Rugby World Cup 2011

Off Topic
61

[quote]krebcycle wrote:
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…[/quote]

My guess is very. Australia very regularly play in NZ while Ireland have an atrocious track record down south. I would also have the Aussies as favourites, it’s quite likely that the pressure of winning this WC will be too much for the Kiwi’s and they will implode in the latter stages. Australia to win, I’m saying it now.

Placing SA on the same level as the Wallabies at the moment is insane. The tri-nations game last week showed it all. SA will have the same WC campaign as Ireland will. Both teams will scrape past their group stage and be shown up in the knockout stages.

And if Ireland manage to lose a game by less than 12 points to the Aussies, we’ll be doing quite well. Not being an outright pessimist here, just a realist

62

[quote]rehanb_bl wrote:
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.[/quote]

France probably won’t be too much trouble for NZ. After that 6-nations campaign and lievremont showing what a prat he really is, there must be serious unrest in that camp.

Also there’s the age old tradition of French teams being completely unable to travel

63

[quote]Jereth127 wrote:

[quote]krebcycle wrote:
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…[/quote]

My guess is very. Australia very regularly play in NZ while Ireland have an atrocious track record down south. I would also have the Aussies as favourites, it’s quite likely that the pressure of winning this WC will be too much for the Kiwi’s and they will implode in the latter stages. Australia to win, I’m saying it now.

Placing SA on the same level as the Wallabies at the moment is insane. The tri-nations game last week showed it all. SA will have the same WC campaign as Ireland will. Both teams will scrape past their group stage and be shown up in the knockout stages.

And if Ireland manage to lose a game by less than 12 points to the Aussies, we’ll be doing quite well. Not being an outright pessimist here, just a realist
[/quote]

Sa are fielding a pretty poor 2nd string team for the Tri nations, so can’t really take how they will preform in the WC from that.

I do agree though, even without having left 21 better players at home they are up against it.

64

What? no pics?

SA for the win.

65

After watching the NZ v SA game i have to disagree.

I know it was a 2nd/3rd string SA team, but defensively they looked amateur. It summed it up when SBW came on, got a loose ball and 3 players ran towards him, out of the line and he offloaded carter into a gap.

SA look piss poor. I think it was a big mistake resting his top players. They may be rusty come world cup.

EDIT: saying that, i defo think you have found a few diamonds in the rough from this game.

66

[quote]krebcycle wrote:

[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.[/quote]

I never meant finishing higher mate, i just meant (in friendly british isles banter stlyee) you just wont beat them! I agree the weather might be a testing factor for them, but i honestly think they will deal with that.

I dont know the routes of others, all i know is we may meet the all blacks.

Who have australia potentially got en route to the final?

67

[quote]rugggby wrote:

SA look piss poor. I think it was a big mistake resting his top players. They may be rusty come world cup.

EDIT: saying that, i defo think you have found a few diamonds in the rough from this game.[/quote]

Patriotism will have me supporting SA regardless of who they play against.

“rested” cos the top players are all currently in a training camp, where they are going through extensive rehab (for their injuries) and technical coaching, analysing match tapes etc.

there was a news report showing the team training, but security guards stopped the camera man filming or getting to close.

couldn’t agree with you more about the “diamonds” I just hope they get more opportunity in future test rugby matches

68

gota love england…get all the luck, drawn in an awful pool, purely because argentina were the 3rd best team in the world, but at the moment are a set of jokers!! and then theyre other “quality” team is scotland, who lets be fair, thier backs cudn finish a cooked dinner!

and then wales end up in the most fuckin physically demanding group ever, i dont see us getting out of it, 2 sets of south sea islanders, and the SA’s - who, regardless of whether theyre good enough to win to dam thing will sure as hell kick the fuck out of you trying to do so!! fukin outrageous.

i think its gota be NZ’s time, its a definate toss up between them and auz, but u no, england, jammy cunts they are, no doubt will be loitering around the semi final mark!!

player of the tournament will no doubt be the outside half of the winning team, so its either guna be dan the man carter or quade cooper

69

[quote]jimboslice wrote:
the SA’s - who, regardless of whether theyre good enough to win to dam thing will sure as hell kick the fuck out of you trying to do so!! fukin outrageous.

