How confident are you about your country in the World Cup?

[Feicarsinn]

Pay them no mind, everyone's got to start somewhere.

That being said, good fact checking is key for good blog writing. I recommend that before you publish you read it from the perspective of someone deliberately looking to catch the writer out. It'll leave you on more solid footing.

 

[markmay1991]

Pay them no mind, everyone's got to start somewhere.

That being said, good fact checking is key for good blog writing. I recommend that before you publish you read it from the perspective of someone deliberately looking to catch the writer out. It'll leave you on more solid footing.

ha thanks, i got a fact wrong couple of days ago but it was due to just juggling the wrong names around, someone pointed out to me almost immediately which was good!, its also really difficult when searching for information about teams like namibia or uruguay as websites are in different languages and the google translator is a bit rubbish, so is the commentary on the games i tried to watch replays of,

the way i see it and the way im trying to write it is that sports primary goal is about entertainment which is what im going for, hence the reason i also have the beer posts.

Having said all of this i think my target audience should be those rugby novices who only plan to watch rugby when its the six nations or an event like the world cup as apposed to die hard rugby fans, which i have now just learnt

thanks for the vote of confidence!!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Why are people getting so worked up over a blog...?

 

[markmay1991]

Why are people getting so worked up over a blog...?

ha not entirely sure, maybe im too blame as i might have worded my posts on this forum correctly, but i think we should get back to the topic on this page which is

How confident are you about your country in the World Cup?

as im looking for others to post their opinions here so i can then put a post on the blog about it together, anything would be great as i want my information to come from as many fans as possible

 

[Unol Daleithiau]

Why are people getting so worked up over a blog...?

It is the internet.

 

[Kiwi_]

Why are people getting so worked up over a blog...?

To assert their pseudo alpha dominance on the internet, their all powerful rugby knowledge and use it to belittle new fans who don't know much about the game but are attempting to learn and are obviously not a bad guy. Pathetic reading.

All Blacks will win the tournament and deserve to after the past few seasons. With the quality players who are going to miss out we could make a 2nd team and play each other in the final. It'll be great to win in England, hope it happens.

 

[TRF_heineken]

calm down only suppose to be a bit of fun, as long as you kept reading

I couldn't keep on reading. It was too painful. Spelling errors and wrong facts, 2 things that I absolutely despise!

Just to make clear i appreciate feedback from you guys, i came to this forum to make my knowledge better so i can write better content, but i want to enjoy it also, I know a fair bit about international rugby as always watch international games (more than id do with say the rugby prem which is why i wouldnt do a blog about it).

I do proof read my work?? but mistakes can still be made, I apologies if i did not make this clear as i may have implied i didn't.

Mistakes shouldn't be made on a published article. If you want to attract more readers then spell-checking should be a priority! Getting your facts right is also a must. If you don't do these things you're (not your) harming your (not you're) own credibility and will not attract readers.

If it was made just for the sake of having fun, then don't advertise it, you'll become the next ScottishCannon...

Why are people getting so worked up over a blog...?

Am I not entitled to an opinion??

Criticism will help him in getting better and writing better.

 

[Tony Manx]

All Blacks will win the tournament and deserve to after the past few seasons. With the quality players who are going to miss out we could make a 2nd team and play each other in the final. It'll be great to win in England, hope it happens.

Have a whole panel of new refs been appointed? Surely only a few days ago you said ABs would not win because if the refs?

 

[TRF_heineken]

To assert their pseudo alpha dominance on the internet, their all powerful rugby knowledge and use it to belittle new fans who don't know much about the game but are attempting to learn and are obviously not a bad guy. Pathetic reading.

All Blacks will win the tournament and deserve to after the past few seasons. With the quality players who are going to miss out we could make a 2nd team and play each other in the final. It'll be great to win in England, hope it happens.

NZ is the only World Cup Winning team that hasn't won a World Cup on foreign soil...

 

[Kiwi_]

Have a whole panel of new refs been appointed? Surely only a few days ago you said ABs would not win because if the refs?

Wasn't me. But definitely a possibility. The lynch mob fans from England who cry "McCaw cheats" will no doubt be vocal all World Cup.

Have a whole panel of new refs been appointed? Surely only a few days ago you said ABs would not win because if the refs?

This current All Blacks team is all about breaking records, isn't it?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The lynch mob fans from England who cry "McCaw cheats" will no doubt be vocal all World Cup.

 

[SomeOke]

While the AB's certainly have a good chance of winning, I would say its a substantially lower chance than last WC. Last WC you guys were on a big winning streak (OK you did lose one match against Aus right before but still). Essentially you looked pretty unstoppable and on top of that you were playing at home, which is not a place you generally lose. Over the last 3 years you have lost to SA, and England as well as drawing a couple times against Aus, so it feels like you're beatable. I feel like the other big teams will feel have the belief they can win which could make all the difference.
That said, you are still definitely the favourites, a class outfit and will be very hard to stop, but it's far from certain.

As for SA's chances before last years tour I would have said 2nd favourites but after it... not at all, we're going to have to go through Eng/Aus/Wales -> NZ ->Eng/Ire/Aus in the knock-out stages which is probably about as difficult as it gets. I wouldn't right us off but I wouldn't put any money on us either.

