The Cup is Coming Home – and this time it’s staying!
Welcome to The Cup is Coming Home.com – a website for fans by fans - and one all about the great journey towards the next Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Here we present an alternative look at the world of international rugby in the countdown to 2011.
We’re unashamed lovers of the beautiful game played the beautiful way. While we’re just a tad biased – Dan Carter, after all, enjoys god-like status in New Zealand and Richie McCaw in our opinion should be designated as a protected species – we’ll also champion those of all nationalities who play in a brave and beautiful way. Shane Williams, Matt Giteau, (the forgotten) Danny Cipriani, Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Juan Martin Hernandez, Vincent Clerc, Victor Matfield, even (yes) Schalk Burger - heroes all. And let's add the whole, mighty Munster squad to that list.
Now it’s real – The Cup truly is coming home
13 venues, each representing a very different element of New Zealand, will host matches during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. With the daw and venues announced, it’s game on. The Cup is Coming Home and – in our first prediction of the outcome – it looks like it just might be staying...
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Serious stuff
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De Villiers safe, for now
The South African Rugby Board has today said it has confidence that its beleaguered Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers can get things back on track after his team’s three successive defeats in the opening TRI-nations matches against New Zealand and Australia. But in sport we all know what the dreaded vote of confidence can come to mean.
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Kiwi-cum-Aussie snapper banned
A Kiwi-cum-Aussie photographer is in big trouble after he snapped pictures of the All Black’s game plan for Saturday night’s test match against Australia. Scott Barbour has been banned from any further coverage of the big match build-up and the media ruckus may not be over yet.
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More RWC tickets up for grabs
A further batch of Rugby World Cup tickets will go on sale at 9.00am New Zealand time on Monday 26 July, but restricted to those who may have missed out during the first phase of the RWC ticketing programme. These “second-chance” packs are made up of leftover venue and team packs, including some mini-packs where, for example, tickets for two or three of a team’s four pool matches might still be available.
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Twenty20 rugby crash tackled into touch
Plans to introduce a new, shortened form of rugby from 2012 appear to have been crash-tackled even before making the field after failing to muster support from either the International Rugby Board or SANZAR, the governing body for South African, New Zealand and Australian rugby.
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Not so happy hooker
Former Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon has been mortared after describing Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Australian television’s Fox Sports as a clown and implying he was a puppet. Read on to see who might be pulling the strings.
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Munster article draws Irish admiration - and Kildare contempt
The Cup is Coming Home’s article on the Munster-All Blacks match at Thomond Park last November has generated a phenomenal reaction in Ireland. Almost all of it was favourable. But an anonymous commentator from the Kildare Nationalist instead reached for the sick bucket... -
Munster the ultimate victors after epic sporting showdown
The BBC said Joe Rokocoko’s late, late try “spared the All Blacks’ blushes” against Munster last night. Sorry, no it didn’t. There would have been no blushes in defeat because there would have been no embarrassment in losing to the inspired, electrified, relentless, passionate and ultimately magnificent team of Munster men on this unforgettable autumn night at the legendary Thomond Park.
Not so serious stuff
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Richie McCaw placed on New Zealand endangered species list
Richie McCaw, the world’s greatest rugby player, has been placed on the official endangered species list of his native New Zealand. Read on for full details of how the Department of Conservation plans to ensure the much-loved McCaw will continue to gain the same protection as other vulnerable species such as the Hochstetter's frog and the Shortjawed kokopu. -
Referee Wayne Barnes lands lead role in ‘Mr Magoo – the Musical!'
Controversial English rugby referee Wayne Barnes is the shock choice for the lead role in the multi-million dollar production ‘Mr Magoo – the Musical!', which is due to debut on Broadway and London’s West End next year, The Cup is Coming Home can reveal.
