Roar Guru
Joined August 2009
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It has been some time since my last article, but after the weekend's action and post-match drivel out of Europe, I felt somewhat compelled…
Since reading many articles of late regarding the old North vs. South issue in rugby union, I felt the need to add my five…
Still think Wales would expect to beat this team, and cry foul over lesser preparations, bad fields, missed offsides, and the sun was in our eyes.
My 2013 team of All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks
I was trying to find a spot for an Aussie… but sadly, which one would make a team of Boks and Kiwis ?
My 2013 team of All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks
Just keeping all your Predictions in 1 place to compare on Sunday
IvanN
NZ 36 – 12 Eng
SA 28 – 18 Sco
Aus 22 – 20 Ire
Batdown
NZ 29 Eng 13
SA 42 Scot 17
Aust 23 Ire 13
Martin
Eng 17 – NZ 19
Scot 16 – SA 39
Ire 16 – Aus 15
Colin Kennedy
All Blacks 33 England 10
South Africa 23 Scotland 12
Australia 28 Wales 19
Harry Jones
NZ 31 Eng 13
SA 27 Scot 12
OZ 20 Ire 19
Wal
AB’s 19 Eng 12
SA 35 Scot 9
Aust 18 Wales 22
Tigranes
NZ 46 – Eng 6
SA 38 – Scotland 11
Aus 28 – Ireland 10
Colin and Wal – do you mean Aus vs Ireland ? Or predicting neeeeeext weekend already ?
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
thanks mate, as long as you remember that my opinions are more important than yours 😛
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
I cant base that on results – as you will see elsewhere England have put together quite a few wins in the last season. But having watched them against Australia, looking clueless – I came to these conclusions. its all crystal ball stuff for now, will take it on the chin – or pat my own back on sunday morning.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Playing badly they seem to be finding wins – something that SA has managed to do in their rebuild… maybe they will get close. In a week and a few days time we should have a far better idea of who is where.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Lets compare Apples with Bananas for a second. I fear I may have been wrong about wales and england.
In ALL tests since Nov2012, Here are the rankings in terms of tests won (bear in mind that some teams wins were against easier opposition than others
1. NZ P16 W15 L1 PD+272 (94%)
2. SA P13, W11, L2 PD+189 (85%)
3. Eng P12 W10 L2 PD+149 (83%)
4. Ire P10 W6 L4 D1 PD+69 (50%)
5. Aus P13 W6 L7 PD-38 (46%)
6. Wal P12 W5 L7 PD-10 (42%)
7. Fra P12 W4 L7 D1 PD-28 (33%)
8. Sco P12 W4 L8 PD-49 (33%)
9. Arg P12 W1 L11 PD-234 (8%)
10 Sam Don’t have data
IF we had to remove WINS against teams outside the current IRB Top10 – Japan,Can,USA,Ita etc, but keep losses to those teams
1. NZ P14 W13 (93%)
2. SA P12 W10 L2(83%)
3. Eng P10 W8 L2 (80%)
4. Ire P8 W3 L4 D1 (38%)
5. Aus P11 W4 L7 (36%)
6. Fra P12 W4 L7 D1 (33%)
7. Wal P10 W3 L7 (30%)
8. Sco P9 W1 L8 (11%)
9. Arg P12 W1 L11 (8%)
10. Sam – no data
Lets take it a step further, If we had to take out all Wins against Samoa, Argentina, Scotland, and use only what the IRB determines the Top7 – but leaving in Losses to any of those 3 (IE – Wins against the Top7 only)
1. NZ P11 W10 L1 (91%) – 1 loss to Eng
2. SA P7 W5 L2 (71%) – 2 losses to NZ
3. Eng P6 W4 L2 (67%) – 1 loss to Aus, 1 loss to Wal
4. Aus P9 W2 L7 (22%) – 3 loss to NZ, 2 loss to SA, 1 loss to Fra, 1 loss to Eng
4. Wal P9 W2 L7 (22%) -1 loss to Arg,Sam,NZ,Aus,Ire, Jap,SA
6. Ire P6 W1 L4 D1 (17%) – 1 loss to SA,Eng,Sco, Ita
7. Fra P9 W1 L7 D1 (11%) – 4 loss to NZ, 1 loss to Ita,Wal,Eng
So while it appears that England have some right to be confident, i am not entirely sure where Wales came with the We expect to Beat SA talk.
