What gives the English the right to think they have the slightest chance of retaining their trophy?

Question

HA ha ha.Poor old English,always losing......

Answer 1

Well the way you put that question you don't sound very keen on the holders retaining their magnificently won trophy (ah, might have given away my allegiance there...).

Anyway, IRB World Rankings currently put England as seventh best in the world.  Even if you think these sort of rankings are just rank, there's surely something in them that suggests England are one of the top sides in world rugby.   And any of the top teams could beat another in the knock-out later stages of the tournament (assuming England can progress through some tricky pool games).  The clear favourites are of course, and usually as ever, the powerful New Zealand side.  But just look at the last RWC when an unfancied Australian side powered through to only just lose the final to that fantastic Wilkinson drop goal (oops, reminiscing again :-).  Any of the top eight IRB-ranked sides should win, but you never know if one of the slightly lower-ranked sides might pull some shock results and take the trophy.  That said, I can't see past either the All Black strength in depth or "Les Bleus" passionate home support!

But if Jonny can just recapture some of that 2003 magic...

Answer 2

English media said so,they hav to have some sort of hope(even if its false hope}.They believe their own press.thats sad very sad , no pathetic is the word,oh well at least the Barmy Army are good for a few pints

Answer 3

Yes quite - but then again... they've been the holders of the trophy for the last four years!  Yawn yawn anyway, this constant anti-English thing is sooo tedious, like an annoying little terrier attacking your leg.

Answer 4

Because they do.  They are one of the favourites actually.  They are right behind New Zealand, France, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Ireland and Italy... but ahead of Wales... JUST!  hahaha Crazy Poms!

Answer 5

Hmmm... I at least think I have the right to HOPE that we can retain it...

Answer 6

Stranger things have happened. But at the moment I can not think of one.

Answer 7

The English go into every competition not just hoping/ thinking they'll win but anything other that a win is a disaster. This goes for Rugby & Soccer, in other words thye set themselves up for the fall. Its just the English attitude, its their nature.

Not taking away from their win last time round, but it couldnt have been sweeter.....Ireland went on to beat them in Twickenham in the first international after the World cup final.

But a team loses slight once they have reached the highest they can go, same is happening to my beloved Munster, one year we win the cup and the next year we lose our Thomond Park record and go out in the quarter finals, the drive is gone

Answer 8

Damiem, welcome to the realities of the English psyche!!!

It's one of the first things I noticed about the Poms when I lived there. While the Aussie or NZ press generally write in a positive tone about their respective teams, the English press sell papers by penning consistently pessimistic articles about their team's chances.

England won't get past the Quarters 's IMO, their 10 man style won't cut it against the top 4 or 5 sides. (Yes I KNOW it worked against us in 2003 lol)

They have a world class forward pack, I'll give them that, but their backs will struggle big time this time around.

Australia to knock them out in the QF's............

Answer 9

Let them keep their delusions.

It will be all the more sweeter for every other Rugby nation when they make their exit next month - the earlier in the month, the better

Answer 10

If England can roll RSA in their pool match - they may get further than many think. But it is kind of sad that the reigning champs have been written off and are not really expected to make it past the quarters.  

Any world champ has the right to expect to be able to retain their place at the top. You simply don't win world cups by writing yourself off.