RWC draw 2011

[Chrizzzie]

Today the draw for the 2011 Rugby World Cup took place.

The drawing is as follows:

Poul A:
New Zealand
France
Tonga
Americas1 (Canada?)
Asia1 (Japan?)

Poul B:
Argentina
England
Scotland
Europe1 (Georgia?)
Playoff winner (Uruguay / Spain / Korea / Portugal / Germany / Russia/ ?)

Poul C:
Australia
Ireland
Italy
Europe2 (Romania?)
America2 (USA)

Poul D:
South Africa
Wales
Fiji
Oceania1(Samoa?)
Africa1 (Namibia?)

What are your thoughts about it? What is this tournement´s poule of Death? I personally think Poul D is the hardest one. Poul A should be easy win for AB´s and France. Poul B could witness some surprises. Poul C could see a surprise from Italy but I´m still confident my favourite Ireland will proceed to the next round.

[Blackpudding]

You left out Russia and as far as I know Belgium is not in the Oualifying.
From the minor European Rugby Nations, Romania, Russia and Georgia are the strongest.

[sportstime]

Pool A Asia 1 (Japan), Americas 1 (Canada), Tonga, France, New Zealand
Pool B Play off winner, Europe 1 (Georgia), Scotland, England, Argentina
Pool C Americas 2 (USA), Europe 2 (Romania), Italy, Ireland, Australia
Pool D Africa 1 (Namibia), Oceania 1 (Samoa), Fiji, Wales, South Africa

So quarters seeded as
A1 New Zealand v B2 England/Argentina - E
B1 Argentina/England v A2 France - F
C1 Australia v D2 Wales - G
D1 South Africa v C2 Ireland - H

Semi to be

E New Zealand v H South Africa
F Argentina/England/France v G Australia/Wales

[dids858]

When and who are in the qualifiying games.

Looks like the small teams will again get another drubbing.

[Chrizzzie]

A lot of teams are in the qualifying and it's quit a complicated matter.

The minor teams are leveled due to the seeding. The performance difference between the teams is still quit big so it's no surprise.

2011 however is still 3 years. We see about every year in the 6N differences between the teams so still a lot can happen till then. No one can tell where Scotland and italy are in three years time and how the other are performating than against the southern hemps teams.

[sportstime]

Dosen't matter now though as the seedings are set in stone for 2011.

England / Ireland / Scotland / Wales for example could have a collective brain drain and lose all their matches for the next three years against the likes on Namibia or Portugal but their seeding won't be affected (world ranking obviously would be !!).

In that sense, it's all a bit stupid and nobody bar the Yarpies, Aus and NZ will have the same world ranking in three years time as they have today.

[Chrizzzie]

You're right but I was just talking about the expected performance of these team during the rwc '11

[sportstime]

The playoff semis will be Europe 3 v Africa 2; and America 3 v Asia 2.

Europe 3 is the winner of a playoff between the 3rd in the European Nations Cup, and the winner of Div 2 of the same competition: that means the 3rd out of Georgia, Romania, Portugal, Russia and Spain; against the winner from Belgium, Czech Republic, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine. Russia are currently the 3rd ranked (although don't appear on the IRB's ranking page).

Africa 2 is the losing finalist of a competition between Namibia, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Uganda. Tunisia are currently ranked 2nd out of that lot, just behind Namibia.

America 3 will be the loser of a playoff between the worst team out of Canada & USA, and the best team out of Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil. On current rankings, that would be Uruguay.

Asia 2 will be the runner-up from the Asian 5 Nations - currently Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and the Arabian Gulf. This will almost certainly be Korea. edit: Apparently, the Gulf have been relegated and Singapore promoted. Let's assume this will swap back in 2009.

You would expect Uruguay to stuff Korea in 1 semi; and Russia to beat Tunisia in the other. So the playoff winner is most likely to be Russia or Uruguay.

[bamjames]

Pool A Asia 1 (Japan), Americas 1 (Canada), Tonga, France, New Zealand
Pool B Play off winner, Europe 1 (Georgia), Scotland, England, Argentina
Pool C Americas 2 (USA), Europe 2 (Romania), Italy, Ireland, Australia
Pool D Africa 1 (Namibia), Oceania 1 (Samoa), Fiji, Wales, South Africa

So quarters seeded as
A1 New Zealand v B2 England/Argentina - E
B1 Argentina/England v A2 France - F
C1 Australia v D2 Wales - G
D1 South Africa v C2 Ireland - H

Semi to be

E New Zealand v H South Africa
F Argentina/England/France v G Australia/Wales

on current form that would be the likely outcome but there is still 3 years left!

I expect New Zealand to choke big time in 2011, so id expect a england v south Africa semi!

but its obviously impossible to tell ATM

I can see a Australia - Ireland final!

[Chrizzzie]

I can see a Australia - Ireland final!

Me too. In my dreams. But it's true what you say and it's still a long time and teams can get in form and off.

How about Ireland? Should they now start with a team mainly consiting out of new players to esteblish themselves for 2011 or continue building their existing team?

It's something which runs through my head and I don't know the answer. (Hope Kidney does)

[bamjames]

from the current squad the players not likely to feature in 2011 are(due to age)

John Hayes 35???????
Ronan O Gara 31
BOD 29
David Wallace 32
Allan Quinlan 34
Shane horgan 30
Girvan Dempsey 33
Marcus Horan 31
Donacha O Callahan 31
Malcolm O Kelly 34
Geordan Murphy 30
Gordan Darcy (rumors he might never again play altho I think hes back training)
those are thier current age I might be wrong on a few of em
the IRB are reviewing a rule about qualification for a country, if the rule is changed then munsters Warick and Mafi will be in the Ireland squad

they have played for Australia and NZ sevens teams and are unavailable to Ireland
It is expected that the rule will be changed! hopefully!

basically chrizzzie Ireland need to get rid of the players above and replace them with younger guys Earls, Buckley ,Healy,Ferris, Dowling, Ryan, Coughlan,Keatly, Carr, hopefully mafi & Warick etc.

[toddstar]

why is the draw 2+ years before the event ?

[Chrizzzie]

New Zealand says it needs the draw so early to plan all the infrastructure and further things for the tournement.

[trobertc]

Pool A Asia 1 (Japan), Americas 1 (Canada), Tonga, France, New Zealand
Pool B Play off winner, Europe 1 (Georgia), Scotland, England, Argentina
Pool C Americas 2 (USA), Europe 2 (Romania), Italy, Ireland, Australia
Pool D Africa 1 (Namibia), Oceania 1 (Samoa), Fiji, Wales, South Africa

So quarters seeded as
A1 New Zealand v B2 England/Argentina - E
B1 Argentina/England v A2 France - F
C1 Australia v D2 Wales - G
D1 South Africa v C2 Ireland - H


I am guessing you are not giving Scotland much of a chance of getting out of the group. You never know on the day we can beat anybody (and hopefully better finishing than Autumn internationals). We nearly beat New Zealand. Argentina on the last RWC would get through I think.

[sportstime]

You also played the worst match of the last RWC against Italy because Hadden was too afraid to attack in case they lost.

That was more on current form though...I'll probably have a new list by June 2011.

[trobertc]

You also played the worst match of the last RWC against Italy because Hadden was too afraid to attack in case they lost.

That was more on current form though...I'll probably have a new list by June 2011.

I wouldnt think Hadden would be a problem by then anyway. Italy arent very good for us anyway. I know we have to get used to trying to score tries and not just have good kickers.

[sportstime]

I agree with you about Hadden in that I doubt he'll be in charge of Scotland this time next year let alone 2011.

If the jungle drums are right, Robinson will lead Scotland into New Zealand 2011.

[trobertc]

I agree with you about Hadden in that I doubt he'll be in charge of Scotland this time next year let alone 2011.

If the jungle drums are right, Robinson will lead Scotland into New Zealand 2011.

I will agree with you this time, i have heard the same drums.