Who are your favourites for the Semi Finals of the RWC at the moment...?

First topic message reminder :

The start of the Tri-Nations and an Ozzie loss to Samoa have added a few interesting permutations into the mix. ABs are still favourites by a country mile on current form.

Some people base their theories on History though and there are a few teams that have made semis and finals more often than others, will it all just be a little bit of history repeating?

The PI teams look stronger than ever, can they do it?

Is there an unexpected Dark Horse out there who could surprise us all...?

Pick Four Teams from the POLL of who you think will be the Semi Finalists.

Rob B wrote:Ireland will push OZ in the groups ,lose, then lose to SA in the QF. Cannot believe the number of people of people writing off SA.

No one is writing SA off.

Rob B wrote:

red_stag wrote:Its about the big picture Asbo. Ireland is a leading rugby nation. We don't really do soccer. GAA are summer sports. We are producing world class players like clockwork since the IRFU embraced professionalism. We've delivered multiple Heineken Cups, Magners Leagues, won the Grandslam, put the likes of Australia and South Africa in their place on a number of occasions etc.

Compare that to the likes of England, Wales, Italy or Scotland. Footballing nations who can claim occasion scalps.

Ireland will push OZ in the groups ,lose, then lose to SA in the QF. Cannot believe the number of people of people writing off SA.

Im backing Ireland to beat Australia in the groups, then Australia to beat SA in the QF

roddersm wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
I guess the real thrust of the matter is when you are "considered" favourites to win games and end up losing them..... I guess that makes you Inconsistent.

Ah so there's "consistent" and "consistent". Would you like to point out how many times Ireland have lost this season when they've been "considered favourites" and then point out who the teams were?

As far as I'm aware we've lost to SA, France and NZ at home and to Wales away. 3 of those games were by one score.

So either you consider us "favourites" againt SA, France and NZ or we've only lost once when expected to win?

I would have had Ireland as Favourites to beat France at home and Certainly to beat Wales away. However that is just my opinion and counts for squat.

My picks for the semi's has nothing to do with having confidence in France as you suggested earlier.

On the contrary Marc Livermont seems to get a group of lemurs, write the names of players onto cards, let the lemurs pick cards at random and then fields the result.

However I would anticipate that France will meet either England, Argentina or Scotland in the QF and I would think France could beat all 3 of those teams in a world cup. Equally England could beat France and the odds would probably double for Scotland or Argentina to beat France.

as a result my pick for the Semi's are Aus, NZ, SA and France (I had to come down on one side of the fence).

i just think it will be a tall order for any NH team to overcome one of the SH powerhouses in the WC. Not to say it doesn't happen, I just think it's unlikely.

roddersm wrote:

nottins wrote:
Is there anyone putting forward a case for France as strongly as the Irish posters are doing for Ireland ? I thought not.

France have 20 votes to Irelands 17. Considering there's not many French on here that's a big vote of confidence isn't it nottins? But yet it hasn't been queried with the same scrutiny as the "Irish confidence" which apparantly no one outside Ireland can understand.

As I said, no one is putting forward a case for France as strongly as the Irish are about Ireland. I don't think I can put it in any more simple terms.

No you couldnt nottins.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

rodders, I think that's the point, it seems unlikely that 'French' posters have voted for France so the view that France will make the semis appears to be more broadly held, whereas i was surmising from the comments related to the poll that (apart from so far only whocares) it appeared only to beIrish posters backing Ireland's chances?

That is my point. I find it every bit as odd that so few give Ireland a chance of the SF as those who are surprised at any Irish optimism.

Personally I think there are double standards being applied based on outdated myths and stereotypes but hey ho everyone is entitled to their opinion.

It seems the odd isolated victory is enough to generate English hyperbole and the French are regarded as contenders no matter how poorly they are playing but any optimism expressed by Irish fans based on winning every feasible accolade in Europe over the past few seasons and consistantly knocking on the door of the top sides for a decade is met with claims of arrogance from every quarter.

Very strange indeed.

nottins wrote:
As I said, no one is putting forward a case for France as strongly as the Irish are about Ireland. I don't think I can put it in any more simple terms.

Clearly the concept of voting eludes you nottins.

