Home Nations rugby fans surveyed in our poll name Wales as this World Cup's most impressive side so far, but still tip All Blacks to win
Wales have been voted the Rugby World Cup 2011’s most impressive team overall, despite the same fans tipping New Zealand for the overall win in the upcoming final, our survey of Home Nations rugby fans has shown.
- More than half (53%) of the fans we asked have been watching World Cup matches live on television or online
- 42% chose Wales as the most impressive side, compared to 22% who named New Zealand and 10% who saw Argentina as the most impressive
- Two-thirds of the fans asked reckon New Zealand will win the World Cup, however, compared to those backing Wales (12%), Australia (12%) and France (5%)
Views from across the fans
The Wales team's performances on the way to the World Cup semi-final has won them admirers from across the spectrum of rugby fans we polled. Despite calling the New Zealander All Blacks the favourites to win, almost double the amount of British fans asked chose Wales as the most impressive side in the tournament so far.
Despite the early-morning kick-offs for viewers in the UK due to the time difference between here and host nation New Zealand, the Wales fans we asked lead the way in this department, with three quarters (75%) having watched matches live, compared to the 69% of Irish fans, 63% of England fans and 61% of Scotland supporters polled.
The Rugby World Cup 2011 began early last month and is set to conclude on 23rd October. Each of the United Kingdom's nations competes separately alongside other international teams from such varied countries including France, South Africa, Italy, Tonga, Georgia, Samoa and Japan. Wales, France, Australia and New Zealand remain in the competition.
Fans' 'most impressive side' Wales is set to play France on October 15th, while 'most-likely-to-win' squad New Zealand will face Australia the following day.
