Who is going to win the Rugby World Cup

by Adam D Wed May 04, 2011 8:37 pm

First topic message reminder :

Simple question - who do you think will win this years World Cup?

Remember its in New Zealand people!

And who do you think will be in the final with them?

by Glas a du Sun Jul 24, 2011 6:47 pm

Not Wales

by **Pal Joey** Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:48 pm

Glas a du wrote:Not Wales

Yeah, not enough depth.

by **Notch** Mon Jul 25, 2011 1:48 am

I still can't believe Ireland and England have more votes than South Africa! Smile

Definitely a victory for the Optimists.

by Gibson Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:41 am

Not too many Saffers on here then? They have more chance of making the Final than any of the NH teams. We all know that, but refuse to accept it. Its normal. It happens every 4 years. Pre RWC excitement does that to a fan.

Bless.

by **Notch** Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:13 am

Somehow, I don't think this will be South Africas year.

a) Their coach seems to me to be relatively out of his depth- prone to a number of mistakes and one mistake in a World Cup can be the end. He also has a bad record of underestimating opponents.
b) Some of the key players from 2007- Smit, Habana, Fourie Du Preez- are now on the wane and successors have not been identified.
c) No team has ever won successive RWCs.

Of course they still have huge experience on their side. They still have world class players and you would be foolish to discount them entirely. But I think they won't return home with the trophy this year.

by cabbagesandbrussels Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:32 pm

i'm going with the aussies tbh.

If that back division clicks, i fear that they will blow many teams apart. (England included.)

by JDandfries Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:22 pm

Im going for a France v SA final, with that being a coin toss!

by red_stag Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:35 pm

JDandfries wrote:Im going for a France v SA final, with that being a coin toss!

Big call. Who in the semis?

by JDandfries Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:59 pm

France v Australia
New Zealand v South Africa

by red_stag Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:12 pm

Interesting. It would be a surprise but not outrageuous.

by JDandfries Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:24 pm

Way I see it, Its a toos up for who wins group A, France or New Zealand - the runner up plays England (most likely) and beats the, the rest of fairly straight forward from there - Also think Australia will surprise a few - beter than they look at present

by red_stag Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:29 pm

Are NZ and France not gonna be swapped when it comes to semis though?

by GunsGerms Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:11 am

Semis:

Australia v France
Ireland v NZ

Final:

France v NZ

New Zealand will win probably.

If they do I fancy Ireland to beat them in the next two years.

by **Pal Joey** Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:49 am

red_stag wrote:Are NZ and France not gonna be swapped when it comes to semis though?

Staggy, just found this predictor... answers your question and good for inputting upsets!

2011 RWC Predictor

by red_stag Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:51 am

Breaker - serious thanks.

I've decided this year to make €50 worth of bets on the RWC and give any donations to charity. Thats gonna be a useful tool.

by **Pal Joey** Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:55 am

No problems mate. Nice gesture to give to charity.

by red_stag Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:57 am

Linebreaker wrote:No problems mate. Nice gesture to give to charity.

Its not really. In reality I probably won't win more than €50. The charity would probably prefer the €50 without me gambling it.

by Glas a du Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:58 am

Cheers breaker. With the aid of that tool I predict Wales will lose to NZ in the final (heavily).

by **Pal Joey** Tue Aug 09, 2011 1:52 am

Yeah Glas, I'm hoping we'll beat France in the Final.

Unfortunately, NZ are hard to avoid any way we look at it.

by gilfachhammer Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:35 am

Dont think we can take anything out of the weekend apart from the fact wales england ireland or scotland wont be anywhere near the cup.

by aucklandlaurie Sun Aug 14, 2011 3:42 pm

Answer: probably a team wearing black.

by marty2086 Sat Aug 20, 2011 1:13 am

Can anyone see past New Zealand, when you think about it they got a lot going for them with their form in the Tri Nations, the fact their hosting and the earthquake at the start of the year has put a lot into perspective for them and given them a sense of duty to raise the spirits of the country.

Add in the fact that England and the likes are trying to chip away at their idenity they will want to make a point.

Id love Ireland to win it as an Irishman but theres too many errors in the Irish game to go all the way

by Glas a du Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:59 pm

Do you want to re-assess?

by **Pal Joey** Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:03 pm

Wait a week or so, then make a final confirmation.

