I know there's a thread for the warm up matches but with most teams in New Zealand and the competition starting next weekend I said I'd start a thread for the competition itself.
New Zealand with home backing are favourites but Australia on the back of their Tri-Nations success are the form team. France and England look the best the Northern hemispher can offer. Ireland and Wales have the potential to pull something off but injuries may have an effect.
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Lewis Moody has been ruled out of England's opening game against Argentina.
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Can't wait for Friday morning, New Zealand in the groups are always good to watch so it should be a brilliant start to the competition against the Tongans.
C'mon Ireland. Can't wait for the tournament to start. I hope Ireland do better in this World Cup than in the last one. We have the talent to do much better.
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Just realised i'm missing the last 20 mins or so of the NZ game on Friday, i'd imagine NZ would have won it by then though.
Who is expected to start at fly-half for England ? I'd go for Wilkinson but it wouldn't surprise me if Flood was given the nod
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Only saw the first half of NZ this morning, Sonny Bill Williams is so good to watch. Feel NZ have got plenty of gears to go through yet.
England team: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Tindall (captain), Delon Armitage; Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Wigglesworth; Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Dan Cole, Louis Deacon, Courtney Lawes, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Nick Easter.
Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Matt Banahan.
Impressive by NZ, but tbh what can you take from the game. NZ themselves were already trying some experimental players/positions and beat a team not ready to be playing at this level. respectable 2nd half but NZ didnt have to waste any energy. These games are pointless, its quite annoying how the majority of the tournament will be played at this level, cant wait for the quarters really
Yeah the competition doesn't really start until the last 8. New Zealand scored some good tries this morning - think it was the 2nd one where Sonny Bill pulled off an amazing flick. Still remember watching Israel Dagg playing for the All-Blacks under 20's a few years ago and he was unbelievably good think he was playing at out-half at the time but apparently he has rotten luck with injuries since so it's good to see him back playing well. Took his tries well.
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I was looking forward to seeing Mils Muliaina, I like watching him but apparently he had a poor Tri Nations. Israel Dagg looks fantastic though, great angles. Jerome Kaino impressed a lot. Kahui looks good. Didn't think much of Toeava. Definitely looking forward to seeing more of them. They definitely didn't look like they were going full throttle and probably won't until the knockout competition starts.
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Wasn't the best performance but atleast we got the win
Exactly a win is a win
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Dreadful kicking by both teams, had to have something to do with the roof being closed. Best things about the game were Steve Thompson kissing Ledesma and calling him a "legend", Courtney Lawes tackle on Tiesi, what a hit! and Haskell calling someone a "fucking cnut". Thought there was some poor decisions made by England there were a number of times they opted for the posts when it was probably best to go for the corner especially after Jonny had missed a few, thought it was stupid to attempt kicking from 50m after that. Lots to improve on.
Saw the 2nd half of the Scotland game this morning, Romania were impressive but Scotland were poor until the end. The bigger nations have been very complacent so far it seems but they've all managed to get wins without playing at full throttle so it doesn't matter.
Ever since England made the substitution of Youngs, they had the most of the possession and once he got the only try of the game, England were in the driving seat. His substitution changed the game in England's favor. They started 2007 with a 36-0 loss to SA and as the tournament gets on, Wilkinson will get better. He missed a few kicks, but luckily it didn't cost England anything today. How awful were Argentina's kicking? Contemponi's injury also worked in England's favour. He was literally killing them in the first 20mins. Good start in the end for England but they've got to improve on this that's for sure, especially on their discipline which has always been a bit poor under Martin Johnson.
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Yeah, Youngs presents quicker ball than Wigglesworth. I was surprised when I saw Wigglesworth playing.
Well here we are again; another World Cup another set of bitten finger nails.
Football, Rugby or underwater Ludo it doesn’t matter, the Blood Pressure of England fans goes through the roof when these competitions occur.
This time it was the turn of England’s Rugby team to make us sweat, mutter oaths, throw things at the Telly and bury our heads in our hands.
We’re continually lulled into a false sense of security, by the pre event assurances of the teams Management and Coaching Staff.
It usually goes like this: I feel this is the best preparation for the World cup we’ve ever had, the Guys know that if they fail to step up there is someone waiting to take their place. Our fitness levels are the best they’ve ever been; we’ve sought the advice of nutritional experts. Nothing has been left to chance. England had recorded the Scrum instruction of Byrce Lawrence, what could go wrong?
We all know the answer............ the first match, any bets? Of course not, we’re all of us England supporters we know the script even if the Players and coaching staff don’t.
Take nothing away from Argentina they played to their strengths and may have even prevailed if their talisman and playmaker Philippe Contipommi not gone of injured midway through the first half.
As for England it was a performance littered with poor decision making and levels of play that would make a Much Binding in the Marches Fourth team blush especially so in the first half.
Three incidents encapsulate England’s poor performance. Mike Tindall was involved twice once in attack and one in defence.
