Team most likely to cause an upset?

[calculon]

It's the world cup. There's a good chance of one of these scenarios playing out. Tonga could beat France.

 

[Larksea]

got to be samoa, that group should be on notice. Samoa may make the quaters.

 

[5cotty]

I would love to see Japan create a shock because it would be good for the game in asia but they probably don't have the set piece ability to get enough ball.
However Georgia are always huge and they always front up. There match against Argentina will be worth watching just for the hits alone.
My fear for Samoa is that they play South Africa last and in such a tough group they will be wrecked by then and I don't feel they have the strength in depth to worry South Africa which i think they would in an earlier match.
Samoa will give a real challenge to wales early on and i think this is why wales have done so much more strength work than the other six nations teams.
I also think that if italy decide to rest players against italy against USA because of their next crunch match against Ireland there could be a shock there.

 

[Seaton]

I also think that if italy decide to rest players against italy against USA because of their next crunch match against Ireland there could be a shock there.

I assume the first Italy is meant to be an Australia?

Edit: Yaaas, we can edit our posts now!

 

[SavageLez]

It's the world cup. There's a good chance of one of these scenarios playing out. Tonga could beat France.

I reckon there is as good a chance of Tonga beating France as Italy beating Ireland at the World Cup. In my opinion that is NONE!

 

[UilamOsa]

Samoa.

Bye Bye Wales.

Again.

 

[McTallshort]

Samoa.

Bye Bye Wales.

Again.

Umm we will see, Wales are looking very fit and very clinical and look in the best form of all the NH teams so I wouldn't be too confident

 

[erwanseb]

Wales have impressed me in their warm up games, beware SA.
Ireland to beat Australia, a lot has been said about their poor warm up games but I thought their first 20 minutes in the second test against France were impressive, need to replicate that for 80 minutes
Italy to beat Ireland, Ireland scrapped a win against Italy thanks to a last minute drop goal in the 6N, why not ?
Samoa to beat Wales
France to beat NZ, no that's not an upset but a repeat
Japan to come very close to France in the first game

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Wales have impressed me in their warm up games, beware SA.
Ireland to beat Australia, a lot has been said about their poor warm up games but I thought their first 20 minutes in the second test against France were impressive, need to replicate that for 80 minutes
Italy to beat Ireland, Ireland scrapped a win against Italy thanks to a last minute drop goal in the 6N, why not ?
Samoa to beat Wales
France to beat NZ, no that's not an upset but a repeat
Japan to come very close to France in the first game

Stay away from the drugs... and the bookies.

 

[SavageLez]

I think Ireland could cause the biggest upset of the tourny firstly by advancing through the group stages and then by beating SA in the quarters.
Reasoning: Coz they playing sh.. rugby at the moment and have a couple key injuries. Unlike 2007 where there was expectation to perform there is none this time round so they won't have as much perssure and who knows what could happen...

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Canada too beat France... I am calling it now 19-12

 

[Shaggy]

Canada too beat France... I am calling it now 19-12

Yep, hope you are right ... very nice if it did happen, but I think Canada will be struggling with the likes of Japan and Tonga

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

This is the best team we have sent to the World Cup since 1999 when Canada nearly beat France, and I think people really underestimate this team. We are going to frustrate teams around the breakdown and our defence is going to force teams to make errors which will turn into points for us. We have some backs that if given ball can punish the opposition as well. All we need is Evans to get healthy and plug that gaping hole at centre.

 

[Surefire]

France beating New Zealand will always be the biggest upset because it is New Zealand at home. Everyone says that the French beat the New Zealand at big opportunities but I dont agree. We forget the # of times New Zealand has smashed, or completely controled the game against France. 1987 & 2003 come to mind and then all the test matches in between (except the tour of 94 when rugby gods were drinking French wines!) During that same tour Canada did beat the French....
Canada looked Ok beating the U.S. the first match, though it looked like it could have gone either way, they looked better the second match, but I do not see them keeping up with the skill and speed overall of the French team. If they did that would make it a big.....(you guessed it) upset.
As a French fan I was more woriied about Tonga causing the upset, but from the headlines coming out of their camp I dont know what is going on with that team?!
Realisticly, I think this will be a very competitive pool, except for New Zealand, which will win it easily. From our past performance I dont think France can consider any game easy, and the other three (Canada, Tonga, Japan) should be going into this WC expecting to win two pool matches.

 

[calculon]

Yep, hope you are right ... very nice if it did happen, but I think Canada will be struggling with the likes of Japan and Tonga

If they beat Tonga, that would already be an upset.

 

[LittleGuy]

I don't think Canada beating Tonga is much of an upset a slight one perhaps but I don't think the gulf is as wide as people believe. Canada beating France would be pretty amazing, funny thing is France could possibly still advance even if they lose two games depending on how the other pool matches work out.

 

[JW.]

I can't see france losing to either 3 of them lol. They should be able to win those games purely on there forward dominance. Let alone some of there worldclass backs.

 

[Moody Fool]

If they beat Tonga, that would already be an upset.

Canada's record against Tonga is winning (3-2) and close against Japan (8-11-1), so I don't think it is a stretch to say they can win. All three teams are very close in the rankings.

The exciting thing is that all three teams can reasonablu expect to beat the other two, and they only need France to slip against one of the others to be able to squeak their way out of the pool and into the elimination rounds.

No one but France in that pool is honestly thinking they can compete with the ABs anyway.

Should make for some good rugby.

 

[Co2en5]

haha so many delusional Canadian fans, they might beat Japan, buts thats as far as your world cup glory is going to go

 

[aucklander]

Canada to cause problems against France, Japan/Tonga. However Tonga will be the surprise package in this pool. Really strong forward pack and back line with some players in super rugby pledging their allegiance really late. Look out France.