World Cup Predictions

[Finerz]

Now the rugby is over for 2010 and we have the full pools for next years RWC, I think it is time to make some predictions. Here are the pools as they stand:

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Canada, Japan
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Russia, USA
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Namibia

The quarterfinals will be:
QF1: W Pool C v RU Pool D
QF2: W Pool B v RU Pool A
QF3: W Pool D v RU Pool C
QF4: W Pool A v RU Pool B

The semifinals:
SF1: W QF1 v W QF2
SF2: W QF3 v W QF4

The third place play-off:
L SF1 v L SF2

And the Final:
W SF1 v W SF2

Here is how I think it will go:
Pool A: 1. New Zealand, 2. France, 3. Tonga, 4. Canada, 5. Japan
Pool B: 1. England, 2. Scotland, 3. Argentina, 4. Georgia, 5. Romania
Pool C: 1. Australia, 2. Ireland, 3. Italy, 4. USA, 5. Russia
Pool D: 1. South Africa, 2. Samoa, 3. Wales, 4. Fiji, 5. Namibia

Pool A is fairly obvious. Based on this autumns performances I think England will win easily in Pool B and Scotland will beat Argentina to continue their 100% knockout stages record. Pool C is also pretty obvious. Pool D is a very tough one. Samoa troubled all who they played this autumn and I think they will be very impressive, just pipping Wales who are struggling to second place.

QF1: Australia v Samoa
QF2: England v France
QF3: South Africa v Ireland
QF4: New Zealand v Scotland

I think Australia will be too much for Samoa. England v France is a tough one, just think England will have the edge. South Africa v Ireland is also close, they both didn't perform well this Autumn but I think the South Africans will just pip the Irish. QF4, although it pains me to say it as a Scotsman, if a foregone conclusion.

SF1: Australia v England
SF2: South Africa v New Zealand

If England had backed up their win over the Aussies this Autumn I would have picked them. I have doubts about whether NZ will do what they always do in World Cups, but i will bak them over SA.

3PP: England v South Africa

This will again be a tight match, but I think England will have the belief to win it.

F: Australia v New Zealand

If NZ get to the final, I can't see them losing, its just them getting there that will be tough.




Do you agree?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I agree with all of that, though Argentina v Scotland will be a big match, and I'm not sure who'll take it (atm Scotland, but we've got a fair few months until the WC). Wales/Samoa will be a deciding match as well, can see Wales making it through in Samoas place
England/France QF would be a goodun, and England v Australia semi as well

Next years Tri-Nations will be a good indication of what to expect, SA v NZ will be interesting as whomever comes out of the 3N the best will likely be in the WC final

 

[Finerz]

Sco - Arg is a big match. Scotland showed they can win (won 5 of their last 6 matches), and that is even without some key players, who will be back for the six nations and the world cup. Argentina didn't seem to show much at all vs Ireland today, and there doesn't seem to be much for the future there either as most of their players are getting old and it will take time for new players to come in - longer than they have before the world cup.

 

[dullonien]

I'll judge things a little more after the 6 nations. Wales competed well against all three SANSAR teams this autumn. However we were poor against Fiji, which doesn't bode well for our tests against Fiji and Samoa in the WC. I think our problem at the moment is our lack of winning, however if we can turn that around and win 4ish 6 nations games and have a good warm up to the WC then I'd back us to make it through to the knock out stages.

Wouldn't be surprised if Gatland picked a hugely physical team against both Fiji and Samoa in the WC and just grin out both wins. A team like this would be tough to beat:

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Matthew Rees
03 Adam Jones
04 Bradley Davies
05 Alun-Wyn Jones / Ian Evans
06 Dan Lydiate
07 Sam Warburton
08 Faletau / Ryan Jones

09 Mike Phillips
10 Stephen Jones
11 George North
12 Gavin Henson / Jamie Roberts
13 Jamie Roberts / Jonathan Davies
14 Leigh Halfpenny (has never struggled physically)
15 Leigh Byrne.

That's what I'd do tbh. Just batter them up front and not give them the ball. But somehow we always get drawn into a frantic open game...

 

[ckell]

Australia vs Wales
England vs France
South Africa vs Ireland
New Zealand vs Argentina/Scotland

I'm pretty sure about QF2 and 3s teams. Wales have drawn a tough, physical group and they could really struggle to get past Samoa and Fiji but I believe they have the talent to do so. And as for the group of death, right now I actually think Scotland are better than Argentina but I just have a feeling that the Pumas will come to the World Cup ready to play as usual. It really is a toss up though... As for the games themselves, Australia would have too much for Wales and the same applies for the All Blacks game. South Africa to scrape past Ireland. As for qf2, well, if the French were underdogs and being written off all tournament, I'd pick them to pull off one of their vintage upsets but having said that England show up at World Cups so I'd pick them.

