Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
Will what's happened with Howley have an effect?

Still think New Zealand would win it comfortably if every side played to their full potential, but they're more fallible than they have been - even if Wales don't let the Howley situation get to them, it seems to me that the evidence of their games over the last year says that they will not have the attacking ability to open up the best defences often enough.
I’d say the Howley incident will have a slight effect, but it’s difficult to gauge how much.
I agree with you about the All Blacks. I think they’ll win it, but as good as they are, or can be, they have got form for “bottling it”.
It does appear to be the most open World Cup so far, and with the Japanese public right up for it, it promises to be a great tournament.