RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007.

[shantystar]

Wales Australia
How on earth did Wales get this match here against the Australians at home in Cardiff,is'nt the World Cup being held in France this time around??It smells very fishy indeed.

Australia started their World Cup slow in the first half but once they got the rev up at half time they really came out ready to play in the second half,you can really see the difference between the Southern Hemisphere sides and the Northern sides,the Northern sides are more than willing to kick and fart around with the ball in the rucks and almost all facets of play,the All Blacks,Australia and South Africa don't play that way,they clear the ball fast and run,it's like watching different games altogether watching the difference in game plans.The word is that the Aussies are a tad bit grumpy at having to play this match here in Cardiff the home of Welsh Rugby Union,but if I was in the Australian camp I would'nt be to concerned as from what Wales showed in their last match the Aussies have little to fear in Cardiff.

Wales played their first match a lot like the English as though they didnt have to try to hard as the other side was meant to wilt before them,it wasnt until they took off the pretty boy fly half who kept kicking the ball and the replacements came on for the Welsh that they looked far better in all areas of their game,but they were playing sub par opposition and although they won well in the end they looked rubbish for vast periods of that game and I have little faith in them getting much better.

I think the Welsh will struggle with the pace of the game here today as it was evident that Australia's distribution was very quick from their rucks and that could put the Welsh on the back foot for the whole game,it was also evident that Australia's Forwards are playing very well right now and love to run the ball ad the confidence they would of got from doing that should and probably will flow over into today's match..

The Welsh visited Australia earlier in the year with the Aussies winning both matches,the first was a close affair but not from Wales great play the Aussies started badly and gifted the Welsh a dream start of 17-0 before they held the Welsh scoreless for the rest of the match,the next game was no contest wit Aussie toweling the Welsh 31-0,it was not a full strength Welsh side but that's to their own detriment,why the European sides always send weak sides down here is a mystery they can only get better by sending their top sides,but they think they are better than us down here anyway so they see no need to,what a big mistake.

The last two matches played in Wales have resulted in a draw 29-29 in the last match and a 24-22 Welsh win,however before that the Welsh were well and truly beaten in the previous 4 meetings,I would expect more of the same today,the Aussies look ready for this tournament and so they should be,they are the only side here that has used the same side for all their warm up matches and matches at home earlier in the year,Wales would have to lift loads to win here,from what I've seen from both the teams this year,I doubt they can,Australia will win and should win by at least two converted trys,Good Luck.

Pick : Australia - 10.0
Odds : 2.00
Stake : 8 / 10
Bookmaker : Stan James
Date : 2007-09-15