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2011 RWC- Pool B

Seaton

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I know the world cup is still 13 or so months away, but I have no-one intelligent enough to discuss this with.

How do you think the pool will turn out? I realise there are injuries and a bunch of other things that could change your opinion between now and then, but just in general who do you think will go through?

The way I see it (can't take my specs off), this is how it will pan out:

Scotland play Romania/Uruguay in the first week and then Georgia.
They should get 10 points from that (Yes I know Ireland just beat Georgia, but I might offend Irish readers if I commented on their performance [or lack there of])

England play Argentina in the other first match of the pool. I can see England winning it, as I think they should have more than enough firepower to tackle Los Pumas. They then play the two 2nd tier nations, ending against the Scots.

Argentina have a tricky fixture list I feel. They play England, then Uruguay/Romania, then Scotland, and then finish off against Georgia.

Assuming there are no shocks (ie one of Argentina, England, Scotland not getting 5 points against the 2nd tier nations), the key matches would obviously be England vs. Argentina, and then Scotland vs. Argentina and England vs. Scotland.

Should England win the encounter between themselves and Argentina, the 'knock-out' match would be Scotland vs. Argentina, as an Argentina loss would put them out of contention. However, should Agrentina win, Scotland could still be in contention should they beat England.

IMO this is the most exciting group, with no team being assured of a place in the knockout stages (I think it would be a shock if England don't qualify though)

Comments?
 
England and Argentina will go through, i'm almost certain of it.
Scotland may have beaten Argentina twice, but I can't see it happening again (especially after that France match straight afterwards) - though it's a year away so anything could happen
 
England and Argentina will go through, i'm almost certain of it.
Scotland may have beaten Argentina twice, but I can't see it happening again (especially after that France match straight afterwards) - though it's a year away so anything could happen

I hope for rugbys sake that Scotland go through, they have been dire for too long and player numbers will continue to dwindle if they dont start winning things. The 6 nations was a great start.

The most exciting pool for me though is Pool D, it also ****** me right off every time i think about it. The Island nations never get a good pool or draw, so unlucky. Samoa and Tonga have both threatened semi final level in the past but they always have to battle their way out of tough pools, now they are in the same one that also contains SA and Wales! ridiculous. Heres hoping the Samoans can pull off a third WC victory against wales and make it to the quarters
 
I'd predict England and Scotland at the moment. Scotland's monster pack is more than a match for their latin counterparts at the moment and, as proven by the Scotland Ireland game earlier this year, if the backs can't get the ball, they can't make a difference.

I can't see the weaker teams making a difference tbl. Georgia are muck, they lost to the most inept Ireland team to ever step out on a rugby field. The big teams should all take ten points from those two games. Although no one has said it yet, I wouldn't be overly surprised if we didn't see England in the last 8 mind. Just putting it out there.
 
Although no one has said it yet, I wouldn't be overly surprised if we didn't see England in the last 8 mind. Just putting it out there.
England could put out a team of 8 Tim Paynes and 7 Tom Varndells and we'd still make the last 8, the world cup is the only time England actually has some luck :p
 
I agree that this could be a very tight pool. Scotland has a powerful pack, however I wonder whether they lack a bit of creativity in the backs - something that you really need under the new law interpretations. Interestingly England, Scotland, and Argentina are currently ranked 6th, 7th, and 8th (respectively) in the World Rankings - if these are anything to go by there should be some close games!


The most exciting pool for me though is Pool D, it also ****** me right off every time i think about it. The Island nations never get a good pool or draw, so unlucky. Samoa and Tonga have both threatened semi final level in the past but they always have to battle their way out of tough pools, now they are in the same one that also contains SA and Wales! ridiculous. Heres hoping the Samoans can pull off a third WC victory against wales and make it to the quarters

Its actually Fiji in pool D rather than Tonga (Tonga is in NZ's pool). I definitely agree that Pool D will be the most exciting pool (though that may be because I love watching the Island nations play). To me it looks like there are three teams genuinely competing for second place in that pool (I'm assuming South Africa will have got there act together by then, and win the pool) - I'm picking Samoa to go though in second place, as I really like the way there team is developing at the moment.
 
England and Argentina to go through is my pick. Can't really see Scotland getting up for both games whereas I can see the other two being up for them.

In pool D i think it's South Africa and Wales all the way.
 
Scotland are building nicely and well I wouldn't be surprised if they topped the group. They will keep it tight and well the conditions out there will benefit the Scottish game plan
 
I hope Argentina and Scotland go thru and Georgia on number 3 in their pool
 
Chuck in the Romanians and complete the while set, why not!
 
Lads what are chances of a surprise team qualifying in 1 of the groups be it Georgia Fiji Samoa or USA etc. It'd be great for the game
 
Lads what are chances of a surprise team qualifying in 1 of the groups be it Georgia Fiji Samoa or USA etc. It'd be great for the game

Our group can, on paper and teams form, have an upset. Samoa or Fiji have a decent chance to quaify in 2nd behind SA. Of course I think we are better than both Fiji and Samoa and will easily beat them both, but I also thought that in 07 and we all know what happened there).
 
Very slim chances I should say, especially as Georgia, Fiji, Samoa and USA can't hold a candle even to under-performing tier 1 nations.
 
True but well Ireland were the team in 07 and it will happen again next year where 1 team will not turn up and will be bad
 
I'd disagree with you there, mainly due to the fact thatno tier 1 nation will be starting Ronan O'Gara at ten this time round.
 
Our group can, on paper and teams form, have an upset. Samoa or Fiji have a decent chance to quaify in 2nd behind SA. Of course I think we are better than both Fiji and Samoa and will easily beat them both, but I also thought that in 07 and we all know what happened there).
I wouldn't say we will easily beat them! Even now I'm extremely worried that we aren't going to make it out of our group.
 
Wales's primary problem against the Pacific Islands will probably be the weakness of their backrow. You've got a Martyn Williams in seemingly terminal decline, a number 8 who hasn't really done much since 2008 and doens't really match up to the other 6 nations 8's. Who's the 6, Jonathan Thomas? He's alright, but I'd worry about him in a world cup. If that backrow fails to secure possession and reguarly turns the ball over aginst the Islanders, Wales could be in a helluva lot of trouble as we all know how potent them boys can be out wide.
 


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