Rugby Union 21/22/23 Discussion | RWC time!

[T00lsh3d]

Bit of a mixed bag today.

South Africa vs Romania - potentially the biggest mismatch of the tournament? Maybe one for those with morbid curiosity as to how brutalised a team can get

Fiji vs Australia - great game, Fiji fighting for their tournament life after that classic with Wales. Hopefully they feel hard-done by and come out firing

England vs Japan - Japan didn’t look that convincing against Chile and as we all know England were imperious against Argentina, so England to beat the wasabi out of Japan is the only possible outcome. Right?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Bit of a mixed bag today.

South Africa vs Romania - potentially the biggest mismatch of the tournament? Maybe one for those with morbid curiosity as to how brutalised a team can get

Fiji vs Australia - great game, Fiji fighting for their tournament life after that classic with Wales. Hopefully they feel hard-done by and come out firing

England vs Japan - Japan didn’t look that convincing against Chile and as we all know England were imperious against Argentina, so England to beat the wasabi out of Japan is the only possible outcome. Right?

England will beat Japan easily. The only unknown is whether they can actually play some quality, attacking rugby while doing so. Because they’ll need to start doing that to have any hope of going deep in this tournament.

 

[Xaviesta]

50:22 is such a great addition to the game.

Former Rugby Australia director of rugby Scott Johnson lobbied World Rugby to trial and hopefully implement 3 laws: the 50:22, goal line dropout and 20 minute red card in time for the World Cup. From Scott Johnson's point of view, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

 

[T00lsh3d]

England will beat Japan easily. The only unknown is whether they can actually play some quality, attacking rugby while doing so. Because they’ll need to start doing that to have any hope of going deep in this tournament.

I think we both know the answer to that Sir

Japan can bravely blossom that ball around as much as they want….we’ll just be too big and meaty. To be fair with Mitchell and Ford as halfbacks we definitely have the tools to play a more open game, if we wanted to

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I think we both know the answer to that Sir

Japan can bravely blossom that ball around as much as they want….we’ll just be too big and meaty. To be fair with Mitchell and Ford as halfbacks we definitely have the tools to play a more open game, if we wanted to

I keep expecting/dreading Marcus Smith to unleash a new, dynamic, total rugby version of England. He’s a class player. Not sure why he isn’t getting more game time.

 

[JPRouve]

I keep expecting/dreading Marcus Smith to unleash a new, dynamic, total rugby version of England. He’s a class player. Not sure why he isn’t getting more game time.

Because he isn't class, all mouth and trousers.

 

[T00lsh3d]

I keep expecting/dreading Marcus Smith to unleash a new, dynamic, total rugby version of England. He’s a class player. Not sure why he isn’t getting more game time.

There’s a school of thought that he needs specific players around him to function as he does at club level. That being said, we’re playing with Marchant at 13 today (former Quins colleague) and Tuilagi at 12, who can do the big bash work that Esterhuizen does at Quins.

I think it’s probably more that Borthwick trusts Ford after their Leicester years. He does have his favourites and it doesn’t surprise me because Ford is a pretty steely soldier

 

[T00lsh3d]

All going smoothly at the RFU. Mind you, I don’t disagree with any of the wording in the letter. There’s much, much more wrong with the game in this country than the national team being crap

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/16/rugby-world-cup-england-rfu-revolt

 

[Xaviesta]

Australia's game against Fiji is massive. Win and the Wallabies will make it to the knockout stage. Lose and that Wales match will be squeaky bum time.

 

[JPRouve]

Bit of a mixed bag today.

South Africa vs Romania - potentially the biggest mismatch of the tournament? Maybe one for those with morbid curiosity as to how brutalised a team can get

Fiji vs Australia - great game, Fiji fighting for their tournament life after that classic with Wales. Hopefully they feel hard-done by and come out firing

England vs Japan - Japan didn’t look that convincing against Chile and as we all know England were imperious against Argentina, so England to beat the wasabi out of Japan is the only possible outcome. Right?

Damn, we found a Ukip member.

 

[Xaviesta]

Right, I want all 4 of South Africa's scrumhalves (Cobus Reinach, Faf de Klerk, Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse) on the field at the same time during the Boks match against Romania.

 

[Xaviesta]

I'm worried for Romania. The Boks could win this by 100.

 

[Xaviesta]

The Boks have a try bonus point in the 12th minute

 

[Xaviesta]

Listening to the SA commentary and Australian Rules Football (AFL) just got a mention.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Damn, we found a Ukip member.

And I was just about to mention the Romanians taking a hammering

 

[JPRouve]

Romania is giving us the worst games. I know that the poor lads had to face the current top 2 teams but they offer nothing.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Raynal worries me. Missed it in real time? Fine, it’s a fast game. Missed it several times on slow video?

 

[Swedish_Plumber]

Romania is giving us the worst games. I know that the poor lads had to face the current top 2 teams but they offer nothing.

Just a mismatch of giant proportions. The Boks made us look like amateurs last weekend and we’re actually pretty good

 

[McGrathsipan]

This is like a sevens match

 

[Swedish_Plumber]

They have so much pace and excitement out in the backs. I know they’re an juggernaut maul too but it makes me sad they don’t use them more.

 

[JPRouve]

Just a mismatch of giant proportions. The Boks made us look like amateurs last weekend and we’re actually pretty good

Scotland didn't look like amateurs and it's not comparable to Romania. Romania is the only team that has shown nothing positive. SA is a pain to play for everyone but at least show something, anything.

 

[Xaviesta]

C'mon Romania, don't end with a duck egg to your name.

 

[Xaviesta]

Big Will Skelton has been ruled out of Australia's match with Fiji which is bad news.

 

[T00lsh3d]

South Africa vs the clock. Who’s gonna win

 

[JPRouve]

I can't wait for SA vs Ireland, I like the fact that they are both incredibly strong when it comes to fundamentals.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Big Will Skelton has been ruled out of Australia's match with Fiji which is bad news.

Is he just out of this match? Or the tournament?

 

[McGrathsipan]

I can't wait for SA vs Ireland, I like the fact that they are both incredibly strong when it comes to fundamentals.

Which way will it go ?

 

[Xaviesta]

Is he just out of this match? Or the tournament?

Just this match as things stand. Taniela Tupou is out of this match too.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

Looking forward to this one. Fiji got robbed last weekend. Hope they're well up for this

 

[T00lsh3d]

Love to see the Fijians embracing their rugby roots - two high shots in the first two minutes

 

[unchanged_lineup]

Is it just the camera angle or are Australia constantly offside here? Looks it to me.

 

[JPRouve]

Which way will it go ?

I have no idea, that's what makes it so interesting.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Is it just the camera angle or are Australia constantly offside here? Looks it to me.

Yeah looks it. I’ve heard Brace say “ball was lifted” when the line came charging up, so hope he’s looking at it and the 9 is just getting it out slow. But yes, they look off

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Is it just the camera angle or are Australia constantly offside here? Looks it to me.

Miles offside.

 

[T00lsh3d]

They were so offside at that last breakdown that the scrum half couldn’t give it….because his backline was full of Australians

 

[T00lsh3d]

Can’t help but feel that Botia and Tuisova should have started against Wales

 

[JPRouve]

So it's possible to play the ball on the ground?

 

[unchanged_lineup]

They were so offside at that last breakdown that the scrum half couldn’t give it….because his backline was full of Australians

Yeah exactly.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

So it's possible to play the ball on the ground?

Hmmmm feck this if it's allowed

 

[moses]

So it's possible to play the ball on the ground?

They're not looking at that?