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Rugby World Cup 2007
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Can’t believe no one else has started a thread for this yet.
So here we go. There’s only 17 days to go before the start of the Rugby World Cup.
- Can England defend their title?
- Can anyone beat the All Blacks?
- Can France escape from the Group of Death?
Heart says France, head says NZ. I don't think England will make the final. Either way I'm really looking forward to this. Crowds and atmosphere looked great for France v. England last Saturday.
Let's hear your views and predictions!
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Comments
1. No
2. No
3. Yes
1. Much as I'd like to dream otherwise, no, I don't think so.
2.They might be favourites, but that doesn't count for much. Quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals can go either way in big games. So, much as I wouldn't bet much against them, it's not a foregone conclusion.
3. Who cares ?
Heart says England, but when did hearts ever make sense?
Head agrees with yours.
Here's hoping for a good tournament, and that England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales ALL give their fans something to cheer.
2. Yes - they aren't as good as everyone makes out. Up against decent opposition, they start to break down, especially if things don't go their way. Also, hopefully they will be reffed properly too so they wont get away with their blocking etc.
3. Yes - home crowds and all that.
I'm going to Nates to see Somoa/England - can't wait! Did have a ticket to Tonga/England too in Paris but it's the same weekend as Berlin
1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes
Must admit am feeling very underwhelmed by it all, especially after last Saturday.
yes
yes
Look out for the Boks - they have shown a way of beating the AB's in the TriNations by outmuscling them and starving them of clean possession but I'm sure the ABs will have looked at that defeat and will have worked out a way of overcoming it..........the Kiwis have a tremendous amount of home and international expectation to win this which could also be their undoing whereas France could come good as a somewhat unfancied underdog....and never write the Oz off - they weren't expected to make the last WC final and they came pretty close to pulling that win off....
England are dull and haven't moved forward in 4 years; and my home side Wales will be lucky to make the 1/4s.....
I'm still not in the rugby frame of mind yet although with the current weather it won't take long!!
1. No
2. Unlikely.
3.Maybe.
England's last world cup relied heavily on the boot of JW. From their recent performances they won't make the semis (of course my home side, Scotland, probably won't make the quarters this time).
Prediction NZ to win.
Build up is a bit strange with the warm-up games on BBC and the actual cup on ITV. Hope they get some better commentators this time round!
I'm feeling slightly more confident about France's chances of winning their group. Ireland were bad against Scotland and with BOD out may struggle. Argentina looked rusty against Wales but it's still a tough opening game.
Any supporters from further afield?
Ooh, just noticed spell checker, v. useful!
Will defs be putting my Arg shirt on, think they had a bit of a slow start on Sat and will get better but tough first date against France in Paris.
Englnad are just sucking my will to live at present.
Hello mon petit Nemo!
1. No I don't think so.
2. The All Blacks are the superior team, no doubt. But they may, again, have peaked too soon and is tyheir bottle in question? The pressure will be on.
3. The French can do anything, on their day. Even win the bloody thing.
1. Not a show. As FB says, they haven't moved on in 4 years and seem to have picked half the team from 4 years ago. They are playing unimaginative football at the moment and don't deserve to progress past the quarters on current form.
2. Awesome team for the last 2 years. On paper they should be untouchable but they have a proven track record of choking under pressure, so yes someone could cause an upset.
3. They should do in front of a home crowd although it would be typically French to scrape through on points difference and then cruise to victory in the knockout stages.
Personally, I'd love to see the ABs win as they have been playing some sublime football and the other teams appear to be looking to them for inspiration. Heart and head say ABs but both are prepared for the choke.
No
Yes
Yes
Last 4 -
ABs
Boks
France
Oz.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is the results of the mad geordie b*&^%$"
Balls!
I do belive the boks may spring a suprise, otherwise it will be the all balcks with graham henrys super two team thingy.
