i was happy with england today, we didnt score any tries but no one has against nz this tour, but we do seem to play well build pressure and then lack a cutting edge in the final 5, something that hopefully can be coached in to them in the next few months.

well done to wales aswell, an excellent win.

Just watched the match, didn't realise Alan Roland was in charge........ why he's allowed to ref any England match is beyond me, I feel rather miffed at some of the decisons made by him, some of the things missed with NZ at the break downs. Had it been a different ref I think we might have been in with a shout at 6-12 with 20 minutes to go!

I haven't watched the England game yet, so can't really pass comment but what I can say is Roland is easily the most overated referee out there, and consistently makes poor decisions. He oftens get the headlines in all games he plays part in.

Awesome for Wales, played like we are the best of the rest if you like (Behind the top 3) We could have beat them comfortably and the score line flattered Australia somewhat.
Hopefully now we can compete and win home and away against these teams and really get in the mix for possible world cup glory.

One thing is for sure, the top seeds will all be hoping to avoid us come Monday

Wales have a nice draw then!

England I think have it worse, the Scots and the Argies are fast becoming strong teams, I would of prefered a team like Fiji or Samoa!

Who do you think will win the next world cup? Me and my mates normally have a lil bet round about now!

Well I think we couldn't have got given a more difficult draw ! But you have to beat the best to be the best.

England have it tough, but I would expect them to win it comfortably, ahead of the Scots.
Unless the Argentines are included in the tri nations soon they will drop down quickly and won't be a force by 2011.

It tricky for us. Ideally we would love France to beat New Zealand, and we beat SA, top our group and get Ireland in the quarters and either France or England in the semi. But that's unlikely, so we could end up wanting to finish second, so then we get the easier draw to the final.

I will not be putting money on NZ that's for sure
I will probably have a little bet on Wales aslong as things don't mess up and we keep going the way we are. But there are so many teams with the potential to be awesome come 2011, we will just have to wait and see who comes out the other end and who is worth it.

I'll take a wild guess right now though, and I'll say Australia. Giteau and all that young talent, with an excellent coach in Deans and if any team will put the All Blacks under extra pressure in their own back yard, it will be them.

wales are in with a good shot...ive not seen much rugby recently due to the poor england form and it being on SKY, but what ive seen of wales is good and promising

Wales will be too old...........(IMO)

England just won't be good enough, but will still make the final!

I was going to say Australia ao long as they bring in their new talent, but I cab see the Boks doing it twice in a row. The team has so much depth and youth it's scary!

crikey...i forgot its not till 2011........D-OH!

Lewsey has retired from international rugby. It's sad, he would have been a great player to have in that squad at this time, experienced and still one of the best around ! Maybe the praise Armitage has received forced him into it?
Anyway not good news for England, I think he was good enough to still be playing for you.
Wouldn't be suprised to see him tour with the Lions.

I'm inclined to agree with you mate. We need a balance and Lewsy's defence has always been top notch! With him and Noon England always looked quite solid - although it takes more than two to defend the try line...............

Quins done Stade over again - brilliant stuff from them!

I got heckled in London a few weeks back by a load of Stade Francais supporters, was wearing me Tigers top. It was funny as I was with a large group of girls (from my course) which they were eyeing up and started to try and speak to (in French) they then looked at me (to be fair I was giving them 'the look') and they started booing and heckling. I would just like to say to this group - karma has had it's say!

Needless to say the 'look' scared them and they soon surrendered and stopped talking to 'my' girls. (Although I think the girls might have scared them when they profanicated)

If anybody is even REMOTELY interested in rugby, you really ought to tune into the wasps-leinster game, absolutely superb match so far with 3 sin bins and some brilliant and exciting rugby, and it's not even half time!

Seems like Wasps are starting to play some rugby that won them a title last year. Shame, I was enjoying watching them lose week in week out!


Some shock results over the weekend, Glasgow beating Toulouse. Perpigan done Leicester a favour by doing over Ospreys - all Leicester need to do now is lose with a bonus point and their through, Ospreys have to win with a bonus point I think now!? Be a good game next week!

London Irish have more or less won the other, lesser, European cup. Don't even know the teams their playing so should be easy for them. I'll enjoy watching them in the Heineken cup next year.

The Ospreys were appaling for 60 minutes, 17-0 down then they decided to throw the tactics out the window and play on instinct and just about lost 17-15. A good effort in the end, out scoring Perpignan in their own back yard, where they are un-beaten for 5 years! But questions are being asked over here, they are playing shocking compared to their potential, I mean it's a 22 who have all played internatiohnal rugby, yet they aint performing, but still doing enough to keep face, very frustrating. They're different players when they put that red jersey on and spend time with Gatland.

