Rugby World Cup 07

[MadScotsMan]

Wow this has been the first time that I saw a rugby match (the whole game yesterday and 30 mins of NZ kicking the Italians ass today) and I must say I'm really impressed - what a great sport!

The static situations get somewhat repetitive, but once the players start running its very spectacular. It's cool that a the free german tv-channel is showing the matches, I will definately watch some more of them..

Silly back, those static times are the best part of the game.
Welcome to the world of Rugby!
And the Pumas played great, or France played horribly in the opening match, take you pick. The US played well against Englad too. And the Japan Fiji game was a great watch.
I hope the following don't win the WC this year: RSA, England, NZ, or AS. Yeah, I'm a bit biased against the southern hempisphere teams.

 

[ainwood]

Having seen the lineup I'm not expecting anything fantastic from England.

The forwards did not work together - each would take a few too many steps running it up by themselves with, cutting-off the support. SA could wrap them up and slow the ball down. The rest of the forwards were often in the back-line stuffing-up movements, that is, if the backs didn't take the wrong options or drop the ball.

I hope the following don't win the WC this year: RSA, England, NZ, or AS. Yeah, I'm a bit biased against the southern hempisphere teams.

Well, I'm fairly certain that engerlund won't win.

 

[MCdread]

Based on the last couple of performances, I'd say England should take the Samoa game seriously...

 

[Nobody]

England were bad, but South Africa were awesome.
It seems this world cup is just going to be a glorified tri nations with only 3 teams really in it.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

Well, I'm fairly certain that engerlund won't win.

Looks like England is out to "Shock the world" by the paucity of their play. Frankly Portugal looked a better team....

 

[MCdread]

Portugal scored a forwards try against NZ! It made my day.

 

[Harbourboy]

Nice play by Portugal to score a try. It's more than England managed to do! Maybe Portugal should offer to arrange some tests against England so that the English can get more quality practice.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

Nice play by Portugal to score a try. It's more than England managed to do! Maybe Portugal should offer to arrange some tests against England so that the English can get more quality practice.

There could be worse ideas....

 

[kryszcztov]

From what I've seen and heard so far, the team on which I'd bet would be South Africa. They were just awesome yesterday ! OK, they missed some penalties, but apart from Johnny "2003" Wilkinson, players sometimes do miss penalties. As for the game itself, the Boks were just so amazing, disciplined, always right... Add to that some excellent runners, so South-styled. Maybe they're just not as versatile as the Wallabies in the game, too focus on one strategy, I don't know, I'm no expert... The Wallabies missed too many foot shots in the game for my liking, and allowed too many points to Wales. The Blacks may have their best team ever, they always let their opponents get at least one try. Some might say they don't care. I say, when the time comes they have to care, it'll be too late and they won't be prepared to defend better. The Pumas didn't impress me at all in their match against France (didn't see the other one) : too stereotyped, and they're not that strong, just very cunning. England is out, they won't get back.

The South is at the top now. Will it be a "revenge" against Europe, which got the 4 last spots in the Football World Cup in 2006 ? I'm waiting for France's reaction tomorrow. And of course, a very interesting match next Friday, against our good friends the Irish.

 

[Harbourboy]

There is certainly only one hemisphere at this World Cup at the moment. Who has been the best northern hemisphere team so far? England, Ireland, Scotland and France have all been sub par compared to New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and Argentina. Even Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa have looked promising. Nambibia has been the only team to let the south down so far.

 

[rilnator]

I wouldn't write off the French Just yet.

Wallabies to win.

 

[Scratcher]

I would agree with Harbourboy that the Northern hemisphere teams have been below par, so far. I said it before and I still believe that Ireland will go the farthest of the Northern teams.

It is hard to see anyone else but the All Blacks as favourites.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Ireland's performances have been more disappointing than those of Scotland and Wales, IMHO. 14-10 vs Georgia ?

Interestingly, the Welsh and English rugby union boards had asked the French to stage the tournament a month later, as they believed the timing (relative to the normal rugby union season, summer conditioning training, and warm-up matches) was wrong for the northern hemisphere teams. I doubt if that's all of the story, frankly, and I would still expect Oz, All Blacks and SA to make the semi-finals regardless of advantageous/disadvantageous timing. But I can't believe Ireland and England are actually as bad as they have played so far, and it does look very like that some level of rustiness of some form is playing a part.

 

[Scratcher]

Ireland played some wonderful rugby at the beginning of the year, and really threw away the 6 nations. I still believe they will get stronger.

 

[Harbourboy]

If everyone is convinced that NZ are chokers, then surely that DOES make South Africa closer to being favourites, as they have all the players hitting form at the moment, PLUS no history of falling apart on the big stage. Think of all the positions on the field and there aren't many that South Africa look deficient compared to NZ. They have easily the best locks and halfback. Their loose forwards have been on fire and they have arguably the two best wings as well. Percy Montgomery is also in the best form of his life and isn't missing much.

Compare that to the All Blacks, who have 6 of their top 7 locks injured, a genetic inability to throw to lineouts properly anyway, nobody to play centre, a loose cannon at number 12, and no decent replacements for the 3 main loose forwards. They do probably have the best players in the number 1, 7,and 10 jerseys, but that is not enough to place them much ahead of the Boks.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

If everyone is convinced that NZ are chokers, then surely that DOES make South Africa closer to being favourites, as they have all the players hitting form at the moment, PLUS no history of falling apart on the big stage.

Good try at trying to lose the tag of favourites. Just because the ABs have under performed at previous world cups doesn't mean that they will at this one.

Actually I wonder if the aussies are the dark horses here. They seem to have been doing just as well as the ABs and SA. Assuming France, SA, NZ and Aus win their respective QFs who do NZ meet in the semis?

 

[MCdread]

They'd meet Australia I believe, but for that guess to come true, there's a lot of work to be done as France depends on external factors to win their pool, otherwise they'll face the All Blacks in Cardiff (and it would be a pretty lame way to get out of their home world cup: in a Millenium Stadium QF )

 

[kryszcztov]

They'd meet Australia I believe, but for that guess to come true, there's a lot of work to be done as France depends on external factors to win their pool, otherwise they'll face the All Blacks in Cardiff (and it would be a pretty lame way to get out of their home world cup: in a Millenium Stadium QF )

We started to think about it about two hours after the beginning of the World Cup. It would be a pretty lame way to lose for sure, and we'd thank our team and the Welsh for that wonderful present. Now, if we happen to beat the Blacks there... another story.

 

[Nobody]

New Zealand dosen't face any threats till the semis, and then it will be aussie in the semis and south africa in the final.

They could lose either of those matchs but i dont think they will.

I wonder what it will be like if they win the cup, when New Zealand won the Americas cup there was a huge celebration and this is much bigger.

And that makes me think what it will be like when the world cup is here in 2011. The country will be all black, be like a war, especially if we are defending chapions. It will be the biggest world cup ever. Maybe New Zealand is too small to hold a olympics but im sure we can do this well.

 

[Harbourboy]

I will be very surprised if anyone other than NZ, SA, or Australia win this, based on what we have seen so far. Maybe Jonny can work some magic for England!