Predictions for Four Nations Rugby Championship- SA, OZ, NZL, ARG

 1. New Zealand

2. Springboks

3. Australia

4. Argentina.

I predict New Zealand to win, with South Africa in second. 

The only team that I think can beat South Africa at home is New Zealand. Also the only team with any chance of beating the All blacks in New Zealand is South Africa.

The All Blacks have the best backline.

The Boks have the best forwards. 

Australia are a wild card, capable of unsettling either teams.

Argentina are just to green to be a threat, unless in 1 or 2 home games.

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My heart says the boks could win, but my brain says that the All blacks are going to win again.

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Key player for South Africa- Frans Steyn

He is the oppostive number to Sunny Bill Williams. Will Frans be able to contain him(if they play against each other- not clear when money bill is leaving the All Blacks).

- Frans Steyn could turn any game on its head- and could even outplay Sunny BIll.

Frans Steyn at his best behind a dominant forward pack could be invincible.

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 SB will agree with you here, I have the sneeking suspition that the argies are going to pull a quick one on one of the teams at home. I just hope it's not us.

SBW is only available for the first two tests against Oz I think Sharkbok but can see him coming back to AB rugby possibly... my guess in 2015.

Boks

Oz

Argentina

Abs

Bwahahahahahahaha

I think everyone has written off the Boks. Given the extreme pessimism of snapster, Mike, Moz, Sharkbok etc etc balanced analysis has been lost. That said I have noticed a bit of backpeddaling recently from Mike and Sharkbok in particular.

Sharkbok is fairly realistic in his predictions but seeing the ab side picked gives me cause to wonder. Sharkbok you say we will have the better forwards and the abs the better backs. Forwards win matches. As for the backs, we are not too badly off although the loss of JP is a big blow as he has been playing extremely well.

This Bok side could surprise this year.  Form 2013 onwards the curve is up. We know this, the abs know it and they are preparing to play second fiddle to the mighty Boks as things return to normal in the rugby world.

in the pack i think its even between the ab's and the boks. very little to choose between the 2 but it will all boil down to tactics....if we run them then i rate our chances. if we pull the donkey game plan. then i hope we dont lose by more than 20

I can't see us getting better than 2nd, but I am still honestly worried we come short against Aus and finish in 3rd. We have the people to top the log, but it is up to Meyer to get it for us.

The thing is, NZ are more consistant than both Aus and RSA, purely from a recent results point of view. If ourselves or the Auzzies lose a freak game against the Pumas, we'll all be very dissapointed, but not surprised. If the All Blacks lose, it'll be an absolute shock!! And that my friends, is the difference between NZ and the rest. We can win the tournament this year, and if that happens, it won't be a big shocker, but neither will coming third. Ok, enough of my theories.

1. NZ

2. RSA

3. AUS

4. ARG

"We can win the tournament this year, and if that happens, it won't be a big shocker, but neither will coming third."

Sums it up best bluebok

 If Morne returns to kicking form (+90%) or is replaced with Lambie / Grant SA will win.

Otherwise Aussies will sneak second and we'll be third

NZ...

Oz.....

Boks....

Bargies....

We win two games against the  Bargies, as does everyone else. But oz defeats NZ at home, we don't. We split with oz. NZ beats us twice..

HM has remarkably bad player judgement....witness Kirchner, witness Mvovo.. Fran's fails at 12 . Hougaard is exposed at 10. Lack of a fetcher kills us....and our loosies physically inferior. 

The big surprise could bethe Boks losing against the Bargies away.

In the down elevator there are few stars, but Morne finds his kicking boots again.

Predictions are as follows:-

Springbok Wins   -    Argentina -  Twice

Sprinbok losses  -    New Zeald -  Twice

                                 Australia     -  Once

I am not sure about the local game against Australia- up in the air - but SA could win that one.

The log order will be as follows:-

1  -   All Blacks

2  -   Australia

3   -   South Africa

4   -   Argentinia

what i really want to see is the All Blacks go undefeated in 2012, we came close to an undefeated season in 2010 no thanks to donald duck, and 2012 is looking like the best chance since, with the ABs looking a better team in 2012 then in 2010.

im expecting nothing less then for All Blacks to win all their games in NZ and the wallabies selctions this sat leaves me feeling comfortable.
the biggest challenges will be the Boks in joburg and the wallabies in suncorp (nonIRC match), but otherwise,,,

1 All Blacks
2 wallabies
3 Springboks
4 los pumas

i would be surprised to see the pumas win any games in the IRC, but i can see the wallabies being the first to break and then the Boks. and not being arrogant, but we wont see the All Blacks lose to the pumas in my lifetime, but will galdly eat humble pie, if i survive my leaving las vegas routine, lol.
 

It is a pity their is not betting format available on blog sites such as this one. Then we could all put our money where our mouths are. 

I say the Boks will finish 2, at best 1. 

The All Blacks are everyones favourites, and at worst is 2nd place to the boks.

Australia could be the surprise package.

Pumas- It is just who of the above 3 who gets an embarrising loss to the the new team.

However I think as the years go on- the Pumas will get better and better. With a semi in 2007- better than the All blacks and Australia- perhaps within 3-5 years they will win the tournament.

i do think it will be more a 2 horse race for the second place but the aussies to play a more dynamic game so i would have to give them that.

if we can find some running form and run at them then we can take it. if there current setup i really doubt it. i would love for the boks to take it but my realistic part of my mind cant help but feel the gameplan is lacking in the back department. our forwards will be massive in contact but come ruck time and when the ball goes out wide we will be lacking.

key player for me is franna steyn. has the abilty to turn it on then he needs to and is a massive weapon. if he is just used as a ram to setup phase ball then we will be screwd. time will tell

 Sharkbok,

The AB's have the better backs.

The Boks have the better fowards....whow.

Our props are a disaster, Bekker is overated and Flip Flop v d Merwe is a pure joke.

Then don't forget we have the almignty Greyling as back up prop.....shocking.

We will be pushed to beat the Aussies and I don't rate us with a chance against the AB's.

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 @Arthur John- with Bismark now a spectator the cuboard suddenly does look more bare.                           

I think Bekker is the best lock in the world when he is fit. Excellant lineout jumper and good in most aspects of the game. In Bekker and Bismark are two of the best players in their positions. Alberts is the strongest ball carrier in the game, and Cotzee was probably the form loose forward in the Super 15- many stats support this.

  Agreed on Flip Flop and Greyling are useless- they are only in the team as Bulls. As for Potgieter I do not see him in anyway to be first choice in his position. 

The Stormers and Sharks beat many good teams to finish 2nd and 3rd in the Super15. This is more the result from our forwards than backs. (2 our of the top 3 teams in the Super15.)

Although the conference system is screwing New Zealand more than us, and the Australian conference is not competitive due to depth.