Sounds a lot like football, ivor! I'd agree with that if we hadn't stood up so well to the SA pack. We might not have big names, but our forwards are incredible at the moment. I really rate the Irish pack, especially O'Connell and O'Callaghan, they're monsters, but I haven't been this confident in a Welsh side...ever! Bloody good time to be a Swans/Wales fan at the moment!
I'm pretty confident about beating Ireland. Okay, they beat the Wallabies and played extremely well, but then the other 3 games in that group were never in doubt. Ireland trounce Italy on a regular basis in the 6N's and personally I thought they wern't that great. So, I'm going for Wales 24 - 16 Ireland. England will struggle against France. They've had no real "hard" games, easiest group by a country mile and will lose 21 - 13. We will then beat France 17 - 13 and get to the final.
Scott, To be honest I'm not worried by any of the teams left in the competition other than the ABs. This Welsh team is on a high right now and have ability from 1-15. They are strong, fit, defend for their lives and have the pace and power in attack to rip any team to shreds. Add to this a really strong bench and we are looking more than good. Purely on a playing basis, I've never felt as confident about our rugby prospects in recent times and the good news is that this is a YOUNG team and will be an awesome prospect for the next World Cup. I believe the only way we will fail to reach the Final is if we freeze and beat ourselves. But, and this a huge BUT, I am worried about the officials. Some of them are so incompetent it beggars belief. Worse than this, there is no doubt whatsoever that, all too often, blatant bias comes into their decision making. In what other sport is it openly admitted that you have to play the referee? This is a nonsense, an absolute and utter nonsense - but it goes on. How do they get away with it? That lovely old chestnut, interpretation. It's allowed many a bent (imo) referee to get away with murder. As we all know, rugby is a far more complicated game than football and it is a much more difficult game to referee. The rules are not clear cut black and white with many of the more important ones having a dozen shades of grey to further complicate matters. I could bang on about this for hours and cite dozens of examples but you get the gist of my argument. All teams are subject to the whims and fancies of this lot, not just the Welsh and it is a crying shame that so many games, at all levels, are so often decided by them and not the teams involved. I'll finish by mentioning a well documented incident that took place on a Welsh tour of Oz many years ago; at least I believe it was Oz. A local ref taking one of the games was so biased he infuriated the Welsh players. It reached the height of ridiculousness when he whistled for a penalty after a ruck situation. One of the Welsh players bent to pick up the ball only for this whistler to snap at him, "Don't touch that ball, it's our kick, not your's". OUR kick????????? It still goes on today and more's the pity. The trouble is that it will still go on so long as the IRB continue to bury their heads in the sand.
Guys all fair points. The comments on the refs are very accurate and unfortunately spot on. Its obvious we all have great confidence in our own teams. Thats the beauty of sport. The business end of the world cup is now upon us. I know a lot of people will see the SA v Aussie game as the best of the quarters, but i just cant wait for the Ire V Wal game. I think both teams are similar and try to play rugby. I expect to see a reasonably high scoring match. I agree that this wales team is developing nicely but this might just be a world cup too early for them. If wales beat us i will have no complaints as i know they are a very very good team. However, this Irish team has one ace up its sleeve and thats experience. In the last 6 years there has been a grand slam, 3 triple crowns and 4 heineken cups. I think in the heat of battle this experience will count. I know its a big call but i think we have the best overall group of 45678. We drove the Aussie and Italian packs backwards and i think that the welsh pack will struggle with our sheer size. Anyway, best of luck and i agree with the comment above, in that i hope the best team on the day wins and that the ref does not influence the result
And your point is..........The Welsh team, despite being young has experienced 2 grand slams, has British Lions in the front row, second row, back 3, scrum half, outside halves, centres, wings and full back, they have recently beaten Ireland in the six nations and have also beaten them away from home..... oh and they play and beat the Irish boys at club level a lot too! Sorry, I don't buy it. It is new ground for Ireland too so it will come down to who performs to the very best of their abilities on the day.
