Wales to get a semi

Back in August 2007 i joined the original 606,my first article i published was on how Wales will not get out of the group,
i got shot down by my fellow country men for my comments and surprisingly got a lot of agreement off the English contingent.
Any how to my pain i was right.
Now four years on i am going to put my neck out again and im backing Wales to equal their all time best and reach the semis and win the third place play off.

My optimistic yes its optimism because how can you argue an event that hasn't happened yet?
is based on Wales finally having a back bone, Wales have finally show what has always been a missing ingredient some real dog and desire to push for the cause,We have had a good pack for a while now and have backs to finish the job but the mental frailty was always evident all teams had to do was just squeeze us and rush us then we made mistakes and they lived of them, not anymore.

COME WALES.

Best. Thread Title. Ever.

Hehe, i know always wondered why no one ever caught on to any semi jokes for the National squad and regions so many Viagra jokes to be had.

Lol, I hope Wales do well, but I will be happy just to get out of the group.

I have to say, Wales are looking better now than at any point since '08. Their scrum is good. Their young backrowers look better than what went before. Especially Warburton. I'm certain he'll be a Lion and a great captain in the future. I personally think that for now, he's probably to young and inexperienced to be as effective a captain as the likes of O'Driscoll and McCaw. The raw materials are there in the backs to be very dangerous if the coaches can get it out of them.

I don't know about third place though. Like Ireland, that would require a win over South Africa or Australia. Wales also have the added difficulty of having Samoa and Fiji in the group. I expect them to qualify, but it's hard to see them coming out of that pool unscathed. I think a good showing, but a quarter final exit is most likely for Wales. A post World Cup Six Nations Championship could be on the cards though, because England and Ireland aren't exactly out of this world. And the French could go into experiment mode in the year after the World Cup..

That's phase one admittedly AlynDavies, but i think we will progress from the group after a controlled and mature game plan will be executed,Gatland would start dropping players if they lose to Samoa he just wouldn't stand for it,but lets be realistic Fiji scrapped a draw against a very poor Welsh team last year and lets not forget how mush Dan Biggar destroyed our score line, also a pretty weak Welsh team beat Samoa,
When we have the likes of Warburton ,Lydiate,Phillips,Hook,Roberts,north and Shane in the team we should be more than confident to back Wales comfortably winning. BELIEVE.

For Wales to reach the semis they surely will have to beat at least one of S Africa and Australia and that's hard to imagine. But if they get out of the Group playing well, anything could happen in a one off game.

Anything is possible if and it's a big if that we remain injury free and our opponents are not so fortunate.

Spot on, Cymroglan. Ireland look to be on an irreversible downer, BOD or no BOD, and Scotland may not have the oomph to get beyond the quarters at best. But if both England and Wales go well in their respective groups then play to the best levels they have reached in patches these past few months against under par opponents, we could see two NH sides in the semis.

On the other hand, I fear it's just as likely we'll see a last 4 of the Tri-Nations plus France.

also think of the welsh group as survival of the fittest, the fittest and toughest players make it through leaving the unhealthy players behind, this allows wales to bring in the reinforcements from home and hammer aus with a frightingly awesome display from the welsh young guns and yeh. BELIEVE?????????????????????

Yep i think injuries would really hurt Wales campaign far more than it would hurt England or France.

Wales, get to the semi's, my God man, what are you on? sober up and lets have less of these 'flights of fancy' !! Remember, its Wales we're talking about, not England, or France, so sober up because the World cups just down the road and a Welsh humiliation by Samoa, or Fiji is imminant.

So get those tissues in, have a Bereavement councillor on speed dial, and ( Gulp) try to enjoy the competition, especially when England do better (again) than anybody expects. So while optimism is a good quality, self- delusion is not. So enjoy those Welsh group matches, because thats all you are getting!!

Can i borrow your crystal ball english warrior? So your backing England is okay but my backing Wales is delusional? it sounds like your pretty messed in the head pal,
since the last world cup Wales have won a grandslam something which England failed to do Wales have beat the Aussie just like England infact we could strike a lot of similarity's between the way England and Wales have preformed from the last world cup,

Then we look at Ireland and Scotland they have beat the world champs since the last world cup! they to can draw optimism.

But for you to act like England will do better than all the NH because they made the last final in no different to someone winning the lottery and then claiming they are going to win it next week.
Its all speculative buls**t based on facts that suit your argument.