Its funny the way the English (nottins) are mouthing off big style because of their "pedigee" in world cups.

England have beaten Ireland once in 8 years. Home or away. A country with a huge population cannot compete with us really.

As for the 2007 world cup, we all know it was a complete fluke. Look at the team of nobodies they brought.

2003 was a great team mid you, but 2007 was a fluke.

The french will murder England in the quarter finals. And rightly so. Why? Becasue they have better players.

Scotland? Not going to waste much cyber space talking about Scotland.

As for Ireland. We are happy with the way things are set up now and where we are going.

Biltong can give it all that, because, as I said before, he is bricking it. And so all of them in SA should be.

Only the most foolhardy African would be dismissive of Ireland in the quarters.

The thumping they received against New Zealand shows there is nothing to fear there.

Smith is a joke and really should hang up his boots. Give me the welsh or irish backlines any day over the saffers. Pathetic at the weekend. Simply pathetic.

I see us ripping the Saffers to shreds in the QF to be honest.

Home record??? We havent played in South Af for ages, so I dont know where all this BS is coming from.

Bravado I think its called.

Anyway. The day is nearly upon us.

Bring it on.

roddersm wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

rodders, I think that's the point, it seems unlikely that 'French' posters have voted for France so the view that France will make the semis appears to be more broadly held, whereas i was surmising from the comments related to the poll that (apart from so far only whocares) it appeared only to beIrish posters backing Ireland's chances?

That is my point. I find it every bit as odd that so few give Ireland a chance of the SF as those who are surprised at any Irish optimism.

Personally I think there are double standards being applied based on outdated myths and stereotypes but hey ho everyone is entitled to their opinion.
It seems the odd isolated victory is enough to generate English hyperbole and the French are regarded as contenders no matter how poorly they are playing but any optimism expressed by Irish fans based on winning every feasible accolade in Europe over the past few seasons and consistantly knocking on the door of the top sides for a decade is met with claims of arrogance from every quarter.

Very strange indeed.

Maybe that could be working both ways?

roddersm wrote:
It seems the odd isolated victory is enough to generate English hyperbole and the French are regarded as contenders no matter how poorly they are playing but any optimism expressed by Irish fans based on winning every feasible accolade in Europe over the past few seasons and consistantly knocking on the door of the top sides for a decade is met with claims of arrogance from every quarter.

I think we are all a bit sensitive when our national side is criticised. For me, England's back-to-back victories home and away over Aus seem to be downplayed or derided by many. We all get it. We all dish it out too

Actually I think it's a splendidly valid point that nottins makes that the voting is inevitably skewed by the membership of the board. It might be taken as granted, but as worthy of mention as any other of the myriad obvious statements that get made on a daily basis here.

It may of course, also be France's metronomic ability to play well for 80 minutes when confronted with the men in black. Lesson to England about when to revert to the traditional white perhaps.

Plus we have a well thought out warm up plan. Starting with our 2nd/3rd string team taking on the Scots this weekend.

TheGreyGhost wrote:Actually I think it's a splendidly valid point that nottins makes that the voting is inevitably skewed by the membership of the board.

It would be if that was the point he was making, but it isn't.

Boyne wrote:Scotland? Not going to waste much cyber space talking about Scotland.

The differance between Arrogance and confidence brilliantly displayed. I'll remember this comment come Saturday afternoon

red_stag wrote:Plus we have a well thought out warm up plan. Starting with our 2nd/3rd string team taking on the Scots this weekend.

Staggy, stop talking them up, they're a women's league team of Sunday hackers, if ever I saw one, and shall be put to the slaughter!!

roddersm wrote:

That is my point. I find it every bit as odd that so few give Ireland a chance of the SF as those who are surprised at any Irish optimism.

Personally I think there are double standards being applied based on outdated myths and stereotypes but hey ho everyone is entitled to their opinion.

It seems the odd isolated victory is enough to generate English hyperbole and the French are regarded as contenders no matter how poorly they are playing but any optimism expressed by Irish fans based on winning every feasible accolade in Europe over the past few seasons and consistantly knocking on the door of the top sides for a decade is met with claims of arrogance from every quarter.

Very strange indeed.

