2013 Rugby League World Cup Thread

I think everyone is happy that England will be strong. I'm only interested in Australia's international games when they are finding it hard to win, makes it exciting. A few years ago, maybe 2011, England was really putting it to Australia & I think Tomkins scored to make things worse, even though Australia ended up winning it was one of the best international games I've ever seen.
 
I really think it's going to be a Australia v England final. Obviously the Aussies are going to be there, that's a fact and England's been building nicely over the last few years whereas NZ continually go backwards. England are more than capable of beating NZ as they've shown already recently and at home they're going to be even tougher. I'm looking forward to watching all the other countries play, there should be some awesome games in the other divisions.
 
SBW will be playing for NZ which will give them a big boost. I can see Australia missing the final. If they lose their first game against England then they will have a semi against NZ, and we've seen how they go against the Kiwis in big games many times before.

NZ continually going backwards is an odd comment. I'd expect nothing less from an odd person though.

Australia would do themselves a favour if they go for Inglis at fullback, I must say.
 
If Australia lose against England? Lol we're not talking about NZ here. England have kicked NZ out of 2 of the last 3 tournaments (with a little help from Australia.) NZ will play England in the semi's, it's very possible the trend will continue is all I'm saying especially when England are at home and they've got an even better side than the ones that's already beaten NZ in recent years. You gotta think NZ are more at risk dropping out early than Australia, no need to get touchy.

And how can you say it's odd when NZ can beat Australia in one game and then lose the next 9, win one and lose the next 5, win one and lose the next 6 and counting... they go forward for 1 game and go 10 steps back. Yeah the scorelines might sometimes be closer but the fact remains NZ still can't consistently beat the other 2 top nations. And yeah let's drop Slater... :|
 
Last edited:
Junior11 said:
If Australia lose against England? Lol we're not talking about NZ here. England have kicked NZ out of 2 of the last 3 tournaments (with a little help from Australia.) NZ will play England in the semi's, it's very possible the trend will continue is all I'm saying especially when England are at home and they've got an even better side than the ones that's already beaten NZ in recent years. You gotta think NZ are more at risk dropping out early than Australia, no need to get touchy.

And how can you say it's odd when NZ can beat Australia in one game and then lose the next 9, win one and lose the next 5, win one and lose the next 6 and counting... they go forward for 1 game and go 10 steps back. Yeah the scorelines might sometimes be closer but the fact remains NZ still can't consistently beat the other 2 top nations. And yeah let's drop Slater... :|
Click to expand...
Australia has previously struggled in big games against NZ, exhibition matches and whatnot mean nothing if you can't perform in the big matches. I believe a huge England pack can rattle Australia early on and make things difficult. I still think Australia will win it, not comfortably but it will be a tight competition with all but a few teams.

With Australia's loyalty they will stick with Slater, but I don't how it is out of the question? Inglis at the moment is far superior at fullback.
 
Really wish the Australian team was picked on form!

i really wouldn't be suprises if England won it tbh, with a forward back like they'd have plus some pretty good backs could really give Australia and New Zealand a run for there money! Don't know how some Aus fans are so confident on making the final! New Zealand vs. England final IMHO
 
Last edited:
Joel - I don't see how, every international game is a big match, it's the best players in the world, NZ can't use "Tests are no big deal" excuse to not being able to beat Australia more than once every few years. Fair enough they've won a few tournaments but they just can't back it up and they lose credibility when they go on massive losing streaks after winning one. That's what separates the 2 countries and it's why Australia has never been threatened to lose their world number 1 ranking. Yeah NZ have won a few big games but so has Australia and they actually back it up with win after win instead of continusally losing afterwards and saying "oh it's okay, we won a game years ago." And when Australia lose on the rare occassion they make sure they come back the very next game and make up for it and keep on winning. NZ have never done this once. Australia gets criticized for not performing in big matches but for the last 3 years NZ have have had to beat England to make the final and they've even failed to do that. Australia have won 25 of the last 30 games played and have won 5 of the 8 last tournaments including the most recent one and it's Australia who don't perform in big matches? Hmm

Afro Zac - Of course England are going to be a big threat, I stated that clearly in my last post and it's why I think NZ will struggle to even beat them in the qualifying game since they've lost to them in 2 of the 3 last qualifiers already and England are going to be even better. I don't know how Australia are more at risk losing to England when it's Australia who's been beating them while NZ have been losing to them... but each to their own opinion.
 
