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#1
05-06-2007, 08:38
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lead up to RWC
well the internationals have now started in the lead up to the RWC and I can't really see too much to read into the form.....with the one exception....South Africa
They have easily thrashed an England B or even C team on both of the last weekends.....not too unpredictable but the way they have done it has been most impressive.....good strong defense, good ball security and play amongst the forwards and some great backline manoevres which is where I think they are really becoming a world class team again.....if they continue in this form they will shorten greatly for the RWC....I already put some money on them whilst the Super 14 was in progress..... All Blacks werent particularly great to watch with a journeyman win over a third string French team on the weekend.....the hob cobbled French team did themselves proud in taking the game to the very end....Chabal was out on his feet....but without any of the flair or charm of the no1 team......ABs should improve with a second run next weekend Wallabies have been experimenting against Wales and have looked very ordinary but in the second half of the second game with gregan + Larkham in they started to gel a little......still a long way behind AB's and SA though IMHO..... and the Pumas have seen off Ireland to become the most improved team of the last 12 months.... Not much to read into all of these trial matches (they shouldn't realy be called "Tests")....except to say watch the Springboks
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 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#2
05-06-2007, 15:00
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i cant see anything beyond an all blacks victory............and hopefully they will win.because i love their attacking style of rugby.........
agrre with you about the pumas...but we had some second rate players on that tour.......we will be well rested for the big one....just like the french.............ij
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ROLL ON OCTOBER........
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#3
05-06-2007, 16:28
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YES ALL BLACKS ARE MY FAV TO WIN MILES AHEAD OF THE OPPOSITION AGREE SPRINKBOKS LOOKED O/K JUST REMEMBER THEY HAD BOTH TEAMS IN SUPER 14 FINAL IMHO THEY HAVE IMPROVED HEAPS IN LAST 12 MONTHS. I HATE TO SAY IT BUT THE WALLABIES NEED GREGAN AT HALF TO DO ANY GOOD AND DONT EXPECT THEM TO FIGURE IN THE FINAL 4 OF WORLD CUP. RWC 2007 POOLS POOL A England MY TIPS SA FIRST ENGLAND 2ND South Africa Samoa USA Tonga POOL B Australia MY TIPS AUST FIRST WALES 2ND Wales Fiji Canada Japan POOL C New Zealand MY TIP NZ FIRST SCOTLAND 2ND Scotland Italy Romania Portugal POOL D MY TIP FRANCE FIRST IRELAND 2ND France Ireland Argentina Georgia Namibia THEN REST OF CUP AS FOLLOWS 06/10/2007 W Pool B RU Pool A QF1 Marseille 15:00 42 06/10/2007 W Pool C RU Pool D QF2 Cardiff 21:00 43 07/10/2007 W Pool A RU Pool B QF3 Marseille 15:00 44 07/10/2007 W Pool D RU Pool C QF4 St Denis 21:00 45 13/10/2007 W QF1 W QF2 SF1 St Denis 21:00 46 14/10/2007 W QF3 W QF4 SF2 St Denis 21:00 47 19/10/2007 Bronze Paris 21:00 48 20/10/2007 Final St Denis 21:00
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MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS 
Last edited by aussie dollar : 05-06-2007 at 16:31.
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#4
05-06-2007, 20:33
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tnx for that detailed post cliff..........
id go the same as you except for scotland........id go for the italians.......
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ROLL ON OCTOBER........
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#5
06-06-2007, 07:33
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yep...think I'd go the same too with Italy over Scotland...especially as it is on neutral ground in France.......
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#7
06-06-2007, 08:27
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Its Sad That Really That Is The Only Group Result We Disagree On.
And Kind Of Shows How Sad The Cup Is. Just Hope Some Upsets And Close Games.
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MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS
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#8
06-06-2007, 08:44
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agree Cliff....and I really had to scratch my head as to how I could differ from both you and IJ....but I just couldn't see the results going any other way...... it was just a toss of the coin between Scotland and Italy really.....match could go either way.......I did have a second thought about Argentina and Ireland too but that would be a true turn up for the books..........but really Ireland should see that one out......
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#9
06-06-2007, 14:47
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ok.name the semi finalists?
ij
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ROLL ON OCTOBER........
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#10
06-06-2007, 16:38
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SEMI 1 AUST vs NZ
NZ TO WIN SEMI 2 FRANCE vs SPRINGBOKS BOKS TO WIN NZ vs BOKS FINAL WITH ALL BLACKS TO WIN
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MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS
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#11
06-06-2007, 16:45
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i would go with the abs,france and the spring boks...aus -eng will be a good q-final........hard t call it.both teams arent paying to their best at the moment.....ij
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ROLL ON OCTOBER........
