Comments on: Rugby World Cup 2007 quarter-final predictions

By: Vic

Vic — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:02:04 +0000

Well, I don’t hear anyone talking much about the 2007 RWC these days except for you.

The last comment on this article was October 2007!

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:26:00 +0000

Who cares about The Rugby World Cup 2007 anymore! The Overrated, overhyped All Blacks were dicked by France in a second half performance to go down in history. France 173 tackles and although the All Blacks were in the French 22 for 11 minutes they didn’t think of a drop kick, anything a NZ school boy can put over from 22 metres. But the French fought them off and I LOVE FRANCE for dicking The All Blacks! Thank you and to NZ and four more long years with the wrong coach!

[Edited by moderator]

By: Ernest

Ernest — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:00:44 +0000

Well, the AB’s have done it again. I think I speek for all when I say that they might be the no. 1 team in the world, however, when the are bombarded with good defense, they fail to assert their gameplay.

As a South-African, I must admit that the scoreline today does indeed flatter. Luckily the team has shown some great spirit to keep it together in the last 20 minutes. Fiji were just not strong enough upfront.

By: Phil C

Phil C — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:42:51 +0000

What was that about Austrailia being superior? I think all through the tournament we havn’t really played with any determination at all. How things changed Saturday, they fought like their life depended on that game. Well done England…….oh and to France

By: Vic

Vic — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 05:27:35 +0000

I think Michalak just proved his worth by slicing up New Zealand like butter in today’s quarter final.

By: Vic

Vic — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:15:11 +0000

I have RSA taking NWZ, but we’ll see what the QFs look like. I still think FJI are going to get destroyed.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:15:47 +0000

oops, formatting has been stripped out.

Winners of Quarter-Finals:
Aus, NZ, SA, Arg.

Winners of Semi’s:
NZ, SA

RWC Winner:
NZ

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:12:47 +0000

My prediction

Aus–|
|—-NZ–|
NZ—| |
|——–SA
SA—| |
|—-SA–|
ARG–|

I disagree with your post and comments here about the FJ-SA match though. Fiji are likely to lose, but will bow out within 10 points of SA. Had Nicky L not been injured, I would be backing Fiji to win.

By: Josh Houston

Josh Houston — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:59:39 +0000

I know Chabal isn’t starting, but he’ll get in the match.

I see your point Yue about Michalak. With a team like the AB’s, you really do need to throw whatever you can at them.

By: yue-houng

yue-houng — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:16:07 +0000

It’s true, I’m a Michalak fan. I don’t think there’s another player out there right now that is nearly as fun to watch as him when he’s playing well (even when he’s bad, at least he’s trying to do something creative).

NZ seems to have two issues. Against well organized defenses, they seem to get impatient. This has lead to losses against SA and Aus.

The other is of the lineout, which statistically has been one of the best in the RWC. Although, in general, their competition has been suspect, Scotland usually has a very solid lineout and should have tested their quality.

France does not match up well in either respect. Their defense is nothing amazing (especially now that they’re playing Traille out of position at 15), and their lineout is not going to steal them a lot of ball. Their aging, but still effective pack will probably not be enough to disturb the ABs. That’s why, I figure, you gamble it all on Michalak having one of his “I can’t believe he pulled that off” kind of matches.