[/quote]

thats right, on school level we are taught by the coaches ‘if you don’t win the game make sure you win the fight’ a mantra Bakkies Botha took to heart

70

I had it picked that we would beat the Boks by 20 points.

Boy was I wrong…33 points.

One of Cory Jane’s tries was so soft though…the Bok’s full back that got out stepped in a lame attempt at a tackle should be fuckin’ ashamed.

EDIT: Smit was all class though.

71

SA’s strongest point is always their physicality, lately they’re just being thrown around the park like a bunch of rag dolls. I liked John Smit’s try this morning though, man has pace for his size

72

[quote]Cheeky_Kea wrote:
I had it picked that we would beat the Boks by 20 points.

Boy was I wrong…33 points.

One of Cory Jane’s tries was so soft though…the Bok’s full back that got out stepped in a lame attempt at a tackle should be fuckin’ ashamed.

EDIT: Smit was all class though.

[/quote]

Cory Jane’s try was pure class.

When youre planted and someone is running like that, it so easy to get stepped. He did the old in to out with his hips. Fucking annoying as a defender, especially when they have ridiculous gas like Jane.

73

[quote]jimboslice wrote:
gota love england…get all the luck, drawn in an awful pool, purely because argentina were the 3rd best team in the world, but at the moment are a set of jokers!! and then theyre other “quality” team is scotland, who lets be fair, thier backs cudn finish a cooked dinner!

and then wales end up in the most fuckin physically demanding group ever, i dont see us getting out of it, 2 sets of south sea islanders, and the SA’s - who, regardless of whether theyre good enough to win to dam thing will sure as hell kick the fuck out of you trying to do so!! fukin outrageous.

i think its gota be NZ’s time, its a definate toss up between them and auz, but u no, england, jammy cunts they are, no doubt will be loitering around the semi final mark!!

player of the tournament will no doubt be the outside half of the winning team, so its either guna be dan the man carter or quade cooper[/quote]

You got placed where you are because you are Wales, and you are shite. You need a physical battle to toughen you up!

74

[quote]D.law wrote:

[quote]rugggby wrote:

SA look piss poor. I think it was a big mistake resting his top players. They may be rusty come world cup.

EDIT: saying that, i defo think you have found a few diamonds in the rough from this game.[/quote]

Patriotism will have me supporting SA regardless of who they play against.

“rested” cos the top players are all currently in a training camp, where they are going through extensive rehab (for their injuries) and technical coaching, analysing match tapes etc.

there was a news report showing the team training, but security guards stopped the camera man filming or getting to close.

couldn’t agree with you more about the “diamonds” I just hope they get more opportunity in future test rugby matches[/quote]

But dont you believe in the mental aspect of 2nd string teams getting thrashed?

It will lift NZ regardless, and when you put your full team on, you wont be able to keep up.

It happened with an england touring team a few years ago, it was a 2nd/3rd string touring SA.
I cant remember if it was just before the world cup in 07 or what, but you destroyed us, and when it came to playing our proper team you beat us again.

I just think its stupid tactics. NZ and AUS will be battle hardened and ready, SA 1st team wont. Look at NZ in the last world cup, didnt have a hard game until France? i think…

75

[quote]rugggby wrote:

But dont you believe in the mental aspect of 2nd string teams getting thrashed?

It happened with an england touring team a few years ago, it was a 2nd/3rd string touring SA.
I cant remember if it was just before the world cup in 07 or what, but you destroyed us, and when it came to playing our proper team you beat us again.

