RWC 2011 Pool Draw

[Canadian_Rugger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Dec 2 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

how the hell are Argentina number 4 in the world?![/b]

By consistently beating the Europeans over the past few years.... especially France...

 

[RC]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Canadian_Rugger @ Dec 1 2008, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Dec 2 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

how the hell are Argentina number 4 in the world?![/b]

By consistently beating the Europeans over the past few years.... especially France...
[/b][/quote]

Lol, i think you should actually read Prestwicks quote, because just that sentence on it's own takes it totally out of context from what he was talking about. Believe it or not but it's actually the opposite of what that quote makes it out to be.

 

[BLR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RC @ Dec 2 2008, 02:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Canadian_Rugger @ Dec 1 2008, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Dec 2 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

how the hell are Argentina number 4 in the world?![/b]

By consistently beating the Europeans over the past few years.... especially France...
[/b][/quote]

Lol, i think you should actually read Prestwicks quote, because just that sentence on it's own takes it totally out of context from what he was talking about. Believe it or not but it's actually the opposite of what that quote makes it out to be.[/b][/quote]
Context is for losers, bring on picking apart sentences to suit your own arguments.

 

[Fa'atau82]

Goods like a decent draw. Kinda feel for Samoa, but then again in 3 years time SA and Wales could suck.

 

[PommyDave]

We'd struggle badly to qualify if the WC was 3 months away, but given 3 years I'd say we'll get through the group as winners, with narrow victories over both the main rivals of Scotland and the Argies. I mean, we can't get any worse than our current predicament and we *might* get a whole lot better whereas neither opponent will get much more threatening than they currently are imo.

We've got some good young talents, no denying that. Whether they can be moulded to do anything past the quarters is up to the RFU, Johnson and his coaching team...

 

[shazbooger]

The English should be delighted with that draw.

Argentina are in decline, Scotland still havent sorted out their home game, so England have three years to buid a team capable of beating those two.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Canadian_Rugger @ Dec 1 2008, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Dec 2 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

how the hell are Argentina number 4 in the world?![/b]

By consistently beating the Europeans over the past few years.... especially France...
[/b][/quote]

Also the fact that there were double ranking points for the world cup.

 

[bates]

The pools look pretty good.
Some good teams in every pool looking forward to it.

 

[elgringoborracho]

wow... huge first game. but france are never as good as in those types of games, when everybody puts them down. it could be a major upset.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (elgringoborracho @ Dec 1 2008, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

wow... huge first game. but france are never as good as in those types of games, when everybody puts them down. it could be a major upset.[/b]

Either way France should be particularly pleased as they've nothing to fear from England or Argentina, as long as they don't choke again when favourites against England

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Dec 1 2008, 12:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I would have thought that Italy would be a tougher draw than the Scots, I suppose everyone will be praying for Argentina just like the top teams will be praying for Ireland or England.[/b]

Why Italy are usually humiliated by the big teams far worse than Scotland. Plus we'll pwn them at Murrayfield next year.

Im pretty happy with the group, but then again so will England and Argentina. Any of the three could win it, but obviously form will change in the next 3 years.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Dec 1 2008, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (elgringoborracho @ Dec 1 2008, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

wow... huge first game. but france are never as good as in those types of games, when everybody puts them down. it could be a major upset.[/b]

Either way France should be particularly pleased as they've nothing to fear from England or Argentina, as long as they don't choke again when favourites against England
[/b][/quote]

I should think England and Argentina would be France's least favourite opponents. Think... we've beaten them in our last 3 competitive games, 2 in Paris. We put them out of the 1991, 2003 and 2007 world cups. Argentina meanwhile ruined their party in 2007. Twice.

 

[Charles]

Exactly. But upsetting NZ in Eden Park will give us the edge to brush aside England and beat NZ AGAIN in Semi final

We will then loose in the Final against Autralia or SA, playing like ****, but unofficial WC by beating NZ two times.

