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Well to be honest going by the Shape and Form England are currently are in Johnny Wilkinson is in not fit state` to play a Full game to the Standard he raised in the Previous Victory of the Last Worldcup. So He is out in my book. As far as finding someone to fill his shoes, nobody can! We deeply miss someone like Delallio, Will Carling. In my book based on the perfomances we put in the 6-7 Nations Cup( depending on how you like that tournament to be rembered,) I think we were very poor, I know It was lovly to see Wilkinson Return, he was not in any way in form compared to his former-self in the Glorious Final Victory in The Previous World Cup Tournament! So in my conclusion I wouldnt even bother trying to defend our World Championship, I know we must, but my prediction will be Humiliation. And yes I am Very English, I was Born in Basildon DGH, but currently reside in Eastbourne.

Going bye some of my Previous Article I wrote, on How will you Country fare in the Upcoming Rugby World Cup? I honestly cannot percieve England retaing the Worldcup! I know that is awfull for an England Ruby Fan to say this, But Im Honest, amd I tell it like I see it! That is the Type of Guy I am. I loved the Fact that we won the Rugby World Cup last time around, but that was when we had a resonably fit Squad, who worked well Under the conditions if their manager at the time. But going back to the Current Squad selection under New Management, I dont believe they have had a long enough settling period to get to know each others strengths as well as there obvoius weaknesses. So to cut a long story short I will drink a Pint of extra salted water if they defend there Worlcup Title Sucessfully, which probably will not do my body any good at all, but you can remind me of my promise to you if they win, but they must win with Gusto Convincingly!

If I could pinpont one thing or person within my lifetime of The All Blacks, dont forget I was born in 1975, that one person that helped The All Black side as far as I can remember is, Jona Lomu! I hope I have spelled his name correctly!(Sorry Jona, if I havn't!) He was a remarkable all rounder, with ability to run, dodge, tackle! Currently Im not so hot on the Current Selection Status of the All Black Squad. I freely admit that! But I think the Time Period in the Early 80's and mid to late Ninety's was a good Period For the New Zealanders! I carnt reall say anymore on this Question as before the mid-eighties I was too young to understand the rules of Rugby!

Well I shall now Predict by the little knowledge I have on some World Cup Quality Teams, on who I think will win the World Cup Tournament and why! Firstly I think Im a fairly safe to say that England can not defend there title this time around. Secondly I think France, Ireland and even Wales have a good possible chance this season! I would like to see a Stronger New- Zealand side, I didnt think Italy looked very stong, based on the 6-7 Nations Perfomances. But I Think in this Particular Tounament it is Wide Open! But i will Catergoricly say that The Host of this years World Cup could win the whole thing. why I coouldnt really honestly explain, call it a Hunch if you like! But dont place a bet just because you read my article!

Im quite surprised nobody else has submitted an Article yet! As there is only is only 7 days left to submit your 4 articles. i would appreciate feedback as this is my first time ever writing as an Amateur Sports Journalist. And it would be unfair if I was the only entery!

This guy's a bit weird - he can't spell his own surnake!

The All Blacks have been described as chokers. The reason for this is that the All Blacks have been either the favorites, or one of the favorites, for each of the five rugby world cups (RWC) but have only made the final twice, firstly in the inaugural tournament in New Zealand in 1987, which the All Blacks s won comfortably, and secondly in 1995 in which they narrowly lost to a South African side playing at home in front of Nelson Mandela, shortly after the end of apartheid. In the three world cups that the All Blacks have failed to make the final, they have lost in the semifinals, firstly to Australia in England in 1991, then to France in Paris in 1999, and finally to Australia once again, but this time in Australia during the last world cup in 2003. Poisoning accusations beside, the Laurie Mains coached All Blacks played very well at the 1995 RWC in South Africa, and in a final which would have been an historical faux-pas to win given the political significance, if Andrew Mehrtons had been success

successful in one of his drop goal attempts, and Joel Stransky (affectionately referred to as “the Jew-boy” after the final by the then South African coach) had been unsuccessful, the All Blacks would have won two out of three RWC by 1995. As it was, South Africa won 15-12 in 1995; Australia defeated England in 1991, having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat not only against Ireland in the quarters (final score 19-18 to Australia), but also against the All Blacks through a stunning late try by David Campese (16-6 to Australia). It was one RWC a piece between the southern hemisphere rugby superpowers of South Africa and New Zealand by 1995, and Australia had won one they probably shouldn’t have, with an extraordinary strong team Australia would rarely if ever have the opportunity to field again.

Roll on 1999. France only scrape their way through to a semifinal against a John Hart coached AB team, after New Zealand referee Paddy O’Brian awarded France a penalty try late in the game. Earlier in the year France had toured New Zealand and suffered heavy defeats, in which the All Blacks seemingly had little difficulty racking-up 50 points in each test against the hapless French. No one, not even the French themselves, openly anyway, appeared to believe that France had any chance of toppling the All Blacks in the semifinal in Paris in 1999. But on the day, besides two powerful and spirited tries by Jonah Lomu, the rest of the team appeared as if they believed all they needed to do was turn-up to win the game. In fact, Lomu, and one or two of the forwards aside, the All Blacks showed little fight, determination or passion in that game, one some have described as the darkest day in New Zealand rugby. France won 43-31. France then of course went on to face the Australians who defeated them 35-12 in Cardiff w

Cardiff with yet another extraordinary strong team Australia would rarely if ever have the opportunity to field again. What was to happen in 2003 to John Mitchell’s all conquering All Blacks team could of, and was, seen coming by most except the English fans who expected their side to face the almost seemingly invincible All Blacks in the final, rather than what had been a poorly performing Australian team leading up to the RWC. The All Blacks attacked from the outset in the semifinal against Australia that they were once again favoured to win, and looked as if they were seconds away from scoring the first try of the match as the Australian defense scrambled to contain them, before All Black first-five Carlos Spencer threw a nonchalantly speculative pass that the Australian centre Stirling Mortlock intercepted and ran unmolested for 75 metres to touch down for the first try of the semifinal.

