Backing the All blacks & dismissing the Boks a bit early?

[Die Bokke]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, recently registered and what not, but i thought i'd put my points forward as to why i think the All Blacks will again Faulter, and either France, England or South Africa will win.

Firstly, lets move straight past the group stages, i don't have any reasons to put forward, why the likes of NZ/Australia/SA/France etc will qualify for the Knock out stages, but i think this is where the problems will start for New Zealand & to some extent Australia. Both of the teams i've listed here like to play expansive, free flowing rugby, Something that i dont thin suits the Knockout stages of a tournament.

Losing the ball on a turnover or interception.
We saw on saturday, how successful south africa were at gaining ground and momentum on turnovers & interceptions, Jacque Fourie was king in the interception department & Brussow at the break down. Alright there were some big names missing for the Blacks. But they're scared to get the same treatment again, you need to play the rugby in the opposing half, you dont want to lose the ball playing expansive passes & running the ball, not only are they scared of losing the ball, but the due on the ball will make it alot harder for the players to grip it, with it being a late night fixture, due comes into account. South Africa play the kick and chase type of rugby, squeezing the opponent into penaltys and repeating, it may not be the most attractive rugby, but it's proven world cup winning rugby.

Place kickers.
In Daniel Carter & Morne Steyn, we arguably the two most accurate place kickers. now i'd give this a 50/50 battle, with carter easily taking the flare factor, but then there is Frans steyn that can kick a drop goal from mars, and find touch from his back door in France, another point i find will help the bocks win the terretory battle, or even pat lambie, his kicking game seems to be 100% better after his last few games for the boks.

I just feel that the Northern Hemesphier teams have an advantage over the south, because of their style of play, and the due factor is going to suit them more, being from the wetter isles. I think that it will again be a SA/Eng final, with SA taking their fourth crown. World cups are to big a factor for teams to want to play expansive rugby, it's not an AI or a Tri nations game, but the biggest stage of them all.

 

[FlukeArtist]

You may be quite right Die Bokke.
Certainly history supports your theory re styles and finals appearances.

I'll still be backing Black though

 

[Die Bokke]

You may be quite right Die Bokke.
Certainly history supports your theory re styles and finals appearances.

I'll still be backing Black though

The Blacks are definitely the 'Wise' choice. but i just feel people are being pulled into their style of play and not looking at the bigger picture, it's not about pretty rugby at a world cup, it's about grinding out a win, something South Africa have proved they can do. I hope i'm right. I think maybe i'l clutching at straws & just trying to make smoke, with no fire though, because the AB's do look Brilliant right now.

 

[FlukeArtist]

mate,
I'd gladly claim the underdog tag if I was the ABs.
Being favourites has never done them any favours in the past.

 

[donmcdazzle]

The Blacks are definitely the 'Wise' choice. but i just feel people are being pulled into their style of play and not looking at the bigger picture, it's not about pretty rugby at a world cup, it's about grinding out a win, something South Africa have proved they can do. I hope i'm right. I think maybe i'l clutching at straws & just trying to make smoke, with no fire though, because the AB's do look Brilliant right now.

They've proved they can do it like once in the last two years. I reckon people are reading a wee bit much into one game. We hammered SA repeatedly last year who were playing pretty much the same tactics as this year, in the dew, at night, in NZ.

Having said all that, I rank SA as a huge threat to any team (and I have done long before the weekends game) based on all the points raised (defensively minded, huge breakdown pressure, good goalkicker). To say that SA will be a threat cause they 'ground out' a win against NZ in a one off game with little significance is a bit short sighted though.

 

[james5000]

Backing Black 110% always have, always will.
I see SA as a team to respect, and a very good performance will be needed to beat them. We don't need to fear them though.
We don't need to worry too much about past World Cups, history counts for little.

We need to play basically our best team in every game, get players match hardened.
In the last World Cup Chris Masoe played the most minutes in pool play i think, which is ridiculous because he was never going to start in the play offs.


We have actually been knocked out in the past three world cups by teams that like to spread the ball around anyway.

I feel like this is our time, if we don't win this one, we may never get a better chance lol.

P.S the weather will be good, the grounds will be firming up a bit by late October. Good for running rugby!!!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

it's not about pretty rugby at a world cup, it's about grinding out a win

thats a bit depressing, its a game and games should be fun and enjoyable, I enjoy watching running rugby. I DONT enjoy seeing 29 of the players standing around whilst one kicks a goal

 

[Rugbybrain]

I agree with basically everything you all said! Just remember it's a World Cup and strange things has happen in previous World Cup's and I'm pretty sure it will happen again, no team (NZ, Aus & SA incl) could be seen as obvious choices to progress past the pool stages... but with SA who chose 16 players who won the 2007 WC final will definably count in their favor..

 

[Die Bokke]

They've proved they can do it like once in the last two years. I reckon people are reading a wee bit much into one game. We hammered SA repeatedly last year who were playing pretty much the same tactics as this year, in the dew, at night, in NZ.

Having said all that, I rank SA as a huge threat to any team (and I have done long before the weekends game) based on all the points raised (defensively minded, huge breakdown pressure, good goalkicker). To say that SA will be a threat cause they 'ground out' a win against NZ in a one off game with little significance is a bit short sighted though.

I'm not basing the 'grinding" point on last weeks game, other than what brussow did, nothing is significant in that game, it was a second string NZ side and it holds little or no significance to what i said.

 

[big ginger 8]

Why do people think Steyns drop-goals are amazing yes he's got a massive boot but his success rate is awful. In reality Morne Steyn is better at drop-goals.

 

[Ostrayian]

If the boks can tighten up their defense then maybe. NZ broke the SA line way too easy too many times and were lucky the scrambling defense was good enough to cover. SA defense in 2007 was unbreakable by comparison to today.
Gotta take my hat off to Brussouw though. That guy is awesome.

 

[User1245]

The All Blacks will win the WC this year

 

[Riekert]

If the boks can tighten up their defense then maybe. NZ broke the SA line way too easy too many times and were lucky the scrambling defense was good enough to cover. SA defense in 2007 was unbreakable by comparison to today.
Gotta take my hat off to Brussouw though. That guy is awesome.

I do concur on what you said and if there's a team that could brake a sa line it's the NZ and Aus teams. Good luck for your team in the WC

 

[Riekert]

Ostrayian and Steve-o do you play with mods?

 

[Ostrayian]

mods?

 

[Ostrayian]

Also wanna add that I think team selection will weigh a fair bit on SA. Some of PDV's team selections have been confusing.

 

[Ostrayian]

Good luck for your team in the WC

Personally i think Australia are just a bit young to be able to win this years RWC. I have concerns about the centres and how soft our pack can be in the contest at the breakdown and collisions. Pocock cant do it on his own.

 

[Riekert]

mods?

Jip, i'm having a problem with a rugby 08 mod.

 

[Jer1cho]

The All Blacks will win the WC this year

I don't think so. I have my money on Australia.

 

[Riekert]

Personally i think Australia are just a bit young to be able to win this years RWC. I have concerns about the centres and how soft our pack can be in the contest at the breakdown and collisions. Pocock cant do it on his own.

I like Pat Mcabe at centre but i do woory about aus front its a bit light but Horwil had a good year and it will ask alot againt a weak side but bigger teams you may have a hard time. Aus still could win with flair.