Big Ewis
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http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8846218,00.html
I personally think it's overreaction from the recent results (impressive, albeit) Wales has achieved. Being like 80% of the Lions, and the Lions being pretty good this year, and the huge win against England and claiming the trophy two years in a row...
But all this may wear thin come 2015, when those will just be fond memories but nothing current.
England are under pressure, now already, for the pools. Knowing how they are, they'll stop at nothing to give a very good impression during the pools, and being at home, I honestly see England and Australia advancing over Wales. England could never ever get over not advancing from the pool stages, as hosts of the RWC. The level of competition will be absolutely INSANE there in the 'pool of death', and I'll repeat knowing English pride there's no way they'll be left behind two advancing teams...unless ??
Regardless of that, let's say Wales comes through as a second seed or even first - eventually they have to beat the likes of SA or NZ at some point:
* They've a 13-game losing streak against SA, which they haven't beaten since the twilight of the new millennium back in '99.
* NZ: sorry to bring this up, but a 25-game losing streak since '53.
My point is merely Wales, as it's well known, struggle more than they should against the SANZAR SH sides. And I haven't looked at the RWC structure in a few months, but unless they get a "nice" path like France at some point, Ireland, maybe Argentina - and then have to put up a monstrous fight in the final against a SANZAR ***an, maybe.
- they've got SA or Samoa (or Scotland, but unlikely) which is problematic in the very 1/4 final.
Then who the hell knows...
I personally think it's overreaction from the recent results (impressive, albeit) Wales has achieved. Being like 80% of the Lions, and the Lions being pretty good this year, and the huge win against England and claiming the trophy two years in a row...
But all this may wear thin come 2015, when those will just be fond memories but nothing current.
England are under pressure, now already, for the pools. Knowing how they are, they'll stop at nothing to give a very good impression during the pools, and being at home, I honestly see England and Australia advancing over Wales. England could never ever get over not advancing from the pool stages, as hosts of the RWC. The level of competition will be absolutely INSANE there in the 'pool of death', and I'll repeat knowing English pride there's no way they'll be left behind two advancing teams...unless ??
Regardless of that, let's say Wales comes through as a second seed or even first - eventually they have to beat the likes of SA or NZ at some point:
* They've a 13-game losing streak against SA, which they haven't beaten since the twilight of the new millennium back in '99.
* NZ: sorry to bring this up, but a 25-game losing streak since '53.
My point is merely Wales, as it's well known, struggle more than they should against the SANZAR SH sides. And I haven't looked at the RWC structure in a few months, but unless they get a "nice" path like France at some point, Ireland, maybe Argentina - and then have to put up a monstrous fight in the final against a SANZAR ***an, maybe.
- they've got SA or Samoa (or Scotland, but unlikely) which is problematic in the very 1/4 final.
Then who the hell knows...