Post: #1

The sport event of this year is less than one month away. So I think it is worth to open a new thread for it.

Most of the top nations already nominated their squads and it looks to become a battle between the number one rugby nation in the world the New Zealand All Blacks, Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland and Wales.

For me as a Springbok supporter it will come down that we will have to beat the All Blacks to bring the title home. But with our current squad I don't see a way to do it.

England with the home ground advantage and a good mix of players can also win the Web Ellies trophy.

A dangerous outsider as usual is France. They usually play crap before the tournament but then improve during the group stages.

And last but not least don't forget the Pumas from Argentina. These guys managed to beat South Africa in Durban 3 weeks ago

So who is your favorite?

Post: #2

Good thread.

I'm not sure about France. They've struggled ever since Roosh retired from international rugby.

Post: #3

You have to feel sorry for England, Wales and Australia all in the same opening pool. Those are teams we always expect to make it to the next round, but any one of them could be going home early. Add the physicality of Fiji, and it's easily the toughest pool. If I had to put money on it, I'd say England and Australia will go through.

South Africa will cruise through in Pool B with the main contest between Scotland and Samoa. Given the way Samoa is playing, I'd say Scotland won't make the quarterfinals.

It's an absolute certainty that New Zealand and Argentina will go through in Pool C, and that France and Ireland will progress in Pool D.

South Africa will beat Australia in the first quarterfinal, New Zealand will beat France in the second quarterfinal, Ireland will beat Argentina in the third and England will beat Samoa in the fourth.

New Zealand and England will progress to the finals with the outcome too close to tell - England will be extremely tough on home soil.

Post: #4

Bottom Line Up Front.
Where can you watch the games if you live in a country that doesn't play rugby?

Post: #5

(08-29-2015 07:43 AM)Sourcecode Wrote:  Bottom Line Up Front.
Where can you watch the games if you live in a country that doesn't play rugby?

Here is a good overview:
http://www.totalsportek.com/rugby/tv-cha...world-cup/

Post: #6

(08-29-2015 07:43 AM)Sourcecode Wrote:  Bottom Line Up Front.
Where can you watch the games if you live in a country that doesn't play rugby?

You can stream it through http://cricfree.sx/rugby-live-streaming. Also vipbox.tv.There's loads of other sites and the quality isn't always the best, but it does the job.

Post: #7

I don't expect much from England. The usual lack of creativity we see in all our sports teams.

Ireland are just a couple of years too late. Their golden generation has either retired of is looking old.

I can't see beyond NZ although the conditions may support the Boks' natural power based game.

We will see!

Post: #8

Was about to start a thread on it too.
4 years ago, we lost the title to the Mighty Blacks in their own turf by a speck of a hair in the finals. This year, I don't expect much from France. But I'm hoping they can positively surprise me...

The usual suspects are IMO the ones to watch out for the Win: All Blacks, Springboks and Aussies. Wasn't impressed by the English last week in their test match against France. France was convincingly leading and dominating them till the end when they subbed half the the team and that allowed the English to come back at the score. However playing at home, they will be in the top 4 but I don't fancy much their chances for the win. The 3 monster teams from the Souther Hemisphere are head and shoulders above anyone else.

I see it as a three team race: NZ, SA and Australia. England, France and Argentina as potential outsiders who could do some damage however it'll take something truly spectacular for them to pose any threat to the Big 3 Southern teams.

Can't wait for the games to start!

Post: #9

Aus had that win over NZ a few weeks back but I don't think they're at the level of the Big 2.

Post: #10

I don't think we should write off the Poms. Superior visiting teams have often gone home disappointed playing against England in front of a hostile crowd at Twickenham.

Post: #11

(08-29-2015 12:43 PM)CrashBangWallop Wrote:  Aus had that win over NZ a few weeks back but I don't think they're at the level of the Big 2.

Not that it means a lot, but the past two occasions New Zealand won the World Cup were preceded by pre World Cup losses against Australia.

Post: #12

(08-29-2015 12:44 PM)Horus Wrote:  I don't think we should write off the Poms. Superior visiting teams have often gone home disappointed playing against England in front of a hostile crowd at Twickenham.

Maybe. I think we will be lucky to get out of the group.

There aren't any "big leaders" in the team in m opinion. Other than a League convert who's only played once and spent his whole first season at 6!

When you look through the England WC winning team, there were World Class players everywhere. Gritty, gnarly, tough leaders. I don't see blokes like this now.

Post: #13

The English centres look very threatening this year, also thought it was a good call leaving Cipriani out of the squad.

