Bolded 2- Not necessarily. Australia are more or less a perfect match up for England, i'd be amazed if they lost that. Wales have been very close against Aus of recent and are nearly due a win in a way.
Problem there is Eng v Oz is the 3rd oct, Wales v Oz the 10th. I just think there will be a massive backlash for Wales to face if Australia are coming off a defeat to England
Bolded 3- Think you're fairly writing off SA there! They're a good bit better than Australia for starters
Yeah possibly. I just think once it's into sudden death mode with the home advantage either Wales or England would have the beating of SA. Might be too much wishful thinking mind
Problem there is Eng v Oz is the 3rd oct, Wales v Oz the 10th. I just think there will be a massive backlash for Wales to face if Australia are coming off a defeat to England
Yeah possibly. I just think once it's into sudden death mode with the home advantage either Wales or England would have the beating of SA. Might be too much wishful thinking mind
Perhaps, but I'm just thinking back to 2007 when Ireland should have won 6n and had a miserable world cup
I forgot there's matches in Cardiff, could Wales get a home quarter? That would be a huge advantage alright!
He still gets paid by RTÉ til the World Cup is over. Clever negotiator
Ffs though don't they realise that half the bloody north can't get TV3 anymore and don't want to watch the other channels!
Vast majority of the north (even north of Belfast) can get Saorview over spill from the south... i'd be surprised if you couldn't receive it wherever you are up north.
Team Englands performance against France on Saturday will go down in rugby folklore as one of the most brilliant displays by an international side ever.
The Southern Hemisphere teams will be utterly terrified of facing England and they are definitely favourites to win the World Cup.
I really don't think it will... it will be remembered but not that much I'm afraid as other than a strong victory over the Italians the French have been poor. (also, I've never heard them called "Team England" before).
The thing with Southern Hemisphere teams is that they are NEVER terrified of facing anyone, they all genuinely go into every game thinking they are going to win... they don't put much stock in the 6N, it's only last year the Northern Hemisphere teams gave a reasonable account of themselves during the Autumn Internationals which we all have at home...
NZ will be the strong favourites and rightfully so, they have lost 2 games in 3 years or something ridiculous, and they find a way of getting the win even if they don't play well. South Africa play a very Northern Hemisphere style game, they'll be brutal and front up along with a simple enough group I think they'll punish whoever they play in their Quarter Final.
Australia are a bit of an unknown at present, coaching changes just before their tour last year didn't help, but the Waratahs were class last year and Cheika knows what he's doing... that said, the accepted knowledge in Australia at the minute is that the Tah's will take a step back this year for the greater good of the National team, added in O'Conner looks on fire now he's back playing and Australia are looking good.
I'd put NZ as favourites and then England and South Africa joint second favourites, follwed by Ireland and France.
Strong words from the RFU chief executive saying its "unacceptable" England have come 2nd in the last 4 Six nations tournaments.
Putting the pressure on a bit ahead of the World Cup - mind you they did give Stuart Lancaster a new contract running till 2020 not so long ago...
I think Ritchie was just stating a basic fact, teams want to win trophies. If he'd said 'no it doesn't matter that England haven't won 6 Nations. Second place isn't that bad' RFU would have been attacked for lacking ambition and making excuses for under performing.
The fact RFU have given Lancaster and his team a long term contract, gives them security to continue improving the side. Unless England have a hideous performance at RWC, there's no chance of the management being replaced.
Ritchie is right - there are ultimately no trophies for coming second. England have 1 Triple Crown to show for 4 years of 'learning'. File that under Not Good Enough. And we conceded NINE tries at Twickenham in this 6 Nations alone. so something is wrong somewhere with the defensive system you would surmise. And for the love of God PLEASE move Robshaw to 6 and let's get a genuine [and quick] openside in, we can't afford to be conceding that many turnovers in the World Cup. Or find another captain [who will perhaps take the 3 points on offer, rather than wait for Hartley to eff up the lineout throw?], which is a tall order in a World Cup year. The irony is that if we win the Pool of Death we would in all probability avoid further SH opposition until the Final, but I am now more hopeful than confident about England's progress that far. The only puzzling thing is why Ritchie extended Lancaster's contract to 2020 earlier this year?
I'd say Lancaster is gone if England don't win RWC tbh.
Home advantage is huge factor
I don't think so, for all the posturing the RFU must understand that Lancaster has brought them so far. Let's not forget what a debacle English Rugby was in when he took over, the team is continuing to build, they are still incredibly young and we've been one of the few teams to give SH teams something to think about when they come up here.
That said, if we don't get out of the group I agree, he'll be gone, but I think we'll get to the final and if we do he'll stay in the job. It's all about how England play and no one can deny that they've played some scintillating stuff this season, and we've still got 2 of our best ball carriers out and Manu to come back if there is space for him.
