Best Matches of RWC Pool Stages

What do people expect the best games of the pool stages to be? For me:

Ireland v Australia
United States v Russia
England v Argentina
Wales v Samoa

Other games are surely going to be good but these are the ones I expect to be real humdingers.

Am assuming that you're expecting these to be real humdingers because you think that they'll be close games between evenly-matched teams, or there's a particular edge to a match because of history? In which case, I'd add England vs Scotland, and Argentina vs Scotland, but equally I'd remove Australia vs Ireland (sorry, I just expect Oz to be too strong, even off limited possession)

NZ vs France. Though as always it depends which French team turns up ...

Fiji v Samoa
Georgia v Romania

Should be very 'interesting' with local bragging rights at stake

I'm looking forward to Ireland playing the USA. The EOS angle will probably be played to death in the press before kick-off, but as it hasn't happened yet I'm still interested.

And for the sheer hammer and tongs-ness of it, Fiji V Samoa will be a cracker.

NZ v France could be a cracker. NZ to hammer them and then France to beat them in the final.

Aus v Ireland will be a cracker, they are usually quite close and I reckon Ireland will win.

Fiji v Wales. And something obscure like Italy v one of the minnows.

New Zealand vs France will be good

England V Scotland will be a cracker if the Twickenham encounter is anything to go by I fancy Scotland's chances on Neutral ground.

Wales v Fiji is always a brutal affair.

I like your optimism Rugger, but choices would have to be:

Fiji vs Wales

NZ vs anyone as long as NZ on are top form they will be a joy to watch

Tonga Vs anyone could also be interesting as long as they play as well as they did last world cup.

Ireland v USA. Obviously the Eddie angle but the game also takes place on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Fiji v Samoa could be a good game. Both teams can choose full strength squads for once and should have plenty of support from expat populations over there.

I think that Samoa will offer Wales a tougher challenge. I don't expect Fiji to fare well this time around.

Nor do I expect France v NZ in the pool stages to be an epic.

I can;t remember a recent Ireland vs Australia game that was won by more than a score though Asbo.

<runs off to check stats>

The last time we were heavily beaten by Australia was in Perth in June 2006, losing 37-15. We beat them 21-6 then later the same year. Since then we haven't beaten them, but two away defeats in Australia each by less than a score (18-12 and 22-15 respectively) and a draw at home don't seem to indicate a massive gulf between the sides.

I'll leave out the Ireland matches because otherwise they'd feature heavily. My three that I'm looking forward to the most are;

France v NZ
Wales v Samoa
Fiji v Samoa

I really wanted to pick England/Scotland/Argentina match but I know deep down all of those matches will be very dull. They should be very close at the same time though.

mrsuperclear wrote:
I really wanted to pick England/Scotland/Argentina match but I know deep down all of those matches will be very dull. They should be very close at the same time though.

Reckon you might be right, mrsuperclear, games for the purist, you might say

Notch wrote:I can;t remember a recent Ireland vs Australia game that was won by more than a score though Asbo.

<runs off to check stats>

The last time we were heavily beaten by Australia was in Perth in June 2006, losing 37-15. We beat them 21-6 then later the same year. Since then we haven't beaten them, but two away defeats in Australia each by less than a score (18-12 and 22-15 respectively) and a draw at home don't seem to indicate a massive gulf between the sides.

Notch, are you sure that form in the last 5 years of (a fairly small number of) head-2-heads will have that much bearing? You may well be right, I suspect it will be a score or two at most in it, and don't see any chance of a whitewash

I actually think England v Argentina could be a pretty good game to watch. I hold no hope for when they play the Scots.

I don't think they'll have much bearing, apart from the players will go in believing 100% they can win the game. I expect a close match where either side could prevail.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Notch wrote:I can;t remember a recent Ireland vs Australia game that was won by more than a score though Asbo.

<runs off to check stats>

The last time we were heavily beaten by Australia was in Perth in June 2006, losing 37-15. We beat them 21-6 then later the same year. Since then we haven't beaten them, but two away defeats in Australia each by less than a score (18-12 and 22-15 respectively) and a draw at home don't seem to indicate a massive gulf between the sides.

Notch, are you sure that form in the last 5 years of (a fairly small number of) head-2-heads will have that much bearing? You may well be right, I suspect it will be a score or two at most in it, and don't see any chance of a whitewash

To be honest I think it will come down to which Ireland turns up. If the Ireland that played England arrives they definitely won't lose by much and could easily win. On the other hand if the Ireland that played Italy turns up they could be in trouble.

I actually think the NZ v France game will be pretty one-sided this time round, NZ will hammer them. Lievremont is a joke, his selections will be poor, the French don't actually need to win the game to go through and the All Blacks will be mightly up for revenge over their bogey side.

Australia vs Ireland should be a great game and closer than most seem to be predicting (a battle of two great back rows), as should Wales vs. Samoa. I expect both to be pretty open matches and close.

FES, I agree with you. I don't expect to see a great NZ v France game nor do I expect Fiji v Wales to be the encounter it is being billed up to be.

Whats the deal with coverage for the world cup for us UK and Paddy viewers?

The games will be on between 6am - 10am i take it by my estimates? The later games probably being more towards 10 am to suit European rugby audiences as well as saffa time zones.

Is there any word of repeated coverage in the evening either?

I assume rté will have highlights in the evening dadubs1. I'd also say there'll be some sort of "breakdown" show on Setanta.

On the games themselves, I'm pretty sure some are as early as 2/3 in the morning for us but all the Ireland games were on at around 8 last time I checked (unless I dreamt it).

Actually didn't dream it: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/poolstage.html

Few of our games are on at 6 but it could be a lot worse. Look at Scotland and Romania on at 2 in the morning!

Ahh beautiful - the joys of supporting a decent rugby team! or rather a team that will attract a large audience so the networks have gotten our games played at latter times.

Scotland vs Romania at 2am is going to be pretty tough, but as it's our best chance of a 4 try bonus point, I'll be up and watching.

Watching Scotland in the afternoon is perilous enough, let alone at 2 in the morning!

Nah im messing bud, bonus points will be crucial in that pool. Not just getting out of it but you'll be facing NZ if you're lucky enough to come second and France if you come first.

Fiji v Samoa should be great fun.
Being played in Auckland which is the city with the largest number of polynesian residents in the world.
In fact there are a heap of good match ups in this group.
Imagine the two qualifyers from this group will be nursing some bumps and bruises!

theres a good Mastercard advert going around down here about Wales Samoa you know "something is priceless for everything else there's Mastercard".

If the Welsh don't focus on them there could be an upset as you'd imagine Samoa will be targeting this as an upset they could spring. Will depend on the time they get to train as a team before the tournament but they should have good local support (as will Wales!)