZ dominated all guns blazing.
On the NH side of things:
Wales beating Ireland.... One sided...
France beating England.... In some ways the english fans should be glad their team didn't limp into the finals...otherwise the score line would have been a "blackwash"
then France beating Wales.... Huge controversy, did france deserve to be in the finals?
so it all boils down to NZ, one team who fought into the finals playing well... and France, one team who tripped stumbled and staggered with surrounding refereeing controversy...
Now picking best of a bad bunch, I'd say NZ deserved the win on their tournament performance... but realistically, France on the night deserved to win as they "played" better, (which is apparently imported to SH fans) but did France deserve to be there at all?!?
I'd say Joubert, and the IRB have a lot to answer for...
Telling it like it i October 24, 2011 7:53 pm
I say there would be a few million Welshmen (and women) who would say France did not deserve to be in that final. They were harder done by their semi's ref than anything Joubert supposedly did.
Pretzel October 24, 2011 10:30 pm
Only problem is you can only play whats in front of you. I personally think that red card was weak as anything, but it happened, was it frances fault?! should france have LET Wales just score so they won?!
As a lot of people have said "deserving" has nothing really to do with it.
I'd say Wales "deserved" to be in the final because of their display, but I'd also say France "deserved" to beat NZ....but the fact of the matter is, France missed their kicks, and Wales missed theirs....
and really there is nothing "supposedly" about what Joubert did, look at the videos, hopefully RD will get the Setanta video up at some point.. but as I said, just because the opposition is hard done by, does it mean you should give up and let them win to be fair?!
As a lot of people have said "deserving" has nothing really to do with it.
I'd say Wales "deserved" to be in the final because of their display, but I'd also say France "deserved" to beat NZ....but the fact of the matter is, France missed their kicks, and Wales missed theirs....
and really there is nothing "supposedly" about what Joubert did, look at the videos, hopefully RD will get the Setanta video up at some point.. but as I said, just because the opposition is hard done by, does it mean you should give up and let them win to be fair?!
macclesby October 25, 2011 7:31 pm
Points mean prizes. France may have dicked around a bit in the semi but they took the points they could get and Wales didn't. So tbh, Wales didn't deserve to be in the final anyway.
Pretzel October 27, 2011 12:41 am
I already said below, Deserve has nothing to do with winning, but everything to do with opinions...
joeythelemur October 24, 2011 9:02 pm
"Deserve" has nothing to do with it. Simple as that.
Pretzel October 24, 2011 10:43 pm
Deserve has nothing to do with winning, but everything to do with opinions.
As I said, based on the performance throughout the tournament NZ deserved the win, based on the nights performance France deserved the win....
but i recognise opinions mean very little during the 80 mins, and NZ clearly won...
As I said, based on the performance throughout the tournament NZ deserved the win, based on the nights performance France deserved the win....
but i recognise opinions mean very little during the 80 mins, and NZ clearly won...
Bumptruck October 24, 2011 8:57 pm
about e world cup final! Congratulations to nz...the best team in the world over the last few years....but the do seem to get away with an awful murder.
1. Richie McCaw could have been penalised a dozen times throughout the game...playing the ball on the floor, interfering in the ruck from an offside position, joining the ruck from the side, clothes lining one of the French boys.the list goes on?
2. Most unbelievable of all though how has he got away with striking Parra with a closed fist...before his knee collided. The initial replay of the game shows mccaw trying to enter the ruck from behind, and looks fair...however watch the slow mo-the commentators all mention the knee-which on it's own looks innoculous. However watch him close his first and hit parra as he goes in!! How has this not been seen/mentioned/sighted by any one in the rugby community?!
3. The penalty in the second half in which nz kick the winning points...no French player touches the ball in the ruck...it is lost control of by the kiwis. The French 10 is facing the wrong direction and 6's hands are beside him.
They deserve to win the cup, but until the refereeing becomes more consistent there will always be an element of bitterness about.
1. Richie McCaw could have been penalised a dozen times throughout the game...playing the ball on the floor, interfering in the ruck from an offside position, joining the ruck from the side, clothes lining one of the French boys.the list goes on?
