Rugby World Cup 2007
Discussion
Surprised there isn't a thread running already. Unless I've been my usual myopic self and just didn't see it.
Sooo..here we go then
Can't believe it's been four years since Australia, it seemed such a long way off back then 
Anyway....
Argentina vs France tonight. I reckon this could be an interesting opener - Argentina can be surprisingly dangerous. I think France will win it, of course, but I'm hoping the Pumas will give 'em a scare or two.
Then tomorrow it's an interesting one for England too. The US have a huge pack. Again, it should be a foregone conclusion, but we should see some indications of how England can perform - I don't think Ashton's going to be at all complacent about the England debut.
Right, I'm off to the pub to get settled for the opening ceremony
Sooo..here we go then
Can't believe it's been four years since Australia, it seemed such a long way off back then Anyway....
Argentina vs France tonight. I reckon this could be an interesting opener - Argentina can be surprisingly dangerous. I think France will win it, of course, but I'm hoping the Pumas will give 'em a scare or two.
Then tomorrow it's an interesting one for England too. The US have a huge pack. Again, it should be a foregone conclusion, but we should see some indications of how England can perform - I don't think Ashton's going to be at all complacent about the England debut.
Right, I'm off to the pub to get settled for the opening ceremony
I wouldn't like to be in pool D. Three of the top 6 ranked teams in the World, and only two to qualify! I'm sure France will make it to the quarters, but I'm not actually convinced they'll win the pool. There's a lot of pressure on them, given that it's their home tournament, and they're hardly the most consistent team at stringing multiple results together. It only takes the wrong France to turn up against either the Argies or the Irish and they're looking at waiting on the result between those two and potentially points differences to see where they finish.
Pool C on the other hand? One could get rather cynical about the way in which the All Blacks seem to find themselves not for the first time with a free ride to the quarters at the top of this group. Italy is the only other team in this pool that makes it into the top 10, and that's only at 9th! OK, that's maybe being a tad unfair to the Scots, but I doubt anyone would put money on the Kiwis having to break out second gear in any of their group matches? With hindsight, maybe this is why they've choked a couple of previous cups? I seem to recall them having laughably easy groups before, so maybe by the time they get to the knockout stages, they've forgotten how to play against a challenging opponent?
You'd have to give Pool B to the Aussies I'd've thought, but then they are playing Wales in Cardiff, so maybe a freak result could happen there? It's hard to completely discount either Canada or Fiji (although I don't think the latter look as strong as some Fijian teams have) in terms of maybe managing to put one over on the Welsh to add a bit of drama to the affair?
As for Pool A and England, have you ever seen such a physical challenge in one place? Tonga and Samoa will doubtless tire in the last 20 minutes, but that's only of use to us and the Saffas if we actually have any players still standing! The US aren't exactly lacking in weight up front either, even if they don't really have the aggression of the Islanders. Oh well, at least we can count on a game of skill and grace against the Boks! It's not like there's ever been any history of physicality between us now, is it!
Winning is critical - runners up face Aus in the quarters!
Pool C on the other hand? One could get rather cynical about the way in which the All Blacks seem to find themselves not for the first time with a free ride to the quarters at the top of this group. Italy is the only other team in this pool that makes it into the top 10, and that's only at 9th! OK, that's maybe being a tad unfair to the Scots, but I doubt anyone would put money on the Kiwis having to break out second gear in any of their group matches? With hindsight, maybe this is why they've choked a couple of previous cups? I seem to recall them having laughably easy groups before, so maybe by the time they get to the knockout stages, they've forgotten how to play against a challenging opponent?
You'd have to give Pool B to the Aussies I'd've thought, but then they are playing Wales in Cardiff, so maybe a freak result could happen there? It's hard to completely discount either Canada or Fiji (although I don't think the latter look as strong as some Fijian teams have) in terms of maybe managing to put one over on the Welsh to add a bit of drama to the affair?
As for Pool A and England, have you ever seen such a physical challenge in one place? Tonga and Samoa will doubtless tire in the last 20 minutes, but that's only of use to us and the Saffas if we actually have any players still standing! The US aren't exactly lacking in weight up front either, even if they don't really have the aggression of the Islanders. Oh well, at least we can count on a game of skill and grace against the Boks! It's not like there's ever been any history of physicality between us now, is it!
Winning is critical - runners up face Aus in the quarters!Kermit power said:
You'd have to give Pool B to the Aussies I'd've thought, but then they are playing Wales in Cardiff, so maybe a freak result could happen there?
Freak Result ??? Surely that game is in the bag for Wales Genuinely do think that could be a close game, but then I am a tiny bit biased..
Kermit power said:
madbadger said:
come on argentina !
It won't get my fantasy league off to a very good start, but I am inclined to agree!I'd love to see Argentina make the final, then watch the Tri-Nations keep them out!
Famous Graham said:
Oh
My
God.
I never thought I'd see the day an Englishman would be cheering on the Argies
That was a fantastic game
I actually cheer them on against most other teams!My
God.
I never thought I'd see the day an Englishman would be cheering on the Argies
That was a fantastic game
We roundly stuffed them in the Falklands, so no need to bear a grudge over that, and I can't stand oikball, so Maradona's antics mean little to me.
Put that up against the benefits that will come to rugby from having more top flight nations, and the fact that the Tri-Nations persist in refusing to let them into a Southern Hemisphere four nations, which is long overdue. Hopefully, they'll run the Irish to within a point or two, go through as runners up from Pool D (assuming Ireland also beat the French), then go on to beat the All Blacks - who by then will have forgotten what it is to play a proper opponent - in the quarters!
madbadger said:
I'd love to see australia lose out in this worldcup - will knock their confidence for a while !
wot is it with you too&froms? Is it coz u loose so often you have to spend more time hopin that Oz fall over? Between France, Scotland & the Aussies I'm sure the average pom spend more time as an anti-supporter than as a supporter!Bring on more games like lastnight - that was great to watch and Go The Oz!
yr loving convict scum
HSVGTSCoupe said:
madbadger said:
I'd love to see australia lose out in this worldcup - will knock their confidence for a while !
wot is it with you too&froms? Is it coz u loose so often you have to spend more time hopin that Oz fall over? Between France, Scotland & the Aussies I'm sure the average pom spend more time as an anti-supporter than as a supporter!Bring on more games like lastnight - that was great to watch and Go The Oz!
yr loving convict scum
The difference is that being English, we generally want the underdog to win at the expense of the leading teams pretty much regardless of who they are! Of course, this doesn't really explain the Scotland thing, but you know what I mean!
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