What if three end up level? And A beat beat B, B beat C, but C beat A. Or is that mathematically impossible?

Well now that wales are the 2nd best team in the world and favorites to win the group, it shouldn’t go down to this now should it?

If Eng beat Aus, but then Aus beat Wales then thats exactly your scenario.
Wales beat Eng, Eng beat Aus, Aus beat Wales
Then I guess imagine Wales beat Fiji and Eng beat Uruguay.
With no bonus points it would be:
Eng 14
Aus 13
Wales 13

But Eng are reasonably likely to get a BP against Uruguay
Wales the same for Fiji
Aus might get one for just losing to Eng, but less likely to get one for beating Wales, but Wales likely to get one for just losing to Aus
So then it would be
Eng 15
Aus 14
Wales 15

All bollocks but amusing to think about.

My predictions however are

Aus min 17 by beating Eng and Wales
Wales beat Fiji with a BP, lose to Aus with a BP so 15
England lose to Aus with a losers BP and beat Uruguay with a BP so 12

Indeed I can go for that too. Good news for Wales eitherway, I cannot see them not making it out of the group.

Some good news for the welsh.. Fijian Nadolo banned for Wales game..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34385298

Easter is a man who can think for himself on the pitch and express an opinion off it. I’m surprised Mr Lancaster has allowed that sort of chap back into his classroom. Unless, as you suggest, he’ll spend the whole match on the naughty step.

All of the discussion about the rankings at the end just show how ridiculous it is to award bonus points for this type of competition. The situation where a team can lose more games than others but still make it out of the group shouldn’t ever arise.

Was that the same gesture of sympathy as when one of the Welsh lads commiserated with Brown when he’d given away the winning/losing penalty? Brown took that in his typical charming manner.

Actually I did see that and it was a nice touch but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

From the Mash

Although rugby is impossible to fully understand, spectators at Saturday’s World Cup match recalled seeing the England team carried onto the pitch in sedan chairs, wearing top hats.

25-year-old Australian Tom Booker said: “From the way they were dressed in safari suits and sipping cocktails, the English reeked of imperialist aloofness.

“The Welsh on the other hand looked like men of steel, forged in the furnace of oppression and burning with vengeful feelings against the foe that had gravely wronged them throughout history.”

The English delayed kick off while they finished smoking and telling each other hunting anecdotes in loud posh voices, because that is how arrogant they are.

Booker said: “Being English, they were more arrogant than a cockerel in gold trousers. But they took an early lead because they have longer limbs due to superior nutrition.

“However at half time England were cockily drinking Pimm’s with their coach Stephen Fry, while the brave Welsh huddling in their meagre underground changing room to eat nutritious leeks and sing rousing choir songs.

“Then they gave England the pasting they so richly deserved, and the Welsh rugby captain got to marry Charlotte Church and become their king.”

Two points.
1) I’m not sure he didn’t show any respect he just wanted out.
2) If he didn’t show respect does that make it Ok for you to drop your own morals? Two wrongs don’t make a right.

It was still bobbling about when he tried to kick it I think.

Think he’s gotten off lightly myself. Not sure he should be hung drawn and quartered, but pro players in the modern game need to rein in their recklessness.

EDIT: Looks like Parisse might be back for the Italy game – he’s back in training and hopes to prove his fitness for the game at the Olympic Stadium. Hope he is – the green machine needs a proper game before losing to France in the StagnHennium.

Is it correct to be respectful? Yes.
Are you being respectful to Browne. No.
QED

This, to be honest. We whinge when we hear the usual losers’ platitudes and we guffaw when we see someone obviously hurt in defeat giving short answers to stupid questions. I realise that splashing around on the gloat boat is lots of fun, but it’s not pretty really. I think we’ve all had enough of it.

Brown cracked in the game. His interview reflected that. It the same old line between passion and losing it. He is undoubtedly one of England’s best players but you need the top players to keep it together. I can’t imagine the pressure him and the rest of the team were under but it would appear Brown in particular didn’t respond well. Of course the fact he’s shown himself to be a whingey, arrogant, petulant [insert choice word here] makes him and easy target- probably both for fans and the opposition which doesn’t help the team at the end of the day. Surprised Lancaster hasn’t dropped him for a morally bad interview 😆

Wood’s kick was like a lock trying to run. Co-ordination of a baby giraffe should be excused in the (NH) forwards so right call 😆

It was indeed close to Liams head, and still rolling. Wood is a clumsy oaf, but in no way does he deserve a citing.