People need to accept that Robshaw isn't going anywhere, top tackler again, his stats continue to speak for him and Armitage isn't happening (unless there is an injury to Robshaw).
Comments
Problem there is Eng v Oz is the 3rd oct, Wales v Oz the 10th. I just think there will be a massive backlash for Wales to face if Australia are coming off a defeat to England
Yeah possibly. I just think once it's into sudden death mode with the home advantage either Wales or England would have the beating of SA. Might be too much wishful thinking mind
Have you met him?
Perhaps, but I'm just thinking back to 2007 when Ireland should have won 6n and had a miserable world cup
I forgot there's matches in Cardiff, could Wales get a home quarter? That would be a huge advantage alright!
Course not but have heard plenty accounts of him, and can judge for myself
Nah, they're for pools C & D - so Ireland's quarter final would be there along with France and versus Argentina & New Zealand
End of an era on Irish television as Tom McGurk and George Hook bow out from rugby on RTÉ.
Isn't George there for the World Cup as well?
Few details I posted (from another thread)
TV3 Ireland offering (outbid RTÉ) - All 48 games, TV3 HD will launch in August
Presenter: Matt Cooper
Lead Commentator: Conor McNamara
Reporter: Sinead Kissane
Studio -
Keith Wood
Shane Jennings
Peter Stringer
Stuart Barnes
Neil Back
Hugo McNeill
Matt Williams
Murray Kinsella
Liam Toland
Ffs though don't they realise that half the bloody north can't get TV3 anymore and don't want to watch the other channels!
Check your location here - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/
And it's not available on Sky. And I live 5 miles from the border.
i wouldn't be so complacent, england are in the group of death with wales and australia..they could easily fall at the first hurdle
That's rubbish if that's the case
I have, in The Sun Inn, Richmond Upon Thames. That's a real rugby pub and is Jason Leonards local too.
Brian is fine, a nice guy.
It is but a good part of the north never had that channel to begin with then a load lost it in the switchover.
I really don't think it will... it will be remembered but not that much I'm afraid as other than a strong victory over the Italians the French have been poor. (also, I've never heard them called "Team England" before).
The thing with Southern Hemisphere teams is that they are NEVER terrified of facing anyone, they all genuinely go into every game thinking they are going to win... they don't put much stock in the 6N, it's only last year the Northern Hemisphere teams gave a reasonable account of themselves during the Autumn Internationals which we all have at home...
NZ will be the strong favourites and rightfully so, they have lost 2 games in 3 years or something ridiculous, and they find a way of getting the win even if they don't play well. South Africa play a very Northern Hemisphere style game, they'll be brutal and front up along with a simple enough group I think they'll punish whoever they play in their Quarter Final.
Australia are a bit of an unknown at present, coaching changes just before their tour last year didn't help, but the Waratahs were class last year and Cheika knows what he's doing... that said, the accepted knowledge in Australia at the minute is that the Tah's will take a step back this year for the greater good of the National team, added in O'Conner looks on fire now he's back playing and Australia are looking good.
I'd put NZ as favourites and then England and South Africa joint second favourites, follwed by Ireland and France.
Putting the pressure on a bit ahead of the World Cup - mind you they did give Stuart Lancaster a new contract running till 2020 not so long ago...
I think Ritchie was just stating a basic fact, teams want to win trophies. If he'd said 'no it doesn't matter that England haven't won 6 Nations. Second place isn't that bad' RFU would have been attacked for lacking ambition and making excuses for under performing.
The fact RFU have given Lancaster and his team a long term contract, gives them security to continue improving the side. Unless England have a hideous performance at RWC, there's no chance of the management being replaced.
A refreshing attitude maybe compared to the footballers and cricketers who almost have their excuses lined up before they even start losing.
Home advantage is huge factor
Seen a few complaints about players not included in the player of the tournament on the website, namely the omissions of Warburton and Halfpenny.
I don't think so, for all the posturing the RFU must understand that Lancaster has brought them so far. Let's not forget what a debacle English Rugby was in when he took over, the team is continuing to build, they are still incredibly young and we've been one of the few teams to give SH teams something to think about when they come up here.
That said, if we don't get out of the group I agree, he'll be gone, but I think we'll get to the final and if we do he'll stay in the job. It's all about how England play and no one can deny that they've played some scintillating stuff this season, and we've still got 2 of our best ball carriers out and Manu to come back if there is space for him.
People need to accept that Robshaw isn't going anywhere, top tackler again, his stats continue to speak for him and Armitage isn't happening (unless there is an injury to Robshaw).