As much as Ireland have been playing well this past while, and even with their lofty perch among the games elite, I still feel they will find this a step too far. The Southern Hemisphere sides are capable of turning it up another gear when they meet them. I can't see past NZ or the Aussies for this. Hopefully our boy's in green can do themselves justice though and once the knockout stages come one just never knows, except when you do know, of course! Swan mentioned the French anthem as being the best, have to agree, I've talked about this with friends in the past and it was a unanimous decision from us.
Never thought they might be queers, just that the oval ball is nothing to do what they are doing in a pile on the ground like a bunch of kids in the school yard. If there were some dwarfs on the team, it might actually be a good laugh with England.
Leigh Halfpenny will be a huge loss for the Welsh, they were already up against it getting out the group, more so now. I can see England beating the Aussies too and remaining unbeaten through the group stages and getting the Scots/Samoa in the semi's. Barring the last WC, our recent record in WC's is generally pretty good compared to the footy/cricket teams. Looking forward to seeing the great Richie McCaw have one last hurrah. Brilliant sportsman.
Fiji have the job ahead of them, but they can not be written off as no chance. Fiji knocked Wales from the 2007 comp and their coach John McKee has high hopes of 1-2 finish in the pool. Having just put the second tier team Canada to the sword, to the tune of 48-17, they just might rattle a few cages.
Certainly hope you're right, but I cannot see it. Just too much indiscipline, and too many silly errors, which other teams in the group, especially Australia, will surely take advantage of? Maybe England will sharpen-up at the last minute, one never knows in sport.
I just hope we get one match in the upcoming World Cup which is as exciting as the 1999 semi final where France fought back against New Zealand from 10 - 24 to win 43 - 31. The way the French went for broke in the second half was the most thrilling forty minutes I can recall in any Rugby Union contest.
Definitely a huge boost to the Aussies and England with the injuries Wales have unfortunately picked up. Shame that, as you want to see the best player's get a crack on the biggest stage. Cruel game at times.
It is very tough on their bodies now. It is almost inevitable that someone gets a knock in a warm up, it just depends how bad. Hopefully there will be no further injuries to anyone. Halfpenny is a great player but Wales' game is a high tempo one and he doesn't necessarily upset that rhythm. Mike Phillips gets back in and could play a massive impact whether starting or off the bench. 99 caps and 2 Lions Tours- fantastic guy with a point to prove. Going to be some great games between England Aus and Wales
His kicking though TC...when he's on he seldom misses from any position! Similar to Johnny Wilkinson when your lot last won it! That is priceless to a team.
That is the one real worry for them- like you say he can be the difference when your pack are winning penalties from anywhere from half way, but that pack and getting over the gain line will define Wales tournament. If that part begins to work then they are a very dangerous side with their wingers. I suspect Jamie Roberts is a key man to make the hard yards in the centres but he needs the right players around him and they are without the excellent Jon Davis to play 13. England v Wales will define who qualifies IMO. Australia have an outstanding record against the Welsh and seem to have their measure. But who knows....they are all in the past! England have gone the physical route- our back row is huge and relies on ball carrying rather than subtlety and stealing possession and Barrett will look to make the hard yards in the middle at 12. So it looks like a match up between Barritt and Roberts and the style clash between Sam Warburton and Toby Falateau against Wood Robshaw and Morgan in the battle of the back rows. The Welsh have the better back row but it will only work if they are going forwards. Fascinating clash.
Fully agree with you about England and Wales being the definitive game. Should be a corker, I can already picture the hits going in in that one, Ouch!
Lads thinking of lumping on Dan Carter as top points scorer at 5/2. NZ will run in a dickload of trys and should be good enough to get to the final.I was going to double it with NZ as outright winners but they have never won the tournament in the northern hemisphere and have been beaten by the Wallabies this year.
I rather stupidly agreed to do a night walk at the same time as the Welsh game. On reflection 26 miles round London is likely to be less stressful than watching that match -
He is the most likely depending on whether they rest him for the smaller teams? Pollard of South Africa is a lively contender given they should get through the group and often have a good forward pack winning penalties?
Yep a lot of the valuable players will be rested and kept for the crunch games. Each squad will have what amounts to almost an A and B team.
Which means you, us and the Welsh may well have to pretty much use a full team for 3 of the 4 pool games.
I think they will be pretty selective when it comes to the lightweight games. They can't afford to expend too much energy in the pool round. They all want to keep the key players as fresh as possible so that when it gets down to the final 4, they'll have a solid chance. These WC comps are torrid affairs which smash squads, and the early placement of players ends up playing a huge part in the end results. Even now, before a ball has been kicked, we're all talking about the possible problems with chosen players who don't live up to selectors hopes, then factor in injuries that are certain to happen, and things begin to look a bit stark. It's going to be fantastic.
PP are offering a 5 quid free bet every time your selected try-scorer scores a try Min stake 25 I've gone for Nehe Milner-Skudder at 20's
Bookies give Fiji no hope. England 1-30, Fiji 20-1. I should imagine there has been a flood of money for the home team in the first game. So the odds on offer don't surprise I suppose. They probably don't want any more on E, but would love a few more coins on the visitors. I read an article about host nations feeling the weight of expectation in major sporting events. It said that it can just about kill a team. What is the mood like in England going into the WC and has the issue been raised over there?
