Bristol game for me!

I'd love to see the Welsh people get right behind the team for that opening game. They have a side with real spirit and it's packed full of out and out Welsh lads. They'll have a tough game against Italy who'll have some really experienced players in their team via Minichello, Gower, Laffranchi etc but Wales aren't a bad side.

If we could just get 12-15,000 locals in the ground to add to hopefully 40k plus that will make the trip from round the heartlands it will make for a really good opening and an excellent atmosphere.

But Stevo said it would be a failure?

A positive start. Lets hope it continues.

Er, if the tickets have just gone on sale, how come I was able to order my tickets for the two Wrexham games on 21st. September (I've got the receipt in front of me as I type).

and stevo's always right as well - damn!

England v Australia in a double-header at the Millennium Stadium on Sat 26 Oct.

1.
It doesn't say what the other game is.

2.
One might think that, with England in action, the organisers might have tried to play this game in, er, England. Instead we are asking people to trek all the way to Cardiff.

An opportunity missed for a good crowd at Wembley / Old Trafford / City of Manchester and vocal home support!

I can't see this happening in any other sport. Imagine if Poland had opened Euro 2012 by playing the first game in Ukraine? Utter madness.

Or even worse if in cricket's historic Ashes series England's 1st test match against Australia was played in Cardiff? Oops, wait a minute



It is a stadium well known to league fans. Wales will get a lot of support from locals also wanting to see England v Australia. The roof will be closed so we will see an open game in dry conditions whatever is happening outside. Deplorable decision

My understanding is that the 'England' cricket team is actually 'England and Wales'. However for convenience sake they are normally referred to as England. I may be wrong, though.

A bit like when we played as GB, but it was actually GB and Ireland.

Great news!

Ill be getting mine closer to the time. But to sell over 50k on the first day is a great effort!

It is a double-header. By default one of those host countries will not be at home (i.e. England). Do you think that this may be an attempt to raise the profile of the game in Wales? Wales v Italy may have got 5-6,000 as a stand alone fixture. Now we may see 50,000+ in the Millenium under a roof in October. Spectacular dry football in a world class stadium. Anyone who was at Twickenham in 2000 for the WC opener will know how an occasion can be ruined at that time of year.

This is a great decision IMO. Around 10,000 England fans made the trip to Australia in 2008. What makes you think thousands (barring a few miserable sods on here) will not do the same to Cardiff?

WC organisaers also have to think about the opening ceremony. At least they can plan knowing this will all be under the roof. For some, they won't be happy unless they can fall out of their local pub and drive 5 minutes to the venue. I would imagine the WC will bring out fans from outside RL heartlands who may fancy going to an international occasion.