Is there is conspiracy to build up my confidence that Wales can go all the way?

I'm very worried by my confidence. I'm not saying we're going to win the whole thing but everything that has happened so far has built my confidence and it's a feeling I'm not used too. No doubt something will happen to dent that soon but I'm going to make the most of it while it lasts.

So you think the team that couldn't quire beat SA has what it takes to beat the team that did beat Australia? Not sure I'm with you on that.

"No doubt something will happen to dent that soon ..."

I think there is no doubt too.

Wales are playing well. France are playing terribly, England are winning but not convincingly. Ireland catapulted Australia out of your side of the draw. So yes, a lot of things have happened that should make the Welsh feel more confident of a final than they were.

agreed. its 50/50 against ireland but i do reckon wales have the edge just. After some really physical games they will be well up for it. if byrne gets some form back he will be invaluable. wales have really missed him hitting the line at pace. can't wait for the fiji game now

If Wales keep playing the way they are then they'll be in the final.

The other sides in that side of the draw all need to improve to have a chance IMHO.

Ireland v Wales was a 50/50 game until Kidney relinquished responsibility and control of Ireland selection to Ronan O'Gara. There's too many egos and politics in the Ireland camp whereas Gatland has got it spot on by picking on form rather than reputation.

As much as it pains me to say it I can't see us getting beyond a QF, if we can get past Italy.

roddersm wrote:If Wales keep playing the way they are then they'll be in the final.

The other sides in that side of the draw all need to improve to have a chance IMHO.

Ireland v Wales was a 50/50 game until Kidney relinquished responsibility and control of Ireland selection to Ronan O'Gara. There's too many egos and politics in the Ireland camp whereas Gatland has got it spot on by picking on form rather than reputation.

As much as it pains me to say it I can't see us getting beyond a QF, if we can get past Italy.

Rodders, have you taken an overdose of pessimism pills recently? Gibson needs to grab you by the scruff of the neck and yell BELIIIIIIIIIIIVE into your face for several hours straight by the sounds of things. Can I just pick you up on the part of your statement I've highlighted there as well? Your inference is that Kidney isn't picking players on form obviously. With the exception of Trimble that is, with all respect, bullshoite Rodders. Sexton has missed more kicks than dear Johnny and, in a match which has been very close in recent meetings, ROG nailing penalties is needed. Added to that, ROG is probably playing some of the best stuff of his life. Are you a blue tinted Leinsterman exiled up in Ulster or something Rodders?

On the Welsh, of course they should be optimistic they'll get to the final. They beat us in the six nations last year and England and France really look poor. However, they'll have to play as well as they did against SA in my opinion as Kidney, despite Rodders lack of belief, will have them just as pumped for that match as they were for Australia. There's plenty of doubt about Ireland's ability to perform consistently but a semi-final was Kidney's target from day one and this world cup is the be all and end all for Deccie really. Whatever happens, it will be a great match, and I'll be thoroughly looking forward to it once we both get past Italy and Fiji.

Eclipse wrote:I'm very worried by my confidence. I'm not saying we're going to win the whole thing but everything that has happened so far has built my confidence and it's a feeling I'm not used too. No doubt something will happen to dent that soon but I'm going to make the most of it while it lasts.

Only if you've been trapped in a cellar for the last few weeks and haven't seen any of the rugby.

mrsuperclear wrote:

roddersm wrote:If Wales keep playing the way they are then they'll be in the final.

The other sides in that side of the draw all need to improve to have a chance IMHO.

Ireland v Wales was a 50/50 game until Kidney relinquished responsibility and control of Ireland selection to Ronan O'Gara. There's too many egos and politics in the Ireland camp whereas Gatland has got it spot on by picking on form rather than reputation.

As much as it pains me to say it I can't see us getting beyond a QF, if we can get past Italy.

Rodders, have you taken an overdose of pessimism pills recently? Gibson needs to grab you by the scruff of the neck and yell BELIIIIIIIIIIIVE into your face for several hours straight by the sounds of things. Can I just pick you up on the part of your statement I've highlighted there as well? Your inference is that Kidney isn't picking players on form obviously. With the exception of Trimble that is, with all respect, bullshoite Rodders. Sexton has missed more kicks than dear Johnny and, in a match which has been very close in recent meetings, ROG nailing penalties is needed. Added to that, ROG is probably playing some of the best stuff of his life. Are you a blue tinted Leinsterman exiled up in Ulster or something Rodders?

I hope you are right!

I think all of Wales, Ireland and England are in with a shot a the final on the NH side imo. Not France though, they havnt clicked at all this competition and they have problems off the pitch and losing to Tonga is massive blow as I seriously doubt any of the other qualified NH teams would have lost that game.

As an Englishman I agree with the general sentiment that Ireland and Wales are looking good and I see England being knocked out by one of these two in the Semi Final.. But for the Wales vs Ireland game, it really is a 50 / 50 call that one. I imagine the margin of victory will be about 3 points as its so evenly matched.

Rodders, you're a good lad but you do talk some tom kite like!

I don't really understand the question here; do you think South Africa, Samoa, Australia and Ireland all got together and planned this as an elaborate practical joke?

If so, it is a good one like.

Poorfour wrote:So you think the team that couldn't quire beat SA has what it takes to beat the team that did beat Australia? Not sure I'm with you on that.

As an enthusiast of the game "paper rock scissors" Id point out that the team that beat australia lost to the team that didnt beat SA last time they played

Wales haven't beaten Fiji yet!

They played well but were beaten by a seriously off-colour SA.
They squeezed past Samoa.
They beat the worst side in the tournament by some distance (Namibia).

Cool your boots lads.

