2007 Rugby World Cup

If you're looking for a sport to follow and you're not getting into the Major League Baseball season's final games (despite the Mets' near-collapse and the Cubs' possibly accursed presence), you find it still to early to champion a National Football League team, you cannot believe the National Hockey League exists and opened its season in Britain, you felt disappointed by the US Women's Soccer World blowout at the hands of Brazil and the drama surrounding the game (poor Brianna Scurry!), and you don't really care about NASCAR, the new quicker cricket, what's left of the tennis and golf seasons, etc., there's always the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

RWC 2007, a perfect combination of athleticism and beauty, is underway in Europe, and is nearing the end of the first-round games. The top teams are New Zealand's "All Blacks" squad, which is 4-0; Australia, which is also 4-0 so far; Argentina; South Africa, which walloped the highly ranked England squad, with the stunning Jason Robinson; and, it appears to some surprise, Fiji, which defeated Wales to make it into the next round.

The United States team, featuring a very diverse lineup, has had a rough tournament so far, losing all three of its games, including matches against Tonga and Samoa, against whom player Fifita Mounga suffered a terrifying injury. Their final match will be against the above-noted South Africa, which doesn't bode well for a win. There's always next time. Meanwhile, I'll keep following the scores and perhaps post again after the next or a subsequent round. Will it be New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, England, or some other squad?

PARIS - SEPTEMBER 28: Paul Sackey of England breaks away to score his team's second try during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool A match between England and Tonga at the Parc des Princes on September 28, 2007 in Paris, France. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)LENS,

FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Jason Robinson of England scores the opening try during the Rugby World Cup 2007 match between England and the USA at the Stade Felix Bollaert on September 8, 2007 in Lens, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

LENS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Salesi Sika of the USA is pursued by Jason Robinson of England during the Rugby World Cup 2007 match between England and the USA at the Stade Felix Bollaert on September 8, 2007 in Lens, France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

ST. ETIENNE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 26: Takudzwa Ngwenya of USA breaks past Elvis Seveali'I of Samoa to score a try during match thirty two of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Samoa and USA at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard on September 26, 2007 in St. Etienne, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

ST. ETIENNE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 26: The Samoan team do The Siva Tau (Samoan War Dance) prior to match thirty two of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Samoa and USA at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard on September 26, 2007 in St. Etienne, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 22: Juan Manuel Leguizamon of Argentina goes over to score his team's second try during Match Twenty Six of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Argentina and Namibia at the Stade Velodrome on September 22, 2007 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Luke McAlister of New Zealand and Mils Muliaina (L) in action during Match Two of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between New Zealand and Italy at the Stade Velodrome on September 8, 2007 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)

PARIS - SEPTEMBER 09: Bryan Habana of South Africa goes past David Lemi of Samoa during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool A match between South Africa and Samoa at the Parc des Princes on September 9, 2007 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

LYON, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 11: Mamuka Gorgodze of Georgia takes the catch during match nine of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Argentina and Georgia at the Gerland stadium on September 11, 2007 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

ST-ETIENNE, 9 September - Pedro Carvalho (POR) during match seven of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Scotland and Portugal at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Rodney So'oialo of New Zealand is tackled by Sergio Parisse of Italy during Match Two of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between New Zealand and Italy at the Stade Velodrome on September 8, 2007 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: The New Zealand players perform the Haka prior to the start of Match Two of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between New Zealand and Italy at the Stade Velodrome on September 8, 2007 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 23: Doug Howlett of New Zealand dives over the line to score a try during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool C match between Scotland and New Zealand at the Murrayfield Stadium on September 23, 2007 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

TOULOUSE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 29: Sitiveni Sivivatu of New Zealand scores the opening try during Match Thirty Four of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between New Zealand and Romania at Le Stadium on September 29, 2007 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)

Fijian team training (no photo credit available)

TOULOUSE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 12: Mosese Rauluni of Fiji makes a pass during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool B match between Japan and Fiji at Le Stade on September 12, 2007 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 16: Seremaia Bai of Fiji escapes the tackle of Dave Spicer of Canada during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool B match between Canada and Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on September 16, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 16: Seru Rabeni of Fiji hands off James Pritchard of Canada during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool B match between Canada and Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on September 16, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

MONTPELLIER, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 23: Gabiriele LovobalavuSeru Rabeni of Fiji is tackled by Adam Freier (R) and Phil Waugh (L) of Australia during match twenty seven of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Australia and Fiji at the Stade de la Mosson on September 23, 2007 in Montpellier, France. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

MONTPELLIER, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 23: Ifereimi Rawaqa of Fiji catches the line out throw during match twenty seven of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Australia and Fiji at the Stade de la Mosson on September 23, 2007 in Montpellier, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

NANTES, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 29: Akapusi Qera of Fiji makes a break during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool B match between Wales and Fiji at the Stade de la Beaujoire on September 29, 2007 in Nantes, France. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

LYON, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Yuki Yatomi of Japan is stopped by the Australia defence during the match three of the Rugby World Cup 2007 between Australia and Japan at the Gerland stadium on September 8, 2007 in Lyon, Fance. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

BORDEAUX, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Loamanu of Japan is snagged by James Pritchard of Canada during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Canada and Japan at the Stade Chaban Delmas on September 25, 2007 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)