Rugby World Cup 2011

[alchemist]

6 days to go...

Will New Zealand blow it again?
Will Australia's form hold?
Were S Africa holding back in the tri-nations?
Are England too young?
Are Ireland too old?
Are Wales too inconsistent?
Are Scotland under-prepared?
Can France beat two contenders in a row?


All this and more. So who's going to win?




Here are the fixtures (British/Irish times and TV channels)

Fri 09-Sep
Opening Ceremony & New Zealand v Tonga, kick off - 09.30 RTE2/ ITV1

Sat 10-Sep
Scotland v Romania, kick off - 02.00 ITV1
Fiji v Namibia,kick off - 04.30 ITV1
France v Japan, kick off - 07.00 ITV1
Argentina v England, kick off - 09.30 ITV1

Sun 11-Sep
Australia v Italy, kick off - 04.30 ITV1
Ireland v USA, kick off - 07.00 RTE2/ITV1
South Africa v Wales, kick off - 0930 ITV1

Wed 14-Sep
Samoa v Namibia, kick off - 03.30 ITV1
Tonga v Canada, kick off - 06.00 ITV4
Scotland v Georgia, kick off - 08.30 ITV1

Thu 15-Sep
Russia v USA, kick off - 08.30 ITV4

Fri 16-Sep
New Zealand v Japan, kick off - 09.00 ITV1

Sat 17-Sep
Argentina v Romania, kick off - 04.30 ITV1
South Africa v Fiji, kick off - 07.00 ITV1
Australia v Ireland,kick off - 09.30 RTE2/ITV1

Sun 18-Sep
Wales v Samoa, kick off - 04.30 ITV1
England v Georgia, kick off - 07.00 ITV1
France v Canada, kick off - 09.30 ITV1

Tue 20-Sep
Italy v Russia, kick off - 08.30 ITV4

Wed 21-Sep
Tonga v Japan, kick off - 08.30 ITV4

Thu 22-Sep
South Africa v Namibia, kick off - 09.00 ITV4

Fri 23-Sep
Australia v USA, kick off - 09.30 ITV1

Sat 24-Sep
England v Romania, kick off - 07.00 ITV1
New Zealand v France, kick off - 09.30 ITV1

Sun 25-Sep
Fiji v Samoa, kick off - 03.30 ITV1
Ireland v Russia, kick off - 06.00 RTE2/ ITV1
Argentina v Scotland, kick off - 08.30 ITV1

Mon 26-Sep
Wales v Namibia, kick off - 07.30 ITV1

Tue 27-Sep
Canada v Japan,kick off - 05.00 ITV4
Italy v USA, kick off - 07.30 ITV4

Wed 28-Sep
Georgia v Romania, kick off - 07.30 ITV4

Fri 30-Sep
South Africa v Samoa, kick off - 08.30 ITV4

Sat 01-Oct
Australia v Russia, kick off - 03.30 ITV1
France v Tonga,kick off - 06.00 ITV1
England v Scotland, kick off - 08.30 ITV1

Sun 02-Oct
Argentina v Georgia, kick off - 01.00 ITV1
New Zealand v Canada, kick off - 03.30 ITV1
Wales v Fiji, kick off - 06.00 ITV1
Ireland v Italy, kick off - 08.30 RTE2/ ITV1

Sat 08-Oct
Winner Pool C v Runner Up Pool D, kick off - 06.00 RTE2/ITV1
Winner Pool B v Runner Up Pool A, kick off - 08.30 RTE2/ITV1

Sun 09-Oct
Winner Pool D v Runner Up Pool C, kick off - 06.00 RTE2/ITV1
Winner Pool A v Runner Up Pool B, kick off - 08.30 RTE2/ ITV1

Sat 15-Oct
Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2, kick off - 09.00 RTE2/ ITV1

Sun 16-Oct
Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4, kick off - 09.00 RTE2/ITV1

Fri 21-Oct
Bronze Final, kick off - 08.30 RTE2/ITV1

Sun 23-Oct
RWC FINAL, kick off - 09.00 RTE2/ ITV1

[Fake Vencar]

Really looking forward to this, despite the early mornings!

South Africa have seemingly been in decline since the last World Cup; if the recent Tri-Nations are anything to go by, they won't be challenging Australia and New Zealand, who are the clear favourites.

Of the Northern Hemisphere teams, England seem to be the strongest outfit. Ireland, Wales and Scotland will all, I hope, reach at least the Quarter-Finals, although Argentina will test Scotland and Wales will have to cope with both Fiji and Samoa.

I think France might suprise a few though; they beat the All Blacks last time they toured New Zealand!

