Who gets out of each pool and in which order?

[Burns]

Im curious as to what our is better for England's chances:

1) Is it better for England to beat Australia, confidence boost and face possibly tricky Tonga/Samoa/Fiji in the QF and Semi; or
2) Lose against Australia, face an pretty easy PNG in the QF and throw everything against NZ in the Semi?

 

[adamkungl]

Im curious as to what our is better for England's chances:

1) Is it better for England to beat Australia, confidence boost and face possibly tricky Tonga/Samoa/Fiji in the QF and Semi; or
2) Lose against Australia, face an pretty easy PNG in the QF and throw everything against NZ in the Semi?

I think England make the final via either path. The islands are being seriously overrated yet again

 

[Irish-bulldog]

2 massive impact forwards will help tonga, but it won't make or break them . They have hopa at the back, some gun centres and wings, if they get sone direction they would really take it to anyone.

 

[Pommy]

I don't see it this time.

The thing is it’s a tournament do the other sides in that group have the depth?
In one off game NZ v Tonga I might fancy Tonga but I’m not so sure in a group.

I think England make the final via either path. The islands are being seriously overrated yet again

Everyone was saying how Samoa had a real chance in the pacific test. The difference in class was pretty big on the night.

 

[hutch]

I remember Scotland beating tonga in the last World Cup when they were heavy underdogs. Then they drew with nz last year.
NZ will win the pool but it's a toss up for the next 2 spots.

 

[roughyedspud]

The kiwis don't have a warm up game planned do they? Going into a Samoa game cold is pretty dangerous for the kiwis..

Would'nt surprise if they all beat each other to be honest..it's not the group of death for nothing lol

 

[Souths Till I Die]

You guys just wait. Tonga will be holding the trophy.

 

[adamkungl]

Getting England a Cup will be Wayne Bennett's crowning achievement

 

[Burns]

The kiwis don't have a warm up game planned do they? Going into a Samoa game cold is pretty dangerous for the kiwis..

Would'nt surprise if they all beat each other to be honest..it's not the group of death for nothing lol

Scotland to do a Steven Bradbury and top Group B!

 

[Chimp]

If Tonga are taking the tournament deadly serious and not just using it as a mass piss up, I think they'll knock off at least 1 of the big 3 teams.

 

[Last Week]

NZ will win their pool fairly easily. Samoa will be the closest to them.

England will continue to disappoint in the southern hemisphere. They won't trouble Australia. They'll get better as the tournament goes, but the semi vs NZ will be the real challenge for them.

Australia will be consistent and win this. Possibly may choke in the final, but that's all.

Scotland may surprise. As will Fiji.

Anyone writing off PNG is stupid. The players they have in the Qld Cup will be invaluable.

Lots of rose coloured glasses being worn by posters in here.

 

[roughyedspud]

NZ will win their pool fairly easily. Samoa will be the closest to them.

England will continue to disappoint in the southern hemisphere. They won't trouble Australia. They'll get better as the tournament goes, but the semi vs NZ will be the real challenge for them.

Australia will be consistent and win this. Possibly may choke in the final, but that's all.

Scotland may surprise. As will Fiji.

Anyone writing off PNG is stupid. The players they have in the Qld Cup will be invaluable.

Lots of rose coloured glasses being worn by posters in here.

Saved....

 

[Last Week]

Saved....

I'm trembling.

 

[roughyedspud]

Lol

 

[isaiah]

That's probably why too. Attitude.

Australia are vulnerable and the Kiwis will be lucky to get out of their group. It is England's to win. They need composure in the back end of games vs Australia, their continued Achilles heel.

Why are Aussies vulnerable?

 

[isaiah]

Tonga is an absolute danger team. Games are won by forwards and Taumololo is hands down the best forward in the game. I would love to see tonga go far in this World Cup and I think they might.

Forwards win big games but hingano and s. Langi cannot engineer big wins

 

[Souths Till I Die]

Forwards win big games but hingano and s. Langi cannot engineer big wins

Yeah the halves are definitely a weakness so that's something that the coach will have to look at, but around the park the class is quite good. I'm quite happy Taumololo and Fifita have chosen to not play for the big 2 countries. Makes the World Cup much more interesting.

No one beats Australia anyway. They are 2 classes ahead of everybody else. I just think tonga can make an impact against the other teams especially New Zealand. Their forward pack looks light without Bromwich, proctor and taumololo.

 

[Last Week]

People discounting NZ are being premature. Their forward pack is still the best if not close to.

The issue will be is if they will perform for Kidwell. Even if they don't, they should still make it to the Semis regardless.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Im curious as to what our is better for England's chances:

1) Is it better for England to beat Australia, confidence boost and face possibly tricky Tonga/Samoa/Fiji in the QF and Semi; or
2) Lose against Australia, face an pretty easy PNG in the QF and throw everything against NZ in the Semi?

Definately 1

Australia have to then go through NZ and if the kiwis are up for that game they could either pull off a shock win or take petrol out of the Kangaroos' tank for the final.

England are professional enough to get past a spirited PI team in the semis

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I think England make the final via either path. The islands are being seriously overrated yet again

I think you're right but it's nice that they have risen in stature enough to be spoken about as an outside chance of at least an upset. Previous world cup talk was yawn, big 3, yawn blow-outs right up until the semis. Our code is slowly starting to awaken internationally and all without money. Wait to see what happens when the RLIF have a little cash to spend