[retired_musiclova31]

Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Scatter:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Scatter:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
an on-form NZ side still comfortably better/more dangerous than your lot on-form tbf

while i won't argue about them being a better side, let's ease up on the comfortably bit shall we? our bacjkline a match for any in the world. they're a stronger side than we are because their forwards are vastly superior.

our scrum and line-outs have been a bit rubbish for years. </BLOCKQUOTE>
hence why if both sides were at the top of their game, it'd be an NZ win every time. not rocket science here bud. </BLOCKQUOTE>
i didn't say we'd win it, i said we'd be a threat - especially as the kiwis have a rather nasty habit of choking at this tournament.

not exactly rocket science either </BLOCKQUOTE>
you didn't merely say you'd be a threat, you said that you'd be 'as dangerous as any side'. if every side is on-form, i simply don't think that's at all true.

this could go on all day :cool: </BLOCKQUOTE>
ummm....

Originally posted by Scatter:
i think if we can do the welsh in some style in cardiff we might get a bit of a roll on here and be a real threat.

:cool:

and if you're going to concede the point that our backline is as good as any in the world, then if our forwards stand up to whoever we're playing, we're as dangerous as anyone.

i'll take your apology on the back of a glazer banknote.

[retired_musiclova31]

Originally posted by LCFCtillidie:
I would also be really up for seeing the Argies in the 6 nations.

i've seen this mentioned couple of times in this thread - the argies should really be added to the tri-nations tbh. and they should have a team in the super 14 as well.

[retired_slayerbing]

Originally posted by theis:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Dayle Wood:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Scatter:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Dayle Wood:
All blacks a little sloppy at the end

when you're eleventy billion points ahead, i think you can be forgiven for taking the foot off the gas.

very impressed with the baa-baas. italy aren't really THAT poor a side, yet the kiwis made them look distinctly amateur without ever really leaving second gear.

also quietly impressed with us as well despite the calibre of the opponent. i think if we can do the welsh in some style in cardiff we might get a bit of a roll on here and be a real threat.

for all everyone keeps harping on about the All Blacks, we're as dangerous as any side in the world when on form. just that us being in form happens so rarely these days... </BLOCKQUOTE>

The media here in New Zealand are wondering if there is a bit of a gulf between the likes of New Zealand and the 6 nations sides.

They are basing that on the fact that Italy beat a couple of sides in the 6 nations this year (Scotland and someone else) and how emphatically we walked over Italy.
Also to add to that the poor performances by the big northern sides France and England. </BLOCKQUOTE>

i think thats a tad harsh. Firstly Italy are a good team but they are inconsistent. They will have 50 points shipped past them one game and then beat an established big team the next. Secondly the two teams they beat were Scotland and Wales. Wales are a shambles and Scotland are hardly amazing.

I would agree though that at the moment the southern hemisphere teams are of a better quality than the northern hemisphere teams. Ireland's build up and campaign has been terrible, after showing so much promise in the 6 nations it looks as though they could be out before the quarters. Especially as France are probably going to turn up big style in their game. And I would back the argies to top that group now.

France are a good team who got beaten by an extremely strong Argentina. England are diabolical and as I said before Wales and Scotland are hardly great.

The southern hemisphere however have the all blacks who are just awesome, the springboks who appear to have timed their preparation for the world cup to perfection, the who are lacking a good pack and the argies who I'm a big fan of.

IMO there are only two 6 nations teams capable of competing with the southern hemisphere teams and they are France and Ireland. And one of those is woefully out of form.

Incidently you really should let Argentina join the tri nations. They are definitly good enough. </BLOCKQUOTE>I think its a bit harsh too, but thats how the media percieve it here.

England won't win the worlkd cup. They are 4 years past their use by date. I think the French are the only northern hemisphere team capable of winning it, in their back yard after all, and I think they will come good after their shocking start.

The downside is if they don't top their group we may have to play them in the quarter final. Working against New Zealand is the fact that building up to the quarterfinal we have virtually no one of note that will test us and that worries me. We need a test so we don't go into soft at the business end of the tournement.

