Can the Wallabies win the Rugby World Cup in 2011? Part 2, The RWC Draw

Following on from the post about the Wallaby Team Selections.

Looking at the Wallabies draw for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011 makes me think we have a chance at winning the thing for the first time since 1999, we were close in 2003 but were beaten by what ended up being the best team in the word at the time – England.

In 2007 we were a no show and the old enemy (England) knocked us out in the Quarter Finals as they did back in 1995.

So, onto 2011 and what looks like a draw made in heaven.

• Sept 1 – Italy, Christchurch
• Sept 17 – Ireland, Auckland
• Sept 23 – USA, Wellington
• Oct 1 – Russia, Christchurch

Thats all looks quite good, three training runs with a test match against the formidable Irish team in Auckland. the Irish could be the team that causes the Wallabies the most trouble, they have run us close in two RWC matches in the past, Dublin in 1991 & Melbourne in 2003, both were very tight games with the Wallabies just making it through.

Australia really need to win Pool C if they are to avoid having a showdown in the Quarters with South Africa who you would expect to win Pool D, Wales are a good team but I would think the Japies will have that pool sewn up.

Assuming Australia top the pool they head of to the Quarters finals to play the runner up of Pool D, Wales.

Assuming they beat Wales they would head into Semi Final 1 with either Argentina or France.

Assuming they win SF1 they head off to the Final to play – one would assume on current form – New Zealand!

Here are my bold predictions and how I see the pools & knock out games going.

Pool Winners & Runner Ups

• Pool A - Winner New Zealand & Runner-up France
• Pool B - Winner Argentine & Runner-up England
• Pool C - Winner Australia & Runner-up Ireland
• Pool D - Winner South Africa & Runner-up Wales

Quarter Finals

• QF1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
  • Argentina v France
  • Winner – Argentina
• QF2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
  • Australia v Wales
  • Winner – Australia
• QF3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
  • NZ v England
  • Winner – NZ
• QF4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
  • South Africa v Wales
  • Winner – South Africa

Semi Finals

• SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
  • Argentina v Australia
  • Winner – Australia
• SF2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
  • New Zealand v South Africa
  • Winner – New Zealand

Bronze Final

Both the Wallabies and All Blacks have been here before & I can assure you this stadium will be almost empty if the All Blacks end up in this game due to their regular RWC choke against the Springboks!

• Loser SF1 v Loser Sf2
  • Argentina v South Africa
  • Winner  - South Africa

The Rugby World Cup Final

• Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
  • Australia v New Zealand
  • Winner – Anyones guess

Can we beat the All Blacks in a Rugby World Cup Final on New Zealand soil to take home our Third (Yes all you Kiwi’s, THIRD) Rugby World Cup?

It’s anyones guess, but look at our record against the All Blacks in the past two RWC match ups  - 1991 Semi Final = Win & 2003 Semi Final = Win.

Australia will be heavily reliant on the All Blacks making this the game they choke, as they always do in the RWC to get them across the line, that and some hard core mongrel from the forwards to set up some from Quade Cooper magic.

Only time will tell – Go the Wallabies