One thing that also struck me about the South Africa game was the spirit in which it was played by both sides. In the past we have seen the South Africans (particularly frustrated ones) resort to some pretty nasty stuff (the Berger gouging incident, and going back a bit the Kobus Wiese punch on Derwyn Jones), but there seemed to be none of that this time, which was good to see.
Ah well, SA destroyed Fiji. They are looking v good. Still...I like Fiji's strip better. ... pattern edging the sleeves, probably something cultural. Ireland v Oz is just coming on. Nobody spoil the score, I don't know who won.
Excellent result for Ireland, and a great on today for Wales in what was always going to be one of the toughest games, which is more than likely to be the decider for the pool (although I'm not counting my chickens - Fiji will be another tough opponent, and South Africa shouldn't be underestimating what Samoa are capable of either nothing is certain in this group!).
Getoffit, you were through before it started. I'm liking Wales and the French to watch so far. But the usual suspects will be hard to beat. My husband was impressed by the US team. I didn't see them, but he said they're coming on.
Nothing was certain - it's the toughest pool in the competion (4 of the 5 teams have been in the top 10 rankings within the last year - no other pool has that many). Wales have made the mistake of underestimating the Samoans before at the world cup, and ending up out of the quarter-finals as a result - they are a far better team now than they were then. They've always been hard and phyisical with talented ball-carriers, but now they have structure and discipline too. Very dangerous side who are certainly capable of giving South Africa a scare if they aren't totally on top of their game. They aren't 10th in the world rankings for nothing, but up until 6 months ago Fiji were ranked in that position - also a very dangerous side for similar reasons (and with a similar history of giving Wales a scare!), certainly not to be underestimated.
No way, you have an easy Pool, the only team which should worry you is SA. If you didn't beat Samoa, Fiji and Namibia you want to throw in the towel. No disrespect to them, they are not traditionally amongst the rugby big boys. Any international team would be happy enough with that draw and Wales is playing much better than I've seen them. France showed a bit of uncharacteristic discipline I thought. If it's the top two, they should go through with New Zealand. Ireland and Oz you'd expect to go through also. SA and Wales. Now look at our Pool. We have already played the easy teams and just scraped the win. Now it's England and Argentina. I guarantee you England will tank us. Argentina we should beat, but may well not. Being Scotland, they are more apt to hammer England and lose to Argentina. I'll be surprised if they can play at all, with the distraction of all the support they're getting: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/newsid=2052208.html#scots+meet+modern+william+wallace
Years ago that might have been true, but not anymore - the Pacific Islanders (all of them, including Tonga) have improved an incredible amount (Samoa beat Australia a couple of months ago, for example). They aren't 'traditionally' in with the 'big boys', but the world of rugby has changed steadily since turning pro, and the pacific island teams have been the biggest movers of all. The Samoan and Fijian players are now all playing in the top major leagues (either with Southern or Northern hemisphere clubs), and exposed to just the same level of training and coaching as the 'traditionally' bigger nations. Wales were knocked out by Fiji in the 2007 world cup, knocked out be Samoa (Western Samoa then) in 1991, and beaten by Samoa in the poll stages in 1999 (although we still qualified) - they aren't teams to be ignored or overlooked, and both can and have qualified for world cup knockout stages in the past (both have made it out of the pool stage 3 times in the past). Scotland also have a tough group with England and Argentina, but they can expect to have a reasonable chance of beating either or both 'on their day' (they have beaten them both many times over the years). They have no 'big' southern hemisphere team, though, and two real 'minnows' in Georgia and Romania (although both of those have improved significantly, they are nowhere near Samoa/Fiji levels). Realistically, there are only 3 teams that could possibly qualify in the two top places in that group - in Wales's group there are 4. Prior to this world cup, Georgia have won one single world cup game ever (this being their third world cup), and Romania have been at every world cup, but never won more than 1 game each time - neither have ever got beyond the pool stage. To compare current World Rankings and rating points in the groups: South Africa (3rd) Wales (6th) Samoa (10th) Fiji (15th - but only very recently down from 10th) Namibia (20th) England (just up to 4th from 5th, overtaking France) Scotland (7th) Argentina (9th) Georgia (16th) Romania (17th) Both tough groups, but given the choice, Wales (particularly having beaten both England and Argentina in World Cup wam-up games!) would have swapped with Scotland quite happily - a group with 2 real 'minnows' instead of one, no southern hemisphere 'big boys', and no Pacific Island teams at all, would have been much, much nicer to be in. It really would!
