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Rugby World Cup 2023
Comments
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Did England mug Samoa today; yes they did.
4 wins and England still look hot and cold.
Was that really a knock on when there was English hands on the ball as well. The try being given and the conversion missed before they had another look !
Ireland, South Africa, France and New Zealand looked the best 4 teams in the WC before a try was scored and nothing has changed my mind.
Because of the draw they won't all be in the semi finals but they are the strongest.
Ireland have their best ever chance and they are such a strong team who play with such nous. Making a half decent Scottish team look 2nd rate.
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Yep think the Semis could be a bit one sided.soapboxsam said:Did England mug Samoa today; yes they did.
4 wins and England still look hot and cold.
Was that really a knock on when there was English hands on the ball as well. The try being given and the conversion missed before they had another look !
Ireland, South Africa, France and New Zealand looked the best 4 teams in the WC before a try was scored and nothing has changed my mind.
Because of the draw they won't all be in the semi finals but they are the strongest.
Ireland have their best ever chance and they are such a strong team who play with such nous. Making a half decent Scottish team look 2nd rate.0 -
That's Rassie Erasmus for you - he is utterly disgraceful. Other's don't think like him, fortunatelyLincsaddick said:Unlikely, BUT worth a thought .. Ireland vs Scotland match-fixing claim at Rugby World Cup is insulting and scandalous (msn.com)
I predicted there would be some doping scandal around the SA players0 -
Time for these 2nd tier teams like Scotland and Italy to play in a pre World Cup tournament for the right to play with the big boys
can’t keep having these one sided games against the minnows7 -
Yes that is a joke0
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Maybe they should play the Raiders.MrOneLung said:Time for these 2nd tier teams like Scotland and Italy to play in a pre World Cup tournament for the right to play with the big boys
can’t keep having these one sided games against the minnows3 -
Real quandary now.
The last two Ireland games I’ve missed because of a gig & a surprise roundy birthday party.
I can’t possibly watch the All Blacks game now can I? 🥺🫣😫😞0 -
Definitely a quandary...
How many surprise birthday parties can you stand???2 -
Big believer that superstition is bollocks, so enjoy the game!!KBslittlesis said:Real quandary now.
The last two Ireland games I’ve missed because of a gig & a surprise roundy birthday party.
I can’t possibly watch the All Blacks game now can I? 🥺🫣😫😞1 -
Certainly time for the group draw to be done much nearer the time. Sadly the 5th ranked team in the world was unlikely to qualify from a group with the nos 1 and 2 (it doesn't get worse then that!). But then again, I like your idea, with England and Wales being ranked lower than Scotland, it would have been them not Scotland in the pre World Cup tournament - so maybe you are on to something.MrOneLung said:Time for these 2nd tier teams like Scotland and Italy to play in a pre World Cup tournament for the right to play with the big boys
can’t keep having these one sided games against the minnows
If teams below 8 in the world had to qualify, England (and of course Scotland as were ranked higher) would have been ok, but not Wales! If it was the top 8, England would have just squeaked in
At least they have ackonwledged they drew the groups way too earlyWorld Rugby men’s rankings
(Teams in bold competing at 2023 World Cup)
1. Ireland
2. South Africa
3. France
4. New Zealand
5. Scotland
6. Argentina
7. Fiji
8. England
9. Australia
10. Wales
11. Georgia
12. Samoa
13. Italy
14. Japan
15. Tonga
16. Portugal
17. Uruguay
18. USA
19. Romania
20. Spain
21. Namibia
22. Chile
23. Canada
24. Hong Kong
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The draw obviously needs looking at as it seems both semi finals are likely to be one sided affairs whereas the quarters have thrown together some matches that could or even should be the final2
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I remember a Rugby League World Cup, which has even less depth, where it was two groups of 4.
Group 1 had Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain and someone else, Group 2 had 4 someone elses.
The team that won Group 1 played the team that won Group 2 and the 2nd and 3rd place in Group 1 played each other in the other semi.
One sided games help no one but you have to grow the game and share the love. Its a tough one.0 -
Portugal showing that Tier 2 nations deserve more opportunities against Tier 1 nations. Italy shouldn’t have a golden ticket to the elite in fact no one should. 6 nations division 2 with promotion has to happen. Incredible performance again by them.4
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Perfect result that, good to see for Portugal, good to see Fiji be a bit shaky before the England QF, and very good to see Australia go out!2
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A tremendous game to end the group stage.
Portugal continued to amaze and played some really good stuff.
Making a decent case for better treatment for Tier 2 nations.
Listened to the 5 Extra coverage, with the TV pictures (much better, though a bit glitchy).
Edit. I really recommend listening, at least to the second half, again on BBC Sounds. The commentators were just having the time of their lives, begging for another 40 minutes, with around 10 to go.1 -
The quarter final draw emphasises the ridiculous grouping - 2 plays 3 is utterly ridiculous (bit vive la France!) and 1 plays 4. Utterly unfair1
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But I suppose you can get the top four ranked football teams all meeting in the World Cup quarter Finals as well0
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Hard to see beyond the winners of Ireland/NZ and France/SA then going on to reach the final.
Obviously upsets can happen but i'd expect we're going to get a couple of fairly one sided semi finals.0 -
Condolences Tel. You must be so sad 🥹0
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I’m fine mate, but thanks for asking 👍🏻Blackheathen said:Condolences Tel. You must be so sad 🥹0 -
me too, but that is probably just the Sagittarius in me.North Lower Neil said:
Big believer that superstition is bollocks, so enjoy the game!!KBslittlesis said:Real quandary now.
The last two Ireland games I’ve missed because of a gig & a surprise roundy birthday party.