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#12
06-06-2007, 19:15
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I will go against the majority...
Austrialia, South Africa, Ireland and France  All Blacks to go out in to Q/Finals  They are by miles the best team, BUT they always fcuk it up  Winners = France!!
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LIFES A BIT*H THEN U MARRY 1 
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#13
07-06-2007, 00:17
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hehe, this will be a good thread to look back on after its over and see just how good/bad the tipping was.
My last 4? NZ SA Ireland France. The other home countries, Wales, Scotland and England will all fall by the wayside early on. I don't think the Aussies will do anything either.
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#14
07-06-2007, 01:30
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Tried to come up with some alternate scenarios ie Samoa, Italy, Argentina into the quarters, but I still come up with Australia, NZ, SA and France for the semis. I think NZ are the form team but I also think France with the home ground advantage are still in the running and SA look very tough at the moment. Hard to call. I think I'll wait until a couple of pool matches have been played before I make any bets on the eventual winner.
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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege (and become Hashers).
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#15
07-06-2007, 02:37
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They cant be in the last four... Because either Ireland or France will have to play New Zealand in the Q/Finals
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LIFES A BIT*H THEN U MARRY 1
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#16
07-06-2007, 03:03
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Oh right  To be honest I haven't really looked at the fixtures yet, just picked what I though the best 4 sides in the competition.In that case, If Ireland are playing NZ, bye bye Ireland. I really don't fancy the Aussies at all. Maybe Argentina can make up that 4th place.
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#17
07-06-2007, 05:02
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I'm with Cliff + DB.....ABs, Wobblies, France + SA........AB's should see Wobblies off but I think the France/Boks game could be a cracker and despite saying the Boks are the form team at present I won't be writing off the French at home....they are a different team there...and will improve greatly in the leadup games....
Eventual winner therefore could be a boilover with the winner of France/Boks taking out the AB's.....errrrr did I realy say that....55555
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#19
07-06-2007, 14:46
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Agree with Aussie Dollar except of course Boks to win. SA play Samoa this weekend and then it's the Tri-Nations,which should give a good indication of Australia's competency.Injuries are always a worry as any key players hurt could damage anyone's chances Agree with Allybabba about the All Blacks,in the past they have always peaked between the World Cups.Not sure if their policy of resting players during the Super 14 is going to pay off.....?
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#20
07-06-2007, 16:40
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All depends which AB's team shows up? If AB's are at there best and Ireland are at the best, The AB's will slaughter us.... BUT as I said the AB's have always flattered to decieve come the World Cup so who knows what team will show up, Hopefully its a bad one..5555555..  Btw.. Argentina are in France and Irelands group so only two of them can qualify
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LIFES A BIT*H THEN U MARRY 1
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#21
08-06-2007, 05:14
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Yes it is a strange phenomenon how the ABs can absolutely dominate in between RWCs and then play one bad game in the knockouts and go out early....... They currently have the depth of 2 teams of players capable of winning it IMHO and they will be very different this time around under Graeme Henry.....but in saying that any team can play above or below themselves in knockout football and find their fate sewled with that one performance........that's what makes it all worth watching
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#22
11-06-2007, 06:59
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well an improving and better selected Wobblies outfit thump a very ragged and disorganised Fiji 49/0.....AB's put 60 on a completely outclassed France....second string Boks beat Samoa comnfortably without stretching themselvresw and Argentina beat Italy......shame for Argentina that they don't play in the Scotland group at forthcoming RWC....or they would definitely get into the playoff series IMHO....
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#23
11-06-2007, 13:59
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2003 - SF 1999 - SF - stupidly, took their foot off the gas.... 1995 - Final - allegedly poisoned  1991 - SF 1987 - Winners I bet a lot of teams wish they could go out that 'early' I agree though, the Springboks are the one serious contender, provided he is allowed to pick his best team. They are really showing so glimpses of what made their greatest teams. Burger has come back well from injury, the have a world class finisher and some great backrow options. With New Zealand struggling at lock the Boks would dominate them in that area as well. Australia will be tough, I think there is still a world class 12 in there somewehere (ignoring their pitiful front 3), Larkham and Gregan still seem to be their best option. That said they'll have to pull out the stops to make the final. Absolutely nothing can be read into how France will perform based on their recent trip to NZ. The French have been annihilated before in similar circumstances and yet at crunch time they will be strong. Have a few injuries to clear up first and like Australia, maybe a bit long in the tooth in some key areas. Be nice to see Argentina get into the quarters again, something they did last time they were paired with ireland in France. Again, however, not much can be read into a weakened Irish side playing a series against a weakened Pumas team (first test especially). Certainly Argentina will have the upper hand in the forwards, but on their day Ireland's can be quite special. Still hasn't got them a grand Slam though.... 
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