World Cup - Pool A

[Every Time Ref]

Wales won't finally break their hoodoo against Australia in a high pressure do-or-die pool of death World Cup game, I just don't see it. Their best chance is their knack of raising it against the English, but in an away World Cup on the back of two consecutive defeats it's going to be a tough ask. I think England top, Wallabies second. Famous last words ...

 

[goodNumber10]

I get a feeling it will be a shoot out between Wales & England for Second place

 

[Every Time Ref]

You back Aus against England at Twickenham?

 

[RedruthRFC]

Different team I know but when we hosted in '91 we reached the final as an unfancied side.

Tiny bit OT, but is this really true? Admittedly I was only eleven at the time, but I would have thought that England would have been among the favorites - they had a strong claim to being the best side in the NH having narrowly missed out on a grand slam in 1990 and won one in 1991.

 

[goodNumber10]

Same. Don't recall us being no hopes.

Strongest NH team probably, off the back of a grandslam as well.


No SA so it was NZ, OZ, France and us. Scotland outside bet.

 

[The big Kangaroo]

Interesting to think that the finalists in the last two world cups were from the same pool. could see it happening here on wales thoa they have only beat us twice in the Pro Era if they did it a a world cup would be one of there greatest wins of all time. It was also screw up my holiday if i not see the wallabies win any games.

 

[chippieolamus]

I just can't see England losing to Wales or Aus at Twickers personally (famous last words and all that). Probably Aus to come second then get beaten by SA I guess.

 

[Conal]

Same. Don't recall us being no hopes.

Strongest NH team probably, off the back of a grandslam as well.


N

who lets calm it down cowboy

 

[TRF_Olyy]

who lets calm it down cowboy

What?
He's talking about something that happened 24yrs ago, not guessing at what's going to happen :huh:

 

[valley commando]

I just can't see England losing to Wales or Aus at Twickers personally (famous last words and all that). Probably Aus to come second then get beaten by SA I guess.

Wales will win the group, under Gats we always improve the longer the tournament goes on, so with a 1st up against Uraguay we will be ready for England and lets face it we won't have to improve much to beat them, we will have a better 8 come the wc than we had a couple of weeks ago, so the backs won't be ball starved, momentum will lead to us beating Oz as well, pity though as finishing 2nd would give us S A in the 1/4s and I'd fancy us to beat them again.

- - - Updated - - -

Okay so we all know this is going to be a pretty bruising group with three of the top 6 teams in the world in group and only two spots coming out of it.

I've been looking at the schedule the past few days and because of the 5 team groups some teams have to play mid-week games.

England by virtue of being tournament organisers get away scot-free on this front and you can't really blame them.

Australia get a 4 day gap between Fiji and Uruguay but get proper time off before their England and Wales matches.

Wales on the other hand have their encounter with the English which will certainly take it out of them and a few player carrying injuries and ****le followed by Fiji 4 days later. They get a good break by the Australia game.

Now the prevailing (and admittedly possibly wrong opinion) seams to be Australia and England will qualify from the group. My question is this what is likelihood of Wales slipping up against Fiji due the close proximity of the game to the England match and face the prospect of not automatically qualifying for the world cup in 2019? Sounds like madness I know but they did screw up against Fiji 8 years ago (different players, coach and all that) however they aren't a terrible side by any means(one-dimensional boring yes but they are still by all accounts a good side that wins rugby matches).

I'm not suggesting this will actually happen Wales are perfectly capable on their day in topping the group but it is a prospect that could happen.

Wales are far from boring that badge sits firmly with England, we may have failed to fire on all cylinders this 6 nations but check our try count and grand slams against England from 2005 onwards.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Wales will win the group, under Gats we always improve the longer the tournament goes on, so with a 1st up against Uraguay we will be ready for England and lets face it we won't have to improve much to beat them, we will have a better 8 come the wc than we had a couple of weeks ago, so the backs won't be ball starved, momentum will lead to us beating Oz as well, pity though as finishing 2nd would give us S A in the 1/4s and I'd fancy us to beat them again.

- - - Updated - - -



Wales are far from boring that badge sits firmly with England, we may have failed to fire on all cylinders this 6 nations but check our try count and grand slams against England from 2005 onwards.

Have you watched the 6 Nations this year? Wales are so boring, same old same old with the physicality. A prepared team can beat you any day of the week. Also if you're saying that you will have a better 8 come the world cup, England have a lot of players to come back, and will be a much stronger, more experienced and more confident side than the one that showed Wales up 3 weeks ago.

