This weekends tests.

This weekend the fixtures look like this

New Zealand vs Australia (my prediction NZ by 10)

Scotland vs Ireland ?

England vs Wales ?

Canada vs USA ?

I need some predictions or the other matches, but please think with you heads and not your hearts, I need this opinion for my SuperBru predictions, and don't know enough to make accurate predictions.

will go will all home teams to win by 5 to 10 - there should not be a big difference between the B&I teams at this stage so would go with the home advantage to separate them.

Biltong, I have:
NZ by 7
Scotland by 10 (difference in strength of packs will be significant)
England by 15 (A team vs B team team line-ups, I suspect, reversed next weekend)
Canada by 10

biltong

I'd go for
NZ to win by 15 ....pretty close until last 20 mins and then nz to pull away.
Ire to beat sco by 3 points...scrappy match probably (both sides being a bit rusty) but ireland doing just enough
Eng to beat wales by ten points....similar to sco v ire (scrappy/rusty) but england most likely being slightly better on the day
Canada to beat USA by 7 points....imo canada a have a stronger squad and tend to win when they play each other

Ireland will beat Scotland by less than a score, or the other way around. Either way there'll be nothing in it. Expect the same quality game as a mid season, mid ML table game in an empty Murrayfield. Hand me my prozac please.

England will hocky Wales by 25 points.

NZ will beat Ozzie by between 15 and 20.

USA and Canada? Canucks by 7.

NZ by -12
Scotland -12
Wales -12
Canada +13

dubh_linn, we are on the same wave lenght here! You must be a bright young man. Hats off.

Yeah I agree that it will be all home wins this weekend and if we can push England for 80 minutes and stay within a score of them I will take that.

Boyne wrote:dubh_linn, we are on the same wave lenght here! You must be a bright young man. Hats off.

Young man! I wish ....I am well into my forties now! Still its good to know my reasoning might not be too far off the mark!

OK, I went for NZ by 10
Ireland by 7
England by 12
Canada by 7

thanks

You know, I am really trying to think with my head not my heart, and I know everyone's predicting a kiwi victory. Very true that the wallabies have tended to fall away in the 2nd half, but, and this is even with my brain but not heart but, I think the wallabies will win it.

Egg on my face Monday no doubt!

Oz by 3-7
England by 10-14
Draw Ireland Scotland

no idea about the north Am game

My 2 1/2 cents worth..... inflation you know, used to be just 2c worth

NZ- 15
IRL- 5 (The weather is supposed to be fairly rotten in Edinburgh on Saturday)
ENG- 15 (When England beat Wales at Twickenham, the score is generally in double figures)
Canada- 7

biltongbek wrote:OK, I went for NZ by 10
Ireland by 7
England by 12
Canada by 7

thanks

Sorry I didn't get here in time to give you the right answer Biltong.

boomeranga wrote:

biltongbek wrote:OK, I went for NZ by 10
Ireland by 7
England by 12
Canada by 7

thanks

Sorry I didn't get here in time to give you the right answer Biltong.

You've been to the future?

Having seen the England vs Wales teams I think some of the earlier posts are a tad optimistic.

Nz vs Oz - Nz by 10 (high scoring game though)
Eng vs Wal - Eng by 3 (Wilko to the rescue)
Scot vs Ire - Ire by 5 (very physical encounter with the Irish scraping it)
USA vs Canada - Canada by 15

biltongbek wrote:

boomeranga wrote:

biltongbek wrote:OK, I went for NZ by 10
Ireland by 7
England by 12
Canada by 7

thanks

Sorry I didn't get here in time to give you the right answer Biltong.

You've been to the future?

Actually, when referring to NZ it's the past. Still 1981 over there.

Nice one,

It was cheap to be fair, but the old ones last for a reason.

When Australia start getting a bit cocky is usually when they get the smackdown put on them so on that basis, I think NZ will win by 15-20.

England by about 10-12, am looking forward to seeing their 'newfound' attacking skills!

Ireland should have no problems v Scotland so that's a 10+er

Canada should have the Yank's measure by about 15-20

So you're saying we're generally quiet, unassuming people, but every now and then we become cocky. I can live with that. Thanks Mintie.

Boomeranga - only when it comes to rugby union! I lived in Brisvegas for 3 yrs during Eales' reign and it wasn't so quiet then!

I have a deep respect for the Aussies in terms of sporting success, probably the best sporting nation on the planet. However when it comes to Rugby Union they have a place and every now and then they just need a reminder!

The most important weekend test is for Australia. They have shown against Samoa that they have no depth and aside from an albeit very good first team have very options in terms of personnel.

To have any chance at all in the RWC later, they must beat this New Zealand team well. NZ have several players returning from a spell out who Henry has admitted need game time, have various new combinations and are still experimenting with the back line combination.

Should NZ win, then Australia will start to wonder about that Eden Park hoodoo, and be left with very few avenues in terms of team changes.

