Kevin the Tipster - England vs France Quarter Final

Predictions for Ire vs Wales anybody???

Italy's defense was very bad and Wales are in top form at the moment, so I'll go for Wales by a 10 points margin. Should be a cracker!

I meant Wales will be a much tougher opponent for the Irish

I agree. Wales by 10.

Wales's defence has been extremely impressive so far. Also, their pre-tourny fitness training seems to be paying dividends - they've been finishing matches very energetically. A lot of the key Ireland players are getting on a bit (relatively speaking) and I think they'll struggle in the last quarter.

Wales by 10 seems a little high to me. Definitely doable, as Ireland could have a crap game and Wales could be on fire. But past encounters make me think that whichever team gives up the most penalties in this one will win. And it could very easily become a rather dull kick-fest. Hopefully that doesn't happen, though.

Position-wise, the two sides look pretty well equal. There could be an interesting battle in the scrum for the front rowers - it could go either way given that Ireland seem to be doing well in the scrum, but I'd lean towards Wales.

Both #5's are just as likely to fly off the handle some point in the game.

Ireland will have to manage the breakdown against Warburton snatching turnovers, and Wales will have to keep up their tight defense against the Irish loose.

Mike Phillips is always hard to defend against, and the Irish will need Murray to deliver quick ball in order to get the Welsh on the backfoot.

Wales is probably stronger at 12 - D'Arcy can drop tackles like a hot potato, so Roberts could be breaking a lot of lines. And Earls against North worries me a bit too.

I'm a little surprised Gatland didn't start Hook - maybe he'll bring him in pretty early in the game. Hook really can make a game turn around.

Sorry, I'm just looking through the lineups and commenting...just stating the obvious.

Either way, it'll be interesting to see Priestland and O'Gara on a pitch at the same time, to once and for all prove that they are not, in fact, the same person.

Well...wrong about the score difference, but partially right about the two weak links in defense.

Keith Earls and Godron D'Arcy. Both directly involved in all of Wales tries. Wonder if Kidney isn't on his way out, so Ireland can get a coach who isn't stubborn and will select new players instead of trying to force players that just don't seem to work...

What a disappointing end for Ireland (and ROG if he does indeed plan on retiring)...good luck to the Welsh.

Whoops, that's whichever team gives up the least penalties

Cant see france winning and with wilkinson at 10 england have a superior all round kicking game.

I agree with ^^ France played a good 15 minutes against the AB then played horribly (bad defense, loosing all 1 on 1, knock ons...), France have been pushed by Japan & Canada, only to win in the last 20 minutes, a loss against Tonga where every player seemed on holiday. Seriously?
At best the French will put on a good fight, playing a good level of rugby, redeeming themselves and it'll a tight game. But i think, like the AB, England has better individualities, has a lot more threat to offer and is a lot quicker. I'd say England could well win with a + 15 points margin...i hope i'm wrong.

Also i think Lievremont makes again a big mistake with Parra in 10. I hope he'll sub him with Trinh Duc early in the 2nd half, not at the 74th minute of the game.

Peace

gjrtdgwgw, You might want to come back at the END of the rugby season, when club players might be more interested in bikinis and handbags at the end of season lash-up.

Another prediction?

OOPS! Kevin the Tipster, time for you to go on that hill farm in the hills, or the abattoir for some lamb chops for my evening dinner. Mint sauce time for him I think.

You loose, Kevin the Tipster !

Nemeketh - I am just now eating Kevin the Tipster's liver, with a nice chianti. Fuf-fuf-fuff...

...with some welsh fried onions that I had hanging and maturing and minging in my garage. Tidy meal it was. I willstart on his kidneys tomorrow. I might make sausages out of them, and have a starter with his bollocks.

you aint no paul the octopus.....

the family roast of Kevin went down well.

Next weekend it will be a feast of grilled frogs. Think I will stick to a few bottles of Bordeuaux claret, and have a liquid lunch, truth be told.

be careful, last week-end, 15 english had an indigestion of frogs, snails or any dish that very few french currently eat.
but if u like french food, i advise u a "St Amour" red wine some "val de loire" goat cheeses, a delice ;)

Yep, and well played La France. Pays de Galles were very happy for you to make it a perfect day for us. Angleterre were useless. Jumping off a ferry into the water!?! What was he thinking??? the silly billy.