Perhaps a little tongue in cheek if anything, but, @ the time, you WERE the only English person to have looked outside of their own team to comment here.

So the congrats were for your not being insular.

That said, the Aussies are looking more and more dangerous recently, have to agree with the overall prediction of 3rd though.

SA I think are the most dangerous side to be honest, but I wonder about their coach at times, dragging in old names when there’s youngsters to be blooded. I don’t know if they’ll beat the ABs, but if they can stay on the right track they’ll be deadly by the RWC.

As to the ABs, exciting to see Fekitoa get a start, and Ben Smith at 15 makes me think that Hansen might be losing a bit of that conservative streak he seemed to have, but if they don’t start getting some time into a new hooker they’re going to be on a hiding to nothing come the RWC, one injury to Dane Coles and they’ll be in huge trouble, I don’t see Mealamus calves surviving too much strain.

I think the away games for the ABs will be close, but they’ll be safe at home. Not sure I’d back them for the clean sweep this time, but the Aussies have taken a huge blow in losing both their hookers (especially Moore). Backrow battle will be immense though, across the tournament.

I do agree on Argentina. They have improved, but both SA and Aus have improved and probably by more.

Given that SA have “improved” they should surely be able to beat the ABs. So much will depend on how their backs perform. They have some newer faces coming in – Allende, Pollard – and less experience in their centre combinations – Serfontein. I am also uncertain about their locks. why are they having to call on Botha and Smith?

Pollard and Le Roux could really ignite their backs. Can’t wait to see how it goes.

Aus are such an unknown at the moment. They have not faced much serious opposition in their run of wins, but there is so much talent in their backs. Not sure about the Beale/Foley thing. I know Beale is an incredible playmaker, but will he make the right decisions at 10? tends to run across the field from 10 as well. Time will tell…

There pack dominating the French scrum is slightly worrying.

For the record, I am English.

Australia are an interesting one. Foley is certainly the form 10 this year, but Beale is the form playmaker. It is more a selection of Toomua over Foley than anything else. Beale and Toomua will interchange throughout the 80 – the shirt they are wearing won’t matter.

Can see the top 3 all beating each other this year. I think the gap is closing significantly on NZ, and i would not be surprised to see them lose their top spot.