Now that NZ and Aus are out, SA fans just can't stop saying that they are clear favorites and should win.?

Question

I really think that both France and England can beat SA without that much trouble. SA wasn't tested by a major team yet (that wasn't the real England team they played in the grp stage), and looked very fragile against fiji! We can't say that fiji are as though as France, England or Argentina. They are so cocky I would love Argentina to beat them, which is far from being impossible. Anyway I think all 4 semi finalists can clinch the title, what do u think?

Answer 1

No Northern Hemisphere really deserves to win the world cup, especially England.

Answer 2

SA can find themselves in hot water if they don't take Argie seriously. Just to think that the title is theirs is foolish. The game is won on the field in 80 minutes and not in the press.  Until the game against Fiji they were not fully tested, and during that game they showed some cracks that Argies will surely study well and press hard on those weaknesses. I'm putting my money on the Argies.

Answer 3

It amazes me that all the rugby fans out there that cheer for their team when on a winning streak, but just let them lose and all #&* breaks loose.It then becomes a witch hunt as who to blame for their teams loss. They do not for one minute take the time to think that maybe, just maybe the winning team was a better team that theirs.

It is pointless in people bad mouthing other teams for still being in the run for the cup. The last four teams that are still in the game for the cup have worked hard and played superbly and that is why they are still there and have not been sent packing.

SA has always been rated the third best and now that they are the favourites to win have some right to be cocky, would'nt you be if your team was in the last four to win the cup.

May the best team win the cup.

"Hardloop Bokkies hardloop."

Answer 4

I think about the top 10 nations in the rugby world walked into the world cup thinking they were gonna win it so I dont know why your saying SA is the only cocky nation, France and especially england are as cocky maybe even a little more after knocking out 1st and 2nd rank respectively.

Answer 5

Nothing cocky about predicting your team will win the cup. The Aussies did it and the New Zealanders did it, and being the 2nd and 1st ranked teams, they had every right to. Now they are out of the running and the Springboks are the 3rd ranked team. What's you problem?

France can beat the boks and Argentina could maybe beat the boks, but believe me, not without a h**l of a lot of trouble.

This English team however, naaah.

Answer 6

Hey turniton are you saying that a South African commentary would have been completely unbiased?  what a crock.  If you watch France playing in France, and listen to a French commentary who do you think the commentators will favour.??  As for drunken English fans....of course they were - their team just beat one of the favourites.... you sound mighty precious for someone coming from a country which prides itself on producing 'hard' men.  Get over yourself.  SA are highly likely to win the RWC - so I expect if they do, you'll just say 'that was nice Cara' to your wife whilst drinking your juice.  Nah didn't think so.

*edit*

C'mon you can't expect to post such inflammatory comments and not get a response - isn't that what these blogs are all about?  and as for me being a cretin and needing to understand my own language first... well sorry but I'd like to think I'm a fairly well-educated multi-lingual cretin!!  and just maybe I am Australian...

Ottenga una vita!

Answer 7

Indeed the 4 teams could make it. But the question may be: who has the solution against Argentina? ok, without so many stupid mistakes, france would have made it for the first match, but still, if Argentina is in a good day (not like sunday, I mean), it will be very difficult to beat them.

Answer 8

France have a good chance.......england definitely wont do it

Answer 9

According to the I.R.B. and the bookies we ARE the favorites to take the cup.  We are just quoting a fact, not necessarily our opinion.  It stands to reason, that as the third top rated Rugby playing nation in the world and with the two top teams out of the running, we are now the favorites.  Pure logic,Geez.

Answer 10

I wouldn't say they are clear favourites, just slightly over France.  However the last 5 or 6 meetings between the 2, S.A have only won 1.

I think if England beat France, which is possible of course, S.A will beat England.  Even in their group match England had no ideas, obviously the final would be closer.

But what this world cup has given us, is surprises, and as you said it wouldn't be a total shock, if ANY of the semi finalists won. (Don't fancy Argentina to do it though).

Answer 11

France will win.

