Experience all of the passion and excitement of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France as you challenge the best teams and players ever assembled for global supremacy. A nation's destiny is in your hands when you take control of one of the officially licensed national teams in EA SPORTS Rugby 08 and power your way through a gruelling World Cup campaign for the sports' ultimate prize -- the glorious Webb Ellis Cup.
"The 2007 Rugby World Cup unites rugby fans from around the world and our game, EA SPORTS Rugby 08, celebrates this passion by capturing all of the national rivalries in-game, enabling fans to play as their favorite teams from qualification right through to the championship final," said Tristan Jackson, lead producer of the game.
Honoured as 2006 Player of the Year by both the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the International Rugby Players Association (IRPA), McCaw is considered the world's best openside flanker. He will be the centrepiece of EA SPORTS Rugby 08 advertising, marketing and packaging as well as spokesperson for the game. The 26-year-old McCaw was first called up to the All Blacks three years ago when he debuted against Ireland and was named Man of the Match. He has been a linchpin in the All Blacks ever since, earning numerous national and international accolades, while becoming one of the world's most popular rugby players.
Joining McCaw on the front packs of EA SPORTS Rugby 08 in selected territories around the world are 11 additional athletes who also demonstrate athletic excellence, undying determination and masterful skill for their national teams. Joining McCaw on the cover of EA SPORTS Rugby 08 in the United Kingdom is England's Mark Cueto, and in France is Frenchman Yannick Nyanga. Bryan Haban, Schalk Burger and Andre Pretorius will be showcased on the cover in South Africa, brothers Mauro and Mirko Bergamasco in Italy and Australia's Stirling Mortlock will be the featured athlete in Australia and Asia.
This is the season you take complete control of managing your favourite squad as EA SPORTS Rugby 08 enables you to emulate the style of your favorite team on offense and now on defense. Using new, authentic defensive formations, adjust your defense on-the-fly to keep momentum on your side or counter your opponent's attacking style by changing your defensive strategy based on score, field position and more.
This year EA SPORTS Rugby 08 introduces a layered pick-up-and-play control system for set pieces and drop kicks. Now you take full command over every scrum and maul with enhanced push and rotation controls. Make lineout throw-ins look easy with a simplified control scheme for the novice player and advanced mechanics for the pro. Master the new kicking meter to score those key penalties and conversions, while new truck and zoom camera angles zero in on all the breakdown and set piece action during the game's biggest moments.
In addition to enabling gamers to participate in the 2007 Rugby World Cup by taking control of one of 20 national teams, the game features a new, compelling mode of play named World Cup Challenge. Testing even the most hardcore rugby fan, it re-creates the biggest moments in World Cup history and challenges you to re-write the results with today's teams to unlock exclusive World Cup highlight videos.
EA SPORTS Rugby 08, developed by Electronic Arts in Vancouver, Canada, is available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. This game is rated is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI in Europe.