[triathlontrain]

new zealand to choke please :cool:

[retired_derek]

Originally posted by Scatter:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by LCFCtillidie:
I would also be really up for seeing the Argies in the 6 nations.

i've seen this mentioned couple of times in this thread - the argies should really be added to the tri-nations tbh. and they should have a team in the super 14 as well. </BLOCKQUOTE>


The main reason it's argued about playing in the six nations is because of the amount of Argentinian players playing in Europe. It would make sense from that point of view for them to set themselves up in Spain for the competition.

I however, think it would be better to have them play in the Tri-Nations. Would ideally like them to look at aligning the Calendars in Some Way that allows the players to still get a break and play in the international competitions and for their Teams in those competitions too.

Rugby at the moment really does need to completely re-evaluate itself if it wants to further progress and develop.

[retired_olechka]

Ireland lucky to have their world cup warm-up matches during the world cup.

[runronnirun]

Originally posted by Scatter:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Scatter:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Scatter:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Nick OGS20:
an on-form NZ side still comfortably better/more dangerous than your lot on-form tbf

while i won't argue about them being a better side, let's ease up on the comfortably bit shall we? our bacjkline a match for any in the world. they're a stronger side than we are because their forwards are vastly superior.

our scrum and line-outs have been a bit rubbish for years. </BLOCKQUOTE>
hence why if both sides were at the top of their game, it'd be an NZ win every time. not rocket science here bud. </BLOCKQUOTE>
i didn't say we'd win it, i said we'd be a threat - especially as the kiwis have a rather nasty habit of choking at this tournament.

not exactly rocket science either </BLOCKQUOTE>
you didn't merely say you'd be a threat, you said that you'd be 'as dangerous as any side'. if every side is on-form, i simply don't think that's at all true.

this could go on all day :cool: </BLOCKQUOTE>
ummm....

Originally posted by Scatter:
i think if we can do the welsh in some style in cardiff we might get a bit of a roll on here and be a real threat.

:cool:

and if you're going to concede the point that our backline is as good as any in the world, then if our forwards stand up to whoever we're playing, we're as dangerous as anyone.

i'll take your apology on the back of a glazer banknote. </BLOCKQUOTE>

eh?

i was clearly going off the 'if we're on form, we're as dangerous as any side' post. bringing another random and irrelevant post into it is a bit cheeky. and i haven't conceded the point your backline is as good as any in the world either

you're dealing almost entirely in 'ifs'. saying "if our forwards stand up to whoever we're playing, we're as dangerous as anyone" is pretty similar to a Spurs fan saying they'd be as good as any of the top 4 if Robinson and their back four stepped up. fact is, and we'll use NZ as the example here, their forwards are better than yours. if both teams are on-form, your forwards won't stand up to whoever they're playing, so your points null and void.

your lot are a clear threat on their day (and/or if opponents are below par), but they're not 'as dangerous as anyone'.

this is a brilliantly pointless argument btw :cool:

[retired_slayerbing]

The only teams capable of making the All Blacks 'choke' this year are Australia, South Africa and maybe France if they pull finger and start playing some good rugby.

New Zealand have approached this world cup in a unique way through their reconditioning system and it is going to pay dividends this year.

Graham Henry is a far better tactition than John Mitchell was and he has some awesome people around him nurturing a closeknit squad. This was not the case 4 years ago.

New Zealand SHOULD win this world Cup and I'm not being biased because I'm a kiwi. They are in better form and shape and the only place we MAY have a weakness is depth in locks but even then we have Ali Williams and Chris Jack able to start who are two of thebest.

[retired_olechka]

well if you think France can, then surely Ireland can, no? We had them all but beaten in our last match only for a last minute mistake.

Although, if we play anything like the our opener again we'll get beat by Georgia.

[retired_slayerbing]

Yeah I think Ireland need to raise their game in a big way before thinking about beating the All Blacks.

I think Scotland could even beat them at the moment!