The 2011 Rugby World Cup comprises of 20 Countries in 4 Groups : Groups A to D
All Countries in each Group play each other once - ie 4 Matches each
In total there are 40 Group Stage Matches to be played
After all Group Stage Matches the Top 2 Countries from each Group
proceeds into the "Quarter Finals"

Scoring in Group Stage Matches
When a team Wins a Match they are awarded 4 points.
A draw gives them 2 points, a lose is Zero Points

Bonus Points - Group Stage Only
Ther are 2 types of Bonus Points Avaiable in the Group Stage Matches 

    A - Bonus Points for Tries Scored 
    When a team scores 4 Tries in any Group Match they are awarded a Bonus Point. 
    It doesn't matter if they don't win the game - Once 4 tries scored they get an extra point. 

    B - Bonus Points for Losing by 7 points or less 
    If a team loses by seven points or less they also receive a Bonus Point.

This means that the Maximum Points a winning Team can score in any Group Match is 5
(4 for the win plus 1 if they score 4 or more tries)

The Maximum number of points a losing Team can receive is 2,
That would occur if the team scored 4 tries or more, and also got within the 7 point margin.

The Maximum Points that a Team can get if they Draw is 3
(2 for the draw plus 1 point if they score 4 tries or more).
It is possible for 2 teams to draw and yet receive a different number of points for the game.
For example, team A and B might draw, but team A scored 4 tries while team B only scored 3.
In this scenario team A would receive 3 points, and team B would only receive 2

Group Orders
The Order of Winners & Rns-Up in Each Group is decided as follows:

A - By Points   - as is as outlined above 
B - The winner of the Match in which the two tied Teams have played each other shall be the higher ranked.
C - The Team which has the best difference between points scored for and points scored against in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked
D - The Team which has the best difference between tries scored for and tries scored against in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked.
E - The Team which has scored most points in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked.
F - The Team which has scored most tries in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked
G - Should the tie be unresolved at the conclusion of steps (i) through (v), the Team that is higher ranked in the updated Official IRB World Rankings.

Note : In this Prediction Competition - all of the above criteria is not applied automatically.
Your Final Group Order based on your Individual Group Match Predictions is taken as read.

WORLD CUP ROUNDS
First Round : The Group Stage - 40 Matches in Total
Second Round : Quarter Finals - 4 Matches in Total
Third Round : Semi-Finals - 2 Matches in Total
Fourth Round : Finals Round - The Final & The 3rd Play Play-Off

Overall Total Number of Matches in the RWC is 48 Matches


FOR THIS PREDICTION COMPETITION 

See "HOW ONE ENTERS"

See also a separate Score sheet press to go to "How One Scores"
See Separate Sheet for Information on Prizes and some guideline on Team Odds
Plus a special Rules and Guidlines for Women

Any Questions - Feel Free to ask, or just email Joe Byrne at : mulac@eircom.net