I am happy with just 4 more.
Actually, I think it's really only going to be in the qtrs (assuming we beat Scotland). Getting to the semifinal is not getting to the final even with the disparity on each side of the draw, but this team in a semi-final will have been #1 for donkeys years, beaten everyone, topped a group with SA & Scotland and beaten (likely) the All Blacks to get there. I don't think nerves or pressure even come into it at that point, overconfidence is more likely.
Whilst id prefer England to win it, being realistic id rather see it in the northern hemisphere so happy for France or Ireland, I still have this question mark that if the SA pack(s) bring that extra few percent physically now neither can live with it, I don't like it but cant help but feel it's a real possibility. Based on the support we have seen so far it will be like a home game for either France or Ireland vs SA so would be huge and could make the difference, the other part of me is like we have seen Ireland take on all comers SA very recently so not backing them in that match up seems unfair.
I think France are waiting in the long grass for SA. Opening match seems a long time ago now but they were so so clinical and with no one apart from NZ getting any credit for running up scores against terrible defences it's just been forgotten. With their lineout not being as gettable as ours and their ability to work the ball touch line to touch line I think they could be SA's biggest challenge defensively.
I've said it before and I'll say it again I think the world rankings currently reflect things very well, forgetting individual places top 3 are pretty much untouchable by those below outside of issues of their own making, those 3 could probably beat each other any given day and I can't see any of them with better than a 6 -10 wins if they repeatedly played each other. Out of curiosity do you think Leinsters end of season falling over at the last hurdle will serve them as a learning curve and something to rectify or play on their minds, obvious there are individuals like POM which could add some balance and outside of the Leinster setup.
My only argument to this is I don't think 1/10 games France goes nuts and score try's for fun. Recent history shows you have to score a minimum of 20 point to beat them. Both Ireland and SA scored over 20 in Stade de France and still lost.
I think Leinster's loss was more down to systems failures than anything else. It was clear inability to exit from a team that didn't really need exit plays all year. I think it'll be added motivation for the Leinster guys but the on pitch stuff is very different. POM, Beirne, Hansen and the bench options make a big big difference.
It's nice to see them do it a team other than the English for a change. Although in recent years they have backed that up.Does any other union wheel out their players to come out with this sort of stuff? What is the thinking behind these PR exercises for games when games are already sold out?
'Ireland have been on a good run... but we'll end that', Scotland star claims
Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn is bullishly confident that Ireland's run of 16 straight Test wins will end on Saturday in the World Cup Pool B decider.www.planetrugby.com
The Scottish record of backing up gentle smack talk is lamentable.
They've always done it with us too. Irish pundits who've played in the last 10 or so years are constantly making fun of them for it. When Andrew Trimble is laughing at you mean spiritedly you know it's chronic!
Gone, forgotten but not dead