England had a clear overlap attacking down their left, Tindall Ball in Hand he had three players outside him instead of keeping it simple he opted for the spectacular attempting a long pass to Armitage on the wing in doing so he took two of his players out of the game and left Armitage scrambling for the ball with the Argentinean defence in close attendance. Tindall himself must know that passing isn’t one of his natural talents which compounds the error and calls into question his decision making.
The second incident saw him rushing out of the defensive line and leaving a gap for the Argentineans to drive a bus through which they duly did, only a last ditch defensive effort prevented an Argentinean Try.
The third incident followed one of the few bright moments in the game a dazzling run from defence by Foden presented an opportunity for England to score a Try which they should have scored.
However, the chance was squandered when Armitage stayed on his wing as if they were train tracks in failing to move closer to Foden he left the latter with no alternative to attempt a long pass to Armitage and in the blink of an eye the opportunity was lost.
With Twenty minutes to go the prospect of playing The original All Blacks in the next stage was a very real one.
At last a sense of urgency was realised and three match winning substitutions were made.
The introduction of the much more mobile Stevens, Hartley and Youngs made an immediate impression against a quickly tiring Argentina.
Armitage made amends for his earlier error with a magnificent chase and catch which set up a sustained period of English pressure which eventually led to the Games only Try when Youngs ghosted through a for once missing Argentinean defence to score directly under the post allowing the conversion attempt to be taken directly in front of the posts
A subsequent successful penalty attempt completed the final score.
In summary England’s performance would be best described as scrappy. Their failure to realise that the Referee was fond of blowing his whistle could have been costly if not for the fact that the Argentinean kickers had left their boots at home. However, to be fair so had the normally reliable Jonny Wilkinson.
Communication also broke down the fact that the Ref was whistle happy was quite evident surely someone preferably the Captain should have got a grip.
If England fail to sort this out we shall no doubt see them on an early flight home
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What a farce. That penalty in the first half went over. Absolutely gutted. Robbed.
Yeah it was a robbery. Really feel for the Welsh because it was a fantastic performance - South Africa only had 2 or 3 attacks in Wales' half. Still don't know how Priestland missed that drop goal at the death, it wouldn't have mattered had the assistants given Hooks penalty in the first-half though. Shocking decision.
Scotland just about scraped past Georgia. Didn't see it thankfully but it sounded like a stinker of a game.
Flannery out of Irelands game against Australia. More injuries not needed. Still think Ireland have a chance if they actually play to their potential, which they haven't done since the England game in the 6 nations. It's a wonder how Irish sides dominate club rugby then can't seem to string three phases together in an international game.
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Wouldn't have called it a stinker but then i'm a forward. The Georgians were very good upfront and in defence. Hopefully they've got enough left in them for England. They've got some very good players and are looking to try and get some games in the Autumn internationals against some bigger nations according to the commentators. I can see why too, very good pack of forwards, their #10 looked pretty good too.
The smaller countries do seem to be closing the gap a bit on the bigger rugby nations. At the last world cup all these sides would have been swept aside but they seem to have come on an awful lot. Even Japan gave France a bit of a scare the other day.
Can't wait for the Ireland game on Saturday. Ireland's back row for the weekend of Ferris, O'Brien and Heaslip has to be one of the best ball carrying back rows in recent times. They've never all played together as a back row unit due to injuries and the fact they are all very similar players but it's a frightening combination. The only problem with the three of them is that they are so big and built that they aren't as good at rucking which will be a problem against David Pocock. We saw with Warburton on Saturday how important that side of the game is and that could potentially be Ireland's downfall. Reddan and Sexton need to perform also. If they don't and Quade Cooper gets going then we don't stand much hope.
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Will be interesting to see how they do on friday, i'd imagine they'll take a battering if NZ go all out, I don't think they will though and apparently McCaw and Carter are out. Looking forward to seeing SB Williams and Israel Dagg again.Originally Posted by IrishManc.
Also looking forward to the Irish game, really hope you can do them over, we'll probably meet in the quarters if it happens. Is O'Brien definitely back? Big boost if he is. Not seen Australia yet or Ireland actually. Hopefully get a good game. I'll have to get up for the game before too, funny thing is i'd like to see Fiji win but then I don't as it'll affect Wales.
Sunday is going to be a rough day, having to get up at 4:30 to watch the Wales game stay up for the next 2 games too, I think i'll have to go back to bed then before the United game. Definitely not going out on Saturday night.
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Well that was highly entertaining, SB Williams is a joy to watch, how can you not start him in the 15? Kaino good again, Smith and Nonu doing well. Kahui looking very good. Ellis has to start at 9 for me too ahead of Cowan. 83-7 and there's more to come from them. McCaw, Read, Carter and Dagg/Muliaina to come back in to positions that NZ didn't really shine in today.
Yeah O'Brien is starting at openside. I reckon he's more of a number 8 but Heaslip has that position nailed down.
Bloody hell 4.30 ? That's rough alright.
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