Who will win the 2015 RWC poll on PR

http://www.planetrugby.com/poll/results/0,26151,308724,00.html

I picked NZ because it is already written in the stars.

Let´s look at the facts. The first RWC final was in 87 between NZ and France.

In 2011 the RWC final was between NZ and France. What was the score? 8 7

What´s 8 + 7? 15.

2015 will be a final between NZ and France and the score will be 13 6.

What´s 13 + 6? Chalk up the first hat-trick in 2019.

As HERSH would say: FACT.

I agree Kia, we're owed two anyway...
In truth you'd have to say we've learned something from this one. The away thing will be the key poster torment for the next 4 years perhaps?

I do feel we're still a bit 'exposed' without Henry- feels like someones wipped off the towel off me at the beach somehow.

Its gonna be fun and I might start sorting my trip out then- I'll be over 50 by then ( ) so I better get to one while I can still run on to the field and tackle the ref...

I won't put the springboks in the hat yet, will wait to see who is the head coach.

My guess australia, we just need to keep away from any matches involving Bruce Lawrence.

Taylorman wrote:I agree Kia, we're owed two anyway...
In truth you'd have to say we've learned something from this one. The away thing will be the key poster torment for the next 4 years perhaps?

you learnt you need some things going your way.

Kia NZ won the first rugby world cup, but it took you 24years to win the second one. So i would not get carried way and think that you are owed another one for at least another 24 years. ok.

biltongbek wrote:

Taylorman wrote:I agree Kia, we're owed two anyway...
In truth you'd have to say we've learned something from this one. The away thing will be the key poster torment for the next 4 years perhaps?

you learnt you need some things going your way.

Good to see a lot of whistling going on here folks...warming up for the new year I see... but Geez i'll say...Like SA this year, we just wanted an even playing field...

Next year brings a much needed freshness I think- players, coaches, Argy etc, a whole lot of new things for us all to moan about ay Biltong? I pick that I'll be wishing Hansen should shut his mouth a lot more- 'strong... is the ego in this one' oooh... and for the record...

I think France will finally do it this time round, if they bring in a consistent ten who can play the forwards in the right areas and have the flair to bring the backs in, France would be an unstoppable machine.

I really want Wales to make the semis because from there on form means nothing and anything can happen but if we make the semis again it will bring a real consistent feel.

But of course don't even dare write-off the Tri Nations teams.

Ireland England Argentina quarters at best i reckon.

By 2019 Argentina should be a real hand full.

England or NZ

Bookies,predictably say NZ,Australia and surprisingly Wales ,Boks will be in the mix.
France IF[and only IF] they play to win every Match in the tournament,NOT do just enough to qualify.
As in 2007,and 2011,that a team can lose two matches and still almost win the RWC.Means the thing is flawed some how,dump Bonus points,and double win points.

I personally would love France to win it.

SA should be in there but it depends on how they replace the key players that have held the team together for quite a while now. They have to prove they can rebuild in what is probably a fairly short time frame given those they need to replace.

Same with NZ though we rely on an age old system that brings players through, and our age group successes last few years suggests there's something there in the wings.

Oz will be there coz theyre Oz- no need to say anymore.

Arg are the ones most affected by change. The 4N should prepare them even through regular matches with the 3N sides. They'll gain an insight into the 3N teams that no other sides will, even if they lose all their games between now and 2015 (which they won't).

Just hope it doesn't backfire and they pull out after a year or two. That would be disastrous for rugby.

Of the 6N, still France and Wales based on today with England the most to prove at home.

majesticimperialman wrote:Kia NZ won the first rugby world cup, but it took you 24years to win the second one. So i would not get carried way and think that you are owed another one for at least another 24 years. ok.

I was only joking mate but inadvertently you raise an interesting point. The win in 2011 took us 24 years. 2 wins but 2 more World Cups brings that total to 4. You can´t fight destiny!

But seriously, as always the pools will provide a lot of interest. This year the Irish result against Australia really turned the tournament on its head (and Lawrence as well Biltong!). The whole side of the draw opened up for teams like Wales and France because the big SH 3 went into the same side of the draw. Just as the knockouts of Australia and NZ in the quarters made it easier, though no less impressively from where they started, for England to progress to the final. They did after all knock out Australia.

So sometimes things can go your way, whether that be with the bounce of the ball, the drawing of your opponents, luck with injuries, or refereeing decisions. But to win the competition, you need to be consistent throughout the tournament but especially in the business end of the tournament.

I for one pray that we have a dangerous side in our pool. France would be a welcome one so as to avoid them for the rest of the tournament! But also Australia, England, Wales, SA or Ireland. Someone who can provide us with a stern test. Pool of death: bring it on. Better that than a stagnant pool of mediocrity who are going to rest their A squad against the big sides.

It is a great competition because it throws up a few surprises each time. I am definitely going to go to a game or two when it comes to this part of the world (Europe) in 2015. England at home with time to find their best squad and you´d hope they can put in a good show. It´d be great to see a team like Wales and Ireland pressing for a finals spot as Wales did in 2011. It´d be nice to see a PI side like Samoa or Tonga pull off more than just an isolated win. The Argentinians with 4 years of 4N might be an even more dangerous beast at World Cup time. Australia have a young side now and look to be in the lead for peaking at the right time. As Biltong says, much depends on the appointment of the coach. It´s going to be very difficult to replace the quality of Matfield, Botha and Fourie but 4 years is a long time.

But as fascinating as the World Cup is, there is a lot of rugby in between to keep us enthralled. Argentina make the 4N a more varied and, therefore, a more interesting spectacle. We have two traditional series next year at least and England plays all the SH giants in a row. That´s just 2012 with a lot of 6N teams with a point to prove to make that compelling viewing. These games are not just building to the World Cup. They all mean something. It´s important to win everything. Every team in the 4N wants their name to appear first on the trophy. Every team wants bragging rights in the 6N. Every touring team to the SH wants to be the first to claim a series win.

So 2015 is going to be great. But that´s not the focus now. After all, you don´t want to peak between World Cups.

Kia, to be honest I think we will be better off.

Matfield himself admits that Andries Bekker is a better all round player then he is, perhaps not quite the genius in the line out, but better skills in running, more mobile and a more intimidating player than Matfield.

Remeber when everyone thought Joost can't be replaced by a player of his quality, well we had Fourie du Preez, and now we have Francois Hougaard.

Bakkies may be difficult to replace from the intimidator stand point, but in all honesty that role is to a sense antiquated and better ball players are necessary.

Lambie will be better than Morne Steyn.
Frans Steyn is better than Jean de Villiers.
Bismarck is better than John Smit.

It is all up to the coaching appointment.

True mate. Bekker has impressed me a lot. I´m not so sure Matfield wasn't intimidating. Botha was always the bad cop but players like Kelleher for NZ found out that Matfield could be an enforcer as well.

One you might struggle to replace is Fourie. One of the most underestimated players for the Boks in my opinion but absolute class. As good as Smith but in different ways. He´s similar to AAC but more of a vital lynchpin in the backline and probably even more destructive as a runner.

I certainly hope you get a decent coach for the new year. SA will be an even more difficult to beast but you always want to play the best and at their best.