Wales......not a fecking chance! Oh we played well agaist the pumas(not!) if the that final tackle had not gone in so well we would be looking at a draw and then the welsh rugby public would be baying for gareth jenkins blood.
Thay might have missed the conversion TT ?
(but that doesn't alter the truth of your words.)
Hmmm,
England need to beat Samoa to make it out the group let alone defend the title- unlikly it pains me to say
NZ - may come unstuck under the pressure of expectation.... again
France - depends if they decide to turn up.
Regardless if England are going to do well I am well excited about the tournament, just because there should be a good load of rugby to watch. But I am in otherways not looking forward to it at all - I hate watching England lose, especially at the moment, they are so frustrating to watch - too many schoolboy errors.
FIN
There are only four teams in it, really, the Tri-Nations lot and France.
Wales have been so poor under Gareth Jenkins I can't summon any enthusiasm for this tournament, particularly without a specialist No. 12 in the squad. After we go out (QF, assuming we get through the group), I'll be supporting France.
JFB and TT, where's the faith?!!!!!1
No, I know what you mean. I've seen them twice under Jenkins and they lost both. I had tickets for the England game (5 nations) and didn't go as I thought we'd get beaten again.
There are only so many times you can drive down the M4 from Watford to watch them loose. I've got tickets for the japan game at the Millenium, I f we loose that I'll eat my shirt!!1
In fact I've got a couple spare if any one wants them .................... at cost. tickets not shirts
whaddya mean "and then"?? - we're already after his head on a platter!
I dunno though - whoever is in charge of Wales is damned if they do, damned if they don't - we have to face the facts that we don't have the spread of talent throughout the team (too many ordinary players) or the depth of talent so we lose one key player and we are bolloxed....
if we play with hwyl and passion we can win (viz against England last season) but you can't do that game after game after game - that's no way to win consistently.....
and what's Ruddock doing?? coaching Worcester - what a waste and a fiasco..........
my faith has been sorely tested over the last 20 years........and probably for the next 20 as well unless Wales have a miracle
No
No
Yes
Its a pity the world doesnt really play Rugby.
I love the England team's motto:
"surprise the world"
I feel that, with a little luck, Scotland might have made the quarter-finals or perhaps a semi, as we have in previous years.
However, given our crap recent form and our low seeding, the group is damn tough.
With a new look beefed-up pack and Paterson only just installed at fly-half, I feel this World Cup has come a little too soon for us to make any impression.
Wales seem to have lost their punch and Ireland, dazzling though they have been, lack the strength in depth of the tri-nations. They rely on their big names and, if they are injured (like O'Driscoll currently is) it could spell trouble.
No
Yes
Yes
The big question is: have the All Blacks done their usual thing and peaked between World Cups?
I suspect that they will win the tournament - you'd be daft to go against them, but then, anything can happen in a semi final. Remember that cracking France V NZ semi in 1999?
Hello, The Dude Abides! I thought Scotland looked pretty good against Ireland are you optimistic for the SA game on Saturday?
Have to agree with you and Octopus re. the France v. NZ game. It's the best game I've ever seen, I even have a copy of it on DVD. V. sad!
Can't see NZ making the same mistake again though re. peaking too early. Surely they'll be better prepared this time round? Especially the way they absolutely destroyed France the last few times. It was brutal!
Hiya Nemo.
I enjoyed the Ireland match but we must remember it was an under-strength Irish side. nevertheless, it looked like our boys had been on the porridge but it will take a huge effort to dominate the Springbok pack in the same way.
We have some excellent players (the best for a generation) but doubts remain about the centres and our cutting edge.
I must agree about the All Blacks but this time they have to deliver. No excuses.
England won the RWC 2003 for one reason and one reason only:
Martin Johnson.
Ok he was dirty but was easily he best TEAM player I have ever seen. He barely touched the ball and yet was the man of the tournament by a mile.
The ball was England's and he wasn't going to let the other team get it. Under any circumstances.
Sadly for England, players like him don't grow on trees.