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Post by Stew on Sept 3, 2015 11:11:51 GMT
I will say one thing: Regardless of South Africa's form going into the tournament, don't discount them. Out of this 3 for me but I will go for the All Blacks.  1 - All Blacks 2 - South Africa 3 - Australia Worth a long shot bet.. Ireland, Wales. Ireland are better than Australia and South Africa right now. |
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Post by Jayrannasaurus on Sept 3, 2015 11:14:54 GMT
Out of this 3 for me but I will go for the All Blacks. 1 - All Blacks 2 - South Africa 3 - Australia Worth a long shot bet.. Ireland, Wales. Ireland are better than Australia and South Africa right now. Hard to say that when they haven't exactly faced each other recently, Australia managed to beat NZ recently too and are Rugby Championship, er, champions. |
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Post by Stew on Sept 3, 2015 11:17:41 GMT
Ireland are better than Australia and South Africa right now. hard to say that when they haven't exactly faced each other recently, Australia managed to beat NZ recently too and are Rugby Championship, er, champions. They beat their reserves and got absolutely walloped in the re-match if memory serves me correctly? |
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Post by Jayrannasaurus on Sept 3, 2015 11:19:55 GMT
hard to say that when they haven't exactly faced each other recently, Australia managed to beat NZ recently too and are Rugby Championship, er, champions. They beat their reserves and got absolutely walloped in the re-match if memory serves me correctly? Was it their reserves though? The trophy was on the line and both teams had to win. I suppose NZ's reserves aren't a bad team to beat  |
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Post by Stew on Sept 3, 2015 11:23:56 GMT
Not their reserves, just realised!
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Post by Stew on Sept 3, 2015 11:26:41 GMT
Still first Aussie win over them in 4 years. And they did get battered the following game. Still class NZ above anyone else and a loss will actually do them good. Australia, Wales, England, Ireland and S Africa (who I admit i haven't seen much of recently) are that level below. But one of them aren't making it out of the groups!
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Post by CaajScot on Sept 3, 2015 11:35:48 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Sept 3, 2015 12:01:02 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Sept 4, 2015 15:58:51 GMT
England opt for away day at Twickenham for Ireland Rugby World Cup warm-up
England have opted to take the away dressing room at Twickenham for Saturday's clash with Ireland in preparation for their World Cup opener against Fiji.
6 hours ago
PA Sport
The tournament hosts must wear their red alternate kit and have been designated the visitors' changing room for the September 18 showdown against the Fijians, who also wear white, after losing a coin toss overseen by World Rugby last year. As a result, head coach Stuart Lancaster has requested that his players use their final World Cup warm-up match against Ireland to familiarise themselves with the away dressing room. uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/esp-rugby-england-opt-away-day-twickenham-ireland-rugby-085252716--spt.html
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2015 16:27:47 GMT
Heavens to betsy ... familiarise with a different locker room. Diddies
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Post by Coogie on Sept 4, 2015 18:33:07 GMT
Kinda disappointed that joe schmidt is not taking Andrew Trimble to the World Cup, understandable though given the lack of Rugby hes played, but can see him being first replacement if there is an injury.
The problem with us, is that if we get an injury to a key player, say Sexton, Murray etc, the squads quality really declines.. I like Paddy Jackson and Maddigon, but they are no Jonny Sexton..
Injury free, I still think we will have a strong chance - as good a chance of any Norther Hemisphere team
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Post by CaajScot on Sept 4, 2015 19:04:45 GMT
Rugby - Paul O'Connell plays down Ireland's World Cup chances
Paul O'Connell has admitted Ireland are a "long, long way away" from winning the Rugby World Cup after last week's defeat to Wales in Dublin.
2 hours ago
PA Sport
 Paul O'Connell believes Ireland have a lot of ground to make up to challenge for the World Cup crown Captain O'Connell revealed the analysis session following Saturday's 16-10 home defeat to Wales laid bare the size of Ireland's challenge in chasing their best-ever World Cup campaign this month. Ireland's veteran lock conceded "you wonder almost why you're playing any more" when coming to terms with Test match defeats and attempting to reverse fortunes. Ireland face England at Twickenham on Saturday before opening their Pool D campaign in the World Cup by taking on Canada in Cardiff on September 19. "I'd love to win a World Cup but it's a long, long way away now," said O'Connell. "And I'll tell you, the Monday morning after the Wales game, when we reviewed it, it felt a long, long way away as well. "For me I don't think there's any value in me or us getting distracted by that. "I think the week after you lose you wonder almost why you're playing any more, and Monday was tough.
"After the Scotland game I thought we were going to put a whole lot of things right, unfortunately we didn't and you just find out a lot about how far you have to go. "So we need to get those things right this weekend and start building now, so winning the World Cup, it would be great but it's very much not at the forefront of my mind." Ireland sit second in the world rankings thanks to two consecutive RBS 6 Nations titles, and hopes are high head coach Joe Schmidt's men can reach the semi-finals for the first time. Wales coach Warren Gatland was at his mischievous best in midweek, claiming neither England nor Ireland can afford to arrive at the World Cup off the back of two straight Test defeats.
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Post by CaajScot on Sept 4, 2015 19:19:37 GMT
Wales braced for dogfight with England and Australia
Reuters By Justin Palmer 16 hours ago By Justin Palmer LONDON (Reuters) - Ever since the Rugby World Cup draw in late 2012 Wales have been scratching their heads as to how they ended up in the same pool as heavyweights England and Australia.
