Rugby 2019 Discussion

diarm

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Very dark day for my family today. Our best family friend Derrick King the chairman of Bridgend RFC died yesterday. Just wanted to pay tribute to him here instead of on Facebook. If it wasn't for him i wouldn't have gone back to college and I wouldn't have my son because of that. An absolute gentleman and has been recognised on BBC sport Wales website. Am gonna get smashed tonight but not morbid it's not about me. Rest well Derrick x
Sorry to hear that mate. Puts things like world cup selections that we all get hung up on I to perspective! Hope you send him off with a bang tonight!
 

arnie_ni

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Happy to see Ruddock and Farrell included. Very harsh on Marmion, Toner and Addison.
I would have brought all three ahead of McGrath, Kleyn and Larmour.
Id have brought the same 3 instead of the same 3.

Surprised at addison. He has literally played every position across the back line except 9 for ulster this year.

He's your perfect squad player
 

Xaviesta

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Very dark day for my family today. Our best family friend Derrick King the chairman of Bridgend RFC died yesterday. Just wanted to pay tribute to him here instead of on Facebook. If it wasn't for him i wouldn't have gone back to college and I wouldn't have my son because of that. An absolute gentleman and has been recognised on BBC sport Wales website. Am gonna get smashed tonight but not morbid it's not about me. Rest well Derrick x
Sorry to hear.
 

diarm

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That is desperate news. An iconic member of that great team and 49 is no age at all. RIP Chester
 

Xaviesta

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With the sad news of Chester Williams passing, Jeff Wilson is the only winger who started the 1995 world cup final still alive today.
 

unchanged_lineup

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Ireland world #1 for the first time ever. How mad is that after getting hammered by England?

I cannot overstate how delighted I am to see Jack Carty playing well for Ireland. I don't know how much of an Ireland career he'll have with Carbery the heir apparent, but I'm over the moon for him to be nailing his opportunity.
 

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Good win especially second half looked somewhat back to our best. Great to see Sexton and Murray looking themselves again, any successful World Cup depends on them being fit and playing their best. I'm just worried about our ability to turn pressure into points. We were missing Stockdale today but I don't know if we can depend on beating the best when we score such little from our possession (although our 2018 was built on this and we were the best in the World that year). Hope Earls is ok and good to get through without any other injuries. Still think we should have brought Dev, not seeing it with Kleyn yet. Maybe a strange opinion but I so much wish that Zebo was considered for inclusion, I'd bring him over Larmour who still needs a year more to show his Leinster self for Ireland.

@unchanged_lineup delighted to see the Connacht boys get recognition. Carty is class and Aki is just fantastic. Also, even as a Leinster fan, I still consider Henshaw as a player who was made what he is with you guys.
 

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Good win especially second half looked somewhat back to our best. Great to see Sexton and Murray looking themselves again, any successful World Cup depends on them being fit and playing their best. I'm just worried about our ability to turn pressure into points. We were missing Stockdale today but I don't know if we can depend on beating the best when we score such little from our possession (although our 2018 was built on this and we were the best in the World that year). Hope Earls is ok and good to get through without any other injuries. Still think we should have brought Dev, not seeing it with Kleyn yet. Maybe a strange opinion but I so much wish that Zebo was considered for inclusion, I'd bring him over Larmour who still needs a year more to show his Leinster self for Ireland.

@unchanged_lineup delighted to see the Connacht boys get recognition. Carty is class and Aki is just fantastic. Also, even as a Leinster fan, I still consider Henshaw as a player who was made what he is with you guys.
Is it possible we've actually timed this run-in period properly? Don't make me dream, Ireland :D

The intensity seemed right today. Even though Wales initially had loads of the ball, we looked good and right in their faces. I think that in the end we'll have too many players at the end of their careers clinging on and being carried by the likes of Ryan, Aki, Henshaw, Furlong etc. But at least I don't have to look the world cup with dread now!
 

kidbob

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Is it possible we've actually timed this run-in period properly? Don't make me dream, Ireland :D

The intensity seemed right today. Even though Wales initially had loads of the ball, we looked good and right in their faces. I think that in the end we'll have too many players at the end of their careers clinging on and being carried by the likes of Ryan, Aki, Henshaw, Furlong etc. But at least I don't have to look the world cup with dread now!
As a Leinster fan every time I've doubted Schmidt he's made me look a fool, so maybe!! Unfortunately coming 1st or 2nd in the group this time faces us with equally a hard QF. The one thing I cling to is that this time last year we were the best in the World so maybe the veterans in the group have one last hurrah in them!!!
 

