who has the best chance in the WC out of the NH teams?

First topic message reminder :

Ok so if all did go according to plan and Wales play Ireland in one quarter final with England against France in the other there'd be a NH route to the final

so i was just wondering from what we've seen so far who would you're money be on to make the final?

England have always done well at World Cups and they've once again got a chance to make the final and if they face France in the quarters im sure they would really fancy themselves to at least make the semis as they always seem to beat the frogs

I think this Welsh side is very young and talented, full of athletes capable of competeing with the best but with a lot to prove, they would fancy their chances against the Irish although they'd know that they'd have to be on top of their game, Ireland have a lot of old heads in their side and it would be a case of Youth vs Experience

France.. well if they turn up on the day against England and come away with a win they could go all the way, who knows? but their French anything could happen really

i would imagine for the Irish many of their great players over the years such as BOD, POC and ROG now know that this is their last chance to acheive at a World Cup so they will be desperate to go out with a bang where as possible Quarter final opponents Wales have many players just starting out on the international scene

biltongbek wrote:Pot, not looking for an argument, but what is in your eyes ugly rugby?

Leo Cullen?

biltongbek wrote:Pot, not looking for an argument, but what is in your eyes ugly rugby?

Leo Cullen, now thats ugly rugby.

I think some people would be better off watching 7s rugby.

ugly rugby = Mike Tindal

No, just what do you see as ugly rugby, simples.

SafeAsMilk wrote:I think some people would be better off watching 7s rugby.

But obviously not England's 7s team

Ok maybe ugly was the wrong word, unconvincing would sum it up better

Fair point, Wales werent very convincing in their win over lowly ranked Samoa

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Fair point, Wales werent very convincing in their win over lowly ranked Samoa

all I can say is thank god we had the IRB on our side from day one.

The same Samoa who beat Austrailia who were beaten by Ireland which was a huge result...

Good point munkian, irleand are pretty unconvincing too

As were England, we could go on like this for some time....

munkian wrote:As were England, we could go on like this for some time....

Yep, the point being Im not convinced any of them will win the world cup. As for reaching the final, its evens between the 4.

i expected England to beat Argentina and Scotland much more comfortably than they did especially as Argentina had only played 1 international test all year and Scotland have been struggling for a while now but for me England have had poor discipline off the field and on the field and with wilko missing alot of kicks they need a big performance against france to lay down a marker

Well i would then suggest the chances are pretty good there will be a number of unconvincing victories in the quarter finals.

I'm unconvinced with your argument, biltong

The theory of an unconvincing victory though does perturb my simple way of looking at things.

Is unconvincing a half point win, or a try that is referred to the TMO and doubtful whether it should have been given.

Also is there somethinng as an unconvincing loss.

In other words you aren't too sure whether a team should have lost.

Maybe it is when a referee mistake makes your team lose and another team win.

Or maybe there simply is no such thing as unconvincing?

Why is a win not just a win, no matter how it is achieved.

Anyway on another note.

Ugly rugby for me is when a referee is overzealous with his whistle and doesn't allow play to flow, where he is pedantic and tries to be the star of the show, a referee that screams like a little girl being molested. That to me is ugly rugby.

Or according to some the way England an South africa play.

I think it is BS when ugly rugby is tagged to SA or ENG, I would call it patient and effective rugby.

gcBlues wrote:I'm unconvinced with your argument, biltong

Yeah, I myself am not convinced.

On NH side, i think england will beat france. Mainly because they usually do in world cups.
Wales an ireland i honestly cant pick.
The two star teams that between the have produced the most exciting matches of the tournament.
But unfortunately. I think england will beat either.
On the bottom side nz should account for argie and in a change of tune i think SA will be too strong for oz, who have just had too many dramas with injury.
Theyre stronger this week but SA will hold them down with the foot on the throat for much of the game i think. Then finish them off.
Then i think nz will have too many guns for both teams the eden park factor being the main difference. Plus we're now injury free other than dc.

My dream final result for international rugby?
For Ireland to beat NZ in the final for their first ever win
What a way to do it! That would be fantastic regardless of who i support.

France.

Nah, I still would like to see SA win it, but seeing that our chances are pretty much worse than my chance to be at the final, I would like NZ to win it.

Write off France at your peril. The problem for France is they won't get to the final, but if they did, they would be the team who could beat NZ.

biltongbek wrote:Nah, I still would like to see SA win it, but seeing that our chances are pretty much worse than my chance to be at the final, I would like NZ to win it.

Defeatist talk again Biltong. You are going to win it by less than 10 points

Australia are + 1 on the handicap bet - kind of tells you what the bookies think, too close to call, but in a close game I'd back the Bokke over the Ockers any day.

Mornin Gatts, what does Kevin say?

Will beating Aus and NZ leave anything on your tank though?

Glas a du wrote:Will beating Aus and NZ leave anything on your tank though?

Glas, if by miracle we do get past OZ and NZ I think the guys will not be stopped, there has been much made in SA of the near impossible task these guys have to win it, and if they get that close nothing wll stop them. It will be their sheer bloodymindedness that will take them through.

It will effectively mean winning a mini-trinations and a RWC all in one.

Something that has never been done before.

But alas, I am a little worried about a few things.

"Australia are + 1 on the handicap bet - kind of tells you what the bookies think, too close to call"

well betfair have aus as very marginal favourites 1.98 so SA 2.18 but anyway yep its close

NZ only have to beat one of you, but a comfortable win over the Argies may do them no favours in their preparations. If the idea takes hold that they are not properly match hardened due to too many easy games...