RWC 2011 - Round One

France 28 - 19 Wales

France
Manager - LukeLovesLuka

01. Fabian Barcella	09. Dimitri Yachvilli (k)
02. Dimitri Szarzewski	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Lionel Nallet (c)	11. Napolioni Nalaga
05. Tom Donnelly	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Aurelian Rougerie
07. Heinrich Brussow	14. Maxime Medard
08. Imanol Harinordoquy	15. Clement Poitrenaud

Subs: 16. Soane Tonga'uiha, 17. Sebastien Bruno, 18. Pascal Pape, 19. Akapusi Qera, 20. Mike Blair, 21. Ronan O'Gara, 22. Shane Williams

Wales
Manager - Driver

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Mike Phillips
02. Huw Bennett	10. Stephen Jones
03. Adam Jones
04. Bradley Davies	11. Leigh Halfpenny
05. Alun Wyn Jones	12. Yannick Jauzion
06. Ryan Jones	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Sam Warburton (c)	14. George North
08. Toby Falatau	15. James Hook

Subs:16.Craig Mitchell, 17.Paul James, 18.Luke Charteris, 19.Andy Powell, 20.Travis Knoyle, 21.Rhys Preistland, 22.Alesana Tuilagi

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Ireland 21 - 22 Scotaly

Ireland
Manager - Bathite

01. Cian Healy	09. Morgan Parra (k)
02. Schalk Brits	10. Jonathan Sexton (k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Leo Cullen	11. Keith Earls
05. Donnacha O'Callaghan	12. Pat McCabe
06. Stephen Ferris	13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
07. David Wallace	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Rob Kearney

Subs: 16. Ross, 17. Best, 18. Court, 19. Leamy, 20. Reddan, 21. Traille, 22. McFadden

Scotaly
Manager - Inthefastlane

01. Salatore Perugini	09. Chris Cusiter
02. Tafana Polota Nau	10. Nick Evans (k)
03. Martin Castrogiovanni (c)
04. Richie Gray	11. Hosea Gear
05. Nathan Hines	12. Jean De Villiers
06. Kelly Brown	13. Richard Kahui
07. John Barclay	14. Sean Maitland
08. Joe Van Niekerk	15. Cory Jane

Subs: 16 Euan Murray, 17 Leonardo Ghilardini, 18 Wycliff Palu, 19 Mauro Bergamasco, 20 Fabio Semenzato, 21 Chris Patterson, 22 Max Evans

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Australia 29 - 22 South Africa

Australia
Manager - Pullthestrings

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Luke Burgess
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cooper
03. Sylvian Marconnet
04. Brad Thorn	11. Drew Mitchell
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. Rocky Elsom	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. David Pocock	14. James O'Conner (k)
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. Kurtley Beale

Subs: 16. S. Fainga'a, 17. B. Alexander, 18. S. Kefu, 19. R. Simmons, 20. S. Higginbotham, 21. A. Fainga'a, 22. R. Horne

South Africa
Manager - Prop_Lyd

01. Tendai Mtwararria	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Bismark Du Plessis	10. Morne Steyn (k)
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Bryan Habana
05. Victor Matfield (c)	12. Matt Giteau
06. Willem Alberts	13. Jacques Fourie
07. Schalk Burger	14. JP Pieterson
08. Pierre Spies	15. Patrick Lambie

Subs: 16. John Smit, 17. Jannie Du Plessis, 18. Joe Tekori, 19. Louis Picamoles, 20. Butch James, 21. Sereli Mapusua, 22. Gio Aplon

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New Zealand 31 - 20 Pacific Islands

New Zealand
Manager - Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Jimmy Cowan
02. Kevin Mealamu	10. Dan Carter (k)
03. Owen Franks
04. James Horwill	11. Zac Guildford
05. Nathan Sharpe	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Conrad Smith
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14. Digby Ioane
08. Kieren Read	15. Mils Muliaina

Subs: 16. Andrew Hore, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Ali Williams, 19. Adam Thomson, 20. Andy Ellis, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. Isaia Toeava

