The Kiwis aren't going to win

[tay]

I wouldn't be surprised. The Kiwis normally peak between tournaments, then fade during them.

A myth given life by NH hacks and belived by ignorant jonny come lately fans. I am surprised you didnt mention poaching of players.....

[DodgyAgent]

A myth given life by NH hacks and belived by ignorant jonny come lately fans. I am surprised you didnt mention poaching of players.....

The kiwis have to beat australia and/or South Africa to win, both sides are quite capable of beating the All Blacks. The rest forget it.

[tay]

The kiwis have to beat australia and/or South Africa to win, both sides are quite capable of beating the All Blacks. The rest forget it.

Agreed. NZ are not gurantreed a win. But a lot of tripe being spouted about peaking between World Cups... 1998 they lost every single 3N game they played..

2000 and 2001 and were filled with Aus dominating the Bledisloe cup fixtures...

[rootsnall]

The kiwis have to beat australia and/or South Africa to win, both sides are quite capable of beating the All Blacks. The rest forget it.

England could beat them if they have at least two sent off in the first 5 minutes, there is driving rain and King Johnnie kicks everything in sight.

Agree with the NZ favs comments, England were favs last time even though they had peaked a year or so before that and were sliding downhill quite quickly and haven't bottomed yet. Nobody was much good in 99, NZ did blow it in 95, 91 they were beaten by Oz who had a handful of top top class players with decent players elsewhere.

[DodgyAgent]

England could beat them if they have at least two sent off in the first 5 minutes, there is driving rain and King Johnnie kicks everything in sight.

Agree with the NZ favs comments, England were favs last time even though they had peaked a year or so before that and were sliding downhill quite quickly and haven't bottomed yet. Nobody was much good in 99, NZ did blow it in 95, 91 they were beaten by Oz who had a handful of top top class players with decent players elsewhere.

Much as I would love England to win there is not a cat in hell's chance of them doing so. It would also be bad for rugby if they won unless their style changed overnight (which it wont). They are slow and have no penetration. They have no Tindall to organise a decent defence against the fabulous aussie backs, and they have no creative centres of their own. The only chance against Australia is if they can squeeze the life out of the ozzie front row who will in any case cheat to gain some sort of parity in the one area in which they are weak.

The best that they can do is play a side for the future which would have to include Rees, Moody and Worsley in the back row, Flood at inside centre and Hipkiss at outside and Tait on the wing

[oracleslave]

Much as I would love England to win there is not a cat in hell's chance of them doing so. It would also be bad for rugby if they won unless their style changed overnight (which it wont). They are slow and have no penetration. They have no Tindall to organise a decent defence against the fabulous aussie backs, and they have no creative centres of their own. The only chance against Australia is if they can squeeze the life out of the ozzie front row who will in any case cheat to gain some sort of parity in the one area in which they are weak.

The best that they can do is play a side for the future which would have to include Rees, Moody and Worsley in the back row, Flood at inside centre and Hipkiss at outside and Tait on the wing

I agree that England have no chance of winning the tournament. However if there is one top side that they have the beating of it is the Aussies in my opinion as they do stack up well against them, particularly if the weather is not great and the forwards dominate.

[Ruprect]

I agree that England have no chance of winning the tournament. However if there is one top side that they have the beating of it is the Aussies in my opinion as they do stack up well against them, particularly if the weather is not great and the forwards dominate.

Wishful thinking, but I'll go with it.

[sasguru]

Let's hope it pisses down next w/e

[DodgyAgent]

I agree that England have no chance of winning the tournament. However if there is one top side that they have the beating of it is the Aussies in my opinion as they do stack up well against them, particularly if the weather is not great and the forwards dominate.

I have already started the rain dance

[DS23]

there were a couple of purple patch moments against tonga. the forwards started handling the ball with some joy and then farrell got a try - his shoulders visibly lifted! but (and i'd love to be proved wrong) the oz are going to give us a pasting.