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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
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.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
Jimmy the Jock
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.
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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.
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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
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
chrisp_1927
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.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
Grangenders
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.
Shows how opinions can differ I think France beat England by 25+ but England could give S Africa a close run game
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
Aa an England supporters any chance we can hand back the win to Fiji?
Based on this first 20 minutes , outside of one of those days, it is an absolute drubbing.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
argy bargy at the rugby today
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">England fans fighting at the Rugby World Cup today… <a href="https://t.co/diLTE8eKoJ">pic.twitter.com/diLTE8eKoJ</a></p>— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBAwayDays/status/1713632237613113417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
France v South Africa: absolutely riveting. This could make for a fantastic final in itself.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
That first half was like the first round in the Hagler - Hearns fight. Breathtaking !!!
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
MOZZER2
argy bargy at the rugby today
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">England fans fighting at the Rugby World Cup today… <a href="https://t.co/diLTE8eKoJ">pic.twitter.com/diLTE8eKoJ</a></p>— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBAwayDays/status/1713632237613113417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Handbags. Not a decent punch in sight.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
Unbelievable game. Think every player who played that game(with the exception of faf) should feel immensely proud. I thought yesterday's game was fantastic, but this was a game for the ages !
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
I think we're in for an unbelievable final. Southern Hemisphere win yet again.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
That was something else .I am not a rugby person but I just watched sporting excellence from two teams. It will take something unbelievable for Argentina and England to get past the semis.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
chrisp_1927
Unbelievable game. Think every player who played that game(with the exception of faf) should feel immensely proud. I thought yesterday's game was fantastic, but this was a game for the ages !
Only bloody missed it due to the poxy football being on, Wales beating Croatia :frown:
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
Dorcus
I think we're in for an unbelievable final. Southern Hemisphere win yet again.
I think most see this as the scenario cum next week but...
I didn't see the game but unfancied and unconvincing England are only one mistake/bad decision away from getting to the final and then the unthinkable shirley couldn't happen!
Could it?? :yikes:
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
MacAdder
Only bloody missed it due to the poxy football being on, Wales beating Croatia :frown:
I felt quite guilty. Rugby on the tv, football on the phone with sound off
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
MacAdder
I think most see this as the scenario cum next week but...
I didn't see the game but unfancied and unconvincing England are only one mistake/bad decision away from getting to the final and then the unthinkable shirley couldn't happen!
Could it?? :yikes:
Can't rule it out but I struggle to see them getting close to NZ, even if they manage to get through a bruising encounter with the boks.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
Trigger
Can't rule it out but I struggle to see them getting close to NZ, even if they manage to get through a bruising encounter with the boks.
🙏
Just imagine, another 30 knights of the realm :facepalm:
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
As was highlighted by the rugby commentators last night, England are now the only unbeaten team left in the tournament but I would love them to get smashed by the Boks. Here's hoping.
I can't even see the All Blacks getting anywhere near the Boks if South Africa produce another performance like last night.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
As was highlighted by the rugby commentators last night, England are now the only unbeaten team left in the tournament but I would love them to get smashed by the Boks. Here's hoping.
I can't even see the All Blacks getting anywhere near the Boks if South Africa produce another performance like last night.
I'm not sure about your last paragraph. I'd love to see South Africa win but I think it could go either way. Both had brutal quarter final matches and I wonder how much those might have taken out of both teams.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
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Originally Posted by
chrisp_1927
I felt quite guilty. Rugby on the tv, football on the phone with sound off
As you bloody well should have :hehe:
:thumbup:
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
Matt Dawson has stated that the gap between England and the top teams at the World Cup has definitely narrowed since the tournament has progressed. Wow, now that's what I call rose-tinted spectacles !
If anything, it's only emphasised the yawning gap between the top 4 sides and the rest, England included. On any given day they are each capable of beating one another but as for an also-ran spoiling their party, forget it. It ain't going to happen any time soon.
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Re: About time we had a rugby World Cup thread?
embarrassing that we went out to that side