Rugby World Cup 2019

[nigel]

France have got a bright future with that team, it’s just a shame a lack of discipline cost them because they were the far better team today. I do hope wales get thumped next week because they really don’t deserve it based on their performance.

To be fair they were amazing when they played the Aussies

They flatter to deceive, they remind me of England under Stuart Lancaster, brilliant one week and huff and puff the next.

Yet, they keep winning.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the final

[PaulWinch again]

Interesting that Ford is back in. We’re going to need a huge performance from him.

[usav]

Interesting that Ford is back in. We’re going to need a huge performance from him.

I thought the whole thing with Ford was that he doesn't show up in the big games?

[paul_e]

Interesting that Ford is back in. We’re going to need a huge performance from him.

I thought the whole thing with Ford was that he doesn't show up in the big games?

It's more that big ball carriers have a habit of targeting him because he's a bit light-weight in defence. However Ford is more accurate kicking for territory than Farrell and they don't want to give Beauden Barrett too many chances to carry back so I suspect that's the thinking. Savea is the main threat carrying towards Ford so Curry, Underhill and Lawes need to be quickly up onto him.

[SteveN]

Big blow for Wales with Liam Williams out injured.

[paul_e]

Big blow for Wales with Liam Williams out injured.

Wales have a bunch of problems. Davies is still only 50/50, Parkes is carrying a couple of knocks and Navidi is out. Adding all that to losing Anscombe to pure stupidity in the warm-up and their backline in particular looks a mess. North hasn't played well all tournament so they're totally reliant on Adams right now, if SA stop him there's not a massive amount of threat left.

I'd be amazed if SA don't win pretty comfortably, Kolbe is a loss but Nkosi is also a superb winger so they're not much short of their best 15.

[Risso]

South Africa will batter them by at least 20 I reckon.

[paul_e]

South Africa will batter them by at least 20 I reckon.

My handicap bet is +18 so I'm on about the same page.

[nigel]

Wales, of late, always find a way to win.
Could go either way.
I think it going to be a very close game with less than a try the difference.

[Jon Crofts]

France have got a bright future with that team, it’s just a shame a lack of discipline cost them because they were the far better team today. I do hope wales get thumped next week because they really don’t deserve it based on their performance.

To be fair they were amazing when they played the Aussies

They flatter to deceive, they remind me of England under Stuart Lancaster, brilliant one week and huff and puff the next.

Yet, they keep winning.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the final

I'd be disappointed to see them in the final, not in a spiteful way, in a not one of the 2 best teams at the tournament way.

[nigel]

France have got a bright future with that team, it’s just a shame a lack of discipline cost them because they were the far better team today. I do hope wales get thumped next week because they really don’t deserve it based on their performance.

To be fair they were amazing when they played the Aussies

They flatter to deceive, they remind me of England under Stuart Lancaster, brilliant one week and huff and puff the next.

Yet, they keep winning.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the final

I'd be disappointed to see them in the final, not in a spiteful way, in a not one of the 2 best teams at the tournament way.

I agree, Jon.
Without checking I think the top 4 teams are in the semifinals.
For me, Wales are the forth best, however, they are world number 1 (?)
It’s not always the best that win it’s sometimes the team who can find a way to win and Wales seem to be able to do that frequently.

[Risso]

Ireland were the top ranked team going into the finals, weren't they?

[Villa Lew]

Anybody going for an England win?

[nigel]

Ireland were the top ranked team going into the finals, weren't they?

Thought Wales overtook them. Stand corrected if not the case.

[Risso]

They've been updating the rankings after every match, and Ireland dropped out of the top 4 after the quarter finals.