RWC 2015: The contenders and the road they'll travel

Based on last year's world cup and how the Quarter finals and Semi finals were drawn, this is the organigram of how it will work.

I have jst taken all results by the rankings of the teams to establish the basis of who plays where, you can substitute your team according to the colour bands.

I have listed the 12 teams most likely to qualify for the quarters.

Spoiler:

Shoite!.... we'll just have to beat the French then!

You're a man of infinite wisdom Biltong.

Anything can happen to upset that path. Hoping it doesn't but that is the ideal scenario for me obviously. Unfortunately, there are always upsets along the way and 2011 was a nice reminder that what should go to plan doesn't always. Like NZ winning for a change!

That said, that draw looks pretty sweet from an AB perspective... if everything goes to plan. An Irish upset and it'll be down to the supermarket to buy up disposable nappies and plenty of extra toilet paper.

Was the Quarter/Semi draw not done today or is that being done at a later stage??

Is this the official Qtr/semi draw/arrangement??

not sure you got that right BB

In 2011 NZ (group A winners match) played the winners of the SA vs. AUS... (the group D winners match) in the SF.

If the same rules apply then AUS if they win will play France if they both win their groups and their QFs.

is it different this time around???

Yeah Kia, it is unlikely to work out like that, but I long for a final against the All
Blacks, of course for us we'll have to first win our pool............then beat OZ ( ) or England ( ) ....... Then the French ( ) .......... And finally the All Blacks( )

it was the same in 2007.

In 2007 SA won group A and played Argentina in the SF... who won group D.

So I think group A winners will play group D winners.

Anyone else thinking that this one could be an all NH final? ....

Well don't worry mate, I'll be cheering that final on. I plan to be at the final in the crowd. The missus has been warned. No commitments from me during that time and a sizeable gap in the joint, I mean personal account to make the trip over.

Looks like some spankingly good entertainment throughout the tournament. Some huge games early on that have the potential to upset the applecart. Can't wait!

fa0019 wrote:not sure you got that right BB

In 2011 NZ (group A winners match) played the winners of the SA vs. AUS... (the group D winners match) in the SF.

If the same rules apply then AUS if they win will play France if they both win their groups and their QFs.

is it different this time around???

I just spent 30 minutes to figure it out and still buggered it up.

So you're right, we once again won't meet NZ in the final.

We might as well then just meet them in the quarters , I can't understand how the IRB work this out.

In any other sport the first seed and second seed meet in the final.

what a SF thats going to be though.... SA vs. NZ.

The last hurrah of Burger vs. McCaw.

Ouch.

Rather it be the semis than the final then if things go to plan. Just need Bryce Lawrence to move to Australia and become a resident there.

You get Bryce to officiate... we get Suzie to do the pre match meal.

Who wins???

think the winners of group A will be the happiest.... no or near impossible chance of facing SA or NZ until the final. Either way if they win the title they only have to play one of them.

I think we still shade it fa. He's that bad...

That's what Australia will be eyeing and no doubt England. The final and the clearest path. Whoever wins will be a huge handful that's for sure.

Wait until old Zuma gives Meyer access to his own personal witch doctor.... I think Lancaster borrowed him on the weekend.

How else did he dupe the population into voting for him????

Really think Ireland always have the potential to upset the applecart just as Wales do but to slightly lesser degree. There's just so much rugby to be played in the meantime and I can see the next 30 months being a massive run up. Great times ahead for all concerned.

Billtong, nice to see you back Sir

This being said, I now have to consider you an arch rival due to todays draw.

For me, using history and some blind faith/bias, SA will get to the quarters but maybe not the way you plan on your wee chart.

In recent years, on british soil, SA vs Scotland has been a 50/50 affair. with SA winning the last (and recent) encounter and us winning the time before. So, the next game on British soil is our turn to win

and I've already written to the SRU to not schedule any matches with you lot now till after the world cup!!!

