posted Jul 30, 2008

Ulsterrugger - I don't deny that several of the NH sides (particularly Ireland who have been very good for a number of years) have beaten SH opposition, but they've always been tight games. In contrast, one or more of the SH teams have dished out a pasting to each of the NH teams at some time or other in the last 5 years, whereas I can't recall a single time in that period where the reverse has happened. Last time I can remember such an event was England doing 14-man SA at Twickenham in 2002.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

Ulsterrugger - A few points about those games when Ireland beat South Africa:
1) They only won the first game thanks to a very dubious try
2) The second game was against an experimental South African B team
3) Both games were played in Ireland, I couldn't tell you when Ireland last won in South Africa

This last point underlines a major difference between Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Aside from Scotland's win over Argentina, when was the last time a Northern Hemisphere side won in the Southern Hemisphere? Granted few of the Northern Hemisphere sides that have gone South have been full strength, but even still, the amount they have lost by has been embarassing!

As to the original post, the best team in the world is a tough question

Australia - Looking good so far, but they have yet to play away from home and could easily have lost to the Boks in Perth

South Africa - Have the makings of a great side, but need to find a better No10. If they can win their home games in the Tri Nations they will be No1

New Zealand - Lost a few players and going through a rebuilding phase, but they should be a different team when McCaw is back

England - I don't know where they are at the moment, one minute they look good (eg against France in Paris), the next they are terrible (eg at Dunedin.)

France - Same problem, too inconsistent at the min

Wales - Probably the best in the Northern Hemisphere right now, but not convinced they can beat Aus, NZ, SA.

Ireland - Have done nothing to impress since 2007 Six nations

Scotland/Italy - Not enough quality players.

Overall, this year I reckon it's between South Africa and Australia for top spot, though they could well lose a match or two in November.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

Agree that Argie win made us look good and kept Hadden in a job, while disguising his numerous flaws. A better coach would have got us to the World Cup semis.

Quality of rugby was better but the reason the NH is behind the SH sides is because we don't play SH sides enough. Two tests a year isn't good enough. If you want to be the best you have to play the best. Every NH side will get annihlated probably.

South Africa will fight back, they have enough character to win it. New Zealand are very weakened and Australia haven't travelled yet.

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posted Jul 31, 2008

We all know that home victories count for very little, especially when it is against weakened touring sides. What I want to know is when the hell is a NH side going to go a win away from home in the SH? The last side to win twice in a row was england 2003 pre RWC. No NH side has come close since.

The SH have dished out numerous thumpings on the other hand. The tri nations is far better than the 6nations standard-wise and the results over the last 10 years between SH and NH have shown that. England 2000-2003 was the only real exception and even then, most of those games were pretty close.

This year's tri nations has been fantastic, I have loved every minute of it. The Bledisloe match and the Boks win in NZ being the highlights so far. Nothing like that in the NH for a while................

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posted Jul 31, 2008

At the mo,
aus
SA
NZ
Ire
Wales
France/Eng

Poor old Argentina never get to play in a proper home/away tournament otherwise they would be up there.
It would also be nice if the SH teams could come over in Jan instead of Nov so they could be our warm up for 6N as we are to their Ti Nat, maybe we'd fare better? But I suppose that is as much our fault as anyone else's.

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posted Jul 31, 2008

Scotland.

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posted Jul 31, 2008

Honest.

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posted Aug 1, 2008

This year's Tri Nations has shown what we have all feared about rugby union, that it is being turned into rugby league.
Having watched most of this term's games, it has got to the stage where it is difficult to decide what game you are watching.
And, although it is entertaining to watch for a short period,
if I wanted to watch league, I'd switch over to Super League!

Ditch these experimental laws and let's watch the best sides in the world (NZ/SA/Aus) play union not hybrid rugby!

It is therefore v difficult to compare the teams in the N and S hemispheres as they are currently playing different versions of the game.

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posted Aug 1, 2008

"comment by ulsterrugger (U9464080)
posted 2 Days Ago

BlobbyBrisChris - Ireland have beating SA twice since 2003 (only played them twice) and have beating australia and ran new zealand very close 3 times"

Wrong, we lost 2-0 to them in a Test series in South Africa in 2004.

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posted Aug 5, 2008

Isn't it funny, last year Aussie struggled,this year under new laws they win?
Why are they changing the laws because of presure from Australia. Would they do it for Wales, Ireland or any other Northen Hemisphere team, I dout it. And from reading a few interveiws the Kiwis and Saffas aren't that impressed with the new laws either.

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