RWC 2015 Pools

[KevinO]

Really you want the All Blacks in the 1/4ers assuming you come second in your pool?

One of these days we have to beat you, and I am keeping the faith that we will top the group thanks.

 

[KevinO]

With England being the host nation, no doubt the opening game for the cup will be us vs the Poms so at least we get the world cup bogey team off our backs nice & early (and even if we lose to them, we’ll still finish 2nd in the group & not have to play them in the knock out stages of the finals – we’ll play them again in the GF).

England vs Wales opening game is possible to, NZ didn't start with France last year. Could we see a repeat of the 91" Final

 

[aeneas]

One of these days we have to beat you, and I am keeping the faith that we will top the group thanks.

Fair enough. Who knows what French team will turn up for pool play.

I hope that Ireland has managed to find a good first five by then.

 

[barbarian]

England vs Wales opening game is possible to, NZ didn't start with France last year. Could we see a repeat of the 91" Final

Not sure the Poms would want a difficult game first up. Generally host nations put a strong-ish minnow on for their first game, one they know they can beat. They are getting a full house regardless, and it's always nice to start with a morale boosting win.

So an England vs Oz/Wales opener would surprise me, I'd expect to see England vs Fiji.
.

 

[Scoey]

As many others have said as well, I'm not so upset by that draw. As long as we don't pick up too many injuries/suspensions in the pool stage we should be looking good for the knock out stage. We play our best footy when we have something to prove and this draw could well favour us.

That all being said, most would agree that we are playing our shitest footy for a very long time and we just beat England at Twickers and Wales at Millennium. We'll be ok.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Pool A - Oceania 1 in Pool A can only be Fiji right? I'd love to see Australia & Fiji go through England out after the pool stages whilst hosting the RWC would be some kind of ultimate Rugby wet dream....realistically its more likely Australia & England would go through. I'm not dismissing Wales to beat us though they are certainly capable but I reckon we have a slight mental edge in that head to head competition.

Pool B - looks very promising for Samoa which is good to see. Saffas to top that group.

Pool C - will be very interesting clash between the Argies & Tonga. Argies are a decent side, Tonga are capable of anything. NZ naturally to top that group.

Pool D - France to top that group. Ireland should be pretty happy with that draw, not sure Italy will bother the Irish much at all.

Obviously this is all still some time away though & anything can change.

 

[Torn Hammy]

One major problem with a tough pool is that you have to play your main players more. Who are you going to rest against Eng, Wales and Fiji? The risks are injuries and tired and bashed players going in to the play-offs.

 

[qwerty51]

Winning a RWC is all about the 'up for it' factor.

There's a reason we performed poorly in the semi last year, because the Saffers game in the quarters was so draining on the boys. Same reason the ABs performed poorly in the final, the semi was so draining on them. France had it reasonably easy in the semi vs a 14 man Welsh team.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

One major problem with a tough pool is that you have to play your main players more. Who are you going to rest against Eng, Wales and Fiji? The risks are injuries and tired and bashed players going in to the play-offs.

It is what it is though. We just have to build depth in the squad, which we appear to have done this year -- though not by design.

 

[Torn Hammy]

It is what it is though. We just have to build depth in the squad, which we appear to have done this year -- though not by design.

The problem is the limited size of the squad and the restriction on replacements. You can end up with guys playing out of position in critical games.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That's the same for everyone though.

 

[chequebalance]

I will wait until a bit closer to the tournament before making my predictions. So much can happen between now and then, just ask the Mayans. Maybe we could put together current squads with age and circumstance (3rd string, likely to go overseas etc.) to figure out who will still be around and who would have retired/left.

 

[Pedrolicus]

Gotta love this dressing room pumping up amongst GAGR contributors on our draw.
Who in their right mind wouldn't swap Australia's Pool place with NZ, SA or France?
It's sounding like "just keep telling yourself everything is going to be OK, and it will be".

I just want to only have to play NZ in the final, that's what this draw allows for. As a wallaby supporter I consider a loss to Wales or England to be unacceptable. Therefore the draw we got is really all you could hope for.

