RWC 2011 thread

[PaddyG]

Having read the SA rugby discussion, I thought I'd beat you all to it by opening the RWC 2011 thread. Who's a banker? Who has an outside chance?
I'm not a huge follower of SH rugby, but based on previous experience and competitions:
From my point of view, it would be hard to look past the ABs to win, they are at home and could be propelled by the events in Christchurch. However, they are perennial RWC chokers and haven't won since the inaugural competition back in 1987 (also in NZ).
Next up wold be the Springboks. Always competition performers, but do suffer the odd hiccup (Scotland back in the Autumn, wtf?).
Then come Wallabies, England and France. All pretty much with an equal chance of lifting the trophy behind the ABs and boks.
Who do I want to win? Well, England, of course

[grumpygit]

	Quote:	PaddyG
	Having read the SA rugby discussion, I thought I'd beat you all to it by opening the RWC 2011 thread. Who's a banker? Who has an outside chance? I'm not a huge follower of SH rugby, but based on previous experience and competitions: From my point of view, it would be hard to look past the ABs to win, they are at home and could be propelled by the events in Christchurch. However, they are perennial RWC chokers and haven't won since the inaugural competition back in 1987 (also in NZ). Next up wold be the Springboks. Always competition performers, but do suffer the odd hiccup (Scotland back in the Autumn, wtf?). Then come Wallabies, England and France. All pretty much with an equal chance of lifting the trophy behind the ABs and boks. Who do I want to win? Well, England, of course

With you there, but chokers is a non acceptable noma if you ask the SA cricketers

[roostermike]

	Quote:	PaddyG
	Having read the SA rugby discussion, I thought I'd beat you all to it by opening the RWC 2011 thread. Who's a banker? Who has an outside chance? I'm not a huge follower of SH rugby, but based on previous experience and competitions: From my point of view, it would be hard to look past the ABs to win, they are at home and could be propelled by the events in Christchurch. However, they are perennial RWC chokers and haven't won since the inaugural competition back in 1987 (also in NZ). Next up wold be the Springboks. Always competition performers, but do suffer the odd hiccup (Scotland back in the Autumn, wtf?). Then come Wallabies, England and France. All pretty much with an equal chance of lifting the trophy behind the ABs and boks. Who do I want to win? Well, England, of course

Eish, don't remind me about our Scotland debacle...

I would agree, although I have also been watching the Aussies, and even though they currently lack a little consistency (loss to England, Hiding to France), the Waratah's are looking like the Aussie team to beat in the Super 15. In addition, the Aussies have a very strong backline, just the scrum which is horrible (a few exceptions of course).

Of course I am backing the Boks to take it, but that will come down to our: 1) coach, and 2) injury list.

Don't forget the french, they can always be a bogey team. Probably wont win the cup but if the Kiwi's meet them in the Quarters or Semi's then watch out.

I will also be backing the Romanians (obvious reasons), as my wife has always backed the Boks!

[Nelly_Da_Hefferlump]

As I said...

	Quote:	Nelly_Da_Hefferlump
	For the WC? It will come down to the big 4 (Kiwis, Wallabies, Boks and Poms) as usual. Hopefully there will be a good showing from the Frogs and Argentina, both play with 90% heart/flare and 10% brute strength. I know Argentina are considered minnos of rugby but I would really like for them to beat one of the big 4. Would do world rugby so much good.

Smart money would be on the Kiwi's. The problem with a competition like this is when it gets to the knockout stage if your team hasn't settled and is not firing as a unit, you may as well not even show up. The Kiwis know this all too well. But with the home ground advantage I think this may be there time. This coming from a Bok fan sounds crazy but I am talking about the smart money and not my money. I'm still backing the Boks.

P.S. The only reason the Kiwis won the first WC was because the Boks were not allowed to play.

[roostermike]

	Quote:	Nelly_Da_Hefferlump
	As I said... Smart money would be on the Kiwi's. The problem with a competition like this is when it gets to the knockout stage if your team hasn't settled and is not firing as a unit, you may as well not even show up. The Kiwis know this all too well. But with the home ground advantage I think this may be there time. This coming from a Bok fan sounds crazy but I am talking about the smart money and not my money. I'm still backing the Boks. P.S. The only reason the Kiwis won the first WC was because the Boks were not allowed to play.

I reckon injuries will be critical. As an example, if Carter and McCaw both end up injured, things could look a lot different.

Same with us, if du Preez and some others (the beast, bismarck, alberts, steyn, fourie or de villiers) get injured, then we may have problem.

And if a nightmare occours, like Januarie is injured then we really are finished... KIDDING.... What a dream

[Carlos R]

@ PaddyG - are EF thread suggestions copyrightable?

	Quote:	roostermike
	Quote: Carlos R As an "Englander", I actually think we've got some talent in the wings and on the bench. If you consider that Moody, Croft, Lawes, Sheridan (injuries) and Armitage (suspension) have not really played in the 6N, we've had some people step up to the plate and put in performances that suggests some strength in depth. Flood's making breaks, and we've got JW on the bench. Youngs is looking threatening, although he had only an OKish game against France. 12/13 remains a problem. I don't think we'll win the RWC - although hope springs eternal! - but I do think we'll put in a good showing and certainly better than 12 months ago... (I guess we should start a RWC 2011 thread... sorry for the hijack ) No problem hijacking the thread, should have probably made this a general rugby discussion. I do agree, I was quite surprised that the Springboks managed to beat you guys (don't get me wrong, I am a BOK supporter to the death). But hey, we all have bad days and good. England has some talented players, which could prove to be rather helpful at the WC. I am also very happy to see some young fresh blood in the England team. However, considering that the Boks, Kiwis and Aussies will be coming to the WC on the back of a really tough Super 15 competition, injuries will most certainly play a big role for us. I just hope we can all field a decent team... Whats your best pick for the WC? I am still favouring a Southern Hemisphere (biased maybe yes) team. But lets see...

