Early Predictions; Who will win the World Cup?

[Burgs]

Early Predictions; Who will win the World Cup?

Righto, everyone knows the alomst unbackable odds for the All Blacks to finally not choke and win another World Cup.
But odds and bookmakers are one thing, will they finally manage it?
And if they are to fall over, who will take it out.
Before getting down to the final series of Tests before the big one, who do you think will take out the Holy Grail?

[rick boyd]

Early Predictions; Who will win the World Cup?

Righto, everyone knows the alomst unbackable odds for the All Blacks to finally not choke and win another World Cup.
But odds and bookmakers are one thing, will they finally manage it?
And if they are to fall over, who will take it out.
Before getting down to the final series of Tests before the big one, who do you think will take out the Holy Grail?

The All Blacks should not be unbackable favourites to win the world cup, nor should they be unfairly derided for failing to win it in the past, as it's a knockout tournament and one poor game will put any of the finals contenders out of the competition. In some ways, the world cup winner is more the team that fails to lose a finals game, rather than the one that wins all its finals games. If you can see the difference.

The world cup was intended to be a great carnival of rugby and the premier showcase of the game. Unfortunately it has become a bloated monster, promoted by the media and casual supporters as the be-all and end-all of rugby, to the point that it is distorting the rugby calendar and reducing all other rugby tests to mere sideshows.

Which is very sad, because international rugby has always been about test rugby series, that's the great tradition of the game; and a test series is a much more accurate way of evaluting rugby's pecking order than a knockout tournament.

Take last year's All Blacks-Springboks series for instance. The All Blacks won 2-1, and few would argue they were the better team. But if that one test won by the Springboks had taken place in the world cup, too many people would be saying that was the only result that mattered. Which would be very silly.

Personally, I intend to enjoy the world cup and hope there is some great rugby played, but I'll take the final result with a grain of salt. The All Blacks are the favourites, no doubt, but one upset result for whatever reason, and any one of the Big Five could win it.

[Darren]

I'll be backing Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, England in that order depending on who gets knocked out when....

[The InnFORCEr]

The All Blacks should not be unbackable favourites to win the world cup, nor should they be unfairly derided for failing to win it in the past, as it's a knockout tournament and one poor game will put any of the finals contenders out of the competition. In some ways, the world cup winner is more the team that fails to lose a finals game, rather than the one that wins all its finals games. If you can see the difference.

The world cup was intended to be a great carnival of rugby and the premier showcase of the game. Unfortunately it has become a bloated monster, promoted by the media and casual supporters as the be-all and end-all of rugby, to the point that it is distorting the rugby calendar and reducing all other rugby tests to mere sideshows.

Which is very sad, because international rugby has always been about test rugby series, that's the great tradition of the game; and a test series is a much more accurate way of evaluting rugby's pecking order than a knockout tournament.

Take last year's All Blacks-Springboks series for instance. The All Blacks won 2-1, and few would argue they were the better team. But if that one test won by the Springboks had taken place in the world cup, too many people would be saying that was the only result that mattered. Which would be very silly.

Personally, I intend to enjoy the world cup and hope there is some great rugby played, but I'll take the final result with a grain of salt. The All Blacks are the favourites, no doubt, but one upset result for whatever reason, and any one of the Big Five could win it.

I think we should start a thread entitled "Excuses the All Blacks can use when they fail again at a Rugby World Cup"



Ireland

[chook]

Brazil usually do alright, maybe the Italians again.

[rick boyd]

I think we should start a thread entitled "Excuses the All Blacks can use when they fail again at a Rugby World Cup"



Ireland

Or you could start a thread entitled "How to ignore a valid debate and concentrate on nationalistic mud-slinging".

[LarryNJ]

In a upset not many expect the winner will be:

"How to ignore a valid debate and concentrate on nationalistic mud-slinging".

[.X.]

I believe that it will either be South Africa or France.

If Australia make it past the quarter finals I will be amazed.

[travelling_gerry]

and on the rankings....thats all we are expected to do..

[frontrow]

Aussies for me, upset possibly, but not impossible...

[RuckNMaul]

im with frontrow

Keep the faith

[tragic]

South Africa or France. Prove me wrong, Wallabies, please!!!

[Sagerian]

Portugal, watch this space.


Nah, I think the paddies are gonna give it a real shake.

[jazza93]

AUSTRALIA

ive done some working out and i think it will work out exactly like last year but in the semi finals france will beat england so: france vs australia in the final.

[Leo]

Look what I found:


Are you ready for the Rugby World Cup (France 2007)?

A Fund Raising Breakfast for the Ear Science Institute Australia.


John Welborn (Investec) and Tony Adcock (Red Pill Performance Consultants) extend a personal invitation at very short notice to preview your readiness for the RWC France 2007.

Our Guest Speaker and panellist will be Dave Alred MBE, kicking coach to the England Team for 3 World Cups and 3 British Lions Tours, coach to Premier League soccer clubs and currently in Perth working with the West Coast Eagles.

Dave will comment on Performing Under Pressure.

John Welborn, the first Western Australian to represent the Wallabies, a key player in the inaugural year of the Western Force and now an Investment Banker with Investec, sponsor of the Super 14.

John played French and European Championship rugby with Brive for 4 years and will comment on being in France and the RWC.

Tony Adcock never played elite Rugby! However, as a Rugby tragic , businessman and Executive Coach working with business teams he will comment on Mental Toughness in Business and the upcoming RWC.

The format for Breakfast will be comment by Dave, John and Tony followed by a Panel Q & A session. Are you prepared for the RWC?

The Ear Science Institute is building and equipping a specialist hospital and research centre in Subiaco. Information available on the day.

Date: Wednesday 30th May 2007

Venue: University Club, Hackett Drive, Crawley

Time: 7.30 prompt and close by 9.00am

Cost: Tables of 8 : $528 incl GST. Individual places $66 per head.

Cheque Payments to be made out to: Ear Science Institute Australia.
Please send to Tony Adcock, 25 a Saunders Street, Swanbourne, WA 6010

RSVP’s to : Tony Adcock 0418 410 793 or Rosemary Moore-Fiander 0429 377 553
Please nominate a Table Captain as our contact point.