Pacific Islands
Manager - Fluxy

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Piri Weepu
02. Ti'i Paulo	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Census Johnstone
04. Julien Pierre	11. Cedric Heymans
05. Danie Russouw	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Juan Smith	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Thierry Dusautoir (c)	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ben McCalman	15. Isa Nacewa

Subs: 16. Deacon Manu, 17. Taufa’oa Filise, 18. Sakiusa Matadigo, 19. Tom Wood, 20. Paul Williams, 21. Tasesa Lavea, 22. Fetu’u Vainikolo

Starting team

1.Gethin Jenkins
2.Huw Bennett
3.Adam Jones
4.Bradley Davies
5.Alun Wyn Jones
6.Ryan Jones
7.Sam Warburton (c)
8.Toby Falatau

9.Mike Phillips
10.Stephen Jones
11.Leigh Halfpenny
12.Yannick Jauzion
13.Juan De Jong
14.George North
15.James Hook

16.Craig Mitchell 17.Paul James 18.Luke Charteris 19.Andy Powell 20.Travis Knoyle 21.Rhys Preistland 22.George North

France:

1. Fabien Barcella
2. Dimitri Szarzewski
3. Nicolas Mas
4. Lionel Nallet (c)
5. Tom Donnelly
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Heinrich Brüssow
8. Imanol Harinordoquy

09. Dimitri Yachvili (k)
10. Francois Trinh-Duc
11. Napolioni Nalaga
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Aurelien Rougerie
14. Maxime Medard
15. Clement Poitrenaud

16. Soane Tonga'uiha
17. Sebastien Bruno
18. Pascal Pape
19. Akapusi Qera
20. Mike Blair
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Shane Williams

Starting Lineup

1. Tendai Mtawarria 9. Ruan Pienaar
2. Bismarck Du Plessis 10. Morne Steyn (k)
3. Davit Kubriashvili 11. Bryan Habana
4. Bakkies Botha 12. Matt Giteau
5. Victor Matfield (c) 13. Jacques Fourie
6. Willem Alberts 14. JP Pietersen
7. Schalk Burger 15. Patrick Lambie
8. Pierre Spies

16. John Smit 17. BDP 18. Joe Tekori 19. Louis Picamoles 20. Butch James 21. Sereli Mapusua 22. Gio Aplon

1 Salvatore Perugini
2 Tafana Polota Nau
3 Martin Castrogionavi
4 Richie Gray
5 Nathan Hines
6 Kelly Brown
7 John Barclay
8 Joe Van Niekerk
9 Chris Cusiter
10 Nick Evans
11 Hosea Gear
12 Jean De Villiers
13 Richard Kahui
14 Sean Maitland
15 Chris Patterson

16 Euan Murray
17 Leonardo Ghilardini
18 Wycliff Palu
19 Mauro Bergamasco
20 Fabio Semenzato
21 Andrea Masi
22 Max Evans

Pull: am I not allowed Pietersen playing?!

Lol.. sorry mate.

France 28 - 20 Wales
Oz 24 - 18 SA
NZ 32 - 24 PI

France 23 - 21 Wales
Ireland 20 - 22 Scotaly
Oz 18 - 15 SA

France 24 - 19 Wales
Ireland 22 - 20 Scotaly
Australia 27 - 24 South Africa
New Zealand 33 - 23 Pacific Islanders

Where am I getting so much of a hammering?!

Australia have a better back row and better backs by a mile.

Habana, Giteau both off form, Lambie not showed his proper potential yet.

While Mitchell, O'Connor, SB.Williams and Beale all had good a Super 15 season.

France 25 - 18 Wales
SOB, Medard, Barcella ; North,

Both have made improvements to their side, but Wales need some tinkering. The half back combo is experiences but uninspiring, and I do think Hook is wasted at full back. The French pack dominates, particularly the back row. Yachvilli orchastrates things and T-D gets the backs going well.

==

Ireland 15 - 17 Scotaly
None ; Maitland

Really hard to seperate these sides. Ireland need work on the engine room and don't have much creativity in the backs bar BOD and Bowe. 207 has quickly compiled a top back line and kept the core strength of the pack. Needs work on the back row though.