No, there are people telling you why you aren't as great as you think you are. France may have played poorly in the last season, but they still have have better results than Ireland. One 6N championship in the last decade, France have 4 and finished above you in the last 6N.

SafeAsMilk wrote:I think we are all a bit sensitive when our national side is criticised. For me, England's back-to-back victories home and away over Aus seem to be downplayed or derided by many. We all get it. We all dish it out too

No one is criticising your national side but the "back-to-back victories" against Australia aren't nearly as impressive when you consider that either side of them was a loss to Australia and a thumping by SA which are always conveniently ignored when discussing England's WC credentials.

nottins wrote:

roddersm wrote:

That is my point. I find it every bit as odd that so few give Ireland a chance of the SF as those who are surprised at any Irish optimism.

Personally I think there are double standards being applied based on outdated myths and stereotypes but hey ho everyone is entitled to their opinion.

It seems the odd isolated victory is enough to generate English hyperbole and the French are regarded as contenders no matter how poorly they are playing but any optimism expressed by Irish fans based on winning every feasible accolade in Europe over the past few seasons and consistantly knocking on the door of the top sides for a decade is met with claims of arrogance from every quarter.

Very strange indeed.

No, there are people telling you why you aren't as great as you think you are. France may have played poorly in the last season, but they still have have better results than Ireland. One 6N championship in the last decade, France have 4 and finished above you in the last 6N.

Right so Ireland arent great - and what are this England side that have beaten Ireland once in eight attempts exactly nottins?

Not belittling Ireland but it'll be interseting to see how Ireland will fair playing outside the comfort zone of Dublin? The support in NZ will be plenty and noisy, but the 6N away form was nowt to write home about. I've always maintained tho, its a knockout tourney, so anything can happen.

Breadvan wrote:Not belittling ireland but it'll be interseting to see how Ireland will fair playing outside the comfort zone of Dublin? The support in NZ will be plenty and noisy, but the 6N away form was nowt to write home about. I've always maintained tho, its a knockout tourney, so anything can happen.

+1

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Rob B wrote:

red_stag wrote:Its about the big picture Asbo. Ireland is a leading rugby nation. We don't really do soccer. GAA are summer sports. We are producing world class players like clockwork since the IRFU embraced professionalism. We've delivered multiple Heineken Cups, Magners Leagues, won the Grandslam, put the likes of Australia and South Africa in their place on a number of occasions etc.

Compare that to the likes of England, Wales, Italy or Scotland. Footballing nations who can claim occasion scalps.

Ireland will push OZ in the groups ,lose, then lose to SA in the QF. Cannot believe the number of people of people writing off SA.

Im backing Ireland to beat Australia in the groups, then Australia to beat SA in the QF

That is certainly a route whereby Ireland can make the final by avoiding NZ along the way. It's a funny older game.

Wallabies beat ABs in their last test and should have won at least one other last year. They can't take a trick against England. Ireland beat England regularly. Ireland never have never beaten NZ. Go figure.

roddersm wrote:

biltongbek wrote:It is likely that after the SA vs Irish clash the Irish would be able to use their voices in all singing together.


To be sung on the tune of country road.


"Take me home, aeroplane
To the place, we last won
croke park, Lansdowne road.
Take me home, aeroplane."

Biltong would you like to share how SA's recent away record against Ireland fills you with such confidence?

Rodders it was meant as lighthearted stuff but let me respond anyway.

I am not sure how recent you want me to be, but I'll humor you on the last 4, because then you won 3 out of 4.

I won't go the last 5, because then you won 3 out of 5.

I won't go last 6, becasue then it is even stevens, and beyond that well you know where I am going with this.

So to be realistic i will look at the last two matches. It was one win all, both close, both in Ireland, both at the end of a ten month season for our players.

If you haven't heard, our Boks are in Rustenburg, being conditioned, rehabilitated and prepared to be at the best possible physical peak they could be.

Send them up against the Irish on neutral ground in a country they play regularly during the year, rested, conditioned, rehabilitated, full strength, ready to go, defending their title........ well you know where I am going with this.

"rested, conditioned, rehabilitated, full strength, ready to go, defending their title........ well you know where I am going with this."

I think you are pointing out how poor South Africa's preparation for this WC has been?? Not to mention that your coach is openly saying he's leaving.....