So have a good world cup.

Nice posts from Feckless and SOS, generous and encouraging for us welsh - its appreciated

you were beaten to it by the BBC who had an article entitled "England women face massive semi" about 6 months ago
Missed the bus again view

But yet, will a Semi be good enough?

What about full blown all the way? Anything less is like kissing your sister.

There will be lots of semi's in Wales at the thought of that prediction view!
I've always said. Its a knockout tourney. Anyone can win it.

I missed that headline sebiscuit

Great headline. If Wales's D holds up as well as did against England the other day and they cut out the kickable penalties or at least reduce them then I can see them getting through their group. Once they have done that, who knows? Its a tough group and will leave the team battle hardened as it were. My concern re Wales is that they need to avoid injuries as the strength in depth is not great. Good luck Wales. I actuallyy hope they do get a semi this world cup. It wont be pretty and to achieve it they need to ensure that they dont leak





soft tries.

If Wales's D holds up as well as did against England the other day

Yes, but how many times will they be facing a back line that was as toothless in attack as a hens beak?

valid, my point was more to do with the kickable pens issue. England were useless in attack that day, but they still went for the corner on several occassions rather than hitting 3 pointers.
Anyway, we will see shortly how they, and everyone else gets on. I can see Wales making a QF at least

On his day Shane Williams could inspire the welsh to a semi.
If the defence then holds up they could get something evern more impressive and even go all the way

I can see Wales making a QF at least

I certainly hope so, would be really chuffed for them. Of course, if this happens - and they get further than England, a certain minority will make this site quite odious - a small price to pay I would say, as 98% of the Welsh supporters are on the whole (93% of the time to be exact) reasonable chaps.

Of course I'm geographically advantaged as there are not may Welsh up in these here parts (coal/steel industry defunct and lotsa sheep as well - so why would they bother to come here - they've got all that on their doorstep) so I won't have to put up with triumphant banter. God help me if the Scots do well though....................



(All statistics used in this response are totally fictitious and were employed as 'dramatic effect')

Quote

"I certainly hope so, would be really chuffed for them. Of course, if this happens - and they get further than England, a certain minority will make this site quite odious - a small price to pay I would say, as 98% of the Welsh supporters are on the whole (93% of the time to be exact) reasonable chaps. "

Unlike those lovely english chaps of course who will be generous to the welsh if they go out in the group stages and will only pay a mild cursory attention on 606 if they get to the semis

Unlike those lovely english chaps of course who will be generous to the welsh if they go out in the group stages and will only pay a mild cursory attention on 606 if they get to the semis

Exactly!

Bring on the World cup i can't wait, the Welsh squad fly out today,i really hope they do themselves justice.
Here's to a good world cup for all teams

Up for that one as the likely Welsh semi is on my birthday which could be good news for me (and Mrs Pontylad).

Mrs PontyLad - I like that one
Come on Walesssssssssssssssssssssssssss

viewtothegym wrote:Back in August 2007 i joined the original 606,my first article i published was on how Wales will not get out of the group,
i got shot down by my fellow country men for my comments and surprisingly got a lot of agreement off the English contingent.
Any how to my pain i was right.
Now four years on i am going to put my neck out again and im backing Wales to equal their all time best and reach the semis and win the third place play off.

My optimistic yes its optimism because how can you argue an event that hasn't happened yet?
is based on Wales finally having a back bone, Wales have finally show what has always been a missing ingredient some real dog and desire to push for the cause,We have had a good pack for a while now and have backs to finish the job but the mental frailty was always evident all teams had to do was just squeeze us and rush us then we made mistakes and they lived of them, not anymore.

COME WALES.

Wales in a semi, What are you on?


COME WALES, Opps too late, has anyone got a tissue?

Don't sweat it HESHE you will get all the you need from the consistently average BathRFC if your lucky this season you might win some home games.

Its just Bath Rugby nowadays

But I fear you're right, the fat lady is once again on standby for this year, but our time will come.

We'll be the most successful team in Europe over the next 10 years. you heard it here 1st

HERSH wrote:
We'll be the most successful team in Europe over the next 10 years. you heard it here 1st

Actually I heard it on the old 606 first...

