World Cup

[bobbie22]

Wales forever. Cymru am Byth

[anneasquith]

good luck wales.

[snags]

The rugby I

[snags]

The rugby

[snags]

Sod it... I give up...

[bobbie22]

I did not expect we would do so well. Its nice to have support, and I would have supported England as I do in every sport if the positions were reversed.

[snags]

I'd like to see a Wales v New Zealand final but those grenouille gobblers can blow hot and cold... hopefully cold next weekend...

[Duncer]

I really can't see past the All-Blacks, but I would love to see Wales go all the way and pull it off.

[Philtaz]

I for one CAN see past the All Blacks. They weren't at their best against Argentina and the injuries they've had do appear to have affected them a little.

Plus I'm hoping their battle against the Aussies will take a lot out of them, so much in fact that they're on their chinstraps by the time they make the final, if they do!

I know Wales v France will be no picnic for us but NZ v Oz will be monumental in terms of physicality and will be tough to call. I'm hoping France have had their one obligatory (for the French) world-beating performance against England and will come up short against Wales.

[Buenchico]

Ladbrokes odds are currently as follows:
NZ 4/6
Oz 4/1
France 11/2
Wales 11/2

[Noraq]

I'm hoping for a Wales -v NZ Final.
But I can't see Australia losing against the NZ team that turned up yesterday.
Wales have no injury troubles after yesterdays game.

Depends on which of the French Jekyll and Hyde team turn up.. I am very hopeful for the Welsh. (I agree with Philtaz), I have a feeling France have had their one good game...

I'd back (and of course support) the Wales team in the Final against NZ OR Australia.

[emmie]

anyone but France.

[piggynose]

france will pi55 it!

[kayakamina]

In every World Cup since inception the team that beats the holders goes on to win the cup!
As Australia has just beaten South Africa (holders) history points to an Aussie victory overall.

[emmie]

I think the All Blacks will be the eventual winners.

[kayakamina]

So do I!

I was just pointing out the unique statistic.

[ichkeria]

The stat isn't accurate: in 1995 England defeated the holders (Australia) in the quarter finals, only to be blown away by Jonah Lomu and co in the semis.

[kayakamina]

In 1995 Australia (holders) lost to South Africa in the pool stages.
South Africa went on to win.

[theshedman]

Austrailia hardly touched the ball in the second half against South Africa and didn't really deserve to win as the Box played most of the rugby. The Aussies just got lucky so them against the Blacks should be quite even. Wales are the in form team at the moment so lets just hope they keep playing that way and we could have a new name on the cup.

[ichkeria]

Sorry, I thought you were referring to the actual knockout games.
Another statistic is that Australia have never lost a knock out game against a Southern Hemisphere nation.

[ichkeria]

You (kayakamina) did say
"the team that beats the holders goes on to win the cup! " which isn't true. In 1995 more than one team beat the holders, but only one went on to win the tournament. It might be true to say "the first team to beat the holders" I don't know, but by then the statistic is starting to look a little battered :-)