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: Rugby World Cup
Flying Fijians in 'tough' 2011 RWC pool draw
04 December, 2008
The Fiji Rugby Union has welcomed the Flying Fijians tough draw for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and believes it will prepare the team for tougher battle in the later stages of the tournament.
Fiji were drawn in Pool D with defending champions South Africa and 2008 Six Nations champions Wales and not to another Oceania team which is highly likely to be Samoa in the pool allocation draw that was released by the International Rugby Board Monday 1 December 2008 in London.
“It’s a tough and very physical pool,” FRU national coaching director Ilivasi Tabua said. “We will definitely be tested well in our pool games but I believe in the players we have. A core of those players that played last year may be retiring and we will be tapping into our young talent but mature pool for players.”
“We have two more solid years to prepare. While we will look to improve on our player performances and teams’ performance both locally and overseas we will definitely be monitoring the other team’s progress. The quarterfinal finish in France is behind us now. Our oppositions will grow from strength to strength as we countdown to the tournament and obviously Wales, South Africa and all the team will definitely be a lot tougher to compete with come 2011.”
Tournament hosts New Zealand will be looking to avenge their RWC 2007 quarter final exit at the hands of France when the sides meet in Pool A, while England will meet long time rivals Scotland for the first time in the pool stages.
Australia, the Rugby World Cup champions in 1991 and 1999, will face three European teams in Pool C, headed by Ireland and Italy.
The Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool Allocation Draw took place inside a very unique venue, Tourism New Zealand's 'Giant Rugby Ball' facility in the heart of London on Monday.
The RWC 2011 pools are:
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Americas 1, Asia 1
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Europe 1, Final Place Playoff
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Europe 2, Americas 2
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Oceania 1, Africa 1
RWC 2011 knockout structure
Following the RWC 2011 pool matches, the knockout rounds will follow the same structure as RWC 2003 and RWC 2007. The full structure is as follows:
Quarter Final 1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
Quarter Final 2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
Quarter Final 3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
Quarter Final 4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
Semi-Final 1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
Semi-Final 2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Bronze Final: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2
Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
04 December, 2008
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| Fiji's High Commissioner to the United Kingdowm and former FRU CEO and Flying Fijians manager, Pio Bosco Tikoisuva during the pool draws in London. Photo: MICHAEL PALER |
Fiji were drawn in Pool D with defending champions South Africa and 2008 Six Nations champions Wales and not to another Oceania team which is highly likely to be Samoa in the pool allocation draw that was released by the International Rugby Board Monday 1 December 2008 in London.
“It’s a tough and very physical pool,” FRU national coaching director Ilivasi Tabua said. “We will definitely be tested well in our pool games but I believe in the players we have. A core of those players that played last year may be retiring and we will be tapping into our young talent but mature pool for players.”
“We have two more solid years to prepare. While we will look to improve on our player performances and teams’ performance both locally and overseas we will definitely be monitoring the other team’s progress. The quarterfinal finish in France is behind us now. Our oppositions will grow from strength to strength as we countdown to the tournament and obviously Wales, South Africa and all the team will definitely be a lot tougher to compete with come 2011.”
Tournament hosts New Zealand will be looking to avenge their RWC 2007 quarter final exit at the hands of France when the sides meet in Pool A, while England will meet long time rivals Scotland for the first time in the pool stages.
Australia, the Rugby World Cup champions in 1991 and 1999, will face three European teams in Pool C, headed by Ireland and Italy.
The Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool Allocation Draw took place inside a very unique venue, Tourism New Zealand's 'Giant Rugby Ball' facility in the heart of London on Monday.
The RWC 2011 pools are:
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Americas 1, Asia 1
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Europe 1, Final Place Playoff
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Europe 2, Americas 2
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Oceania 1, Africa 1
RWC 2011 knockout structure
Following the RWC 2011 pool matches, the knockout rounds will follow the same structure as RWC 2003 and RWC 2007. The full structure is as follows:
Quarter Final 1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
Quarter Final 2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
Quarter Final 3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
Quarter Final 4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
Semi-Final 1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
Semi-Final 2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Bronze Final: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2
Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
