@MiketheSnow said in Pre-RWC test matches:

@sparky said in Pre-RWC test matches:

BBC Scotland's Tom English not happy at all about Scotland's performance against France:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49387742

Spot on

What do you think of Wales draw? There is only one genuine gimme in the pool and that’s Uruguay. Australia and to a lesser extent Fiji are capable of winning and Georgia should be robust enough. I reckon Georgia would be more than happy with claiming third spot ahead of Fiji and if they add a good performance against Wales...crying shame Georgia isn’t in pool A TBH.

No Facundo Isa and Santiago Cordero for Argentina.

I'm a tad surprised there TBH.

15 - went with Osborne. He was underplayed too in 1999, despite being in fine form.

@rotated said in Aura watch:

@No-Quarter said in Aura watch:

I know they're a real threat but I can't take Wales completely seriously at the moment, they've still got a big mental hurdle to overcome.

A lot will depend on how the tournament breaks in terms of QF/SF match ups.

In the abstract I can see Wales/Ireland winning the RWC, but the reality of winning three weeks in a row with the mental swings that happen is another thing. Like we saw in 2011 with the ABs the relief/achievement of making the final finally can be mentally hard to back up from,and we have seen that in all sports thus the old 'you have to lose one to win one' adage.

Even more challenging for Ireland would mentally need to back up from beating NZ/SA before a prospective SF.

I think Ireland would just be happy to reach a semi-final for the first time, which would also involve having beaten one of the heavyweights. I doubt they have the wherewithal do rinse and repeat for a semi and a final, especially given their attritional gameplan.

@nzzp said in Hansen needs his head read:

@Billy-Webb said in Hansen needs his head read:

Reckon it is a stretch for the other teams - but not discounting that they will cause one or two upsets.

It's always the same. A decent forward pack that shows up and gets physical will have you in the game. Backs help, but anyone who can front physically will be competitive.

Doing it three weeks ina row, however, is more difficult

Forward pack + goal kicker.

France
SA

Read, Savea, Bridge

Scotland were absolutely terrible and France looked decent enough.

I don’t even think it would be an upset if japan beat Scotland. They’re currently 7th and 9th although France may now be 7th and Scotland 8th.

I think Argentina won’t get out of their pool with England and France advancing.

6N took down 20 odd videos from squidge rugby and filed copyright...!

All hail our Welsh overlords...