Last edited:
England and NZ will give Australia one hell of a fight no doubt about it but I believe that with the class in our side (especially our 1,6,7,9) we will win the Tournament.....

Too much class, Too many superstars

My Side

1. Slater
2. Boyd
3. Inglis
4. Jennings
5. Hayne
6. Thurston
7. Cronk
8. Scott
9. Smith (c)
10. Tamou
11. Bird
12. Thaiday
13. Gallen (vc)

14. Farah
15. Lewis
16. Watmough
17. Fifita
 
Last edited:
Yep all 3 teams are going to be extremely tough and I'm not going to go on with it, I'll save it for when the WC gets closer ;) but rhugh89 is right even though I don't fully agree with that side, Australia still has too many stars and too much experience to draw on, let's be serious, if anyone is going to lose to England it's NZ, I'm not saying NZ won't be strong and I'm not even saying England will beat NZ but I'm saying NZ would be the ones to lose to England if it were to happen just going by recent history and the squads.
 
Aussie team i have picked on overall 2013 season form:

1. Greg Inglis
2. James McManus
3. Michael Jennings
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Jarryd Hayne
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. James Maloney
8. Paul Gallen
9. James Segeyaro
10. Andrew Fifita
11. Greg Bird
12. Luke Lewis
13. Anthony Watmough

14. John Sutton
15. Corey Parker
16. Ryan Hoffman
17. Trent Merrin

Obviously that should never be picked, can't leave out the class of Scott, Smith, Thurston, Cronk, Slater etc. But if it was truly picked on 2013 form only this would be an interesting side.
 
Geez I would love to see Andrew Fifita in a Kangaroos jersey at the end of the year :D

No issue between Andrew Fifta and Tim Sheens as the prop eyes Kangaroos debut







Two years ago Tim Sheens had to tell Andrew Fifita the Wests Tigers couldn't afford to keep him, now the giant Blues prop is planning an end-of-season reunion with his old coach in Europe.


Fifita is adamant there are no hard feelings between the two and with Sheens in charge of the Kangaroos who will head off to the World Cup in October, Fifita has revealed it is now his goal to win a spot on the plane.

"I would really love to have an Australian jersey,'' Fifita said."It's been a good year for me so far.

"I have crossed City-Country off the list. State of Origin is crossed off the list.

"To get that green and gold jersey would be the best thing ever. It's everyone's dream."


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...kanagaroos-debut/story-fni3fbgz-1226676728494
 
The results don't back up the call that NZ is declining, they had two eight point losses to Aus last year and a great showing with half their side out in this years Anzac test. But whatever you want to believe in your head Junior, I know according to you every time NZ wins a tournament it's a big fluke anyway. :lol: No idea!
 
You really should make a career out of twisting people's words since you're so good at it! I never said NZ were declining, I said they continually go backwards, they win one game and then go on massive losing streaks but whatever, no point arguing the point. Keep trying to convince yourself that NZ are so good because they've won a whole 5 games in 10 years! :applause:
 
Going backwards doesn't generally mean getting closer to winning. Perhaps you should say what you actually mean, you continually seem to get misinterpreted on here.

I'm not convincing myself NZ are so good, they should win more games in between tournaments ... however circumstances are often against them in these games. They've had one home Anzac Test in 15 years, for example. Blind freddie can see they perform a lot better in tournaments.

I'm just not in denial that they can win tournaments and deserve to, unlike you.

Your stats are off by the way, they've won over 20 tests in the past ten years. Or let me guess, that's "not what you meant"?
 
James is right about the record of NZ over the last decade (Since 2003) they have won 21 tests but the majority of those victories were against teams ranked lower than them...

