Who'll win the next RWC ?

[Big Ewis]

I'd keep an extra tight grip around that soap if you're near Ewis in the communal shower.

dear Lord, the sort of reputation I've built around these corners...:closedeyes: I'm on the receiving end of prison jokes for God's sake...oh, no no !! Not "receiving end" !! Change that !

Unless you have a lot of mass, in which case he probably has a shrine to you in his cell.

not bad, ranger.

 

[FlukeArtist]

So true , maybe 2015 is our year to shine :huh:

All we have to do is:
1. Stay away from taking holidays to the south of France during the tournament.
2. Do a Tonya Harding on Wayne Barnes.
3. Prepare and cook our own food.

Then we'll p!$$ in

 

[Big Ewis]

500 days today til the World Cup.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9299068,00.html

I was thinking about England playing the All-Blacks that tournament. It would be pretty awesome, as they're on the rise and have achieved a very good level right now, and playing at home they'd have momentum from their recent victory at Twickers in 2012 over NZ. It would be a huge test for both sides, and England would get a big chance of beating the AB's in a WC.
The soonest these two could meet is in the semis. That'd be if England come in second out their pool.

Although looking at the knock-out patterns again, England could have a fairly easy way to the final:
the hardest part is probably the pool though, which is lots of pressure no doubt - but if they finish first, they'd get Samoa/Scotland in the 1/4F, and then likely France/Ireland and if they get France in this day and age at home they're basically sure to make it and that's it, the final. Imagine Saint-André's France in such a tough fixture.
Anyways, my point is England after a really tough beginning could find a very easy way to the final, considering it's a WORLD cup, out of all the possible matchups.
It will probably turn out to be vital they finish first.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

500 days today til the World Cup.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9299068,00.html

I was thinking about England playing the All-Blacks that tournament. It would be pretty awesome, as they're on the rise and have achieved a very good level right now, and playing at home they'd have momentum from their recent victory at Twickers in 2012 over NZ. It would be a huge test for both sides, and England would get a big chance of beating the AB's in a WC.
The soonest these two could meet is in the semis. That'd be if England come in second out their pool.

Although looking at the knock-out patterns again, England could have a fairly easy way to the final:
the hardest part is probably the pool though, which is lots of pressure no doubt - but if they finish first, they'd get Samoa/Scotland in the 1/4F, and then likely France/Ireland and if they get France in this day and age at home they're basically sure to make it and that's it, the final. Imagine Saint-André's France in such a tough fixture.
Anyways, my point is England after a really tough beginning could find a very easy way to the final, considering it's a WORLD cup, out of all the possible matchups.
It will probably turn out to be vital they finish first.

That's why I have confidence England can make the final. The pool stages are the biggest obstacle; come first in that tough group and the momentum and confidence is with England in the knockout stages; together with home advantage. It is certainly the easier route to the final of the two possible routes.

The All Blacks and SA, on the other hand, could knock the stuffing out of each other in the possible Semi. That's if the stuffing is not knocked out of the ABs by a Ireland/France quarter final; SA facing a tough QF match up with whoever finishes runners up in pool A.

 

[Big Ewis]

if I'm English, I'd rather have France in the 1/2F than Ireland. France could play Rugby, but they could also play waterpolo; while Ireland are more strategic and composed than ever, by far, and would be STARVING against the old enemy and would relish their chance at finally correcting their miserable RWC drought so far.

So if I'm English (God forbid...nah kidding ) I want to make SURE England get through as first from the pools. That alone is ENORMOUS, and possibly half the way already. Then, Samoa or Scotland...easy...and then an EVER-SO-ERRATIC France that might set records for inconsistency or winning games while playing bad, somehow. Of course, you never know with France and I'm not completely relaxed...but I like France in a semi over the fkn AB's or Springboks, or Wallabies, or even Ireland these days.

A thought about the pool of death: likely, one team will win all their matches to clinch the first spot, but I've just thought that the top of the pool side (heheh...."poolside"...) might actually lose a game and still make it top of the pool. There's a chance all 3 of ENG, WAL and AUS lose one each...

