Well the warm-up is over and in spite of a few scares, the expected teams have progressed to the Quarter-finals:[ol][li]France vs Ireland - should be a good game, too close for me to call, not really having seen either team in action.[]Australia vs Scotland - Scotland may well be brave, but this will be the end for them.[]New Zealand vs South Africa - Oh boy!! 
Will the Boks be able to exploit the weaknesses Wales found or will the All Blacks have recovered and sorted themselves out.[*]England vs Wales - normally I would say a walk-over for England, but if Wales can raise thier game to the same level as Sunday’s encounter, they will be in with a chance, although the lesson of Samoa says that it won’t happen…[/ol]That’s my weekend planned!! Thoughts, comments, predictions???[/li]
Grim
1 and 3 ought to be interesting matches indeed!!
It sucks living in Holland. I actually like rugby, and short of getting a Sky satellite, you’re either stuck with French commentary on TV5 (nothing personal, but when they francophonise every Scottish name, I tend to lose patience quickly), highlights on the Beeb, or worse, highlights on Dutch TV.
Perhaps I ought to get my arse to an English pub this weekend. It’ll be early for drinking beer, seeing as these matches start at what, noon CET or so? But it’ll be worth it. 
Oh, and I’ll root for the Springboks, of course!
I had the pleasure of watch Ireland beat France last year while sitting in a bar in Paris. T’was good fun indeed.
I’d have to make France the favourite but we have a very good chance.
That Ireland/Oz match on Sunday was breathtakingly exciting.
Fingers are so crossed, but to be honest I think France has the edge.
Having said that, remember beating them in the Stade de France a couple of years ago in the Six Nations (?)… **yojimbo[/b, micilin and I were in Amsterdam and it was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced (mind you, the experience was a wee bit ‘enhanced’, nudge nudge).
Coldie, most of the matches start well before noon CET - 8.30 CET for the Ireland/France one.
Actually maybe I should get the hell out of Ireland for the match as it seems to be a good luck charm when I’m away 
Wow, you missed out on what has been (IMHO) the best game to date. (Ire vs Aus). Never shouted at the TV quite so much as during that one!
Saying that, my vocal performance in support of Wales yesterday was almost on a par.
Apparently the French are trying to set themselves up as the underdogs - their coach said so several times in interviews. Maybe its’ their way of removing a little of the pressure.
I think Ireland will sneak through, but it’ll be a close one.
That was a great weekend for Welsh and Irish rugby – I have no idea where that Welsh performance came from but it was a joy to watch. And yep, this is where it really kicks off.
France vs. Ireland is the most fascinating for me; I have no idea who is even favourite for the game. I’m excited about it already!
Oz’ralia vs. Saf Efrika will be especially hard and fast and brutal – the Wallabies will really need to on top form; another mighty and desperately close-fought battle.
And then there’s England and the Kiwi’s. Wales might huff and puff but, as per the New Zealand game, superior fitness and organisation will tell over the 80 mins, imho. And, sadly, I just don’t think Scotland have a Wales-type performance in them.
Fwiw, I hope the Irish beat the French if only because I don’t think any team could have a third giant performance in them; I’d rather England – assuming they do get past the Welsh - face them than the French in the semis.
But really, this is outstanding sport and I sincerely hope the best team wins, providing Johnny Wilkinson’s kicking for them.
Well, JW would really need to be on top form, as England only just scraped through without him against Uruguay.
I doubt Wales has another match like that in them. It was the best I’ve seen them play for two decades. Any more of that and I’ll have to reassess my loyalties*.
*[sub]I support Australia in everything except rugby, and have always said I’d reassess if Wales had any chance of beating Australia.[/sub]
Thanks Mate!! We’ll need all the help we can get…
I’m quite regretting I wasn’t able to watch the Ireland v Aus game - those close encounters bring out the best of the game that is rugby!!
Grim
Best matches so far -
Wales vs The All Blacks
Ireland vs The Wallabies
England vs The Spring Boks
Why have all the SH teams got the best nicknames?
Anyway, moving on…
Ireland and France should be a good one and I hope Ireland manage to shade it.
Fingers (and toes and eyes and legs and ears) crossed.
The All Blacks and the Spring Boks should be another awesome match and while I think the All Blacks should win, I have a soft spot for the Spring Boks and will be rooting for them.
Thank God it can’t be an England vs Ireland final, because whichever team won I’d be unable to go to work the next day.
Having said that though, my wishes for an England win and an Ireland win this weekend will then present us with an Ireland vs England semi final next weekend!!
Hmmmmmm.
Looks like I’ll be calling in sick the Monday after that, then!!!
[ol][li]France vs Ireland - The Irish played really well against Australia, but the French are in good form (which is when they usually beat the Irish in the Six Nations).[/li]
France to win (but it’s close - about a 10 point margin).
[li]Australia vs Scotland - A massacre as Australia run riot.[/li]
Australia by 50 points.
[li]New Zealand vs South Africa - I can’t decide this one. Of course New Zealand look favourites, especially with their speedy back three, but South Africa have strong forwards. Wales suprised me by scoring 37 points against NZ, while S. Africa took the tough Samoans very comfortably.[/li]
NZ to win with last kick of match! :eek:
[li]England vs Wales - England have a lot of wins against Wales in the Six Nations, and are fitter.[/li]
England by 20 points (at least 10 in the last 15 minutes, though)[/ol]
Fox Sports World in the US is stuck with a 72 hour delay in televising (so the Wales vs. New Zealand match will still be coming up), but obviously it’s already been spoiled, but leaves me looking forward to it :)).
Now, down to the quarters:
Australia vs. Scotland - I was hoping that Fiji would pip in here, but no such luck. Australia is hot, and I can’t see them having much trouble against Scotland. Australia by 30.
Ireland vs. France - Everyone is saying that France is going to win this one, but I’m going to disagree. World Cup quarter/semi/finals tend to be rather conservative games; with Ireland having the better set of forwards, I’m going out on a limb and picking Ireland by a try.
England vs. Wales - Wales put up a plucky performance against the All Blacks, but I have to wonder if they can put together 2 out-of-their-skin games in a row. Somehow, I don’t think they can. England by 20.
New Zealand vs. South Africa - The last Tri-N game was certainly close fought, and South Africa, minus the England game, has had a fairly solid WC. New Zealand though has been in fantastic form throughout the tournament (minus Wales, of course), and with Tana Umaga coming back, I think they have to be the favorites to win the whole thing this year. NZ by 14.
I’m not much of a rugby fan, but I’ve watched Irelands performances so far. Denis Hickey is going to be a big loss. Still, I hope we can do it.
Because, US Eagles aside, they are the only teams that have nicknames?
Goddammit, I haven’t been able to find a match to watch anywhere in this bloody town. I even used certain softwares to see if I could catch a recorded match, to no avail. I am so missing this 
Iteki - I don’t know which town you’re in but I’m sure a good mate of mine is watching the games live in Stockholm . . . . I presume you’re somewhere else ?
I am a culchie now sniff
As a Welsh supporter I was almost afraid to watch the Wales-NZ game. I’ve seen so many humiliating defeats in the last 15 years. Even though we lost, I enjoyed this game because of the open play - almost like watching sevens at times.
Like other posters here, I don’t believe they can repeat that again, but apart from that I think England are a better team than the All Blacks.
I think the last 4 will be England, Australia, NZ and (I hope) Ireland. France are favourites but I think Ireland can pull off a surprise. Shame about Hickie though, I think he’s a world class winger.
I seem to recall the Lelos, Maple Leaves and Cherry Blossoms also got a run in this tournament.