PNG (2)
France (4)
Samoa (1)
Wales (1)
Great Britain/England (6)
Tonga (2)

On a head to head basis....Since 2003 Australia and New Zealand have played each other 29 times, Australia winning 22, NZ 5 and there was 2 draws.

That being said 3 out of those 5 wins by NZ were in Tournament finals...

- 2005 Tri Nations (NZ beat us twice in this tournament)
- 2008 World Cup
- 2010 4 Nations

So I guess to sum it up...

Australia will dominate their group and will make the final and I think they will go through undefeated

NZ have a great record in tournament Rugby League in modern times so they too will make the final

They are the 2 best teams in the world

The result in the final could go either way really....Australia to win by 1-12 but Australia must improve their record in finals

* It should be noted too that Australia has won the last 7 straight test matches against NZ

* Also NZ have never beaten Australia in a World Cup match in England

* NZ haven't won a test since November 2011 when they beat Wales 36-0


For latest rankings...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RLIF_World_Rankings

Australia are way in front of everyone else
 
Last edited:
No I don't? ONCE AGAIN you're just the only one who twists words to try and make yourself look smarter and it's not working, if you couldn't work out that I meant NZ go backwards by winning a game then go on a losing streak when I actually say that NZ go backwards when they win a game and then go on a losing streak then that's your own fault lol

Excuses, excuses! Blah blah blah

How do you figure they've won 20 tests? I hope you're not talking about against lower ranked countries. Oh you are. Well what a feather in the cap of NZ that they can beat PNG and France... Sadly it looks like you've failed to follow this entire discussion, obviously my stats were based on Australia v NZ when I said NZ have won just 5 in 10 years, who the hell counts games against those countries especially when we're only on the topic of Australia v NZ haha good lord..

2 of the last 3 tournaments they've been kicked out by England, what more do I have to say. All I've said is that this recent trend of them being kicked out early is a real risk for them and then James goes on a big cry about it. Who cares what they won 5-8 years ago. If we wanna go that far back we might as well include Australia winning the 2000 World Cup, 2004 Tri Nations, 2006 Tri Nations, 2009 Four Nations, 2011 Four Nations etc.

The fact is NZ haven't even made the final of 2 of the last 3 tournaments, they've been beaten by England 2/3 of the last games and Australia has won 2 of the last 3 tournaments including the most recent and NZ are on a 6 game and counting losing streak against Australia. That's not exactly good form to be in heading into a World Cup. To say Australia are more at risk to losing to England even after these facts is pretty funny.
 
Last edited:
It's the big games NZ have won the past 6 years that have mattered.

End of the day that's what counts. World Cup champs & four nations champs against Australia (remembering aus never played NZ in final in 2011)
 
The whole thing that started this was who would be in the WC final. I said NZ are more at risk of not being there because of the last 3 tournaments they have been knocked out early in 2 of them thanks to England and Australia. In the World Cup, NZ will have to verse England before they play Australia in the final and going off recent results it's going to be a very dangerous game for NZ with everything in England's favour. Surely what's happened in the last 3-4 years is more important to what happened beyond that. There's nothing more I can say, I'm sure James will have plenty more to twist but I'm not going on with it any more.
 
Last edited:
Junior11 said:
No I don't? ONCE AGAIN you're just the only one who twists words to try and make yourself look smarter and it's not working, if you couldn't work out that I meant NZ go backwards by winning a game then go on a losing streak when I actually say that NZ go backwards when they win a game and then go on a losing streak then that's your own fault lol
Click to expand...

I would need a phd to follow this sentence.

As for the test victories by NZ, if you mean NZ in tests against Australia, then say NZ in tests against Australia. It's hardly twisting words if you say NZ has won five tests in the last ten years and I point out they have won loads more.

As for excuses - compare NZ's success rate in tournaments compared to one off tests. It's not excuses, it's there in black and white.
 
rhugh89 said:
James is right about the record of NZ over the last decade (Since 2003) they have won 19 tests but the majority of those victories were against teams ranked lower than them...

PNG (2)
France (4)
Samoa (1)
Wales (1)
Great Britain/England (6)
Click to expand...

You're missing two wins against Tonga. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top