Zim beat Kenya in their final qualifier

[zimeric]

Final match of the African tier2 RWC qualifier is on now. Zimbabwe have just defeated Kenya 28-10. Namibia will have to beat Madagascar by 53 points to qualify and knock Zim off top spot.. exciting Stuff!!!

[zimeric]

Oh well. . Namibia just about did it in the first half alone. . So Namibia are through and Zim go to Siberia for Repecharge against Russia

[Sheikh]

Shame for Madagascar - they love their rugby there but simply outclassed

[jargan83]

Oh well. . Namibia just about did it in the first half alone. . So Namibia are through and Zim go to Siberia for Repecharge against Russia

Russia by the length of the Flemington Straight

[Sheikh]

Russia beat Zimbabwe 23-15 and Uruguay beat Hong Kong 28-3. Russia play Uruguay in a two-leg playoff (Sep 27th & Oct 11th) for a place in our group.

Group A looks pretty intimidating: Australia, England, Fiji, Wales & one of Russia or Uruguay, with only the top two going through. Fiji have a habit of turning up for one big game (thankfully, often against Wales) but I'm not sure we can necessarily run a 2nd string squad against the likes of Uruguay to keep players fresh for England 5 days later.

Group B is: Japan, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa and USA. SA should stroll it, but 2nd could be interesting if the Jocks slip up.

Group C is: Argentina, Georgia, Namibia, New Zealand and Tonga. New Zealand should win and could have the only real blow-out. Argentina should be 2nd, but Tonga and Georgia aren't push-overs.

Group D is: Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Romania. It should be France and Ireland, but if Italy sense blood they could cause an upset, and neither Canada nor Romania should be taken for granted. (IIRC, most Romanians play in the French league anyway.)

[jargan83]

I'm not sure we can necessarily run a 2nd string squad against the likes of Uruguay to keep players fresh for England 5 days later.

An NRC side would beat Uruguay or Russia let alone a Wallabies 2nd string side

[Sheikh]

An NRC side would beat Uruguay or Russia let alone a Wallabies 2nd string side

That's the sort of attitude which could lead to Australia coming home early. An NRC side may beat Uruguay or Russia, but you can't be complacent when there are potential pitfalls like England, Wales and Fiji in the same group.

Also, arguably, an NRC side could beat a Wallabies 2nd string side at the moment!

[jargan83]

That's the sort of attitude which could lead to Australia coming home early. An NRC side may beat Uruguay or Russia, but you can't be complacent when there are potential pitfalls like England, Wales and Fiji in the same group.

Also, arguably, an NRC side could beat a Wallabies 2nd string side at the moment!

Who's being complacent? A supporter on a forum

I agree that England and Wales aren't to be written off easily.

The closest Fiji have come to Australia since the game went professional is losing 55-12 at the 2007 World Cup (43 points) and Australia will thump Russia or Uruguay.

[chibi]

What a lob-sided group.

[Buddha Handy]

Another thing to consider is that Aus, Eng and Wales could easily split their games against each other with 1 win each so bonus points and for and against could really come into play. So 5 points against Fiji and the other team could be crucial

[GIGS20]

Also, arguably, an NRC side could beat a Wallabies 2nd string side at the moment!

I'd say amen, but I think the Wallabies' second string would beat the first fifteen.