About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

So , to ask again

Why given England have loads of players to pick from .....the most of any rugby nation .....are they so crap ?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

So , to ask again

Why given England have loads of players to pick from .....the most of any rugby nation .....are they so crap ?

I'd say that the England football team have adapted their game away from what might be called a traditional English approach and are better for it. Despite rugby being more of a power based game than it's ever been, there is still a place for skill (I was very pleasantly surpised by the quality of some of Ireland's tries against Scotland), England don't trust talent or mavericks (how many caps would someone like Campese have won for them?), never have done in my experience and so they tend to be easy to defend against at the top level even if they're dominant up front.

[The Bloop]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

So , to ask again

Why given England have loads of players to pick from .....the most of any rugby nation .....are they so crap ?

They got to the final 4 years ago remember after beating New Zealand in the semis.
Eddie Jones though set them back after that. They seem obsessed with picking Owen Farrell when George Ford is a better player, and the don't have a genuine number 8.

[Ivortheengine]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

A northern semisphere.

Could well see 4 northern hemisphere teams in the semis - the complete opposite of 2015.

It won’t be happening. The All Blacks will put a stop to it. Maybe South Africa too. Argentina won’t.
My worry is that if Argentina get beat, they’ll take off all the keys on the cans of corned beef in revenge.

[The Bloop]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

It won’t be happening. The All Blacks will put a stop to it. Maybe South Africa too. Argentina won’t.
My worry is that if Argentina get beat, they’ll take off all the keys on the cans of corned beef in revenge.

You don't keep a spare?

[Moodybluebird]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

I'd say that the England football team have adapted their game away from what might be called a traditional English approach and are better for it. Despite rugby being more of a power based game than it's ever been, there is still a place for skill (I was very pleasantly surpised by the quality of some of Ireland's tries against Scotland), England don't trust talent or mavericks (how many caps would someone like Campese have won for them?), never have done in my experience and so they tend to be easy to defend against at the top level even if they're dominant up front.

Quite right. When someone as distinctly average as Owen Farrell can command a regular starting place, there is no way that this England team will rise above the level of mediocrity they now find themselves in.

[Rjk]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

just occurred to me that Argentina still have an outside chance of being world cup winners in Football and Rugby at the same time. that would really be something.

I guess if anyone were ever going to achieve that then it would most likely be France or England?

[Der Kaiser]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

just occurred to me that Argentina still have an outside chance of being world cup winners in Football and Rugby at the same time. that would really be something.

I guess if anyone were ever going to achieve that then it would most likely be France or England?

Alternatively South Africa could win the rugby and cricket world cups within a month of each other.

[MacAdder]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

Alternatively South Africa could win the rugby and cricket world cups within a month of each other.

Not a bad shout this

[the other bob wilson]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

Felt sorry for Ireland with that incredible last few minutes they had. However, although it's a harsh way of looking at it, they bottled it yet again in a World Cup when it got to the knock out stages. New Zealand were up for the challenge and just about deserved their won I thought, but an Ireland side playing like they did against South Africa and Scotland would have beaten them I reckon - when the pressure came on, Irelands started to make uncharacteristic errors (e.g. Sexton missing a simple penalty, Doris knocking on a ball he'd have caught ninety nine times out of a hundred and Gibson-Park, who usually always takes the right options, pushing too hard when there was no need to).

For me, the winner of the France v South Africa game now become the favourites.

[Jimmy the Jock]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

Felt sorry for Ireland with that incredible last few minutes they had. However, although it's a harsh way of looking at it, they bottled it yet again in a World Cup when it got to the knock out stages. New Zealand were up for the challenge and just about deserved their won I thought, but an Ireland side playing like they did against South Africa and Scotland would have beaten them I reckon - when the pressure came on, Irelands started to make uncharacteristic errors (e.g. Sexton missing a simple penalty, Doris knocking on a ball he'd have caught ninety nine times out of a hundred and Gibson-Park, who usually always takes the right options, pushing too hard when there was no need to).

For me, the winner of the France v South Africa game now become the favourites.

What a game , both sides were fantastic . Its a shame one of them had to go home at this stage.
I have a feeling the All Blacks will have a strong say when it comes to the final.
The semi finals wont have the same competitive edge as some of the quarters when you have Argentina, England or Fiji gone through and Ireland heading home. Same when South Africa or France are dismissed tonight.

[Swiss Peter]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

What a game , both sides were fantastic . Its a shame one of them had to go home at this stage.
I have a feeling the All Blacks will have a strong say when it comes to the final.
The semi finals wont have the same competitive edge as some of the quarters when you have Argentina, England or Fiji gone through and Ireland heading home. Same when South Africa or France are dismissed tonight.

As I'm not really a big follower, it's the first match in this tournament that I've sat down and watched from start to finish. I found it enthralling, and almost a different sport from the odds and sods I've seen from other matches. Those last few minutes of NZ defence were incredible. As everyone has said, such a pity that one of these sides had to go out at this stage.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

That massive phase from Ireland at the end was almost a game within a game. I think it will be analysed by coaches for years to come. Ireland were almost kiwi esque in the way they just kept recycling.

Think New Zealand had decided to be passive and not give away a penalty, but must have been questioning that decision as Ireland got inside the 22. If Ireland had replaced Sexton I do wonder if they may have had a more positive result at the end mind. His contributions to that end phase were a succession of momentum killing stutters. May have found the opening if Crowley was out there. Keeping a 38 year old out for the full 80 speaks more about his ego than anything else.



So strange the way the tournament has fallen though. The semi finals are giving every impression they could be complete mismatches.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

Fiji did so well to get back to even. Then seemed scared to take a risk right at the end. They've played bloody well to be fair to them mind.

Farrell is a joke. Played better than he normally does. Then completely ruins it with an intentional knock on when Fiji were going backwards into their own 22. That decision deserved to lose a game, I'm gutted it didnt

[Grangenders]

Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

Fiji did so well to get back to even. Then seemed scared to take a risk right at the end. They've played bloody well to be fair to them mind.

Farrell is a joke. Played better than he normally does. Then completely ruins it with an intentional knock on when Fiji were going backwards into their own 22. That decision deserved to lose a game, I'm gutted it didnt

Fair play to England for reaching the semi finals - they’re getting better through the tournament although they haven’t played a decent team yet. Tonight’s result will be interesting. If SA win then I’d expect them to smash England in the semi, but up against the French, even with home advantage, I think England could pull off a result.