Rugby World Cup 2011

[Kvinto]

Wales were brilliant but would they have been as dominant (they would have still won) if Fiji had played better when they were attacking in the first half. George North stomped all over the opposition with his running.
Officiating was not great again, one of the tries was a clear forward pass.

Fiji could definitely score some points, but they didn't so they should blame noone but themselves

 

[elapid]

66-0. the Welshmen were doing all they wanted all match long. pretty impressive.
edit: what a pity they lost that game to SA

+1. Clinical and impressive.

 

[elapid]

Quarter-final round:

8 Oct, Ireland v Wales
8 Oct, England v France
9 Oct, South Africa v Australia
9 Oct, New Zealand v Argentina

I am a little disappointed that the quarter and semi finals are aligned by southern and northern hemispheres because this may mean that the two best teams in the competition will not meet in the finals. However, there is some credence to the argument that a final with a southern hemisphere team versus a northern hemisphere team is good for rugby.

Anyway, my picks: Ireland, England, Wallabies and All Blacks.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

How good is Colin slade, will he be able to hold his nerve in a BIG match?

 

[sublimit]

David Campese reckons Wales will beat Ireland, I agree with him but it will be close, Wales have some fantastic players but need the self belief to pull off the big wins.


The Tongan # 6 was impressive, like a wrecking ball in the last game for them, Courtney Laws similar for England and its fun watching them knocking people about and leaving them on the ground. Englands Chris Ashton is great but I wish he would grow up and stop acting like the big hero considering the guy is ex league as well.

The swallow dive tries are getting tiresome for me.

 

[Tank Engine]

Quarter-final round:

8 Oct, Ireland v Wales
8 Oct, England v France
9 Oct, South Africa v Australia
9 Oct, New Zealand v Argentina

i'm highly disappointed about the first quarter-final, because i'd like it to be a semi final

I'd like it to be the final, but then I'm obviously completely biased.

The Wales scoreline was somewhat flattering, it was a day on which everything went right. The weather favoured us, a forward pass and a punt by a prop leading to a try, all our kicks going over. However, even without that we were the better team. The defence was outstanding, the finishing clinical. The highlight for me was the 4th try, North burst through the centre, drew the last two defenders and offloaded a floated pass to Warburton who was exactly where a no. 7 should be. I just love the way the Welsh wingers are always looking to get into the game and change the point of attack.

My picks for the 1/4s. I can't go against Wales with the incisiveness and determination they showed today (plus a bit of partisanism), although matches with Ireland are always hotly contested (please, no lineoutgate this time though). England and France are "auld" enemies and so will raise their game. On the evidence of the games so far, England should shade it. SA's scrum will grind their way to a victory over a relatively weak Australian scrum (by tri-nation standards). Oh, and NZ

 

[Kvinto]

I am a little disappointed that the quarter and semi finals are aligned by southern and northern hemispheres because this may mean that the two best teams in the competition will not meet in the finals. However, there is some credence to the argument that a final with a southern hemisphere team versus a northern hemisphere team is good for rugby.

Anyway, my picks: Ireland, England, Wallabies and All Blacks.

i'm struggling between my sympathy to the Welsh team and the desire to see Ireland vs. England in the semifinal. I also hope Australia will beat SA. As for the hemispheres it all could unfold in a different way but now we should take it as it is...

 

[Kvinto]

I'd like it to be the final, but then I'm obviously completely biased.

me too. these are two teams i like and unfortunately one of them should leave the World Cup after 1/4

 

[Ragerod]

A shame Argentina have to play New Zealand. Last year 3rd place. Rugby was getting big for the pumas. Now a quarter final exit and they still arent part of the trinations which is the most important thing for Argentinian Rugby imo.

Oh and Carter out of world cup. Shame as I wanted a rugby player in the Laureus final.

They are from 2012 onwards but it's several years too late. They had to get a professional league together and satisfy several other requirements put forward by the IRB.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

All Blacks must beat Argentina surely.

S. Africa should demolish an Aussie team weakened in the backs and never that strong up front.

Ireland to close out Wales I think. Could go either way but the Irish are just that bit harder up front.

England should beat a French team who are in total disarray. The only mitigating factor is that the French always have one world beating performance per tournament and we haven't seen it yet.

Actually there's another factor. England have been on the wrong side of referees all tournament and now Steve Walsh has been picked to ref the match against France. The guy's been banned numerous times, stated that he hates the English and then gets given this one. It beggars belief.

 

[elapid]

S. Africa should demolish an Aussie team weakened in the backs and never that strong up front.

Actually there's another factor. England have been on the wrong side of referees all tournament and now Steve Walsh has been picked to ref the match against France. The guy's been banned numerous times, stated that he hates the English and then gets given this one. It beggars belief.

While the Boks are in with a chance, demolish is a bit of an overstatement! The Wallabies have beaten the Boks for the last two years, including the recent TriNations. We have injury worries, but found a backline combination that worked well against the Russians. The Boks are also weakened in the backline, particularly kicking, with the loss of Steyn. The forwards have always been a weak link with the Wallabies, and that was well exposed by the Irish, but with David Pocock returning we should be better at the breakdowns. Still Australia for me, but regardless don't think it will be a demolishment!

Not sure if the refs will/should be a factor - they are meant to be unbiased!