2. Most unbelievable of all though how has he got away with striking Parra with a closed fist...before his knee collided. The initial replay of the game shows mccaw trying to enter the ruck from behind, and looks fair...however watch the slow mo-the commentators all mention the knee-which on it's own looks innoculous. However watch him close his first and hit parra as he goes in!! How has this not been seen/mentioned/sighted by any one in the rugby community?!
3. The penalty in the second half in which nz kick the winning points...no French player touches the ball in the ruck...it is lost control of by the kiwis. The French 10 is facing the wrong direction and 6's hands are beside him.
They deserve to win the cup, but until the refereeing becomes more consistent there will always be an element of bitterness about.
albingia October 24, 2011 10:09 pm
Of course the ref alone decided the France v Wales game. It can hardly be that the players producing the three penalties had anything to do with it, nor the missed kicks, let alone the stupid supplex tackle.
And of course it wasn't the same story with the missed kicks against Australia.
Well, what will be the strategy for 2015 better kicking or intensified whining?
And of course it wasn't the same story with the missed kicks against Australia.
Well, what will be the strategy for 2015 better kicking or intensified whining?
yo October 25, 2011 12:18 am
Finally someone is telling the truth (and he is not French) concerning the final and this shity referee... He gives example with videos from the match, Joubert wasn't brave enough to make NZ loose the worldcup at home...
This video is the proofs, THIS IS SCANDALOUS!!
I can't imagine that someone can say the opposite after seing that !!
Please check this out!!!!
RugbyDump, you should put this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBqetaCfgo&feature=share
This video is the proofs, THIS IS SCANDALOUS!!
I can't imagine that someone can say the opposite after seing that !!
Please check this out!!!!
RugbyDump, you should put this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBqetaCfgo&feature=share
breakaway October 25, 2011 7:42 am
You're being way too gullible. A smart person would know that another video could be compiled of unpenalised French transgressions, and there were plenty, that would seem to "prove" exactly the opposite point.
Tim October 25, 2011 8:37 am
Have to agree with breakaway, for an 80 minute final, that tape is pretty short on content and the commentators (who are they anyway?) are clearly taking what they want out of it and bending things for their own (bias) means. You could easily make a tape showing exactly the opposite.
If you believe everything they say your either a very upset frenchman/woman and/or you still believe in the toothfairy.
If you believe everything they say your either a very upset frenchman/woman and/or you still believe in the toothfairy.
Oliver October 25, 2011 5:03 pm
who are they anyway?
->Matt Williams: Aussie-native, the former coach of Leinster, Ulster & Scotland
->Neil Francis: former Leinster and Ireland rugby player.
They know more rugby than you and I.
And they are neutrals.
So who's the one believing in the toothfairy now?
->Matt Williams: Aussie-native, the former coach of Leinster, Ulster & Scotland
->Neil Francis: former Leinster and Ireland rugby player.
They know more rugby than you and I.
And they are neutrals.
So who's the one believing in the toothfairy now?
breakaway October 26, 2011 5:50 am
There's been some pretty amusing stuff on here this week, but and Aussie and an Irishmen being neutrals in regard to NZ rugby .. that's a good one!
Oliver October 26, 2011 2:47 pm
so exactly who do you accept as neutrals?
There's not that many rugby-playing nations you know.
There's not that many rugby-playing nations you know.
AndreJ October 25, 2011 4:50 am
You are right. Terrible Reffing. Thanks for the Video.
JG October 25, 2011 5:38 am
That clip is a load of bullocks. I bet I could use footage of the final game to show how the ref favoured France. At the end of the day you only see what you want to see. Because NZ is the best team in the world and has been for so long, everyone is closely scrutinising them so is only looking at them not the French (a bit like buying a new car and all of a sudden you see them everywhere).
New Zealand won, that is all that will be remembered, end of story. Take a teaspoon of cement in your coffee and harden up.
New Zealand won, that is all that will be remembered, end of story. Take a teaspoon of cement in your coffee and harden up.
moddeur October 25, 2011 6:03 am
If McCaw is a great guy, he'll respond to the latest NZ Herald claim of eye-gouging by Dusautoir, intervening to say that it's utter bullshit. If not, then he's really just a big pile of steaming crock.
Tim October 25, 2011 8:41 am
No complaint, he never has complained, never will. It was one Journo, that's all.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/5845375/No-Richie-McCaw-eye-gouge-complaint
Best not to read the comments there.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/5845375/No-Richie-McCaw-eye-gouge-complaint
Best not to read the comments there.
