So it’s in Japan, the matches are on at horrible times. 25/48 Matches will be broadcast on NBC or NBCSN. If you want to get the whole thing it will cost you $199.99 for NBC Gold. But that gets you everything on-Demand and it doesn’t leave your account all year.
Pool A- Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa
Pool B- New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada
Pool C- England, France, Argentina, USA, Tonga
Pool D- Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay
Kickoff is 20 September, Japan opens the tournament against Russia.
Looking forward to it. Hard to look too far past New Zealand although after S. Africa won the Rugby Championship and Australia beat the ABs those two can’t be counted out. England have good depth and are looking good, and Wales and Ireland likely round out those with any hope.
Unfortunately only a shock upset (or two) can see the USA getting out of the pool stage. Likely the big pool C clash will be Argentina v France for the second qualifying spot.
The other pools look more predictable. Scotland lucked out with a piss easy group, though Japan at home could be a tester.
Australia only barely beat an All Blacks team with entirely 2nd half 14 man team from a red card (rightfully earned). They were trounced more recently. Aussies will make it out of pool play and possibly a game or 2 through knockout but are woefully behind Wales and ABs.
England is a big question mark. They have great potential but have disappointed in recent 6 nations.
Australia only barely beat an All Blacks team with entirely 2nd half 14 man team from a red card (rightfully earned). They were trounced more recently. Aussies will make it out of pool play and possibly a game or 2 through knockout but are woefully behind Wales and ABs.
England is a big question mark. They have great potential but have disappointed in recent 6 nations.
They haven’t disappointed as much as France. So, they’re definitely moving forward out of the group matches. On the other hand, I think France won’t and the pumas will move forward.
Australia only barely beat an All Blacks team with entirely 2nd half 14 man team from a red card (rightfully earned). They were trounced more recently. Aussies will make it out of pool play and possibly a game or 2 through knockout but are woefully behind Wales and ABs.
England is a big question mark. They have great potential but have disappointed in recent 6 nations.
Not sure how much you’re paying attention to the US Eagles. But we’ll likely beat Tonga. After the Pacific Nation’s Cup Campaign, the expectations are significantly different from even last Summer when we’d won 10 matches on the trot. Not beating Tonga would be a disappointment. If France and Argentina play their best, there’s no shot. But if either play atrocious and we play out of our minds there’s a real chance. England? We’re fucked there.
There’s a reason it’s been called the Pool of Death.
Wales being number 1? Yeah, not so fast there. Not sure the formula is accurate enough, it’s cute though.
In regards to the Wallabies, was at the match in Perth 9 days ago (horrible idea since it fucked my circadian rhythm), but the Wallabies had the momentum the entire time…yet. In Round 2? They basically didn’t even get off the bus, ABs played like trash and won 36-0.
Should be a great tournament…for getting as much coverage as we will get (you wouldn’t know, NBC isn’t rolling this out well), the US is still far behind the top competitors. But, season 3 of Major League Rugby is in February.
Quite possible England meet Wales in the quarters…
The thing about the RWC is that while most matches are a dead cert, there are always quite a few upsets. Here’s a few I could see:
Samoa beats ScotlandUSA beats FranceArgentina beats EnglandJapan beats SamoaJapan beats Scotland
So it’s in Japan, the matches are on at horrible times. 25/48 Matches will be broadcast on NBC or NBCSN. If you want to get the whole thing it will cost you $199.99 for NBC Gold. But that gets you everything on-Demand and it doesn’t leave your account all year.
Pool A- Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa
Pool B- New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada
Pool C- England, France, Argentina, USA, Tonga
Pool D- Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay
Kickoff is 20 September, Japan opens the tournament against Russia.
Maybe England winning the Cricket World Cup will carry some momentum with the Rugby team. It would be pretty cool to win two World Cups in one year.
I have an Aussie friend who is going to the group matches. Not too bad of a flight from the west coast - about 9 hours.
It’s pretty open. Arguably one of the least successful All Blacks side in recent years. Not sure what their win/loss is like vs previous world cups. Last one, wasn’t it 18 wins on the trot? Last year they lost to Ireland, South Africa put 36 points on them, almost lost to England and the Wallabies gave them a shellacking. Still a solid side, but they no longer have the aura that previous All Blacks teams had. The psychological edge they had is gone. Teams like Ireland now know they can beat them, whereas before the game was won before they All Blacks had laced their boots up.
Luck plays a part in who wins the World Cup. So if you have an OK team, good pool and a bit of luck on your side, you can go all the way. Its between England, South Africa and NZ. Nothing between those 3 sides.
It’s pretty open. Arguably one of the least successful All Blacks side in recent years. Not sure what their win/loss is like vs previous world cups. Last one, wasn’t it 18 wins on the trot? Last year they lost to Ireland, South Africa put 36 points on them, almost lost to England and the Wallabies gave them a shellacking. Still a solid side, but they no longer have the aura that previous All Blacks teams had. The psychological edge they had is gone. Teams like Ireland now know they can beat them, whereas before the game was won before they All Blacks had laced their boots up.
Luck plays a part in who wins the World Cup. So if you have an OK team, good pool and a bit of luck on your side, you can go all the way. Its between England, South Africa and NZ. Nothing between those 3 sides.
Agree with this.
Wales I suspect won’t fulfil their potential due to their issues at 10. Ireland look like a side that peaked 18 months early. Now they don’t have enough big hitting ball carriers and Sexton at 10 doesn’t have the time to play make that his pack have him last year.
France always do better than expected at the RWC but since expectations for them are rock bottom that doesn’t mean much.
On their day Australia can beat anyone. Tricky to know when their day comes around, including for them.
It’s genuinely the most open RWC I can remember though.
The most dominant sports team of all time, the All Blacks, will win. I am biased though. I think it’s actually good that they have lost a few times in the lead up. It becomes a bit boring otherwise watching them constantly dominate everyone. In the past, one of their problems used to be failing when it mattered, ie semi and quarter final losses to France in 1999 and 2007. We would have won 1995 too if not for most of the team coming down with food poisoning.