 

[Tank Engine]

While the Boks are in with a chance, demolish is a bit of an overstatement! The Wallabies have beaten the Boks for the last two years, including the recent TriNations. We have injury worries, but found a backline combination that worked well against the Russians. The Boks are also weakened in the backline, particularly kicking, with the loss of Steyn. The forwards have always been a weak link with the Wallabies, and that was well exposed by the Irish, but with David Pocock returning we should be better at the breakdowns. Still Australia for me, but regardless don't think it will be a demolishment!

Not sure if the refs will/should be a factor - they are meant to be unbiased!

Worked well against the Russians!! I bet the Boks are quaking in their boots.

But seriously, Pocock will be a big addition. The scrum is key in this game. If the Wallabies hold their own there (or at least somewhere close), they should win. Stll going with SA though (but not by much).

Edit: but would prefer the Wallabies to win.

 

[Kvinto]

I should admit the Wallabies were far from perfect in the tournament so far but recalling the South Africa's games with Samoa and Wales, no way they (Aussies) would get demolished on Sunday. In fact i hope Australia will do what they did in this year's Tri Nations though imo the chances are 50/50

 

[Kvinto]

it would be a pretty entertaining final: Wales or Ireland against Australia with Aussies getting beaten (don't try to find any rationalism in this statement, it's based only on my sympathy to the certain team/teams )

 

[elapid]

I agree. Wallabies v Boks will be a close game and it could go either way. I am an Aussie so I am obviously supporting the Wallabies, but am also realistic and know we have some big weaknesses, particularly in the forward pack, and key player losses through injury. Yes, a backline combination working against the Russians does not equate to it working as well against a much better defence, but at least something worked!

 

[Tank Engine]

I agree. Wallabies v Boks will be a close game and it could go either way. I am an Aussie so I am obviously supporting the Wallabies, but am also realistic and know we have some big weaknesses, particularly in the forward pack, and key player losses through injury. Yes, a backline combination working against the Russians does not equate to it working as well against a much better defence, but at least something worked!

I want the Wallabies to win as they play more attractive rugby than SA (I think the Celts would probably have the same chance against either of them). So good luck.

 

[Ragerod]

The first three games should all be close. Each team has the talent to beat the other on their day. New Zealand should win the other game comfortably but it'll be interesting to see how Colin Slade does against decent opposition and how close Argentina are prior to their Tri-Nations debut.

In terms of big games it should be England vs whoever and New Zealand vs Australia in the semis and then England against New Zealand in the final.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

While the Boks are in with a chance, demolish is a bit of an overstatement! The Wallabies have beaten the Boks for the last two years, including the recent TriNations. We have injury worries, but found a backline combination that worked well against the Russians. The Boks are also weakened in the backline, particularly kicking, with the loss of Steyn. The forwards have always been a weak link with the Wallabies, and that was well exposed by the Irish, but with David Pocock returning we should be better at the breakdowns. Still Australia for me, but regardless don't think it will be a demolishment!

Not sure if the refs will/should be a factor - they are meant to be unbiased!

Yeah, maybe 'demolished' was the wrong word. I mean that I think the Springboks will be able to squeeze the life out of the game by dominating up front. It won't be a cricket score but unless the Aussies can radically improve their forward game, South Africa will get to kick a lot of penalties and move away.

The tri-nations is never a great guide to form as the intensity levels of a World Cup match are at a different level and unfortunately the Australian team keeps losing key players. The type of team they'd least like to face is one that is ruthlessly effective with a lot of forward power. And guess what?...

 

[elapid]

Yeah, maybe 'demolished' was the wrong word. I mean that I think the Springboks will be able to squeeze the life out of the game by dominating up front. It won't be a cricket score but unless the Aussies can radically improve their forward game, South Africa will get to kick a lot of penalties and move away.

The tri-nations is never a great guide to form as the intensity levels of a World Cup match are at a different level and unfortunately the Australian team keeps losing key players. The type of team they'd least like to face is one that is ruthlessly effective with a lot of forward power. And guess what?...

Agree with our forward power, or lack thereof, but hopefully with Steyn out the Boks will not be able to convert their penalty opportunities.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Look, Sonny Wool agrees with my predictions, I must be right.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...England-to-beat-France-in-quarter-finals.html

 

[Kvinto]

Look, Sonny Wool agrees with my predictions, I must be right.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...England-to-beat-France-in-quarter-finals.html

i wonder why do people want to be deceived sometimes (these octopuses, sheeps etc), it would be funny if this sheep had predicted Argentina's win against All Blacks

 

[Tank Engine]

Haven't the Torygraph got anything better to do? (probably other papers are doing it as well). If 64 animals were supposed to predict the result of 6 matches (and there's probably enough people trying stuff like that), it's likely that at least one of them would get all the predictions correct. The lucky creature gets into the press and the other 63 get ignored. All a bit silly really. Of course there are other ways of doing it, too. Sigh.

 

[Mambo95]

If 64 animals were supposed to predict the result of 6 matches (and there's probably enough people trying stuff like that), it's likely that at least one of them would get all the predictions correct. The lucky creature gets into the press and the other 63 get ignored.

The other 63 don't get ignored. They get eaten.

Wales
France
Aussies
All Blacks
to win

 

[The Hitch]

Agree that this idea is stupid but people ate it up with some Octapus last year and all these companies in the 24 hour media will stoop to whatever low necessary to get some extra sales/ publicity.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

You're just a bunch of haters.

Comparisons with Paul the Octopus are stupid; what would an octopus know about football?

But this is a sheep, a sheep from New Zealand no less. With its own website. And so far it's managed to predict 4 whole matches correctly, picking New Zealand to win each time. It's uncanny.