[Tyler Durden]

Well if my pre-tourno prediction comes true I'm in for a sorrowful weekend.

I was basically telling anyone that would listen, that we were woeful however this was a team that probably had one last big game in it before being put out to pasture. Quite possibly that was last week. So, if I'm ring, we're in for a tonking this weekend!!

Actually I'm strangely optimistic. It's nice to be underdogs in this tourno and we still are now. I can't help thinking that France will at least match us in the forwards, have some excellent impact players (like Chabal, Dominici and Harinordoquy) to bring in as the game wears on and also are more sharp than us when it comes to putting tries away. They should win.

I guess the things to rely on are (a) the French crowd could work against them, anyone that's seen them down the years knows how they can be a burden to their team if they don't perform as they like and (b) I'm interested that France have kept same players as last week. Having Beauxis and Traille out there in those positions indicates they may kick more than usual, and England won't be averse to that as Wilkinson, Catt and even Robinson are all (to varying degrees) good kickers out of hand.

I think it'll probably be close, no more than 10 points in it, but France will get the win.

As well as Argentina have done it's hard to look beyond South Africa in the other semi. They will match Argentina's forward power and they also have Steyn, Habana and Pietersen to turn the gas on the Argies too. It'll need a superhuman effort from Argentina to get the win here. Again, around 10 points, but South Africa to go through. Should be a cracking final as well.

[The Phantom]

I am very much looking forward to tomorrow evenings match (would be looking forward to the other match, but I’ll be in work while it’s on).

England have a fantastic chance of beating the French tomorrow. We all saw what happened to France a month ago in the Stade de France against Argentina, and I would not be surprised at all if the same was to happen again this Saturday. Both sides have been kicked up the backsides by Argentina and South Africa respectively, so they know they can’t go into this game with a blasé attitude.

I can see this game going the same way as the warm up match at Twickenham did. England leading going into the final quarter, when France bring on their impact players (ala Chabal) and snatch a win.

Wilkinson needs to be on the top of his game. For me he’s been kicking poorly, and he cannot afford to waste good opportunities like he has been, on Saturday. Every point will be vital. Again I’m surprised Michalak didn’t make the starting XV. He’s a wonderful player to have in your team, he can create something out of nothing. Maybe Laporte is hoping he can come on and do an impact job, like last week. Overall Les Bleu to win it 17-15.

As for the second semi final, it is a little difficult for me to comment too much on either side. Most of these two’s matches have unfortunately fallen around times when I’ve been in work. For me, it’ll be the end of Argentina’s run in this world cup (well obviously they’ll have 1 more game in the third placed play off). They have played 3 World Cup finals this tournament (vs. France, Ireland, and Scotland). Psychologically they must be drained, while South Africa have had a pretty easy route to the Semi Finals thus far.

The Springbok will know they can not take it easy against the Pumas, since they suffered last week against Fiji when they took their foot off the gas. They wont be making the same mistake again this weekend. I’m going for a South African victory… 34-14.

I will leave you with a picture of some French people I bumped into whilst out drinking after the game last weekend. And yes, that is a real like rooster in the basket!

[Tyler Durden]

WAHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

And that's all I have to say about that.

[Crocker]

Who would have thought this eight days ago, we were dreadfull in the group and we ended up on the toughest side of the draw and we managed to Spank the Aussies and beat the French in their own back yard, Johnny Wilkinson missing so many kick's still worries me for the final but I feel a lot more confident now than any other time in the tournament.

Hopefully we will make it an English double next week by England retaining the trophy and Lewis Hamilton getting his hands on the Formula One crown in the same day

[The Phantom]

This is a fuckin joke

[Crocker]

Originally Posted by The Phantom

This is a fuckin joke

Haha, I wish I had put some cash on us rather than backing the French, I the match as I was up in Scotland watching the football match against Ukraine

[The Phantom]

England are fuckin terrible... for the 2nd week in a row I was bored brainless watching. I just hope the South Africans smash them next week.

[Crocker]

Originally Posted by The Phantom

England are fuckin terrible... for the 2nd week in a row I was bored brainless watching. I just hope the South Africans smash them next week.

That was the only way we had a chance of winning though, its the old Arsenal method

[The Phantom]

Originally Posted by Crocker

That was the only way we had a chance of winning though, its the old Arsenal method

I don't really agree. England have a lot of talented backs, if they'd got up and played the ball around the park, and taken the game to France, The french would have crumbled, especially on such a tense night. I could always see them beating Australia and France... I can't see them beating South Africa... and I didn't watch the previous game during the tournament so my views are not based on that.

[Tyler Durden]

Originally Posted by The Phantom

I don't really agree. England have a lot of talented backs, if they'd got up and played the ball around the park, and taken the game to France, The french would have crumbled, especially on such a tense night.

Don't agree at all. We have "some" talent in the backs, but nowhere near as much as the All Blacks and what happened to them when they tried a running game against the All Kicking French? Horses for courses. This was our best way of beating France. And hell I'm not apologising for how we do it. A tournament (as you find in the last football world cup) is one by the most resilient and dogmatic side over the course of month, rarely by the team that has some imaginary sling the ball around "style"