With the world cup getting closer I am thinking upsets already.Teams like Scothland,Tonga, I am thinking upsets. Teams like England, Newzealand,France want to watch out. The semis will be interesting.

PNG to upset one of the top3 and France to upset a semi.

---

For all The latest Rugby League scores from around the world:
http://www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
Contact
info@rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
-------------------------------------

I recken Samoa are definately the dark horse of the tournament, should have strength in every position barring injuries.  If they can get through their pool, which is a dam tough pool mind you, they could cause an upset in the semis.

I think France will have to watch out for scotland- who have already got NRL stars, Ian Henderson, Michael robertson, Keith Galloway, Chris Armit to name afew, and i rate Danny Brough from the super league too. Anyone know if Hulls Richard Horne is available?

I cant see PNG getting anywhere near the big 3, I would love them to Druzik, I really would.  Love the way the PNG guys play league.  Although the hot weather will suit their play, so if they are gonna get close to a powerhouse it would be against England at townsville I recken.

Ive booked my airfares and am getting excited about it already. 

i can see england getting a shock from png!

i think france will be hard to beat come world cup time, they might even give the big 3 a run.

you just don't know until the teams are annouced, who knows how many players from the NRL will be in the scottish and irish sides. the island teams will be packed with nrl players also.

Scotland still havent named their team?  Can anyone from england who keeps a close eye on the superleague tell me if Richard and Graeme Horne are still going strong, and could be included in the scotland team?  Im excited about their chances, especially if they get NSW halfback Peter Wallace in the halves, after he missed out on the Aussie team, go the scotts!

Im thinking of one huge upset and that is SAMOA being the team in the semis and the KIWIS getting knocked out by the hamoside boasting a massive foward pack and a lethal backline and a mass of international talent and experience ex kiwi players now pledging there allegiance to their motherland i say good on them and do it bigg boys coz im not rating the kiwi team at all in fact its the worst looking team iv ever seen.

Big call aza i tink the kiwis will be very srong as long as there players get through there respective seasons unscathed. This will be an absolute brilliant tournament i cant see to many blowout scores apart from maybe the superpool games invoving png.

The team that is most likely to cause a few upsets would have to be Samoa. Their squad includes plenty of talented backs and forwards, however the only thing which might hamper their progress is their lack of talent in the halves. The suggestion that Nigel Vagana play at half-back is ludricous, he is already hopeless at centre which was why Cronulla fans were so happy when he left for Souths.

However much I want Papua New Guniea to upset one of the big 3 nations in the pool rounds the chances are small due to the wealth of NRL and Super League talent that Australia, New Zealand and England have to draw upon compared to amount PNG does.

France are might put up a conisderable challenge if they make the semis but to get there they will have to not only beat Fiji and Scotland to finish first in their pool and then probably beat either Samoa or Tonga who will probably finish top of the other pool.

Tonga although having a strong squad will lose a few of their players to Australia and New Zealand, and like Ireland will have to put up a fight to beat Samoa and progress to the next round.

Fiji and Scotland are in my opinion the two weakest of the nations competing in the World Cup as they have the least NRL and Super League players to draw upon, however stranger things have happened and anythong is possible in a World Cup as shown by Ireland beating Pakistan and progressing to the finals in the last Cricket World Cup.

Overall the only nations which can even remotely challenge Australia for the title of World Champions would have to be England or New Zealand. Although Samoa or France may make it to the Semis the odds against them beating Australia are pretty high.

Yeh I would have to agree that Samoa look like they are going to be a real threat. The problem that every team apart from England and Australia have is having a crafty halfback pairing. The big Kiwi, Tongan, Samoan boys need a good number 7 to know when to get them a rest etc. and to know how to turn forward dominance into relentless pressure and points.

Looking at the matches that we know are definately going to happen I have to say from a neutrals perspective the Tonga/Samoa game looks like being the match of the tournament!

Huge call i will admit that and nigel at half is very testing but you know when nigel is on form he is on form undoubtedly i really do back them because of this simple fact that the honour and pride of playing for that jersey compared to some of the boys who will be wearing the black will be genuine and 110% proud its a team made up of experience and youth,good luck to my beloved kiwis but the facts are there in front of us.

 

 

I am very much looking forward to the World Cup and believe that, if it is a success,that future RL internationals should be allocated as much as possible in the same period of the year as this tournament is held.I am attending the Aust V England match in Melbourne & the Cup Final in Brisbane. Possibly looking at the official opening match in Sydney, but will wait and see whats on. From a sporting point of view ,I hope the general public embrace the RL world cup, as this game deserves some things going for it after many years of frustration and poor treatment from other sports administrators who should know better.

I cant wait for the World Cup to start! I am travelling from England to be there and I have tickets for Aus v Eng, and Ireland v Samoa!  I hope its a massive success, and shows that we can compete on a large scale with the other code, Yawnion!