blonde poker forum

Name your winner and why?

Pick me a surprise and why?

How well or badly will England do and why?

https://blondesports.hansagaming.com/bet/events/show_page/page_id-2648


NZ look obv favourites but not at that price

France? SA? Who's the value to beat them?

Name your winner and why? NZ, would you bet against them?

Pick me a surprise and why? South Africa, there is a spark there.

How well or badly will England do and why? Good team together at last but too late.

Name your winner and why? Obvious choice is NZ but maybe Australia (NZ always have trouble with them)

Pick me a surprise and why? Wales to do better than England (I'm assuming their pack sorts themselves out!!)

How well or badly will England do and why? Quarter-finals probably!!

NZ to win, France to do quite well, England to make quarter finals.

Australia to win.  They just will.

England to reach the semis - dependent on the draw obviously.

France to win.

Although the All Blacks are strong they did not perform that well in what was a poor tri-nations competition. They are always the team under the most pressure and and at some point it will get to them.

France are strong and their recent performances have been excellent. They are the only contender not to have won a World Cup. Their desire to win their first on home soil could well give the edge they need to succeed.

Potential surprise.

England will pick their biggest nastiest pack and try to to bully their way thru' the cup. It's a style that is dull to watch but is extremely effective in high pressure matches. If Wilkinson stays fit and finds form England will be extremely hard to beat.

Name your winner and why?  South Africa, big & nasty in defence, pace to burn out wide.

Pick me a surprise and why?  NZ to bottle it again, probably in the semi's.

How well or badly will England do and why?  England will surprise many.  It won't be pretty but our pack is huge and can compete with anyone on the day.  It up the jumper time and Wilkinson to kick us to victory.  We may reach the final...

Someone post the draw up please

I believe the winner of the Eng/SA group match gets the second in the Aust/Wales group in the QF and vice versa

is that right?


Aussies are poor from what I've seen all summer...Wales might be an interesting bet to win that group...

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/standings/index.html

I haven't really been keeping an eye on the rugby of late but I am lead to believe that The Aussies are excellent value at 10/1  so  I'll have a bash at that.  I think I'll have a wee tipple on that. 

Suprise side dunno whose capable of causing an upset would Ireland really be that big a suprise if they win?

As for England well due to the euphoria of the last Rugby WC I hope they fall at the first hurdle but thats unlikely, I think England should at least get to the semis.

This is where i'm at

Name your winner and why? Hope France pull it out the bag, keep the trophy in the north TYVM

Pick me a surprise and why? Wales to win their group, Scotland will fail to make the QF  rotflmfao

How well or badly will England do and why? Should make QF Minimum, they could do well if they finally click, they have the match winners and no pressure on them.

Name your winner and why? Portugal - nice easy group to start with, should brush aside New Zealand without much fuss

Pick me a surprise and why? Namibia - amateur team playing a professional sport, always an advantage

How well or badly will England do and why?  :dontask:

Looks like an extra month hibernating til its all over :)up

You've got a job on the commentary team.

:)up

i had a bet on france a while a go @12/1 and they are already 15/2 but i think they may well go a long way.

Rugby Union is a form game and full strentgh teams count for a lot which i think gives Australia a better chance than their price indicates, so i've had a little punt there to.

There is a bit of discalm in the new zealand camp which might see them balls it up somewhere against one of the better teams, they are cetainly not a banker.

South Africa to win - because we will be battered and bruised after and close quarter final with Australia and we will lose but absolutely smash the All blacks physically in the Semi leaving them weak for the South Africans.

Surpirse - Argentina, Nobble BOD and they can get through their group.

England - a respectable semi finalist.


Best bet....France or South Africa at Boylesports. Get your money back if they lose to NZ in the final so if all goes to form it should be one of these two.

France to win. Too much pressure on NZ, & they do crack.

Who has the TV coverage for this?

Was going to say unfortunately ITV have the rights.  But they can't be worse than the BBC in terms of the commentary. 

What no Brian Moore & Eddie Butler. It will have to be TV sound off & Radio Five commentary.

Which is exactly how I watch rugby when it's on the BBC.

I prefer to watch it with the tv sound off and the tv pictures off and no radio commentary :D

Is it on normal tele or on Sky?

do pay attention old bean..... ;)

Oops, sorry

I read the first post, then I read the last post in the thread, everything else is (http://www.performanceforums.com/forums/images/smilies/whoosh2.gif)

Winner - France.

Firstly and secondly, they are a strong side with home advantage.
 
With what is not strictly enough time between matches for recovery (they used to say you need 10 days), I think that how tough a time teams have getting through to the semi finals is going to make a big difference to their chances.
I think that France are going to benefit from a relatively easy group, and a likely match against Scotland or Italy quarter final.
By the time they reach the semi-finals, they won't have faced anyone who is realistically capable of winning the tournament (or even put them out) and this will make the difference.
Ireland, Argentina and Scotland (please) will just be warm-ups for them, and they will be ready for taking on Oceania in the latter stages.


Surprise - Wales beating Austarlia in the pools.
The two play in their second game, and I think Australia will still be working out kinks in their side.

This sets up Australia's quarter against South Africa (that'll knacker them so they can't beat France in the semis)


How England will do - They'll be tested hard against Wales in the quarters. The Welsh with confidence sky high after the Australia win, and the added incentive of an oppurtunity to upset England, this match will be tough.
An always strong NZ (after beating Ireland without too much effort in the quarters) will prove too much for them in the semi-finals.

Take the oppurtunity to back France on betfair now at 7.8

After they pump the Argies in a couple of hours, the price will only go down.

Name your winner and why? South Africa, NZ will underperform and unless they get points early against big teams, will not grind out win

Pick me a surprise and why? New zealand not to make final, will be SA vs Aus/France

How well or badly will England do and why? Will play well in their pool but if they meet Wales in quaters then Wales will win (answer not purely based on the fact im Welsh, i genuinely think that!).

2 mins before kick off and Betfair site collapses, bugger.

Just saw this thread whilst watching the start of the WC match France Argentina.

Winner - My heart says NZ - though the weakness of the group they are in (no disrepect to our scottish brethen) may prove their ultimate undoing.
Pool A, B and D are all quite tricky. My head says South Africa the most likely team to undo the All Blacks. Winner HEART and lots of it.


TRYYYYY Argentina. woohoo....

Surprise - Argentina to make Semi's. Ireland need to fire consistently and can see them missing out on something like tries scored with Argentina
pipping them.


England - if they avoid Australia in the quarter final then back them to make the final.
Otherwise the Aussies to knock them out in a bloody encounter.

I hope Wales have a good World Cup.... Haere Ra

France have cracked under the pressure in their first game

They're either brilliant or rubbish - there really is no inbetween with the French.

great start

throws les cats amongst les pigeons nicely

Prophetic.  Well I think that's how you spell it.

you do know scotland are in it and never won it before

its our year we have the best team we've had in over a decade ok we might not win but watch out for us we should make the quarters

So, after 20 minutes NZ are going along at 2 points a minute against Italy.

Bet the Portugese are loving watching this.

And Scotland.

Brave, brave blossoms...

 ::)

Right this could come back and bite me in the arse but i placed some bets on betfair last night as they were offering way better odds than any other site.

This is the key line- As long as NZ dont win i will make a nice profit

If australia win then i will do very nicely out of it, if england win i will do excellently, if wales win i can retire and france and SA are a tidy small little profit.

Fingers crossed for All Blacks to F up in the semis then i can relax for final!

England were horrible, Rees and Barkley aside

Will surely get pummelled by the Boks

lol

insta-bokked. First day of the tournament and already I have destroyed my pundit credibility

England can only get better, I wouldn't rule them out against SA just yet. Changes will be made, and maybe SA will have a slow start too.

For all Englands averageness today, gotta big up the USA who did really well for an amateur side. I hope they come out of this group with a few points.

Wales can only get better... ;whistle;

Whoops - bad isn't good, until it gets worse.

Losing three tries to nil against Canada - well done boyos.

At least Wales and England are thinking of the viewing public - making sure their games against the nobodies have a bit of interest. None of this Antipodean 'score loads of tries and destroy the opposition' boringness.

The Welsh must be breathing a bit more easily now they are managing to overcome the mighty Canadian opposition. 

WHILE MISTAKES WERE MADE, IT WAS PROBABLY A TACTICAL DECISION TO WEAR CANADA DOWN AND COME THROUGH AT THE END

(DIDNT MEAN FOR IT TO BE IN CAPITALS BUT DIDNT REALISE TIL I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH AND COULDNT BE ARSED TO START AGAIN)

remember 1966

No, I'm not as old as you.

I don't normally venture on to this board but just wanted to come over to say - hahahahahahahahaha

edit: that's why I don't come on to the sports board - only just realised Wales didn't actually lose!  :blonde:  It was a reasonable assumption though, I think.

England's hopes on Farrell?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6990581.stm

He certainly won't fail from lack of effort or commitment, but has he enough experience in union to make the difference for England?  I've said it before, he's the best player I've ever seen play rugby league - and he's certainly no mug at union.  But is this a huge gamble, and if it is - is it a necessary one?

lol, moving Farrell, who despite his pedigree in league has been no more than an average performer at international union level into the pivotal spot of the england team, a high pressure position, requiring great tactical appreciation in which he has very little experience.

It is suicidal...

But could be quite amusing.

I'd love to see us beat the boks, but england's biggest beating on a world cup stage is more likely in this game.  Maybe pride will make the score closer than the 40-50 point thrashing it looks like we might take....

seems a horrible decision to me

ok we are unlucky to have both JW and OW injured but Farrell is basically a pedestrian centre in Union (obv fantastic in league but tactically thats a simple game..smash them in the mouth for 5 tackles then kick for position or up and under/grubber kick if attacking on the 6th, lets face it RL is a fairly simple game for fairly simple people up North ***) and will be eaten alive by the Bok back row

a Union fly half has to have a far wider range of kicking and playing on the gain line needs to be far speedier in decision making that Farrell has ever shown any signs of being capable of in union.

and then there's him being first choice goalkicker!!! Hasn't kicked a goal in RU for 3 years..no pressure then!!


**** tongue firmly in cheek, still a much less complicated game than union though, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because Union has an impenetrable rule book and a high element of stop-start compared to league. I played both, far preferred Union.

They do say union for the player, league for the spectator.

I think Farrell and Catt will be sharing the fly-half duties, and someone had to be given the number 10 shirt.  Ashton has a problem though, he's not got anyone else in the squad who can play there.  Does he wait to see if Wilkinson and/or Barclay are fit to play again before he sends one of them home and gets a replacement?  Is it a gamble either way? 

I actually think Farrell's been left out to dry as a scapegoat.  South Africa are obviously the main competition in our group and we go up against them with many of the team missing, and to compound that he plays Farrell at fly-half, a position he certainly hasn't played for England - and I'm pretty sure he hasn't played there for Saracens either. 

If he manages to do OK there, Ashton will be a genius.  If he fails, Ashton will highlight the depleted squad and the fact that Farrell hasn't performed to his promised level.

As for Farrell himself, he won't shirk at the challenge.  His dead-ball kicking is spot on, I'm not worried there at all.  He can kick penalties from either side of the pitch and I've seen him kick plenty from his own half as well.  Out of hand, it's a little different though.  League is all about running with the ball, the support and offload.  The tactical kick is often used towards the end of the tackle count, and it's a different ball game (intended) to union in terms of the kicking during play.  One positive though is that Farrell is a great passer of the ball and hopefully it'll mean we run with the ball a little more and bring the back line in more than we have been doing recently.

It's a shame the Samoa game wasn't first up. 

It's old, but it's still amusing (although it does promote racial stereotypes):

Press Release
International Rugby Board (IRB) Rugby World Cup 2007
Following complaints to the IRB about the All Blacks being allowed to motivate themselves by performing the ‘Haka’ before their games, other nations were asked to suggest pre-match rituals of their own. The IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 Organizing Committee has now agreed to the following pre-match displays:

1) The England team will chat about the weather, wave hankies in the air and attach bells to their ankles before moaning about
how they invented the game and gave it to the world, but no one appreciates them.

2) The Scotland team will chant “You lookin’ at me Jimmy?” before each of them smash a bottle of beer over their opponents’ heads.

3) The Ireland team will split into two, with the Southern half performing a Riverdance, while the Northerners march the Traditional route from their dressing room to the pitch, via their opponents dressing room.

4) Unfortunately the Committee was unable to accept the Welsh proposal to form a choir and sing Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual”.

5) Argentina will unexpectedly invade a small part of opposition territory, claim it as their own “Las In-Goals-Areas” and have to be forcibly removed by the match stewards.

6) Two members of the South African team will claim to be more important than the other 13 whom they will imprison between
the posts. These two will then go about selecting the best parts of the pitch to settle on and claim that they have been there for centuries.

7) The Americans will not attend until almost full time. In future years they will amend the records to show that they were in fact the most important team in the tournament and Hollywood will make a blockbuster fi lm called ‘Saving Flanker Ryan’.

8) Five of the Canadian team will sing La Marseillaise and hold the rest of the team to ransom.

9) The Italian team will arrive in Armani gear, sexually harass the female offi cials and then prepare pasta dishes, which they will flog to the crowd for a fortune.

10) The Japanese will shock fans buy demonstrating how to capture a whale for scientifi c research buy harpooning an opposition prop.

11) The French won’t have a pre-match display and will simply hide in fear in the dressing room for the whole match.

12) The Australians will have a BBQ on their side of the fi eld and invite the opposition over before the game. The food and alcohol will be in abundance and by the start of the game no-one will remember what they came to the stadium for. After some
streaking, the singing of dirty songs and the occasional chunder everyone will go home thoroughly convinced it was a bloody
good night.

13) The Moroccan team will quietly pray during the fi rst half and then launch suicide attacks against the opposition after the break. Unfortunately, this strategy works well for the fi rst game only, after which Morocco is forced to withdraw from the Rugby World Cup due to lack of players.

14) Samoa will prepare a huge feast in the middle of the pitch by digging a large hole and fi lling it with burning embers. They invite the opposition over by saying, “We’d like to have you for dinner”. It’s only when the opposition get to the pit that they realize there is no meat and that they are the dinner!

Hopefully, with these policies now in place, further problems is this area of the game should cease to exists.

Regards,
Syd Miller
IRB Chairman

Catt at 10 in 12?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6990581.stm

Intersting comments. Having come through the NZ school system and seeing Rugby Union and League played it was the school location and headmasters that controlled the games played. We had some excellent league players who were tougher and more skillfull than the Union players who trained as specilaists. It comes down to how the 2 teams playing pair upwhich creates a good spectacle.A one side hammering in either code is not good for the game.

The league guys at school enjoyed playing League more as they touched the ball more in a game and they could show their skill more readily when combining with good support play. I really enjoy watching both forms of the game and live in the League heartland in the M62 corridor. My son is a season ticket holders at St Helens and Saints definitely lead the way in attacking play the past 6-7 years (sorry Kinboshi).

Obviously I support NZ as well but not fanatically like most of NZ. I think NZ need to win just to get rid of the choking tag
as they have been the most consisitent team in the past 20 years. In repect to tonights game vs SA - England need to at least make it close and get through it with few bad injuries. I see SA as being the biggest threat to NZ apart from those bloody Aussies who well .... yep they have the best winning psyche and that counts a lot. If you believe it then you will acheive it.

At the start of the week england were evens with a +9.5 point handicap, npw they are evens with a +16.5 handicap and even though i can see us losing i dont think it will be by that much, so i think this bet gives good value!

No need to apologise for saying that stains lead the way in attacking play, and have done for the past decade - it's a fact (if a painful one).  You should apologise for your son being a season ticket holder though... ;D

The stains fans used to hate Farrell - in the same way as all rivals hate the top players from other teams.  But speaking to many of them now, many agree that he was the best player they've ever seen play live (although they'd never had admitted that whilst he was in the cherry and white).

Going back to today though and I have a dilemma.  Wigan v stains will most probably be the game shown on Sky, and it's a must-win for Wigan.  That is on at exactly the same time as the England game!  So, it's going to be watching the Wigan game live, and Sky+ing the England game to watch it straight after the League match finishes.  So it'll be computer off and phones off this evening to make sure I don't hear the result before I've seen the game.

LOL, I'm an avid england rugby fan, but if I wasn't I'd be lumping on SA. I think its very possible we could seriously take it up the rear end tonight!

(http://www.mgnet.karoo.net/likelyladsmain.jpg)

Visiting a family of South Africans tonight to watch the game, the atmosphere will be great, but I think I will be leaving early!

I am hiding behind the sofa already, I fear a thumping

no plan, no passion it was ugly.

Says it all. Brute force doesn't work at this level.

Utter, utter rubbish.  Clueless and heartless. 

On the plus side.  Wigan were immense against st helens and secured a play off place.  Best I've seen them perform all season, and a very good win.  For once I'd also put my money where my mouth is, and I won a few bob too.

what price were SA, i fancied them, i came out the pub i hand 100 puond in my pocket, i went in the betting shop had a 50 pound double leeds and tourquay and a 50 pound dog bet and ive been talking about SA all week, sick i didnt have 100 pound trebble.

SA were 10/11 giving Eng a 16 point head start

Like printing money the bet was, never in doubt for days beforehand

I also availed myself of the 3/1 no England try

though sadly not the 12/1 no England points


We were abject

We lack any talent at scrum half, centre in particular. Watching our backs is like watching a drunk crab scuttle sideways after a particularly late night on the piss in the Lobster Arms

Might as well pension off the remaining old guard, especially people like Corry, and go for the youngsters and stick with them for the next 4 years

I don't think the score fairly reflected the result, it wasn't an exceptionally dire performance overall from England.

It's just that the Southern Hemisphere are so so so so strong this year. Would have needed 15 Jason Robinsons to have gotten the job done.

Seeing Robinson go off like that was the lowest point of a low game.  The fella is a legend.  I watched him play at Wigan and for GB at league - and he was one of the most exciting players around.  He gets the ball, everyone watching sits up a little.  Expecting.

When he went to union, there were many doubters (especially that annoying arse Stuart Barnes) - but he showed his class time and time again.

A brilliant player who I feel honoured to have seen play so many times.

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/gallery/rugbyu/jrobinson/j1.jpg) (http://www.icons.org.uk/library/stock-images/rugby/0746594.jpg)

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/gallery/rugbyu/jrobinson/j18.jpg)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zmt5LiDLJEQ

class player, quality man

In a team of dullards, flair wise, he stood out like a beacon during a floodlight failure

england look like they would struggle to beat canada right now!

Or Western Samoa...

We're in trouble then - we have to play the whole of Samoa.

Fk me Ireland 7 Georgia 10 at the moment!!!!

Ireland came back to win it...just!  France are gonna trash us! 

Mehema koe ka tuoho, meinga ki te maunga tetei. (Maori saying).

If you should bow to greatness, let it be to a lofty mountain.


Come on the boys in black - no tripping up this time.

Thought Wales were the best out of the Northern Hemisphere teams...Dont write England off just yet

 rotflmfao.......and I'm a big English rugby fan!

Georgia were immense


Every single Six nations team is underperforming massively, this generation up here simply lacks talent

We are light years behind the big three in ball skills, speed, fitness and tactics with a couple of honourable individual exceptions such as BO'D

The word is that Scotland are considering sending out the 2nd team against the All Blacks, relying on keeping the 1s team rested and ready for the final group game to go through. I'm not keen on the idea as while I expect to lose to NZ, I want us to give it our best go. I can understand the thinking though.

I hope that's all press mind games and speculation.

Would be a shame if we don't make a game of it against the All-Blacks. The best Scottish players should be jumping at the chance to get stuck into the best in the world, and I would hope they would be dissapointed if this were true too.

Comes back to thinking like winners and putting your body on the line. They take it one game at a time why cant they get at least to the semi's. Sport is as much about mental toughness as it is skill. Last 8 means only 2 games to the final and anything can happen - including food posioning ay South Africa!

Optimistic attitude, loving it.

Will send you an application form to become Scottish if you want it. :)

NZ will want Scotland to put out there best team as even if Scotland beat NZ they will want a tough work out in preparation for the real business end of the tournament. Hey if McFadden can do it against France you never know.

ps Thanks for the invite to be Scottish - you have had some Kiwis play for you before ;-)

Nice colour clash in the Scotland / NZ game today. That silver kit of the AB's was pretty awful.

Only saw second half - looked like NZ were told to have scrummage practise for the 2nd half to prepare for business end of the tournament.

Tonga have been the biggest surprise so far and performed well in all their games.
Enjoyed the Eng/ Samoa match - glad to see Eng got it together in the last quarter.

The Tongan Number 8..Haki? Haka?  what a player!!!

Nice end to the group stages this weekend with every group having a qualification decider.

England/Tonga, Ireland/Argentina, Wales/Fiji, Scotland/Italy.

Considering the group stages were supposed to be mostly non-competitive and a bit boring, it was gracious of the home nations to be rubbish to provide some excitement.

Some suggestions for the Irish team this week-end:

http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=650    rotflmfao

Quote from the NZ Herald...

The Tongan community have been gearing up for their team's big game against the cup holders since their unexpected win against Samoa last week.

If Tonga (population 117,000) beat England (50 million) they'll be on their way to the quarter-finals.

And even if they lose, they'll still be heroes to the 50,841-strong New Zealand Tongan community.

A David vs Goliath match up - if Tonga takes this game down Auckland will be heaving on Sat night.

That cross-field kick from Wilkinson for the first try was something else.

Fiji are running Wales all around the park

I went into this world cup very downbeat as I knew England were rank outsiders to defend their title but I think the standard of rugby and the competitive level of most of the teams has made it one of the best world cups so far, with the potential to be the best if we see some classic QF and SFs and  a great final.

Very few matches have been one sided affairs and teams like Tonga and Fiji have really stepped up their 15-a-side rugby.

However England do, I'll have really enjoyed this world cup.

The Wales v Fiji match is developing into yet another classic. Loving it!

this is a classic, running from all over, credit to Wales on their comeback

I reckon Italy might do Scotland aswell..........cmon the Itiiiis!!!!!!

Poor old Wales


what a flipping miserable world cup for the home nations..I feel the discrepanny, that is growing, is in coaching philosophies and cultures.

Yeah it unbeleivable how bad we've all been TBH

well it worked in the football

i think scotland 17 italy 36

very good game so far

if i was a neutral i would be looking forward to the 2nd half

but i aint and i aint

OMG will scotland ever give me a break

that was close

lol, the second tier teams have improved loads since the last world cup

Italy have improved alot being involved in the 6 nations has brought them on faster than would of happenend otherwise

personaly i would love to see a 2nd tier euro league set up with promotion and relegation into the 6 nations

even if it meant scotland getting relegated every now and then to play the likes of georgia romania ukraine

Hopefully Scotland can push on now. Ireland have a big ask tomorrow, But knowing Ireland
they pull a green rabbit out the bag.

Lets hope Eng knock out the Aussies next week.

Farrell, Robinson and Wilkinson in the team.... too late?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7025437.stm

Farrell has done nothing, I really don't understand why he is in there? He's decent defensively and thats it, Barkeley deserves his shot.

Farrell hasn't been given a chance to do anything!!  He was put in against SA as the sacrificial lamb, in a team that couldn't have beaten a Wales 3rd XV, then he's played very little since.

Interesting selections most of which I would say Ashton has got right such as the return of Vickery, Shaw and Robinson.

I'm also encouraged by the fact he's left the back row unchanged as Dallaglio is sadly well past his best and Worsley always seems to leave his club form behind when he plays for England.  I also believe it's a mistake having both those two on the bench instead of Rees who gives a different option that could well be needed in the later stages of the game.

Shaw for Borthwick is a good call as Borthwick and Kay are too similar in style and Shaw does have more of a Johnson-esque presence around the park. I never understood why Grewcock has been preferred to Shaw down the years either.

All through Farrell's international union career he has looked far from comfortable. A skillful player but he is too pedestrian to be an international centre and has to consider himself lucky that England are not blessed with outstanding centres currently.  The fact he's been picked is down to the shortcomings of others rather than any great ability of his own.

I believe the Barkley/Tait combination is too lightweight to take on the Aussies and the game has probably come too soon for Hipkiss who is potentially the best centre out of all four of them. So Farrell is the damage limitation option I guess picked because he's a big bloke who can hopefully stand up defensively.

However the most shocking decision for me is the recall of Regan who is another good player but well past his best. Chuter is just as good in the scrum and can be just as nasty ( which seems to be why Regan has been recalled) but more importantly Chuter is better throwing into the lineout and vastly superior in open play. 

All in all it seems very much a dour rugged team selection that is unlikely to play much flowing rugby, if any!, but there isn't really a whole lot of choice sadly.  :dontask:  They do have a chance though as they Aussie's are not outstanding themselves but it's a slim chance at best and depends on the pack having the game of their lives.   ;nemesis;

Yet another half arsed selection

Stevens has had a terrific tournament up front and should not have been replaced by Vickery

Regan is physical but will get run off the park, his legs are not up to it these days

Farrell is apparently picked on the basis of being a big lump who had a decent 20 minutes against tiring Tongans. Cue our back line showing even less flair than they have all tournament as we crab sideways until we make the inevitable mistake and concede posession

We'll keep it close for 50 minutes, then tire and lose by 12-15 points

I can't even see us keeping it close for 50 minutes.

I'm not just talking about the world cup, he's played plenty over the last 18 months or so. Don't get me wrong he's a great league player, but he's not shown anything at all in his time with england to justify selection, and he's been given plenty of opportunity.

