World Cup upsets, which Minnow will do it this time?

First topic message reminder :

Since the World Cup was created, we have often been treated to an upset or two in the tournament.
Samoa beat Wales in 1991 and 1999, Fiji beat Wales in 2007, Argentina beat France twice in 2007 etc.

So who do you think will cause the upset this time?

My first instinct would of been Japan, but their playing France first and New Zealand second, so it might be too much to ask of them.
I'm not really sure you can call Wales Vs Samoa or Fiji and upset anymore because Samoa have beaten Wales 3 times, and Fiji have a win and a draw.

nottins wrote:Why are you comparing it with current squads ? Surely you should be comparing it with how the players ranked in their squads when the game actually took place ?

That's what I was trying to say, but couldn;t word it as well as you have.

AlynDavies wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I am sure there are a few conspiracy theorists around to help you out with that one!

I think a lot of clout was used by South Africa and Wales. Clearly Wales didn't put up much of a fight for the kick off times, because ours are awful when compared to Irelands. But clearly to get Alain Rowlands, who refs Wales nearly all the time, and who is very fussy with dangerous play, and then to get Wayne Barnes for Fiji, must of burned up a lot of capital for Wales. Alain Rowlands is the closest thing to a home referee Wales could ever hope for, though we will need it with a home crowd behind both Islands teams.

I'm not quite sure how you think SA or Wales get to decide what time their games kick off in a RWC.

nottins wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Well, if you look at those teams based on the current 1st teams

Why are you comparing it with current squads ? Surely you should be comparing it with how the players ranked in their squads when the game actually took place ?

Its no use nottins.

Cymroglan wrote:Notch it's called being a fan and what use are defeatist fans to any side ?

I didn't say anything to criticise you. If anything I was taking your side. I'm the same, I'm very anti-defeatist. I believe you guys should get behind your team.

Notch I was agreeing with you

This is the problem with type things can be misinterpreted.

Georgia were my second team in 2007, but I'm going for Russia this time round (as Georgia are in England's group).

But out of that lot, I reckon Samoa are most likely to make the semi-finals.

Can you add Wales to the poll? OI think they have a good chance of pulling off a suprise win in their group

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Can you add Wales to the poll? OI think they have a good chance of pulling off a suprise win in their group

I was going to suggest the same.

Seems we are all very positive about Waleslands chances at the world cup. On their day they could beat somebody.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Seems we are all very positive about Waleslands chances at the world cup. On their day they could beat somebody.

Namibia ?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Can you add Wales to the poll? OI think they have a good chance of pulling off a suprise win in their group

Wales... a Minnow!?!?!....
Hasn't any Welsh fan ever told you, were the best in the world, by some margin!?!?!
You only have to look at our results against Italy and Scotland to see we can beat anyone!... On our day of course!

nottins wrote:I'm not quite sure how you think SA or Wales get to decide what time their games kick off in a RWC.

Well.. clearly the IRB organise the competition and decide who the referee's are going to be and the fixture list and kick off times. Obviously there is going to be a lot of negotiation, you only have to look at the way Namibia have been screwed over to see they have no clout what so ever.
Namibia play Fiji on the 10th of September, then Samoa on the 14th, just 4 days later. They then get 8 days break, before playing South Africa on the 22nd, before having to play Wales 4 days later, on the 26th.
What chance do you think they have with only 4 days recovery between their games?
Contrast this to Wales who play all their games on a Sunday morning, apart from Namibia who we play on a Monday, which luckily enough is between the Island teams, so allowing us a break.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Seems we are all very positive about Waleslands chances at the world cup. On their day they could beat somebody.

I see after one England victory the rose tinted fans are back out and everything is now all ok with the chariot after that magnificaent performance against such a powerful Irish side. Some things never change I guess -

I think the USA could well upset Ireland, especially on the 9/11 anniversary, with EOS in charge and with Ireland struggling with form and injuries.

I wouldn't class Somoa as minnows and they could very well beat Wales.

Can't we all just agree that the upset is most likely to take place in the pool in a game involving Wales?

Would it be counted in the same bracket if Argentina & Scotland beat England?

Just asking, as it seems everyone has England down as a certainty to qualify by just turning up......

roddersm wrote:I think the USA could well upset Ireland, especially on the 9/11 anniversary, with EOS in charge and with Ireland struggling with form and injuries.

I wouldn't class Somoa as minnows and they could very well beat Wales.

I might be tempting fate here, but I've seen nothing to suggest USA will trouble any of the big three sides in their pool. Not based on what Ireland have done, just based on the games I've seen them play and their form heading into the tournament. I think we're lucky in that the two minnows in our pool have been rather poor lately. Compared with the likes of Japan, Canada, Georgia or Tonga who have the capacity to surprise complacent or out of form big fish, we should have a comparatively easy ride. There are dangerous banana skins in this World Cup with regards to some minnows, but few of them are in our path.

We probably saved our worst performance of the warm-ups for last, but the kinds of performance we produced against France would probably see off the US or Russia pretty handily. What we'll be judged on against the USA is performance.

Sorry but having seen the USA's performances recently the only upset they will be involved in is Russia beating them.
They were terrible in the Churchill Cup, and even worse in their warm ups with Canada, normally Canada and the USA are fairly even, but USA were lacking skill.