About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?

[City123]

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

Rugby Union is a shadow of the sport that it once was.
It’s a war of defensive attrition now with huge blokes wrapping up man and ball and phase after phase of boring play.

In the interest of player safety and as a spectator sport could a rule change to leg tackles only improve things?

Feels like there are bigger celebrations for winning scrums and penalties than for scoring points now

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

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

You don’t half talk some bollox sonny.
There have been 24 Football World Cup tournaments, with only 8 different winners.
9 Rugby Union World Cup tournaments with 4 different winners. It will be 5 if Ireland or France win this one.
I know which one looks top loaded from that.

If you think the two scores by Ireland and the mighty Italy today were out of the ordinary or the same happens in the football world cup or European championships .......

Then please point out scores of 7 nil in recent tournaments

Then we can discuss things properly

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

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

There was no intention by tualange in that tackle a few moments ago to grab his opponent

It was an assassination hit

[City123]

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

There was no intention by tualange in that tackle a few moments ago to grab his opponent

It was an assassination hit

Ah but it was a "monster, showstopping hit" so it's all fine

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

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

There was no intention by tualange in that tackle a few moments ago to grab his opponent

It was an assassination hit

A lot of so called tackles in rugby are very cowardly it seems to be part of the game

[City123]

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

Argentina have been appalling, it's like they're trying to lose!

[the other bob wilson]

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

Rugby Union is a shadow of the sport that it once was.
It’s a war of defensive attrition now with huge blokes wrapping up man and ball and phase after phase of boring play.

In the interest of player safety and as a spectator sport could a rule change to leg tackles only improve things?

The collision which led to the red card was between a fullback and a number seven (open side flanker). The first Welsh open side I can remember is John Taylor who I’d guess was an inch or two short of six foot and I doubt it if he weighed thirteen stone - I’d guess Curry weighs five stone more than Taylor did in his playing days. Is it an exaggeration to say your average international rugby player weighs about a third more than they did when it was an amateur sport? I don’t think it is, in fact it could be an under estimation.

American Footballers first started wearing protective clothing in the 1890s and I see no difference in the severity of collisions in the two sports now. I think the time has come to either start wearing some form of protective clothing or for drastic changes to the tackle laws as you suggest.

As for the game, it’s turning out that the sending off was the best thing that could have happened to England.

[The Bloop]

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

There was no intention by tualange in that tackle a few moments ago to grab his opponent

It was an assassination hit

It was fine. Waist level, and an attempt to dislodge the ball. As big as the tackler is, the opposing player is just as big and able to cope with such a hit.

[Grangenders]

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

If Wales can somehow finish second in their group they will get a right drubbing off England in the quarters. Maybe better to quietly go out in the group stage…

[Dave Blue]

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

If Wales can somehow finish second in their group they will get a right drubbing off England in the quarters. Maybe better to quietly go out in the group stage…

I’ve seen nothing from England to suggest that. Argentina architects of their own downfall. There hasn’t been a decent move in the game. Dreadful.

[City123]

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

If Wales can somehow finish second in their group they will get a right drubbing off England in the quarters. Maybe better to quietly go out in the group stage…

Based on what? Argentina have spent the past 70 minutes shooting themselves in the foot

[The Bloop]

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

If Wales can somehow finish second in their group they will get a right drubbing off England in the quarters. Maybe better to quietly go out in the group stage…

England have only benefitted from Argentina's ill-discipline. Hardly a world beating performance with all the points coming from the boot.

[Wash DC Blue]

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

The collision which led to the red card was between a fullback and a number seven (open side flanker). The first Welsh open side I can remember is John Taylor who I’d guess was an inch or two short of six foot and I doubt it if he weighed thirteen stone - I’d guess Curry weighs five stone more than Taylor did in his playing days. Is it an exaggeration to say your average international rugby player weighs about a third more than they did when it was an amateur sport? I don’t think it is, in fact it could be an under estimation.

I think you are correct.
It’s a game of giants just smashing into each other now.

Seldom do you see great, exciting runs in todays game.

[City123]

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

Argentina get the only try of the game once they start passing the ball

Who would have thought...