Australia vs England
South Africa vs New Zealand

Final:
Australia vs New Zealand

Not so sure about this but Australia go to World Cups to win them and NZ go not to lose them. Its hard to envisage the All Blacks losing at home but I've just gotta feeling. Then again, all of this irrelevant...

 

[Draggs]

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Matthew Rees
03 Adam Jones
04 Bradley Davies
05 Alun-Wyn Jones / Ian Evans
06 Dan Lydiate
07 Sam Warburton
08 Faletau / Ryan Jones

09 Mike Phillips
10 Stephen Jones
11 George North
12 Gavin Henson / Jamie Roberts
13 Jamie Roberts / Jonathan Davies
14 Leigh Halfpenny (has never struggled physically)
15 Leigh Byrne.

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Gareth Delve (Still the best Welsh 8)
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Shane Williams
12. Jamie Roberts (Better IC than OC)
13. Gavin Henson (Can adapt to OC)
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. ? (Prydie? Halfpenny? Certainly not Byrne right now)

16. Ken Owens
17. Some young prop, hopefully (Bev, Andrews, Mitchell)
18. Ian Evans
19. Andy Powell/ Martyn Williams
20. Richie Rees/ Tavis Knoyle
21. Stephen Jones/ Rhys Priestland/ Jason Tovey
22. Jonathan Davies

 

[Dizzy]

New Zealand to win..

Although and I have stated before on here... I saw this medium last year who claimed to have never followed Rugby, when he was asked who will win the 2011 World Cup he said "Australia" without hesitation and pure confidence. I am a skeptic but if they win, then I may have more of an open mind

 

[TRF_Olyy]

New Zealand to win..

Although and I have stated before on here... I saw this medium last year who claimed to have never followed Rugby, when he was asked who will win the 2011 World Cup he said "Australia" without hesitation and pure confidence. I am a skeptic but if they win, then I may have more of an open mind

It's pretty much a 1 in 3 chance of being right though....

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Every way I look at it, it is going to be a NZ Aus final.

 

[dullonien]

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Gareth Delve (Still the best Welsh 8)
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Shane Williams
12. Jamie Roberts (Better IC than OC)
13. Gavin Henson (Can adapt to OC)
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. ? (Prydie? Halfpenny? Certainly not Byrne right now)

16. Ken Owens
17. Some young prop, hopefully (Bev, Andrews, Mitchell)
18. Ian Evans
19. Andy Powell/ Martyn Williams
20. Richie Rees/ Tavis Knoyle
21. Stephen Jones/ Rhys Priestland/ Jason Tovey
22. Jonathan Davies

The point of my team was more about physicality rather than what was the best Welsh team available. That's why I didn't consider the likes of Hook and Shane. Also the reason for including Byrne, but that would of course depend on form. It could be a tactic worth considering, as it doesn't matter by how many points we win by, we just need to make sure we don't end up in a game like Fiji 07 or two weeks ago. To do that, we have to be physical and simply do the basics right. Pick a big midfield combo with Steven Jones at 10, and don't let them make ground. Whilst this may be completely the wrong thing to do, and concentrating on our own game may be the way to go, it was just a suggestion really.

I like the team you've selected, but I don't think Delve will be involved unfortunately, shot himself in the foot with his move to Aus. I think Paul James is easily our bast option for bench spot, as he's very good at the basics on both sides of the scrum. He's no Gethin Jenkins in open play, but then how many props are?

 

[SavageLez]

I agree with most of those predictions but I think Wales will go through ahead of Samoa.

QF1: Australia v Wales (iso Samoa)
QF2: England v France
QF3: South Africa v Ireland
QF4: New Zealand v Scotland

I also think that SA have a great chance of causing an All Black "Black Out" or upset because they have beaten NZ in NZ in recent times, they will have most of their top class injured players like Fourie Du Preez, Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, John Smit, Guthro Steenkamp, Jaques Fourie, Habana and JP Pieterson back, the same crop of players have all got World Cup experience and success and finally they are sticking to a game plan which sucks as a spectacle but everyone knows that the RWC is not won playing running rugby. The pressure is huge and the matches are a lot tighter than usual.
South Africa have also won the world cup 2 out of 4 attempts (95,99,2003 & 2007) = 50%
NZ have only won 1 world cup out of 6 attempts (87,91,95,2003 & 2007) = 16.6%

Having said that - If NZ do not win this world cup on their home ground with such a strong team I cant see them winning a world cup for another decade!

 

[Sam Owen]

Do you agree?

