The Rugby World Cup thread

[kinboshi]

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? 

Looks like an extra month hibernating til its all over

You've got a job on the commentary team.

[ACE2M]

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.

[Josedinho]

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.

[Tonji]

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

Who has the TV coverage for this?

[kinboshi]

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. 

[Tonji]

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

[kinboshi]

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.

[matt674]

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

[Graham C]

Is it on normal tele or on Sky?

[matt674]

Is it on normal tele or on Sky?

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. 

do pay attention old bean.....

[Graham C]

Oops, sorry

I read the first post, then I read the last post in the thread, everything else is

[thetank]

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.

[thetank]

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.

[KingPoker]

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!).

[Robert HM]

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