Rugby World Cup 2011

[Tank Engine]

I don't like to say 'I told you so', but....

Wales/Kiwi final

My picks were as good as Sonny's , so I'll go with yours (would be my picks anyway). At least the pick I got right and he got wrong was my pick that I really wanted to be right. I'm looking forward to next weekend .

 

[AngusW]

France have had their one oustanding game of the tournament. By next week they should be playing woefully again. Wales should win.

Australia have to overcome 25 years of not winning at Eden Park. The All Blacks have to overcome 24 years of not beating Australia in World Cup semi finals. Australia to win narrowly but because they play well not because the All Blacks choke.

 

[The Hitch]

I don't like to say 'I told you so', but....

Wales/Kiwi final

If only you were an octopus choosing randomly rather than a human thinking it through, the world would take you seriously

 

[42x16ss]

I don't like to say 'I told you so', but....

Wales/Kiwi final

It's looking very likely

France just weren't as bad as England, Australia can thank a massive effort from Pocock and superb goal line defence.

On current form I think a Wales/NZ final would be a fair result!

 

[Captain_Cavman]

I don't like to say 'I told you so', but....

Wales/Kiwi final

Well done. I got 1 out of 4.

Wales clearly deserve their place, they have been blessed by players miraculously appearing to fill voids left by the likes of Henson, Byrne, Rees etc.

England on the other hand went into the tournament with two crap centres, and ended with a fly half starting instead of one, later replaced by a wing who used to be a lock. They also started against the Scots with three blind side flankers. Not a single Englishman enhanced his reputation (unless you count Tuilagi). I still think Englanfd could and should have beaten an ordinary French side, but lacked the self belief to make it happen.

How Australia turned over the Springboks I'll never know.

All Blacks still the clear favourites but this is the one game I think they may be vulnerable. Old enemy, know each inside out but the Aussies have been playing a lot better opposition and may be better adjusted to the pace and intensity of a big clash.

Hope Wales stuff the French. Mainly because the final will be more of a contest.

 

[Tank Engine]

Wales clearly deserve their place, they have been blessed by players miraculously appearing to fill voids left by the likes of Henson, Byrne, Rees etc.

Bennett has really surprised me at hooker. He's had a reasonable amount of playing time over the last year or two, never particularly liked him, but he seems to have stepped up a couple of notches out of nowhere.

We've been switching it round (partly by necessity) at fullback. "Full Shilling" has stepped in very impressively. He's very solid dealing with kicks and either returns with interest with one of the strongest howitzers in the game or is elusive enough to set up an attack.

Not too surprised that we're not missing Henson though. Jamie Roberts was class in the Lions tour a couple of years ago and was improving through the 6 nations after injury. John Davies looked to be maturing well and has continued to do so during the world cup. Scott Williams has impressed (although against obviously weaker opposition).

Probably the biggest factor is the back row. Warburton and Lydiate have been developing into top class players over the last 12-18 months, but Faletau is completely new on the international scene, was definitely a question mark at the start, but has been very impressive. Having Warburton as captain has probably done wonders. He's not an obviously inspirational guy, but certainly is down to earth, determined and positive, as well as having a good head on his shoulders. It seems to have permeated through the team.

Luck does play a part in such tournaments and we seem to be blessed with no major injuries. May it continue.

I guess England will be looking to bring youngsters into the team after this tournament. Could be a few more interesting years in the 6N.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

...
I guess England will be looking to bring youngsters into the team after this tournament. Could be a few more interesting years in the 6N.

What's weird is that England have the talented youngsters.

Alex Corbisiero Age 22
Ben Youngs Age 21
Chris Ashton Age 24
Courtney Lawes Age 22
Dan Cole Age 24
Manu Tuilagi Age 20
Tom Wood Age 24
+ a bunch of others 25-27

The problem seems to be more that it was the older, more experienced players that weren't really up to the mark or properly fit this time. We could just throw out all the over 30s and plan for 2015 but we would be mere babes compared to the rest and wouldn't win many games between now and then.

