Quo vadis Northern hemisphere rugby

Year after year we have the Boks Oz and nz in the top three. World cups are practically the sole domain of their southern hemisphere.

I do not follow NH rugby too closely but wonder if they will ever be really competitive with the southern hemisphere rugby powers. With Argentina joining THE Rugby championship their rugby should really improve and it could then happen that the top 4 will be SH sides. Argentina has already made a habit of beating France - a top NH side.

Things could get worse for the NH. Can they front up and make it more of a contest?  Anyone here know whether things are getting better up there?

Beeno

I am sure you got the wrong end of the stick here.   Lets start off talking about facts and not fiction.   The POMS came to South Africa with a new and relatively untried team under a new coach.   They lost by small margins against SA in two tests and drew the third one.   I believe that in line with other sport development -evidenced in the Olympic Games - the new POM team will become stronger in coming years and will be a serious theat in the next WC.

The French are highly unpredictable.   After losing to the Argentinians in one test - they made some selection changes and beat the Argentitinians comprehensively in the second test.   The French has always been unpredictable and they can come out and beat any team.   Would never write them off because of one test loss.

The Scots beat Australia in one test and then went on to win a series of tests against the Pacific Islanders.   Although not very strong - they can be a threat if opponents do not play up to standard against them.

The Welsh were very competitive against the Australians and if the games were played in Wales - chances are they would have won the series.   Wales was very strong in the 6 nations and should never be under-rated by any opposing team.   Very strong and growing stronger.

The Irish is the one disappointing team.   I believe the main reasons for that can be attributed to aging of their players and not in timeous replacement of players past their "sell-by" date.   Leinster as holders of the Heineken Cup - with Munster and Ulster in the semis - can also make a major contribution to Irish Rugby in the near future.

Fact is the Olympics have shown us clearly what good coaching can achieve insofar as the Brits are concerned and the same applies to other Northern Hemisphere players and athletes.   Your point of view is very restrictive in this case - and I think we will have problems at the end of the year tour.    

Have to agree with Mike, England have had a wake up call and their newer younger team is looking stronger than ever.

Scotland and Wales are constantly building and with players like Sam Warburton and Richie Gray coming through there is always hope for those teams.

I also think the 6 nations is a much better format than the tri-nations. There is less traveling involved and more teams. I will hold my judgement on the championship.

I'm only talking about the tournament itself, not the teams. 

 

The end of the year tests will be the real show of where the NH is. I have a strong feeling England is going to start proving some NH dominace again, now that they have got rid of coaches who beleive the team needs to made of players over the age 30... 

Okay so you think the NH sides are going somehow to replace the SH as the top three and they will in future be winning the world cups.Hahhahahhaha  sorry is doesnt seem likely to me but I suppose its not totally impossible

I note that they do at least beat SH sides but historically not too often as the IRB log always reflects.

Garethed you speak of NH dominance again. What are you talking about. I cant ever recall the NH dominating the upper echelons of the IRB world rankings?

 

England have in the past been rank IRB number one... and France as high as second.

 

I was stating that England will be dominent in the NH... Since in the last few years that has belonged to France and more recently Wales.

 

England are fully capable of knocking out SA and Aus if they keep to their current regime

Knock yourself out and do a little research...

 

http://www.irb.com/rankings/analysis/index.html

Team > England and France

By date > From Oct 2003 to July 2012

 

 

And the 6 Nations Winners for that period

2003  England (Grand Slam) 2004  France (Grand Slam) 2005  Wales (Grand Slam) 2006  France[22] 2007  France[22] 2008  Wales (Grand Slam) 2009  Ireland (Grand Slam) 2010  France (Grand Slam) 2011  England 2012  Wales (Grand Slam)

Beeno

Why don't you read posts properly.   I am not saying the NH teams will replace SH teams on the ranking list - that may easily happen though - but I am saying they will be competitive.   I think that the two teams tendering to go down on the rating list is South Africa and Australia.   Unless Meyer gets it right and signs are not positive - we can easily go down lower in the rankings.

 

Beeno

Why don't you read posts properly.   I am not saying the NH teams will replace SH teams on the ranking list - that may easily happen though - but I am saying they will be competitive.   I think that the two teams tendering to go down on the rating list is South Africa and Australia.   Unless Meyer gets it right and signs are not positive - we can easily go down lower in the rankings.

 

Beeno

Why don't you read posts properly.   I am not saying the NH teams will replace SH teams on the ranking list - that may easily happen though - but I am saying they will be competitive.   I think that the two teams tendering to go down on the rating list is South Africa and Australia.   Unless Meyer gets it right and signs are not positive - we can easily go down lower in the rankings.

 

 Wales matched Australie in all 3 tests- and could have won any or all of them. Last minute penalties were the decider for 2 of the 3 games. That is too close for comfort. Not many teams can push Australia so close. 

Although I do feel that all the Southern Hemishpere sides had little preparation- and the Northern Hemishpere sides were very well prepared. Except for Ireland who had one good game- and destroyed in the others. 

I will support any Southern Hemishpere side over the Northern Hemishpere. (France is ok).

I just do not like seeing them win. They are not good winners, better at losing. 

Sharkbok

Agrees with you in this case.   I agree with you in this case.   I once went to Murrayfield to watch the SA playing Scotland -and there was a huge number of people in green jerseys.   After the game we went to the beer tent and first of all I was told by the whitest person I have ever seen "Jy kan nie hier inkom nie - gebruik die ander ingang".  That Scotsman apparently worked in Johannesburg for ten years and picked up some Afrikaans in the process.

However, a lot of the green jersey wearers were Australians - they would support any SH teams against any NH teams.   The feeling was apparently mutual - if Australia plays against any NH teams the South Africans support them - same with the All Blacks. 

please read the posts beeno

 

the NH's quality is very decent and given the correct enviroment i am sure they can roll over all the SH sides on the day. due to international seasons not being in sync we wont see a proper matchup until the RWC again. that being said the likes of wales ext are playing a much more dynamic style that will make them a force in any game they play in.

 

saying the NH is poor is a uninformed statement. there style is different but it suites them. the welsh looked very good. the irish had one great game against the AB adn the poms neerly beat us. this all was due to a poor super rugby structure.