Also, alot is going to ome down to who wins between Scotland and Samoa which currently is too close to cal for me (but there is plnty time for tings to change wildly)

Anyway, nice to see you back, but yer a bad bokke for me for the next 3 years lol

Wales and Australia don't have much world cup history do they? (apart from 3rd 4th play offs which don't count). Come to think of it, England and Wales don't have much world cup history either - just 2 games in 7 world cups

Fairly easy group, though would have preferred SA or Aus to France because of the potentially impossible QF for the runners up and how Ireland tend to struggle v France but not as much v SA and Aus.

Oh well, I guess we will have to beat France.

The English match showed anyone can win on their day so its going to be tough. Favouritism goes out the window with these things and EVERY World cup always has its upsets so the likeliest outcome on paper is probably unlikely.

tigertattie wrote:Billtong, nice to see you back Sir

This being said, I now have to consider you an arch rival due to todays draw.

For me, using history and some blind faith/bias, SA will get to the quarters but maybe not the way you plan on your wee chart.

In recent years, on british soil, SA vs Scotland has been a 50/50 affair. with SA winning the last (and recent) encounter and us winning the time before. So, the next game on British soil is our turn to win

and I've already written to the SRU to not schedule any matches with you lot now till after the world cup!!!

Also, alot is going to ome down to who wins between Scotland and Samoa which currently is too close to cal for me (but there is plnty time for tings to change wildly)

Anyway, nice to see you back, but yer a bad bokke for me for the next 3 years lol

You might just be doing us a favour if you beat us in the pools mate.

Seriously though, now that FA has burst my bubble it would mean that if we win our pool we will face Australia in the quarter again, (without my dear friend this time hopefully), then NZ in the semi, and likely France in the final if we get that far.

It smacks of dejavu doesn't it?

mr_stonelea wrote:Wales and Australia don't have much world cup history do they? (apart from 3rd 4th play offs which don't count). Come to think of it, England and Wales don't have much world cup history either - just 2 games in 7 world cups

Try Australia knocking Wales out of the 1/4 finals in Wales' one and only ever home World Cup! But no, it's not a bitter rivalry or anything. Not a grudge match.

I just might start planning to go to this one...

Taylorman wrote:I just might start planning to go to this one...

You'd definatley get a good reception over here Taylor. There was a sizeable Kiwi tribe on Saturday and stadium banter was absolutley top notch, a few AB's supporters were right behind us and they seemed to be having a laugh. We're not all as stuck up as reputation would have you believe

BB

Apologises dude for bursting your bubble, don't worry though maybe Wales will finally get one over on AUS and give you an easier QF.... Well you can hope at least!

Going to have to face NZ sooner or later if you want to take home the cup. As long as the boks don't invite Zuma to lift the cup ala mbeki and our national treasure when they get the trophy.

The queen handing the cup to Zuma... That would be one for the scrapbook.

I don't mind facing the All Blacks, I just like facing them in a final, we haven't lost a final yet. It suits our mindset.

In the Semi finals A plays D and B plays C (effectively if group winner win the 1/4s)

So Aus (*cough* Wales *cough*) vs France and SA vs NZ

Axactly, 4 plays 3 and 2 plays 1. Quite daft if you ask me.

Winner pool A
Second pool A
Winner pool B
Second pool B
Winner pool C
Second pool C
Winner pool D
Second pool D

Quarters
(1) WPA vs SPB
(2) WPB vs SPA
(3) WPC vs SPD
(4) WPD vs SPC

Semi
(1) vs (4)
(2) vs (3)

So, based on rankings

Winner pool A - Australia
Second pool A - England
Winner pool B - South Africa
Second pool B - Samoa
Winner pool C - New Zealand
Second pool C - Argentina
Winner pool D - France
Second pool D - Ireland

Quarters
(1) Australia vs Samoa
(2) South Africa vs England
(3) New Zealand vs Ireland
(4) France vs Argentina

Semi
Australia vs France
South Africa vs New Zealand

Final
Australia vs New Zealand

Winner
New Zealand

We all know the real final is being played in Pool A . The rest of the tournament is a sideshow. they are going to have to put armed guards around the internet to keep it safe on that day.

They'll just cut the pipe between England and Wales and take a week to repair it.