Having said all that, the Welsh squad is even younger. My concern if I were Welsh would be the lack of depth amongst the forwards. Wales could lose all their first choice backs and still have a pretty devastating back line. But lose a couple of key forwards and the pack will be in for a torrid time.

 

[elapid]

France have had their one oustanding game of the tournament. By next week they should be playing woefully again. Wales should win.

Australia have to overcome 25 years of not winning at Eden Park. The All Blacks have to overcome 24 years of not beating Australia in World Cup semi finals. Australia to win narrowly but because they play well not because the All Blacks choke.

+1. France have had their one big win and Wales have been solid all tournament. The only other team that have been solid all tournament are the All Blacks, but I am hoping for a Wallabies win to break the Eden Park hoodoo. Injuries will affect the All Blacks, particularly kicking. Nice for the Wallabies to have both Pocock and Ioane back from injury. The Wallabies weren't exactly lucky to win - their defense line was remarkable and they made the most of the opportunities available to them. Pocock was just brilliant and Cooper was miserable, but I was disappointed with Genia - his delivery was slow and that always put the Wallabies on the back foot when in attack because the Boks were in their faces by the time the ball hit Cooper.

Anyway, if the Wallabies can maintain that same intensity in defense and if Genia and Cooper can fire then they will have a good chance against the All Blacks.

 

[42x16ss]

+1. France have had their one big win and Wales have been solid all tournament. The only other team that have been solid all tournament are the All Blacks, but I am hoping for a Wallabies win to break the Eden Park hoodoo. Injuries will affect the All Blacks, particularly kicking. Nice for the Wallabies to have both Pocock and Ioane back from injury. The Wallabies weren't exactly lucky to win - their defense line was remarkable and they made the most of the opportunities available to them. Pocock was just brilliant and Cooper was miserable, but I was disappointed with Genia - his delivery was slow and that always put the Wallabies on the back foot when in attack because the Boks were in their faces by the time the ball hit Cooper.

Anyway, if the Wallabies can maintain that same intensity in defense and if Genia and Cooper can fire then they will have a good chance against the All Blacks.

The other good thing is that Berrick Barnes seems likely to be coming back into the starting lineup! Looks like he will replace McCabe in the centres. Every time he has come on so far in this World Cup he has really steadied the ship for Australia.

Why he was picked on the bench is beyond me

 

[ramjambunath]

Rhys Priestland doubtful for semi against France
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/11/rugby-world-cup-priestland-wales

 

[Tank Engine]

What's weird is that England have the talented youngsters.

Alex Corbisiero Age 22
Ben Youngs Age 21
Chris Ashton Age 24
Courtney Lawes Age 22
Dan Cole Age 24
Manu Tuilagi Age 20
Tom Wood Age 24
+ a bunch of others 25-27

The problem seems to be more that it was the older, more experienced players that weren't really up to the mark or properly fit this time. We could just throw out all the over 30s and plan for 2015 but we would be mere babes compared to the rest and wouldn't win many games between now and then.

Having said all that, the Welsh squad is even younger. My concern if I were Welsh would be the lack of depth amongst the forwards. Wales could lose all their first choice backs and still have a pretty devastating back line. But lose a couple of key forwards and the pack will be in for a torrid time.

I know England have good young players, but it seemed that Johnson picked the experienced forwards rather than the form forwards and the back selection was strange. You don't want to throw the baby (maybe senior citizens would be more appropriate) out with the bathwater, but it's natural that after the world cup some of the over 30s will retire or be retired and younger players will gradually take over.

Wales will naturally suffer from a lack of depth, although we seem to blessed with backs at the moment. There are a couple of questions there: a) who will back up/replace Phillips (Lloyd Williams looked sharp on his two brief outings, but to be honest any half decent scrum half should look sharp against a team that has already been beaten), b) the eternal full back/James Hook question - Bilbo will be retiring from internationals after the world cup and Halfpenny would be his natural replacement, so by default it looks like Hook will play no. 15.

