The Rugby Thread

[talkshowhost86]

For what it's worth, assuming (fairly) that England don't win it, I'd love for it to be Ireland, even though I've predicted them to lose above.

 

[Japhet]

Farrell has done such a great job with Ireland, I remember when he came in for Schmidt and within a few months he looked way out of his depth but they’ve gone to a different level over the last couple of seasons.
No chance of nicking Farrell back is there along with Edwards?!

Quite depressing really when you think we could have had those 2 but ended up with Borthwick.

 

[tototoner]

Think it will be all Northern Hemisphere SFs

 

[tototoner]

Strong XV

 

[Dunc2610]

I'm going France v NZ final!

 

[Dunc2610]

Quite depressing really when you think we could have had those 2 but ended up with Borthwick.

I think Borthwick was a bit of a panic appointment tbh.

 

[UncleBuck]

I can’t separate any of them, there are arguments for all of them to progress.
If England go back to basics and take their points when they get chances they’ll sneak it
I think Falutau and Ainscombe are massive losses for Wales and the Pumas are much improved since their first outing
NZ since the France game have looked really good, Ireland are just unstoppable, battle of the bottle this one and both sides have a habit of blowing up.
France, all depends if they turn up otherwise SA will steam them.

I’m going for :
England (never thought I’d say it) v SA
Argentina v NZ

Final: SA v NZ
Winner: NZ

 

[Dunc2610]

Just seen an article that Farrell will play at 10 and he'll drop Ford? What has Farrell got on Borthwick, must be something to keep getting picked!

 

[Trix]

I can’t separate any of them, there are arguments for all of them to progress.
If England go back to basics and take their points when they get chances they’ll sneak it
I think Falutau and Ainscombe are massive losses for Wales and the Pumas are much improved since their first outing
NZ since the France game have looked really good, Ireland are just unstoppable, battle of the bottle this one and both sides have a habit of blowing up.
France, all depends if they turn up otherwise SA will steam them.

I’m going for :
England (never thought I’d say it) v SA
Argentina v NZ

Final: SA v NZ
Winner: NZ

Think it will be an all Northern hemisphere semi finals which was a crazy notion this time last year.

 

[cjbyid]

Bricking it ahead of our game v NZ on Saturday. Really hope we can get over the quarter final hoodoo.

 

[tototoner]

Bricking it ahead of our game v NZ on Saturday. Really hope we can get over the quarter final hoodoo.

Read Sexton's and Farrell's comments here, I am nervous myself but those comments have allayed my fears.

Ireland braced for 'toughest ever game' - Sexton

Johnny Sexton says Ireland will face a different All Blacks to the side they stunned in New Zealand last year in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

www.bbc.co.uk

Sexton replied: "We've worked on our mental game for the past four years and put ourselves in different scenarios to prepare for this.

"Each quarter-final that we've haven't got through, or we haven't got through our pool, they've all been different and it's a different group [of players] again.

"Each of those groups lost once. It wasn't the same group losing quarter-finals year after year.

"If it was club rugby it would probably be a bigger hurdle. I don't think we've carrying much baggage. It's a one off game we're preparing for now."

"Trying to win a World Cup... it's something to go and get. It's not something that puts pressure on me.

"It's something that you dream of… probably not as a kid because when we were kids, we didn't dream of Ireland winning a World Cup.

"We've put ourselves in a position now to go and do that but it's something to go and get. It's not something to be pressured about."

And when it was put to him that Saturday could be final ever game, Sexton replied: "I haven't thought about my own career to be honest. I'll think about it more when I finish.

"It's all about the team and progressing in the competition. That's all we're thinking about. It's not about anything personal."

Ireland have shed inferiority complex - Farrell

Head coach Andy Farrell says Ireland have learned how to become comfortable with being the world's number one side as they prepare to face New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-finals.

www.bbc.co.uk

Farrell was asked about being "top dog" after naming his team on Wednesday.

"I suppose an inferiority complex is what's happened in the past, as far as getting to world number one and thinking that we're going to fall off a cliff, because this shouldn't be happening to Ireland," said the Englishman.

"I think what we've learned to do is throw ourselves into big challenges and try to meet them head on and embrace that."

"At this stage, it's all about preparation and recovery and making sure you're taking ownership of the plan you're going to try to [impress] on the opposition at the weekend," added Farrell, who has named an unchanged team for the quarter-final.

"We immerse ourselves in that and that's the way it should be. Of course things start to creep in but we've tools and experience to be able to combat that.

"I suppose the main part is to realise that we're a bloody good team that play together and when we do that, you're not on your own so you can get away from those types of thoughts."

We shouldn't let past WC's and NZ record in them affect our preparation and execution on the day at all, if we both play to current form Ireland wins this game 7 times out of every 10, just need to be clinical with and without the ball again, as we have done all tournament, and make sure the line outs are on point from the 1st minute as they were awful at the start against SA.

 

[Cinemattis]

Being a total and complete noob as a follower of international rugby, I’ll probably make a total fool of myself when venturing into predictions of the knockout stage. But you guys all love a clown, don’t you?

Wales - Argentina | Wales
England - Fiji | England

Neither of the two UK teams have made new, internationals fans (including myself). But they win. Ugly wins are still wins, and neither Argentina (especially) nor Fiji have shown a strong ability to get the next level results needed in this WC. Fiji with a slightly bigger chance to make an upset though.