 

[Jaguares]

according to the mighty use of wikipedia (aisa 1 most likely to be japan)

[TABLE="width: 1124"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="align: right"]19 September 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]South Africa

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]Asia 1[/TD]
[TD]Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]20 September 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Samoa

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]23 September 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Scotland

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]Asia 1[/TD]
[TD]Kingsholm, Gloucester[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]26 September 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]South Africa

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]

Samoa[/TD]
[TD]Villa Park, Birmingham[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]27 September 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Scotland

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Elland Road, Leeds[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]3 October 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Samoa

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]Asia 1[/TD]
[TD]Stadium mk, Milton Keynes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]3 October 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]South Africa

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]

Scotland[/TD]
[TD]St. James' Park, Newcastle[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]7 October 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]South Africa

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Olympic Stadium, London[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]10 October 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Samoa

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]

Scotland[/TD]
[TD]St. James' Park, Newcastle[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]11 October 2015[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]United States

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]v[/TD]
[TD]Asia 1[/TD]
[TD]Kingsholm, Gloucester[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

C'mon Scotland!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

500 days today til the World Cup.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9299068,00.html

I find it strange how that link said Wales were the on form team of the NH. Last year and the year before yeah but currently? No chance. They got thrashed by Ireland, were unconvicning against Italy and directionless against England.

I rate England but I'm still tentative. We aren't putting in really dominant performances (except for that one against Italy). I think we are good but not sure if we can match the likes of NZ or SA. The upcoming tour will tell a lot.

 

[Big Ewis]

well England I don't think are going to get to South Africa's level. They can definitely beat them at home, but they're still a level down. I don't think there's a whole lot improvement ahead for them as they've already come a great distance from how they played in 2013. A huge turnaround. Big props to them for that. Lancaster is a real test level coach, no doubt.
Realistically, they can and will improve their scrum, Corbs will bring big pressure on their LH side and will help support Cole who hasn't impressed on his end.
But although their pack is strong, there really isn't a whole lot of room for improvement with what they've got, and although the attack has improved dramatically I don't think we'll start seeing some crazy combinations either.
Owen Farrell keeps improving though, and I'm really starting to appreciate this kid quite a bit.

On a good game though, England have enough to defy anyone up front with their scrum, set piece, pack. They're good enough at the breakdown to at least hang with the best, even South Africa on a focused day. They have Billy V who's a platform on his own. Bulldozers like Tuilagi, Burrell or 36 and along with some good wingers, Mike Brown, that's good enough to beat anyone on a good day. Good half-back pairing too, with Care revealing himself. Good penalty kicking. Fine in-game kicking by Farrell.

They've got special elements like a 10 who fetches, Mike Brown, Billy V, Mako who's a carrying LH, the power of Tuilagi, an over-active second row - that add dimensions to their game many teams don't have. How many teams have what I just mentioned, point by point ?

So they're looking good no doubt, and they really are improving with each game. But I think they're just about at their ceiling, or at most very soon they'll be.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

The thing about England under Lancaster is we've never had a full strength team that wasn't still in development stage. Look at the team in the 6N and it was missing 2 starting props, our outside centre and our preferred winger. At no point have we actually seen England at full potential. The thing is I don't think we ever will before the world cup. Even if we get the team we want at long last without injuries, they won't have spent as much time together to get a good team chemistry.

 

[Shaggy]

The thing about England under Lancaster is we've never had a full strength team that wasn't still in development stage. Look at the team in the 6N and it was missing 2 starting props, our outside centre and our preferred winger. At no point have we actually seen England at full potential. The thing is I don't think we ever will before the world cup. Even if we get the team we want at long last without injuries, they won't have spent as much time together to get a good team chemistry.

That's probably a good thing for any team going into a World Cup ... the chances of any side going into the QF/SF/Finals with their first choice/full strength side are relatively small, due to injuries, suspensions etc. Sides that can still play well with the personnel that they have available at any given time, have a distinct advantage over those that rely on their best players

 

[Big Ewis]

but it's still true though, France and England have the most injuries in world Rugby.
At least England had the bulk of their team last 6N. Yes a couple of better wingers is good, but it seems like Burrell at center is a better fit and everybody likes him better than Tuilagi. Corbs would strengthen the scrum, that's been said. But they've played with their first choice FH and SH, Brown was there, both centers, the entire pack...so I'd say besides those two wingers we're waiting to see and assess, (and Corbs), that team is the England team.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

All these who should be in a current world 15 and who will win next year's World Cup threads mean one thing: we're all waiting impatiently for the international rugby to get started again.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

All these who should be in a current world 15 and who will win next year's World Cup threads mean one thing: we're all waiting impatiently for the international rugby to get started again.

