Who'll win the next RWC ?

[Chikwa]

With all this fever you'd think the World Cup has actually started. The favourites are the home team England . The boks will believe they can win it but the Ab's will take it and be the first team to win back to back trophies. Why I have I arrived at this opinion? Steve Hansen is a special coach and a winner.

 

[Big Ewis]

That pool is a total crap shoot, Japan and the United States could upset Scotland and Samoa on their day as well, Scotland could finish 2nd or they could possibly finish dead last(though this seems unlikely). The Boks are really the only guarentee in that pool, and I think the 2nd place team wil be easy pickings in the Quarter Finals.

I personally I think personally that that much is wrong. One phrase: not on Vern's watch.
About that pool and Scotland specifically, last we saw them Samoa were playing quite badly. Their November tour was awful, and although they were missing some guys they were absolutely unrecognizable from what we saw throughout late 2012/2013 (til the EOYT). If things continue in that trend, adding Cotter joining Scotland's ranks as headcoach to the mix, I think it's quite believable through that scope Scotland would progress to the 1/4F, which I really hope they do.

Irish going to beat Pumas in the next WC??? We face 3 times against Ireland, we won 2 times (99 and 2007) and they won once (2003). So they are our sons

Look at France's record against Ireland in the last few decades and specifically the results at the RWC, if you're going to bring that logic up, might as well bring out a real one-sided domination. But I don't know if you're aware, but the Pumas (unfortunately) suck balls currently and Ireland sort of just won a 6N ***le right after giving the entire nation of New Zealand a heart attack. They've got that guy currently uhmm...Doe Shmite or smt...they say he's a little bit good with coaching Rugby, the sport.

 

[Jaguares]

Look at France's record against Ireland in the last few decades and specifically the results at the RWC, if you're going to bring that logic up, might as well bring out a real one-sided domination. But I don't know if you're aware, but the Pumas (unfortunately) suck balls currently and Ireland sort of just won a 6N ***le right after giving the entire nation of New Zealand a heart attack. They've got that guy currently uhmm...Doe Shmite or smt...they say he's a little bit good with coaching Rugby, the sport.

Yeah but like said Mehrtens: "The French are predictably unpredictable"

:bleh!:

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Irish going to beat Pumas in the next WC??? We face 3 times against Ireland, we won 2 times (99 and 2007) and they won once (2003). So they are our sons

The last time the two teams faced off (2012) Ireland won 46 - 24, this is far more relevant than a game that happened 15 years ago.

 

[TheSaffycen]

England have to play New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia this autumn from the 8-29 so it will be like a tournament schedule. I would like to think we can get 3/4 and be on course to do well in the world cup. But I think we all know that it's New Zealand's to lose.

 

[Big Ewis]

England have to play New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia this autumn from the 8-29 so it will be like a tournament schedule. I would like to think we can get 3/4 and be on course to do well in the world cup. But I think we all know that it's New Zealand's to lose.

if England manage 3/4, major props to them. I'd imagine a 2/4 with a couple of hard fought tight defeats (to Samoa and Australia, of course) to be satisfactory enough. No but seriously, 2/4 is good enough if they manage tight games against the Books and the All-Bleaks.

 

[Jaguares]

The last time the two teams faced off (2012) Ireland won 46 - 24, this is far more relevant than a game that happened 15 years ago.

The World Cup is different, they are afraid to face us in a world cup. We never could beat them in Ireland, but we never played against them in a World Cup in Ireland. We beat them twice in Europe, in world cups. They know that we are a tough team in a World Cup. Remember in 1999, they were the heavy favorites. They were Goliath, we was David, and David defeated the beast.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

The World Cup is different, they are afraid to face us in a world cup. We never could beat them in Ireland, but we never played against them in a World Cup in Ireland. We beat them twice in Europe, in world cups. They know that we are a tough team in a World Cup. Remember in 1999, they were the heavy favorites. They were Goliath, we was David, and David defeated the beast.