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As a Leinster fan every time I've doubted Schmidt he's made me look a fool, so maybe!! Unfortunately coming 1st or 2nd in the group this time faces us with equally a hard QF. The one thing I cling to is that this time last year we were the best in the World so maybe the veterans in the group have one last hurrah in them!!!
I work with a NZ lad and he sent me an article from a newspaper there that's predicting an Ireland ABs final. Their betting sites have us well placed too.
 

kidbob

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I work with a NZ lad and he sent me an article from a newspaper there that's predicting an Ireland ABs final. Their betting sites have us well placed too.
I think we'd all take a semi finals as success but because I know the guys are good enough to win it I can't but get excited!! Should be a top class World Cup with at least 8 teams that are good enough at their best to cause problems for anyone, also Japan being at home and Fiji being their usual unpredictable selves. I honestly think that at our best we can do it but like you I feel it may have come a couple of years too late for us. I expect England, SA or NZ to do it.

What's your view on Zebo? I think it's silly for a population like ours to hamstring ourselves like this and like I said Larmour's time will come but no way that he is as good an option right now. I also would have went for Dev now and introduced Klyne next year. Although I'll no longer doubt Joe too much at this stage.
 

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I think we'd all take a semi finals as success but because I know the guys are good enough to win it I can't but get excited!! Should be a top class World Cup with at least 8 teams that are good enough at their best to cause problems for anyone, also Japan being at home and Fiji being their usual unpredictable selves. I honestly think that at our best we can do it but like you I feel it may have come a couple of years too late for us. I expect England, SA or NZ to do it.

What's your view on Zebo? I think it's silly for a population like ours to hamstring ourselves like this and like I said Larmour's time will come but no way that he is as good an option right now. I also would have went for Dev now and introduced Klyne next year. Although I'll no longer doubt Joe too much at this stage.
I think he shot himself in the foot with his attitude to Schmidt. There was no way he'd get near the squad when he started casting aspersions. If I remember rightly he started well in France, but I haven't kept track of him. Ultimately, it's a matter of sacrifice to try to get balance. Zebo would bring magic but perhaps he's disruptive in camp and hasn't bought into Schmidt's way.

I'm at a bit of a loss with Kleyn so far. I've seen very little of him but I don't remember being impressed when I have seen him in Pro 14. He's got an awful lot to prove now after some tepid games to start his Ireland career.

Obviously too I'd have much preferred Roux and Dillane to have been in the mix for that spot.
 

kidbob

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I think he shot himself in the foot with his attitude to Schmidt. There was no way he'd get near the squad when he started casting aspersions. If I remember rightly he started well in France, but I haven't kept track of him. Ultimately, it's a matter of sacrifice to try to get balance. Zebo would bring magic but perhaps he's disruptive in camp and hasn't bought into Schmidt's way.

I'm at a bit of a loss with Kleyn so far. I've seen very little of him but I don't remember being impressed when I have seen him in Pro 14. He's got an awful lot to prove now after some tepid games to start his Ireland career.

Obviously too I'd have much preferred Roux and Dillane to have been in the mix for that spot.
Yeah fair point on Zebo, I guess I'm just worried about our lack of that 'magic'. Fair point on Roux and Dillane, they have certainly shown more at this point in the Ireland squad than Klyne. At least were more positive than a few weeks ago. I meant to say that Marmion missing out was the biggest disgrace, Luke has performed nowhere near as well for Ireland. In fact until Murray showed better today Marmion was my favourite to start at the World Cup. Hopefully Farrell will throw a better eye at Connacht when he takes over and of course the vital thing that the IRFU starts looking at you guys as the proper top class rugby team you are and gives you the right support to progress. I've never minded transfers between Leinster, Munster and Ulster but always hated the fact that Connacht have always been the main loser in players moving inter-province. I'd eventually love to see Friend as Irish coach, he's probably done the most impressive job at province level in the last years.
 

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Yeah fair point on Zebo, I guess I'm just worried about our lack of that 'magic'. Fair point on Roux and Dillane, they have certainly shown more at this point in the Ireland squad than Klyne. At least were more positive than a few weeks ago. I meant to say that Marmion missing out was the biggest disgrace, Luke has performed nowhere near as well for Ireland. In fact until Murray showed better today Marmion was my favourite to start at the World Cup. Hopefully Farrell will throw a better eye at Connacht when he takes over and of course the vital thing that the IRFU starts looking at you guys as the proper top class rugby team you are and gives you the right support to progress. I've never minded transfers between Leinster, Munster and Ulster but always hated the fact that Connacht have always been the main loser in players moving inter-province. I'd eventually love to see Friend as Irish coach, he's probably done the most impressive job at province level in the last years.
I'm devastated for Marmion. It's cruel.

