Rugby World Cup 2015

[ThomThomDrum]

Show me the media that said England should or will win the World Cup...I read only that England could win the World Cup. Which is not overhyping.

Also depends on what media you're exposing yourself to. If it's the mirror and talksport, you'll be hearing different things than if it's Mick Cleary, Robert Kitson, Paul Rees, etc.

 

Think I read some shit from Matt Dawson that made me laugh. Cant think of the other specific examples but its always there in the English media to my eyes. 

[ThomThomDrum]

Not as far as I'm aware. It's usually done solely on rankings. As long as England remain in the top 8 in the rankings they'll be fine.

It's why Wales ended up with the (stronger!) English team as well as Australia in the Pool stage. They were 9th in the rankings back when the draw was made in 2012.

 

Oh............I thought automatic qualification was based on previous tournament performance. Did they used to do this? Dont know were I got that notion if they didnt

[TheGayTent]

Nope, it's me that had it wrong (the bit I had in my head is done after the automatic Qualification is complete).

However, England will still be OK as long as they finish 3rd in the group.

[ThomThomDrum]

Nope, it's me that had it wrong (the bit I had in my head is done after the automatic Qualification is complete).

However, England will still be OK as long as they finish 3rd in the group.

Ah right. Then yeah they should not be affected so

[pink_triangle]

 

 

The same Irish team that were better in the 6 nations than the English team being hyped to win the competition 

 

 

 

I would argue that the last 6 nations didn't really prove who were the best out of Wales, England and Ireland as they were all equal on points and close on points difference. There has to be a winner, but Im not sure it was proof of superiority

 

Not as far as I'm aware. It's usually done solely on rankings. As long as England remain in the top 8 in the rankings they'll be fine.

It's why Wales ended up with the (stronger!) English team as well as Australia in the Pool stage. They were 9th in the rankings back when the draw was made in 2012.

 

Doing the draw 3 years before the tournament is ridiculous and hopefully will change in the future. While funny on this occasion, it could diminish the knockout rounds in future tournaments.

[pink_triangle]

Similarly, France lost 2 games out of 5 in the 2011 six nations yet reached the World Cup final in the same year.

 

That france team nearly won the world cup and in my view were weaker than the top 3 from the last 6 nations.  In a knockout tournament where the difference between the top 6 teams is pretty small, anything is possible.

[TheGayTent]

That france team nearly won the world cup and in my view were weaker than the top 3 from the last 6 nations. In a knockout tournament where the difference between the top 6 teams is pretty small, anything is possible.

Exactly. Which is why the focus on how well teams have done (or not) in the previous 6 nations or tri nations (or whatever it's called now) is a bit irrelevant. It's not totally of course, but it has to be proper analysis not just looking at the final table. It just rarely translates to the World Cup.

England did the Grand Slam in 03 and went on to win the World Cup, but that's unusual.

France could only manage 4th when they won the 6 nations in 07, NZ were knocked out in the quarters the same year after winning the Tri Nations. Yet SA who didn't win the Tri nations won the World Cup.

England went out in the quarters when they won the 6 nations in 2011. Australia went out in the semis after winning the Tri nations. Yet the all blacks despite finishing below the Aussies won the tournament.

[pink_triangle]

Exactly. Which is why the focus on how well teams have done (or not) in the previous 6 nations or tri nations (or whatever it's called now) is a bit irrelevant. It's not totally of course, but it has to be proper analysis not just looking at the final table. It just rarely translates to the World Cup.

England did the Grand Slam in 03 and went on to win the World Cup, but that's unusual.

France could only manage 4th when they won the 6 nations in 07, NZ were knocked out in the quarters the same year after winning the Tri Nations. Yet SA who didn't win the Tri nations won the World Cup.

England went out in the quarters when they won the 6 nations in 2011. Australia went out in the semis after winning the Tri nations. Yet the all blacks despite finishing below the Aussies won the tournament.

 

I think the 6 nations can give a pointer in terms of trends, but not individual perfomances.  If England had won 3 successive grand slams, I would have fancied their chances a lot more than I do now.  To me what recent six nations have told me is Wales, England and Ireland are about the same, but none are great.  Scotland and Italy are worse and I have given up trying to make any assessment about France!

[ThomThomDrum]

I think the point here is not that the 6 nations or the Tri nations winner points to who will win the WC, but that those who dont win such tournaments should not really come into a WC with a cocky media thinking they can.

