Rugby World Cup 2003

**Shed End John** · 08/10/2003, 12:41 PM

Two questions regarding all the action starting at 8a.m. Friday morning:
1. Who's going to win it and take home the William Webb Ellis trophy on November 22nd?; and
2. How far will Ireland go?

I'll say New Zealand to win it, if only to stop England doing it; and though the heart says the semis, I reckon that the quarter-finals will once again be our lot.

**patsh** · 08/10/2003, 12:51 PM

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........ ........

**Shed End John** · 08/10/2003, 12:54 PM

Originally posted by patsh
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........ ........

That would be funny, if it wasn't so idiotic. At least humour me by answering the two questions next time. You might even learn something!!

**Schumi** · 08/10/2003, 2:21 PM

Unfortunately I think England will win it. Ireland will probably go out in the quarters but will have a good chance of beating France (assuming they win their group) and making the semis. I'd be happier if O'Gara started ahead of Humphreys though.

**Shed End John** · 08/10/2003, 2:29 PM

Originally posted by Schumi
Unfortunately I think England will win it. Ireland will probably go out in the quarters but will have a good chance of beating France (assuming they win their group) and making the semis. I'd be happier if O'Gara started ahead of Humphreys though.

So would I. Reckon it's just a precaution with his hand injury, though. Everyone knows that Ireland v France is a 'home banker', but, on a neutral venue it's very much 50/50.
IMO, England could find the going harder than they expect. They have, man for man, the oldest team in the tournament by some distance, and all the hard pitches will do them even less favours than everyone else. Plus, with all the hype surrounding them for the last 18 months, teams like NZ and Australia will positively relish knocking England off their pedastal.

**Dodge** · 08/10/2003, 2:36 PM

Originally posted by Shed End John
Two questions regarding all the action starting at 8a.m. Friday morning:
1. Who's going to win it and take home the William Webb Ellis trophy on November 22nd?; and
2. How far will Ireland go?

I'll say New Zealand to win it, if only to stop England doing it; and though the heart says the semis, I reckon that the quarter-finals will once again be our lot.

I agree with all of that. I think it depends on how we play against Australia as to whether we'll beat France. If we put up a good show v Oz, I'd fancy us to beat France

**Shed End John** · 08/10/2003, 2:41 PM

Originally posted by Dodge
I agree with all of that. I think it depends on how we play against Australia as to whether we'll beat France. If we put up a good show v Oz, I'd fancy us to beat France

Exactly what I think. It happens all the time if a side gets hammered in one game they can't pick themselves up for the next one. Speaking of which, IMO going purely on 1st 15 v 1st 15, us v the Aussies will be a close one.

**Schumi** · 08/10/2003, 2:44 PM

Home advantage will make a diference though. It'll be very hard to beat them in Australia.

**Gary** · 08/10/2003, 2:54 PM

Wahey, itsa time for the world cup no one cares about.

Egg chasing

**joeSoap** · 08/10/2003, 2:58 PM

I think we're all seriously underestimating the threat of the Argies... They are very strong. We aren't realistically going to beat the Aussies on their home turf, especially as the world rankings were rigged to say that we're a better team than them right now.They are really going to want to do us, and probably will. Argentina is again the banana skin, and I think we'll slip on it again for 4 primary reasons:
1). Brian O'Driscoll is now no longer underestimated as he was three years ago. Teams now stand off him, give him 5 yards and then double up on the tackle. How many yards did he make during this seasons 6 Nations...very few, and World Cup is gonna be even harder.
2). O'Sullivans annoying preference for Humphreys ahead of O'Gara. Ireland are so offensively limited when Humphreys plays its unreal.
3).Travelling to the World Cup without David Wallace is like asking England to not bring Richard Hill. He is easily the best ball carrier we have, never shirks tackles, and has never, ever let Ireland down. But for some unknown reason to me, he insists on bringing Easterby.
4). Bringing insufficient cover (Paddy Wallace, Reggie Corrigan) for injured squad members Dempsey and Hayes. Any of those two get crocked, then you can kiss the world cup goodbye.
Prediction: Knocked out in group stages by Argentina!

**Dodge** · 08/10/2003, 3:11 PM

1) Means Maggs gets more space and and a crash and bang centre, he's as good as they come.

2) Agree but Humphries is better than most give him credit for.

3) Gleeson is better than Wallace. He lost his form and suffered because of it

4) Neither will get a chance and Wallace was brought for experience. If Dempsey gets injured watch for Humphreys to play full back with o'Gara coming in at fly half

**Schumi** · 08/10/2003, 3:14 PM

Originally posted by joeSoap
David Wallace ... is easily the best ball carrier we have

Victor Costello will more than make up for this, he's been excellent recently. Argentina are a good side but if we play to our potential, we should win.

**NigeSausagepump** · 08/10/2003, 4:41 PM

I know very little about rugby, but if I was a fan I'd find it dispiriting that pretty much every single pundit I've read is predicting an England-All Blacks final. Obviously its just speculation, but it hardly suggests an open, unpredictable tournament.

They all hark on about the divide between the rich and poor nations which is limiting the pool of potential winners severely. I know this exists in football too, but I would have thought there was more of a chance of the likes of South Korea, Iran, China etc getting a result against the bigwigs than the likes of Georgia and Japan doing something similar in the rugby.

**patsh** · 08/10/2003, 4:41 PM

Originally posted by Shed End John
That would be funny, if it wasn't so idiotic. At least humour me by answering the two questions next time. You might even learn something!!

Shock Horror!!!!!!

Shed End John reckons he has a sense of humour !!!!
BTW, I did answer the 2 questions.........

**dcnags** · 08/10/2003, 10:18 PM

geordan murphy=huge loss for ireland.

he would have been class, hes been **** hot for a good while now. pity.

**sadloserkid** · 09/10/2003, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by Shed End John
Two questions regarding all the action starting at 8a.m. Friday morning:
1. Who's going to win it and take home the William Webb Ellis trophy on November 22nd?; and
2. How far will Ireland go?

1. Sadly I suspect England will do it.

2. 1/4 finals I'd imagine though i agree with Joe that Argentina can't be underestimated.

**niamh** · 09/10/2003, 5:08 PM

1) Depends on how the English approach the matches. If they believe they have a god given right to win, they won't. If they can keep their feet on thed ground, they'll do damage. Saying that the Aussies are at home and New Zealand are near home. Tough call, but I reckon on of the three. Remember

2) As for Ireland, I'd expect them to get out of the group at the very least. After that it depends on the team. Remember the last World when everyone was saying we should have been Argentina if I'm not mistaken??

**pete** · 10/10/2003, 12:05 PM

New Zealand to win. England are too cocky. Australia to do well also with home advantage.

Ireland will do well to get out of group in 2nd place. Argentina got unlucky tight schedle which should help Ireland. With Murphy out Ireland be lacking creativity & very short backup quality in the back line.

**joeSoap** · 10/10/2003, 1:09 PM

Dunno if anyone saw it, but Australia were far from impressive this morning, and they lost one of their better forwards with a serious injury. Argentina weren't too hot either, so good signs so far