RWC Draw
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Who knows. Teams can look like world beaters now and turn up utter dog crap come World Cup year. England had beaten us soundly at Twickenham and gone 4-1 in the Six Nations at the same time last RWC cycle - they were viewed as a tough out.
From a NZ perspective I like the idea of playing SA in the pool rounds. It gives us something different to break the monotony of being paired with Tonga, Argentina, France & in the early days Wales - did pick up Italy again though.
In terms of draw structure what is better the Boks first up, last or somewhere in the middle?
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In terms of draw structure what is better the Boks first up, last or somewhere in the middle?
Later on, definitely, I think. Possibly last.
Ideally an easy shakedown game first, another bunny for the dirt-trackers to play second. A solid warm-up against Italy and to book qualification. Then a serious hit-out against the Boks prior to the play-offs.
Only downside with that schedule would be potentially picking up short term injuries to key squad members - in a dogfight with the Jaapies - that don't get a chance to heal.
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Ireland draw is funny, looks great at first, except they'll play either NZ or SA in the QF, being a bit underdone after just Scotland and dross in the pool.
NZ on the other hand, if they beat SA in pool, get a Scotland QF and then likely England SF, which is a nice smooth build up given we also have Italy in the pool.
Basically, the RWC is funny, you can either have 0, 1 or 2 quality pool opponents. 1 is perfect. 0 means you get a hard QF as thre will be multiple quality teams in the pool across from you in the draw, plus you'll be a bit underdone (a la NZ in 2007, likely Ireland in 2019). 2 means a pool of death like Eng/Aus/Wales in 2015, so you have at least 1 (maybe 2) effective knockout games before the actual knockouts.
1 is the perfect number. Which NZ had in 2011, and have in 2019. Sweet.
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@TeWaio Agreed. Ireland have got a very tough quarter final. They will either play us or the Boks.
If we can win our pool and England finish top of their pool and go on to beat Wales or Australia in the quarters, then the ABs should stroll into the final. We should take care of Scotland in the quarters fairly comfortably and then will be up against an English side that would be shattered after already having to peak for four massive test matches. They will be heavily fatigued and I think we will be much too strong for them.
Everybody is saying that Australia has the perfect draw, but I think we have the dream draw as long as we can finish on top of our pool.
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Pool A could be more interesting if Samoa land into the group as well. I don't think either of Ireland's matches v Scotland or Japan will be surefire wins at all. There's a good chance that Japan v Ireland may be selected as the tourney opener which puts more pressure on both sides for a win.
Scotland then lie in wait. Unless Samoa enter the frame, in which case there'll be a few bruised bodies emerging from this pool, but relatively battle-hardened.
Either way, I think Ireland up against NZ would actually be the perfect QF for them to be underdogs but respected. And I'd give them more than a chance of beating NZ too.
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Everyone says Ireland have a tough QF, most likely facing the Boks. Current form would suggest that the Boks would have a tough QF more so than the Irish.
People expect the Boks to be better and they play a style suited to a World Cup. We didn't find them easy in the semis and really could have lost that game.
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@hydro11 although Boks have dropped a long way since 2015, we can only hope they will be better by 2019
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@taniwharugby said in RWC Draw:
@hydro11 although Boks have dropped a long way since 2015, we can only hope they will be better by 2019
Nah ... am happy for them to be shit ....
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@taniwharugby said in RWC Draw:
@hydro11 although Boks have dropped a long way since 2015, we can only hope they will be better by 2019
Nah ... am happy for them to be shit ....
I think there is a good possibility for them to have woken up by then. There are some very good players showing out individually in Super Rugby but the Boks selectors need to take some punts and get a fresh look going this year to get these guys some experience. It may not win them a WC this time around but will get them back on track to get an experienced side in the future.
They are in a better position than Oz who will have to still rely on the likes of Genia and Beale and Coper as there is simply no one else. -
Agreed. The pathways in South Africa are still unearthing talent.
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@antipodean said in RWC Draw:
Agreed. The pathways in South Africa are still unearthing talent.
unfortunately alot of those pathways seem to lead to a quick stop in the Bok jersey and onto Europe because of how inept SARU is.
I wonder if the way SA can return as a genuine and consistent force in WOrld Rugby is if thier INternational game was in Europe?
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I wouldn't select OS players if I was SARU. They've got enough people at home that the depth shouldn't be a concern. Let the economic refugees flee to Europe to get paid. All the unions are restricting the amount of foreigners in the squads anyway. It's a problem that will slowly be minimised.
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