Rugby World Cup 2011

[leighton]

Maybe so but in a semi final situation I would still back England. Getting to the last two finals will mean a lot to the English mentality, by hook or by crook they get there.

England have been far from their best but I don't mind that in the group stages of a world cup. The important thing is they improve from here on in and 8/1 is a huge price considering the door has been blasted open to the final. Having said that, France could easily twat us. Wales are not out of it against Ireland either

The good thing Ireland have going for them. So many of the team have won Heineken Cup medals. With Munster and Leinster a lot of those players have done it on the highest stage in European rugby. This will give all these players nothing but confidence. All of the Ireland team think they can win it outright and for some of the senior players its there last chance. IF Ireland get by Wales they will get to the final whoever wins that match will more than likely play the All Blacks in the final. The Welsh game will be Irelands hardest game of the tournament they have played well so far.

which is everything I don't like about the Irish model, essentially two teams, not even that it's like counties, against the English club model it's deeply unfair.

Ireland should beat Wales and because of sod's law regarding the Irish they'll get all passionate and beat the English, and hopefully get stuffed in the final.

Joe the Irish model has been like that for years and years. 4 main provenices of which 3 of the 4 have won Heineken Cup. The club around Ireland produce young players and end up if they are good enough being fast tracked into 1 of the main teams. Ireland club teams dont have the money to compete against any of the teams in European rugby simple the money isnt there. Thats the main reason that the provinces are used. To be honest the English teams have picked up some Irish players who didnt make the grade here and they have done well. The English teams get huge money compared to Irish teams from Sky and ESPN for the league they are in. The Irish teams dont get a lot there is no league in Ireland only a Euro league with Scottish , Welsh and Italian teams in it and the money from that doesnt compare with the money the English teams get. The only saving grace is the Heineken games and a good run in that is vital for those teams.

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

Jay in recent years England have a shit record against Ireland. The warm up game just before the World Cup was the first time England beat Ireland in a long long time. Ireland normally have too much power in the backs and with Wilkinson playing for England they dont use there backs as much as they should its a kicking game for England all the time in big games.

Maybe so but in a semi final situation I would still back England. Getting to the last two finals will mean a lot to the English mentality, by hook or by crook they get there.

England have been far from their best but I don't mind that in the group stages of a world cup. The important thing is they improve from here on in and 8/1 is a huge price considering the door has been blasted open to the final. Having said that, France could easily twat us. Wales are not out of it against Ireland either

The good thing Ireland have going for them. So many of the team have won Heineken Cup medals. With Munster and Leinster a lot of those players have done it on the highest stage in European rugby. This will give all these players nothing but confidence. All of the Ireland team think they can win it outright and for some of the senior players its there last chance. IF Ireland get by Wales they will get to the final whoever wins that match will more than likely play the All Blacks in the final. The Welsh game will be Irelands hardest game of the tournament they have played well so far.

The thing with Ireland is that at some point during a World Cup they have an amazing ability to just not turn up on match day despite whatever happened before. In honesty i wont be getting up to watch this but my Welsh bud is amazingly confident that Wales can win

 

[leighton]

Maybe so but in a semi final situation I would still back England. Getting to the last two finals will mean a lot to the English mentality, by hook or by crook they get there.

England have been far from their best but I don't mind that in the group stages of a world cup. The important thing is they improve from here on in and 8/1 is a huge price considering the door has been blasted open to the final. Having said that, France could easily twat us. Wales are not out of it against Ireland either

The good thing Ireland have going for them. So many of the team have won Heineken Cup medals. With Munster and Leinster a lot of those players have done it on the highest stage in European rugby. This will give all these players nothing but confidence. All of the Ireland team think they can win it outright and for some of the senior players its there last chance. IF Ireland get by Wales they will get to the final whoever wins that match will more than likely play the All Blacks in the final. The Welsh game will be Irelands hardest game of the tournament they have played well so far.

