RWC 2011 Pool B Speculation...!

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Pool B

Argentina (8) 78.97

England (5) 82.48

Georgia (15) 70.30

Romania (18) 65.57

Scotland (9) 77.35

England as Six Nations Champions have to be favourites for this Pool, they were the strongest team in the NH annual championship, but they struggled as the tournament wore on. Convincing wins over Wales and very convincing over Italy preceded a narrower win against France and less convincing win against Scotland and finally loss to ireland. They are promising but not the finished article. England should top this pool but they need convincing performances to get them started towards greater things later on in this tournament.

Scotland having beaten Argentina in Argentina twice leaving them as second favourites in this pool. Scotland are not the finished article either, strong in the pack though unconvincing behind, they have struggled to score tries. Look better with Jackson at flyhalf though, a decent inside center to partner Ansbro and they could be a good side easily underestimated.

Argentina were on great form in 07 but havent shown much of that since, missing star player like Hernandez they are not the force they were. They haven't shown the form they did going in to this tournament that they did in 07. I dont think we can expect a repeat this time.

Georgia are a new rising star in Europe's lower tiers, a strong forward orientated team. They caused former semi finalists in 07 Argentina problems at the last world cup holding them to 6-3 at half time. But have previously lost 83 - 0 to England. It is great that they are in the world cup again and hopefully give a better showing than last time, showing their improvements they were ranked 17th in 07 they are 15th now. Winners of the European nations cup since 2006 they are knocking on the door.

Romania, bottom seed in this pool but a former giant of the second tier of rugby, they almost beat the all blacks in the early eighties and have beeten a whole host of top tier nations in their illustrious past. They have never beaten England or Argentina but have beaten Scotland twice and Georgia 13 times. But all a long time in the past.

HammerofThunor wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

Carpe Diem wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

Carpe Diem wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

Riskysports wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Carpe Diem wrote:

yappysnap wrote:

Carpe Diem wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Rob B wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Rob B wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Rob B wrote: I guess Engalnd would not be due to meet a SH side until the semi finals? That's a very nice draw if that is the case.

Im sure theres a reason that Argentina isnt in the 7 nations

Because it is in the SH and therefore too far away logistically. Or, they want to play the 3 top ranked sides perhaps.

Yeah so we have estblished that Argentina is in the southern hemisphere...so what is the answer to your first question? Think about it....

Other than the competition being too big, the 6N don't want the extra competition - the Argies winning 7N might ruffle too many feathers.

Plus a seven nations tournament would take even longer and decrease the time for the domestic season.

Am I going insane here?

Go back to the first question.....now imagine my reposnse was sarcastic......

Absolute classic Pete! I'm in stitches watching the miscomprehension of this one. Maybe if you highlight the comment it might sink in!

I just thought i'd carry on quoting the quote of a quote of a quote

Absolutely.

+1

How much fun

You are only as strong as your weakest link, and I am threatening to be THE ONE.

Wise words mate.



But are you the one and only?



Nobody you'd rather be?

I am only, the lonely ( imagine elvis impression here)

To be or not to be someone else... That would be the question.


............



Ok I am stalling, will have to think about that one.

Ama Amazing, we have an emoticon for him, my wife will be chuffed to bits.

Only the lonely was Roy Orbison. Is it wrong that i was frightened of him as a child?

Yeah, I was thinking of "Are you lonesome tonight, are your pants on to tight"

Roy is not his mother's best looking son.

That should be "too" tight

I feel powerful and cleverer now I correct meaningless spelling mistake.

You might be the cleverestest on this website, but it is not the politest thing to doist.

I would prefer a different schedule for our Georgian team but we might have a chance to beat Scotland if Romanians play phisical game and some Scotish players got injured. And if it happens we (Georgia) might be inspired to beat Argentina too. But I recognise that England, Argentina and Scotland have more balanced teams and normaly they should pass through Georgia and Romania. Romania did quite good match agst Italy on the last World Cup, obviously this year they are weaker than 4 years ago, but World cup magic might give them some extra force.

SPQR - I haven't seen Georgia play recently but have heard many good things about your team and am informed you have a large and powerful set of forwards. Romania in the 1980s were a very powerful outfit who beat Scotland and Wales quite deservedly. They had a set of large forwards and played a tight game very effectively. Unfortunately they fell away after the political changes in Romania.

If we give both teams due respect and are prepared that they will come at us, then we should be able to cope. But the danger for us (and Argentina and England) is that we may play mainly reserves. If they are not up to speed and playing as a team then there could be some uncomfortable moments. The biggest challenges are complacency and facing players we know little about.

Logic says Scotland, England and Argentina will fight it out, but surpises make for an interesting tournament, although obviously I hope it is not Scotland you surprise - best of luck.

And you are coached by a Scot in Richie Dixon, I think, SPQR? any news on your training camp and warm-up matches? Any injury headaches or players out of form? Who should we be watching out for? Cheers.

I hope and pray Robinson does not underestimate the capabilities of either Georgia or Romania. These teams do have a nasty habit of surprising teams who take them lightly. It will be a very tough tussle up front and we will be relying on our backs to do the most damage although I was hoping it would not come to that.

I really don't think AR will take these sides lightly. He's been quite open about the fact that job number one is to beat these sides, and that he'll have plenty time to consider Argentina once that is achieved.

Giving the "cutting edge" in our backs, the forwards will probably need to win about 90% possession in each match in order for us to win, and against the Georgians in particular, that's a tall order.

Hopefully, Richie Dixon's competences regarding Scotish rugby, will help our team. At the moment Georgian team has a training camp in France, they are taking part at Auvergne Challenge tournament with some French teams. They won their 1st match agst Aurillac and they faced Bourgoin (but i couldnt find result). Unfortunately we didnt play international warm-up matches. Anyway, less visible we are better is for us and it helps to focuss on game plan, Georgian players have to achieve better team chemistry cause sometimes their play looks like amateur's one. I dont think that we'll be underestimated, everybody talks about us so strong teams will be prepared. I think: if we beat Scotland we should rest most of our players agst England and focus on Romania (normaly we'll beat them) and esp on Argentina games. Argentina looks weak...maybe now we have a chance to surprise them...

Georgian Lelos-Bourgoin 28-15

If warm up games mean anything,England won one out of two,Scotland 2out of 2.Argentina lost to Wales the only match they could get,BUT were
comfortable up front.Scrums aside with the Welsh "Hare Bear" making a big difference in the scrum.
If Argentina had a decent goal kicker Wales would have lost,if you had
any sense.
England,Scotland and Argentina on present form I would rate about equal.

SPQR wrote:Georgian Lelos-Bourgoin 28-15

That's a pretty good result for Georgia.

Could be a much tougher pool than previously anticipated.

Scotland are on good form, Argies are unfit and rusty and England are not having a good time.

Will be interesting to see who succeeds out of thus weekends Ireland vs England match.

Ireland-England match will be interesting to watch...