I can't tell if you're being serious or not

 

[LittleGuy]

Finishing first in Pool D is going to be very important, avoiding the QF versus New Zealand is pretty massive(barring some sort of unforeseen Kiwi collapse). It's one of those pools where the down the table games could play a major factor, Italy, Canada and even Romania in the right circumstances are capable opponents that could run an upset in or certainly deny bonus point victories to France/Ireland. It's not out of the question for Italy to advance either though I don't like there chances of winning that pool with their reduced depth and aged lineup.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Irish going to beat Pumas in the next WC??? We face 3 times against Ireland, we won 2 times (99 and 2007) and they won once (2003). So they are our sons

Shame the current Argentina are nothing like the team of 2007.

 

[Jaguares]

if England manage 3/4, major props to them. I'd imagine a 2/4 with a couple of hard fought tight defeats (to Samoa and Australia, of course) to be satisfactory enough. No but seriously, 2/4 is good enough if they manage tight games against the Books and the All-Bleaks.

Mate, you should watch Super Rugby. If the season ends today, teams qualified for the finals are: 3 Aussies teams (Brumbies, Waratahs and Force), 2 NZ teams (Chiefs and Crusaders) and only one SA team (Sharks). So I'm not sure if Wallabies is still the weakest SANZAR team, if ARU and McKenzie do things right, it wouldn't surprise me if they win the Rugby Championship 2014. This year no NZ team showed a superlative level and South African teams are in low level. If I were an Afrikaner or a Kiwi, would be concerned about them.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The World Cup is different, they are afraid to face us in a world cup. We never could beat them in Ireland, but we never played against them in a World Cup in Ireland. We beat them twice in Europe, in world cups. They know that we are a tough team in a World Cup. Remember in 1999, they were the heavy favorites. They were Goliath, we was David, and David defeated the beast.

Yeah, but Argentina is getting weaker and weaker as their stars get older and start retiring, whereas Ireland is getting stronger as they no longer have to rely on 3-4 "star" players and have real quality 1-23 with more in the background vying for spots.
Argentina will get stronger in the future when they have their Super Rugby franchise, but they're nowhere near the strength they were in, say, the 2007 world cup.

 

[big ginger 8]

I can't tell if you're being serious or not

Ssshhh don't **** of our fathers.

Anyway the answer to the thread ***le is obvious.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyway the answer to the thread ***le is obvious.

 

[Darwin]

Mate, you should watch Super Rugby. If the season ends today, teams qualified for the finals are: 3 Aussies teams (Brumbies, Waratahs and Force), 2 NZ teams (Chiefs and Crusaders) and only one SA team (Sharks). So I'm not sure if Wallabies is still the weakest SANZAR team, if ARU and McKenzie do things right, it wouldn't surprise me if they win the Rugby Championship 2014. This year no NZ team showed a superlative level and South African teams are in low level. If I were an Afrikaner or a Kiwi, would be concerned about them.

Two points:
(1) The season isn't ending today. By the end of the season I think you will find the table looks rather different, as the better sides will peak at the end of the season. At this time last year the Blues were in 2nd, with the Crusaders in 9th! I would be very surprised if there are three Australian sides in the playoffs (they may manage to get 2), especially considering the Brumbies & the Force haven't yet toured South Africa.
(2) Super Rugby is not Test rugby. There is often little correlation between performances at Super Rugby level and at test level.

Honestly I'm less worried about Australia than I have been in some time. They are still lacking a quality tight five, Genia hasn't played well for years, Cooper is still inconsistent, and they only have one real weapon in the backline (though he is a pretty good weapon!). I'm a lot more worried about South Africa this year though....


I'm slightly surprised there are so few people picking the AB's to win. Obviously it is a World Cup (so anything can happen), but I think we should start as rather firm favourites. It has been years since we have lost a test match

 

[big ginger 8]

Precisely young team with loads of depth, well coached, home support, best goalie in rugby, coach with the best cauliflower ears....hard to look past Billy Vunipola.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

hard to look past Billy Vunipola.

You're thinking of Matt Stevens there. He must be, what, 18ft wide?
He's been known to cause solar eclipses when out walking, and tribes in the amazon worship him as the God of gluttony.

but I think we should start as rather firm favourites. It has been years since we have lost a test match

It's been an age.
When/where was the last loss? I can't even remember :huh:

 

[hjklhjkl]

 

[Draggs]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Meh, we won that before, no biggy: