RWC 07 Build up starts here....

[Kilteragh]

in my mind fella, i've predicted the semi finals

New Zealand V France

Australlia V South Africa

no idea who will make it to the final though, 2 very close semis

Ireland will beat France - FACT.

[Rocket]

Ireland will beat France - FACT.

would love to agree with you fella, but Ireland are very hit or miss at the moment, you just don't know what team will show up. France are proving very consistent

Q/F

New Zealand V Ireland
Scotland V France
Wales V South Africa
England V Australlia

the only other possibilties in reality are swapping Ireland and Scotland for Argentina and Italy respectively

[Kilteragh]

would love to agree with you fella, but Ireland are very hit or miss at the moment, you just don't know what team will show up. France are proving very consistent

Yeah - I don't normally have this much confidence in them but we owe the Frenchies one. They robbed us early on this year and we were missing O'Driscoll and Stringer.

I think we can piss them off for the first twenty mins by defending, then the crowd should get on their backs and we roll them over. Wishful thinking maybe

[Rocket]

you guys are just unlucky that theres 3 good teams in your group

same goes for Scots/Italy

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Ireland will hit the ground running i think will upset France

[Morse]

would love to agree with you fella, but Ireland are very hit or miss at the moment, you just don't know what team will show up. France are proving very consistent

Q/F

New Zealand V Ireland
Scotland V France
Wales V South Africa
England V Australlia

the only other possibilties in reality are swapping Ireland and Scotland for Argentina and Italy respectively

Agree with your quarters there Rhod...everyone seems to think that it will be Wales v England but the Springboks will hammer 'em.

Then Australia will **** them over too...

[Morse]

JT

went to school with me

Welsh international footballer, Cricket and Rugby player as a youth player

makes ya sick doesn't it

Jonathan Thomas eh?

Jammy beggar.

Any chance of tickets then?

[Taffy]

Looking forward to the World Cup, not only for the rugby but also for the betting opportunities!

Bot Wales and England should progress from their groups, but as has been said, I'd expect both to qualify as runners up, meaning no meeting in the knockout stages.

New Zealand are obviously strong favourites, but I've a feeling that both the French and South Africa will take them close. You can't rule out the Aussies either as they usually peak around World Cup time, but I haven't seen much from them that convinces me that they'll do so this time around so far!

I'm positive that we won't see major shocks at this tournament, as the top sides are so strong and the so called 'underdogs' aren't that good, but I'm sure we'll get loads of betting opportunities to make a killing along the way!

I agree with Rhods about the s/f line-up but those games could go either way.

I'd like to think that Wales will click when we need it most, but I just don't have faith in Gareth Jenkins and his selection ideas and coaching abilities at that level. We have the players to have a real go in this year's tournament but I doubt they'll get the real opportunity to have a real go at the opposition the way they should do.

I fear for his selection policy and just hope he picks the 'right' team for the games ahead!

[Morse]

Why don't you rate him Steve?
What is it about his selection policy you don't like?

He's giving Hook a chance isn't he?
He was coach of a very exciting Llanelli Scarlets...

[Taffy]

Why don't you rate him Steve?
What is it about his selection policy you don't like?

He's giving Hook a chance isn't he?
He was coach of a very exciting Llanelli Scarlets...

Although I don't know the guy I actually like him as a person from what I've seen of him - I enjoyed the tv programme about him last night on the BBC.

But for me, as it mentioned on the programme last night, once he makes a decision he doesn't change his mind (take the Aussie tour and the England disaster of late just as two examples, where he decided on weakened sides against quality opposition - now we were never going to come out of them games with renewed confidence ahead of a big tournament were we), and if he has ideas there's very little chance of him altering them from what I've seen over recent years.

Then there's the Stephen Jones issue. Great player on his day and a key figure for Wales if match fit. Putting him as captain was a mistake in my opinion, and it showed with his performances in the Six Nations this year. He lost all confidence as he just couldn't cope with being captain and losing games whilst playing a key position for us at the time. It affected him and the team greatly in my opinion.

The James Hook situation is simple in my opinion. He must be played, full stop. Fair play to Jenkins he's playing him (although he hasn't had many other options if truth be told), and I hope that continues. However, I'm not convinced about this inside centre position, and I'm sure Jenkins is desperate to play both Jones and Hook in the coming games this month. He must get it right though if both start, as too much moving about of players just to get them into the starting line-up might cost us in the end.

I'm just not convinced that Gareth Jenkins has what it takes to make us a force, like Ruddock did, though. We obvoiusly have the players but has Gareth Jenkins got the know-how to make it happen? I'm not so sure.

Yes, he's the 'people's choice' but if things don't go favourably for him in the next six months then he could be out of a job after that. I also see yesterday that he's given Peel the captaincy now - what's he doing, giving everyone a turn?! Most successful sides have one team leader as captain with one or two others capable of 'doing their bit for the cause' if called upon, but I don't think he knows what his best 15 is at the moment when we're going into a World Cup!! He says we're going into the competition with three captains, so that's him, his coaching staff, the players, and the supporters that don't know what he'll do next!

He keeps changing the front row every game as he obviously doesn't know his best front three - yes I admit today's game means you need to change it every now and then, but it gets changed every game! We need some form of continuity and with the World Cup upon us I'm not sure the players know what's happening.

I hope he gets it right, I really do as I like him, but I have my doubts. Let's hope I'm wrong eh!

[Morse]

Good analysis, fair points made.



Out in the quarters is expected and I think we'll live upto that.

[The incredible igor]

you guys are just unlucky that theres 3 good teams in your group

same goes for Scots/Italy

scotland a good team

[Taffy]

Good analysis, fair points made.



Out in the quarters is expected and I think we'll live upto that.

Cheers Stu! It's only my own personal opinion on the matter and everyone has their own thoughts on it! I'm looking forward to the WC starting tonight but I fear the same as you mate, that we'll scrape through in second place and then get knocked out in the QF. I hope I'm wrong and Jenkins gives the players the licence to play as they can do, the running game, and that we cause a few surprises, but I won't hold my breath!

Hope you are well mate and that your family are keeping you on your toes! Send my regards to your better half and the rest of your family both in Wales and you lot across the border!

[Kilteragh]

France

[Red Chilli]

France

I love Argies