ChargerWA
Mark Loane (55)
When you're up against a tough draw you say to yourself at least we will go into the crunch matches battle hardened, but given our last draw or this, I'd take this every time.
Rugby World Cup 2019
- Thread starter waiopehu oldboy
- Start date
Benaud
Tom Lawton (22)
Ideally not at our expense!
Omar Comin'
Chilla Wilson (44)
World Rugby will want to give Japan every chance of going through. And what luck they got just about the best possible pool they could have hoped for!
In the last world cup, after their win over the Springboks Japan had a 4 day turnaround before playing Scotland, who were fresh. I wouldn't be surprised if it's reversed this time! A fresh Japan to play Scotland 4 days after they play Ireland.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
I'd argue that Wales would have been preferred, at least the Japanese have beat them already!
In all seriousness, I think that the short breaks will be to our advantage for once. If Laidlaw and Nel can stay fit and performing strongly, along with Fagerson and Price continuing to develop, we have a very even make up in the squad, Hogg and Russell excepted.
It's more than 2 years away, so no way of predicting it at all, but at this stage, containing the Japanese backrow is my only serious concern.
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GTPIH
Ted Thorn (20)
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Our most difficult game will be Wales, which for us is relatively easy. By that I mean that our record against Wales is excellent. But, the other three teams are likely to be Georgia, Fiji and Canada. Of those, Canada on current form is supposedly easy, but Georgia and Fiji will be stiff competition. I think that what we can expect is one blockbuster game against Wales which we must win and three games against high quality opposition which will harden us up for the quarters.
By contrast, the two bottom teams in Pools A & B will on paper be much easier games. So if your country got Pool A then you have a couple of easy games and a couple of tough ones. If your country got Pool B then you have one blockbuster game and three relatively easy games.
I think Australia got a draw that will harden them up nicely for the quarters and avoid NZ till the final. That's probably the best possible outcome we could have wanted. Of the other top 4 teams NZ should get top spot, but Ireland and England have a couple of real banana-skin games before they make the top of the group.
But we will need a major lift in form by 2019 from where we are right now. Right now Wales and Georgia would be favourites to progress.
The Snout
Ward Prentice (10)
Ireland are quality and Japan will be on fire determined to get out of the group on home soil, so Scotland are screwed at this point and will be the shock exit victim this time around.
Australia did fine, Wales will be a good battle and the rest will be needing good game play from us.
Group C pool of death will be good. France v the Argies could be a cracker for survival rights.
Australia did fine, Wales will be a good battle and the rest will be needing good game play from us.
Group C pool of death will be good. France v the Argies could be a cracker for survival rights.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
We will have a better fix on our respective chances after the June tests of course. After we play Fiji,who are in the group, and Scotland who are pretty much on par with Wales atm I'd guess.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Yes please - I'm already counting down the days. I think we'll see some of the most brutal pool games in RWC history.
I predict the Saffas will rise to the challenge against the ABs and there will be some injured bodies after that game.
Also the Scots have some intense games ahead. They could really trouble the Irish but also fall to Japan's level and put their QF place at jeopardy.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Thanks for your bold and gutsy prediction
So this will be Georgia's 5th RWC and the first time we've ever played a test against them.
It will be the first time we've played Canada (assuming they end up as Americas 2) since the 2007 Rugby World Cup (although I think they played a warm up game before the 2011 RWC against an Oz Baabaas team).
Assuming Fiji is Oceania 1, we'll have two of the same pool teams as 2015 which is a pretty unlikely scenario.
Fiji will probably go into this RWC as the highest ranked side that is seeded fourth in a pool (currently they are ranked 11th) and will still have a really tough job to finish in the top 3 and qualify automatically for the next RWC.
It will be the first time we've played Canada (assuming they end up as Americas 2) since the 2007 Rugby World Cup (although I think they played a warm up game before the 2011 RWC against an Oz Baabaas team).
Assuming Fiji is Oceania 1, we'll have two of the same pool teams as 2015 which is a pretty unlikely scenario.
Fiji will probably go into this RWC as the highest ranked side that is seeded fourth in a pool (currently they are ranked 11th) and will still have a really tough job to finish in the top 3 and qualify automatically for the next RWC.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I think that's why it's a good draw for us..........
We've got two tough matchtes against Wales and Fiji who we have a good record against..........
We're not in a pool of death again so we have two games against Georgia and likely Canada to rotate players, but they'll still both put up a fight so we won't have a 100+ score line like you'd see with the likes of Uruguay or Namibia.
If we top the pool then we've got a tough qf against either England, France or Argentina........ likely the latter two.
We've got two tough matchtes against Wales and Fiji who we have a good record against..........
We're not in a pool of death again so we have two games against Georgia and likely Canada to rotate players, but they'll still both put up a fight so we won't have a 100+ score line like you'd see with the likes of Uruguay or Namibia.
If we top the pool then we've got a tough qf against either England, France or Argentina........ likely the latter two.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Thanks for your sarcasm. I was commenting on an earlier post that implied that the Saffers would trouble them.
Omar Comin'
Chilla Wilson (44)
Georgia are an improving team but I think at least another world cup away from having a chance against us. Depending on the schedule I'm guessing they'll rest some of their better players against us to target Fiji and Wales.
Fiji is the kind of team they can beat though and Fiji will be a chance of beating Wales (or maybe us if the Wallabies don't improve over the next couple of years!), so the pool could open up.
Fiji is the kind of team they can beat though and Fiji will be a chance of beating Wales (or maybe us if the Wallabies don't improve over the next couple of years!), so the pool could open up.
If things go to form though, the prospect of a path to the final without playing either of the top two ranked sides in the world is pretty fortuitous.
Couldn't really hope for a better draw.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Aussies got a good draw in this one.
Tin foil time:
Are the quarterfinal cross-overs (e.g. Pools A v D, or A v B, etc.) determined before the balls are pulled out of the porcelain?
Or can World Rugby rig it now to best advantage?
TV match-ups, keep the potentially bigger audiences deeper into the finals … dot, dot, dot
Tin foil time:
Are the quarterfinal cross-overs (e.g. Pools A v D, or A v B, etc.) determined before the balls are pulled out of the porcelain?
Or can World Rugby rig it now to best advantage?
TV match-ups, keep the potentially bigger audiences deeper into the finals … dot, dot, dot