B
bazzamacca
Guest
The oddsmakers, in Australia at any rate, have the Kiwis as favourites at $2, Oz at $4, SA at $8, the Poms at $11 and the Frogs at $15. Its a fairly safe assumption that the winner will come from this group.
Which odds provide the greatest opportunity at this point?
Kiwis - $2 is damn short in a 5 horse race in any event. The Kiwis are obviously playing at home, where they have a formidable record - invincible in the case of the Poms - against all comers. The Frogs have tipped them over at home but they will only see them in the Final in terms of knockout matches. the Safas and Aussies can beat NZ at home, but do so less than they would like, especially lately. The Poms wont beat NZ with their current squad, should they play them. The Kiws are deserved faves, however an injury to either Carter or McCaw and they become somewhat vulnerable. Their locks and backrow haven't the greatest depth, so were injury to strike there....Finally what makes me nervous about NZ is that they have to beat 2 Trinations sides to win - SA in the semi, then Oz in the final (dont start me on this have you seen the French squad?) Unusual for RWC winners to defeat 2 fellow Trinats in the knockouts and win the tournament.
Oz - a year or two short? Have they sorted the scrum [achilles#1] problem, which could be the undoing in the semifinal against Eng (or Fra)? Will QC (Quade Cooper) continue to be selected despite eschewing tackling? Will Rocky and or Vickerman show up? How will the injuries play out - Oz has a great first xv, but second xv? Hmmmm.... I think $4 is short odds for Oz - they have a lot of show, but how much go? If the scrum is settled - and at full strength (no Queenslanders) and QC (Quade Cooper) (Queenslander) learns how to tackle, we are in with a shot.
SA - for mine, their prospects rely on the return of Juan Smith. This guy is a demon. His possible replacement, Willem Alberts, is a monster and is cracking on this season and F Louw is also quality, but there is no replacing Smith. Return of Brussouw is wonderful, on the other hand. Prospects also rely on the return to form of their three locks - Botha, Mat and Bekker. They are getting old, Bekker aside and repeated suspension may have taken the wind out of Botha's sails. Talent, experience, depth in the Bok forwards - I mean look at LHP with Beast and Steenkamp - but they need to pull it together over the next few months. Completely doable. Turning to the backs, FDP: see above. Rest of the backs are fantastic - Fourie especially. Basson is a real find btw.
England - nice performance against Oz last time out, indicating talent, after some choppy performances - to which they returned in the 6N. Inconsistent. Forwards are fine - as usual. Dave Attwood and Courtney Lawes apparently amongst the strongest scrummaging locks in intl rugby. Out back they are fine, too, with one of the world best back three players in Ashton (smarmy cnut, nevertheless). Centres very meat and potatoes in Hape and Tins (who has never lost to Australia). I think the Frogs will knock these guys off in the 1/4s with their squad quality not quite what it has been in Cups gone by.
Frogs - no Jauzion in the squad:angryfire:, half the guys selected are injured and they have to beat England, Oz and one of SA/NZ to win the thing. Have you seen their centre selections. Yikes. No chance, but will somehow make the semis.
Note: Big props to GAGR - the worlds premier rugby union site and forum. Let me say there are some rank characters lobbing around rugby cyberspace, notably the planet-rugby forum. Good to escape trolling shitstirrers over there and join the Aussie strength that is Noddy and Lee Grant.
Which odds provide the greatest opportunity at this point?
Kiwis - $2 is damn short in a 5 horse race in any event. The Kiwis are obviously playing at home, where they have a formidable record - invincible in the case of the Poms - against all comers. The Frogs have tipped them over at home but they will only see them in the Final in terms of knockout matches. the Safas and Aussies can beat NZ at home, but do so less than they would like, especially lately. The Poms wont beat NZ with their current squad, should they play them. The Kiws are deserved faves, however an injury to either Carter or McCaw and they become somewhat vulnerable. Their locks and backrow haven't the greatest depth, so were injury to strike there....Finally what makes me nervous about NZ is that they have to beat 2 Trinations sides to win - SA in the semi, then Oz in the final (dont start me on this have you seen the French squad?) Unusual for RWC winners to defeat 2 fellow Trinats in the knockouts and win the tournament.
Oz - a year or two short? Have they sorted the scrum [achilles#1] problem, which could be the undoing in the semifinal against Eng (or Fra)? Will QC (Quade Cooper) continue to be selected despite eschewing tackling? Will Rocky and or Vickerman show up? How will the injuries play out - Oz has a great first xv, but second xv? Hmmmm.... I think $4 is short odds for Oz - they have a lot of show, but how much go? If the scrum is settled - and at full strength (no Queenslanders) and QC (Quade Cooper) (Queenslander) learns how to tackle, we are in with a shot.
SA - for mine, their prospects rely on the return of Juan Smith. This guy is a demon. His possible replacement, Willem Alberts, is a monster and is cracking on this season and F Louw is also quality, but there is no replacing Smith. Return of Brussouw is wonderful, on the other hand. Prospects also rely on the return to form of their three locks - Botha, Mat and Bekker. They are getting old, Bekker aside and repeated suspension may have taken the wind out of Botha's sails. Talent, experience, depth in the Bok forwards - I mean look at LHP with Beast and Steenkamp - but they need to pull it together over the next few months. Completely doable. Turning to the backs, FDP: see above. Rest of the backs are fantastic - Fourie especially. Basson is a real find btw.
England - nice performance against Oz last time out, indicating talent, after some choppy performances - to which they returned in the 6N. Inconsistent. Forwards are fine - as usual. Dave Attwood and Courtney Lawes apparently amongst the strongest scrummaging locks in intl rugby. Out back they are fine, too, with one of the world best back three players in Ashton (smarmy cnut, nevertheless). Centres very meat and potatoes in Hape and Tins (who has never lost to Australia). I think the Frogs will knock these guys off in the 1/4s with their squad quality not quite what it has been in Cups gone by.
Frogs - no Jauzion in the squad:angryfire:, half the guys selected are injured and they have to beat England, Oz and one of SA/NZ to win the thing. Have you seen their centre selections. Yikes. No chance, but will somehow make the semis.
Note: Big props to GAGR - the worlds premier rugby union site and forum. Let me say there are some rank characters lobbing around rugby cyberspace, notably the planet-rugby forum. Good to escape trolling shitstirrers over there and join the Aussie strength that is Noddy and Lee Grant.
