Sign up with GoogleWerner Harding
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
- Messages
- 763
The world cup is nearly here any favourites?
-
Ask a question and get free supportUnlock new privileges and see hidden discussionsWin prizes and earn reputation
-
Question of the day ~ How often do you braai?
-
Afristay giveaway.Win a 2-night stay for two people at an establishment of your choice with R1,000 in spending money. Enter here.
World Cup is upon us
- Thread starter Werner Harding
- Start date
Noseworthy
Expert Member
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 3,530
I do love soccer/football
OverKill69
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 12, 2008
- Messages
- 796
I know it's just speculation, but...
-SA COULD meet Aus in the second round
-In Group A... the "Group of Death" You have England, Australia, Wales and Fiji as an outsider... That means someone big is going home in the group stage.
-Group D is WIDE open too! Italy, Ireland, France and Canada (Even Romania)... Bit of a pity that these teams have to fight out the rivalry in the groups.
I mean, in the six nations tourny, Italy, Ireland and France could fall to each other on any given day... add the retarded physicality of Canada and Romania, we could see some early injuries and some upsets amongst the top end.
So if SA doesn't win our group by a country mile and a half, we deserve to be shot in the face. So we'll probably face 2nd place in Group A.
NZ will win be tops in their group so they'll face the runners up in group D...
Makes it a possible SA vs England/Wales/Australia in the second round. (in order of probability)
and NZ vs France/Ireland/Italy. (in order of probability)
Then? SA vs NZ in the semis????
REALLY!!!!
This is the one time that maybe coming second in the group might be tactically better than winning it.
It might be a consolation prize to the two "difficult" groups. You win your group and you have a straighter path to the final.
So if we speculate that SA wins their group, meets NZ in the semis and lose... NZ in the final against???
Wales could win group A... Wales could definitely beat an Ireland or a France in the semis to get in the final...
NZ vs Wales in the final, NZ wins... That's settled.
Now I can get some work done this year!
-SA COULD meet Aus in the second round
-In Group A... the "Group of Death" You have England, Australia, Wales and Fiji as an outsider... That means someone big is going home in the group stage.
-Group D is WIDE open too! Italy, Ireland, France and Canada (Even Romania)... Bit of a pity that these teams have to fight out the rivalry in the groups.
I mean, in the six nations tourny, Italy, Ireland and France could fall to each other on any given day... add the retarded physicality of Canada and Romania, we could see some early injuries and some upsets amongst the top end.
So if SA doesn't win our group by a country mile and a half, we deserve to be shot in the face. So we'll probably face 2nd place in Group A.
NZ will win be tops in their group so they'll face the runners up in group D...
Makes it a possible SA vs England/Wales/Australia in the second round. (in order of probability)
and NZ vs France/Ireland/Italy. (in order of probability)
Then? SA vs NZ in the semis????
REALLY!!!!
This is the one time that maybe coming second in the group might be tactically better than winning it.
It might be a consolation prize to the two "difficult" groups. You win your group and you have a straighter path to the final.
So if we speculate that SA wins their group, meets NZ in the semis and lose... NZ in the final against???
Wales could win group A... Wales could definitely beat an Ireland or a France in the semis to get in the final...
NZ vs Wales in the final, NZ wins... That's settled.
Now I can get some work done this year!
Last edited:
Werner Harding
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
- Messages
- 763
I do agree with you, but Ireland is the dark horse don't be surprised with see them in a semi's
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 47,031
Ireland will be a strong contender, and I'd never count England out.
ZCFOutkast
Expert Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2014
- Messages
- 1,950
I've already said elsewhere that having only two players that are certain of their positions(Etzebeth&Vermeulen) at the end of 2014 are not the ingredients of a solid WC side, so seeing as most top teams will be saving their best players this season it's too late to build a side by trial against largely weakened competition in the lead up. Australia are almost there but they too will pay for the same problem.
So my winner is Ireland and here's how:
Been tipping Australia all along but now I don't see how they can get out of their group unless the notorious press&fans cause a meltdown of the Englishmen (which if not then will get them by the Semis no doubt).
If the Boks do get out 2nd in their group then they'll fall to ENG/WAL in the QFs. Win or lose, the Boks will be exhausted, battered&bruised after the brutal battle against Samoa, so Scotland are my favourites against them and effectively groupwinners.
Straightforward group. I don't see NZ getting past the French in the QFs. If they do then WAL/ENG should be an even bigger ask. Even if they get to the final, I think they haven't played against Ireland for well over a year and they won't have played them since then if they meet in the final. Don't know if that was planned. But should they meet I have the ABs as underdogs.
Group D is also straightforward. I think a lot of the Irish will snap up tickets for the final. That how clear their path is. If they don't then they can easily swap them with their English neighbours. Whoever wins their Six Nations contest wil win the SF. I'm tipping Ireland.
As for tournament value, I doubt it will have the sam etight exciting "referee-decided" matches like 2011. The best&most memorable matches won't come from the big guns though (aside potentially FRAvsNZ & IREvsENG). I think GEOvsTON in Pool B, and between these three in Pool D - ITAvsCANvsROM, will be the most exciting. The Boks will crush Japan first up, but after that the Japs should provide interesting matches against SCO&SAM whom they respect less. I have a feeling the Irish will thump the French so bad in that group, the complacent ABs will be made to pay for it.
