RWC Forecast Round 4b

Last weekend of the pool stages and there’s some very contentious match-ups all across the board. Who will top Pool D? Can Romania upset Italy to qualify for 2019? Will Japan find a way into the quarters? Here we go!

Chris and Victor appear to be lost in the barrens, but we’ve got Junior back and firing on all cylinders, just in time for the final weekend of the pool stages! It’s our editors plus Doug Coil (DJ Coil Rugby / TIAR) and Patrick Johnston (The Province) for seven big decisions this weekend!

Here are our RWC 2015 Round 4(b) predictions!

 

ROUND 4(b)	SAM v SCO	AUS v WAL	ENG v URU	ARG v NAM	ITA v ROM	FRA v IRE	USA v JPN
Bryan Ray Americas Rugby News	SAM +5	AUS +8	ENG +32	ARG +28	ROM +5	IRE +9	JPN +14
Doug Coil DJ Coil Rugby	SCO +7	AUS +5	ENG +29	ARG +24	ITA +13	IRE +5	USA +2
Junior Blaber Rugby Wrap Up	SCO +5	AUS +10	ENG +5	ARG +8	ROM +2	IRE +7	JPN +10
Patrick Johnston The Province	SCO +12	AUS +7	ENG +10	ARG +25	ITA +10	IRE +3	JPN +6
Paul Tait Americas Rugby News	SCO +8	AUS +12	ENG +65	ARG +55	ITA +15	FRA +6	JPN +12
Ted Hardy Americas Rugby News	SCO +17	WAL +5	ENG +50	ARG +26	ITA +10	IRE +5	JPN +15

 

SAMOA v SCOTLAND

Scotland clear favorites, but Samoa dangerous with their backs up against the wall.

BR: Samoa have finally picked a lineup I like, and they’re due for another titanic upset. I’m taking the Manu, just to keep things interesting and give Japan a shout for the quarters.

DC: Scotland trying to reach quarter-finals. Samoa playing for respect and want to spoil. Japan will be rooting for Samoa.

JB: Samoa do not know how to throw the towel in. They will come out fired up, especially after the nonsense Tuilagi ban. However, Scotland are desperate for a quarter-final berth and will find a way to will a victory.

PJ: Samoa: first train put off here please! What a disaster this tournament has been for them. Hard to see how the Scots, with a quarter-final spot on the line, don’t get stuck right in.

PT: The world wants Samoa to win to help Japan’s cause. They could but they won’t.

TH: Aside from the USA, Samoa has been the most disappointing team at the World Cup. Expected much more out of them, but they have turned out sloppy performances and look unfit. Scotland gets off to slow starts, so it should be close at half. Scots step on the gas in the second half.

 

AUSTRALIA v WALES

Australia look classy, but Wales have heard that before.

BR: Australia look decent bets for the final. Can’t pick against them right now.

DC: Australia are clicking on all cylinders and will head the pool over Wales. There is a great deal of incentive as the loser will play South Africa in the Quarterfinals.

JB: We all wished that this game had more at stake but both teams did the job against England so this is matter of who faces South Africa in the quarter-final and who faces Scotland or Japan. Australia have a deeper team of fresh bodies so they will be too much for the Welsh. I am currently 0-2 when picking against the Welsh, so take this pick if you dare.

PJ: Wales are such a feel-good story and a consistent example of why I shouldn’t be asked to do picks! Still, Australia are firing on all cylinders, so take the Wallabies by a converted try.

PT: Which Welsh player will get hurt this time? Wallabies looking too strong.

TH: I keep betting against Wales and they keep feeding me crow. Australia has the run on them and look solid favorites, but who am I to overlook Wales again?

 

ENGLAND v URUGUAY

England will get a dull win in an essentially meaningless game.

BR: Ho-hum. Not too excited about this one. England playing for 6 Nations spots now.

DC: England is motivated before they exit this World Cup. This was an extremely tough pool, but the home crowd is not happy.