What a wonderful start to the weekend. I can't believe we won. A brilliant match. We were greatly helped by the loss of pocock and moore. But sexton was very off form maybe it's my munster bias showing but I thought ROG should have been brought on in the first half. Top two moments of the match was Stephen Ferris picking up Will Genia and carrying him back wards down the pitch and the moment that Tommy Bowe broke through, the best almost try of the match...
Yes, they're coming along and very good to see it. It would be wonderful to see them progress even further. Lol...based on the rankings, there is not much difference between the two groups after all. The top teams SA and England are 3rd and 4th (don't bother to try to downgrade England, they are always such that if they get the right mental approach they are liable to outperform their ability and against us, they have motivation). The next two teams Wales and Scotland are 6th and 7th (suggest there is a bigger gap between us and you're deid). Next two teams are 10th and 9th, next two are 15th and 16th and the last two are 20th and 17th. Not much between them, but Wales look in better form, you will get farther. They did well.
Much as I disagree with this on principle, England are looking quite handy. C'mon the All Blacks...oh and the French This should be a great game.
We won!!!! It's the first time we have finished first in the pool. I thought we should have been given a penalty try. ROG was the right choice too start but I am glad that Sexton was brought back on, he's the natural successor it was good to see him get some confidence back. Teams through to the quaterfinals Ireland V Wales England V France Australia V South Africa Argentina V New Zealand Winner of One Plays winner of Two. And Winner of Three Plays winner of Four. Any teams not there that you feel deserve a shot?
You know the answer to that and if you don't, view the totally wrong offside drop goal refereeing decision which put Scotland out against Argentina in the last few seconds. What an outrage and if they video rerun disputable Tries, why don't they rerun ridiculously wrong refereeing decisions which cost a team the entire tournament? Still they had loads of opportunities and were the better team against Argentina and England, so tis their own doing. And the next round, they'd be out anyway. Ireland are playing great. Once they got past the first part of that game, it was a total romp for them. I think they are the team to watch, they're on fire.
My predictions: Ireland V Wales Far too close to call and could go either way. Both teams are playing well at the moment, both come out of their pools with confidence, and both obviously know each other well, so that one is just a matter of who gets it right on the day. Pick of the quarter-finals in terms of interesting games - so many interesting individual battles all over the field, and any one of them could be the difference between winning and losing. England V France I can only see England winning if 'the wrong France' turn up - if England are able to frustrate them and slow down their ball, they might have a chance of the French temperament kicking in, otherwise I think France are a much better side at the moment. Australia V South Africa I expect a reasonable comfortable South Africa win, to be honest - I think their pack are likely to destroy the Australian forwards, unless they improve significantly from their pool games. Argentina V New Zealand Not even close, I'm afraid. It wouldn't have been that close had it been Scotland, either. NZ still look very much like the favorites - I don't see Argentina having a chance of competing in this one. I genuinely thought Scotland were very unlucky, and look a much more capable side than Argentina. You have to take your chances, though, and they didn't - silly errors let them down. Samoa obviously put up a good showing in the pool stages, too, but were definately 3rd best of the group, even if it wasn't be a very long way.
Ireland V Wales Wales have had it. You never know, they are both playing well and look at Scotland halting England after they beat the other team by 60 points. Depends on the opposition and tactics. But Ireland look fierce. England V France ABE no matter who is in form. Can't say England are not on form. They've had some good games. And if they get the bit between their teeth, they are hard to keep down. But I hope the Frenchies take it. Australia V South Africa SA seem on better form, but Scotland beat them a few months ago. Argentina V New Zealand Definitely New Zealand are the better team and they will want that scalp to revenge their little brother, Scotland. They lost concentration as usual, but they've improved during the tournament and I think they may build on that in coming matches. It's been a good tournament for them, I think they're on the way back up.
Congrats, that was quite a match! Since the USA is out of it now, I will be rooting for Ireland. Ireland V Wales - Ireland, they have just been on fire. England V France - If Jonny Wilkinson continues to miss as he has been, it could cost them the game. I think the English have the better team though. Australia V South Africa - South Africa. Argentina V New Zealand - Not even close, NZ for the landslide win.
