Do you think my loyalty can be bought? (it can!)
I may well cheer for Australia as I’m a fickle bugger and don’t know beforehand which way the mood will take me.
e.g. if Aus are getting pummelled by Wales in the first half and have been on the rough end of a few bad decisions and negative play, then certainly I’ll be cheering them on to get back into it.
Mostly, I want to be entertained and will be happy to cheer on anyone who can supply it.
even…and I don’t say this lightly…Argentina.
I doubt you’ll be enthusiastic as Maradona.
I hope Samoa can upset Scotland and give Japan a shot at the quarters.
Samoa - Scotland was an actual, literal war, but Scotland make the quarter-finals. Now to see which of Wales or Australia will take us apart in the next match.
Gulp, it’s Australia.
There was an extended period there in the second half where Australia, two men down, defended like titans. Wales had the ball over the try line twice, but still didn’t manage to score. Jeez.
Now for the highlight of the evening: England vs Uruguay
I have completely turned around on Cheika. After what happened to McKenzie, as a Qlder I have been skeptical of cheika’s decision making and selections. No more - he’s obviously operating on a level above which I can fathom, and he’s shaped a playing group that was about as fractured as you can get about twelve months ago into a team with absolute confidence in themselves and each other. Sure Wales made some appalling tactical errors last night, but to keep a tier one nation out while defending with only 13 for 10 mins is something special.
I still don’t think the wallabies have fully ‘clicked’ yet, other than in the Sydney Bled, but provided they can physically and mentally recover from the past couple of games, when they do I think it will be something really great.
I’m still bitter about McKenzie but Australia are playing well. I think the point being tough if you can’t beat Wales and England - and no disrespect to either side- you aren’t going to beat the All Blacks.
I am hopeful but hardly confident.
And now it’s too late to matter, England hosed them. Which leaves us wishing, once again, that they’d kicked the fucking penalty.
That was epic, utterly brilliant defence from Australia. As good as I’ve seen in many a long year.
The other notable thing getting picked up the commentators is Australia’s speed and disruption at the breakdown. They are getting quality turnover ball time and time again and that is going to trouble any team, All-Blacks included.
Watching Ireland - France as we speak. Attrition and brutality are the key words so far.
I’ve just heard roars from every house around me and from people on the street. No All Blacks for us. Argentina won’t be an easy match but they are not the All Blacks.
CMON Ireland!!
That was brutal, although the Pumas are not the all blacks , does Ireland have enough depth to deal with all the injuries?
Come on Japan!
Poor Japan, winning three games out of four ends up not being enough to get them through to the quarters.
That is the question. O’Connell is a huge loss. They held it together during the 2nd half but yep we could be in a lot of trouble next week but this is the time for players to make their mark. There’s no bigger stage for them.
Brutal game though. The will be a lot of very sore players tomorrow.
Yeah, it’s a shame, they have played a blinder this tournament, they fully deserved to go through. My wife took the morning off to watch the game, which is unprecedented
I just watched the Australia/Wales game. What a game of rugby! I agree with one of the commentators, who said that it was probably one of the best try-less games ever played.
The Wallabies deserved to win the group, and i thought they looked strong enough to win the game for much of the 80 minutes, but Wales matched them in many key areas. The Australian tackling for the 7 minutes when they were playing with 13 men was superhuman, although i thought that the Welsh backline turned it back inside a few too many times during the period where they had a one-man and a two-man advantage.
South Africa have looked stronger and stronger since their loss to Japan, and if i were a betting man i’d probably put money on them to beat Wales in the quarters, but i really hope that the Welsh can overcome their injuries and play the game of their lives to beat the Springboks.
I’m not so sure about South Africa. Since losing to Japan they’ve beaten an under-performing Samoan side, and second-stringer Scottish and USA sides. Wales are badly dinged up after two epic matches, but maybe a week will be enough for their bruises to fade. I think they’ve shown enough heart to beat the Springboks next weekend.
Fingers crossed.
Apart from the fact that i like Wales, there are few things in international rugby that make me happier than a Springboks loss. 
And the All Blacks meet their nemesis in the quarters: please let them have learnt over the last 25 years to take French teams in knockout games seriously; we barely survived the last World Cup encounter, Tony Woodcock is out and there’s no Leon MacDonald.
But The All Blacks going down to Les Bleus in Cardiff, again, would have to come close.
Cue the theme from “Jaws”
Whilst waiting for an outcome of the Sean O’Brien hearing I just saw this on twitter
5pm. Sean O’Brien’s hearing has now officially lasted longer than England’s World Cup hopes. #240minutes #IRE
harsh, but fair.