JB: England will get their second win of this tournament with George Ford at 10. It will be interesting to see and wonder why Ford was not allowed to play no10 in the matches that matter. I gave them a low point spread because Owen Farrell in the centers will be useless and not scare anyone’s attack.

PJ: Welcome to Wooden Spoon 2015. England will show up and will win. It won’t be a thriller – except that Los Teros see their chance for a great victory. Still, one team is professional and the other isn’t.

PT: Best looking English team thus far. Too little too late. Uruguay absurdly backing up after Fiji.

TH: England could score 100 against Uruguay and it won’t let off the fans and media from slagging them.

 

ARGENTINA v NAMIBIA

Another jog about in the park for some squad players.

BR: Pumas are just giving their reserves a run. Namibia aren’t far off the same.

DC: Argentina will likely rest some players in preparation for the quarter-finals. They have too much talent. Namibia will play hard in their last last World Cup match.

JB: My goodness this Namibia side has a lot of fight in them. They may not be talented but they sure won’t go down quietly. As such, I expect them to try and match the Argies and in the forwards but will come up short in the backs.

PJ: Pumas looking good and Namibia off their crazy turnaround are surely out of gas.

PT: Pumas with more talent and more time to prepare.

TH: Argentina finish pool play in style.

 

ITALY v ROMANIA

Flying under the radar a bit, this is a big game with 2019 qualification on the line.

BR: Despite a decent showing against Ireland, I still think Italy stink. Picking Romania for the upset, with or without Macovei.

DC: The winner of this match qualifies for RWC 2019 in Japan. Need any more incentive?

JB: I like the fight the Romanians have brought to this tourney. I have never been a fan of the Italian style of play or their inconsistency. Italy will likely win but I am $5 down on an upset.

PJ: If Macovei weren’t suspended, I’d say Oaks for the upset. Italy will pull enough together and win.

PT: Terrible scheduling sees this match a week too late. Italy, like England, should be facing top opposition this weekend. To make matters worse Romania are backing up from Tuesday.

TH: 6 Nations relegation match? While it would be great, I still think Italy will be a bit too much for Romania.

 

FRANCE v IRELAND

Huge match. Ireland favorites but Les Bleus are ever enigmatic.

BR: Who did I pick again? Oh yes, Ireland to stretch away just at the end.

DC: This should be a very entertaining match. This determines 1st & 2nd in the pool. 1st will play Argentina and 2nd the All Blacks. Except for the last match Ireland has looked strong. France is very dangerous.

JB: The edge goes to the Irish because of their coach Joe Schmidt. He is smarter and better than Philippe Saint-André. As such Joe will make the right moves at the right time to get the win for this team.

PJ: This is the game of the weekend. Ireland looked strong and then were dire against Italy. France have been calmly marching forward. It’s a toss up – but Ireland’s electric style will have just a bit more.

PT: Pool D’s decider could go either way. It is, however, France’s to lose.

TH: Tantalizing matchup. Winner takes the pool. Can’t wait to see this one.

 

USA v JAPAN

This game depends entirely on Samoa beating Scotland to ramp up the pressure.

BR: I’m picking Samoa to upset Scotland, so I’d damn well better pick Japan too!

DC: Japan has a possibility of going to the quarter-finals with a win and a win by Samoa over Scotland. USA also wants a win and to show the their Pacific Nations Cup win wasn’t a fluke. While others will be picking Japan, I have to believe that the USA is capable of a win.

JB: At one point this looked winnable for the USA. As an American it pains me to say it but not anymore. Japan will be desperate to do all they can to qualify for the quarter-final. They may not make it but they will give themselves the best chance by beating the USA with room to spare. The have the fitness, the scrum and talent.

PJ: The Brave Blossoms have everything to play for while the Americans are desperate for a win – but too mistake-prone.

PT: If Samoa win this will be the most important game of the pool stage. Japan looking a gear ahead of Eagles.

TH: I want to pick the USA, but they have given no reason to believe that they can beat a Japanese side that has been one of the highlights of the entire World Cup. A win and Japan ends up 3-1. Unheard of for a Tier 2 nation.