An NZ loss would give Henry something to think about, the ABs a timely wake up call and the possibility of injecting in some of the experienced world class game breakers still on ice, Toeava, Dagg, Kahui, Woodcock, Afoa or those re-iced, Jane, Cowan, Guildford, Smith. In the event of events indicating a change of thought might be required it must be gratifying to reflect on those who narrowly missed selection, Ranger, Elliot, Maitland, Fruean, Rokocoko.

Australia will need to win this one and by the same token not suffer any injuries so close to the world cup, with the reserve cupboard looking so bare.

The win/win situation for the All Blacks is that aside from having many options at their disposal should this acid test go wrong, New Zealander's can reflect on the fact that the last time Australia won a test at Eden park, New Zealand followed it up by winning the rugby world cup.

Just saw the Ireland team announced. Quite a weak 2nd choice pack named. I think Scotland will win.

In terms of what this test means for the WC I disagree GG and the reason is your league team.

We would arguably have a higher proportion of the worlds best leaugies, than you would have for union. We have twice beaten you in the important lead up matches for leagues two titles (the trinations was a heavy defeat for you guys), and twice then turned around and lost. Ultimately the trophies get decided by the players on the pitch that day, so having 50 of the worlds best players doesn't always help. We will both have to navigate another 8-9 tests to get the opportunity, which in that sense depth counts, but win or lose this weekend won't, in my opinion, be fatal for either of us of itself.

Just can't see where Dingo will turn if his first team is turned over this weekend. Especially if the margin is big.

The one thing this current Wallaby team has going for it is youth. They're not so heavily scarred by years and years and years of AB dominance.

To realise they are part of a losing legacy might be a tough nut to swallow. It's close the RWC. Deans has few chances to test new combinations and injuries could be fatal.

I'm not quite sure the ABs are in the same boat.

As you say, NZ have won plenty of lead up games before and then gone out of the tournament due to a variety of circumstances, but it would be a bad time for the Aussies to find out they're off the pace.

Aus by 5
Wal by 10
Scot by 7
USA by 5

deadfred wrote:Aus by 5
Wal by 10
Scot by 7
USA by 5

Thanks Fred, too late made my picks. Let's hope you are wrong.

If you are 100% correct though I will eat my shoes.

Big blow for USA to have one of their best players unavailable - Chris Wyles.

NZ by 10
Scot by 5
Eng by 5
Can by 10

biltongbek wrote:

deadfred wrote:Aus by 5
Wal by 10
Scot by 7
USA by 5

Thanks Fred, too late made my picks. Let's hope you are wrong.

If you are 100% correct though I will eat my shoes.

You might get some decent odds on those 4 games going that way might even have a dabble at it myself.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

deadfred wrote:Aus by 5
Wal by 10
Scot by 7
USA by 5

Thanks Fred, too late made my picks. Let's hope you are wrong.

If you are 100% correct though I will eat my shoes.

You might get some decent odds on those 4 games going that way might even have a dabble at it myself.

If you do let me know the odds you get. Cheers.

biltongbek wrote:This weekend the fixtures look like this

New Zealand vs Australia (my prediction NZ by 10)

Scotland vs Ireland ?

England vs Wales ?

Canada vs USA ?

I need some predictions or the other matches, but please think with you heads and not your hearts, I need this opinion for my SuperBru predictions, and don't know enough to make accurate predictions.

Oz to beat NZ
Ire to beat Scotland
Eng beat Wales
Canada beat USA

Does any one have the times for these games?

All 80 minutes, yappy.

deadfred wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

deadfred wrote:Aus by 5
Wal by 10
Scot by 7
USA by 5

Thanks Fred, too late made my picks. Let's hope you are wrong.

If you are 100% correct though I will eat my shoes.

You might get some decent odds on those 4 games going that way might even have a dabble at it myself.

If you do let me know the odds you get. Cheers.

deadfred,

Will post on here tonight or tomorrow when find out

Australia by 5 (make that a double omelette for Sunday)
Scotland by 6
England by 14
Canada by 8

Expecting all home wins on Saturday

TheGreyGhost wrote:Just can't see where Dingo will turn if his first team is turned over this weekend. Especially if the margin is big.

The one thing this current Wallaby team has going for it is youth. They're not so heavily scarred by years and years and years of AB dominance.

To realise they are part of a losing legacy might be a tough nut to swallow. It's close the RWC. Deans has few chances to test new combinations and injuries could be fatal.

I'm not quite sure the ABs are in the same boat.

As you say, NZ have won plenty of lead up games before and then gone out of the tournament due to a variety of circumstances, but it would be a bad time for the Aussies to find out they're off the pace.

You're right again Grey. Clinging on to old coggers for dear life hoping and praying their weary old legs can last another year so that 7 years spent taking the easy route at the selection table because you fear for your job, is an entirely different boat to maintaining faith in a vibrant young group of inconsistent developing players. I hope Father Time is kind to Father Ted or his legacy will be the same as all the others.