So my winner is Ireland and here's how:
Been tipping Australia all along but now I don't see how they can get out of their group unless the notorious press&fans cause a meltdown of the Englishmen (which if not then will get them by the Semis no doubt).
If the Boks do get out 2nd in their group then they'll fall to ENG/WAL in the QFs. Win or lose, the Boks will be exhausted, battered&bruised after the brutal battle against Samoa, so Scotland are my favourites against them and effectively groupwinners.
Straightforward group. I don't see NZ getting past the French in the QFs. If they do then WAL/ENG should be an even bigger ask. Even if they get to the final, I think they haven't played against Ireland for well over a year and they won't have played them since then if they meet in the final. Don't know if that was planned. But should they meet I have the ABs as underdogs.
Group D is also straightforward. I think a lot of the Irish will snap up tickets for the final. That how clear their path is. If they don't then they can easily swap them with their English neighbours. Whoever wins their Six Nations contest wil win the SF. I'm tipping Ireland.
As for tournament value, I doubt it will have the sam etight exciting "referee-decided" matches like 2011. The best&most memorable matches won't come from the big guns though (aside potentially FRAvsNZ & IREvsENG). I think GEOvsTON in Pool B, and between these three in Pool D - ITAvsCANvsROM, will be the most exciting. The Boks will crush Japan first up, but after that the Japs should provide interesting matches against SCO&SAM whom they respect less. I have a feeling the Irish will thump the French so bad in that group, the complacent ABs will be made to pay for it.
Last edited:
Aghori
Honorary Master
- Joined
- May 11, 2009
- Messages
- 14,245
ZCFOutkast
Expert Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2014
- Messages
- 1,950
Get him in Heyneke
[video=youtube;T2tHI8gIxvs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422503921&v=T2tHI8gIxvs&x-yt-cl=85027636[/video]
[video=youtube;T2tHI8gIxvs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422503921&v=T2tHI8gIxvs&x-yt-cl=85027636[/video]
I think the Top contenders are NZ, SA, Australia ,Ireland ,England ,France and Wales.
Last world cup, the French very very nearly beat NZ (and the french team was not the best team in the world, as that same team lost twice to Argentina).
For some reason all the teams "pitch up" when it's world cup time. SA was very unlucky .. that Aussies did not play very well that day, but the ref however had other things in mind.
SA has a couple of months to get everything straight and in line. Hopefully we can do some good in this world cup.
Last world cup, the French very very nearly beat NZ (and the french team was not the best team in the world, as that same team lost twice to Argentina).
For some reason all the teams "pitch up" when it's world cup time. SA was very unlucky .. that Aussies did not play very well that day, but the ref however had other things in mind.
SA has a couple of months to get everything straight and in line. Hopefully we can do some good in this world cup.
Pitbull
Verboten
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2006
- Messages
- 64,307
SA has by far the best team heading to the World Cup. If none of our players get injured prior to the RWC we have an exceptional chance to take it. Only team that makes me worry is England. I doubt NZ will bake it through the first quarter finals.
NZ, Ireland and SA are the teams to look out for...
I think there are plenty of Teams knocking on the door for the RWC Trophy.
SA has had it Twice, NZ Had it twice, Aussies had it twice, England had it twice.
So obviously - NZ, SA, Australia and England want this next world cup the most. (They will fight like raging maniacs)
It all depends on which team has trained the most, practiced what needs to be done and then see who can actually put those practices into play. Another factor to take into account is who has the least injury's to key players... and if key players are injured... who has the best backup for that key player. Example. If bismark goes off, we have strauss. Nothing lost there.
Then Luck is also a major factor, the bounce of the ball on the day.
I think there are plenty of Teams knocking on the door for the RWC Trophy.
SA has had it Twice, NZ Had it twice, Aussies had it twice, England had it twice.
So obviously - NZ, SA, Australia and England want this next world cup the most. (They will fight like raging maniacs)
It all depends on which team has trained the most, practiced what needs to be done and then see who can actually put those practices into play. Another factor to take into account is who has the least injury's to key players... and if key players are injured... who has the best backup for that key player. Example. If bismark goes off, we have strauss. Nothing lost there.
Then Luck is also a major factor, the bounce of the ball on the day.
Cray
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2010
- Messages
- 34,548
Sun Oct 18 43 QF3: Winner D v Runner-Up C Cardiff Millenium Stadium 11.00pm
If New Zealand top their pool (Group C) and France come in second (Group D - same pool as Ireland), then we have yet another New Zealand/France knockout match in a world cup, that could cause a few nervous flutters amongst the AB's
If New Zealand top their pool (Group C) and France come in second (Group D - same pool as Ireland), then we have yet another New Zealand/France knockout match in a world cup, that could cause a few nervous flutters amongst the AB's
Werner Harding
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
- Messages
- 763
Seems Ireland is proving me right early this year lets wait and see what they do in the RWC