AB's dead certs for the WC?

Nelson Muntz

Nearly impossible to see anyone else winning it. The 6 nations has been total rubbish. The only team that could beat the AB's, the Wallabies, can't beat them in NZ.

France will probably be stopped by their own coach. England, meh, OK but can't see them going all the way. They do perform well in WC's though. Maybe another losing final appearance.

GerM

Nelson Muntz wrote: »

Nearly impossible to see anyone else winning it. The 6 nations has been total rubbish. The only team that could beat the AB's, the Wallabies, can't beat them in NZ.

France will probably be stopped by their own coach. England, meh, OK but can't see them going all the way. They do perform well in WC's though. Maybe another losing final appearance.

You'd have to think NZ. It's made for them. At home with a stupendous side and the added emotional element of the earthquake this year which will be built up by the media.

With that said, it's a one off. Anything can happen. Any team can click. Dan Carter could tear his hamstring in the final. Remember how toothless they were without him in Cardiff? Money would have to be on them but Australia can beat them on a given day as proven in Hong Kong.

Nelson Muntz

GerM wrote: »

You'd have to think NZ. It's made for them. At home with a stupendous side and the added emotional element of the earthquake this year which will be built up by the media.

With that said, it's a one off. Anything can happen. Any team can click. Dan Carter could tear his hamstring in the final. Remember how toothless they were without him in Cardiff? Money would have to be on them but Australia can beat them on a given day as proven in Hong Kong.

Yeah, I am really surprised at the lack of real alternatives at 10. McAllister has not really gone to a level near Carter & Donald is no better than other 10's in the Super 15.

Morf

If the ABs continue to play the most complete game I'll have no problem with them winning the tournament. The Wallabies seem to be able to slice them open at will but only for about 15 minutes of the game and can't maintain a performance against them for 80 minutes (which must be to the credit of the Abs).

The Northern Hemisphere sides look miles off the pace.

Nelson Muntz

Based on the international games in November, I was expecting the 6N to be really good this year. Lots of close games and teams to be evenly matched.

Unfortunately the games have been close because the standard of play has been universally poor. It is a pity Ireland have gone gun shy on the running game because kicking to the corners may have worked for England in 2003 behind a monster pack but it will not be enough to win this WC. Especially for Ireland who don't have a monster pack to maul over other teams.

handsomecake

ive said it before and ill say it again.

the rugby we see now and the rugby we will see in november are two different games.
the drop goal will be en vogue.
penalties will be taken as opposed to going for the corners.
full backs will kick rather then run back ad infinitum as if some secret mandate was issued banning counter attacking.
oh and one last thing......................a ref will ruin a match again just like wayne (no penalties in the second half ,miss forward passes ) barnes and more recently jonathan (same ball) kaplan.
the scrum will be a joke with the dominant one more often then not being penalised- funny how everyone can win their own ball but get pinged when they contest others.

the best team probably wont win and i wouldnt back the allblacks with stolen money because the world cup is a strange animal.












2007 still rankles

irishbucsfan

This is 2007 all over again!

All Blacks are beatable, every team in the competition is beatable. Impossible to call IMO, but I think the knockouts will go as follows:

Australia bt. Wales
France bt. England
South Africa bt. Ireland (Or Italy the way we're playing!)
New Zealand bt. Argentina

Australia bt. France
New Zealand bt. South Africa

New Zealand bt. Australia.