I just think its stupid tactics. NZ and AUS will be battle hardened and ready, SA 1st team wont. Look at NZ in the last world cup, didnt have a hard game until France? i think…[/quote]

i believe it is a strategic decision. to rest the better players and not risk injuring them in a Tri-Nations series. and also to give the 2nd/3rd string guys playing chance. to expose them to that level of rugby.

the reason england got trashed was the SA 1st team was better in all aspects of the game at the time.

personally i doubt that NZ and AUS won’t do the same when they send their Tri-nations teams to SA. Granted that they might not rest their entire 1st string guys like the SA Management team decided to.

76

Don’t know about the music though.

77

[quote]D.law wrote:
i believe it is a strategic decision. to rest the better players and not risk injuring them in a Tri-Nations series. and also to give the 2nd/3rd string guys playing chance. to expose them to that level of rugby.

the reason england got trashed was the SA 1st team was better in all aspects of the game at the time.[/quote]

As the NZ team are now. When and if they meet, they will be ready, your 1st team will not. I agree to a certain extent to resting some players and finding some suitable replacements, but not all your 1st XV and not this close to a world cup. You cant wrap them up in cotton wool, when they need game time. You have to find a happy medium IMO.

[quote]D.law wrote:
personally i doubt that NZ and AUS won’t do the same when they send their Tri-nations teams to SA. Granted that they might not rest their entire 1st string guys like the SA Management team decided to.
[/quote]

I think they will have their 1st XV starting tbh, they need game time together to gel as a unit. Proper, physical and intense test matches provide this, not the shitty ones like in the UK.

I suppose only time will tell which tactics work best i suppose.

78

[quote]SexMachine wrote:

Don’t know about the music though.[/quote]

This is another reason why i fancy AUS. Giteau (sp) hasnt even been mentioned yet. He is a complete game changing player, but pocock, cooper, genia and o connor are all ahead of him in my book in terms of game winners. He’s been pushed out of the lime light.

79

after watching the game this morning. Morne Steyn tackles like a fairy and missed his kicks. John Smit was repeatedly exposed in the defensive line. All in all a lot of these players showed why they weren’t in the “A” team. Lambie however really impressed in a team with no direction.
I am hoping for sa to pull together, just to mention some names that are out right now

Beast,
Bismarck
Botha
Matfield
Bekker
Schalk the hulk
Brussow
Fourie du preez
Fourie
De Villiers
Pietersen
and even butch james

all of these guys will bring WAY more experience, structure and physicality.

80

[quote]rugggby wrote:

[quote]jimboslice wrote:
gota love england…get all the luck, drawn in an awful pool, purely because argentina were the 3rd best team in the world, but at the moment are a set of jokers!! and then theyre other “quality” team is scotland, who lets be fair, thier backs cudn finish a cooked dinner!

and then wales end up in the most fuckin physically demanding group ever, i dont see us getting out of it, 2 sets of south sea islanders, and the SA’s - who, regardless of whether theyre good enough to win to dam thing will sure as hell kick the fuck out of you trying to do so!! fukin outrageous.

i think its gota be NZ’s time, its a definate toss up between them and auz, but u no, england, jammy cunts they are, no doubt will be loitering around the semi final mark!!

player of the tournament will no doubt be the outside half of the winning team, so its either guna be dan the man carter or quade cooper[/quote]

You got placed where you are because you are Wales, and you are shite. You need a physical battle to toughen you up![/quote]

i wasnt disputing the fact that at the moment my home nation is pretty dire, however england arent lookin too clever either 2b honest, although they have much greater financial resources as well as more players to choose from. anyway thats beside the point, i initially was making reference to the fact that ur such a lucky nation to get drawn in that pool, avoidng any “good” teams, your the best team in that pool (although based on rankings when the pools were drawn, u were a second tier team) because the other 2 “top” nations are SHIT! whereas everyone else i.e wales, ireland, france have to deal with an actual world class team in one of the tri nations teams.