The Quarters and Beyond...

This weekend is looking hotter than a green eyed girl in red shoes. The match ups for the 1/4 finals of RWC08 are very one sided, as in all the top sides (or atleast the 4 semi-finalists from last world cup) are playing for the one semi-final whereas only one top side is playing for the other.

If the nation that gets to hoist the soccer-ball marked trophy come October 20th came from the first set of quarter finals they would have play 3 nations in the top 5 on the trot and beaten them, something which no side has ever done to win the World Cup.


QF1: Repeat of the 2003 final.
England v Aussie, Marseille 15h00.
Should be an excellent game. English tight five and JW v Aussie 1 to 15 minus 10. Very interesting. If Barnes is up it and the wrecking ball Sheridan is contained Australia will take it...


QF2: Repeat of the 2003 3rd place play off
All Blacks v France, Cardiff 21h00.
Would have preferred this as the final but what can you do. I am too involved emotionally to make a call on this and have been having sleepless nights because of it. I do have 4 points to make on it though. 1.) France were 'fekkin stoopid' to host the World Cup and then play the one quarter final that they may have been in, in another country. Home ground advantage would have been a huge thing. 2.) Wayne Barnes at the tender young age of 28 is officiating. I don't think he will cope with the importance of the encounter. 3.) All Blacks playing in silver, aren't the all blacks. Hoodoo gone. And lastly 4.) The winner will go all the way...


QF3:
South Africa v Fiji, Marseille 15h00.
This could be one way traffic, this could be stupid tactical SA rugby playing into the hands of the underdogs. We will see..! Although the Fijian forwards collapsed after 35minutes against the Welsh and weren't buried. Victor and Bakkies get paid to bury people, they do it professionally.


QF4:Argentina v Scotland. St Denis 21h00.
Both these sides are still 2nd tier rugby nations no matter which way you put it. Argentina have done brilliantly to move from a minnow nation to 2nd tier but they still are only there. They win on sunday, which they will, and move to the biggest game of their lives they will still only be a strong 2nd tier nation.

Guess the man and win:


The answer to our last trivia question was Francois Pienaar by the way, but have another crack at the title by guessing who this man is...