Everyone seems very negative on England. They have been improving game by game. Australia has yet to be really tested.
With Larkham missing and Mortlock not 100% England have a chance if they armwrestle with Australia's forward pack.

England needs someone like Farrell to keep Mortlock at bay who is probably Australia's most consistent line breaker. If he can put some hard hits on Mortlock suddenly England has an edge in the backline and if Farrell can get good support play he can certainly offload with one or 2 defenders on him. He doesnt need the pace but the support play from the inside backs and wing is critical.

England's tight 5 have to be totally prepared for a fight and the back row need to get first to the breakdown. Australia is not as strong as past World Cups so I hope to see England sneaking this by a drop goal or 2.

22-18 England.


Meanwhile at Cardiff - I hope the boys in Black just keep focussed.
 

Of course another argument against picking Farrell is that he's very injury prone!  ;whistle;

and he speaks with an impenetrable Northern accent..how on Earth are the rest of the team with cut glass proper enunication meant to understand him?

Almost psychic (except you posted it after you read the story). :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7027824.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7027824.stm)

Neverends....

When (if?) England lose, who will the media blame now though?

doh !

First Robinson, now Farrell - these rugby league players are just far too soft.

we blame everyone post Woodward, they are all culpable

It's understandable why Robinson picked up an injury in that game.  He was carrying the whole team.

Touché.

Well Played England - Great result so pleased Australia are OUT !

Hopefully they'll be playing NZ next week.

WTF !  .... edited  after listening to the last 20 minutes in the car whilst at a wedding. Havent seen it ....
All I can say is GL England.

Vive la difference.....crazy day,the N Hemisphere showed up at last!

The Semi against france is a real 50/50 one now, I would never have thought a couple of weeks ago that Engalnd would have a shot at making the final.

Bye Bye to the arrogant Aussies and Kiwis who think they can just pitch up and beat anyone they fancy. The kiwis aren't half gonna get some stick when they get home the chokers. Ship it to the northern hemisphere today!

Fantastic day for the Northern Hemisphere.

Lets hope the Scots pump Argentina the morrow, and complete a right old routing of those lads South of the Congo.

Top performances by England & France.

The All Blacks bottled it again (they never perform when it really counts) & the Aussies got beaten up in the forwards, the 12-10 scoreline flattered them, England were much better than that.

Semi final will be a cracker, too close to call.

I wonder what the odds were on a England vs France semi-final.

COME ON FIJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

would be so sick, i'd love to see it though, SA, NZ and austailia all out in QFs

think that try will kill the game in favour of SA

yep, def killed it

Some fantastic Quarter Finals, I hope Scotland can keep it going

Good Luck Scotland!!!!!!

that bloody echo is annoying on the telly .....  good luck the sweaties .

that bloody echo is annoying on the telly .....  good luck the sweaties .

any one got a needle and cotton ... i have split my sides .......  tossers

Just about in touch.  Need a big second half performance.

Not looking good now.

Game, Set match.

Forwards are being overrun and the backs don't look like they have a try in them.

Try for the sweaties!! (going to the video)

Not over yet...

Post and over with the conversion!

Back in it now.  At least they are having a go, prior to that they had done nothing of note offensively.


Paterson is a machine.

Geez, talk about a tight kick!

Go Scots

Nah - he was just showing off.

 rotflmfao

Just as they scored the try I had the river dealt on the last hand of the sit and go I was in - it was like a big round of applause for my win :D

Hubby's words, yelled at the top of his lungs (as if the coach can hear him...lol) 'Give it to that fecker with the beard!  He'll plow through the Argentinians like they aren't even there!' 

Is that a technical term?

 :dontask:  Just reporting what I hear.  lol

ONE TIME!!!!

'For the love of God lads!!!'  That's the latest report in Cork   rotflmfao

why kick???

Bugger

They could have had it, but threw it away.  Last report from Cork tonite...'FFS!!!'

too many mistakes

Thank you to our Cork analyst

Both England and France have named the same starting line up for the Saturdays semi-final.

I really hope Argentina can beat South Africa as they have been trying for years to join the tri nations so they can play a higher standard of competition on a more regular basis but the arrogent tri nations teams won't let them join. Might be harder for them to decline any futute application from the Pumas if they have gone further in this world cup then any of them.

Agentina are so desperate to play regular top flight rugby that they even sounded out the possibilty of playing in the 6 nations which is not as bizarre as you would think considering most of their team are European based.

