Huge games on Sat morning:

Argentina v France at 8.15

All Blacks v South Africa in later 10.45

Ireland play Scotland on Sunday morning.

Predictions:

Winner -  All Blacks

How will Ireland do  -  1/4 finals again losing to South Africa 

Surprise package -  I think Wales will get to the 1/2 finals

They're odds on to make the semis 

Agree, It was the best I could come up with! 

I don’t think we’ll see any major upsets like Japan beating the Saffa’s last time.

Our group is the best but we have the worst possible 1/4 opponents. The 2 teams most likely to win it.

The other half is very open. Any of the 5 big teams could make the 1/2 finals. 

Ireland 

Scotland

NZ

S Africa

Australia

Wales

England

France 

Only possibility is Argentina beating France maybe. 

Think England and Wales are in good form and could go far, The Aussies and French are pretty hot and cold but they can improve fast at world cups and Scotland will be a challenge. Argentina have improved a lot and are known for impressing at world cups been torns in our side and getting to the semi finals

QFs

England  (Top Pool D) vs Australia (Runner up Pool C)

South Africa (top Pool B) vs Ireland (Runner up pool A  have a feeling Scotland will beat us)

Wales (Top Pool C) vs Argentina (Runner up pool D)

Scotland (Top Pool A) vs New Zealand (Runner up Pool B)

Semis 

England vs South Africa

Wales vs New Zealand

Final- South Africa vs New Zealand with South Africa winning 

please god im wrong and ireland make it to the final 

 

That selling out of the tricolour (and Amhrán na bhFiann) to appease Unionists

 

Doesn’t the GAA have an Ulster championship?

Before becoming the All Ireland series, and Donegal/Cavan and Monaghan all play in Ulster.

Strange that no other country feels the need for a separate ‘rugby’ flag and anthem

They nearly got it right, although ''You don't have to understand any of it'' would probably alienate the true rugby fans to an extent. 

A very partitionist attitude.

It's like the Irish rugby side haven't been here before! The talk about QF matches before playing a match. Setting themselves up for a fall. Japan as hosts will give this an almighty rattle. It's one of only 2 groups with 3 teams vying for 2 QF spots imo. I reckon the Japanese will make the QF.

Scotland have a very good first fifteen, if a little unpredictable. Having them first was the worst possible time to get them. They will be fully fit and up for it. They also have little to lose, unless they get yanked. However, it seems the weather out there will be less suited to their entertaining approach. They have been the most entertaining team to watch over the past few years.

 

Well that's a very appeaser attitude.

 

The only other example I can think of where a country has a different flag for sport is Taiwan, who are called Chinese Taipei in order not to upset China.  Hardly a positive example

 

Ireland is split in two, you might not like that and I can understand it, but telling people how they should be represented is part of the problem. You either try and empathise with the community that doesn’t share your outlook or accept the status quo. 

I struggle to be lectured by somebody on a forum dedicated to a sport which is inherently partitionist. One might say the rugby community are well ahead of soccer in terms of the goal of a United Ireland.

The tricolour represents 26 counties.

On behalf of the moderators of YBIG I have been instructed to deliver the following good luck message to the EIRE Rugby Team:

''YBIG and all its contributors and kin would like to express our deepest wishes of fortune to the EIRE Rugby Team at the World Cup.  We may not be at the stadiums to cheer you on but are with you in spirit and our support strong as anyone in Japan.  Bring it home guys!''

Signed:  Lord Trap Junior Esquire IV (Founder of YBIG)       Deise 'Dessie' 316 (Moderator and rugby journalist)

 

The problem for Scotland is their pack - they have some exciting backs alright but if Ireland starve them of possession up front, as they have done successfully on many an occasion already under Schmidt, then it's not a whole lot of use to them. Like many of Ireland's games it won't be particularly aesthetically pleasing, but they should have too much for them upfront.

 

Okay then.  Who here thinks dropping the tricolour for a flag and Amhrán na bhFiann for a national anthem is a price worth paying for a united Ireland soccer team?

 

What symbolises a UI May change when the time comes. In reverse, would you reject a UI if the symbols didn’t come with it?

I would. I'm attached to both but not so much that I would reject a united team over it. I'd rather a united team under the IFA too.

I'd give them up in a heart beat if it politically meant a United Ireland. As I say I am attached to both but ultimately it's a bit of cloth and a song.

I agree and I think Ireland will try the same against the Japanese. Absolutely bludgeon them up front. 

