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Rugby World Cup 2011

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I don't recall there being bonus points in the WC before.

Early thoughts:

Ireland weren't great but the USA were up for that, some of the defence was great.

Wales should have won but I still don't think SA are any massive shakes. Early days though, they're physical as fuck, will probably get better and can kick points from miles. Wales will give whoever they get in the later stages a real game.

England are so shit they're bound to bore/kick their way to the semis as least. Thanks to JW.

Scotland are pointless. France will be dangerous.

Australia are going to lose Ionae on the wing, big loss for them. They have replacements including O'Connor who is one of their best players currently sidelined due to disciplinary issues, but Digby offers something different.

I'm interested to see what happens with NZ and SBW. He was the best player in Super Rugby last season but Henry wanted to keep the centre pairing of Smith and Nonu, which he continued to use in the WC build up. Fair enough, it's not like they've ever let him down. However, SBW has effectively told the NZRU he will be off if he's not a WC regular and, lo and behold, he's in for the first game. Next game selection will be interesting. Particulary given he's supposedly already in talks with a number of RU & RL clubs.

No surprises so far, 100% on my tips!
 
[quote author=Kenny4PM link=topic=45879.msg1397878#msg1397878 date=1315814499]
Lawes has been cited for striking.
[/quote]

Good to see. That was a terrible "tackle"...
 
[quote author=Kenny4PM link=topic=45879.msg1398333#msg1398333 date=1315901411]
2 Game ban for Lawes.
[/quote]

Georgia and Romania - The English camp must be laughing themselves to sleep.
 
Well, those two games may well turn out to be fairly attritional forward battles in which Lawes would have been useful, but you're right. It could have been a great deal worse.
 
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=45879.msg1398785#msg1398785 date=1315979168]
Habana out against Fiji - are they any good?
[/quote]

We lose to them on a regular basis, but no they're not. Samoa look the real threat imo.
 
Skrela is gone for the French too, not sure if he's much of a loss though.

Irish team for Saturday has been announced:

Ireland: R Kearney Lansdowne/Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster, capt), G D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), K Earls (Young Munster/Munster); J Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster), E Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster); C Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), R Best (Banbridge/Ulster), M Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), D O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), P O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster), S Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), S O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), J Heaslip (Naas/Leinster).

Trimble seems to be hard done by, other than I think that might be our best line up. That's a monster back row and we need all three to have big games if we're to beat the Aussies.
 
Tough forward battle for the Jockoes today against Georgia. England won't find it easy either, though we should have too much for them outside.

Just to top it all off this morning, Sheridan's out of the World Cup with that injury. >🙁
 
It was a bit of a risk to bring him in the first place given the 18 months he's had. That said technically he's the best hooker we have, but he has had no luck lately.
 
I think we've been too poor for too long. You can't just raise your performance on the day and beat the Aussies. Something isn't quite right with the team at the moment and it's really hard to put a finger on it. We seem to lack a bit of intensity and aggression when it matters. And despite me thinking each one of Ferris, O'Brien and Heaslip are fine players and capable of stepping into most sides in the world cup I'm not sure it's a balanced back row. O'Brien can play 7, he's brilliant on the deck, but that's not where you want him so by having him at 7 you curtail his game a bit.

D'Arcy seems to be picked by default, he's done little or nothing to warrant a place in the team for a couple of years now. There just isn't another obvious candidate.
 
Have they tried Bowe at centre? He's played well there for the Ospreys and with you having Trimble it could be a decent option.
 
I'd be more inclined to try Trimble at 12, particularly if he's not seen good enough to play ahead of Earls - which he is at the moment.
 
Not really, Trimble has been in better form.

I think the argument in favour of it is that most coaches favour having two wingers that are a bit different and Trimble is a power runner of a similar style to Bowe whereas Earls is a mazy, elusive type with a great step.
 
Yeah your form isn't great, but one good game against a fading SA side could see you into the semi's. Personally i think you could even upset the much fancied Aussies and actually top the group (which would mean you go out at the QF stage).
 
The Springboks didn't look a fading side today.

I do agree though that Ireland can take the Wallabies down if they hit their stride on the day.
 
Well done to the Irish, a much deserved win!

"If" we beat Samoa then it looks like a Wales v Ireland QF *Very excited*

With injury concerns over McCaw and Carter, this world cup could open right up.
 
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