They have a good team this year.

I think the winner of Saturday's England-France may be the new world champion.

Answer 12

Soy argentino, perdón no hablo inglés. El equipo con mas fuerza y ánimo para llegar a la final es PUMAS DE ARGENTINA.que les parece. Lástima que no esté Filipinas con su buen Rugby

Answer 13

I think it doesn't matter who wins the cup now. It is all a big farce. NZ never had a chance, and that is all we ask a fair chance to play a good game of rugby against a good team on the day. Not a one sided unfair game (if you can call it that) that was played. I will watch the rest of the games and bet that the NZ ref will be fair. Sport , fun and honour is what it is about.  None of that was in our semi final Good luck to all of the people playing the rest of the games without the best team there! Welcome home Guy's.

Answer 14

i am a proudly south African and i think the springbok are the best team at the moment, that can beat the pumas and we are going to the finals and bring the cup home .

Answer 15

I watched the NZ - France game and the SA - Fiji game, I am in Rome at the moment.

I am South African and my wife is Italian.

I was quite disgusted with the whole affair, to say the least.

First of all, before the France game the drunk English were shouting how they "whipped" Australia. 12 - 10 is hardly a whipping.

Then the English were cheering for France (when have England ever supported France in anything) so that perhaps they would not have to meet New Zealand in the Semis.

(The Australians were also cheering for France - out of spite)

New Zealand played not only against France, but also against the referee and the crowd, and unfortunately I had to listen to the one-sided French commentary.

I was in shock as not a single decision went against France for almost half an hour, with a string of penalties against New Zealand??!!

I don't believe there was a team that would have beat France that day with that Ref and that crowd!

Come the SA - Fiji game, (the Australians were swearing that the South Africans were all arrogant b******s and cheering the French) exactly the same support for Fiji from the French and English (all of a sudden best mates??!!) neither of whom want to face SA in the possible final!!

A forward pass by about 3m goes by unchallenged by ref or linesmen to see the 3rd umpire asked if a try had been scored??!!

I enjoy Rugby, but never before have I seen such a farce as this Rugby World Cup.

I think the fans in particular deserve a lesson on sportsmanship and good will, and your question just proves my point!

xx edit xx

hey Diva,

thanks for the personal attack,

you didn't mention where you're from,

but you could perhaps be Australian (judging from the fact that you can't read properly).

I am in ROME and watched the rugby in ROME, not in France!

And please forget the weak attempts at feigning knowledge of other cultures - call my wife "cara"!

Ma tu sei proprio un cretino se pensi che tutti gli Italiani parlano cosi, prima prova ad imparare bene la tua propria lingua!

xx edit xx

Diva,

"ottenga una vita", is the polite way of confirming that I already have a life - so thanks.

fati una vita - is what you should do!

At least you have learnt something from me, I on the other hand don't have that pleasure.

Answer 16

There's nothing wrong with fans supporting their team and believing that they can win.

They have every right to believe they are favourties..... because they are!! I'm not South African but if I was I would be stoked at the moment.

SA didn't play the "real" England team?? Was that some team of imposters or something? Oh yeh I guess you have a point, the England team IS Johnny Wilkinson and he wasn't playing......

From my experiences and IMO the Springbok's are the sort of team that plays to the level of their opposition. They usually do not fire against weaker teams and play well below their best. One thing they are good at doing is rising to the occasion. The bigger the challenge is, the better they will play.

But yes all 4 teams left have a chance of clinching the title. SA shouldn't be counting their chickens but they have every reason to be confident.

Answer 17

How can any rugby fan be cocky about their teams chances when you have the biggest unknown factor in every game , namely the ref. Poor refereeing took out NZ. While Allan Lewis, Walsh and Honis nearly ruined SA's chances against Fiji by blatantly allowing Fiji to break just about every rule in the book . SA rugby is so sick of labels such as arrogant,brutal,cocky etc esp by "perfidious albion" (google that one if you don't know what it means- i'm guessing you are one of those supercillious pom supporters)