I think it was a realistic view. To go top of their group they'd need to beat NZ - can't see that happening. So they get to face SA which again I can't see them beating. NOw as I said before, if we get to face England then I will revise my prediction.

I don't think this should go in the locker room. This has been put in the Siesta Section of the Spain thread and as such is aimed at the people who normally contribute here. Just like the F1 thread.

Pool A
England, South Africa, Samoa, USA, Tonga



OK, just a thought.......If England crumble again (likely) SA are a definite, but who else would you put to go through?


My money is on Samoa.

Can't see it - would like to see it but it won't happen. SA & England definitely through just a question of order. However, using your original thought and lets say England end up losing a couple of pool games it would have to be Samoa. Tonga and USA are pretty woeful.

Pool B is straight forward too. Where it gets interesting is Pool C & Pool D.

Pool C first:

NZ, Scotland, Itlay, Romania Portugal

Assuming Portugal have an off-tournament , Italy could beat Scotland to the runner up spot.

I think it will be Italy over Scotland, they are boosted by the 6 nations so I think they may do it, and they have a Kiwi playing for them!

Definitely not the US, I watched a guy on TV recently, cant for the life of me where but for some reason I think it was the tennis and the said reporter, an American, said that if the States wanted the WRC title they could take it no problem, the fact was that they win enough world contests so they don't bother.

Yeah, world contests like.Vietnam, Iraq.........

What, like the World Series???? The Superbowl??? Fine global tournaments. Actually, apart from success in the Olympics, what World contests do the yanks win????

World war 1 and the sequel, World War 2.

Yeah, but they don't count as they had too many ringers from other coutries in their team

Thats a point, bit like Italy, Wales, Argentina and almost every premiership rugby team with the Kiwis I suppose.

If I remember, this is a bit of a sore subject with you ABs, isn't it?? I mean, suggestions that maybe the ABs have their fair share of foreigners in their side are usually met with a torrent of abuse!!!

Yeah, but if you look at the team that is winning like deamons there are not nearly as many islanders as there have been.


I know its a problem, but if you consider that at the last WC the budget for Tonga was what England pay their Physio staff, you can understand why the young players want to move to NZ.

There are also some who say that by and large Maori and Islanders are so similar ethnically that its all a bit of a fuss about nothing.

I prefer the team when it is more of a NZ team, and there are almost more non Maori in the team than has been for a long time.

Would love to see Mehrtens and Spencer back.

Being of Welsh birth...

Irish father...

and English mother...

Got the Rugby shirt comes to mind..

Sing like the Welsh!
Drink like the Irish!
Puke like the English..


Only been to Cardiff when JPR Williams (yep that old) used to play and Twickenham a couple of times...

But loving it loving it loving it! Can't wait

First big game of the 2007/08 season starts today. England v Wales this afternoon.

Will both sides take it easy so as not to injure players??? Or is there any such thing as an England-Wales friendly?

Few names missing on both sides and in the Wales side particularly it seems Sweeney and Cooper are in the last chance saloon having to shine ahead of next week's squad cull. For England, how will Farrell fare?

Dont think either side can afford to lose even a sponge boy so yeah, its gonna be a bit of a quiet game with neither team pushing it I think.

Probably a comfortable England win. Expect wholesale changes in the second half for both sides.

Pity there's only one game today. When to the ABs arrive in Europe?? Wouldn't be surprised if some of the Southern Hemisphere teams base themselves in Spain for a bit before RWC for conditioning etc...

29th of August they fly out.


Think they are based in southern France, cant remember now.

Will Wales want an easy loss? Not sure they will to be honest.