 

[ncurd]

Wales will win the group, under Gats we always improve the longer the tournament goes on, so with a 1st up against Uraguay we will be ready for England and lets face it we won't have to improve much to beat them, we will have a better 8 come the wc than we had a couple of weeks ago, so the backs won't be ball starved, momentum will lead to us beating Oz as well, pity though as finishing 2nd would give us S A in the 1/4s and I'd fancy us to beat them again.

- - - Updated - - -



Wales are far from boring that badge sits firmly with England, we may have failed to fire on all cylinders this 6 nations but check our try count and grand slams against England from 2005 onwards.

I think Wales winning the group is extremely unlikely can't see them beating England, Fiji 4 days later and Australia. Mind you the team top of the group may not win all their games which is perfectly likely.

Why 2005? Oh yeah you won a grand slam that year why not go 2 years further back to England's last one?

Here's a better look lets look at Wales under Warrenball so 2008 onwards (missing out 2013 as he wasn't in charge).

'08 Wales GS, England 2nd, Wales have 5 tries more than England
'09 Wales 4th, England 2nd, Wales have 8 tries less than England
'10 Wales 4th, England 3rd, Wales have 4 tries more than England
'11 Wales 4th, England 1st, Wales have 7 tries less than England

Lancaster era
'12 Wales GS, England 2nd, Wales have 3 tries more than England
'14 Wales 3rd, England 2nd, Wales have 3 tries less than England

total try diffrence England +6

***les 2 vs 1 in favour to Wales
England position better against Wales 4 vs 2

If you include '13 Wales gain an extra ***le and better position. And try diffrence becomes +2 to England

However unless you include ***le's both sides are pretty even so don't think either side comes out on top really as to who's most 'boring'.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Convinced that everything out of VC's mouth is a WUM/troll, now.

Going on about Wales having a better pack by then, ignoring that England are missing or first choice props, starting (and bench) locks, and starting number 8.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Convinced that everything out of VC's mouth is a WUM/troll, now.

Going on about Wales having a better pack by then, ignoring that England are missing or first choice props, starting (and bench) locks, and starting number 8.

Not so much a deliberate WUM as 'Doesn't know much about rugby!'

 

[ncurd]

Not so much a deliberate WUM as 'Doesn't know much about rugby!'

Suggest you look at his posts in other threads...

 

[LiRFCMatt]

All it does is bring back the memories of how Wales were dominated by England 3 weeks ago, I have a sneaking feeling he is in fact English trying to haunt the Welsh.

 

[Jbobo]

Wales will win the group, under Gats we always improve the longer the tournament goes on, so with a 1st up against Uraguay we will be ready for England and lets face it we won't have to improve much to beat them, we will have a better 8 come the wc than we had a couple of weeks ago, so the backs won't be ball starved, momentum will lead to us beating Oz as well, pity though as finishing 2nd would give us S A in the 1/4s and I'd fancy us to beat them again.

- - - Updated - - -



Wales are far from boring that badge sits firmly with England, we may have failed to fire on all cylinders this 6 nations but check our try count and grand slams against England from 2005 onwards.

OMG you must be a troll!!! That is SO very Un-English of you. Get owt now you valley peasant!!


(actually, i agree about the momentum and importance of preparation together for Wales). Not sure if i agree that we will beat Australia, but i don't think England will either. I do think Wales will beat England.

 

[ncurd]

All it does is bring back the memories of how Wales were dominated by England 3 weeks ago, I have a sneaking feeling he is in fact English trying to haunt the Welsh.

Clearly you've not been reading today apparently Wales dominated for the first half of that game...

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Clearly you've not been reading today apparently Wales dominated for the first half of that game...

Well you've gotta admire the confidence. Actually... no, no you don't. First 10 minutes absolutely, they looked the better side, a moment of (illegal?) magic from Faletau after the English scrum dominated Wales and it looked like they could win it. I don't recall seeing anyone do anything else for Wales that game though, apart from a great try saving tackle from A.Post...

Wales struggle against Australia typically, the Aussies will be able to cope with the physicality, they just have to be wary of conceding penalties for Ha'penny to knock over. England will beat Wales for a third year in a row, beat Australia for a third year in a row, and come out top of the group.

 

[Jbobo]

So funny how every time anybody who is not English posts anything which does not align perfectly with the prat pack's views is automatically a WUM/Troll/lacking any knowledge of the game.