The thing with Ireland is that at some point during a World Cup they have an amazing ability to just not turn up on match day despite whatever happened before. In honesty i wont be getting up to watch this but my Welsh bud is amazingly confident that Wales can win

To be honest it will be a huge game and it will be too close to call. The Welsh team on form are a brilliant attacking team with a solid scrum. They have played well in the World Cup. Talking to Big Gaz and I have said to him that whoever wins this game has a brilliant chance to make it to the World Cup final as England and France hasnt looked all that great. I even think the French might knock out England tomorrow there that type of team Brilliant one week terrible the next. Last weeks result for them they were shocking and they will want to show there fans that they are better than that.

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

The good thing Ireland have going for them. So many of the team have won Heineken Cup medals. With Munster and Leinster a lot of those players have done it on the highest stage in European rugby. This will give all these players nothing but confidence. All of the Ireland team think they can win it outright and for some of the senior players its there last chance. IF Ireland get by Wales they will get to the final whoever wins that match will more than likely play the All Blacks in the final. The Welsh game will be Irelands hardest game of the tournament they have played well so far.

The thing with Ireland is that at some point during a World Cup they have an amazing ability to just not turn up on match day despite whatever happened before. In honesty i wont be getting up to watch this but my Welsh bud is amazingly confident that Wales can win

To be honest it will be a huge game and it will be too close to call. The Welsh team on form are a brilliant attacking team with a solid scrum. They have played well in the World Cup. Talking to Big Gaz and I have said to him that whoever wins this game has a brilliant chance to make it to the World Cup final as England and France hasnt looked all that great. I even think the French might knock out England tomorrow there that type of team Brilliant one week terrible the next. Last weeks result for them they were shocking and they will want to show there fans that they are better than that.

I know France can be brilliant one week and great the next but they have been terrible all WC and have some serious unrest. I think England have been poor but improving. On paper England should be able to make the final but its always chop and change at the moment. I look forward to this weekends rugby though, shame im on call and cant enjoy it properly, lol

 

[jay_mcfc]

IF Ireland get by Wales they will get to the final whoever wins that match will more than likely play the All Blacks in the final. The Welsh game will be Irelands hardest game of the tournament they have played well so far.

I wish the English players could put this on their dressing room wall. You wouldn't be Iris would you, Leighton? ;)

Underestimate England and France at your peril.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

The good thing Ireland have going for them. So many of the team have won Heineken Cup medals. With Munster and Leinster a lot of those players have done it on the highest stage in European rugby. This will give all these players nothing but confidence. All of the Ireland team think they can win it outright and for some of the senior players its there last chance. IF Ireland get by Wales they will get to the final whoever wins that match will more than likely play the All Blacks in the final. The Welsh game will be Irelands hardest game of the tournament they have played well so far.

which is everything I don't like about the Irish model, essentially two teams, not even that it's like counties, against the English club model it's deeply unfair.

Ireland should beat Wales and because of sod's law regarding the Irish they'll get all passionate and beat the English, and hopefully get stuffed in the final.

Joe the Irish model has been like that for years and years. 4 main provenices of which 3 of the 4 have won Heineken Cup. The club around Ireland produce young players and end up if they are good enough being fast tracked into 1 of the main teams. Ireland club teams dont have the money to compete against any of the teams in European rugby simple the money isnt there. Thats the main reason that the provinces are used. To be honest the English teams have picked up some Irish players who didnt make the grade here and they have done well. The English teams get huge money compared to Irish teams from Sky and ESPN for the league they are in. The Irish teams dont get a lot there is no league in Ireland only a Euro league with Scottish , Welsh and Italian teams in it and the money from that doesnt compare with the money the English teams get. The only saving grace is the Heineken games and a good run in that is vital for those teams.

oh yes I remember that Leinster and Munster have so little money that they can have half the Ireland team between them and poach back any good Irishmen at English clubs through "national loyalty" *cough* money and oh yes who was it that Leinster used to get them a Heineken Cup final victory because he was head and shoulders above what anybody else could afford, oh yeah Rocky Elsom.

Don't make me laugh.

 

[leighton]

which is everything I don't like about the Irish model, essentially two teams, not even that it's like counties, against the English club model it's deeply unfair.

Ireland should beat Wales and because of sod's law regarding the Irish they'll get all passionate and beat the English, and hopefully get stuffed in the final.

Joe the Irish model has been like that for years and years. 4 main provenices of which 3 of the 4 have won Heineken Cup. The club around Ireland produce young players and end up if they are good enough being fast tracked into 1 of the main teams. Ireland club teams dont have the money to compete against any of the teams in European rugby simple the money isnt there. Thats the main reason that the provinces are used. To be honest the English teams have picked up some Irish players who didnt make the grade here and they have done well. The English teams get huge money compared to Irish teams from Sky and ESPN for the league they are in. The Irish teams dont get a lot there is no league in Ireland only a Euro league with Scottish , Welsh and Italian teams in it and the money from that doesnt compare with the money the English teams get. The only saving grace is the Heineken games and a good run in that is vital for those teams.

oh yes I remember that Leinster and Munster have so little money that they can have half the Ireland team between them and poach back any good Irishmen at English clubs through "national loyalty" *cough* money and oh yes who was it that Leinster used to get them a Heineken Cup final victory because he was head and shoulders above what anybody else could afford, oh yeah Rocky Elsom.

Don't make me laugh.

Joe it shows what you know. Rocky granted was at Leinster when they won there first Heineken Cup 1 season the majority of that team and the last team that won the Heineken Cup were Irish players. The same goes for the Munster teams when they won there Heineken Cups most of the team were Irish men. All the Irish players are on IRFU contracts and there money has been cut. There were rumours of players leaving Ireland for the bigger and better money on offer in the England and France so the money isnt as big as you think it is. Also back to the Rocky issue 1 player doesnt win you the Heineken Cup the Leinster back line has been 1 of the best set of backs for a long long time. When BOD and Darcy retire the backline will be missing 2 top class players and there backline may well struggle.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Joe the Irish model has been like that for years and years. 4 main provenices of which 3 of the 4 have won Heineken Cup. The club around Ireland produce young players and end up if they are good enough being fast tracked into 1 of the main teams. Ireland club teams dont have the money to compete against any of the teams in European rugby simple the money isnt there. Thats the main reason that the provinces are used. To be honest the English teams have picked up some Irish players who didnt make the grade here and they have done well. The English teams get huge money compared to Irish teams from Sky and ESPN for the league they are in. The Irish teams dont get a lot there is no league in Ireland only a Euro league with Scottish , Welsh and Italian teams in it and the money from that doesnt compare with the money the English teams get. The only saving grace is the Heineken games and a good run in that is vital for those teams.

oh yes I remember that Leinster and Munster have so little money that they can have half the Ireland team between them and poach back any good Irishmen at English clubs through "national loyalty" *cough* money and oh yes who was it that Leinster used to get them a Heineken Cup final victory because he was head and shoulders above what anybody else could afford, oh yeah Rocky Elsom.

Don't make me laugh.

Joe it shows what you know. Rocky granted was at Leinster when they won there first Heineken Cup 1 season the majority of that team and the last team that won the Heineken Cup were Irish players. The same goes for the Munster teams when they won there Heineken Cups most of the team were Irish men. All the Irish players are on IRFU contracts and there money has been cut. There were rumours of players leaving Ireland for the bigger and better money on offer in the England and France so the money isnt as big as you think it is. Also back to the Rocky issue 1 player doesnt win you the Heineken Cup the Leinster back line has been 1 of the best set of backs for a long long time. When BOD and Darcy retire the backline will be missing 2 top class players and there backline may well struggle.

if there was so much more money in England BoD and Darcy and the likes would have moved, fact is they're cushty in Ireland and any Irishmen that English clubs develop go back home.

 

[leighton]

oh yes I remember that Leinster and Munster have so little money that they can have half the Ireland team between them and poach back any good Irishmen at English clubs through "national loyalty" *cough* money and oh yes who was it that Leinster used to get them a Heineken Cup final victory because he was head and shoulders above what anybody else could afford, oh yeah Rocky Elsom.

Don't make me laugh.

Joe it shows what you know. Rocky granted was at Leinster when they won there first Heineken Cup 1 season the majority of that team and the last team that won the Heineken Cup were Irish players. The same goes for the Munster teams when they won there Heineken Cups most of the team were Irish men. All the Irish players are on IRFU contracts and there money has been cut. There were rumours of players leaving Ireland for the bigger and better money on offer in the England and France so the money isnt as big as you think it is. Also back to the Rocky issue 1 player doesnt win you the Heineken Cup the Leinster back line has been 1 of the best set of backs for a long long time. When BOD and Darcy retire the backline will be missing 2 top class players and there backline may well struggle.

if there was so much more money in England BoD and Darcy and the likes would have moved, fact is they're cushty in Ireland and any Irishmen that English clubs develop go back home.

Joe if you can play top class rugby in the country you were born in for slightly less money than in France or England a lot of players will stay in Ireland and play. Ask yourself the same question about the English players why they dont leave England to play somewhere else? As for Irish lads that come back from England it happens in every sport. Those players have the right to come back to Ireland if they wish to. I dont see why you even bring that point up like in football if you see the Irish teams winning the big cups the players will want to go to play for those teams if they can. Its like when Barca come calling for players the chances to play in those teams is just too big for players to turn down.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Joe it shows what you know. Rocky granted was at Leinster when they won there first Heineken Cup 1 season the majority of that team and the last team that won the Heineken Cup were Irish players. The same goes for the Munster teams when they won there Heineken Cups most of the team were Irish men. All the Irish players are on IRFU contracts and there money has been cut. There were rumours of players leaving Ireland for the bigger and better money on offer in the England and France so the money isnt as big as you think it is. Also back to the Rocky issue 1 player doesnt win you the Heineken Cup the Leinster back line has been 1 of the best set of backs for a long long time. When BOD and Darcy retire the backline will be missing 2 top class players and there backline may well struggle.

if there was so much more money in England BoD and Darcy and the likes would have moved, fact is they're cushty in Ireland and any Irishmen that English clubs develop go back home.

Joe if you can play top class rugby in the country you were born in for slightly less money than in France or England a lot of players will stay in Ireland and play. Ask yourself the same question about the English players why they dont leave England to play somewhere else? As for Irish lads that come back from England it happens in every sport. Those players have the right to come back to Ireland if they wish to. I dont see why you even bring that point up like in football if you see the Irish teams winning the big cups the players will want to go to play for those teams if they can. Its like when Barca come calling for players the chances to play in those teams is just too big for players to turn down.

only reason you'd go back is you're basically playing for Ireland in club competitions, it's woefully unfair.

France have a proper league, England have a proper league, at least Wales have more than 2 teams but still, it's hardly fair when French clubs had the period of limitless finances and England have 12 teams and still try to play fair with a salary cap, unless you're Saracens(abomination) or not good enough in regular season you're fucked during the World Cup, Leicester and Saints are struggling, Tigers virtually have their B team out because so many of their players are away, and Saints lose half their backline, not on. Leinster-Cullen, Heaslip, Jennings, Boss, Reddan, Sexton, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Horgan, Fitzgerland AND Kearney to name a few. Munster-Flannery, Horan, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Wallace, Leamy, Stringer, O'Gara, and they Botha and Howlett etc., that's basically the Ireland team in 2 teams.

The England team is spread over 12 teams, Ireland's 6, and apart from Ulster with a couple the other 3 teams each have 1 player.

That's a colossal advantage and I think it says it all when you don't dominate international rugby in the Northern hemisphere, much like now Harlequins topping the Guinness Prem, you only win the Heineken Cup with the other teams being diluted due to more competitive domestic competition, and Saracens had to sign the top players from struggling English teams and half of South Africa to get a 4 point win last season.