For me, the winner of Wales vs Ireland will be in the final (sorry, but England and France have been very poor)

So, in that respect, Wales are 1 win from a WC final, and its against a team they have already beaten this year and who they know how to play against, not to mention Ireland's variable form in and before the WC.

If you look at it that way....im happy.

Unfortunetly, I think we will lose to Ireland.

Notch wrote:Rodders, you're a good lad but you do talk some tom kite like!

I don't really understand the question here; do you think South Africa, Samoa, Australia and Ireland all got together and planned this as an elaborate practical joke?

If so, it is a good one like.

Since when are you from Cork, Notch?

I JUST CANT BELIEVE WE GOT OUT OF THE GROUP!!
Anything else is just a bonus,the Ireland game will be seriously tough and i would say the Irish are easy favourites going into the game.

Wales aren't out of the group yet.

A bonus point win for Fiji (while denying Wales a losing bonus point) puts Fiji through doesn't it?

Confidence is overrated, you could have had to play against OZ in the quarters and NZ in the semi's.

SafeAsMilk wrote:Wales aren't out of the group yet.

A bonus point win for Fiji (while denying Wales a losing bonus point) puts Fiji through doesn't it?

If they also win by 39 points...

SafeAsMilk wrote:Wales aren't out of the group yet.

A bonus point win for Fiji (while denying Wales a losing bonus point) puts Fiji through doesn't it?

Fiji need a points difference of >38 for the game and then Samoa go through, for Fiji themselves to go through they have to beat wales by upwards of 120 points. That could only happen if we fielded 15 Lee Byrnes, luckily we do not have that strength in depth. So I can safely say that we are probably through in the absence of a non-Lee-Byrne flu epidemic and the quick invention of a clone-ing machine by Cardiff Uni that is not booked for sick and depraved Katherine Jenkins experiments.

Head to head counts before points difference if the teams are tied on game points.

SafeAsMilk wrote:Head to head counts before points difference if the teams are tied on game points.

Fiji - 5
Wales - 10

5+4+1=10

10=10

Ah, so if it's a 3-way tie it goes to points difference between the 3 sides as it's scissor/paper/stone in the results between them?

Yeah the best Fiji can do for table points is a three way tie.

Wales are >38 over Sam & >120 ish over Fiji.

Right. Wales are through then

One thing that is for certain, I am glad I put my tenner on us to win at 40/1 when I did LOL

Wales will not lose to Fiji, Wales will beat them and beat them convincingly.

Not.sure why wales are so confident really. samoa should have won that game if the try was allowed and had a kicker. very lucky not to get a yellow or two as well. where this cnfidence.coming.from

by Riskysports Today at 7:01 pm

Not.sure why wales are so confident really. samoa should have won that game if the try was allowed and had a kicker. very lucky not to get a yellow or two as well. where this cnfidence.coming.from
--------------------------------------------

Would have should have could have but didn't!

Wales by 25

Why shouldn't Wales be confident.

After a big raucous about a certain penalty not being reviewed lady luck has put them in the right side of the draw courtesy of an Ireland win vs Australia.

They now have an easier draw having to face a team they would fancy their chances more than australia, and then play england/france who they have a much better chance against than New zealand.

They can be more confident than OZ, ARG and SA of progressing further in the tournament.

Wales won't do it, lets be honest here.

Every Wales fan hoped we would make it to the quarters, we saw that as an excellent achievement, and it looks likely we have suceeded.
We wanted not to disgrace ourselves against South Africa which was accomplished and put to bed the humiliations against Island teams in 1991, 1999 and 2007.
Samoa have been dealt with and desevedly have had a boot up their backside and sent back to the islands they came from, the couldn't of an element of their players have been a disgrace. Samoa rely on tier 1 nations to throw them bones to stay in the International game, I wouldn;t throw them a rubber ring if they were drownding in the pacific ocean.

Told you Wales 66 - Fiji a big fat ZERO!

Ireland next this game will be huge as Ireland look in amazing form,who ever wins this will make the final.

roddersm wrote:

mrsuperclear wrote:

roddersm wrote:If Wales keep playing the way they are then they'll be in the final.

The other sides in that side of the draw all need to improve to have a chance IMHO.

Ireland v Wales was a 50/50 game until Kidney relinquished responsibility and control of Ireland selection to Ronan O'Gara. There's too many egos and politics in the Ireland camp whereas Gatland has got it spot on by picking on form rather than reputation.

As much as it pains me to say it I can't see us getting beyond a QF, if we can get past Italy.

Rodders, have you taken an overdose of pessimism pills recently? Gibson needs to grab you by the scruff of the neck and yell BELIIIIIIIIIIIVE into your face for several hours straight by the sounds of things. Can I just pick you up on the part of your statement I've highlighted there as well? Your inference is that Kidney isn't picking players on form obviously. With the exception of Trimble that is, with all respect, bullshoite Rodders. Sexton has missed more kicks than dear Johnny and, in a match which has been very close in recent meetings, ROG nailing penalties is needed. Added to that, ROG is probably playing some of the best stuff of his life. Are you a blue tinted Leinsterman exiled up in Ulster or something Rodders?

I hope you are right!

Well by jeebus you were right!

And to quote Notch I was talking complete Tom Kite!

Actually it was all just reverse psychology to get a big game out of ROG ......

The conspiracy goes on. A lot of people on here seemed to delight in telling any confident Welsh fans that we were deluded. I hope everyone will continue to underestimate us but I think we've come out from under the radar. I'm still not sure I believe we can go all the way but I believe the players do and that's a massive thing.

Eclipse wrote:The conspiracy goes on. A lot of people on here seemed to delight in telling any confident Welsh fans that we were deluded.

Cough, cough...not me