Wales or Samoa to reach the semi's. You heard it here 1st

Nothing wrong with being optimistic, but I see Wales going out at the group stages again. Can't see them beating both Samoa and Fiji.

I really don't know how to say this nicely, so i won't even try! Lets just say that Wales are NOT going to the semi's and will be lucky to get out of their group, because what they are at the world cup for, is to Make up the numbers, nothing more, and nothing else, so all those plucky little 'Principality' supporters should bite the bullet and book their flights home, immediately after the pool games have been completed.

There, its not pleasant to be the bearer of bad news, but i feel that its almost my civic and humanitarian duty to burst your bubble. Enjoy the world cup while you can and then switch to supportimg a NH team that can, namely France or England. You know it makes sense!!

englishwarrior didn't this plucky little principality just beat England?

Viewtothegym- Yes, of course they beat an England 15, and deservedly so but if we are talking world cups and pedigree, then England are the cruft contenders, while Wales are strays, sorry about the analogy, but its the truth, and deep, deep down you 'Principalityites' know its the truth.
England have won the darn thing and been in 2 other finals. Right, your go

english warrior wrote:Viewtothegym- Yes, of course they beat an England 15, and deservedly so but if we are talking world cups and pedigree, then England are the cruft contenders, while Wales are strays, sorry about the analogy, but its the truth, and deep, deep down you 'Principalityites' know its the truth.
England have won the darn thing and been in 2 other finals. Right, your go

I'll have a go - Ireland just lost to a team they had beaten on the past 7 out of 8 meetings which goes to show that every dog has its day on occasion. Wales beat the strongest English side 2 weeks ago with a 3rd string front row. Pedigree counts for nothing as Ireland just illustrated. We sometimes wonder where arrogance comes from but you're serving it up in bucket loads and perpetuating that stereotype. Good luck v Argentina and lets hope its better than your Grand Slam effort.

Well said RubyGuby

Ruby guby Yes, our GS effort was lacking a little but over the last 20 years no- country from these Brititsh isles has won as many as us, not Wales and certainly not Ireland who have only won a GS once in 62 years, so that comes across as really hollow.

But back to the World cup, and lets look at the relative efforts of all the Home countries since 1987 and combined Wales, Scotland and Ireland have 1 semi- final in 87 to brag about, while England have won the Cup and been in 2 other finals and semi's, so i ask you, who is more likely to do well. Actually don't bother, just revel in your combined mediocrity. Bye!!

Bye!! You remind me of one of those fellas who swears at someone as they're driving off at high speed - Bye my ass - You enjoy your rugby mighty warrior and just pay attention to those past results that make you feel better. Shame about that GS though, I thought you were odds on for it with the DVD and all that

Ruby -I'm driving off ? in your dreams, like a GS every half century or so.

Look you people from the Celtic fringes just can't handle our victory's, and after abbout 800 years of rule by England i think i can understand why. Its jelousy combined with envy. Well, i agree, you've got a lot to be envious of.

By the way no need to thank England for your loans! Bye, for now!!

That would be jealousy with the "a" yeah!

Ruby- I stand well corrected, but in my defence you have had a lot of experience with the sentiment and the word, especially with regard to England!!

Anyways - back to those loans - how much you got for me

Ruby- You've had enough loans, and even someone as wealthy, and stinking rich as me has to draw the line somewhere, and that somewhere is you. Now get a job, and start paying back that loan ASAP!! Theres a good chap, or we might have to sort you out YET again!

Come on just a few quid - how about 5k over 3 years

english warrior wrote:lets look at the relative efforts of all the Home countries since 1987 and combined Wales, Scotland and Ireland have 1 semi- final in 87 to brag about, while England have won the Cup and been in 2 other finals and semi's, so i ask you, who is more likely to do well.

Dear me, do you genuinely believe that past performances at World Cups will dictate how teams will fare at this one?

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Dear me, do you genuinely believe that past performances at World Cups will dictate how teams will fare at this one?

To an extent this may be true. England have done very well in the last two world cups, so there isnt a huge amount of pressure on the team from the public. A quarter final exit to France or Semi Final exist to Australia(Most likely teams) would not be end of the world as these are decent teams. An tbh I think France or Australia are probably due abit of world cup revenge on England as we've always been the team to knock them out of the last two world cups.

Unlike teams such as NZ, Ireland and Wales who performed well below expectations in their last world cup outings. Their fans really demand results!