Wales aren't the underdog though are they? England Wales and Australia are all teams that should be expecting to get out of the pool and mounting strong challenges for the cup. i'm not sure you can qualify any of them as underdogs.
yes, you're right, i actually meant away from home... but you did actually beat them once in Australia and once in NZ so i stand corrected (slightly) on that one.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, we'll have to agree to disagree on the pressure point.
Yeah, no need to discuss it any further.
These are probably the main focus points on the group:
- England. How much have the still relatively inexperienced English players learn't in the losses in the crunch games in the 6 nations over the past few years? They've been close to GS'm or championship wins, but haven't quite managed to get over the line in the games which mattered. Whilst being reasonably consistent for a while, finishing runners up etc., they've had one poor game per championship which has cost them.
All the ingredients seem to be there. They've got a strong pack with plenty of depth, although possibly still missing the out and out openside which Wales and Aus possess (more than one in fact). Youngs is back playing well at 9, and they've unearthed a real gem at 10 in Gorge Ford. The outside backs are looking exciting, if a little unsettled at 12 and wing.
Playing at home is obviously a big boost.
- Australia. Can Aus bounce back from the poor run of form they've been in? They've slipped down the world rankings and have been inconsistent during a period of chopping and changing in the coaching department.
The talent is there, particularly in the backrow and backs.
- Wales. Can Wales put their recent run against England behind them? Can we finally get over the line against Aus? Realistically, we should have beaten Aus on numerous occasions over the past few years, can we do it when it counts? Beating SA in the autumn will have given the players extra confidence, but Aus are very different.
There's big question marks over our scrum, with Lee struggling to be fit, let alone match fit, and a lack of alternatives. Elsewhere though, things are looking healthy. The back 5 of the pack are powerful and balanced. Webb and Biggar are in the form of their lives. Davies is getting back to his old self after struggling initially to break into the Clermont starting 15, and there's a good balance in the back 3 with North, Halfpenny and Williams (however they line up).
So there's questions each nation need to answer. Going into the tourny England and Aus will be favorites to get out of the group. Recent results between the 3 dictate it. But that doesn't mean I believe Wales won't get through. I think we can finally beat Aus, and it will have depended on the result of the Wales v England game on who tops the pool. I am biased though....
