World Cup Quarter Finals

First topic message reminder :

So, as the dust settles on the pool stages, we have the NH/SH divide in the knockout stage that became a possibility after Ireland took the wind out of the Wallabies sails at Eden Park.

Quarter Finals

Ireland vs. Wales
England vs. France

South Africa vs. Australia
New Zealand vs. Argentina

Pre tournament, New Zealand were overwhleming favourites, and although they are still likely to be so with the bookies, their chances have been dealt a significant blow with the loss of Dan Carter from hereon in. Tri Nations champions Australia also have injury problems, and look as if they could be vulnerable if teams set out their stall against them, and South Africa will miss the impetus that Frans Steyn had given them as he also heads home through injury. Argentina complete the Southern Hemisphere contingent, although they too have injury issues having lost Gonzalo Tiesi in their first pool match, and talisman Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe after the Scotland match.

In the Northern half of the draw, France look all at sea, with a player rebellion brewing, and Lievremont with no idea of his best XV, whilst England have lacked a real cutting edge against the better sides and are dogged by off field incidents. Wales, having narrowly lost to South Africa first up are looking good, and are hopeful of having their injured players back soon, and Ireland have looked assured in disposing of all in their path and have no significant concerns on the injury front.

I don't know what the bookies odds are, but the Northern Hemisphere half of the draw looks more difficult to call than the Southern one.

For what it is worth, I fancy Wales to stop Ireland in their tracks. In Sam Warburton and Rhys Priestland they have two players who have really come of age in this tournament, and in key positions. I can just see them getting the better fo the breakdown, and getting enough decent ball to cause Ireland problems.

England vs. France is also difficult to call. Neither have been at their best, yet both are eminently capable of pulling out a big performance. England will need to be more disciplined, and France will need to be, well French, and play with the Galiic abandon that we know they can. Personally, I think England will wear them down, and set up a clash with the old enemy from across the Severn Bridge in the semi finals.

In the Southern half, I have to go with the Boks, despite tipping Australia before the compeition began. They are so strong defensively, and I can see them wearing down the Aussies and not allowing them to impose their attacking intent on the game. In the final game, despite missing Carter, I expect the AB's to have far to much for a valiant Argentinian side, and they will cruise through to a semi final place.

That's my thoughts on the quarter finals people, what are yours?

No, I mean golden score. Could be a try, which is not a goal

it won't go to extra time.

i was talking to gibson you posted inbetween.

He was talking about extra time in football

what about a pen shoot out(i hate it in footy being english~)

but its great drama all the same!

kicking from different areas on the pitch- nice

Four games with most of them likely to be tight at this stage of play. A draw after 80 min is a possibility.

mystiroakey wrote:what about a pen shoot out(i hate it in footy being english~)

but its great drama all the same!

kicking from different areas on the pitch- nice

FFS

Im sure that after extra time it goes to penalties taken along the 22

i have put a little wager on a welsh irish draw

oh it does go pens- nice- horrid if your involved- great for a neautral

mystiroakey wrote:oh it does go pens- nice- horrid if your involved- great for a neautral

just copied this off of the RWC website

Knockout Matches

For quarter-finals, semi-finals, Bronze Final and the Final, if teams are tied at fulltime, then the winner shall be determined through the following sequential criteria;


1.Extra time - following an interval of 5 minutes, extra time of 10 minutes each way (with an interval of 5 minutes) shall be played in full;
2.Sudden death - if the scores are tied at the conclusion of extra time, and following an interval of 5 minutes, then a further extra time of 10 minutes maximum shall be played.
3.During this period the first team to score any points shall be declared the winner (sudden death);
4.Kicking competition - if after this sudden death period no winner can be declared, a kicking competition will be organised between the two teams. The winner of that competition shall be declared the winner of the match


Cant see it going as far as penalties , it would be exciting though

No I think it would be very unfair if it was decided on penalties one man would be held responsible for the loss.
Better option in my book is after extra time they start taking players off the field to create more space.

A draw is a great shout, I reckon it'll be the game of the tournament.

I can see Mike Ross kicking over the winning penalty on Saturday morning now...................beautiful

Are you mad Mrs? Cian Healy to show ROG & Sexton how its done. Its a cert.

It's MR., Gibbo

Think Healy already showed them how it's done to be fair. Did he not kick it down to the Italian 22 on the weekend? Hero...it's all about Mike Ross come the penalty shoot out though! ROG will be retiring soon enough and Ross has been eyeing up that FH slot back home in Munster for a long time. He won't miss an opportunity to cement that place. It's a cert...

Typical Ireland, playing for penalties.

caoimhincentre wrote:i am glad that everyone has recognised wales good form losing to SA, Scrapping past Samao who had a 5 turn around and hammering a Fiji team that defended like 5 years olds.

The wales hype machine of 606 is back

You might want to read what the Welsh camp are saying before you make assumptions:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/15145830.stm

If you're surprised that some Welsh posters are claiming we're the best side in the tournament after a few good games, I have to assume you're also surprised that the sun rises every morning.

It was late this morning

Yes, well it stayed up past its bedtime yesterday. On the pop.

Is it related to the England team then?

Almost certainly.

I always though Ashton was a little ray of sunshine.

On Sportguru I put:

Ireland (I did that assuming The Cari Curse will mean a Welsh win. Usually whoever I pick to win, loses).
France.
Australia.
New Zealand.

All of them will be wins by few points though, no drubbings.

I haven't picked yet, but I'm likely to go for Wales, England, South Africa and New Zealand. I might try all the possible victors just to see if Sportguru tells me certain results would be an upset, like it has before.

Cari wrote:On Sportguru I put:

Ireland (I did that assuming The Cari Curse will mean a Welsh win. Usually whoever I pick to win, loses).

Well pick Wales then FFS!

Ireland - Wales score will be 10-9 or 9-10.

For suspense purposes I won't tell you which way around.

TheGreyGhost wrote:Ireland - Wales score will be 10-9 or 9-10.

For suspense purposes I won't tell you which way around.

Why are they playing the Wales-Ireland game so early in the morning?

Wouldn't it be logical to have the SH teams to play the earlier games?

E.g. Wales-Ireland should be Sat, 8:30am, England vs France, Sunday 8:30am

beshocked wrote:Why are they playing the Wales-Ireland game so early in the morning?

Wouldn't it be logical to have the SH teams to play the earlier games?

E.g. Wales-Ireland should be Sat, 8:30am, England vs France, Sunday 8:30am

I'd prefer NZ v Arg to be first, with SA v Aus last and the other two in the middle.

Frankly if NZ are going out at the Qfinal again, I don't want to watch a bunch of other games assuming they won't only to be devastated at the last minute again.

I want to know our fate and then enjoy giving the other departing sides a good ribbing over a relaxing couple of days.

Call me selfish. But that's just how I see it.

I've changed my mind. I'm tipping France to beat England.

Beshocked that's a really good point. Brickbats to the organisers.