Really predictable, I'm afraid.

Favourites
NZ on form obviously
SA if they don't stumble - when on fire, they are unstoppable, but they don't have - to my mind - the same consistency as NZ, ironically though they have won the RWC more often!

Second tier
Australia
England - although as commented on by Fitz, they may be a bit too late in discovering some of the new talent...

Sorry, but I really don't think France, Argentina or any of the other 6Ns can sustain a tournament-long push for the cup.

[PaddyG]

	Quote:	Carlos R
	@ PaddyG - are EF thread suggestions copyrightable?

Fraid not

As regards the ABs, they always seem to peak at the wrong time for the RWC. I'll follow the Super 15 a bit closer this year maybe, might throw down a few markers.

[roostermike]

Here's to a cracker of a World Cup!!

[Danieluk]

Well of course England are going to win I think it will be quite an interesting and a hard one to judge this year, as many teams are currently struggling to find any consistent form (even Wales broke their recent bad run at the weekend ).

Looking at the draw there will be some tasty encounters if the pool games go with world rankings/general expectations; England will meet the French in QF2, and NZ meeting Argentina in QF4...both games could go against the form book quite easily...but if both England and NZ win, then England will get the pleasure of beating the Aussies again in SF2, but NZ will have an even tougher game against the Boks in SF1...I think that'll be the game of the tournament!

But who knows what will happen, maybe Italy will have their revenge against the Irish and edge second place in the pool? One thing is for sure...it's gonna be one awesome tournament

Fixtures:
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/mm/Docu...041707_PDF.pdf

[PaddyG]

What's the time difference between NZ and CET?

OK, just checked on my iPod, 12 hrs ahead in Auckland, exactly. So most KOs are going to be hellish early morning / stay up all night jobbies

[roostermike]

	Quote:	Danieluk
	Well of course England are going to win I think it will be quite an interesting and a hard one to judge this year, as many teams are currently struggling to find any consistent form (even Wales broke their recent bad run at the weekend ). Looking at the draw there will be some tasty encounters if the pool games go with world rankings/general expectations; England will meet the French in QF2, and NZ meeting Argentina in QF4...both games could go against the form book quite easily...but if both England and NZ win, then England will get the pleasure of beating the Aussies again in SF2, but NZ will have an even tougher game against the Boks in SF1...I think that'll be the game of the tournament! But who knows what will happen, maybe Italy will have their revenge against the Irish and edge second place in the pool? One thing is for sure...it's gonna be one awesome tournament Fixtures: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/mm/Docu...041707_PDF.pdf

Eish I just saw the times, and if my calculations are correct then all games are either extremely early morning or just early morning. E.g. 8pm kiwi time is 8am swiss time... and obviously gets worse for the 1pm games...

Oh man, beer at that time. This is gonna be tough... But for rugga, definitely worth it!

[roostermike]

	Quote:	PaddyG
	What's the time difference between NZ and CET? OK, just checked on my iPod, 12 hrs ahead in Auckland, exactly. So most KOs are going to be hellish early morning / stay up all night jobbies

Beat me to it! Quick on the draw!

[paizuri]

	Quote:	roostermike
	Eish I just saw the times, and if my calculations are correct then all games are either extremely early morning or just early morning. E.g. 8pm kiwi time is 8am swiss time... and obviously gets worse for the 1pm games... Oh man, beer at that time. This is gonna be tough... But for rugga, definitely worth it!

Schedule is here:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/mm/Docu...041707_PDF.pdf

Note - it will be daylight savings time in Switzerland for the whole competition, which means for the 8:30 kickoff it will be 10:30 am here, not so bad. BUT... note.... NZ itself will go to daylight saving at the end of September, so the games in OCt will be an hour different. eg. final, at 9pm will be 10 am here. At least I think that's right.

[SOBEIT]

I think England have as much chance of winning the RFC of me being decapitated by a Frisbee and finding Elvis on the Moon!

[Jimmy Bee]

Being one of the 70-80% of the people from Australia that dont give a crap about the rugby (either league or union) I say go the Wallabies. Great if we win, but its not the end of the world if we dont. As my dad said, we tend to only watch the highlights of the all black games to see if they choke

[PaddyG]

Wallabies? Oops.

[TidakApa]

	Quote:	Jimmy Bee
	Being one of the 70-80% of the people from Australia that dont give a crap about the rugby (either league or union)

GROAN !!!

I'm glad to be on of the 20%-30% who know what sport is !!!


Rubgy isn't a sport, it's a way of life.

(albeit, the 'League' way of life is a little more "Bogan")

	Quote:	PaddyG
	Wallabies? Oops.

Yep,
embarrassing

Lucky they are in the pool with the Saffa's though.

[MarkH]

	Quote:	Danieluk
	Well of course England are going to win

Yeah! And I'm the Easter Bunny.
Go Bokke!!!!!!!!!!!

[TimU]

horrible showing by AUS vs Samoa. An unfortuante backward step after the Reds Super 15 GF win. Hopefully this is the kick in the behind we need to get into gear and start a successful RWC campaign later this year...

[Jimmy Bee]

	Quote:	billhardie
	GROAN !!! I'm glad to be on of the 20%-30% who know what sport is !!! Rubgy isn't a sport, it's a way of life. (albeit, the 'League' way of life is a little more "Bogan")

Sorry Bill. Simple fact of where I come from.

But don't get me wrong, Id love to see the aussies win. Might pop into the Twist on the odd game if there's a few watching