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In the third and final part of my Six Nations review, I name my team and player of the tournament. It is always a…
Having reviewed the Six Nations campaigns of Ireland, England and France in part 1, today I will run the rule over Wales, Italy and…
Over the three parts of this article, I will give a brief review of each Six Nations side in terms of their performance and…
With England staring down the barrel of another heavy defeat, it has become clear that in the past three months the sides have completed…
Dear Shane, Firstly, can I just say how much I admired you as a cricketer. Like a lot Poms of my age, I grew…
The British and Irish Lions tour has brought into sharper focus the so-called “group of death” at the 2015 World Cup, where Wales, England…
The first Ashes Test is so close you can almost smell it. Unfortunately what you actually can smell is the stench of the Australian…
As a fan (of the Lions and England), I find my enjoyment of rugby union is being adversely affected by seemingly random refereeing decisions…
What did the 6 Nations tell us about the chances the 2013 British and Irish Lions have of beating Australia just over a year…
Across the sporting landscape, the teams with the best players will tend to win. There are of course a vast number of anomalies but…
There has been much written in the press this week celebrating the remarkable career of Brad Thorn, and rightfully so. His retirement from international…
In anticipation of the final on Sunday, here is a look back at the players who have lit up the 2011 Rugby World Cup…
So the two finalists are the same as they were at the inaugural tournament; which was also the last time it was held in…
Four very different semi finals were played out over the weekend, each with very different subplots. As with much of the World Cup, there…
It's the business end of the Rugby World Cup, and with little to split the teams in each of the four matches, it's time…
[caption id="attachment_51072" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Wales' scrum-half Mike Phillips is tackled during the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool D Wales vs Samoa match (AAP Image/AFP,…
England and Scotland go head to head tomorrow at 5:30pm in a must-win for the Scots who have given Argentina the leap in the…
Thanks to Ireland turning over the heavily-favoured Wallabies last week, one side of the knockout draw looks like the one to avoid - and…
What to make of the second round of group games? Well, one thing is for sure, while some of the big teams are positioning…
What did we learn from the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup? We saw the big teams get through but it wasn't smooth…
Interesting read.
To say England vs. France is the worst match up of the weekend by far is pretty extreme. I would say that an overmatched and aging Argentina against the AB’s is worse in terms of match ups. Although it may be a “better” game in terms of tries.
England vs. France will be and always is, enthralling. My view? England to win, the French are in complete disarray, and although England have their own off field issues, expect them to raise their game and come through by 7-10 points.
Wales vs. Ireland and Aus vs. SA will both be belters. Wellington clearly has the pick of the games! For my money Wales pull out a close one and SA strangle the Aussies up front and win via the boot of Steyn.
2011 Rugby World Cup Quarterfinals preview
MR, your argument has 1 major flaw. It assumes a good performance from the Scots. The lost to Argentina who England beat despite playing poorly. They scraped past Georgia, who England beat easily (in the end),despite playing poorly and they scraped a bonus point against Romania, who England hammered.
It needs more than an underpar England fro Scotland to win, that’s not to say they won’t pull it off!
England vs Scotland: Positional analysis
Bad weather, England indiscipline, a perfect day with the Boot for Paterson/Jackson and a huge day from the Scottish forwards.
All eminently possible.
England vs Scotland: Positional analysis
Never thought, as an Englashman, I would be accused of being too kind to the Jocks!
Agree that England should win more easily on paper than they will find it on the day
England vs Scotland: Positional analysis
There’s a distinction between try scorer and finisher. The likes of Dagg, Nonu, Beale etc are great try scorers and often produce scintillating tries, but would I perfer them to Ashton when i need someone to squeak in, in the corner? No
Clerc is phenomenal as is/was Habana. I think Jaque Fourie is also up there as is Tommy Bow and Digby Ioane
Rokocoko on his day was one of the more lethal, I am also a big fan of Masaga. I guess it helps to have some great creators inside you!
England vs Scotland: Positional analysis
To Chuck and Rugby Rick – you are both clearly a little on edge?
My final comment was tongue in cheek, a little quip to fire up the highly strung AB fans – clearly it has worked.
If this RWC was being held in any other country, do i think New Zealand would win? Yes.
However, what i think counts for naught when we look at the evidence. The All Blacks were the best side in the lead up to and early stages of every world cup apart from 2003. However they have failed to win since 1987…those are the facts and will remain so until they win outside NZ…
There i was thinking my prediction of an NZ victory would keep the AB fans happy – how naive!
ABs sharpen claws as quarter finalists emerge
Very interesting perspective. Picking him on the bench would be my way to go…although I am in agreement with the need for specialist outside back cover. From the bench he can come on and bring something dofferent in the last 20 as and when required. If he tries 5 offloads in the fianl 20 minutes and one leads to a score it will be a great success.
Sonny Bill Williams is Stephen Donald all over again
England’s traditional socks are blue…as in their colours are red, white and blue. However I agree, the all white strips aren’t great. Also dislike the style of teh numbers on their back.