Biltong sounds to me SA are over trained and under played. We'll make easy work of them if thats the case.

"rested, conditioned, rehabilitated" = no gametime.

No Gametime = Rusty Performance

Rusty Performance = and

Boyne wrote:Its funny the way the English (nottins) are mouthing off big style because of their "pedigee" in world cups.

Point out once where I've mentioned Englands pedigree in World Cups on this thread ? Don't hold you're breath whilst doing so.

Boyne wrote:As for the 2007 world cup, we all know it was a complete fluke. Look at the team of nobodies they brought.

2003 was a great team mid you, but 2007 was a fluke.

Yes, of course, they fluked two 2 wins against France an Australia, didn't they.

Boyne wrote:The french will murder England in the quarter finals. And rightly so. Why? Becasue they have better players.

Really, what happened to those better players on 26th Februaru 2011 ? Or when they lost to Italy ?

Boyne wrote:As for Ireland. We are happy with the way things are set up now and where we are going.

1st, 2nd and 3rd in consecutive years of the 6N. That looks like a downward slide to me.

biltongbek wrote:Send them up against the Irish on neutral ground in a country they play regularly during the year, rested, conditioned, rehabilitated, full strength, ready to go, defending their title........ well you know where I am going with this.

Will they be match fit and under the control of an even relatively sane man though? There's doubt there Biltong. And it's that doubt that fuels our beliefs. Added to that, the confidence and form going into the world cup for SA might not be great if the Tri-nations continues along it's current path. We've had this debate before Biltong so you know my expectations of my team but I don't plan on ever underestimating a South African, least of all at a world cup they're defending. Bring it on if we meet though

red_stag wrote:Biltong sounds to me SA are over trained and under played. We'll make easy work of them if thats the case.

"rested, conditioned, rehabilitated" = no gametime.

No Gametime = Rusty Performance

Rusty Performance = and

The boy is on form today!!!

Artful_Dodger wrote:
Right so Ireland arent great - and what are this England side that have beaten Ireland once in eight attempts exactly nottins?

6 Nations Champions.

Here's a question. Will England even beat Scotland?

Boyne wrote:Its funny the way the English (nottins) are mouthing off big style because of their "pedigee" in world cups.

England have beaten Ireland once in 8 years. Home or away. A country with a huge population cannot compete with us really.

As for the 2007 world cup, we all know it was a complete fluke. Look at the team of nobodies they brought.

2003 was a great team mid you, but 2007 was a fluke.

The french will murder England in the quarter finals. And rightly so. Why? Becasue they have better players.

Scotland? Not going to waste much cyber space talking about Scotland.

As for Ireland. We are happy with the way things are set up now and where we are going.

Biltong can give it all that, because, as I said before, he is bricking it. And so all of them in SA should be.

Only the most foolhardy African would be dismissive of Ireland in the quarters.

The thumping they received against New Zealand shows there is nothing to fear there.

Smith is a joke and really should hang up his boots. Give me the welsh or irish backlines any day over the saffers. Pathetic at the weekend. Simply pathetic.

I see us ripping the Saffers to shreds in the QF to be honest.

Home record??? We havent played in South Af for ages, so I dont know where all this BS is coming from.

Bravado I think its called.

Anyway. The day is nearly upon us.

Bring it on.

Boyne you are obsessed with England and Ireland's record against England. Yes we all know Ireland have a good record against England in recent years. You don't have to tell us that every single time you post.

Anyway this record has little relevance in this discussion as Ireland are very unlikely to face England.

You and other Irish fans are in awe of the French because you struggle badly against them. You rate them highly simply because you find them a tough side to beat.

England are tipped to make the WC semi finals because they have an easier task topping their pool than other NH sides. This is because there is no tri nations team in their pool. All teams in the group are ranked below them.

If England top the pool they are likely to play France. France won't be easy but England have a very good current and historical record vs France - 3 -1 in world cups with France's only win being a dead rubber 3rd vs 4th game. England have won their last 4 out of 5 games vs France. Knocked France out of the 2003 and 2007 world cups - one in France.

Going by this logic you would tip England to at least reach the semis.

nottins wrote:
No, there are people telling you why you aren't as great as you think you are.

