Irish victory consequences.

[ExcaLiBuR]

Why is everyone saying France should lose to NZ, why doesnt NZ lose to France, go into lower pool stages and win that way? If they want the win so bad and beat NH teams so much, why not lose, get the stress out of the media and win from 2nd in pool. Also Scotland will lose to Argentina im sorry Argentina is way to good. France has more reason to beat NZ in pool so they dont vs England in quarter finals... they have more chance to lose the England than Argentina in Quarters.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

I think both team would prefer to meet teams from their own hemisphere in their QF or SF, because every of them have a better knowledge/experience of their opponent in competitions and not only in tests matches, and it's easier to get a bad surprise from someone you don't really know.
I'm sure NZ would prefer meet AUS or SA sooner in the comp than meeting an unknown England. England don't look strong, but remember how it looked in the pool stages in 2003...

NZ have more chances to loose in front of a NH team in QF/SF than in a Final.

 

[RetiredRog]

If the remaining pool matches pan out to form it will be a real boost for England as one half of the draw will contain all the southern hemisphere sides leaving England grouped with the 6 nations teams in the other. As six nations champions England will be favourites to reach the final again.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wouldn't say that - Wales would be favourites, they're on the best form out of England/Scotland/Ireland

You'd be looking at
Ireland vs Wales (presuming that Samoa don't pip them to the post for 2nd place)
England vs France

Which (on form, not taking into account England kryptonite-like properties vs France) Wales vs France in the Semi-Final

 

[RetiredRog]

Isurus....What's up with your memory? England do it ....remember England's victory over the Blacks in New Zealend prior to the 2003 World Cup. England's pack led by Martin Johnson dominated, even holding out in the last 10 minutes with a forward in the bin....

 

[McTallshort]

I wouldn't say that - Wales would be favourites, they're on the best form out of England/Scotland/Ireland

You'd be looking at
Ireland vs Wales (presuming that Samoa don't pip them to the post for 2nd place)
England vs France



Which (on form, not taking into account England kryptonite-like properties vs France) Wales vs France in the Semi-Final

Looks about right although the Wales Ireland game will be tighter than the France England game, think we have been riding our luck with the French these last few years and I expect us to get a spanking!

 

[McTallshort]

Oh boy. That wasn't the statement I was making at all.

You're reading what you want to read and are spinning my comments into an argument I was not making. My argument had nothing to do with why Ireland won the match. Here, I'll spell it out for you given that you're incapable of doing it yourself:

The comment was made by no-1-rugby-fan that, "Australia lack the physicality to threaten at this world cup." I disputed that opinion because it is a view point based soley on one game where Australia did not play well. Australia have all the physicality they need to win this world cup if they play to their full potential. This was the point being made.

Ireland could very well have beaten Australia if Australia had played at 100% I never suggested for a minute that that wouldn't be the case so don't bother trying to draw wild conclusions about what I actually said.

Do us both a favour and try reading next time.

Apologies Blackheart must confess to having a few too many yesterday lunch time....

 

[Macsen]

You'd be looking at
Ireland vs Wales (presuming that Samoa don't pip them to the post for 2nd place)
England vs France

Which (on form, not taking into account England kryptonite-like properties vs France) Wales vs France in the Semi-Final

I don't share your 'optimism' regarding a Wales vs Ireland QF. Our record against Ireland is pretty poor the last few years. OK we won this year, thanks to some blatant cheating by Matthew Rees and Mike Phillips. But Matthew Rees is injured...

And given that Ireland have just beaten Australia I'd say they're the 'form' team.

Also I'd back England to beat France as they always seem to do.

Still I'd agree Wales has the best change of reaching a World Cup final we've ever had.

 

[Aout]

I wouldn't say that - Wales would be favourites, they're on the best form out of England/Scotland/Ireland

You'd be looking at
Ireland vs Wales (presuming that Samoa don't pip them to the post for 2nd place)
England vs France

Which (on form, not taking into account England kryptonite-like properties vs France) Wales vs France in the Semi-Final

Well, in order to beat England or Wales, we'll have to step up a gear, because so far we were completely rubbish.

