Rugby World Cup 18 Sep - 31 Oct 2015

Starts in about a month, and warm-up / preparation matches under way, so time it had a thread. Fromage/Dello please Rikki.

Group A especially interesting with England, Wales & Australia chasing just two Q/F spots. IMO, seeding the teams a full two and a half years before the tournament was a huge error by the IRB, and they don't accurately reflect the current standings. Can't help but feel that there will be something of a mismatch when one of Scotland, Samoa, Japan or USA play their Q/F game, whoever it is against.

Anyone else got any thoughts or predictions at this stage ?

I would say SA has no hope, but that will be dismissed as reverse woofing, so I won't.

Wallabies 31-man World Cup squad


Forwards:
Stephen Moore (c) - (96 Tests), Tatafu Polota-Nau (53), Greg Holmes (17), Sekope Kepu (56), Scott Sio (9), James Slipper (66), Toby Smith (uncapped), Kane Douglas (15), Dean Mumm (36), Rob Simmons (52), Will Skelton (11), Scott Fardy (24), Michael Hooper (vc,45), Ben McCalman (40 Tests), Sean McMahon (3), Wycliff Palu (55), David Pocock (50).

Backs:
Will Genia (59), Nick Phipps (31), Israel Folau (33), Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc,108), Rob Horne (26), Drew Mitchell (65), Henry Speight (3), Tevita Kuridrani (24), Matt Giteau (95), Matt Toomua (25), Kurtley Beale (52), Bernard Foley (17), Quade Cooper 55), Joe Tomane (15).

For SA team Google 2007 squad.

taipan wrote:I would say SA has no hope, but that will be dismissed as reverse woofing, so I won't.

You should top the group comfortably taips, so do you think you'll struggle against Eng/Aus/Wales in the QF, or bomb after that ?

Growler wrote:

taipan wrote:I would say SA has no hope, but that will be dismissed as reverse woofing, so I won't.

You should top the group comfortably taips, so do you think you'll struggle against Eng/Aus/Wales in the QF, or bomb after that ?

Growls, I will shocked if we make the semis, regardless of opposition. For various reasons I would prefer not to discuss this over the forum. However pm is another option. Let me know, either way I am not bothered but am always happy to discuss.

taipan wrote:Growls, I will shocked if we make the semis, regardless of opposition. For various reasons I would prefer not to discuss this over the forum. However pm is another option. Let me know, either way I am not bothered but am always happy to discuss.

quotas?
ie youve passed your usual monthly quota of whinging about the quota system

Horwill & White omitted from the Wobblies squad & yet that useless qunt Cooper is selected. We won't get past the round robin stage.

Don't bet on it Mr D ...... I've just watched highlights of our warm-up in France, and the 25-20 scoreline flatters us by the two tries we stole in the last 10 minutes.

Believe me, if we go into the WC playing as we did for 70 minutes both Aus & Wales will beat us, and top spot will be whichever XV wins when they play one another.

We lacked energy, discipline and most important of all, leadership until the subs came on in the second half. Stuart Lancaster has some hard thinking to do ...... if this was his planned starting side for Fiji - it certainly shouldn't be now IMO.

New Zealand should walk it.

Wales, Ireland, and France the best of the rest.

England troughing at the right time.

Big Dog wrote:Horwill & White omitted from the Wobblies squad & yet that useless qunt Cooper is selected. We won't get past the round robin stage.

never been impressed by white but cant understand why horwill was left out

cooper might be ok as we arent playing in new zealand

Ethics? The Gall! wrote:

taipan wrote:Growls, I will shocked if we make the semis, regardless of opposition. For various reasons I would prefer not to discuss this over the forum. However pm is another option. Let me know, either way I am not bothered but am always happy to discuss.

quotas?  
ie youve passed your usual monthly quota of whinging about the quota system

Actually if you followed rugby you would understand quotas are not a big issue in the Bok team at present. One of the main reasons I am not posting a critique is to avoid ignorant remarks such as this.

i follow rugby a bit. but i dont keep up to date with the internal politics of every semi failed state in the world

i also often remember different peoples personal hobby horses and one of yours is the quota thing. also a tendency not to recognise someone elses attempts at humour. and yeah i know that now youll want to have a go at me for pointing out your nsr. be my guest

etg pulls the failed nsr card

Okay, so now I've seen 45 mins highlights of the France v England match, not just the result.