Colombes October 25, 2011 9:10 am
yep, i've heard this rumour of eye-gouge. and it's not surprisingly coming from the NZ Herald. i've watched the video, there is no evidence of eye-gouge but another video angle could have been more interesting.
whatever, the AB's have not complained about it to IRB, so that seems to be pure journalist bullshits. and of course, no words on mc caw knee on parra and piri weepu punch on mermoz
it's not the 1st time that the NZ herald claim virtual eye-gouges vs france. they accused tournaire to have gouged the half of the ab's team in 1999, in the 2011 pool match, it was bonnaire, and now Dusautoir... coincidence, the information arrives just after he have been rewarded by the IRB vs 3 all blacks players... pathetic.
new zealand fans are great but they really should burn their miserable newspapers...really
whatever, the AB's have not complained about it to IRB, so that seems to be pure journalist bullshits. and of course, no words on mc caw knee on parra and piri weepu punch on mermoz
it's not the 1st time that the NZ herald claim virtual eye-gouges vs france. they accused tournaire to have gouged the half of the ab's team in 1999, in the 2011 pool match, it was bonnaire, and now Dusautoir... coincidence, the information arrives just after he have been rewarded by the IRB vs 3 all blacks players... pathetic.
new zealand fans are great but they really should burn their miserable newspapers...really
Tim October 25, 2011 9:31 am
All that said, I don't think McCaw would complain in any case. Keep in mind also the guy only said Dusautoir was near, no-one accused him directly.
Do you guys really think the knee Parra got was delibrate? Really?
Do you guys really think the knee Parra got was delibrate? Really?
Yorffeo October 25, 2011 10:49 am
yes, and the hand in the face with it, yes
it was the strategy to destroy the kicker and McCow was implementing it
Burn your Newspaper Kiwi for the good of all our world
it was the strategy to destroy the kicker and McCow was implementing it
Burn your Newspaper Kiwi for the good of all our world
Tim October 25, 2011 11:07 am
Hand in the face...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hneJ8Ws8Yuc
And note they did go over the knee incident also on this program.
I'd say the newspaper has some justification this time, you perhaps jumped the gun a little there bud?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hneJ8Ws8Yuc
And note they did go over the knee incident also on this program.
I'd say the newspaper has some justification this time, you perhaps jumped the gun a little there bud?
Tim October 25, 2011 12:08 pm
And call me blind (you may well) but I just can't see this as deliberate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wr8OU3hRiw
If by some stretch of the imagination is was, full points for subtly/making it look like it wasn't.
And a strategy? ha, then you say the press are bad, where is the evidence to back that up.
I'm done, back to work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wr8OU3hRiw
If by some stretch of the imagination is was, full points for subtly/making it look like it wasn't.
And a strategy? ha, then you say the press are bad, where is the evidence to back that up.
I'm done, back to work.
UHtiger October 25, 2011 12:10 pm
As the video that Tim has linked to shows, it isnt a unfounded complaint. The evidence is as clear as day and had the all blacks and richie mmcaw made a official complaint Rougerie (not Dusautoir) could be spending quite a few months on the sideline.
moddeur October 25, 2011 5:18 pm
What I see is Rougerie grabbing to the face to rip McCaw's nose or ear off or pinch him or hurt him one way or another. For being in the wrong place repeatedly and playing the ball on the ground ... as you know some players tend to try to do justice themselves when the referee isn't calling penalties on serial cheaters like McCaw. But maybe that's the eye region, in which case Rougerie needs a LENGTHY ban. Anyhow it's definitely not Dusautoir.
The lesson to learn here is don't try to do justice yourself, or if you're going to do it, then do it properly, when the referee and the cameras aren't looking (a good knee to MacCaw's groin would just about do it for his lifetime accomplishments in the ruck area).
nb: I respect a lot of AB players, but MacCaw just doesn't cut it. Maybe Rougerie needs to be out of my respect list too.
The lesson to learn here is don't try to do justice yourself, or if you're going to do it, then do it properly, when the referee and the cameras aren't looking (a good knee to MacCaw's groin would just about do it for his lifetime accomplishments in the ruck area).
nb: I respect a lot of AB players, but MacCaw just doesn't cut it. Maybe Rougerie needs to be out of my respect list too.
Sangdue October 25, 2011 6:34 am
For the love of Oden!!! How can a team that lose a semifinal be placed eight i the world cup? Seems a little bit harsh. "Well lad you finished fourth, but we´ll place you in eight position, due to our point system. " Hahahaha...I feel for Wales.
BuzzKillington October 25, 2011 7:15 am
It's amazing how unable the Welsh are to use any sort of common sense. Do you guys really believe you're the 4th best team in the world?
8th is pretty much where the Welsh are. I can't see a team above them that doesn't deserve to be above them.
8th is pretty much where the Welsh are. I can't see a team above them that doesn't deserve to be above them.
BuzzKillington October 25, 2011 11:48 pm
England are indeed better than Wales. Hell, if you're to be totally on honest for the past 10 years Wales have barely been as good as any of the PI nations. The most over rated team in the world of Rugby, and boring, too.
Michael October 25, 2011 7:29 am
That's the beauty of the WC, if the two top ranked sides ploughed through to the final each time it'd be ponderous and predictable. Teams defying their rankings or underperforming is what makes it exciting.
KLu33 October 25, 2011 3:15 pm
The Welsh haters are out of their mind! A full strength Welsh team would have had a real chance at beating NZ - and their performance against Australia was more of a mental let down than anything else. But a top 4 finisher, who beat Ireland; who would have easily taken down France if ANY of the missed kicks had gone over the bar whilst playing a man down the entire match; who lost to RSA in a match where everyone felt they really should have won; ARGENTINA!?!? are you kidding me? and England is debatable as well; they should have been at worst 5th place. 8th is ridiculous and insulting.
PS - Scotland should be higher, too. Tonga had one signature win against France.....other than that they were embarrassed.
PS - Scotland should be higher, too. Tonga had one signature win against France.....other than that they were embarrassed.
BuzzKillington October 25, 2011 11:50 pm
Wales would have been blown off the park against New Zealand. Thank goodness, for the sake of Rugby, you were knocked out by a superior French outfit.
Anyone thinking Scotland are higher than Tonga is an obvious racist. But it's to be expected from little Welsh coalminers that you're still living in the dark ages
Anyone thinking Scotland are higher than Tonga is an obvious racist. But it's to be expected from little Welsh coalminers that you're still living in the dark ages
KLu33 October 26, 2011 7:26 am
wow. way to go the personal route, moron. Racism has nothing to do with it. Tonga lost to Canada.....let me repeat that - CANADA! Obvious racist? you seriously have issues saying something so stupid to someone you don't know at all. Tongan friends were the ones that taught me rugby growing up.
So you think the French team was "superior" because they lucked out on Wales missing kicks they make 90% of the time while playing the entire match a man up? That qualifies as superior?? And that "superior" team played NZ practically to a stalemate, but Wales would have been blown off the park? So what you're really trying to say is you're ignorant.
Your ignorance is further demonstrated by your comment about the Welsh being coalminers and living in the dark ages, which is far more racist than what you erroneously thought I was saying about Tonga, btw - don't be a such a hypocrite.
So you think the French team was "superior" because they lucked out on Wales missing kicks they make 90% of the time while playing the entire match a man up? That qualifies as superior?? And that "superior" team played NZ practically to a stalemate, but Wales would have been blown off the park? So what you're really trying to say is you're ignorant.
Your ignorance is further demonstrated by your comment about the Welsh being coalminers and living in the dark ages, which is far more racist than what you erroneously thought I was saying about Tonga, btw - don't be a such a hypocrite.
breakaway October 26, 2011 7:25 am
Wales played some good rugby but I could never go along with the "they shoulda been in the final" brigade. Although a man down they still had good chances to take out France who had gone into sleepwalk mode, and they just didn't have the firepower to seriously trouble a very depleted Australia in the 3rd place play-off. The Welsh backs would also not have troubled the NZ defence and I think the ABs would have run them ragged both up the middle and out wide. I always thought the NZ/Fr final would be close but I'm confident NZ would've beaten Wales by 20+. But I like the Welsh attitude and the good players are there so I hope they step up for the Oz test later in the year and the 6N.
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