One week to go...who's going to lift the trophy?I reckon England; they have the most complete side by a long way. New Zealand have a fantastic backline, but their pack is not that impressive as a unit, and Spencer is an erratic goalkicker.Australia have nothing going for them except home ground advantage; their team sees to be in decline, with key players on the wane: Gregan, Larkham, Kefu, Finegan, Burke all past their best, and the jury still out on the league crossover experiment (Rogers, Tuqiri, Sailor...)France are France; you never know if they're going to be great or awful...No other realistic contenders.Any thoughts?

England will choke as they always do... its a two horse race - Aus & NZ...

Maybe we can have a rugby game one day. I think that could be fun. (Bring it on Roulletabille...)

I don't think thats quite fair to England; they have picked up a reputation as chokers, simply cos they've never won the World Cup, and hence never produced the goods 'where it really counts'. But England have never been favourites to win the WC, so can't really be said to have underperformed expectations significantly. Anyway, history is bunk...

Andym: "History is bunk.Actually, Henry Ford actually said: "History is more or less bunk." The fact that this is repeated as just "History is bunk." and thereby proving his point I find a hugely rich twist of irony.Anyway.... rugby or field hockey anyone? Rouletabille? Andym?

Yeah you are right on France, you never know what they are gonna do. I don'tlike the way they play, they like stomping adversaries on the ground.I hope the U.S. will do fine, that could be funny

QuoteOriginally posted by: FDAXHunterAndym: "History is bunk.Actually, Henry Ford actually said: "History is more or less bunk." The fact that this is repeated as just "History is bunk." and thereby proving his point I find a hugely rich twist of irony.Ford is more or less junk

I'd say that it's a bit hard on the Aussies to argue that they're over the hill - England's pack, for example, contain some relatively old guys in Johnson, Leonard, Dallaglio, Back and so on (in Leonard's case substitute "exceptionally" for "relatively"). While they might be getting on, Larkham, Roff, Gregan and Smith will all win games for you. I must say that I like the look of the Kiwis but keep reading that their second rows are all injured. richg.

What you say about England's aging pack is very true, but OTOH, it doesn't seem to be affecting their results, which can't be said for Aussie.My personal feeling abt Oz is that, besides key players no longer quite at their best, their big problem has been their failure to integrate the League converts. The old backline with Gregan, Larkham, Mortlock, Herbert, Tune, Roff, Burke inter alia, were like a well-oiled machine For all the talents of Sailor, Tuqiri and Rogers, the backline has lost its fluidity, and they now rely on bashing through League-style, which can be pretty effective, no question, but isn't as effective as those wonderfully executed passing moves (combined with American football style interference ) of old.

Is anyone coming over for the Cup? We could have a random walkers night over here.

I have to admit to not having seen a great deal of the Tri-Nations so am not perfectly informed regarding recent Wallaby performances. Your assessment of the pre-league-players Aussie back line is pretty similar to mine, although I've never been convinced of Mortlock's talent and never liked Burke as an attacking option. Had to laugh out loud at your mention of "interference" - their choice of lines to run always has been somewhat American. In my view, Gregan will play well ( he always does) and if Larkham decides to play well too, they'll come very close to winning at worst.As an Englishman, I refuse to say that we'll win it, but we'll be there or thereabouts. As there are four or so sides with a very good chance of lifting the cup, I'd also refuse to describe England not winning as "choking" and also think that describing our prior World cup performances as such is incorrect.richg.

QuoteOriginally posted by: FDAXHunterAndym: "History is bunk.Actually, Henry Ford actually said: "History is more or less bunk." The fact that this is repeated as just "History is bunk." and thereby proving his point I find a hugely rich twist of irony.Anyway.... rugby or field hockey anyone? Rouletabille? Andym?judo anyone? Rouletabille? Bruce?

I am a dreamer and I would like to see Scotland, France or NZ winning the Ellis. In any case I am curious about how far Los Pumas will go this time (they beat twice france this summer).

The Pumas are an interesting proposition. If the Aussies aren't at the top of their game right from the tournament start they could find themselves with a record of played 1 lost 1 and maybe then end up coming second in their group. That should really irritate the French as they'd then be extremely likely to meet them at the quarter-finals stage. All speculation of course, but Argentina is a really tough opener for the Wallabies.richg.

England will defo win.Can't wait to get down the pub with the lads to watch it, and have a few cheeky pints