I just think this mindset of talking about the QF tie is silly. Lose to Scotland and it's very much up the air what will happen in the group.

Imo I think the Japanese will beat Scotland in their last group game to qualify. They are being dismissed way too easily. Especially as hosts.

Hosting is not as game changing as it is at the football World Cup. Hosts and joint hosts have fallen at the first hurdle before.

Expecting unionists to play a sport or start a new era in a reunited country under ROI symbols and tunes is unrealistic.

It will be give and take.Northern unionists will probably be able to retain their British nationality for a few generations.There's some chance the reunited Ireland would be in the commonwealth etc.

In terms of the Scotland game I think our approach to that game will depend on the game the day before. 

If NZ win then we'll be wanting to win to avoid them, as you'd expect we'd rather play South Africa over them. (even if SA top the group) 

My thoughts exactly. 

To add to the argument I think they should just get a kid from each county to make a flag and then have a referendum to choose the best one. 

In terms of the anthem we can have a voice /x factor type show, Dana, Louis Walsh, Linda Martin and Brian Kennedy can be the judges

He'll be a contestant

Is that not what the rugby team is?#teamofus

Where did you read the report about the types of bets he was placing?

 

Was a screenshot of a Whatsapp message I was sent on - which is why I said 'allegedly' as I'm not sure of the source of it. If ultimately found to be true though that is proper mental.

 

There was other allegations including him placing a 6k bet on England to win the tournament and also a bet on Welsh scrumhalf Rhys Webb not going to the RWC.

Was just chatting to my brothers father in law today, Welsh Rugby referee and he said the same as above although three seems to be a large chunk of their support who wanted him gone anyway 

Japan playing their normal game which is speedy and highly intense. However, they are only leading by five and trailed for most of the half. Their handling has been woeful and a similar performance against us and the Scots won’t work.

Caught the end of the game (last 15 minutes)

Agree neither of these are going to cause ourselves or Scotland much bother. 

Both pretty much just speed merchants but as soon as any tackle is made they've been dropped.

  

Strong 2nd half from Argentina 

Very good. They’ve messed up two nice chances too. It’s as though they realised they were at a World Cup at half time.

A real classic. 

Technically suspect, but brilliant for the spectators. France could have closed out the game but had to rely on mere inches to save them.

I'd imagine the English are taking it seriously though remember that they were favourites to walk their group in 2015 but were caught flat by the Welsh.

I'm not saying they will lose to France or Argentina but both of those are capable of turning on the style and causing a shock 

I expect Jones will have plenty to be positive over after today. As great as the game was to watch, similar performances would probably not be enough to beat England.

I think they’ve had it for some time now.

I'm relying on invictus for my knowledge of rugby 

Springbok is on the sleeve 

I’ve actually never seen it fully!

My abiding memory of the movie, was seeing it on a big screen in a pub in Kilburn a week before the 2015 World Cup started, and seeing the dramatised start of extra time commencing with an American football style “onside kick”.

Very physical so far. Some tired bodies in the 2nd half.

Weathering it though. 20 mins in and only 3 points in it.

That’s remarkable. 20 mins of SA dominance worth 3, 7 minutes of NZ dominance, worth 17.

That first try was brilliant by NZ.

Harsh on SA after that great start.

The winner of this pool is due to meet the winners of Pool C.

Could be NZ v England 1/2 final.

In saying that, New Zealand were far from their best today and have still beaten the second favourites with a short flurry. They are capable of doing that against anybody and that is why they will remain favourites.

I’d be interested to know if that is SA at the top of their game. They were impressive in the first 20.

Two pieces of the attacking brilliance and the all blacks turn it around. 

Both of them would beat us 

First 20 mins for SA, no. 20-30 for the All Blacks, no. After that, yes. But that will be under different terms, especially as NZ and SA will qualify and the prize is either Ireland or Scotland, with the Scots probably a little more enticing. This was a bit of a free hit.

No.

Obvious forward passes ignored but if the likes of Fiji knock on after they get it straight away. 

Australia should have had a red card and I felt Pocock should have been penalised for that one from the line-out early in the second half.

 New Zealand were excellent at pretending not to be offside, as usual. Garces missed loads, but it probably helped the spectacle.

Course we do. Ireland wont fear s.africa and we can beat those on any given day. N.zealand a bit different. Still dont think we will beat them at a world cup but s.africa wont scare our players. We have beaten them regularly over the past few years.