Like the French in 1999, the All Blacks had crushed Australia earlier in 2003. Unlike the French however, the All Black victory of 56-6 had been on Australian soil. How could Australia come back from such a demoralizing demolition to stun the All Black 24-12 in the semifinal of the RWC only a matter of months later? The 2003 Australians, like the South Africans in 1995 defended their line with pride, stoutly, and out-muscled the All Blacks much as France had succeeded to do in 1999. The All Blacks were starved of a solid, purposeful mobile platform which could win, protect and provide good ball to the backline. Unlike the backline of 1999, which basically succumbed to the French kicking game, the 2003 All Black backs held their ground – but that is about all they did. In both the 1999 and 2003 semifinals, with the exception of Jonah Lomu in 1999, the respective All Black backlines failed to fire behind their struggling packs. The 1999 backs were reduced to bumbling, butter-fingered headless chickens. That of

That of 2003, was admittedly missing Tana Umaga at centre (injured in the All Blacks very first match of the 2003 RWC against Italy - a game he didn’t need to play in!), and fullback Leon MacDonald was asked to cover the position. But why was the strike-power of Ma’a Nonu, Umaga’s protégé, left warming a seat in the stand. The backline in 2003 defended well, but lacked the Australian penetration and flare. Is there is a pattern that has emerged from the semifinal defeats in 1991, 1999 and 2003? In all three games the All Blacks were expected to win, and indeed expected to win. It could be hypothesized that a lack of preparedness accounted for the losses in each of the three occasions, given that each team simply appeared to turned-up to a RWC semi-final as if it were just another test match, and once stunned by a moment of individual brilliance by the opposition, with the exception of Lomu in 1999, and Ruben Thorn’s captains try in 2003, there were little signs of a plan-B, or even desperation.

Part of the problem may be that the All Blacks can not count on meeting much if any opposition until they reach the semifinals. That is, the All Blacks may very well be at the top of their game when the tournament begins, but after breezing through four or even five games leading up the semifinals in which their dominance is rarely challenged for a moment, they lose match fitness at the intensity, and the focus, required to win matches at the highest level. Having said that, Wales provided the All Blacks with a stern warm-up for Australia in 2003, and that didn’t seem to wake the All Black team up for the semi against Australia. This brings me to the arrogance that has been attributed to All Black teams over the years. Are the All Blacks simply a victim of their own success at the RWC? Are the players, and indeed the management and coaches prone to believing the teams own hype? Certainly, the 1999 team may have produced the biggest media circus thus far, with huge billboards of Jonah Lomu adorning buildi

buildings in London, and the likenesses of All Black front-row painted on the fuselage of the aeroplane the team traveled in. At the semifinals of the RWC, the best team will not win without at the very least an equal amount of determination and desperation as a lesser team to do so. If the All Blacks believe they are not allowed to express their desire, determination and desperation to win on the field, but are to remain poker-faced throughout the hard-times, as if unaffected like Olympian gods they will not play with desire, determination and desperation and they will surely lose. To put it simply, either the All Blacks aren’t as dominant as their record suggests outside the RWC, which is as much as saying that as good as they think they are. Alternatively, perhaps successive All Black teams simply haven’t accounted for the step-up that a RWC semifinal is from all other matches – with the exception of the final. The All Blacks may also have been trapped by expectations born of their own history that they

The All Blacks may also have been trapped by expectations born of their own history that they are somehow above battling in the trenches for every inch that it takes to win, when the opposition is throwing everything at you. Lastly, and this is not unrelated to the last point, are the All Black more afraid of losing having given it everything, than they are relieved or satisfied to have won?

Given that I've been horribly verbose above, this will be short and sweet. South Africa and France (or Ireland, or Argentina) will be one semi; and the All Blacks v Australia the other, if NZ doesn't get tipped over by Ireland in the quarter final. Groups A & D are competitive groups. C & D offer little resistance to Australia and NZ. This will work to the advantage of a group A or D team, such as France.

The All Blacks will have no useful games in Pool C, despite what Scotlands victory over Ireland last night suggests. Once again, they will faulter before the final.

England face Australia in the quarters, if they even manage to get passed the Pool stage, so it is all over for England at that point. England are unlikely to beat the Boks, despite the good English performance against Wales.

I meant Pools B & C offer little resistance to Australia and NZ. This will work to the advantage of a group A or D team, such as France.

I wish you the best of luck in this competition Wayne. I truly mean it. You have far greatre knoledge of your countrys facts and history than i do of my own team!

Plus my spelling is yet to improve on the odd occasion!

Actually yes! Pool C has only NZL as a top quality team which means that as long as they can beat Italy they are in to the quarterfinals. Here is where many see Scotland falling where it always has to France, but stop right there and take a step back. Nzl has always been Scotlands nemisis. And in past cups they alwaays loose in the semis to teams the overconfidentaly expect to beat. And scotland plays NZL at home in Ediborough. Lets say that NZL coms in boasing ovrconfidence like they always do and Scotlands manages to srike an early blow. Then we have a clasic case of what we have sen whenever NZL looses in th RWC. If Scotlnd can manage an upset here they then face Ireland in the knockout stages. A team they recently defeated. A win there and thay have at least a 4th place fininsh. But you never know! Maby a little magic and there might be woad blue on the podium this year!