 

[ws4life]

Makes for some very interesting matchups, although to be honest Im not too happy with this draw for the pacific teams.Tonga have it most Tough with New Zealand and France and I dont see them with much of a chance to progress forward. Their matches though with Canada/USA and (most likely) Japan should be very entertaining. Im sick of Samoa being paired with South Africa, itll be the same old story. In patches we play well but in the end we get out tails kicked by a big margain. Wales in a way will be frothing from the mouth with a chance to avenge their humiliations in Past world cups (91 99 to samoa and 07 to fiji) in one world cup. I think they will target the matches against the Pacific teams as the crunch games and put in a second string team vs South Africa. The match of the Pool will most likely be The Samoans vs Fiji. Should be a good game as they usually seem to be one sided affairs as of late to whichever team is playing at home, so should be a good game when played on neutral turf. Im hoping Samoa to beat Fiji and Wales and for (most likely) Namibia to be the whiping boys of the pool to qualify through to the quarter finals.

 

[Jer1cho]

Not bad all-round i think. I think someone out there is starting to enjoy this whole Wales vs SA fettish... But anyway, if we can just keep our core players fit, and make sure that the new talent like Robert Ebehrson and Ryan Kankowski/Keegan Daniels can come through as soon as next year. I think we are going to have a pretty strong team come the next World Cup. If current Welsh form is like the 2001/2002 England era, we could be in for a very interesting tournament. I still firmly believe though, that New Zealand, aint gonna win it.

 

[ak47]

Wallabies will win



that is all

 

[QLD]

Its a decent draw but I'm worried the Wallabies wont have any tough matches leading up to the finals.

I read somewhere that the Wallabies wont have to play New Zealand or South Africa in the quarter finals or semi finals. If both NZ and SA reach the semis they will play each other. I'd be pumped if Australia and NZ finally made it to a final agaisnt each other and even more pumped if we beat them!

 

[QLD]

btw i've got an interesting statistic that I've realised over the years.

At the past three world cups, the winner of the world cup only made the quarter finals at the previous world cup and the winner has made the final at the next world cup last two times.

Australia:1995 QF, win in 1999, runners up 2003
England:1999 QF, win in 2003, runners up 2007
South Africa:2003 QF, win in 2007, runners up in 2011?

Funny thing about Australia in 2003 was they were shithouse and no chance of making the final and they did. Same with England last year.

My prediction: South Africa will continue the trend as mentioned. Despite questionable form leading up to the world cup, they will suprise many people and make the final. They will get runners up. To join them in the final and win the world cup will be 2007 Quarter finalists .. Australia.

Winners: Australia
Runners up: South Africa

Unfortunetly even though NZ made the QF at the last world cup, they will have to face SA in the semis and will get beaten by them and the choke continues for another 4 years.

 

[Ripper]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DonBilly @ Dec 2 2008, 06:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ Dec 1 2008, 04:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Dec 1 2008, 03:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Dec 1 2008, 03:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

and double f*** if I was Welsh given the quarter final opponents[/b]

We'll be against Pool A then? :huh:

To be honest, how the hell can they put us in the hardest situation of the home nations, when we're the highest-f***ing ranked?
Next time round we should aim for eighth or seventh place like Ireland; they know the way forward. <_<
[/b][/quote]


Shoot for the stars and end up in a heap of ****...

NZ will be delighted, can't get knocked out by France in the QF this time.
[/b][/quote]

Well this time they can lose twice versus France, during their first match just after the opening ceremony and during their last match provided they manage to qualify for the knock out stage and reach SF.
[/b][/quote]

Sadly Wayne Barnes won't be allowed into the country.

 

[DonBilly]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Dec 1 2008, 07:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Dec 1 2008, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hm, just found these on 606:

Quarter Final 1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
Quarter Final 2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
Quarter Final 3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
Quarter Final 4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C

Semi-Final 1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
Semi-Final 2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

Bronze Final: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2

Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2

-------------------------------------------

Isn't that correct Tarbh?
So realistically, Wales will face Ireland or Australia?[/b]

In fairness I was making assumptions, normally A plays D like 1 playing 4 but given there's a Frenchman in charge of the IRB then logic goes out the window I guess

[/b][/quote]

Cartesian is supposed to be French, isn't it? Keep in mind anyway that IRB is installed in Dublin and this may significantly contribute to their irrationality