Swimaway, i am not going to get in a two way arguement with you, but i thought my point was very clear. I have said that this welsh team is a very very good team but that IMO Ireland will have too much for them on saturday. Your arguement does not add up mate, and your comments are way wide of the mark. This welsh team has experienced two grand slams but one of them was 6 years ago. Irelands grand slam was in 2009. There were almost as many irish players in the lions team and squad as welsh players and thats despite the fact that most of the management team were welsh. The last two captains were irish, for a reason mate. And irish provincial sides have dominated the heineken cup for the last 6 odd years, while there has never been a welsh winner and only 1 welsh team has ever made the final. The only welsh teams that beat irish teams is when they beat munster/leinster b teams in the magners league. Anyway, it should be a great game and if we are beaten it will be by a very good welsh team.
You say you didn't want too get in a 2 way argument but then went onto argue DOH! . Make your mind up. Gareth Thomas was the actual captain for the Lions tour to Wales. A Mr O'Driscoll didn't play the tests due to injury. If you can show me the actual so called b team selected for the Ospreys victory of Leinster in 2010 Magners final, go ahead.... didn't think you could. You will not give us credit until we prove you wrong.... this weekend. Time will tell. Wow even when the sports change, your QPR attitude is the same.... just goes to prove you can't polish a turd. LATERS!
, At no stage was i disrespectful to any of the teams. I gave my opinion and i gave a logical and realistic arguement. I was very complimentry to Wales and admire the way they play. I'm afraid it was you that brought this conversation to these low depths. Best of luck on saturday.
Hey, swimaway, lighten up, man. Nuts was only giving his opinion, in a very reasonable way, I thought. I respect and understand the fact that you are very passionate about this, as I am but let's not seek confrontation where none exists. The proof of the pudding will be there for us all to see when the two sides meet. Nuts thinks that Ireland will win; you and I believe that it will be Wales. We are all fighting our corner right now, rightly so, but let's keep a sense of perspective and respect other people's opinions even though they differ from our own.
grrrrrrrrrr..... it must be having to put up with itv's english biased pundits over the weekend stating the same tosh. no offence meant nuts but i fail to see any difference in experience apart from heineken cups
I know what you mean. These so-called pundits grate on me too; all they ever see is England. Interesting to note that All Black legend Frank Bunce opines that Wales have become the dark horses of the World Cup and reckons that we could actually win it. Still think the ABs will do it but much of the Southern Hemisphere rugby press is now agreeing with Bunce and tipping us to make the Final. Some good teams to play who will have a say about that but these people know their rugby and I hope against hope that they are right.
OK Swimaway, cant wait for the game, and if wales win i will be the first to come on here and congratulate all you welsh guys. I think its reasonable to suggest that Wales could reach and win the final. For what its worth i am watching it over here on OSN and the pundits are great. They call our game 50:50 and reckon the winners of our match will reach the final. They dont rate the English and French at all. But as Rangercol said you still cant bet against England reaching another final even if they are playing below their best. They have the knack of reaching finals. Therefore i think England could be the dark horse here.
for punditry i have to put up with stuart barnes. is there a more negative englishman out there.. everyone else is great ..england are not performing..blah blah blah. who has he fallen out with.
****...i thought i knew nothing about rugby and along comes musty.. my picks are. ireland nz south africa and england de ja vu all right eng vs sa or nz mind you we could both be completly wrong and the argies could win the cup
losing to sa..beating samoa,fiji & the mighty namibia does not make you world beaters.. if you make the final i hope you beat sa . damn what is happening to my qpr attitude. keep trying to polish that turd.. swimaway..
Kiwi, whats the reaction to carter being out. Some of the media is suggesting that McCaw is far from 100% as well. Its a shame to see Carter gone. He is truely magnificent to watch in full flow. Not sure what to think now cause surely if you remove the best player in the world from any team it will hurt. Think that it will be a tight call now for player of the tournament. IMO young Warburton from Wales and possibly O'Brien from Ireland are serious contenders.
rmember kiwi, sa have their most dangerous player in Steyn out and we have Ionie back, will be a huge game, only cert i can pick is NZ to beat Argies
I can see why the Taffs got a wee bit miffed with you NUTS but its also clear it was totally unintentional. As for you Frog, I agree. NZ/Arg is the only game that can be called at this stage. Aus/SA could go either way and I really think Wal/Irl is the toss of a coin. With regards France and England you would have to put the Limeys as favourites but you just can't write off those unpredictable Garlic-munching smelly's. With the quality of player they have, you do so at your peril.