 

[antimony]

Its hard to tell, the "up for it factor" or the recovery times for niggles until the dates for pool matches come out. With the physicality of the modern game it certainly plays a part in performance.

You'd think if England get a say in scheduling that they wouldn't want to play us (or Wales) the week before the quarters. With Fiji as the opener they'd probably play the 5th qualifier in the final week (Thur/fri night). Then its just what order they want to play us and Wales in.

They might get us to play Wales in the final pool week but I'd be inclined to think they'd use one of us to soften up the other. So we should get a lighter game in week 4 too. Aus V Fiji or X with Wales to play the other in the final week of pool play.

While I'm wildly hypothesising if we win our pool and the days for the knockout rounds are the same as RWC NZ 2011 we'll get an extra day recovery for the final (if we make it) to aid our recovery.

Now to win our pool.

 

[Scotty]

Not sure the Poms would want a difficult game first up. Generally host nations put a strong-ish minnow on for their first game, one they know they can beat. They are getting a full house regardless, and it's always nice to start with a morale boosting win.

So an England vs Oz/Wales opener would surprise me, I'd expect to see England vs Fiji.
.

We played Argentina first up in 03 though, didn't we?

I could see them trying to screw us by making us go up against Wales one week, then them the week after. Might make scheduling hard though.

 

[Scotty]

Winning a RWC is all about the 'up for it' factor.

There's a reason we performed poorly in the semi last year, because the Saffers game in the quarters was so draining on the boys. Same reason the ABs performed poorly in the final, the semi was so draining on them. France had it reasonably easy in the semi vs a 14 man Welsh team.

I thought we lost against NZ because Quade Cooper is useless? Now you have me confused.

 

[Scotty]

Its hard to tell, the "up for it factor" or the recovery times for niggles until the dates for pool matches come out. With the physicality of the modern game it certainly plays a part in performance.

You'd think if England get a say in scheduling that they wouldn't want to play us (or Wales) the week before the quarters. With Fiji as the opener they'd probably play the 5th qualifier in the final week (Thur/fri night). Then its just what order they want to play us and Wales in.

They might get us to play Wales in the final pool week but I'd be inclined to think they'd use one of us to soften up the other. So we should get a lighter game in week 4 too. Aus V Fiji or X with Wales to play the other in the final week of pool play.

While I'm wildly hypothesising if we win our pool and the days for the knockout rounds are the same as RWC NZ 2011 we'll get an extra day recovery for the final (if we make it) to aid our recovery.

Now to win our pool.

I'm guessing:

Eng vs Wales
Eng vs Fiji
Eng vs Aus
Eng vs other

Aus vs other
Aus vs Wales
Aus vs Eng
Aus vs Fiji

That would stuff with us and Wales as much as possible! (I'm not sure it actually works, but I'm going with it).

 

[qwerty51]

I thought we lost against NZ because Quade Cooper is useless? Now you have me confused.

He compounded the loss, he takes the most responsibility.

Gotta feel sorry for the play-off winner in our pool.

 

[whatty]

I think this is a failure for the WC draw system if anything.

Australia, England, Wales, and Fiji (despite recent form) are all terrific WC teams who if all on song SHOULD make the WC finals.

Now, who know's where all these teams will be by that point. Fiji could be anything and the 3 Tier 1 nations are stacked with youngins and could go either direction.

It's interesting, but it's sad knowing we can only see 2 of the 4 advancing. I bank on Aussie and England.

They had to go somewhere and you would be saying the same thing if they were in any of the groups. There will always be a one group of death in the RWC with 11(ish) good sides.

 

[badabing59]

I will wait until a bit closer to the tournament before making my predictions. So much can happen between now and then, just ask the Mayans. Maybe we could put together current squads with age and circumstance (3rd string, likely to go overseas etc.) to figure out who will still be around and who would have retired/left.

The injury prospects have to be a worry for the SH teams-we have a full S15 season in addition to the RC series. It could make or break our respective sides.