If This Doesn't Get You Pumped For Rugby We Don't Know What Will

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New Zealand's rugby team, The All Blacks, perform this traditional war dance in front of the other team before they start a match.

It's intense, it's awesome, and it gets you seriously pumped for rugby. The Haka starts at about 4:25:

Here's another video of the All Blacks and the Tonka both performing:

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The Rugby World Cup Kicks Off!

The rugby World Cup has just officially been launched. 

The first game, between the host country New Zealand, and Tonga, will be starting shortly. This writer and rugby fan will be blogging the highlights of the cup.

From an organizational and business perspective, the World Cup is shaping up to be a slight disappointment. 

Organizationally, New Zealand was shaken up by the tragic Christchurch earthquake, which means some events had to be moved around and there will be less venues available. 

From a business perspective, the fact that the Cup is happening in New Zealand is a drag. This means a huge time difference with Europe and South Africa so TV rights are cheaper because live games will be broadcast during the day. It also means lower attendance because it costs more to travel there. The cup is happening in September, because New Zealand is in the Southern hemisphere and the seasons are inverted, but that also means less people can take time off from work in September to come. Many tickets remain unsold.

From a sports perspective, the clear favorite is New Zealand, whose All Blacks are on paper the best team in the world. The All Blacks haven't won a World Cup since the first one in 1987, and are itching for a victory on their home ground. In the last Cup in 2007, they were unceremoniously sent home by France in the quarter finals. 

Other favorites include Australia, South Africa and England. A dark horse to watch (and not just because this writer is French) is France. If the All Blacks are the gold standard, France are the most unpredictable team and have a knack for surprising everyone. In fact the All Blacks have said that France is the only team they're scared of. 

Stay tuned...

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An Exclusive Interview With Rugby Legend Anthony "Axel" Foley

Anthony Foley (nicknamed "Axel" after the "Beverly Hills Cop" movies) is a legendary Irish rugby player who, in addition to playing in 62 international test matches for Ireland, is also one of the all-time leading scorers for Munster Rugby, an Irish province team in the European division.

In 2006 Foley captained Munster to a heroic Heineken Cup win, the Super Bowl for European rugby. I caught up with Anthony two days before he reclines on his couch to watch his former teammates from Ireland take on the USA in the Rugby World Cup down in New Zealand. 

TL: At the last Rugby World Cup in 2007, Ireland had loads of momentum going into the tournament, but ended up with a disappointing performance. Now, in 2011 Ireland enters the World Cup without that momentum, losing their previous 4 games, so how will they fair down in the mecca of international rugby?  

AF: Ah, they'll do well! Ireland has had a good run, they have had enough warm up matches, and physically their in good nick, just great shape. Now is when it really matters, now it's all about winning! I just hope their confidence is not dented by those recent losses. It's a great team, and all of Ireland knows we have good players. It's the best team set we've sent to the Rugby World Cup.  Deccy (Ireland's head coach Declan Kidney) picked sides that could win! 

TL: Where those warm up matches against Scotland, England, and France, all teams playing in the World Cup as well, similar to, say, pre-season or spring training games in American football, or baseball? 

AF: Yes, right. Look, you want to win those games against Scotland, England, and France, especially the ones at home. It's disappointing to lose, but it is all about preparation now. Preparation, and the team getting used to making decisions under game pressure. They're ready! 

TL: Ireland starts their World Cup on September 11th against the USA. Ireland is favored to beat the Americans by at least 30 points. But will playing on the 11th bring in an additional element to the game? 

AF: September 11th is a very emotional and poignant day, and the game will reflect that a bit. Recently, I heard that the most loss of life on that day was of Irish heritage, so the sympathy with America really hit home in Ireland. We know what it means for the Americans. But, in rugby, you can't play on emotion for 80 minutes. Emotion will only get you so far. I'd imagine the USA will wear a black arm band, or so, maybe the Irish too. 

TL: So how do you think the game will go down? 

AF: I expect the American's will come out very strong, going to give it good the first 30-40 minutes, but Ireland needs to get off to a good start as well and not have their confidence dented. This is a must win to start the World Cup, and worry about Australia later. They must win! 

TL: The USA's coach is Eddie O'Sullivan, the former coach of the Irish team and a man you played under who was forced out of the job 1 year into a 4 year contract. How is he preparing the Americans? 

AF: Eddie has something to prove after the poor performance in the 2007 World Cup, and based on how he left the Irish team. He is a great coach, and will motivate the Americans well. And September 11th will be a motivating factor, but as I said, in rugby, you can only play on that emotion for so long. 

TL: In Pool C it is Australia, Ireland, Italy, Russia and the USA. What are your predictions? 

AF: Australia and Ireland will go to the quarter finals. I think USA can beat Russia. It would be a big victory for America to win a game in the World Cup, and they can do it against Russia. 

TL: Lastly, America loves fast, tough, violent sports, but rugby is not even on the radar. What's it like playing the American Eagles, and will the US ever become competitive on an international scale? 

AF: The Americans are massively physical! Their let down is on the technical side. Only a handful of US players play for European teams where you must make decisions under pressure.  However, the USA will become more of a force sooner rather than later. Based on rugby 7's coming to the Olympics, and if the USA invests in the universities to promote rugby it won't take them too long to become competitive. The Americans are physically dominant and the stock of available US athletes is frightening. 

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