Eight Becomes Four

Let me start with the blindingly obvious. It is so much better to make it to the Semi’s than being knocked out in the Quarters. But not only because your cause is still alive, but also because you are guaranteed 2 more games and will see the RWC through to conclusion. Even if you lose your semi, you still have a shot at a consolation bronze medal. Not much of a consolation at the time, but in years to come it is nicer to say you came third than you got dumped out in the Quarters.

So on to those Quarter-final results: Article is here

@Billy-Webb said:

Of the four teams left in the competition, these are arguably the weaker two.

There's definitely going to be more attention on the other semi. I think that suits South Africa.. the draw opened up for them, the scrutiny is elsewhere.
Wales might put up a fight but SA should put them away quite easily.

The other semi is likely to be a very physical match.

It's South Africa's to lose really. Raging hot favourites for the tournament

@Duluth said in Eight Becomes Four:

@Billy-Webb said:

Of the four teams left in the competition, these are arguably the weaker two.

There's definitely going to be more attention on the other semi. I think that suits South Africa.. the draw opened up for them, the scrutiny is elsewhere.
Wales might put up a fight but SA should put them away quite easily.

The other semi is likely to be a very physical match.

It's South Africa's to lose really. Raging hot favourites for the tournament

No!
The Boks are the underdogs. Lowest ranked team still in the competition

But I do get your point. If and that is a big IF, they can get past Wales, they may be lucky enough to be up against a team that had to give a touch too much in their semi. While SA v Wales will be tough, I am expecting Eng v NZ to be pretty brutal.

@Duluth said in Eight Becomes Four:

@Billy-Webb said:

Of the four teams left in the competition, these are arguably the weaker two.

There's definitely going to be more attention on the other semi. I think that suits South Africa.. the draw opened up for them, the scrutiny is elsewhere.
Wales might put up a fight but SA should put them away quite easily.

The other semi is likely to be a very physical match.

It's South Africa's to lose really. Raging hot favourites for the tournament

Almost an asterisk title if they get up

The men in black have deservedly been the top team in World rugby for over a decade now since 23 September.

@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:

Almost an asterisk title if they get up

Just like 2007

@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:

@Duluth said in Eight Becomes Four:

@Billy-Webb said:

Of the four teams left in the competition, these are arguably the weaker two.

There's definitely going to be more attention on the other semi. I think that suits South Africa.. the draw opened up for them, the scrutiny is elsewhere.
Wales might put up a fight but SA should put them away quite easily.

The other semi is likely to be a very physical match.

It's South Africa's to lose really. Raging hot favourites for the tournament

Almost an asterisk title if they get up

@Duluth said in Eight Becomes Four:

@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:

Almost an asterisk title if they get up

Just like 2007

If that is what it takes for the Boks to get title no. 3 I will happily accept.

Neck on line.

Favourites are NZ and SA

England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.

Wales played shit in the QF.

If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.

We've beaten them in our last three meetings.

England v Wales final

@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:

Neck on line.

Favourites are NZ and SA

England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.

Wales played shit in the QF.

If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.

We've beaten them in our last three meetings.

England v Wales final

Head or heart?

And while I am merrily bantering away about a possible SA v NZ final, there is the small matter of England and Wales.
It could well be that we see the first ever NH vs NH final. History making on its own plus the fact that it will be the first time Wales have made it to the final. And I am not in anyway writing that option off. I reckon Wales are delighted that they are facing the Boks and not England or NZ. The Boks don't come with any surprises. You know what you're going to get and it simply becomes a matter of executing better than them on the day.

@booboo said in Eight Becomes Four:

@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:

Neck on line.

Favourites are NZ and SA

England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.

Wales played shit in the QF.

If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.

We've beaten them in our last three meetings.

England v Wales final

Head or heart?

Both

@booboo said in Eight Becomes Four:

@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:

Neck on line.

Favourites are NZ and SA

England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.

Wales played shit in the QF.

If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.

We've beaten them in our last three meetings.

England v Wales final

Head or heart?

That has to be heart.
If Wales make it to the final, they'd much rather face England who they know how to beat.
They have yet to unlock that mystery against the ABs.

Come on. All Blacks v Springboks, 100th test match.

It's written in the stars.

@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:

Come on. All Blacks v Springboks, 100th test match.

It's written in the stars.

And this has been a RWC of fairytales so YES.
Complete with the happy ending for the boys in Green.

@Billy-Webb said in Eight Becomes Four:

@booboo said in Eight Becomes Four:

@MiketheSnow said in Eight Becomes Four:

Neck on line.

Favourites are NZ and SA

England are fit and raring to go. England to sneak it.

Wales played shit in the QF.

If all personnel - read Navidi and J Davies - are fit then Wales won't fear SA.

We've beaten them in our last three meetings.

England v Wales final

Head or heart?

That has to be heart.
If Wales make it to the final, they'd much rather face England who they know how to beat.
They have yet to unlock that mystery against the ABs.

Exactly.

NZ are beatable. England are good enough.

SA are beatable. Wales knows how to beat them.

If it's an England v Wales final, we know how to beat England.

If it's an NZ v Wales final, we don't.

Both NZ and SA are 1.33 favs. That feels right for SA, but I'd have us closer to 1.60.

If the AB's make to the final, I'd say we would be 1.30 against the Boks and 1.15 v Wales.

Not saying those odds are right, just where I reckon the bookies would pitch it.

I'd have us at 1.60 v the Boks and 1.03 v Wales

(Sorry @MiketheSnow ...)

@Billy-Webb said in Eight Becomes Four:

@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:

Come on. All Blacks v Springboks, 100th test match.

It's written in the stars.

And this has been a RWC of fairytales so YES.
Complete with the happy ending for the boys in Green.

Aarrrghhh, where is my downvote button!!!

@voodoo yeah sorry. It was all going along so nicely until the last bit wasn't it

What no-one has raised yet is the extra recovery day for either NZ or England for the final.
Clearly that is another irrefutable sign of how NZ gets favoured by world rugby :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye:

My tabloid-eque dig aside: I think that extra day will be valuable for either NZ or England. Not massive, but nicer to have than not have.

@voodoo said in Eight Becomes Four:

Both NZ and SA are 1.33 favs. That feels right for SA, but I'd have us closer to 1.60.

If the AB's make to the final, I'd say we would be 1.30 against the Boks and 1.15 v Wales.

Not saying those odds are right, just where I reckon the bookies would pitch it.

I'd have us at 1.60 v the Boks and 1.03 v Wales

(Sorry Mike...)

With who? NZ TAB is always going to be shorter for NZ due to the predilection for NZers to get on NZ.