Thanks for the suggestions. The Australian Consulate in Rio is staffed by an Honorary Consul , a Brazilian who probably has not the slightest interest in Rugby. But then again a few months ago I had a very involved conversation on the prospects of the Queensland Reds in a McDonalds in Lisbon with a 10 yr old Portuguese rugby player so you never know.

I check in to the Sheraton Rio later today and will see if I can find a hotel with ESPN rather than ESPN Brasil. I remember being in the US for the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and a friend was able to get the telecast on Pay Per View.