All White - the worst playing strip in sport
Completely agree. Had the misfortune of trying to watch the wallabies vs. ireland on channel 9 at the weekend. delayed till long after it had finished and adverts every 5 minutes. unimpressed.
Rugby World Cup heats up ahead of week three
Touch harsh on Deans I reckon. .
Agree he was very late in making any changes, and that the Aussie back row were anonymous, but is Beau Robinson a better option? I certainly don;t think he is worthy of filling Pocock’s shoes.
Ireland were the better side on the day. The wanted it more and showed that if you get the aussies on the back foot their game can unravel.
Palota-Nau was awful, especially at lineout time. Try winning a test match when your scrum and line out are being dominated? Not happenng.
While Deans should have made changes sooner, it is up to the boys on the park to perform, and in that respect Horwill and his men failed. badly.
Irish forwards highlight Wallabies' selection blunders
That everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that maybe you should spend a little more time focussing on the performance of your side and not the referee.
As i have said, these are merely my observations on the opening rounds, and are designed to encourage debate and discussion – clearly that has work.
I thank you for your input
Rugby World Cup opening weekend: what did we learn?
Thanks for all the feedback, especially the positive comments. I am planning on contributing once a week during the tournament so keep you eyes out for more.
In terms of my “underdog backing glasses” I would have to dispute that! As a proud Englishman I was in purgatory for 75 minutes on Saturday night.
The most impressive part of Wayne Barnes performance was the flow of the game. He allowed play to go on and contributed to an enthralling contest. Sure he may hav made some errors, but if anyone can do better, maybe they should be out there? Interesting to see a ‘Bok fan suggesting that a South African referee be used…
Interesting notes this past few days – Courtney Lawes rightfully being cited. and most importantly Digby Ioane’s thumb injury. He would be a huge loss to the Wallabies.
Rugby World Cup opening weekend: what did we learn?
A good discussion point but I have a number of issues:
Steenkamp is a loosehead, no?
Ashton plays for Northhampton in the Premiership, not Top 14.
As for the selections there seem to be a number of players tehre on reputation alone (Sheridan etc) or their body of work as opposed to current form (BOD, Matfield).
Nonu is a shaky defender, and Samo has not done enough in 1 (albeit very impressive) appearance to make the side.
Personally i would have Jaque Fourie, or Conrad Smith at 13. 12 is a tough slot…maybe Jamie Roberts.
Best part of this article…Parisse at 8…he is a class act and would consistently in discussion as one of the finest players in the worls and of his generation had he been born for a more successful rugby nation.
Time to select a pre-World Cup world XV
Will South Africa beat Wales? Probably. But this is the easiest pick for an upset in the group stages.
SA are undercooked. Wales are game ready.
Wales have the big runners (Roberts et al) to match the Springboks in that department.
Wales have more magic, in the likes of Hook, Phillips S Williams than SA (Fourie Du Preez)
However, SA has the grunt up front, and the experience that will probably bring them through….
Still picking Wales though….World Cups are made for upsets like this!
Wales fancy their chances, but Springboks no easy-beats
Firstly, thanks for all the comments/feedback.
Apologies for the error re: Wyatt Crockett, he is indeed not in the AB squad.
As for the comments on the French back row – I fully agree that Picamoles is a strong runner, but is he going to be enough? Opposition defences can focus on him on loose play as there is little risk of Dusutoir and Oedraogo doing the hard yards.
I thought that the Wales vs. SA prediction would light a fire under some people! The article was intended to generate debate. I am certain that my predictions won’t be perfect, but i firmly believe that there will be at least 1 big upset during the tournament, and for me the welsh have the best chance of that when the play the Boks.
One week to go: World Cup 2011 predictions
For me the French back row is a bit lightweight with Oedraogo and Dusutoir to do enough damage around the fringes and allow for Parra/Yachvilli to weave their magic with the AB back row on their heals.
No doubt the 2 flankers will tackle their way into the ground and have incredible pace around the park, but a lack of physicality will let them down. The Wallabies showed that you can really do some damage to the AB’s by getting up in their faces and winning the physical battle. Unless the French do this the AB’s will suffocate them and win comfortably.
Only 7 days till kick off…cannot wait!
France look to their backrow at World Cup
A couple of issues
1. Danny Care has never and will never be regarded as one of the best scrum halves in the world. He is very skillful and has the niggle, that all good scrumhalves have, in spades but he is mentally poor, has average distribution and is prone to the kind of mistake that the likes of Du Preez and Genia would never make.
2. Of the 3 world cups to be held in the southern hemisphere, a northern hemisphere team has made the final twice, that coupled with the pressure on NZ, Australian flakiness and the poor selections/form of SA makes a northern hemisphere finalist at least a distinct possibility.
I’d go as far as to say that France or England are a much better bet than South Africa.
That said i can’t see past an All Black or Wallaby victory come October 23rd
Rugby World Cup contenders
Top 3 Players?
Agree with Warburton and O’Brien, Danie Russouw has to be up there, George Stowers and Jerome Kaino deserve consideration (along with Kahui)
If I had to go for only 3: Warburton. Russouw and Kaino…
2011 Rugby World Cup Quarterfinals preview