KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Predictions:
Plasmodium
Good post Eric, but I fear the French will have the ABs number. Too many things not working for the team. The forwards had weeks to work on the lineout and still don't have it right. I'd have taken Troy, given up Jerry at 6 in the big games, played Flavell in his place, and have three players to throw to. Dan Carter has proved to be another Wilko (great kick, average run). He couldn't find the gap against the Boks or the Wallabies, and won't find it against quality teams at the RWC. MacAlister is a great runner and could be the star of the competition, but Toeava is a few seasons away from being top class, so you have a possible weakness in the midfield and the French, with Jauzion and Marty, don't. Mils doesn't hit the line very well, so you have no real firepower at FB, but then Poitrenaud is no Blanco. Even Steven there. I rate Elissalde higher than Kelleher although Leonard could also break out in September. However, the French can't match Joe and Sivi on the wings. But their pack is great: a front row as good as yours, and better locks in Pelous and Thion. And what a battle it'll be in the back row - Les Bleus can choose from Vermeulen, Remy Martin, Chabal, Bonnaire, Betsen and Harinordoquy, and not even you guys have that kind of depth. On paper (mine anyway) the French win. But if you think the ABs will have pressure, the French will have twice as much having lost the soccer world cup. In the end, it's a game played with a ball that has corners, so don't bet the farm on the result.
Vorno (Auckland)
France won't make it through the pool stages as they will be out-passioned by Argentina and then out-muscled by Ireland. I'm backing Argentina to be the dark horse and go all the way to the final. They have a lot of passion and if they can keep that passion going then they will surprise all. Final All Blacks VS Argentina with the All Blacks winning by 21 points.
Adam
World Cup final France 20 Ireland 18. The All Blacks will lose to France in the quarter finals.
Bruce
All things being equal South Africa and France will meet in one semi-final while New Zealand and Australia meet in the other. I'm picking South Africa to get past France to make their second finals appearance. Unless NZ has a masterplan to stun the rugby world, there is nothing between the Wallabies and All Blacks based on the kicking duels from this years Tri-Nations. It's more likely that a team will prevail over talent individuals. Australia have twice knocked NZ out of a playoff game in a World Cup. Perhaps the irony for New Zealanders will be watching the losers of the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup battle each other for the greatest prize of them all.
Ipipiri (Bay of Islands)
All Blacks, Springbok final, we will play Ireland in first semi, Austraila next semi, Springboks in final.
Sean
I think NZ & South Africa will meet in the final. I believe we have the strength in our forwards to take Aussie out in the semis & than our backs should prove the difference in the final against the Boks.
Shawn
South Africa will win 23-18 against New Zealand.
Chutney (Hastings)
The All Blacks have their greatest chance to win a World Cup since they choked in '95. They are still not the finished article but are the stand out squad at present. France are, as ever, an enigma for no one knows who will race out of the changing room, South Africa may be the truer challenge and Australia can always pull off a surprise but not with the current front row weaknesses. So probably the NZ side going for the big prize, however, there is many a slip twixt cup and lip.
Grivyn
QF1: Wales v England
QF2: New Zealand v France
QF3: South Africa v Australia
QF4: Ireland v Italy
SF1: Wales v New Zealand
SF2: South Africa v Ireland
Final: New Zealand v Ireland
Winner: New Zealand
Hec
All Blacks must go in as favourites but we have yet to beat Aussie at a world cup event. That is our tallest rock and once past them we are home and hosed. Do you realise we have never lost a test with when we use the new haka. So let's save that for the final.
Ricky from Manurewa Hard
All Blacks to win. All Blacks Wallaby final. All Blacks to win by 13+ points. Score to be 2915.
Harry L (Waitakere City)
All Black versus France in final. Score (flashback to 1987) 29-9 to the ABs!
Wadsworth (Ohio, USA)
My predictions for the RWC -
Final: NZ 37 Ireland 12
Bronze: South Africa 26 Australia 15
I have not been wrong on a RWC final prediction yet and don't intend to start now.
Kiwi in Canada
Quarter Finals: Australia v England, New Zealand v Argentina, South Africa v Wales, France v Italy.
Semi's: Australia v New Zealand, South Africa v France.
3rd Playoff: Australia v France (France win).
Final: New Zealand 29 South Africa 14.
Confident All Blacks fan
The All Blacks will win the final 32-9 against not-so-mighty England. I guarantee it.
Kiwi stuck in Oz
Well, the ABs will be one finalist, that's a given. I'm going to stick my neck out and say they will play Ireland why? Well, the draw really, if they beat France in pool game (highly likely scenario), then they will walk into a semi against the Boks and I think on any given day they can beat the Boks who have a problem playing away an suffer from home sickness more than any other side. Okay, a score 27-18 to NZ. Man of tournament - Dan Carter.
Antz
Graham Henry and co picked a 22 reconditioning group so the All Blacks will not peak come RWC time. The news coming from the ABs camp was all positive to how the players were coming through the 7 week process. Their performance in the test arena have been sound with out being superb with rugby experts and the All Black faithful crying out for a settled XV and consistency along with it. The win over the Wallabies Saturday gone was gutsy. There were positives all round, starting with the engine room, Haymen, Oliver and Woodcock shunted the flimsy scrum that the Aussie reporters claim that is improving while giving their supporters a false sense of security. The line-out improved as the match wore on but still is patchy and the back-row were phenomenal as they have been during the Tri-Nations. With that said, the selections of the WC squad have been a surprise to many with the outing of Weepu. Ellis was impressive last year but his form this year has been somewhat subdued with Keven Senio being the first preference in the Crusaders line-up. Lauaki picked himself with outstanding performances in the back half of the Super14. All Blacks vs South Africa, Blacks by 8.
Kretzy
This email emanates from South Africa from an All Black fan which might seem unpatriotic but then some of us here, not many though, find it difficult to let go of the past and who still feel that Springbok rugby does not serve the broader interests of this society. Let me also add by saying that Bismarck once said that "Patriotism is the passion of fools and the most foolish of passions"! I support the All Blacks primarily because of the way they play and the standards which they strive for, unlike the Springboks who are cynical in their approach and will do anything to frustrate the opposition. Unfortunately the rules today negate the attacking option of the scrum and off course rucking is forbidden. The game has been slowed down to the point where defensive sides can stay in touch on the scoreboard as demonstrated by both Australia and South Africa in the recent Tri-Nations series and then win almost by default. I hope the All Blacks are able to, when it is necessary vary their play and to pick players from their squad commensurate with the opposition they will face. I agree with most ex-All Black players view that the WC will be a NZ/France final but SA loom large in this equation. Meet them on the physical front first, then run them off their feet and the game is won!
I have bet the house that this time you will lift that elusive trophy. All Blacks!
Hoop
Australia and France will be in the final
France 13 Australia 11. France will win it.
Grant Jordan (Perth)
I think Australia will win the World Cup by about 15 points over England. New Zealand and South Africa, being true rugby nations, will (as usual) implode under the crushing weight of public expectation. Australia and England, being Aussie Rules and Soccer nations respectively, can prepare for the Cup under a less intense (yet still sizeable) spotlight.
Blackheart (Sunshine Coast, Australia)
A keen All Black supporter who has been disappointed with the error rate and some poor options taken on the field. I was pleased to see a huge improvement against Australia (including the ref). Disappointed with the negative comments and suggestions about race bias from back home. All Black/France final, All Blacks to win 25-12.
Bospomp
All Blacks will play the Springboks in the final, Springboks will win this one 17-13. ABs will win Aus and Springboks will win France. I think the AB team is mature enough to tip the Ausies and have the hunger now to do it, Aus also are to dependant on key players, one injury to Larkham, Gregan, Smith, Vickerman, one prop or one of the centres and they will be tickets (no decent backup in any of these positions). ABs will be too over confident and too eager to win in final, proven each time they played Springboks in WC, just what JW is planning for, having a few plans up his sleeve again (remember rush defence, watch this one) and attitude (why springboks win 95 and 99 against ABs, just seems to play like a real team come world cup, especially if they are the underdogs), France will not make it, even with home advantage, simply too unpredictable and even if they play their best, I don't think they are currently good enough.
Chuffybuck (Tauranga)
All Blacks to win by 27 points! Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora ka ora!
Rugby fan (Melbourne)
I've looked at the world cup fixtures (I hope it's not classed as cheating) and have comprised a complete prediction of the entire world cup, the first name I mention will be the winner of that pool then the runner up of that group will be the second name mentioned. pool A SA, ENG. Pool B AUS, WALES. Pool C NZ, Italy or Scotland. Pool D FRA, Ireland or Argentina. Then quarter finals will be AUS beat ENG, NZ beat Ireland or ARG, SA beat Wales and FRA will beat Scotland. NZ will beat AUS in semi's but it will be a close game between SA and France. Ill pick South Africa. Which means SA and NZ will be in Finals. No home town advantage which means NZ will win and comfortably. Score 30 - 16 to NZ.
Danis (Auckland)
World Cup final: ABs 27 over Aussie 9.
Dave
The All Blacks will meet South Africa in the final and win by between 11 and 16 points. If they get past the Wallabies in the semis that is all but a certainty. The weakness of the All Blacks rests with their lineout and the fact that they only seem to score tries from broken play and seem incapable of creating anything from normal play or set piece through the backs. I can't recall seeing many, if any set moves through the ALL Black backs in the Tri Nations. If a team does limits their turnover ball and handling errors the All Blacks will struggle to score tries and this could prove their undoing. South Africa and Australia seem the only sides capable of doing this tot he ABs.
Bones
All Blacks to beat France 29-9.
Hairyangryfella
All Blacks over Ireland in the final by 12.
Ian Wright
It's interesting that Bull never mentions the Boks. Does he really think that they will not enter the frey? The All Blacks beat them twice this year, but until the last 10 minutes looked very vulnerable. In both games the Boks were under strength especially missing their Captain. They could have won either game and the Boks know it. The big factor in this World Cup is how the refs blow McCaw, if he is allowed to have a carte blanche to infringe at every break down the All Blacks will win. If the refs blow him like they have Burger and Smith, then a fair game should prove interesting. Bull writes the Boks off a little too lightly. This year they have crossed a big mental barrier in knowing that they can beat the All Blacks and deep down the All Blacks know this. They now also have a back line that can inflict a large deal of pain. One should also remember that the internal politics within South Africa will make them even more hungry to prove that they can go all the way. All Blacks favourites, definitely, Australia after that, I am not sure, but any one of these three and France can win it.
Garry (Manukau)
Final will be held against All Blacks VS South Africa. Final Score would be All Blacks 26 - South Africa 20.
Ian Morine
2007 Rugby World Cup final: AB's V South Africa (a boring game on Sth Africa's part anyway). Final score = AB's 27 / Sth Africa 12.
Midge (Paraparaumu)
South Africa vs New Zealand final. Springboks by 10 25 15. All Blacks are haunted by failure.