==

New Zealand 24 - 20 Pacific Islands
Kaino, Barnes ; Weepu, Mermoz

FLuxy's done really well here, what a back row! Needs work on the front row and back three though. Would like to see a new 9 and a world class winger at New Zealand just to finish it off!

As it’s first week will make comments on the game and then points for either side

France 27 – 19 Wales
Forwards will be a bit of a domination as far as I’m concerned to France. Driver always has an electric 11-15 and I feel Wales have the upper hand here slightly but in the halfbacks I prefer France. Good subs bench for France to draw on as well.
France: Solid team, I’d perhaps think about starting Tiny until Barcella gets some form. Donnelly is also a bit of a weakness maybe use one of your subs to improve line up
Wales: 11-15 is good but 2,9,10 could do with some work imo

Australia 34 – 29 South Africa
Incredible forwards but I give the slight edge to Australia mainly because of their back row. I think it’s the backs where the big difference lies, Australia are a different quality and you look at the Saffers backs and more are out of form than in form
Australia: Brilliant team, think Marconnet is the weakness not a fan of him tbh
South Africa: Too many of your backs are out of form to keep up with the likes of Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand 27 – 18 Islanders
Got to feel a bit bad for the Islanders in this group. Just don’t see anywhere they are better than the All Blacks. Fluxy has got together an all-star back row but it still is overshadowed by the blacks.
New Zealand: Jimmy Cowan has to be the weakness and then after that you can only make a few tiny improvements.
Pacific Islanders: Concentrate on Argentina match don’t be disheartened with losses to the big boys. 2,4,11 would be the first places I look to improve. Magnificent back row and the backs have quality on their day.

France 24-18 Wales
Need to look at the bench Driver!!

Ire 18-20 Scotaly
The Ireland front row is awesome but the Scotaly centre combo wins it.

NZ 28-18 PI
Really feel sorry for Fluxy here, he hasn't got a bad team but Steve has struck gold signing the oz 2nd rows and Iaone!!

Ireland 23 - 25 Scotaly
Motm: Jane

===

Australia 28 - 25 South Africa
Motm: Parisse

===

New Zealand 24 - 18 Pacific Islands
Motm: Carter

JDV and Kahui over McCabe and BOD?


Contraversial I would say. Neither first team starters, whereas McCabe ahead of Giteau and BOD is GOD

Sorry need to edit that....was just magic in backs that are lacking compared to Scotaly.

Really surprised i'm being predicted so many losses, thought Parra was a great addition and Hayman and Britz sorts out front row. Annoying that POC was injured.



Just a warning/excuse, my activity/interest on this won't match my ERL efforts, new job is mental busy and i'm off to NZ on the 6th October for a month!

^^

Basically, I lost my first game and i'm throwing my toys! Ha

At least you realise it...

Haha! thought i would get in there before someone else did. My mantra is take to the urine out of yourself, prevents someone doing it and rinsing you!

Pipe down Bathite...

I expected you would be first in line for abuse! Right, back to work

Haha am I that predictable?!

France 25 - 23 Wales
MOTM - Sean O'Brien
The quality in the back three and backs sets the teams apart here.

Ireland 25 - 21 Scotaly
MOTM - Heaslip
Good improvement by InTheFastLane, but I just the Ireland backline as a more balanced unit and Irelands back-row controls the ruck situation.

Australia 25 - 25 South Africa
MOTM - The front five of SA and especially the front row take the fight to the Oz front five. As the flanks pretty much nullify each other though Parrise nicks the back row competition. The backs pretty much even as is the rest of the game.

Sorry these are so late!!!

France 19 12 Wales
Edge to the french at the scrum and in the backrow battle.
More to come in from the bench as well to see the game out.

Ireland 20 16 Scotaly
Good pack battle with set piece edging to Scotaly and back row to Ireland. Bit more at halfback overall for Ireland though sees them use the ball better

Australia 28 20 South Africa
Very hard to separate these two in the pack but better form for the aussies in the back see them win this one.

New Zealand 27 18 Pacific Islands
Fluxy has done some job in improving the Islanders but New Zealand a step to far with that bit of extra quality across the side