[quote]IrishDiablo wrote:
the thing about tait is hes the only centre option who is in any way creative…tuilagi/hape/tindall/bananaman and even anthony allen(ive only seen him play 3 games for leicester in fairness) are all one dimensional which suits the crash bang wallop nature of the aviva premiership…
in fairness,playing for sale has done him no favours as they are beyond terrible…england have a quality attacking back three but more often than not the ball is taken into contact in midfield and slowed/lost/kicked away or they attack so far behind the gainline theres no chance of making progress…[/quote]
I agree with this. I don’t think centres always have to be monsters. Tait may be smaller, but his skill and creativity make up for this. I think that English rugby has put too much focus on the idea that ‘bigger is better’ over the last 5-6 years. Of course size and physical conditioning are positives, but only when they are matched by skill level and technical ability.
i just dont see what the fuss is about tait, i never have done. I think hape and lowe centership would flourish like i said before. Hape offloading with lowe running off of him.
Stuart abbott and fraser waters were great examples of this…
Ha! Poms and paddies talking about rugby, you gotta love it. Seriously, c’mon gents, is there really any doubt who’s taking home the silverware this time round?
Bleed Black.
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Ha! Poms and paddies talking about rugby, you gotta love it. Seriously, c’mon gents, is there really any doubt who’s taking home the silverware this time round?
Bleed Black.[/quote]
Chokers!
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Ha! Poms and paddies talking about rugby, you gotta love it. Seriously, c’mon gents, is there really any doubt who’s taking home the silverware this time round?
Bleed Black.[/quote]
Yeah youve been favourites for how many previous tournaments? your world cup trophy cabinet must be overflowing… oh wait. MENTALLY WEAK
edit for spelling
until the convicts beat you in the semis…
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Ha! Poms and paddies talking about rugby, you gotta love it. Seriously, c’mon gents, is there really any doubt who’s taking home the silverware this time round?
Bleed Black.[/quote]
Genuinely not trying to derail the thread, but the arrogance that Kiwi’s hold about rugby is truly staggering. Yes you are the topped ranked team in the world, but god damn you would wanna be given the amount of registered players in relation to the NZ population.
It would be great to see NZ get a boost after the horrific year the country has had, but fuck we’ll never hear the end of it.
We dont hear the end of it anyways!
Its like englands football fans and 1966… but atleast they actually won something!
If the achievement is over 10 years old then you cant bring it up (england won in 2003 btw…) 
so true…it must be annoying to be consistently the best team in the world regularly beating everyone else but always bottling it at world cups
as Jereth127 said, the majority of all rugby fans would love to see NZ win it after what happened earlier in the year but there is also a small part of each fan that would love to see the arrogant kiwis fuck it all up again!!
[quote]Jereth127 wrote:
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Ha! Poms and paddies talking about rugby, you gotta love it. Seriously, c’mon gents, is there really any doubt who’s taking home the silverware this time round?
Bleed Black.[/quote]
Genuinely not trying to derail the thread, but the arrogance that Kiwi’s hold about rugby is truly staggering. Yes you are the topped ranked team in the world, but god damn you would wanna be given the amount of registered players in relation to the NZ population.
It would be great to see NZ get a boost after the horrific year the country has had, but fuck we’ll never hear the end of it.[/quote]
Nah I wouldn’t say that. Regardless, you’re talking to the wrong guy. I actually only got into rugby maybe 2 years ago. Although it’s the national sport here in NZ I never really made a connection with it through watching or going to any union or league matches. I grew up in NZ playing basketball and watching ESPN - I know more about American basketball (NBA) and football (NFL) than I do about rugby.
In all seriousness, I respect the knowledge you guys are putting out in this thread. Rugby is a great sport with passionate fans. Imagine if your guys’ teams were the best in the world!
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Nah I wouldn’t say that. Regardless, you’re talking to the wrong guy. I actually only got into rugby maybe 2 years ago. Although it’s the national sport here in NZ I never really made a connection with it through watching or going to any union or league matches. I grew up in NZ playing basketball and watching ESPN - I know more about American basketball (NBA) and football (NFL) than I do about rugby.
In all seriousness, I respect the knowledge you guys are putting out in this thread. Rugby is a great sport with passionate fans. Imagine if your guys’ teams were the best in the world!
[/quote]
Yeah my buddies the same, doesn’t watch any of the mainstream sports over here, big time into the NFL though.
And I can sure as hell respect teams like the AB’s, you don’t get the most revered sporting reputation in the world easily and they’re favourites every WC for good reason.
Anyways, best team at the end of the day will win and the smart money is definitely on the Kiwi’s. It’s all just friendly banter and all that.