Yep. Its looking that way right now.

NZ and AUS are building towards next years WC nicely and they can only get better.

 

[alexrugby]

Now the rugby is over for 2010 and we have the full pools for next years RWC, I think it is time to make some predictions. Here are the pools as they stand:

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Canada, Japan
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Russia, USA
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Namibia

The quarterfinals will be:
QF1: W Pool C v RU Pool D
QF2: W Pool B v RU Pool A
QF3: W Pool D v RU Pool C
QF4: W Pool A v RU Pool B

The semifinals:
SF1: W QF1 v W QF2
SF2: W QF3 v W QF4

And the Final:
W SF1 v W SF2

Here is how I think it will go:
Pool A: 1. New Zealand, 2. France, 3. Tonga, 4. Canada, 5. Japan
Pool B: 1. England, 2. Scotland, 3. Argentina, 4. Georgia, 5. Romania
Pool C: 1. Australia, 2. Ireland, 3. Italy, 4. USA, 5. Russia
Pool D: 1. South Africa, 2. Samoa, 3. Wales, 4. Fiji, 5. Namibia

Pool A is fairly obvious. Based on this autumns performances I think England will win easily in Pool B and Scotland will beat Argentina to continue their 100% knockout stages record. Pool C is also pretty obvious. Pool D is a very tough one. Samoa troubled all who they played this autumn and I think they will be very impressive, just pipping Wales who are struggling to second place.

QF1: Australia v Samoa
QF2: England v France
QF3: South Africa v Ireland
QF4: New Zealand v Scotland

I think Australia will be too much for Samoa. England v France is a tough one, just think England will have the edge. South Africa v Ireland is also close, they both didn't perform well this Autumn but I think the South Africans will just pip the Irish. QF4, although it pains me to say it as a Scotsman, if a foregone conclusion.

SF1: Australia v England
SF2: South Africa v New Zealand

If England had backed up their win over the Aussies this Autumn I would have picked them. I have doubts about whether NZ will do what they always do in World Cups, but i will bak them over SA.

F: Australia v New Zealand

If NZ get to the final, I can't see them losing, its just them getting there that will be tough.

Do you agree?

Yes God damn it I agree with you

NZ is going to be the champion this year I strongly suggest

That's my subjective idea based on objective analysis of NZ's play- they show today

 

[Larksea]

I think that looks pretty good, though I think Argentina will be stronger at the world cup. It's the only time they really get their best players together and build a proper team.

As a NZ supporter I'm really happy France are in our pool. They are a side that can upset the AB's but maybe not more than once in a short time period and if they beat NZ in the pool it will just make the AB's more dangerous.

As we have seen recently AUS are pretty weak against England, I think Deans puts a lot of focus on beating the AB's which leaves the team weak against some other teams.

In the end honestly with home advantage the main issues that could stop the AB's winning it are an injury Crisis and Poor Refereeing. But in the end it comes down to one game and no matter how good a team is you can never garantee the better team will win on any given day

 

[Finerz]

Judging by what Argentina showed against Ireland, they don't seem to have much in terms of the near future, but with them you never know what to expect.

 

[cardassian]

My predictions

QF1: Australia v Wales
QF2: England v France
QF3: South Africa v Ireland
QF4: New Zealand v Scotland

SF1: England v Australia
SF2: New Zealand v South Africa

F: New Zealand v England

Although I'll hedge my bets with maybe Samoa/Fiji bumping out Wales, Argentina possibly beating Scotland and Ireland upsetting South Africa.

 

[Bossco]

I'd hope for the good of the game that SA won't win it (who wants a repeat of the 07 final), but their style really does work in WC's. The AB's winning forumula relies on confidence, if that wavers under the extreme pressure of a semi or final can they win playing ugly like SA?

 

[veux]

It's difficult to say because so much depends on player fitness (a la this years tri-nations). I think that if all teams have the best players available and playing, it'll be a SA vs England final.

 

[dullonien]

It's difficult to say because so much depends on player fitness (a la this years tri-nations). I think that if all teams have the best players available and playing, it'll be a SA vs England final.

Right.......

 

[Larksea]

I dont know how having this years injured players for 2011 suddenly drops NZ out of the running. NZ has had pretty much the same number of it's top players missing as other top nations. And others who got injured during the international season or only came back from long term injuries during the international season.

I know SA missed frontliners fourie du preez & Lowe but. Hogart(sp) & Juan Smith who replaced them ended up being two of SA's best players so I dont think SA were weakened as much as people think.

Though the AB's only missed Williams for the whole season there were a lot of players who are important to the squad that missed some/most games due to inury. Like Hore, Toeava, Weepu, Dagg, Kahui