I have already picked my predicted winning margins for NZ-Tonga, Scotland-Romania and France-Japan.

158 points shall be scored in those 3 matches! Shocked

by Glas a du Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:49 pm

There will be shocks Shocked

by **Pal Joey** Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:58 pm

Glas a du wrote:There will be shocks

Yeah, apart from the obvious ones... Wales to beat the Boks by 11 Laugh

by Glas a du Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:54 pm

Ireland to beat Aus...no way, they won't get out of the group!

by **Pal Joey** Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:39 pm

I reckon one of either Tonga, Fiji or Samoa will surprise their fans by underperforming at this RWC.

by Rava Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:03 am

Australia proved on Saturday that they will be a force to be reckoned with but I still feel New Zealand will be the team to beat.

by emack2 Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:23 pm

"Aus play a fast open game better than others"?try France when they`re in the mood.Or the All Blacks with the bit between their teeth.RWCS have`nt been won that way since 1987,or pushing it 1991.

by Glas a du Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:55 pm

France with flair.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:49 pm

France on song play the best rugby in the world. Vive les Bleus.

by Guest Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:12 am

i think the all blacks will win the world cup

by **Pal Joey** Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:18 pm

I think All Blacks closely followed by Australia, SA and France. Haven't seen so much of England lately but they should lift for it too.

by Cymroglan Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:53 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14838723.stm

by Guest Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:23 am

All blacks vs South africa final

by **Pal Joey** Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:11 pm

South Africa will have their depth tested if they are to win it... lots of players injured or coming back from injuries. They'll probably make the semis but I'm not so sure they will go all the way this time.

by Glas a du Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:45 pm

Wales. Fiji or Samoa may do a job on the Saffers yet and we could top the group. In which case the SH nations meet each other in the knockout stages and we get an easier route to the final. Once there anything could happen.

by **Pal Joey** Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:48 pm

Newport Gwent Dragons.... deserve to win it Smile

by Glas a du Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:04 pm

With Riley at the helm!

by **Pal Joey** Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:44 pm

Does he pilot ships too?

by Glas a du Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:24 am

If he did they'd sink, slowly.

by screamingaddabs Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:49 am

How are SA on 4% and Ireland on 10%? Wow.

by poissonrouge Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:16 pm

Be interesting to have another poll now and see if anything has changed? - obviously the choices now exclude Italy, Scotland etc.

by Glas a du Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:29 pm

Good idea, let's have a vote on it.

by Guest Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:47 am

i backed nz to win it, but with carter injured, do you think that will change?

by Glas a du Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:38 am

In 1987, the last time they were at home, they were imperious. Nobody looked as if they could get anywhere near them. We all know what has happened since. There is no doubt they are the best rugby team that has ever been, and they should win the thing every time. A bit like Brazil in Football and Australia in cricket really.

by Guest Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:18 am

Glas a du wrote:There is no doubt they are the best rugby team that has ever been, and they should win the thing every time. A bit like Brazil in Football and Australia in cricket really.

Having said that Spain and England could easily dominate (football and cricket respectively) for some time to come. Brazil and Australia have fallen back a fair bit recently in the two sports. Australia especially. NZ never seem to have any really bad spells in rugby.

by Portnoy Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:53 am

Glas a du wrote:In 1987, the last time they were at home, they were imperious. Nobody looked as if they could get anywhere near them. We all know what has happened since. There is no doubt they are the best rugby team that has ever been, and they should win the thing every time. A bit like Brazil in Football and Australia in cricket really.

The difference being converting potential into deserved success. NZ haven't as yet. In fact they are shocking in KO rugby.

But I'd still put your mortgage on the ABs doing the business this time around.

by Gibson Tue Oct 04, 2011 5:02 am

SafeAsMilk wrote:
Glas a du wrote:There is no doubt they are the best rugby team that has ever been, and they should win the thing every time. A bit like Brazil in Football and Australia in cricket really.
Having said that Spain and England could easily dominate (football and cricket respectively) for some time to come. Brazil and Australia have fallen back a fair bit recently in the two sports. Australia especially. NZ never seem to have any really bad spells in rugby.

Safe,
You are joking yeah?

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