Too true. And the most ironic thing for me is the level of passion from the French contingent on here considering, you know, the fact that test rugby means absolutely nothing to them

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Too true. And the most ironic thing for me is the level of passion from the French contingent on here considering, you know, the fact that test rugby means absolutely nothing to them

It's the French, passion is their thing. It's that hot-blooded mediterranean trait, unless they have the usual consistently inconsistent Frenchie thing and then switch to absolute indifference complete with the gallic shrug.

 

[Big Ewis]

Current Top 30 sides in the vurld:




Doesn't mean a whole lot as we all know, but it's still fun to have a look at every once in a wheel.
It's pretty funny to see Japan above Italy. The very next team after France is Samoa. And how England has 3.5 whole points on Ireland, South Africa another 4 whole points on England, and NZ about 5 points on South Africa.
New Zealand currently have about 14 points on France
Look at Hong Kong right up there with RWC participating Namibia.
Scotland seals the world Top 10, and I suppose we could virtually consider that Top 10 the current Tier 1 threshold. Fiji, Tonga, Japan, Canada, Georgia...and a newly added Italy follow. Seems just about right.

 

[welshglory]

Georgia, Romania, Russia(maybe), Usa, Canada and Japan should start to get a hell of a foot more tests against t 1 countries now. They are more than good enough.

The only thing stopping it is the cartel like fixture lists the rc and 6 nations sides can demand.

Lets grow the game ffs.

 

[Big Ewis]

mmm, I like the thought but I don't think they're actually quite ready. Summer tours are still basically France or Ireland or England visiting the likes of the USA with their B sides and putting a high score on them tbh. I wish it wasn't so, but it is. Japan came to Scotland last November, a struggling Scottish side, and took 40.
Georgia are pretty good, and I appreciate that nation Rugby wise, but they can't just start going to Stade de France or Millennium casually quite yet right now, Romania even less, let's not even talk about Russia...
But I do agree it would be nice to see a little bit more closeness between the two Tiers.

 

[welshglory]

How will they ever improve though?

Ireland visited the USA last year and didn't put a high score on them, it was a very tightly contested game
Japan beat Wales' 2nd team
Canada were abysmal and under prepared. They can be very good.
Russia looked good in the RWC 11 but from a lack of exposure and an incompetent union they haven't pushed on. If they had been playing top sides or at least lower top sides they would be getting a whole lot better.
We've seen close games in the RWC 07 and 11. It's time to start ramping things up and giving these guys a chance.

I don't necessarily mean playing them against the AB's, England. At least regularly against Scotland, Italy and Argentina.

If we don't give them a chance to improve then they never will.

Edit:
If we don't give them a chance to improve and test themselves then they won't gain exposure and they might stagnate just like Russia has.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

It would be interesting to see how Tier 2 teams perform against the likes of Scotland and Italy. Having said that, the rankings are probably skewed because Tier 2 teams face other tier 2 teams and so can win regularly to get higher up whilst Italy will nearly always face tier 1 teams and so is regularly losing. Having regular games between the bottom of tier 1 and the top of tier 2 would show if there is still much difference between the 2.

 

[psychic duck]

It would be interesting to see how Tier 2 teams perform against the likes of Scotland and Italy. Having said that, the rankings are probably skewed because Tier 2 teams face other tier 2 teams and so can win regularly to get higher up whilst Italy will nearly always face tier 1 teams and so is regularly losing. Having regular games between the bottom of tier 1 and the top of tier 2 would show if there is still much difference between the 2.

Not really a solid argument. In losing to Wales, France, Ireland and England in the 6 Nations, Italy lost a combined total 0.0 ranking points thanks to a low start value. You could even argue that having a strong fixture list benefits your ranking as you drop relatively little points for losing, and get rewarded well for a win.

Not that the rankings should be seen as something to swear by for accuracy though anyway.