The most concerning thing is Trinh-Duc. Until the beginning of the RWC he was one of our most consistent player, but against Japan and Georgia he was terrible. And we don't have any other decent fly half option, since Skrela is injured and as good as Doussain is, you can't expect him to outplay a more experienced fly half (he never played with France before, and he player scrum half with Toulouse. And then Mas, our best prop got injured last week during a training session hewill miss at least the 2 next games.

Things are not going very well for us :/

 

[TRF_heineken]

I think what might count against the NH teams are the mental toughness that seems to lack when it comes to the World Cup. after the pool stages it comes down to whoever makes the least amount of errors to come out on top, and to be fair Wales, Ireland and England have shown the last few years how they buckle under the pressure

 

[TRF_Olyy]

And given that Ireland have just beaten Australia I'd say they're the 'form' team.

I dunno, the performance Wales put in vs SA (for the most part) was stronger than the one Ireland put in vs Australia

If you put those performances together I think Wales would win

 

[terry]

Are you ready for this?

1. Ireland 1st v Wales 2nd
2. England 1st v France 2nd
=> Semi-final : Ireland v France

3. South Africa 1st v Australia 2nd
4. New Zealand 1st v Argentina 2nd
=> Semi-final : Australia v New Zealand

=> final : France v Australia

Australia WC'11... then I woke up...B)

 

[Macsen]

1. Ireland 1st v Wales 2nd
2. England 1st v France 2nd
=> Semi-final : Wales v England

3. South Africa 1st v Australia 2nd
4. New Zealand 1st v Argentina 2nd
=> Semi-final : South Africa v New Zealand

=> final : Wales v South Africa

Wales WC'11... by one point! :lol: (in my dreams)

 

[Ostrayian]

Are you ready for this?


Australia WC'11... then I woke up...B)

Hahaha! i dont think i could even pretend to romanticize about the Wallabies winning 3 huge test matches in a row enroute to rwc glory.
Just seems so......impossible right about now.

Theres been lots of chatter about the benefit of both NZ and france chucking the game in to get 2nd place in the pool. Cant really see NZ doing it but would be hilarious seeing 2 teams on the pitch fighting it out to lose.

 

[no-1-rugby-fan]

Wrong. The Wallabies completely demolished the All Black fowards only three weeks ago. When they get up for a game they are the toughest team in the world to beat.

I'm not taking anything away from Ireland because they played superbly well. But Australia played like crap last night.

They have improved in the scrum but they still have a lot of work to do.

 

[big ginger 8]

I think what might count against the NH teams are the mental toughness that seems to lack when it comes to the World Cup. after the pool stages it comes down to whoever makes the least amount of errors to come out on top, and to be fair Wales, Ireland and England have shown the last few years how they buckle under the pressure

When have they shown they buckle under presssure I'll name some Irish examples cause I like to but they all don't buckle under pressure. You said last few years so Ireland Wales 09 hell of a nlot of pressure did we buckle then there's way more look at the amount of H Cups and Magners' league in the squad.

Also while we played well on Saturday it wasn't our max as our backs were quiet poor. Finally please stop the bullshit that the NH teams would be lucky to keep with in 30 points of N.Z. it's retarded. If the NH teams play to their max and the opposition aren't at theirs they can bet anyone.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

Theres been lots of chatter about the benefit of both NZ and france chucking the game in to get 2nd place in the pool. Cant really see NZ doing it but would be hilarious seeing 2 teams on the pitch fighting it out to lose.

http://www.snopes.com/sports/soccer/barbados.asp

Apologies for the source being Snopes, but was the only online documentation of the match that described what went on well enough.

 

[Wally]

Ireland could still lose to Italy right? RIGHT?!

 

[LittleGuy]

Ireland could still lose to Italy right? RIGHT?!

Stranger things have happened, Ireland hasn't won their matches with attacking try based offense and Italy can win a grind out defensive battle, Italy pushed Ireland hard at this year's six nations as well. I expect an Irish win but Italy can definately pull out this game.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I'm hoping that Italy can beat Ireland. for 3 reasons, i'm getting sick of the irish acting like they've won the tournament because they won a pool gamein uninspiring circumstances, my background is italian, and i'm a biased and arrogant asshole from Australia.