I'd say Ireland are second favourites, due to a relatively easy run (only in comparison to the other pools) and in general being in good form.

 

[Groundhog]

McCaw cheats. Fact. As does any good back row worth his salt. It's a positive quality. Saltiness is not.

 

[goodNumber10]

NZ is the only World Cup Winning team that hasn't won a World Cup on foreign soil...

Australia's the only one to not win one at home (think about it)

 

[MotherRucker1]

While the AB's certainly have a good chance of winning, I would say its a substantially lower chance than last WC. Last WC you guys were on a big winning streak (OK you did lose one match against Aus right before but still). Essentially you looked pretty unstoppable and on top of that you were playing at home, which is not a place you generally lose. Over the last 3 years you have lost to SA, and England as well as drawing a couple times against Aus, so it feels like you're beatable. I feel like the other big teams will feel have the belief they can win which could make all the difference.
That said, you are still definitely the favourites, a class outfit and will be very hard to stop, but it's far from certain.

As for SA's chances before last years tour I would have said 2nd favourites but after it... not at all, we're going to have to go through Eng/Aus/Wales -> NZ ->Eng/Ire/Aus in the knock-out stages which is probably about as difficult as it gets. I wouldn't right us off but I wouldn't put any money on us either.

I'd say Ireland are second favourites, due to a relatively easy run (only in comparison to the other pools) and in general being in good form.

We are definitely beatable. Any team is and it would be arrogant to assume otherwise. But substantially lower than last time? I'm not sure how.

Between 2008 and 2011, we had a pretty rough patch though. One of our worst in history I would argue, due to the fallout of an overseas exodus and our reliance on a couple of players (such as Daniel Carter, which we do not have now). The Springboks were making mince meat out of us at different levels, and we lost in a few different Super Rugby campaigns. In 2011 we lost abroad twice, to Australia and South Africa. The Crusaders also lost in a final, and the last time a New Zealand team (prior to that year) didn't do well in Super Rugby, we also didn't win the World Cup, so things were looking iffy. I don't think a draw to the Wallabies in pouring rain last year is too much to be concerned about. The fact it was a draw at all is a credit to us - Australia should have put us away well and truly.

On an individual level, our All Blacks are performing very well and showing encouraging signs. For example, heading into this year TJ Perenara needed to improve quite considerably. Not only has he scored 7 tries, but he is also our best tackling halfback in the country (in terms of accuracy). All of the New Zealand teams have performed well this year (outside of the Blues, and the Crusaders - the latter only because their backline's attack patterns are coached poorly), and have shown that the stigma and intimidation of traveling to a place far away no longer exists. The fact 3 of our teams are ranked higher than Australia or South Africa's single best conference team must mean something.

You are only going to beat teams with a margin of 20 or 30 + points for so long until they finally figured something out. Some of the northern hemisphere teams are a lot more competitive. England aren't completely brittle like they once were and have clearly tipped us up at one stage, Ireland have improved markedly, and Wales on their day are very tough. What encourages me and gives me confidence about this All Blacks side is their character. Once upon a time if a team led us or fought back we may have indeed choked. But to keep playing until that 80th minute, with world-class impact substitutes and resilience is something that I have seen very seldom replicated by any other team. It could work against us in the end .. playing catch up can come back to bite. But I am at least confident the All Blacks won't capitulate mentally and play a game of ariel ping-pong like in 2007.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Australia's the only one to not win one at home (think about it)

Haha!

South Africa is the only one to win at home and on foreign land...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Am I not entitled to an opinion??

Criticism will help him in getting better and writing better.

You are, I'm also entitled to an opinion which is that people are over-reacting and offering criticism in an entirely unconstructive way.

 

[ncurd]

McCaw cheats. Fact. As does any good back row worth his salt. It's a positive quality. Saltiness is not.

Sssshhh we don't want common sense prevailing here.

Actually I'd argue McCaw is one the beat cheaters in the world as he doesn't always do it and when he does (and gets away with it) it gives his team usually a distinct advantage they capitalise on. Too many players don't do it at the right moments McCaw does his to perfection, it's an admirable quality.

*braces for impact of English hate filled rants*

 

[Horacito]

If anything, AB's post-2013 are better than 2011: already made the big thing, they're mature, competitive and extremely complete, probably the best team in rugby history. Still I don't think they are going to win.

My money is on Ireland. They're super strong, they play at home, and as it's being said during a couple of times now "is the best team in irish rugby history". Basically, they are the strongest team in britain in british world cup, that makes them champions in my head. More or less.

 

[ncurd]

If anything, AB's post-2013 are better than 2011: already made the big thing, they're mature, competitive and extremely complete, probably the best team in rugby history. Still I don't think they are going to win.

My money is on Ireland. They're super strong, they play at home, and as it's being said during a couple of times now "is the best team in irish rugby history". Basically, they are the strongest team in britain in british world cup, that makes them champions in my head. More or less.

I really wouldn't refer Ireland as 'playing at home' or British....