[thaddeus6th]

Thanks for making this thread

I think Wales are in for a tough time. I think them capable of escaping the group, but the South Pacific sides tackle like a rhino in a bad mood, so I'm worried they'll pick up injuries [well, more injuries].

Will New Zealand blow it again?
Let's hope so. I'd say no, but it's such a habit.

Will Australia's form hold?
No. They've been beaten a few times, by England (and maybe Scotland too).

Were S Africa holding back in the tri-nations?
No.

Are England too young?
No. We have a realistic chance but I'd be surprised.

Are Ireland too old?
No, but they'll bottle it.

Are Wales too inconsistent?
Maybe. My bigger worry would be that they'll lose even more players to injury against Samoa and Fiji.

Are Scotland under-prepared?
Wasn't paying close attention, but didn't they do over the Irish in the warm-up? Scotland's in a relatively good position. I can see them beating Argentina and getting out of the group.

Can France beat two contenders in a row?
Yes. France are (as always) a crazy side, you never know whether you'll get excellence or awfulness. However, they tend to travel well, and I think they have a good chance to do surprisingly well.

[biodroid]

South Africa I admit did not perform well in the Tri-Nations as we did have our "B" team players. All our top players were resting in SA. I think NZ were doing the same. We might have a chance at going for the cup but it is a long shot. And what is with England wearing black instead of white? Are they aspiring to be another team?

[Rommel]

South africa has massive problems regarding selctions. And i'm not talkig about quotas or race selections. We have John Smit wh is not even the best hooker for his province, he is rated 5th or 6th, yet he is keeping the world's best hooker in bismarck out the team. Big Big problem right there.
Then we have players who plays on reputation. Habana being one of them. Bjorn Bason owned him big time in a recent clash of the provinces, by far the fastest player in South Africa, yet not even in the touring group. They rather take arguably the slowest winger in South africa in ndungane.
Brian Mujati is playing up a storm in the european cups, and according to most people there he is the best tighthead in the world. Not even mentioned when selecting the team. And i won't even mention Francois Steyn. He is past useless, Aplon, Lambie and even Conrad Jantjies a much better player in my view.

And then we have this ridicolous game plan of kicking all our posession away.

[Moonbat]

Some tight games so far, I was cheering Wales on this morning, they should have taken thier chances and won, but alas!
England were a bit sloppy too, it'll be interesting to see how it all pans out, can't wait for more games.
Didn't see Oz, but I heard they were very impressive.

[alchemist]

Australia seem to have had the best weekend and look strong.
Wales did well but lost and have tough matches to come.
South Africa can probably do better.
New Zealand's second half didn't impress.
England will have not scared the pants off Scotland, and the reverse is also true.
Ireland - £$%^&*!! I think I'll just spend the "travel to NZ" fund on a better laptop instead.

[alchemist]

I take it all back. Cooommmmmmeeee oooonnnnn yoooouuuuu boys in green. More eloquent analysis to follow.

[Ursa major]

The Irish team played really well and thoroughly deserved their win. As an almost-neutral (I came to the game thinking the Irish would be the underdogs , and so was supporting them on the 50-50 balls), it was a fascinating game, as Australia always looked dangerous and might well have taken the points.


(I expect Australia's next opponents, the US, are going to pay the price for today's result.)

[thaddeus6th]

Didn't expect an Irish win. Quotes are from me, upthread:

"Are Ireland too old?
No, but they'll bottle it."

However:

"Will Australia's form hold?
No. They've been beaten a few times, by England (and maybe Scotland too)."

Even after the first half I thought Australia would pull away. Ireland played well and thoroughly deserved the win.

[alchemist]

Calm now *sigh*

Anyway, I have a new-found interest in Wales v Samoa. I want Samoa to win, not because I have anything against Wales, but if ( still a big IF) Ireland top the group, we'll be favourites and Wales have much experience of pooping on our party.

I know we're happy here, but I imagine England, France and Wales will also be quite pleased with the way things have turned out.

[Leadbelly]

So tonight is our (NZ) first real test. France has always been dangerous and never a team to take lightly.

Will New Zealand blow it again?.... Probably, personally I'm not expecting us to make the finale and I'll be watching tonight's game with a certain amount of scepticism...,Heh, the wifey is always accusing me of ever being the pessimist.... some things never change I quess....

[thaddeus6th]

I wouldn't worry. For a start, you're guaranteed to reach the quarters, and the All Blacks only tend to lose to France in the knock-out stages.

Besides, England got slaughtered 36-0 in the group stage last time, and were unlucky not to win the final.

[Leadbelly]

I stand corrected

[Boneman]

Oh... looks like the real All Black team turned up. If yuo cannot turn that sort of pressure into points, then it's always on the cards that the breakaway kings will do you in, and NZs execution was just brilliant. I wonder how England will fare when they meet real opposition?