Thoughts FWTW:

1) I hope the WC grounds have more pride than to serve up lasagne-surfaced pitches. Not good for quality rugby.

2) England's performance for much of the match reminded me very much of the old "Probables v Possibles" matchings in various sports before a big event, and the way the applecart was not infrequently overturned by the "seconds". This was supposed to be, more or less, England's First XV. But with a few exceptions, they played 2/3 of the game as if more fearful of injury than with any determination to win. (If that is in any way the case, maybe it was unwise to table a couple of jousts with France close to the event.) When substitutes came on, the energy, purpose and commitment were more evident. More resourcefulness too. Don't think that's because France eased off.

3) I was very unimpressed by Ford's positional and strategic sense, ideas, and pass. He can kick, but otherwise seemed a distinct liability. Cipriani, brought in as substitute three-quarter, showed everything George had lacked.

4) England still can't get the lineout right. Even the throw.

5) Despite Ford getting in his way (once literally, at other times with lousy passes), welcome back Mike Brown.

6) Jonny May. Does he exist, or is he a jinking phantom? Whereas, Jack Nowell: fine speedy battling wing if given half a chance.

7) England have fixed themselves a rank underdog status with those two performances. May do them good, if some correct choices & decisions are made. Wouldn't bet on it: but then, I never do.

One of my mates sent me this picture ....Bastard

Is there any serious possibility that South Africa won't play in the World Cup?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/30/south-africa-barred-world-cup-court-action-agency-new-agenda-party-rugby-union

I feel like all this transformation stuff is going to come to a head soon across all sports in South Africa. There could be player strikes and an exodus of talent to countries like England and Australia.

I'm amazed the cricket team has held it together so well all this time.

Henry wrote:Is there any serious possibility that South Africa won't play in the World Cup?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/30/south-africa-barred-world-cup-court-action-agency-new-agenda-party-rugby-union

I feel like all this transformation stuff is going to come to a head soon across all sports in South Africa. There could be player strikes and an exodus of talent to countries like England and Australia.

I'm amazed the cricket team has held it together so well all this time.

Can't enlarge the picture, but I count five.

Bradman wrote:

Henry wrote:Is there any serious possibility that South Africa won't play in the World Cup?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/30/south-africa-barred-world-cup-court-action-agency-new-agenda-party-rugby-union

I feel like all this transformation stuff is going to come to a head soon across all sports in South Africa. There could be player strikes and an exodus of talent to countries like England and Australia.

I'm amazed the cricket team has held it together so well all this time.

Can't enlarge the picture, but I count five.

There are 9 and that is only because of the racial policies of the ANC.

Henry wrote:Is there any serious possibility that South Africa won't play in the World Cup?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/30/south-africa-barred-world-cup-court-action-agency-new-agenda-party-rugby-union

I feel like all this transformation stuff is going to come to a head soon across all sports in South Africa. There could be player strikes and an exodus of talent to countries like England and Australia.

I'm amazed the cricket team has held it together so well all this time.

Update on this.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Get-a-good-lawyer-judge-tells-politician-trying-to-stop-Bok-team-20150902

So he's a bit isolated on this.....

The sense of entitlement looking for his 15 minutes of fame.

Looks like the Welsh scrummie is out of the WC. Big blow to Wales.

taipan wrote:Looks like the Welsh scrummie is out of the WC. Big blow to Wales.

Sad news for Webb. Will be all over for them if Halfpenny doesn't make it to the tournament.

And Scotland just put in a very decent performance against France. They more than matched a French pack that England struggled to compete against.