More looks at the Rugby World Cup… who’ll take the honors in Pool B? Will the Wallabies progress far? Read on, and find out… from the pen of The Riddler!
World Cup Pool B rundown
Australia
Seeded number two for the world cup based on their runner up effort from 2003. They have the best record of any nation in term of world cup wins having hoisted the trophy in 1991 & 1999. However the current Wallaby side is but a mere shadow of those squads. There is no doubt they have the talent to potentially go all the way but far too many ifs and buts.
There are questions about their tight five. While performing better this year, they are still a few rungs below the top sides. They rely heavily on certain players like Gregan, the injury prone Larkham, Mortlock, Giteau and Latham yet if one or two of them go down it leaves a gaping hole. They are a force not to be under-estimated when at complete strength but over a seven week tournament and after a long super 14 and tri-nations season, keeping everyone intact might be a bit of a stretch. Another concerning aspect for the Wallabies is their horrendous away record. At home they are one of the most fearsome sides in the world but away from home they are very ordinary. Only win of note away from home since 2003 was in 2005 over the Irish but they have lost to NZ, SA, France, England, Wales & Ireland away. This is in complete contrast to the 1991 & 1999 squads who boasted excellent away records. If the world cup was being played in Australia they would be a red hot chance but with their poor travelling mentality I cannot see them progressing past the semis. They should take out this group and set up a clash with
England in the quarters.
Wales
Up until Saturday I gave the Welsh a great chance of rolling Australia and potentially winning this group, given their impressive home record against the Wallabies. However when you lose by 57 points to England not a lot can be said about your chances at the World Cup. 10 months ago their coach was talking up their chances of beating the All Blacks.
However since the kick-off in that game Wales have gone backwards at a huge rate of knots. The AB’s mauled them by 40 that day, then Wales followed up with a last place in the six nations, two losses to Australia although the first loss was full of merit and now a mauling at the hands of the English. Can find anything inspiring to say about the Welsh. They are pretty pathetic and to think they will probably make the quarters while a France, Ireland or Argentina will miss out is a travesty. If they make the quarters then they will be easy fodder for South Africa who will destroy them.
Fiji
Their stock went up big time over the weekend. Where I was thinking Wales could potentially take this group, now I am looking at teams like Fiji as having the potential to upset Wales and take second here. They are not as polished as Wales in the forwards but they have it over the Welsh in bucket loads in the backs.
Canada
Pretty simple here. If Canada play like they did against the All Blacks they will have a huge show of rolling the likes of Wales. Whereas Wales have been nothing short of a joke this season, the Canadian’s have looked impressive. If form counts for anything, the Canadian’s might just get over the Welsh and lock down second spot.
Japan
Haven’t seen a lot of the Japanese but going on their Pacific Nations Cup form there is not much to get inspired about. They will be honest but might lack the class of the other four at the end of the day.
Prediction
The whole complexion of this group changed for me over the weekend after England trounced Wales 62-5. 
Where I gave Wales a better than even chance of rolling the Wallabies at home, I can’t see that happening now. The Wales of 2007 is nothing short of a joke and on what I have seen of them this year, they might just struggle to get past Fiji & Canada.
Australia should have too much class in this group. Wales, Fiji & Canada are all in with a shot for second place. Probably go Wales here but purely because they get a few games at home. Japan will be brave but cant see them winning any here.
Australia 4 wins
Canada 2 wins
Wales 2 wins
Fiji 2 wins
Japan 0 wins
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Good analysis again. I also had great hopes for the Wallabies after their win against the All Blacks in the first round of the Tri-Nations, but they didn’t follow through the second game and I am back to thinking they are not at their best. Will definitely win their group though. Easy one to.
Go the Wallabies !
Wales were not last in Six Nations; check the table. The team that lost against England were a third string side. Yes they were mauled by the ABs, but so were England and France.
Ozzies should roll this group. Fiji will shock the Welsh if they are not careful. They both play similar games and Fiji has some awesome raw talent. Japan is by far the 5th team in this bunch. A lot of passion, but just not there yet.
Australia has no excuses not to sweep the board here. Just keep Lote and Matty D. out of the pubs, eh?!
I don’t think that Wales are quite as bad as you say here. Sure, they’re not the team they were 2 years ago when they won the Six Nations, but the results you cite as evidence for their poor form (England and the Aussie tests) are matches in which Wales fielded very much a second-string team. I agree fully that we have absolutely no strength in depth, but when you consider that in the last two autumns we’ve won one and drawn one against Oz in Cardiff, and also just beat “a France, Ireland or Argentina” last Saturday, then I think you’re being just a tad harsh on the Welsh. Australia will probably win the group but it’ll be a close game, and Wales are odds-on favourites to do the business against Fiji and Canada as well.
Gareth,
I didnt just base it on the Aussie games and the English one. I based it on their last place in the six nations as well. They finished behind Scotland and Italy in that tournament and they had their best side out. They thought they where world beaters when they faced the All Blacks back in October last year and since that game they have lost all self belief. Confidence will be at an all time low with them. Form has abandoned them. They have done nothing but fail miserably this year. Hard to say anything nice about a side like that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Six_Nations#Final_Table
But I agree, they were poor in this year’s competition. There are a few areas that we need improving upon but on their day the Welsh first XV have the ability to match every team in the world, except New Zealand. It’s interesting that you initially gave Wales a good chance of topping the group, but it took one match involving mostly second- and third-choice players to chance that view, no matter how abysmal they played. It’s strength in depth we lack, not quality in the first XV!
Let’s not forget Wales did beat Argentina a few weeks back!
Hello sir,
Am sunday from nigeria 39 year old.Please sir DO YOU FORECAST EPL MATCHES ? ON TEAMS THAT WILL DRAWS FOR THE WEEKENDS FOOTBALL SOCCER POOLS TIPS.
happy to read from you on feedback.
Am sunny
Sorry Sunday, not a huge EPL fan. That’s not to say that one day we won’t cover it extensively… just not now.