As for next weekend, the Ospreys need to win by a minimum of 8 points. Going by the way we are playing and our shocking coaches and tactics, it is basically mission impossible in my book. Then again if the players decide to pull their finger out and play like they can, they could very easily win very convincingly, and I'm hoping that they will as a performance is long over-due.

Cardiff Blues are all but officially through as the top seeds, and with Calvisano at home next week, looks like they will progress un-beaten. Amazing achievment, especially when you think that they have beaten Gloucester twice (today away from home the beat them with only 14 men for an hour) and Biaritz home an away also. Great effort and my tip for the tournanment.

The Dragons ran Bath very close home and away, and beat Glasgow and a very respectable performances against Toulouse shows that they're moving in the right direction quickly.

The Scarlets smashed Stade francais today, 33-17 I think. Great effort and hopefully now they will get back to where they belong.

Overall, Wales are improving at a serious speed, at all levels and it's great.
Also, this year, the Magners League seems to be very dominant over the Guiness premiership in Europe, which is even more good news! We could and should see a very Celtic Lions team


Fun posting on this thread again

About time the Celtic league was dominent for a year. To be fair, the best playing English team aren't in the best competiton (London Irish) so it isn't a total fair contrast.

English teams seem to be shocking at the minute. Can't really count Tigers win as anything, winning by 55 points at home to Treviso is nothing to shout about - wee need a good game next week to boost confidence.

I think next week though you will see a very strong, cagey Tigers, just letting Ospreys play and hope to capitalise on their mistakes. God knows who will win out of these two, as the only thing they're consistant at is at being inconsistant!

Lol very true.

Should be a cracker, to add to a pretty big rivalry that has been set-up.
We all know the pedigree of Leicester at these occassions, it's just about hoping that Ospreys show up because they can match it in every position

I need a bit of help to win a competition at school...

What I need everyone to do is predict the winning teams from the games of the group stages (If that's how it works. I'm no rugby fan).

I just need everyone's say on who will win these games, or if it be a draw.


England - Italy
Ireland - France
Scotland - Wales
France - Scotland
Wales - England
Italy - Ireland
France - Wales
Scotland - Italy
Ireland - England
Italy - Wales
Scotland - Ireland
England - France
Italy - France
England - Scotland
Wales - Ireland


Cheers guys! £50 is the prize!

England for the grand slam, you heard it here first.......

The shock will be Italy beating Ireland, France to lose to England and Ireland and Scotland to only beat Italy. That's my honest prediciton, honest..........

(It could happen)

Might wanna look again at that post John

I'll give mine in a while Sam

England - Italy - England. Just!!
Ireland - France - Ireland
Scotland - Wales - Wales
France - Scotland - France
Wales - England - Wales
Italy - Ireland - Ireland
France - Wales - Wales
Scotland - Italy - Scotland
Ireland - England - Ireland
Italy - Wales - Wales
Scotland - Ireland - Scotland
England - France - England
Italy - France - France
England - Scotland - Scotland
Wales - Ireland - Wales

I don't think that anyone can argue, if Wales play at the pace they have been, and just don't self-destruct, nobody on this side of the world can live with it.

Martin Johnson will get sacked after this and England will change all their policies etc.... again!!

Scotland and Ireland will be a threat again

Italy might beat England, deifnitely their best chance of a win.

France, same as England, will be in-conistant, and the coach will get stick for his rotating policy.

That's what will happen. England are a proud nation, but jeeez their clubs are cack (their best club team just beat the Dragons by 2 points, who didn't have their strongest team out lol) and the coach is out of his depth(look at his selections,)and all the bad media the players are getting(Matt Stevens), makes them the joke of the tournament.
I want England players to do well because I care about the Lions this year, but they got some serious work to do.
(I know you'll beat us now I said that)

Edited at 19:07 Thu 22/01/09 (GMT)

Of course we will, and we'll win a grand slam.

Told you, you heard it here first!

To be honest I can't wait for every other home nation to take one step forward, cause when they do they'll all be right with Wales!


The England players aren't getting bad press, one ex-England player is, lets not forget that! I think joke of the tournement is both harsh and silly - especially if you've made that statement because someone has tested positive for recreational drugs.

Martin Johnson has played with a team as he is trying to build one ready for the next world cup, you see, we'll be laughing as our players will be ripe by then, Wales will have lost half their team by that point! It'll be 2003/2007 all over again where we have just the right balance, and we'll be the only home nation to be able to challenge for the World Cup!


I think you'll find we have the best clubs on record. I support a certain one of them!