I love Friend's attitude. Even before he arrived, he was spreading positivity on twitter and it wasn't just empty words - he's saved Carty's career more or less. Keane had ruined him, and had a devastating effect on the confidence of a couple of other players too.

I hope so too about Connacht. We've some serious young players coming through and it'd be awful if they feel they have to move to get picked.
 

diarm

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Heard a horrible rumour this morning that Robbie Henshaw has been ruled out of the world cup with a torn hamstring.

A real kick in the balls as I though he was our best player last Saturday and is easily our best centre. Feel awful for him as well after working so hard to come back from his last injury.
 

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Heard a horrible rumour this morning that Robbie Henshaw has been ruled out of the world cup with a torn hamstring.

A real kick in the balls as I though he was our best player last Saturday and is easily our best centre. Feel awful for him as well after working so hard to come back from his last injury.
Last time rumours came out of camp (about the squad selection), they were true :nervous:
 

diarm

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Lots of media now reporting that rumour, @diarm :(

Will Addison was also pulled from a friendly yesterday. Bad signs.
Crap news.

Addison is a fine player and if he was coming in for any one of the other three centres I wouldn't be too upset.

Henshaw is the difference maker in the midfield though. When we've won big games over the past two or three years, he's been at the forefront.
 

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Crap news.

Addison is a fine player and if he was coming in for any one of the other three centres I wouldn't be too upset.

Henshaw is the difference maker in the midfield though. When we've won big games over the past two or three years, he's been at the forefront.
He was heavily responsible for that ramp-up of intensity in the second Wales match. Huge loss if he's out.
 

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Earls is still struggling. I dont think you'll see either Earls or Henshaw until the quarter final if we do well in the first game. The scotand match is massive. Win that and we can try get lads carrying knocks back to fitness. Lose it and it heaps pressure on the Japan game.
 

diarm

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Yeah Earls looks the biggest worry but fortunately we have a ready made replacement with the form Conway is in.

Will be interesting to see what he goes with in the backrow. I'd imagine O'Mahony did enough in the second Wales game but had Conan shown a little bit more I think he could have nicked the spot.
 

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Looking at the schedule for the opening weekend of the World Cup and all of Saturday’s games look very exciting on paper:


Australia vs Fiji - I’m predicting Fiji to cause an upset and reach the quarters along with the Aussies. On their day, they can give any side a tough game and will have Edinburgh’s very own Bill Mata playing for them :D
France vs Argentina - This is going to be a very interesting game to watch. England will most likely win the group and it’s pretty much between these two for that 2nd spot unless the US continue their upward spiral under head coach Gary Gold who has done an absolute phenomenal job across the Atlantic. France have been very inconsistent in recent times but seem to have a habit of reaching the last 4 in World Cups. Regarding Argentina, recent history will tell you that the World Cup always seems to bring out the best in them and they will certainly give the French a tough opening game.
New Zealand vs South Africa - Doesn’t really need much introduction. My prediction for the final. Fancy NZ to win but South Africa will certainly give them a tough game. Fantastic game to round off a fantastic morning of rugby before the football games kick off :)
 

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Looking at the schedule for the opening weekend of the World Cup and all of Saturday’s games look very exciting on paper:


Australia vs Fiji - I’m predicting Fiji to cause an upset and reach the quarters along with the Aussies. On their day, they can give any side a tough game and will have Edinburgh’s very own Bill Mata playing for them :D
France vs Argentina - This is going to be a very interesting game to watch. England will most likely win the group and it’s pretty much between these two for that 2nd spot unless the US continue their upward spiral under head coach Gary Gold who has done an absolute phenomenal job across the Atlantic. France have been very inconsistent in recent times but seem to have a habit of reaching the last 4 in World Cups. Regarding Argentina, recent history will tell you that the World Cup always seems to bring out the best in them and they will certainly give the French a tough opening game.
New Zealand vs South Africa - Doesn’t really need much introduction. My prediction for the final. Fancy NZ to win but South Africa will certainly give them a tough game. Fantastic game to round off a fantastic morning of rugby before the football games kick off :)
Excited. Bring it on.
 

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South Africa's team to play New Zealand: Willie Le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Mbongeni Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Francois Steyn, Jesse Kriel.
 

Thisistheone

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South Africa's team to play New Zealand: Willie Le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Mbongeni Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Francois Steyn, Jesse Kriel.
That looks very strong to me, wow.

The boks will take some stopping imo.