As for the forwards, a couple of years ago just before the 6 nations I went from optimism to pessimism when our frontline got wiped out by injury, there's a bit more depth there now, although the incumbents are "ancient" by the standard of the rest of the scrum. The biggest disaster by far would be if Warburton got injured, there's no real replacement (arrgh I remember what happened the last time we played France, John Thomas had to replace Sam). Better stop.

As for Rhys hope he's fit for Saturday. In particular, his flat passing for Jamie "Doc" Roberts to run onto would be missed.

 

[Archibald]

An Englishman, an Irishman and a South African walk into a bar...

must be the international departure lounge.

 

[ramjambunath]

Hook to start at Fly half in the Semi Final

 

[Tank Engine]

Hook to start at Fly half in the Semi Final

The logical choice. Steve Jones comes onto the bench. Apart from that no changes. There's a question mark about whether Yachvili will be able to kick effectively due to a thigh strain. Two crucial things for Wales: a) no slow start, last time we outplayed France in the second half, but were out of the game by then b) the back of the scrum will be crucial, in particular we need to control Harinordoquy. Wales are in 2008 6 Nations form and hopefully the result will be the same (Wales holding France and then dominating the last 20 minutes).

 

[ramjambunath]

It's nice to have a player like Hook who can play everywhere.

Yachvili's injury against England was a bit serious. Always wondered why harinordoquy didn't start all matches considering his experience.

Thick question alert: Where on earth is Gavin Henson? Last I heard of him he was playing for Toulon and got hacked off from there as well.

 

[User Guide]

It's nice to have a player like Hook who can play everywhere.

Yachvili's injury against England was a bit serious. Always wondered why harinordoquy didn't start all matches considering his experience.

Thick question alert: Where on earth is Gavin Henson? Last I heard of him he was playing for Toulon and got hacked off from there as well.

hes on reality tv now = end of international career for good

 

[ramjambunath]

hes on reality tv now = end of international career for good

I should be surprised, but the way he lived his life it was always going to happen.

I hope that it is a dancing show, that would be brilliant.

 

[Tank Engine]

Henson was on "Strictly Come Dancing". He came back to rugby this year with Saracens and then Toulon, where he got suspended for a while for fighting and then later released from the club

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/18/gavin-henson-toulon-suspension-fight

http://au.eurosport.com/rugby/top-14/2010-2011/henson-to-leave-toulon_sto2804472/story.shtml

He got injured in one of Wales' warm up games (dislocated wrist) and so was not picked for the squad

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...ait-for-a-SOS-call-during-the-tournament.html

I'm not sure about his whereabouts at the moment, since I've not really been following the club scene for obvious reasons.

Wasted talent really.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

I see Bryce Lawrence is coming under severe pressure after the Australia South Africa game. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...South-Africa-and-Australia-quarter-final.html

And quite rightly. I talked about Kiwi referees upthread and nothing so far has made me change my opinion of them.

But the huge irony is that it's Andre Watson doing the criticising. England were easing clear in the 2003 final when he suddenly issued a rash of penalties against their front row despite the fact that England had not conceded a penalty in the front row all tournament and the Australian front row were renowned for being under powered. The English solved the problem by bringing on Jason Leonard with the instruction, "Don't push. Don't do anything, let them have the ball, they can't score with it in hand." And the rest, as they say, is history.

 

[Tank Engine]

End to end stuf. Hook gets Wales on the board . Adam "hair bear" Jones off

 

[ramjambunath]

Warburton red card ouch, bad challenge.
Edit: Bad luck for him. Not the worst challenge looking at the replay.

 

[Tank Engine]

Sam off. That was ridiculous.

 

[Tank Engine]

Half time. Proud of the lads as they are really fighting. A couple of dropped balls at the wrong moment, a couple of missed kicks. Everything going wrong in the 1st half.

 

[craig1985]

That red card was so soft.

 

[Ragerod]

Some things warrant sending off, that didn't.

I wonder how Rolland will deal with any other dangerous tackles.