Rugby world cup

As a neutral, i think Ireland will edge Wales. O’Brian and Ferris will have upper hand aginst Warburton etc… Ireland looked very sharp at weekend. Fiji are a bit pants so Wales’ performance, whilst good, is relative. Losing another hooker must be a pain though…

Anyway good luck to both, and here’s to a classic encounter!

Captain, Gethin is a decent player but he is definately not the player he was a few seasons ago. No need to get personal as to my optical ability. I’m not even going to rise to the France jibe.

DD confidence is a good thing my post to you before the Italy match…

While that would be funny, Ireland won’t slip up against Italy they will win well in order to stay in the easier side of the draw

As for the France jibe, yeah very good!

Secretly, O’Flashearty will be cheering the French on if Wales go out BM. He finds it easy to switch allegiances 🙂

😆

You have to admit, though, his kick in to space was superb!

Very much looking forward to Saturday morning….!

my post to you before the Italy match…

Yep, you were bang on too BM. And welcome to the thread as well. I have to maintain a “worried” air all the time here – if I start displaying confidence, a few of the protagonists will destroy me if Ireland go out. 😳

if I start displaying confidence, a few of the protagonists will destroy me if Ireland go out

Hey don’t sweat it. You’ve every right to display a bit of confidence – Ireland look a good bet for the final at least. Enjoy it. It’s a nice feeling when you can look forward with optimism to your team’s next performance in terms of both result and playing style.

Sure, Ireland may fail but the anticipation is often more delicious than the meal itself.

On the other hand:

Watching England in this World Cup has been more like observing the course of a rudder-less supertanker plowing on through the night with no hands on the bridge, save for Brave Captain Johnno, while the oafish, drunken crew blunder about aimlessly below.

To say that England have done themselves no favours with their behaviour is an understatement. Maybe the press is a bit out to get them more than Ire/Sco/Wal? They have been a little, shall we say, accident prone.

if I start displaying confidence, a few of the protagonists will destroy me if Ireland go out

Sure we might as well enjoy this world cup, its not like we have been able too in the past!

England:
4 wins out of 4 in a tough group
only one try scored against them
highest individual try scorer
.
not that bad

But if the rugby that wins this tournament turns out to be 15-man rugby, artful rugby, attacking rugby, dynamic rugby, then this tournament will have been a success. It is a shame either Wales or Ireland will be heading home next weekend, because if rugby wants to extend its global appeal and attract new supporters, the sport needs sides like these.

Hear, hear!

Agreed.

England:
4 wins out of 4 in a tough group
only one try scored against them
highest individual try scorer
.
not that bad

4 wins against: the under-prepared, over-the-hill Argies without their best player; One dimensional Georgia; Romania’s second XV; Scotland – pretty hopeless against anyone but England.

One try conceded: see the above and also note Scotland are the lowest try scorers in the last 5yrs of 6N whilst Arg/Georgia play the 10 man game.

Highest Try Scorer: When he actually gets the ball. He waited 60mins for his first touch against Scotland!

Not that bad? Not that good.

Probably conceded more penalties at the breakdown than anybody else and had more citings/bans too (?).

You’d enjoy THIS BLOG 😉

😕

I’m genuinely unsure as to whether to take that guy seriously or not. 😀

I think he works for ITV

Darcy, read the little linky at the bottom….! 🙂

Yes, Gethin is a spent force. Healy was more than able for Castro, didnt Castro go off injured after 20mins? He’s massively overated anyway.

OB is European player of the year and while Warburton is good, he isn’t that good.

Roberts again a very good player however Darcy was excellent yesterday and is more than a match for him. Plus the chap in the green 13 shirt isn’t too shabby.

Gethin a spent force? He is easily the best loosehead in britain when fit.
O’B is very good but not an openside I wonder if he will cope with Warbs on the floor and will the welsh cope with O’B ball in hand.

Roberts is so much better than Darcy its not funny.

Is Gethin the player he was in 2009 – don’t think so.

Would you rather have OB or Warb in the team? I know who I would pick every time.

Roberts is a great player, but I reckon we can match them. Its gonna be a cracker – i can’t wait!

I really hope that the winner goes on a good run and gets to the final, I just really hope its Ireland!

Maybe the press is a bit out to get them more than Ire/Sco/Wal?

