12 months out...

First topic message reminder :

Just thought I'd get everyone's opinions on how their teams are developing leading up to the world cup, I'll start.

SA - my personal favourites right now, look settled, and bedding in some real quality in certain areas. Have an unrivalled pack, but success will depend on the halfback partnership selected.

NZ - up there with SA, but I just don't think they have the grunt to get enough of a platform to play off to beat the boks, replacements for kiwi legends aren't going to be ready come world cup time, and they're 2 key injuries away from having problems, always a threat though.

England - home advantage, tough group, but 3 players vying for each position. Time has come for Lancaster to nail his colours to the flag, get behind a settled squad and for 12 months just win games in any way. Capable of beating aus and Wales, but just as capable as losing too.

Aus - huge talent, unmatched ability in the back line, but problems all over, public struggling, team uninspiring, and as weak as they've been for years. However can and will feel Wales a inferior, and beating England is possible, they'll need their best players available though.

Wales - look to be unravelling fast, dominant team up north for the last few years, and generally lose when they don't perform and win when they do, however they just don't beat SH teams and would need a run avoiding them to go anywhere.

Ireland - similar to Wales, ageing team, results hit and miss, some good talent but ultimately huge luck needed.

Scot, arg and Samoa are probably on par as rank outsiders.

So who do you think are shaping up nicely, and who would you put your money on?

1. New Zealand
2. South Africa / England

With France capable of ruining the party.

Just don't think the Aussie's have the pack to beat those three.

Wales can't beat SH teams and against England at home, I'd be expecting an early exit.

Ireland don't have the gas to make the final, especially with the gaping hole at 13.

Neutralee wrote:Scratch

Please feel free to not insult me for holding a differing view from you!

My feeling comes from performances and key players,

Ireland

POC and BOD have been irreplaceable in recent years, with BOD a match winner time and time again, wiout these two players Ireland look nowhere near the same team. Toner and McFadden/earls just don't seem the same quality to me. Their key players are on the wane, best, heaslip, ferris, and rob Kearney not quite what they were (I heard ferris retired). In this Irish team I see a world class player surrounded by good players.

Ireland have a new generation coming along. Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Iain Henderson, Rhys Ruddock, Robin Copeland, Stuart Olding, Robbie Henshaw, Kieran Marmion and many more. But whether next season is a season too early for these players remains a possibility. Also the returning players like Sean O'Brien, Donnacha Ryan, Paddy Jackson, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald. So I think the squad will be strong. Centers Henshaw and Olding could be key to Irelands success along with Sextons ability to kick pressure points..

Neutralee wrote:Who is Wales first game come world cup?

After seeing Wales go 17-0 up and play good stuff I thought my predictions had been smashed and I was going to eat my words. But the mindset of hold on, instead of hammer home the difference is visible between hemispheres.

SA kicking to the corners instead of posts, them bigger taking 50m potshots.

Wales had the ability to. Win that game, and has the squad to be beating the l,ikes of Australia, south Africa, Argentina and Samoa, but they seem to decide to play like underdogs at times, when their performance is. It so.

    

Cyril wrote:

Barney McGrew did it wrote:I wonder if they have a    of a chance?

No 7&1/2 wrote:It would be glorious if they did.

Yup!

Apparently from the US of A originally (this time).

It's a GREY area...

Jimpy wrote:

Cyril wrote:

Barney McGrew did it wrote:I wonder if they have a    of a chance?

No 7&1/2 wrote:It would be glorious if they did.

Yup!

Apparently from the US of A originally (this time).

It's a GREY area...

Time to wield my miteyironpaw

Biltong wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

Cyril wrote:

Barney McGrew did it wrote:I wonder if they have a    of a chance?

No 7&1/2 wrote:It would be glorious if they did.

Yup!

Apparently from the US of A originally (this time).

It's a GREY area...

Time to wield my miteyironpaw

Come on guys, this is awop of crap what's going on here 

ebop wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

Cyril wrote:

Barney McGrew did it wrote:I wonder if they have a    of a chance?

No 7&1/2 wrote:It would be glorious if they did.

Yup!

Apparently from the US of A originally (this time).

It's a GREY area...

Time to wield my miteyironpaw

Come on guys, this is awop of crap what's going on here 

Enough with the silly puns, guys. There is no Empirical evidence linking any present posters to a hidden past.

SecretFly wrote:

ebop wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

Cyril wrote:

Barney McGrew did it wrote:I wonder if they have a    of a chance?

No 7&1/2 wrote:It would be glorious if they did.

Yup!

Apparently from the US of A originally (this time).

It's a GREY area...

Time to wield my miteyironpaw

Come on guys, this is awop of crap what's going on here 

Enough with the silly puns, guys.  There is no Empirical evidence linking any present posters to a hidden past.

Oh, I thought we were just going on a roll. Sorry.