Despite reaching the semi-finals in 2011 Wales were surprisingly ranked as low as nine in the world at the time of the draw and now face two huge showdowns at Twickenham with only two teams to progress to the knockout stages. All three teams are now in the top six (Australia-2, Wales-5, England-6) with the ninth-ranked Fiji no slouches themselves, and Uruguay making up the toughest group ever assembled. Wales last beat Australia in 2008 and while they have enjoyed plenty of success against England, a 21-16 home defeat in Cardiff on the opening night of the Six Nations in February has handed Stuart Lancaster's side the psychological edge. Wales did recover to win their remaining games in the tournament, including impressive victories away in France and home to champions Ireland and are hopeful of emulating their run to the last four in New Zealand. "I thought we were playing some great stuff towards the end of the Six Nations. We felt very comfortable playing together so it's about getting that cohesion back by the time the World Cup starts," said captain Sam Warburton, sent off for a tip-tackle in the 9-8 semi-final defeat by France in 2011. Warburton leads a strong pack although questions remain in the front row with coach Warren Gatland yet to decide on a first-choice hooker after surprisingly cutting Richard Hibbard from the squad. Tighthead prop Samson Lee is battling to be fit for the tournament after undergoing surgery in March after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Wales now appear to have a settled halfback pairing of scrumhalf Rhys Webb and flyhalf Dan Biggar, their understanding from being Ospreys team mates transferred to the international stage with Biggar making the number 10 jersey his own ahead of Rhys Priestland. In the backline Wales were dealt a big blow after centre Jonathan Davies was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury, leaving Scott Williams as the number one choice to line up alongside Jamie Roberts in midfield. There are also question marks over winger George North. North, a key part of the Welsh backline, suffered a number of concussions last season, the third at the end of March after which he was stood down. If he fails to recover then Gatland is likely to turn to Alex Cuthbert, who lost his place to Liam Williams during the Six Nations. Wales kick off their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on Sept. 20 but the key battles are against England a week later and Australia on Oct. 10. uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/wales-braced-dogfight-england-australia-022626529--spt.html
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Post by Coogie on Sept 4, 2015 21:55:22 GMT
Rugby - Paul O'Connell plays down Ireland's World Cup chances
Paul O'Connell has admitted Ireland are a "long, long way away" from winning the Rugby World Cup after last week's defeat to Wales in Dublin.
2 hours ago
PA Sport
Paul O'Connell believes Ireland have a lot of ground to make up to challenge for the World Cup crown Captain O'Connell revealed the analysis session following Saturday's 16-10 home defeat to Wales laid bare the size of Ireland's challenge in chasing their best-ever World Cup campaign this month. Ireland's veteran lock conceded "you wonder almost why you're playing any more" when coming to terms with Test match defeats and attempting to reverse fortunes. Ireland face England at Twickenham on Saturday before opening their Pool D campaign in the World Cup by taking on Canada in Cardiff on September 19. "I'd love to win a World Cup but it's a long, long way away now," said O'Connell. "And I'll tell you, the Monday morning after the Wales game, when we reviewed it, it felt a long, long way away as well. "For me I don't think there's any value in me or us getting distracted by that. "I think the week after you lose you wonder almost why you're playing any more, and Monday was tough.
"After the Scotland game I thought we were going to put a whole lot of things right, unfortunately we didn't and you just find out a lot about how far you have to go. "So we need to get those things right this weekend and start building now, so winning the World Cup, it would be great but it's very much not at the forefront of my mind." Ireland sit second in the world rankings thanks to two consecutive RBS 6 Nations titles, and hopes are high head coach Joe Schmidt's men can reach the semi-finals for the first time. Wales coach Warren Gatland was at his mischievous best in midweek, claiming neither England nor Ireland can afford to arrive at the World Cup off the back of two straight Test defeats.
I dislike this guy immensely!!!! |
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Post by CaajScot on Sept 5, 2015 10:10:31 GMT
Rugby - Paul O'Connell plays down Ireland's World Cup chances
Paul O'Connell has admitted Ireland are a "long, long way away" from winning the Rugby World Cup after last week's defeat to Wales in Dublin.
2 hours ago
PA Sport
Paul O'Connell believes Ireland have a lot of ground to make up to challenge for the World Cup crown Captain O'Connell revealed the analysis session following Saturday's 16-10 home defeat to Wales laid bare the size of Ireland's challenge in chasing their best-ever World Cup campaign this month. Ireland's veteran lock conceded "you wonder almost why you're playing any more" when coming to terms with Test match defeats and attempting to reverse fortunes. Ireland face England at Twickenham on Saturday before opening their Pool D campaign in the World Cup by taking on Canada in Cardiff on September 19. "I'd love to win a World Cup but it's a long, long way away now," said O'Connell. "And I'll tell you, the Monday morning after the Wales game, when we reviewed it, it felt a long, long way away as well. "For me I don't think there's any value in me or us getting distracted by that. "I think the week after you lose you wonder almost why you're playing any more, and Monday was tough.
"After the Scotland game I thought we were going to put a whole lot of things right, unfortunately we didn't and you just find out a lot about how far you have to go. "So we need to get those things right this weekend and start building now, so winning the World Cup, it would be great but it's very much not at the forefront of my mind." Ireland sit second in the world rankings thanks to two consecutive RBS 6 Nations titles, and hopes are high head coach Joe Schmidt's men can reach the semi-finals for the first time. Wales coach Warren Gatland was at his mischievous best in midweek, claiming neither England nor Ireland can afford to arrive at the World Cup off the back of two straight Test defeats.
I wonder why  I know you are from Ireland buddy but I have Ireland down as a long shot to win it or Wales as a long shot also. You never know nowadays. |
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I know you are from Ireland buddy but I have Ireland down as a long shot to win it or Wales as a long shot also. You never know nowadays.