That’s been the case for, well forever.
Same case with this thread, which is why I can no longer be arsed with it.
Even though I’m officially not an England supporter for this tournament!

Cheerio then DezzieBee 🙂 x

Probably conceded more penalties at the breakdown than anybody else and had more citings/bans too

probably on the penalties but having the best defence comes at a price
the citings/ ban comment is a bit unfair

You’d enjoy THIS BLOG

this man talks a lot of sense, though he should write with a little more confidence 🙂

Namaste you need to write your lines 1000 times…
“I will not read the daily mail and believe it word for word”

I was glad when Johnson finally managed to hear me screaming at the TV
“Take Youngs and Wilko off, put Flood and Wrigglesworth on…” 😆

Namaste you need to write your lines 1000 times…
“I will not read the daily mail and believe it word for word”

😆

That blog is ace, bet the writer had a Pukka Wallah fanning him during the heatwave of the last few days.

Can I just add that it is truly marvellous to have a player with the name “Wigglesworth” playing rugby. 😀

Punkah wallah, not pukka. Mine is rather exhausted at present. I have given him half an hour off.

I think this is possibly who Armitage has been getting tackling lessons off 😀

THat was a great tackle!

That’ll teach Ollie Morgan to wear those poncy lycra shorts 🙂

4 wins out of 4 in a tough group

what have you been smoking?

wales had the gorup of death!

any group with Namibia in can’t be considered the group of death
or the gorup

Is Gethin the player he was in 2009 – don’t think so.

Would you rather have OB or Warb in the team? I know who I would pick every time.

gethin has pretty much been injured all this season and was most of last season, so your comment is pretty fatuous and saying that Healy will take care of him is pretty daft as both are looseheads. gethin will also struggle to make the starting 15 anyway.

Who would I rather have Warburton or O’B, at openside Warburton every day and twice on a sunday. Overall it all depends on who else is in the backrow. Ireland lack a groundhog openside like Pocock, Macaw or Brussow, it could cost them maybe not against Wales but certainly against better teams. Warburton and Feris with O’B at 8 would be good to watch. I maybe proved wrong but O’B is not a proper 7 I would have liked to see how he did against Pocock if he hadnt been injured.
The welsh backrow isnt picked to carry like the irish one. Roberts and North do the carrying for Wales along with the locks and props. Also watch them off second phase ball Wales will use a lock or prop to go into contact and the backrow clear out. Ireland use the backrow to take into contact and the locks and props clear out. Warbs suits the welsh style O’B the Irish. The Irish centres are not use to bash it up the middle as much as the more powerful welsh centres either. Horses for courses.

We’ll be needing to start a STW Lions tour thread soon!

any group with Namibia Scotland in can’t be considered the group of death
or the gorup

FIFY

Kearney
Bowe
? BOD still around for Lions?
Roberts
North
Flood
Phillips
Jenkins
Ford
Cole
Grey
Palmer?
Feris? Croft is a good lineout option might be needed with a shortarse at 8
Warbs
O’B

Whoever wins in the Wales V Ireland game will get to the final.

England and France have both failed to perform or display anything like world champion quality.

Wales all the way for me 🙂

Ireland can make the final, Wales won’t go past England if they get to the semis IMO.

Wales vs Ireland is too tight to call. I can’t wait to watch it

Whilst O’Brien is a great ball carryier he is not an open side and I think that may be the undoing of Ireland . Their back row lacks balance. That said it is still an awesome go forward back row. To call it a weakness would be soooo unfair.

The Welsh Props are stronger than the Irish, Irish edge it in 2nd row.

Half backs – probably Wales. Centres’?? All great players but Darcy & BOD edge it for me in terms of all round ability. Back 3. Williams, Bowe & Kearney would be my pick from both teams

I agree it will be a real shame for one of the 2 to go out in the QF’s. They are both a notch above England & France & Argentina

Wales vs Ireland – don’t know. Happy either way but leaning towards Ireland edging it

Eng vs France – England (though maybe France will turn up?)

NZ vs Arg – NZ by a mile

Oz vs SA – tight but SA

Wales won’t go past England if they get to the semis IMO

If wales beat ireland, and its a big if I would expect them to rip England to shreds

Centres’?? All great players but Darcy & BOD

Davies aint a great player and neither is Darcy

If wales beat ireland, and its a big if I would expect them to rip England to shreds

On current form, I wholeheartedly agree. However, form is one of those funny things….