France - South Africa | ? France ?
Ireland - New Zealand | Ireland

Both matches could easily have been the final. And the finalists and the final winner is extremely likely to be found here.

F-SA is the most open quarterfinal as far as I can understand. #2 in the World rankings, the host nation against the reigning champions and the best defensive team in the world . Home crowd the decider?

I-NZ would in any other WC be an odds on win for the all blacks. But the 6 Nations winners will not only get by their quarterfinal curse, I think they’ll be the final winners as they are probably the most complete team.

4th: England
Bronze: Wales
Silver: France
Gold: Ireland

Ok - you can start laughing now

 

[muppetman]

 

[tototoner]

Being a total and complete noob as a follower of international rugby, I’ll probably make a total fool of myself when venturing into predictions of the knockout stage. But you guys all love a clown, don’t you?

Wales - Argentina | Wales
England - Fiji | England

Neither of the two UK teams have made new, internationals fans (including myself). But they win. Ugly wins are still wins, and neither Argentina (especially) nor Fiji have shown a strong ability to get the next level results needed in this WC. Fiji with a slightly bigger chance to make an upset though.

France - South Africa | ? France ?
Ireland - New Zealand | Ireland

Both matches could easily have been the final. And the finalists and the final winner is extremely likely to be found here.

F-SA is the most open quarterfinal as far as I can understand. #2 in the World rankings, the host nation against the reigning champions and the best defensive team in the world . Home crowd the decider?

I-NZ would in any other WC be an odds on win for the all blacks. But the 6 Nations winners will not only get by their quarterfinal curse, I think they’ll be the final winners as they are probably the most complete team.

4th: England
Bronze: Wales
Silver: France
Gold: Ireland

Ok - you can start laughing now

I for one hope you are right

 

[Cavehillspur]

Really nervous about the Ireland game and especially since alot of pundits and media are writing off NZ which is unheard off. Theyve scored more points than any other side so far in this world cup and are improving every game. Im set for more quarter final heartbreak, have a feeling they'll nick a really close game, hopefully im wrong. If Ireland win I can see us going all the way.

 

[tototoner]

Really nervous about the Ireland game and especially since alot of pundits and media are writing off NZ which is unheard off. Theyve scored more points than any other side so far in this world cup and are improving every game. Im set for more quarter final heartbreak, have a feeling they'll nick a really close game, hopefully im wrong. If Ireland win I can see us going all the way.

As Ronan O'Gara would say

‘L’opportunité est fucking énorme’

 

[Pink_Floyd]

Being a total and complete noob as a follower of international rugby, I’ll probably make a total fool of myself when venturing into predictions of the knockout stage. But you guys all love a clown, don’t you?

Wales - Argentina | Wales
England - Fiji | England

Neither of the two UK teams have made new, internationals fans (including myself). But they win. Ugly wins are still wins, and neither Argentina (especially) nor Fiji have shown a strong ability to get the next level results needed in this WC. Fiji with a slightly bigger chance to make an upset though.

France - South Africa | ? France ?
Ireland - New Zealand | Ireland

Both matches could easily have been the final. And the finalists and the final winner is extremely likely to be found here.

F-SA is the most open quarterfinal as far as I can understand. #2 in the World rankings, the host nation against the reigning champions and the best defensive team in the world . Home crowd the decider?

I-NZ would in any other WC be an odds on win for the all blacks. But the 6 Nations winners will not only get by their quarterfinal curse, I think they’ll be the final winners as they are probably the most complete team.

4th: England
Bronze: Wales
Silver: France
Gold: Ireland

Ok - you can start laughing now

I for one hope you're wrong with qtrs This is the toughest 4 games i've ever had deciede. You went with all the favourites and I beleive there has to be an upset somewhere, i just don't know where. Springboks

 

[Pink_Floyd]

 

[Pink_Floyd]

Really nervous about the Ireland game and especially since alot of pundits and media are writing off NZ which is unheard off. Theyve scored more points than any other side so far in this world cup and are improving every game. Im set for more quarter final heartbreak, have a feeling they'll nick a really close game, hopefully im wrong. If Ireland win I can see us going all the way.

This should make you feel better.... joking of course, only when the whistle blows with Ireland as winners, will do that.

What a epic weekend of Rugby.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

The games can all go either way; I think we're all agreeing on that.

For me, England have shown no progress since a gritty performance against Argentina. Fiji are looking at a real chance to progress, but that brings its own pressure, which is an enemy of free-running sure-handling rugby. England to win it narrowly and ugly.

Wales have got better, and I think will stand up to the pressure; they're on a roll and Gatland is in charge. They are my easiest choice of the 4, but like England or Fiji will get stuffed in the semi.

Ireland are currently too good for any but the really top teams and Farrell has them believing it too. So often they've failed to turn up in World Cups, but this will be different. Unfortunately they are playing the All-Blacks, who don't put out second division teams. But Ireland will win after a seismic game.

If France are at full strength I believe home support will see them through in another massive game, but I feel nervous betting against the champions against the fickle flair of the French.

Now it remains to be seen if I get all four wrong. I just hope none of the games is 'decided' by a sending-off "according to the letter of the law".