We’re running a predictor league over on SuperBru for the World Cup (as you’ve probably gathered by now), so every week before each round, we’ll be posting our predictions so you can have a look and take us on if you think you know better.
There’s also a charity challenge league, featuring several legends of the game as well as well-respected journos from across the country. Every week we’ll include a few of their picks, as well, so you can pit yourselves against them.
Joining Hosie and Hutch for round 2 are ex-Wallaby scrum-half George Gregan, Rugby World editor Owain Jones and former Scotland captain Al Kellock. Whose picks do you like best?
| Hosie | Hutch | Gregan | Jones | Kellock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCO v JAP | SCO by 14 | SCO by 18 | JAP by 6 | SCO by 15 | SCO by 12 |
| AUS v FIJ | AUS by 21 | AUS by 36 | AUS by 25 | AUS 23 | AUS by 19 |
| FRA v ROM | FRA by 45 | FRA by 33 | FRA by 33 | FRA by 33 | FRA by 22 |
| NZ v NAM | NZ by 85 | NZ by 78 | NZ by 65 | NZ by 75 | NZ by 62 |
| ARG v GEO | ARG by 42 | ARG by 28 | ARG by 20 | ARG by 13 | ARG 18 |
You can join our SuperBru league and take on Hosie and Hutch here. There are also some great prizes to be won, so get involved!
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Some very interesting match-ups in midweek. Not much has been made of Georgia, after their shock win was immediately trumped by Japan, but they are basically playing for a quarter-final spot here.
New Zealand will win their 3 remaining games, so take them out of the equation. Assume a narrow win for Georgia, they could go to 8 points, leaving Argentina and Tonga on 1. Georgia would then need 3 points against Namibia to seal a QF spot, which is more likely than not.
Would a win for Georgia and a QF spot drive a change to European rugby, the way Argentina’s 2007 run did? Especially if one of England/Wales, Italy and possibly Scotland didn’t make the knock-outs?
Scotland too, without playing on the weekend, are already facing a near knock-out situation. If Japan beat them, and assuming Japan beat the USA, they’ll need to beat both Samoa and South Africa to quailfy, so this is a huge match for them.
France and NZ should comfortably win and march on in their pools. I also fancy Australia against Fiji, who probably won’t be fully recovered after a tough opener.
Damn it Japan. Sort it out. There’s still time!
Oh – not anymore. A step too far afte beating SA