How did I miss this thread?
Can’t wait for the world cup. New Zealand “should” win, but then they “should” have one the last two as well.
My money’s on Australia to win. They can score tries for fun from anywhere on anybody. All that talent Cooper, Genia, O’connor, Beale and Digby Ione, not to forget Drew Mitchell. It would be great to see him fit to play, but I can’t see it. If a game comes down to who scores last, they will win. They even manage to play well with a shit scrum, they’ve just learnt to get the ball out real quick before it collapses. LOL
Biggest surprise? - I think France will perform despite their coach.
Biggest disappointment? - South Africa. They say the NH has adapted slowly to the law changes at the breakdown?, well SA are trailing the NH IMO. Very old fashioned style of play and that godawful Steyn (francois, not Morne) whose only tactic these days seems to be attempting drop goals from 50 metres.
I live in Wales but I’m English. I’m going to the 2nd warm up match at Cardiff, can’t wait. My mate (who knows someone who knows someone) swung a deal where we get free pitchside seats if we go on the pitch at halftime and push in divots. They’ll be plenty to push in, the Millenium turf is absolute shite!
Not talking it up much beacause secretly worried we will choke again…
All the hype about SBW…pffftt…that great off-load of his is becoming pretty predictable and readable.
I agree with carter/macaw axis being quite pivotal but would say the same for the quade/genia one.
Aussie the one to watch as always…punch way above their weight and always fight to the absolute BITTER END.
Mentally tough bastards.
However, if you look at their stats against us over the years we have kicked their butts all over the field…oh…except they have won one more world cup than we have.
Exciting shit though…can’t wait.
EDIT:
The fucking french better not have one good game the whole tournament against us and kick us out…I couldn’t take it.
samoa to upset for sure
Hopefully the SA players can coach themselves because the guy in charge now is a tool
[quote]rehanb_bl wrote:
samoa to upset for sure
Hopefully the SA players can coach themselves because the guy in charge now is a tool[/quote]
Yeah…both the french and the japies have professional clowns for coaches unfortunately for them.
Epic game from samoa…there were a few dodgy tackles from them on the night though - they can esily become ill disciplined when things get emotional and then the penalty points start mounting up against them.
I think Pocock is more key than Genia and Cooper. He really lifts the team and is technically superior to any other flanker in the world in my opinion. He is strong, agile, quick… seems to be at every other breakdown, which every openside should be, and more often that not (it seems), wins a turnover.
If he gets injured, then i think they can kiss their chances good bye.
I know AUS are second favourites with the bookies, but imo, i would have them at the top. Theyre just dangerous team to play against.
I hope they mentally cant step up though, like with samoa and england. They seem to switch off in some games and implode.
[quote]rugggby wrote:
I think Pocock is more key than Genia and Cooper. He really lifts the team and is technically superior to any other flanker in the world in my opinion. He is strong, agile, quick… seems to be at every other breakdown, which every openside should be, and more often that not (it seems), wins a turnover.
If he gets injured, then i think they can kiss their chances good bye.
I know AUS are second favourites with the bookies, but imo, i would have them at the top. Theyre just dangerous team to play against.
I hope they mentally cant step up though, like with samoa and england. They seem to switch off in some games and implode.[/quote]
You have the Aussies at favourites? Don’t see it myself. I’d the Saffas and Kiwis before the Aussies. I even think Ireland will do them in the group stages. Lets see how effective Quade cooper is on a rainy night in Auckland…
SA , NZ maybe… but Ireland? Cmon mate, dont be delusional! When they are firing i truly think they are unbeatable. Quade Cooper’s attacking ability is second to none and the backline are great as well.
[quote]rugggby wrote:
SA , NZ maybe… but Ireland? Cmon mate, dont be delusional! When they are firing i truly think they are unbeatable. Quade Cooper’s attacking ability is second to none and the backline are great as well.[/quote]
I didn’t say they will finish higher then them, but I do believe that Ireland could beat them in the group game.
Quade cooper is great going forward, but if he is forced to play defensively I think he will be shown up. Also I think that it’s quite possible that the game will be played in wet circumstances, which will definitely suit Ireland. But it does depend on which Ireland turn up. Ireland have enough quality in their team to beat them if they play well, and players like Heaslip will really test Cooper.
I’m certain that game will be a great contest regardless of who wins.
I think New Zealand will have to try hard to lose, but then again the pressure is all on them. Can they handle it? Ironic that they have the french, but then again lievremont is the head coach. Between lievremont and de villiers i think it’s an all black conspiracy to eliminate their biggest competition.