Well maybe people shouldn't ask what people think of their side if they don't want to hear the answer? I am happy in forming my own opinion of my team nottins thank you and I like what I see even if some don't. As Arsene Wenger once said "we all think we have the prettiest wife at home" .

Maybe Ireland should be removed from the voting options if selecting them causes so much distress.

red_stag wrote:Here's a question. Will England even beat Scotland?

Now that is just outright wumming!! Of course they won't

red_stag wrote:Biltong sounds to me SA are over trained and under played. We'll make easy work of them if thats the case.

And people call the English arrogant.

red_stag wrote:Cheating from Welsh was reason for defeat. .

I know you're on the WUM, but don't suffer from the classic Irish disease of remembering our "try" and forgetting the blatant knock on by old man O'Driscoll before three of your points. 12-10 is still a defeat (less our try and your dodgy three points).

Ireland will be lucky to get out of the group in my opinion. So will Wales of course, but to be fair it's only the Irish that are talking up their chances. So much for this alleged Irish humility.

beshocked-
"You and other Irish fans are in awe of the French because you struggle badly against them. You rate them highly simply because you find them a tough side to beat."

As opposed to England fans who refuse to rate Ireland highly despite finding them a lot more than a "tough side to beat"

7 out of 8 boys.

Tell me beschoked, would you say you are in 'awe' of the Irish the way you claim we are of the French?

roddersm wrote:

nottins wrote:
No, there are people telling you why you aren't as great as you think you are.

Well maybe people shouldn't ask what people think of their side if they don't want to hear the answer? I am happy in forming my own opinion of my team nottins thank you and I like what I see even if some don't. As Arsene Wenger once said "we all think we have the prettiest wife at home" .

Maybe Ireland should be removed from the voting options if selecting them causes so much distress.

But I do! No, really!

And people call the English arrogant.

They do Nottins. Another good point. You are on fire today.

Its a serious question Asbo. Will we see NZ v Eng and Scot v France. That would greatly impact the semi finals. They're a team difficult to beat with a grudge against the English. Stranger things have happened.

roddersm wrote:

nottins wrote:
No, there are people telling you why you aren't as great as you think you are.

Well maybe people shouldn't ask what people think of their side if they don't want to hear the answer? I am happy in forming my own opinion of my team nottins thank you and I like what I see even if some don't. As Arsene Wenger once said "we all think we have the prettiest wife at home" .

Maybe Ireland should be removed from the voting options if selecting them causes so much distress.

Perhaps they should as it seems to be only the Irish posters getting distressed with how few votes Ireland have got.

red_stag wrote:Its a serious question Asbo. Will we see NZ v Eng and Scot v France. That would greatly impact the semi finals. They're a team difficult to beat with a grudge against the English. Stranger things have happened.

Sadly the most likely outcome is the other way round (assuming we get past Arg), but I like the way you are thinking

I thought it was symptomatic of Ireland once again having a tougher draw than England.

Boyne wrote:
Biltong can give it all that, because, as I said before, he is bricking it. And so all of them in SA should be.

Only the most foolhardy African would be dismissive of Ireland in the quarters.

The thumping they received against New Zealand shows there is nothing to fear there.

Smith is a joke and really should hang up his boots. Give me the welsh or irish backlines any day over the saffers. Pathetic at the weekend. Simply pathetic.

I see us ripping the Saffers to shreds in the QF to be honest.

Home record??? We havent played in South Af for ages, so I dont know where all this BS is coming from.

Bravado I think its called.

Anyway. The day is nearly upon us.

Bring it on.

Boyne I look forward to revisit this discussion after the Quarter final. One of us will be wrong.

A few points of order before then.


Biltong can give it all that, because, as I said before, he is bricking it. And so all of them in SA should be.

If there are any, I haven't met one yet.


Only the most foolhardy African would be dismissive of Ireland in the quarters.

We're called SOUTH AFRICANS, Africa is that large continent that stretches from us in the SOUTH all the way to EGYPT in the NORTH.

The thumping they received against New Zealand shows there is nothing to fear there.

How many of those that recieved the thumping will meet Ireland in the Quarters?

Smith is a joke and really should hang up his boots. Give me the welsh or irish backlines any day over the saffers. Pathetic at the weekend. Simply pathetic.