Below the dataset i used.
NZ
Beat Sco by 29, Beat Ita by 32, Beat Wal by 23, Lost to Eng by 17, Beat Fra by 10, Beat Fra by 30, Beat Fra by 15, Beat Aus by 18, Beat Aus by 11, Beat Arg by 15, Beat SA by 14, Beat Arg by 18, Beat SA by 11, Beat Aus by 8, Beat Japan by 48, Beat Fra by 7 = P16 W15 L1 PD+272
SA
Beat Ireland by 4, Beat Scotland by 11, Beat England by 1, Beat Italy by 34, Beat Scotland by 13, Beat Samoa by 33, Beat Arg by 60, Beat Arg by 5, Beat Aus by 26, Lost to NZ by 14, Beat Aus by 20, Lost to NZ by 11, Beat Wal by 9, P13, W11, L2 PD+189
Eng
Beat Fiji by 42, Lost to Australia by 6, Beat NZ by 17, Beat Scotland by 20, Beat Ireland by 6, Beat France by 10, Beat Italy by 7, Lost to Wales by 27, Beat Arg by 29, Beat Arg by 25, Beat Aus by 7, Beat Arg by 19, P12 W10 L2 PD+149
Ire
Lost to SA by 4, Beat Arg by 22, Beat Wal by 8, Lost to Eng by 6, Lost to Sco by 4, Drew to Fra, Lost to Ita by 7, Beat USA by 3, Beat Can by 26, Beat Sam by 31, P10 W5 L4 D1 PD+69 (50%)
Aus
Lost to Fra by 27, Beat Eng by 6, Beat Ita by 3, Beat Wal by 2, Lost to NZ by 18, Lost to NZ by 11, Lost to SA by 26, Beat Arg by 1, Lost to SA by 20, Beat Arg by 37, Lost to NZ by 8, Lost to eng by 7, Beat Ita by 30, P13 W6 L7 PD-38
Wales
Lost to Arg by 14, Lost to Samoa by 7, Lost to NZ by 23, Lost to Aus by 2, Lost to Ireland by 8, Beat France by 10, Beat Italy by 17, Beat Scotland by 10, Beat Eng by 27, Beat Japan by 4, Lost to Japan by 15, Lost to SA by 9, P12 W5 L7 PD-10
Fra
Beat Aus by 27, Beat Arg by 17, Beat Sam by 8, Lost to Ita by 5, Lost to Wal by 10, Lost to Eng by 10, Drew to Ire, Beat Sco by 7, Lost to NZ by 10, Lost to NZ by 30, Lost to NZ by 15, Lost to NZ by 7, P12 W4 L7 D1 PD-28 (33%)
Sco
Lost to NZ by 29, Lost to SA by 11, Lost to Tonga by 6, Lost to Eng by 20, Beat Italy by 24, Beat Ire by 4, Lost to Wal by 10, Lost to Fra by 7, Lost to Sam by 10, Lost to SA by 13, Beat Ita by 1, Beat Jap by 25, P12 W4 L8 PD-49 (33%)
Arg
Beat Wal by 14, Lost to Fran by 17, Lost to Ire by 22, Lost to Eng by 29, Lost to Eng by 25, Lost to SA by 60, Lost to SA by 5, Lost to NZ by 15, Lost to Aus by 1, Lost to NZ by 18, Lost to Aus by 37, Lost to Eng by 19, P12 W1 L11 PD-234 (8%)
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Interestingly, SA talk Wales up, no disrespectful talk out the camp – win, make a dedication to Rees, and wish Davies a speedy recovery.
Wales, lots of pre-match we expect to win, and after they lose – blame poor officiating and the pitch.
sums it up
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
you’re entitled to your opinion, but lets keep to Rugby ?
JimmyB, England may prove me wrong this weekend, im just saying that Im not convinced yet.
If they come close, or somehow manage to win… my mind will change.
Wales whipped England, and were beaten by SA – does that put England ahead of Wales ?
Look, im sure 3-6 are interchangeable right now – the whole point to this article was that I feel
NZ are outright leaders, SA are clearly second, and theres a gap to number three.
