Rugby world cup 2007

I vote New Zealand, just for entertainment's sake. I don't really expect we'll win. New Zealand's major sports teams - especially the cricket and rugby teams - have proven time and again that they can look promising, perform admirably, then completely fail at the last minute, when success has begun to look inevitable.
However strong the All Blacks might seem now, they'll probably fall back into the old routine once the competition starts to heat up.

Aside from that, I don't really have any expectations or predictions for the World Cup. I'll probably watch the highlights on the news, and it'll be interesting to see who wins, but aside from that I'm not nearly as interested as I might once have been.

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Originally Posted by Big D

I vote New Zealand, just for entertainment's sake. I don't really expect we'll win. New Zealand's major sports teams - especially the cricket and rugby teams - have proven time and again that they can look promising, perform admirably, then completely fail at the last minute, when success has begun to look inevitable.

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Usually that's at the hands of the Australians though, who are masters of coming back and snatching victory at the last minute. :p There's every possibility of a New Zealand - Australia matchup not actually eventuating, looking at pool B. They'll have to defeat Wales and Fiji and given their recent form, both teams are capable of an upset.
Following that, and assuming they win their pool, they'll have to defeat the winner of pool A which will probably be South Africa, but could be any of Samoa, Tonga or England.

I place my vote and prediction firmly on New Zealand. Australia's victory margin over Japan was formidable, but I don't think it's as impressive as New Zealand's thumping of Italy, given that the Italians would probably thrash the Cherry Blossoms by 50-odd. Australia really should have had Japan buried early in the first half.
I know England's form hasn't been great lately, but they should have dominated USA. France probably should have beaten the Pumas, but it's not a complete shock that Argentina won.

I don't care for rugby as much as other, better sports *coughcricketcough* but based off what I've seen, I'd say New Zealand or Australia look pretty likely to win.

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Originally Posted by Sergeant Hartman

Wales represent! :hat:

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im with you matt! Wales FTW

After England's disastrous start to the World Cup against the Eagles they just don't look to be anywhere near the quality of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. One of those three countries will win it, I'd put my house on it and I'm going for New Zealand.

I was going to vote for Scotland to win out of sheer bias but I quickly saw sense. I think we'll get into the next round though.

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

I don't like rugby, but if England win I'll be sure to pretend to like it so I can rub it in everyone elses' faces like I did last time. :)

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Its either gonna be NZ, Ireland, Austrailia or France who will win it. Based on recent form Ireland have looked not so great, while Argentina look strong.

Sigh.

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Originally Posted by Big D

New Zealand's major sports teams - especially the cricket and rugby teams - have proven time and again that they can look promising, perform admirably, then completely fail at the last minute, when success has begun to look inevitable.
However strong the All Blacks might seem now, they'll probably fall back into the old routine once the competition starts to heat up.

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Yup, I called it pretty well.

In all honesty, I expected an Australia-New Zealand semi-final and am honestly quite surprised how things have turned out. I am, however, glad to see that England have started playing properly at long last.

Sheer madness today, was great to see upsets in both games. I did feel sorry for the All Blacks, but then I'd have felt sorry for whoever lost that game. I love the way France can perform wonders sometimes though.

I'd like Argentina to make the final, would be nice to see the traditional order of things unsettled a little.

Silly All Blacks treated it like a holiday, not a competition, which is why they're supposedly the worst All Blacks in any world cup competition.

The weather over town today suited the mood. Everyone's really depressed about it. I think it's funny.

At this stage it looks like the Springboks are poised to take it out. But then again, it's been a World Cup of Upsets so far, so who can really say?

One thing's for sure, it's been very good watching.

Except for them gosh darn English o' course.

I watched England Vs Australia at work and was gobsmacked, along with the other staff who were resigned to the fact that we weren't going to win. 3 world cup wins against the aussies in a row feels like great justice.

HOW COULD WE LOSE TO THE FRENCH!!! :( Oh well, GO ARGENTINA