 

England were never going to win this world cup and I feel sorry for any English fans that got swept up in it all thinking they would only to witness starkly the reality of the situation................you never win anything with kids!

[TheGayTent]

I think the point here is not that the 6 nations or the Tri nations winner points to who will win the WC, but that those who dont win such tournaments should not really come into a WC with a cocky media thinking they can.

England were never going to win this world cup and I feel sorry for any English fans that got swept up in it all thinking they would only to witness starkly the reality of the situation................you never win anything with kids!

I think the point here is that there really wasn't a "cocky media" as a whole that said as you state. The uninformed small part of the media that did (if there was at all), will not have suckered any English fan into believing they would win it, other than the usual once every four year rugby supporter.

Struggling to find where the big deal is. Particularly from a non-English supporter who knew better anyway?

[ThomThomDrum]

I think the point here is that there really wasn't a "cocky media" as a whole that said as you state. The uninformed small part of the media that did (if there was at all), will not have suckered any English fan into believing they would win it, other than the usual once every four year rugby supporter.

Struggling to find where the big deal is. Particularly from a non-English supporter who knew better anyway?

 

Not a big deal

 

I believed them to have been hyped. Others disagree.

 

Thats it really

[LJS]

I think the notion that any northern hemisphere country ever had much of a chance looks pretty fanciful.

[pink_triangle]

I think the notion that any northern hemisphere country ever had much of a chance looks pretty fanciful.

Why? A mediocre northern hemisphere team almost won the last one in the southern hemisphere. The better northern hemisphere sides have also often been competitive against their SH opposition in recent years.

[LJS]

Why? A mediocre northern hemisphere team almost won the last one in the southern hemisphere. The better northern hemisphere sides have also often been competitive against their SH opposition in recent years.

Because South Africa, Australia & New Zealand look streets ahead of anything we've seen from any of the 6 nations.

They're bigger, faster & stronger.

It's not fair.

[pink_triangle]

Because South Africa, Australia & New Zealand look streets ahead of anything we've seen from any of the 6 nations.

They're bigger, faster & stronger.

It's not fair.

 

Depends which games you have been watching.  I think all 3 have had spells of mediocrity, 1 lost to Japan!

 

I think going into the tournament most thought New Zealand were clear favourites, but I don't think theres been a great deal between England, Ireland, Wales, France and South Africa in recent years.

[Wooderson]

Think I read some shit from Matt Dawson that made me laugh. Cant think of the other specific examples but its always there in the English media to my eyes. 

 

Loads of ex players were saying this. 

[TheGayTent]

Cracking game that between Samoa and Scotland. Hopefully the next one can be as entertaining.

[LJS]

Cracking game that between Samoa and Scotland. Hopefully the next one can be as entertaining.

 

It was indeed.

 

At least we will have contributed some entertainment to the tournament before we depart in the next round. 

[pink_triangle]

Credit to australia, that was some fantastic defence. Commentry was a bit ott at the end, I think they said it was one of the best world cup matches and one of the great tryless matches. It was decent, but quickly forgotten.

[TheGayTent]

Impressive from Australia.

Have to think that's Wales' chances of making the final gone now.

[pink_triangle]

Impressive from Australia.

Have to think that's Wales' chances of making the final gone now.

You thought we had a chance before? I think there is very little left in the tank. Having a scottish girlfriend it may be the less painful draw for me!

[TheGayTent]

You thought we had a chance before? I think there is very little left in the tank. Having a scottish girlfriend it may be the less painful draw for me!

Of course - whichever team topped that group had a good chance of making the final.

You support Wales and chose a Scot for a partner?? Clearly you have terrible taste

[LJS]

Of course - whichever team topped that group had a good chance of making the final.

You support Wales and chose a Scot for a partner?? Clearly you have terrible taste

Oi!

[ThomThomDrum]

Fantastic stuff from the Irish yesterday. The lads who came in for the injuries really stepped up. Impressive. Knock out time now..............let the "anything can happen" commence. 

 

Very impressed with the Ozzies as well. That defence will take some unlocking. Their ability to cover 15 Welsh players with 13 of their own was pretty awe inspiring. 

[mungo57]

I was at Richmond fanzone yesterday - good stuff from the Irish I agree.

 

I went to the bar at halftime to get a pint and paid with my Mastercard as they are the sponsors and there was no queue for the Mastercard fast lane..... I ended up winning 2 tickets to the Quarter Final Aussies vs Scotland!

 

Plum seats on the halfway line behind the press section - worth £250 each!