Aucklander
The Ultimate Warrior
- Moderator
- #1
Six Nations and all the other International games in one thread.
All Blacks currently smashing the USA.
All Blacks currently smashing the USA.
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The All Blacks survived a yellow card to Dane Coles and a flying finish by England to secure a 24-21 win in a test match peppered with controversy at Twickenham.
Tries to Aaron Cruden, Richie McCaw and Charlie Faumuina enabled the New Zealanders to subdue an aggressive English side that closed the gap in the final seconds when they were awarded a penalty try following a scrum close to the visitors' line.
Expect much of the post-match comment to include referee Nigel Owens, with the Welsh whistler unable to stay out of the limelight for periods of this match.
Brothers Richie and Jonny Gray paved the way for Scotland's first home win against Argentina for 24 years, a convincing 41-31 victory.
The Pumas arrived in Edinburgh on a high following their maiden Rugby Championship win against Australia in Mendoza last month but, despite making a flying start, Daniel Hourcade's side were unable to stretch their winning streak on Scottish soil to six matches
New Zealand-born fly-half Kelly Haimona kicked 14 points to inspire Italy to a hard-fought 24-13 rugby victory over Samoa as the Azzurri ended a nine-match string of defeats in Ascoli on Saturday (Sunday NZT).
Haimona was making his full Azzurri debut after being called up for the November Tests two weeks ago alongside Fijian Samuela Vunisa.
And the Zebre fly-half proved a useful addition to Jacques Brunel's stuttering side as they look to put a disastrous Six Nations and summer tour of the South Pacific behind them
Sth Africa was controversially duped against Ireland. Down 16-10 in the 67th minute, they had a player unfairly sin binned for an apparent late tackle. A very dusty decision!
New Zealand should win the World Cup from here but England, Ireland, Wales, France and South Africa would be my sides that could challenge for the Cup
Don't know how you can possibly include Wales as a challenger and not Australia.
Also don't think it's right to say NZ should win. I think it's going to be the most open tournament in history. Don't think NZ stand out as much as they did a year ago, or in 2011.
Some very tight games overnight.
Only watched the last 15 of the AB v Scotland game and couldn't believe what I was watching. Obviously a great effort by the Scots.
Because Wales are a different beast in competitive matches than in bound Tour matches.
Plus who know where Australian Rugby will be in 10 months time when they lose to New Zealand AGAIN and struggle to beat South Africa at Home AGAIN. End of the day Australia and Wales have to go though New Zealand in a Quarter Final if they get that far. Its really a battle to be the All Blacks doormat.
Yes, NZ have lost only twice since the 2011 World Cup and they don't stand out...thats a new level of wishful thinking right there. Yes it will be open and England/South Africa have great chances to go all the way. But lets not kid anyone that at the moment its the All Blacks = Daylight = England/South Africa = Daylight = Ireland/France/Wales = Daylight = Australia/Argentina/Italy/Scotland
Australia can jump up a rung in the next 10 months, but they aren't going to win the World Cup and the field won't change much unless certain injuries take place
End of the day Australia and Wales have to go though New Zealand in a Quarter Final if they get that far.
Actually the 2nd place getter in pool A will likely play South Africa in the quarters and, if they win that, New Zealand in the semis.
The winner of pool A (I assume you think that will be England, but that is clearly no certainty) will likely play Samoa or Scotland in the quarters and any of France, Ireland or Argentina in the semis.
Wales haven't beaten Australia in their last 10 matches. And just lost to us again despite all the recent turmoil and change. Yet somehow you think Wales are a challenger and not Australia. Please. By the world cup the Wallabies will be much better than they are right now. Wales might be better too, but the Wallabies have so much more upside. Wales are a very settled team in comparison.
New Zealand look a little vulnerable to me. A lot of their key players are past their peak and their 2nd string was very close to losing to Scotland. And Scotland didn't even play that well. Certainly not as well as they did in patches against Argentina last weekend. I don't think the AB's have any significant improvement in them while all the other top sides do. Sure, they'll probably be favourites, but I think their recent matches show there's no longer daylight between them and everyone else.
Those two can we know but who else, France traditionally do at the World Cup and could meet them in a QF or Ireland who had them beaten last year only to choke. Wales, Scotland and Argentina couldn't at a World Cup. Australia could I would grant that.
Wales are so settled that George North was played in the Centre vs Australia and they picked their Backup Scrum Half and had their best Prop out and the other starting off the bench. Yep settled. As for Australia's turmoil and change, that's nothing compared to Wales battles with the regions.