I can’t possibly watch the All Blacks game now can I? 🥺🫣😫😞2 -
the 1/4s have two games worthy of a final, Ireland/NZ and France/SA .. the draw must be better handled next time
Portugal !! .. gritty people, like the football team, this determined outfit has surpassed most people's expectations .. like to see them play Italy a few times .. problem will always be squad depth and league structure .. like many of the 'smaller' nations, the stars tend to go to France, that's where the proper league structure AND the money is
Fiji .. off the boil ? .. but we know that any team facing England tends to get up a scalding head of steam1 -
Why must the draw be "better handled"? Isn't the purpose of a world championship to find the very best of the best? If so, then eight of the world's top nine teams competing in the knockout stages is a good thing, isn't it? And the possibility (or even probability) of Ireland or New Zealand facing France or South African in the final is mouth-watering for rugby fans around the world.Lincsaddick said:the 1/4s have two games worthy of a final, Ireland/NZ and France/SA .. the draw must be better handled next time
Portugal !! .. gritty people, like the football team, this determined outfit has surpassed most people's expectations .. like to see them play Italy a few times .. problem will always be squad depth and league structure .. like many of the 'smaller' nations, the stars tend to go to France, that's where the proper league structure AND the money is
Fiji .. off the boil ? .. but we know that any team facing England tends to get up a scalding head of steam
If Ireland v New Zealand is "worthy of a final", and France v South Africa is too, then surely the winners of each will also be "worthy of a final".
Would the same complaints about the draw be made if the semi finals were Ireland v South Africa and New Zealand v France?
I can't see anything in the draw that means the World Cup won't be won by a team that thoroughly deserves to do so.1 -
I’m a sagittarian & I’m completely superstitious when it comes to sports 😫🫣🤣🤣MrOneLung said:
me too, but that is probably just the Sagittarius in me.North Lower Neil said:
Big believer that superstition is bollocks, so enjoy the game!!KBslittlesis said:Real quandary now.
The last two Ireland games I’ve missed because of a gig & a surprise roundy birthday party.
I can’t possibly watch the All Blacks game now can I? 🥺🫣😫😞0 -
winner of England/Fiji is going to be the poorest team in the last four since the Jocks in ‘910
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But a semi final place can't be viewed as a failure even if everything has worked for England.1
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Argentina proving the exception to the rule, which gave England a bump start to their tournament.Lincsaddick said:the 1/4s have two games worthy of a final, Ireland/NZ and France/SA .. the draw must be better handled next time
Portugal !! .. gritty people, like the football team, this determined outfit has surpassed most people's expectations .. like to see them play Italy a few times .. problem will always be squad depth and league structure .. like many of the 'smaller' nations, the stars tend to go to France, that's where the proper league structure AND the money is
Fiji .. off the boil ? .. but we know that any team facing England tends to get up a scalding head of steam1 -
yes, best of the current best, not from 3 years agoChizz said:
Why must the draw be "better handled"? Isn't the purpose of a world championship to find the very best of the best? If so, then eight of the world's top nine teams competing in the knockout stages is a good thing, isn't it? And the possibility (or even probability) of Ireland or New Zealand facing France or South African in the final is mouth-watering for rugby fans around the world.Lincsaddick said:the 1/4s have two games worthy of a final, Ireland/NZ and France/SA .. the draw must be better handled next time
Portugal !! .. gritty people, like the football team, this determined outfit has surpassed most people's expectations .. like to see them play Italy a few times .. problem will always be squad depth and league structure .. like many of the 'smaller' nations, the stars tend to go to France, that's where the proper league structure AND the money is
Fiji .. off the boil ? .. but we know that any team facing England tends to get up a scalding head of steam
If Ireland v New Zealand is "worthy of a final", and France v South Africa is too, then surely the winners of each will also be "worthy of a final".
Would the same complaints about the draw be made if the semi finals were Ireland v South Africa and New Zealand v France?
I can't see anything in the draw that means the World Cup won't be won by a team that thoroughly deserves to do so.
So you wouldn't have the first, second and fifth best in the world in the same group nor have the teams 2 and 3 in the world playing each other in a quarter final2 -
No. Because on current form, not 3 year old seedings, that’s the semi lineup you’d expect. Rugby has already admitted they were wrong, so hopefully the one sided nature of the draw won’t happen again.Chizz said:
Why must the draw be "better handled"? Isn't the purpose of a world championship to find the very best of the best? If so, then eight of the world's top nine teams competing in the knockout stages is a good thing, isn't it? And the possibility (or even probability) of Ireland or New Zealand facing France or South African in the final is mouth-watering for rugby fans around the world.Lincsaddick said:the 1/4s have two games worthy of a final, Ireland/NZ and France/SA .. the draw must be better handled next time
Portugal !! .. gritty people, like the football team, this determined outfit has surpassed most people's expectations .. like to see them play Italy a few times .. problem will always be squad depth and league structure .. like many of the 'smaller' nations, the stars tend to go to France, that's where the proper league structure AND the money is
Fiji .. off the boil ? .. but we know that any team facing England tends to get up a scalding head of steam
If Ireland v New Zealand is "worthy of a final", and France v South Africa is too, then surely the winners of each will also be "worthy of a final".
Would the same complaints about the draw be made if the semi finals were Ireland v South Africa and New Zealand v France?
I can't see anything in the draw that means the World Cup won't be won by a team that thoroughly deserves to do so.I doubt whether those 4 mentioned will lose sleep over it. They’ll all know that they have to beat the best of the rest at some stage. You’d usually expect that to come later than the quarters pairing them all up at once, but I just hope it doesn’t make any final too one sided.0