Not everyone will agree, but based on this seasons performances – thats how it looks to me.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Over that time period, agreed. But this was about 2013. SA never looked like challenging NZ or even Aus from 2010 to 2012.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Im still not a believer Tigranes, maybe a good showing from England against a top team will change my opinion, but in 2013 – i cant see it happening. Lets not forget that England took a pounding from Wales, and its that kind of inconsistency that puts them behind the top two. I cant see SA or NZ even when having an off day, taking such a beating. Maybe Wales played out of their skins on the day, but that highlights their inconsistency as well.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
We have quite a record in recent times against Wales and England, Only Aus have been our thorn and we corrected that in 2013. Too much emphasis on the man here, and not enough on the ball – Does anyone deny that SA are the second best team? Does anyone deny that theres a gap to number 3 ? Of course the fans of the team thats up there will be called arrogant and smug if they let anyone else know that they’re up there, regardless, i stick by my opinion – NZ 1, SA 2, gap, Wales3
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
By definition, is arrogance not denying another their opinion ? Lest you forget, This is all retorte for the Welsh media,coaching staff and a few players who had alot to say pre-match, and based on what has been seen in 2013 – which is the year that this article depicts, am i wrong ?
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Maybe its a cultural difference Ben, the comments mentioned on here from Welsh players, and coaching staff in the media – came across to me, and many others as disrespectful. Maybe you see it differently, I know that alot of what i say is taken as arrogant when its not intended that way – could be cultural differences.
Five things we learned from Wales vs South Africa
what a laugh… Williams got his head on the wrong side, that was all there was to it.
Five things we learned from Wales vs South Africa
As for attack – Of course England will attack, but i dont think they have the firepower in their backline that NZ do ? well, we didnt think that last year either did we….
Five things we learned from Wales vs South Africa
I dont understand why you think hes not a good ref? Far as i can remember, he received alot of praise back here for the way he allows a game to flow, plays longer advantage, allows scrums to collapse if the ball is about to come out etc.
Any particular test that you felt he did badly?
Five things we learned from Wales vs South Africa
Like a hot knife through butter….
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Not really BB, Anyone can beat anyone in a one off. But consistency, is what makes NZ and SA ahead of the rest. I cant see anyone else consistently beating another Top10 team. As for the cringe, boet, perhaps i should use (jokes) and sic and tongue in cheek when its intended… I do however believe that NZ are on top, SA are not too far off, and rest are a bit further back. Thats all you should take from this.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Chan, the difference is in the mentality of the current Boks – They realize that they are #2, and will pay respect to all opposition. SA have had a bad reputation for some time, consider that many saffas are all black fans, even our own turned against us. Heyneke wants to turn that around, and win over fans from other countries too. Jean is a humble captain, at the top of his game, and even though i was not too assured about his appointment at the time, i am certainly a Jean de Villiers fan now.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Batdown, if i am wrong – I will admit it and pay respect where its due. But I have seen little to suggest otherwise. I think Wales would beat England if they played this weekend, and that doesnt give me any confidence that england can beat NZ. SA are to field the bench this weekend so i dont expect them to beat Scotland by too many, they will have France in their minds. Wales could beat Aus, but 2013 is a disaster season for the Wallabies, I dont think Wales should celebrate that win – tongue in cheek
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
whether Wales had celebrated a win or not would not have been the point of contention, it was the disrepspect shown to an opponent they had not beaten since 1999 that was bemusing. I felt that Jean de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer had shown Wales plenty of respect, along with their tribute to Matthew Rees, and post victory well wishes for Johnathan Davies. Were Wales justified by that comment ?
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
would make for an interesting World Cup then mate – With Aus, England and Wales in the same group.
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
Ok Boets and Mates, Here’s my team.
1. Beast Mtwarira
2. Bismarck duPlessis
3. Owen Franks
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Francois Louw
7. Dick McCaw (you see what i did there)
8. Kieran Reed
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Bryan Habana
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Conrad Smith
14. Ben Smith
15. Israel Dagg
16. Tony Woodcock
17. Adriaan Strauss
18. Jannie duPlessis
19. Brodie Retallick
20. Steven Luatua
21. Aaron Smith
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Willie le Roux
My 2013 team of All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks