RWC 2011 - It's Time!

Crows is screaming, "USA! USA! USA!"  Wow.  Awesome.

US misses easy kick from 20 metres out. 

US switching to Patterson at 10 has made a world of difference.

Ireland are coming straight at the US defenders and the US are belying their American Football knowledge and answering with punishing tackles.

30 minutes mark, 3-0 Ireland.

Next ten minutes will decide the progress of this match.  Here we go.

This is well worth seeing.  The Irish are ball-shy.  Shying away from contact, dropping and knocking forward EVERYTHING.  Crowd erupts again into USA USA USA!!!!!!!!!!

Had Ireland 1st scoring play penalty goal which scared the shit out of me when he missed the 1st 2. Used some of that to put a live bet on USA +28.5 since I didn't hit it before the game and looked rather good since it's still 3-0

Crowd responds with "IREEEEEEEEELAAAAND!  IREEEEEEEELAND!!!" chant.

American fans return the "USA! USA! USA!" yell.

This is awesome.

I haven't seen such play from the American 10 and 11 in years.  Where this came from, I have absolutely no clue.  The decision-making has been world-class so far.

Ireland scores a try with 23 seconds left in the Half.

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUUUUUUUUCK!!!!! 


Just like when Jason Robinson scored late against the US in 2007 and all the pieces came undone then.

At any rate, this is the best I've seen the US in ages.  Their defense was tenacious and their decision-making was sharp.  A damn shame about the try, especially since they had a scrum at midfield with a minute and a half to go and lost the scrum to Ireland.



Hopefully the traditional fade doesn't kick in and the USA can keep this up for another 40.

And yeah, I took Ireland -33.5.  I am living up to my screen name here.

Sexton now 2-from-5.  Argentina and England were atrocious as well at goal-kicking.  Carter missed a couple to for NZ.  What is going on in this WC?

Wasn't just Wilko....

Make that 2-from-6.

What is going on with goalkicking in this tournament?  Is it the ball?

USA crushing Ireland in consecutive rucks. 

I can't believe my eyes.

Japan ran the US over in rucks all day just two weeks ago.

Is this O'Sullivan keeping tricks up his sleeve for the World Cup?

Immediately adding USA -7.5 against Russia for the 15th.  It;s an official play now.  If the US plays like this against Russia, it will be an easy cover.  I am very impressed tonight.

USA doing well

10-3 Ireland, USA GOAL KICK!!!!

Minus that lucky try at the end of the Half and we are looking at an all even match!

Oh.

My.

God.

Ireland try

Ireland try after momentum from rolling maul.

Not fair.

So not deserved.

It's matches like this that make me wish more than 50 people in the USA played rugby.  We'd might actually be able to get something going then.

Sexton, 2-from-7.

Wasn't Jonny.

And another Irish try.  Damn.

US tiring.

USA falling apart now after playing well for 55 mins

If you can also get a Halftime line in the USA v. Russia match, do so.  USA much stronger in the 1st Half, obviously. 

Their threshold was 30 minutes in international tests for as long as I could remember.  55-60 minutes now is a MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT as a shocker to me.

Very proud of this side.

Hope it holds off for my +28.5 and unders!