Although English, my paternal family hails from Llanelli, home of the Scarlets, therefore when it comes to Rugby I'm a Welshie (it's my "home team" in a sense). Wales have a strong side, but we were outplayed by Ireland a couple of weeks ago when Ireland had Jackson at fly half...

As much as I'd like Wales to win, I can't see us progressing out of our group. South Africa will be tough what with experienced players like Habana, Du Preez, Steyn and Du Plessis in the squad.

Post: #14

I am probably one of the few New Zealanders that thinks the performance of the haka before international games is retarded.

For those who don't know, the haka is a traditional Maori (indigenous New Zealand) war dance. It's been the tradition since the earliest touring international teams to perform this before the match begins.

It was first performed in the 1880s by a team mostly comprised of native players which toured the UK.

Subsequent, mostly white teams also adapted the haka. It became the trademark of the All Blacks, the New Zealand national team. It was mostly a gimmick and not taken too seriously.

That's when Buck Shelford came along in the 1980s and decided that the haka should be taken seriously. Compare the following videos. The first is from 1973. The next is more recent, and features the gesture of throat slitting towards the end.









It would probably seem incredible to people from most places in the world that this war dance is performed before a game. I don't know why New Zealanders think that they are so special that this should continue as a tradition.

This was a good response from Wales. Traditionally, the team opposing New Zealand had to back away first after the haka, but these guys refused. In the end, the All Blacks were forced the back away.





This would be a better response from a Scottish team. If a New Zealand team can scream and shout and poke out their tongues, I see no reason why a Scottish team shouldn't lift their kilts to intimidate the opposition with their enormous junk.





It's long been thought that the performance of the haka gives the New Zealand team a psychological advantage. However, they are renowned to playing badly in the first few minutes. This is the result of being overcome with the emotion of the haka and not being able to think properly, whereas the opponent can absorb this childish display of aggression and keep their heads together.

Post: #15

I've been saying this for years, the Haka is retarded, stupid and unfair, I can't stand it. "Oh it's part of their culture" So fucking what? Just ban it already.

Post: #16

If an international sports team can be influenced by their opposition doing a silly dance then fuck them, they're pathetic.

At the end of the day the Haka is good for the commercial aspects of rugby as a whole. As a result I have no problems with it.

In fact, I quite enjoy watching them.

Post: #17

We have a different opinion about this, but I think you're oversimplifying it, I agree it's a silly dance but it's also more than that, it's a war ritual intended to psyche up the warriors going into battle, which is perfectly fine, but they should perform it privately in their locker room, not in front of their opponents, who in real battle would attack them and not just stand there and watch their foes getting into a war frenzy because they are forced to.

Post: #18

I always thought it was B.S. to require the home team to stand and watch the haku. I like how the Irish responded at good old Landstowne Road.

Post: #19

I reckon the opposing team should do the Macarena, or dance from YMCA immediately after.

Post: #20

(09-14-2015 12:15 AM)T and A Man Wrote:  I reckon the opposing team should do the Macarena, or dance from YMCA immediately after.

Not likely, those dances are not the mindset you want before an international rugby match. Especially against the All Blacks who have been dominant forever and will beat the opposition down almost always. Paul O'Connell shows the mindset.

Post: #21

double post

Post: #22

When Maori and other island nations did the haha before battle.
The opposing side did stand and let them do it.

It was a respected part of battle.

That's like saying. Fighting countries never allowed the other side to line up in mass..a football field away from each other and allow the other side to fire a volley of rounds before stabbing.


The same with the Zulu.
They also had a war dance. Which the British stood and watched.

*The Zulu eventually being wiped out, is a whole different story.
But it doesn't change the fact that..opposing sides did in fact, allow them to get into a war frenzy.

Post: #23

(08-29-2015 07:43 AM)Sourcecode Wrote:  Bottom Line Up Front.
Where can you watch the games if you live in a country that doesn't play rugby?

Irish pubs.

LaPD

Post: #24

Finally the day is here. The third largest sport event worldwide is kicking off. England is taking Fiji in the opening match kicking off at 8pm GMT. I expect a very physical battle but expect England to win by 20+ points. The player material England has is just far better. However the English need to be careful and should avoid picking up injuries especially once the Fijians start playing dirty rugga.

Post: #25

I reckon England will absolutely hammer Fiji tonight.

We need to put down a marker to the other teams in the group and get out of the blocks at a canter.

It's a bold prediction but I reckon a 40 point win.