ENG/FRA and NZL/ITA cancelled due to inclement weather. On the one hand, we'll never know which French team would have turned up, but on the plus side this will be the first time Italy haven't lost to New Zealand by double digits.
>>8865 I don't really think that's fair to say. They ran up English cricket scores against Russia and Samoa without conceding at all. Their undoing was Japan shocking Ireland, which put them at a four-point disadvantage in the first place.
I think this tournament has so far turned out even better than 2015, which I thought was the best in a long time. The crowds have definitely been getting their money's worth. Pools A and D in particular have been particularly heavy on action.
>Culture secretary Nadine Dorries confused the two rugby codes in a speech at a Rugby League World Cup event in St Helens on Thursday.
>Dorries thought Jonny Wilkinson's 2003 winning drop-goal for England against Australia in rugby union's World Cup final took place in rugby league.
>"I've always quite liked the idea of rugby league," Dorries said in her speech.
>"My long-standing memory is that 2003 drop-goal."
>Billy Vaughan, vice-chairman of Portico Vine rugby league club in St Helens where the event took place, said: "I thought it was comical. No detriment to her, somebody writes that speech for her, they just need to do their research. It's a little bit disrespectful to the various codes and there's a big difference in the codes."
I have no idea which rugby's thread I am posting this in.