Reasons You Country Can Win the W.C.

[big ginger 8]

Livermont has said that he might play a weakened side not showing his full hand in case they meet N.Z. in the knockout stages.

 

[Thingimubob]

Livermont has said that he might play a weakened side not showing his full hand in case they meet N.Z. in the knockout stages.

Really?! That's just ridiculous! So he's basically planning on just surrendering the group before a ball is even touched? Hate it when teams do that...
Hated it when Scotland did it in 2007. Just felt wrong to hear the Scottish singing 'And sent him homeward. Tae think again' in the home of Scottish rugby, when they'd sent out a 2nd string side to meekly surrender to a 40 - 0 loss to the All Blacks. Feels like teams diminish the occaision when they do this.

 

[Aout]

Are you sure Lievremont said such a thing ?

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Btw I was thinking about something. Everyone here is very optimistic about NZ (and it's 100% normal, they are the best squad at the moment). But what would happen if France beat NZ in pool game ? I mean if there's one NH side that could beat NZ, it's France, isn't it ? With all the preparation etc... they will probably be able to do something against NZ (although they are more likely to lose, we all agree on this point).

But defeating ABs in pool would be a massive blow to them, I can't imagine the AB recovering from a such a loss.

Then France shall win the World Cup, I'll be right, win loads of money and the bloke in Currys the other day who laughed at my prediction can kiss my shoes.

 

[Tom943]

Scotland have a good chance of winning their pool as we beat argentina twice last year and drew with england and then lost narrowly at twickenham. If we win the pool then we will most likely play France who we can beat (quite close in 6n) If we get to the semis it will most likely be the aussies (unless samoa beat them again) and we beat them last year so that means that we could get to the final and anything could happen in the final. We could end up against New Zealand who will have all the pressure on them while we will have nothing to lose so you never know

 

[big ginger 8]

Are you sure Lievremont said such a thing ?

Positive it was on sky but I'm too lazy to find a link it was like a week ago.

 

[JW.]

Thats very very very optimistic hehe. Can't see Scotland getting to the knockout stages, if Argentinia play to there full potential.

 

[Tom943]

We will defo beat argentina the england game will be close though especially as england always play poor in pool stages (36-0)

 

[big ginger 8]

Please don't dampen things this thread is to increase optimism wheter the person is right or not please can people give more in depth reasons and focus more on their teams than the others.

 

[JW.]

Argentina are a quality side, if they stay injury free. They have a stronger pack and a better backline, there team have some great players like Lobbe, Ayerza, Contemponi, Roncero, Albacete etc. If they can play as a whole like they did back in 2007, they should be more than capable of beating Scotland and given England's poor record in the poule stages they could threaten England aswell.

Scotland are definitely progressing as a side, but I think they will struggle.

 

[Tom943]

ok scotland beat argentina twice in argentina last year the first game in a place where argentina have never lost a game and scotland came from behind after conceding two early trys. Argentina have a poor disipline record and as scotlands kickers are so good (eg paterson parks and even jackson) we are always goin to keep the scoreborad ticking over and our defence has improved since last year and we have more attacking options with jackson and lamont in the centre and max evans gettin ball so i think the argentina game will actually be quite easy

 

[Peat]

Livermont has said that he might play a weakened side not showing his full hand in case they meet N.Z. in the knockout stages.

Yes, but the man's such a nutcase no one can tell the difference between one of his weakened sides and one of his strong sides, so it makes no odds.

England won't win it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Here's the article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5262666/Fears-All-Blacks-could-face-French-B-side

Bit of media spin to get to that conclusion, he doesn't really say a lot other than basically saying if they're secure at 2nd place there's not point risking injury to some players

 

[Tom943]

France wouldnt play NZ again until the final as they would play Scotland/Argentina/England in the quarters and then most likely the aussies in the semis so why not try and then get a weaker team from pool b and then SA which would probably be the easier way to the final (just my opinion)

 

[lucky number 7]

Here **** it I am going to remove my glass eye.

Queue wonderfully one eyed Irish supporter till we get our assess handed to us

 

[TRF_Olyy]

France wouldnt play NZ again until the final as they would play Scotland/Argentina/England in the quarters and then most likely the aussies in the semis so why not try and then get a weaker team from pool b and then SA which would probably be the easier way to the final (just my opinion)

Obviously topping the pool would be ideal for France, but they might look at it like:
a) Go hard against the All Blacks. Throw everything at them to try and top the pool
b) We've already secured our progression from the pool, we haven't been playing amazingly in the other games (hypothetically!) so we'll bring a few players off at half time, rest a few more, make sure we're all set when we face whoever it is in the quarters



I think France will go balls-to-the-wall against the ABs and this is just a bit of nonsense in the press

 

[Seaton]

i think the argentina game will actually be quite easy

Now there is a bold statement

Realistically, I think we can beat one of the two of the big boys, not both, especially not right after each other

 

[stus768]

England- Top the group, Play France in the quarters, Aus in the semis and NZ choke in the worst game of rugby ever seen in the final

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

...So Aus win the World cup after playing and beating England in the semi's.

I think Ireland should reach the Semi Finals of this world cup because I think we can beat Australia in the group stage it's going to be a tight match and I'd have the odds 65/35 in The Wallabies*favor. If we don't top our pool I think we are a better team than S.A(Granted they top their pool) and should beat them. Queue Semi with The All Blacks, Odds are 99.99999999999/0.00000000001 in NZ's favor but the win over the AB's is coming and anything can happen in the semi final and also the final of the world cup.

 

[Peat]

Yes, because Australia did so well against England last time...