Eight Becomes Four
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@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:
@Duluth said in Eight Becomes Four:
@Billy-Webb said:
Of the four teams left in the competition, these are arguably the weaker two.
There's definitely going to be more attention on the other semi. I think that suits South Africa.. the draw opened up for them, the scrutiny is elsewhere.
Wales might put up a fight but SA should put them away quite easily.The other semi is likely to be a very physical match.
It's South Africa's to lose really. Raging hot favourites for the tournament
Almost an asterisk title if they get up 😏
@Duluth said in Eight Becomes Four:
@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:
Almost an asterisk title if they get up 😏
Just like 2007
If that is what it takes for the Boks to get title no. 3 I will happily accept.
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Neck on line.
Favourites are NZ and SA
England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.
Wales played shit in the QF.
If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.
We've beaten them in our last three meetings.
England v Wales final
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@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:
Neck on line.
Favourites are NZ and SA
England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.
Wales played shit in the QF.
If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.
We've beaten them in our last three meetings.
England v Wales final
Head or heart?
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And while I am merrily bantering away about a possible SA v NZ final, there is the small matter of England and Wales.
It could well be that we see the first ever NH vs NH final. History making on its own plus the fact that it will be the first time Wales have made it to the final. And I am not in anyway writing that option off. I reckon Wales are delighted that they are facing the Boks and not England or NZ. The Boks don't come with any surprises. You know what you're going to get and it simply becomes a matter of executing better than them on the day. -
@booboo said in Eight Becomes Four:
@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:
Neck on line.
Favourites are NZ and SA
England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.
Wales played shit in the QF.
If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.
We've beaten them in our last three meetings.
England v Wales final
Head or heart?
Both
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@booboo said in Eight Becomes Four:
@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:
Neck on line.
Favourites are NZ and SA
England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.
Wales played shit in the QF.
If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.
We've beaten them in our last three meetings.
England v Wales final
Head or heart?
That has to be heart.
If Wales make it to the final, they'd much rather face England who they know how to beat.
They have yet to unlock that mystery against the ABs. -
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@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:
Come on. All Blacks v Springboks, 100th test match.
It's written in the stars.
And this has been a RWC of fairytales so YES.
Complete with the happy ending for the boys in Green. -
@Billy-Webb said in Eight Becomes Four:
@booboo said in Eight Becomes Four:
@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:
Neck on line.
Favourites are NZ and SA
England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.
Wales played shit in the QF.
If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.
We've beaten them in our last three meetings.
England v Wales final
Head or heart?
That has to be heart.
If Wales make it to the final, they'd much rather face England who they know how to beat.
They have yet to unlock that mystery against the ABs.Exactly.
NZ are beatable. England are good enough.
SA are beatable. Wales knows how to beat them.
If it's an England v Wales final, we know how to beat England.
If it's an NZ v Wales final, we don't.
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Both NZ and SA are 1.33 favs. That feels right for SA, but I'd have us closer to 1.60.
If the AB's make to the final, I'd say we would be 1.30 against the Boks and 1.15 v Wales.
Not saying those odds are right, just where I reckon the bookies would pitch it.
I'd have us at 1.60 v the Boks and 1.03 v Wales
(Sorry @MiketheSnow ...) 😎
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@Billy-Webb said in Eight Becomes Four:
@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:
Come on. All Blacks v Springboks, 100th test match.
It's written in the stars.
And this has been a RWC of fairytales so YES.
Complete with the happy ending for the boys in Green.Aarrrghhh, where is my downvote button!!!
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What no-one has raised yet is the extra recovery day for either NZ or England for the final.
Clearly that is another irrefutable sign of how NZ gets favoured by world rugby :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye:My tabloid-eque dig aside: I think that extra day will be valuable for either NZ or England. Not massive, but nicer to have than not have.
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@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:
Both NZ and SA are 1.33 favs. That feels right for SA, but I'd have us closer to 1.60.
If the AB's make to the final, I'd say we would be 1.30 against the Boks and 1.15 v Wales.
Not saying those odds are right, just where I reckon the bookies would pitch it.
I'd have us at 1.60 v the Boks and 1.03 v Wales
(Sorry Mike...) 😎
With who? NZ TAB is always going to be shorter for NZ due to the predilection for NZers to get on NZ.
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Boks should be nervous. We've never made it to the final without an upset along the way and the quarters all went with the favourites.
Wales have all the major hallmarks of a team ready to pull a major RWC upset... experienced, written off a bit more than they should be, canny coach - except for being Welsh.
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@rotated said in Eight Becomes Four:
Boks should be nervous. We've never made it to the final without an upset along the way and the quarters all went with the favourites.
Wales have all the major hallmarks of a team ready to pull a major RWC upset... experienced, written off a bit more than they should be, canny coach - except for being Welsh.
Ermm... why would Wales beating the Boks be an upset?
As @MiketheSnow has pointed out, Wales have beaten SA the last 3 times the teams met.
And Wales were recent world no.1 while the Boks were recent World no.6 or 7.I think the upset would be the Boks beating Wales.
Of course if you're looking for a real upset result, isn't it better to look at the other semi?
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@rotated said in Eight Becomes Four:
Boks should be nervous. We've never made it to the final without an upset along the way and the quarters all went with the favourites.
Wales have all the major hallmarks of a team ready to pull a major RWC upset... experienced, written off a bit more than they should be, canny coach - except for being Welsh.
Thankfully we have some canny Kiwis and English to supplement our DNA defficiency