It will also be interesting to see what happens with the All Blacks over the next couple of years as half of them are joining European clubs which means they are nolonger allowed to play for the national team.

What does eveyone reckon about the game against france? I reckon it could go either way but with slight advantage to France with home advantage. Agree with you dice about argentina beating SA and it could happen I reckon. One things for sure if we do get through saturday and meet SA in the final its a totally different game than a few weeks ago. The momentum has swung in the opposite direction for both teams and England would have a real chance against them now.

South Africa to beat Argentina is heavy odds on

England France...France favourites at home I feel. Time might suggest we beat a poor Australian team, I don't think Sheridan and co will pulverise the French up front. Given parity there, I think the French will edge it.

Hope not

I can see the Pumas matching the Springboks in the forward game and that should be one hell of a battle in the ruck and mauls. The Pumas may however lose some important possession at the line-outs and worry that if the boks get the ball wide to Bryan Habana he will demolish the average Puma backline.

I however do think that the Pumas stand a chance as I give them the edge in the kicking game and Hendandez may kick some all important drop goals and provide a shock finalist in the Pumas.

Yeah - they suggested that they play their 'home' games in Spain (in either Barcelona or the Basque region). I think the time for this has passed though, as making it a 7 nations now would add two weekends to the schedule.

Oddly enough, South Africa want out of the Tri-nations and would prefer to join the 6 nations as the time difference a) affects their players when they play their away games and b) works out badly from a TV point of view.

But neither of these things are going to happen.

I've nowt against English rugby, but I'd love to see a France/Argentina rematch in the final. (coz I tipped the Froggies from the start innit)

Defo going to be a game to watch tomorrow.

I can only see England beating France, if the French freeze because of the expectation & pressure heaped on them by their media. The French supporters are already expecting a Final with South Africa. England's only hope is if Wilkinson can kick all the penalties offered & keep France pinned in their own half.

I really can't call the England V France game. Obviously France have home advantage and on their day can beat any team in the world. Also England have been somewhat questionable over a last couple of years and whilst they defeated Australia they haven't really put in a performance that would make you say they could win the RWC.

However France have been known to underperform, just go back to there game against Argentina. The pumas play a similar game to the English, solid forward line and good kicking game. Are France suspect against such opposition???. I also recall the 2003 semifinal when France were favourites to defeat England. You can also go back to 1991 when England defeated France in France. France are also known to loss their discipline and penalities could be the difference in this game.

As for the Pumas v the springboks. Come on Argentina.

!

Great stuff Saturday night..happy to eat my words!


underdogs for the final, can England pull off a Massive shock compared to where we were a month ago?

This is great stuff. We've over acheived and all know it. 4 years ago i was so nervous because i knew we were the best and just had to go and prove it and now i don't care we're not the best i'm just glad of every victory. After winning against Australia i was delighted. We could come home and say the World Cup was a success and that we gave it a go defending our title. I was ready to go quote my own post from before the tournament where i said England would get to the Semi's and lose to New Zealand, South Africa would win it and Argentina would be the shocks and even heading into the France game where i truly got the "patriotic punt" feleing and piled on England + 9points i thought i might having to go and quote my thread where i said the best bets were France or South Africa and thought i had named the finalists now i don't give a monkeys how much i thought i knew about Rugby.

Those 30/31/32 men have done something unbelievable and win or lose i have as much respect for them as i do for the guys 4 years before.

I had money on South Africa because i believed thery were going to win it, i now hope they don't!

New Zealand coach Graham Henry said their failure would "scar them for life" but also said "we are the number one rugby side in the world and have been for a long time and still are.

"It's just that we haven't got that little yellow cup."

Graham - go ahead and be the best rugby side in the World, i'd rather have that little yellow cup for 4 more years!

What have the All Blacks and a Wonderbra got in common?

Both have tonnes of support, but at least the Wonderbra has a cup.

Very funny. When was the last time Scotland beat the All Blacks..  Oh hang on .... Never...

(http://www.totaltravel.co.nz/guide/photos/auckland/c12.jpg)

Spot the sheep competition.  ;D

I dont do Rugby but if I did we get to have free tickets to the England V New zealand plus another two games..from work..pff..prefer a buy in to a fessy myself..

ahhhhhhh its so nice to be right!!

Fully behind England on wknd for me to make a very tidy amount.

A great world cup. The best team won (as tipped by me) and England gave us all a great ride and a team to be proud off.