So are Wales at the moment - that's what is so fascinating about it. Both seem to have hit form at just the right moment. Ireland beat Australia, but Wales only lost to South Africa by 1 point (and I would say SA are the better of those 2 sides at the moment), and both will come out of their pool games brimming with confidence (Ireland beating Australia will give them an obvious boost, Wales beating Fiji 66-0 was also something pretty special). It's just so close, and could so easily go either way. If you look at the individual battles, it's just so close all over the field - there are so many top class players on both sides, and so many small margins between them. Neither really looks 'better on paper' at the moment: Front Row - I think Wales probably edge that at the moment - Gethin Jenkins has come back from injury, and is just on fire (someone should tell him that '15 man rugby' doesn't mean he plays all 15 positions at once!). Second Row - Ireland possibly have the edge there with O'Connell, but only just. Back Row - Sean O'Brian (Player of Pool C) vs Sam Warburton (Player of Pool D). Very, very close one - Wales might have lost Dan Lydiate to injury (he might still be fit, though), and that would possibly just give Ireland the edge, although Ryan Jones seems to be coming back into form, and Toby Faletau has been immense so far in the tournament. Half Backs - I'm not convinced by Sexton at the moment, and ROG isn't quite what he was as a player (and can be a little temperamental). Same for Stephen Jones (just coming back from injury), but Rhys Priestland seems to be able to do no wrong at the moment. Mike Phillips seems to be regaining some form after a poor season or so, but isn't back to his best yet. Too close to call on that one - any of them could perform or mess up on the day. Centres - Ireland will say BOD is the best in the world, and with some justification. He's not quite what he was, though, and Jamie Roberts isn't far (if at all) behind on his WC form so far. Jonathan Davies has been performing well, as has Scott Williams. D'Arcy is solid and capable, too, if not always superb. Interesting battle that could go either way. Wing - It says something about Wales at the moment that losing Shane Williams wasn't a huge blow! He could be back, too. Halfpenny is an excellent replacement for him, though, Aled Brew is in great form, and young George North is a real discovery. Ireland do have Tommy Bowe, who is brilliant, but I don't really see Earls or Trimble as being quite up there with him at the moment. I think Wales are ahead on that one. Full Back - This is where Wales are struggling a bit at the moment, with probable first choice (my first choice, anyway!) Morgan Stoddart out. Lee Byrne is still not anywhere near his best, and Hook (who has, in fairness, player well in the position, although I'm not a great fan of his) might not be fit. Halfpenny would presumably be cover, but it isn't his position really. Ireland, with Kearney and Murphy to choose from, are probably ahead in that position. Obviously I will be supporting Wales, but may the best team on the day win (and let's hope it's not decided by any dodgy ref decisions or anything - Joubert is referee for it - at least it isn't Steve Walsh!). I will then be supporting whichever of the 'celtic cousins' win that day for the remainder of the tournament, obviously.
So the teams have been announced for Wales V Ireland. Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements: L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), P James (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Williams (Scarlets). Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B ODriscoll (Leinster, capt), G DArcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); R OGara (Munster), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D OCallaghan (Munster), P OConnell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), S OBrien (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), T Court (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), J Sexton (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster). The only slight surprise in the Welsh side is Halfpenny at fullback. I guess we're accepting that we will have a potential slight defensive weakness (which we were going to have anyway at the moment, whoever played there), but in attack it gives us 3 top class wingers. Might make Ireland a little hesitant about kicking the possession away down field, knowing that they have Halpenny, North and Shane to run it back at them. Interesting move by Gatland. Having Scott Williams on the bench rather than Stephen Jones might be a mistake, though. I'm not surprised at the decision to go with Priestland at 10 (and I think it's the right call, and Lloyd Williams on the bench instead of Tavis Knoyle probably is too), but relying on Hook as cover instead of having the potential of the calm experience of Jones there to call on (and using Hook as cover for centre and full back, rather than Williams) might not be a good idea, in my opinion. We'll see, though. No big shocks in the Ireland side, I don't think, but they'll be happy to have Rory Best fit.
Too many chinless! Whilst they've improved by stealing foreigners and the odd League player, they're ultimately still chinless
I'll be watching at six a.m., and I wouldn't bother if I didn't think we could win. I think the national character is changing (it often follows the rugby) and if we don't win this one we will next time round, just as we'll see off our useless Government. About time for both.
I do hope Wales does win. BBC Wales will have something to obsess over. The 'how welshmen made the world' documentaries are getting a little ridiculous
