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Is there a sting left in the Southern Hemispheres
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HookerPaul View Drop Down
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    Posted: 25 Sep 2023 at 11:56
After so many years of dominance from the "big 3" S.H. Nations, is their stranglehold finally coming to an end?
N.Z. beaten by France, S.A. beaten by Ireland, Aus looking for budget flights home.
The flair, passion, skill, strength and determination shown by Ireland and France is something for the other top tier Nations to aspire to.
Can we expect a backlash from N.Z. and S.A. in the latter stages to reaffirm the status quo?  Personally I doubt it, the confidence is with Ireland and France and at this level confidence and belief count for a lot. 
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Paul10 View Drop Down
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SA have capacity to improve.

They had Pollard in the stands yesterday and can improve their sub hooker situation.

Not sure NZ have the same scope.
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islander View Drop Down
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Points: 7609 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote islander Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2023 at 17:41
I think it's very dangerous to write off the Boks, they ran Ireland mighty close & can improve in several areas. Stuart Barnes today in Times wrote that he was concerned to see the scale of Irish celebrations in Paris & fears Boks could use this as motivation should the teams meet again.

And NZ won't be going into QFs just to make up the numbers...
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Brizzer View Drop Down
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Points: 3398 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brizzer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2023 at 18:03
SA-NZ final written all over this. Nobody is talking about NZ or if they have they have written them off. A country and team like the All Blacks do not stay down for long. And yes, SA were beaten by a better side on Saturday, but write them off at your peril. It will be some QF against France mind you!!
Tackle Low!!!!!
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Greg View Drop Down
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Points: 110 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2023 at 20:32
"Nobody is talking about NZ or if they have they have written them off"

Nobody is talking about England or if they have they have written them off.

No, I don't think that England are going to set this World Cup on fire but they are building.

Nobody mentioned Wales either and they destroyed Australia after many had written them off.

There could be some real surprises over the next few weeks.
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Rabbie Burns View Drop Down
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Points: 3352 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rabbie Burns Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2023 at 21:54
The draw was royally screwed and done too far out and evenWorld rugby have realised and changed it for next time so you were always going to get bizzare results. I still think the final will be NZ v SA. While Ireland looked good and beat the boks they will not make the same mistake again of not having a kicker on the pitch
So many Christians not enough Lions
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rugbychris View Drop Down
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I was so surprised to see NZ offer very little in the opening match against France. Their backs were as dangerous as ever but the forwards were lacking in almost every aspect of the physical encounter. They held off at every ruck and were totally bullied. Not sure if it was deliberate but Ireland and SA would dispatch them with little problem if they were to repeat.

Winner is between Ireland. France or SA.
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tulip View Drop Down
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Ireland v France for me. Can’t see South Africa beating France
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Greg View Drop Down
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The time for another Northern Hemisphere side to lift the Rugby World Cup is long overdue.

Other than England has there been another NH side in the final?
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Paul10 View Drop Down
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Points: 757 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Paul10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2023 at 10:37
Originally posted by Greg Greg wrote:

The time for another Northern Hemisphere side to lift the Rugby World Cup is long overdue.

Other than England has there been another NH side in the final?

France should have won in 2011.
They also lost in 1987.


Well, Wales should have won in 2011 but blew it.


Edited by Paul10 - 26 Sep 2023 at 10:50
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cheshire exile View Drop Down
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France were in the 1999 final.
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Thatbloke View Drop Down
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Points: 1762 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thatbloke Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2023 at 16:17
Much as it pains me to say it I think SA will bully their way to retaining the trophy
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tulip View Drop Down
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Points: 2228 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tulip Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2023 at 17:46
Originally posted by Thatbloke Thatbloke wrote:

Much as it pains me to say it I think SA will bully their way to retaining the trophy

I don’t think so. If Irelands lineout hadn’t malfunctioned so many times when they were in Red Zone it would have been a bigger win. 
If they get a couple of HIA’s in the backs and they don’t come back on or their 1 specialist hooker gets taken off they are in trouble. Ireland showed that the 7-1 split didn’t work and they contained the “Bomb Squad.
Henri Pollard was also a bit injury prone at Leicester but will kick the goals
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WEvans View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Thatbloke Thatbloke wrote:

Much as it pains me to say it I think SA will bully their way to retaining the trophy

I reckon you are right. But I hope you aren't!
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Thatbloke View Drop Down
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Points: 1762 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thatbloke Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2023 at 20:33
Me too! I get the "Ireland" comment Tulip but SA will be a different animal when it comes to knock-out rugby! (not literally I hope) 

Edited by Thatbloke - 26 Sep 2023 at 20:34
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islander View Drop Down
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Points: 7609 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote islander Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2023 at 21:08
Even if SA aren't left with a real injury after facing the highly-physical Tongans (who could have had several more red cards than the one they got against Scotland) this w/e, I would expect Rassie Erasmus to 'arrange' a suitable one, which would then allow another hooker to be brought into the squad during their two-week break... given the way they make up their bench, they have a plethora of backs (including several reserve 9s) who are surplus to requirements.
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