Pack down for Cup on the couch

By GRAHAM HEPBURN

There's an inviting and packed itinerary for those embarking on their Rugby World Cup "journey" tomorrow night from the comfort of their sofas: not only is there comprehensive coverage on free-to-air TV One but with the games being played in Australia they are mostly at times when you won't need matchsticks to keep your eyes open.

For those couch potatoes match-hardened by previous world cup campaigns in Europe and South Africa this should be a doddle, but you won't want to wreck your match fitness by staying up late to watch, say, Georgia v Uruguay from Perth.

You'll have to pace yourself to peak at the right time as TV One will show every game in full, with 42 of the 48 games live, and have an afternoon highlights package.

Along with its wall-to-wall coverage, the state broadcaster has developed a "Cyberstrator", which will allow the commentary team to animate aspects of the game so that they can run moves or alternative scenarios. TV One is hoping it will do for rugby what Virtual Spectator did for yachting during the America's Cup.

And TV One is fielding an impressive team in Australia, with John McBeth hosting matches and interviews in the Sydney studio, while calling the matches will be Keith Quinn, the expert on rugby-related obscurities — expect to be bemused when regaled with the fact that the Namibian first-five's uncle was a surgeon in the Royal Navy and wonder what that has got to do with the conversion he's attempting.

Giving the commentary team some forward muscle will be former All Blacks Richard Loe and Gary Whetton, while Grant Fox will be chiming in with some incisive bursts and his tactical awareness. But watch out if he gets his hands on the Cyberstrator.

Also among the commentary team is former All Blacks coach John Hart, while former international referee Colin Hawke will be a panellist in the studio and will no doubt spend a lot of his time trying to interpret the arcane laws of the game.

The opening ceremony is live tomorrow from Sydney at 10pm — followed by Australia v Argentina at 11pm — and will feature a cast of 1700 backed by a crew of 200. Expect a spectacular light show, lots of airy-fairy stuff about the creation of Australia (or did they do that already at the Olympics?) along with some metaphorical business implying the world would be a better place if we could just all play rugby in peace and harmony. Especially if the All Blacks win.

All Blacks pool games

v Italy (Sat, 5.30pm)

v Canada (Oct 17, 10.30pm)

v Tonga (Oct 24, 8.30pm)

v Wales (Nov 2, 8.30pm)


Quarter-finals (Nov 8-9) Semifinals (Nov 15-16)

Final (Nov 22)

Full World Cup coverage