Now that simply borders on disrespect.

I see us ripping the Saffers to shreds in the QF to be honest.

In your dreams mate


Home record??? We havent played in South Af for ages, so I dont know where all this BS is coming from.

Conveniently there is no away record of recent times, have often wondered why. Basing this hogwash you call sensible debate on the basis of three wins at home during the last 5 years, is a tad premature and unfounded when there is many more factors to consider.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:But I do! No, really!

Good point, well made :-)

I'm surprised that people think Stag is being 100% serious.

biltongbek wrote:

Boyne wrote:
Biltong can give it all that, because, as I said before, he is bricking it. And so all of them in SA should be.

Only the most foolhardy African would be dismissive of Ireland in the quarters.

The thumping they received against New Zealand shows there is nothing to fear there.

Smith is a joke and really should hang up his boots. Give me the welsh or irish backlines any day over the saffers. Pathetic at the weekend. Simply pathetic.

I see us ripping the Saffers to shreds in the QF to be honest.

Home record??? We havent played in South Af for ages, so I dont know where all this BS is coming from.

Bravado I think its called.

Anyway. The day is nearly upon us.

Bring it on.

Boyne I look forward to revisit this discussion after the Quarter final. One of us will be wrong.

A few points of order before then.


Biltong can give it all that, because, as I said before, he is bricking it. And so all of them in SA should be.

If there are any, I haven't met one yet.


Only the most foolhardy African would be dismissive of Ireland in the quarters.

We're called SOUTH AFRICANS, Africa is that large continent that stretches from us in the SOUTH all the way to EGYPT in the NORTH.

The thumping they received against New Zealand shows there is nothing to fear there.

How many of those that recieved the thumping will meet Ireland in the Quarters?

Smith is a joke and really should hang up his boots. Give me the welsh or irish backlines any day over the saffers. Pathetic at the weekend. Simply pathetic.

Now that simply borders on disrespect.

I see us ripping the Saffers to shreds in the QF to be honest.

In your dreams mate


Home record??? We havent played in South Af for ages, so I dont know where all this BS is coming from.

Conveniently there is no away record of recent times, have often wondered why. Basing this hogwash you call sensible debate on the basis of three wins at home during the last 5 years, is a tad premature and unfounded when there is many more factors to consider.

Perhaps he meant the Namibians?

I think the smileys give that away Thomond, conveniently nottins left the smileys out when he quoted stag.

nottins wrote:
Perhaps they should as it seems to be only the Irish posters getting ditressed with how little votes Ireland have got.

nottins believe it are not I am not so insecure about our WC chances as to believe that it will be influenced by how many votes we get in a 606v2 poll.

You just concern youself about England nottins and leave the worrying about Irelands chances to us.

Also can someone please tell me how England v Ireland's head to head record keeps coming up in every debate regarding Irelands WC chances??

red stag to answer your question yes they should.

Scotland really struggle with England outside Murrayfield. On the other hand if NZ conditions are like Scotland on the day....

If it rains.....

the artful dodger the difference is you rate the French highly after they repeatedly beat you. Quite possibly we underrate/underestimate you as a nation but I thought we would lose to you in the 6 nations.

I think Ireland are a good side. I don't hold any ill feelings.

Why do you keep going on about the record? I don't really care. The difference is you care more about beating England than England cares about beating you.

You have a good record against us. We have a good record against France. France have a good record against you.

The only differences are that England and France perform much better in world cups, perform better against the tri nations historically and have easier progression to the semis in the 2011 RWC than Ireland.

red_stag wrote:Here's a question. Will England even beat Scotland?

Unlikely I would say. If Scotland are to even have a chance we will need to string some decent results together.

However we have been pretty close the last few times we have played tough one to call at this stage. Heart says Scotland, head says England......

red_stag wrote:Biltong sounds to me SA are over trained and under played. We'll make easy work of them if thats the case.

"rested, conditioned, rehabilitated" = no gametime.

No Gametime = Rusty Performance

Rusty Performance = and

Stag, by the time we meet you in the quarter finals, we would have played 2 tri nation tests and 4 pool matches, more than neough to get rid of the cobwebs.