UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => shootin' the shit => Topic started by: Coops_13 on May 24, 2016, 03:39:59 pm
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I keep seeing a football thread pop up and I see there's a cricket thread. Where's the rugby thread? A sport that we (England) are relatively strong at, with lots happening at club and international level for most of the year?
It isn't like rugby is devoid of discussion, such as Ashton's stroppiness at not being picked internationally: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36363077 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36363077) or Tuilagi abusing the Police: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/15/manu-tuilagi-rugby-world-cup-assautling-police-officer-england (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/15/manu-tuilagi-rugby-world-cup-assautling-police-officer-england)
Are there no other rugby fans or will I have to start following football to join in :no:
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Isn't it called balls to the something or other?
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There were a couple, but they seemed to revolve around a single six nations or World Cup and never continued. Couldn't see a generic rugby one [emoji19]
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Well, Ashton has always been a tit so no surprises there. The Manu story is from last year?
As a Saints fan, it's been a slightly disappointing season, at least Leicester didn't make the final. With Leicester City and
Mark Selby's success, I was panicking there was something in the water. It was bad enough them doing the double over us.......
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Egg chasing rubbish ;)
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Well, Ashton has always been a tit so no surprises there. The Manu story is from last year?
Agreed, was just giving examples of stories worth talking about.
Well we can all just hope that Exeter do over Sarries in the final
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Yes I'm surprised no one has commented on the Sharks being at the top of the Super League while the Rhinos are propping up the table.
Shirley that's as interesting as England beating Sri Lanker.
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Yes I'm surprised no one has commented on the Sharks being at the top of the Super League while the Rhinos are propping up the table.
Shirley that's as interesting as England beating Sri Lanker.
very good :tease:
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Well we can all just hope that Exeter do over Sarries in the final
Well, I want Exeter to win but if Sarries do it, at least Hodgson gets to go out on a high!
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Oi egg chasers, you've already got a thread........
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,18602.0.html
Isn't it called balls to the something or other?
Correct.
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Well we can all just hope that Exeter do over Sarries in the final
Well, I want Exeter to win but if Sarries do it, at least Hodgson gets to go out on a high!
Good point. Lets hope Exeter show a little less flesh in the final.
I remember when we (Sale) played Exeter in a pre season warm up before they were in the premiership and we absolutely wiped the floor with them, good to see them doing so well. I'll definitely be shouting for them to win
Infact I think Charlie had a full head of hair back then as well!
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More importantly Leeds rhinos are doing a reverse Leicester City this season.
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What does that mean? They're not cheating?
Oh it's a football analogy
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36387471
An actual rugby equivalent? Or the Beeb trying to drum up a story out of nothing?
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WC Starts today. Resurrection Time?
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Mega-psyched for this. Just a pain in the arse with all the timings. kick-offs range from 2345 to 0415 for me :(
Already been some great non-rugby stories coming out with Howley's betting scandal and the fears that the Japanese will run out of beer... :beer2:
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Was reading the article about tattooing being associated with yakuza and fans and players being asked to cover up!
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Was reading the article about tattooing being associated with yakuza and fans and players being asked to cover up!
Yeah, I assume they don't need to do that in the matches themselves?!?
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They said it's ok for players for matches.
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Already been some great non-rugby stories coming out with Howley's betting scandal
I prefer the one about 15,000 Japanese turning out to watch a Welsh training session *and* singing the anthem and Calon Lan
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All 3 games tomorrow have great potential for the neutral supporter.
Ozzies vs Fiji (5.45... think I'll sleep through this one)
France vs Argentina 8.15 - nice breakfast fare to ease in to things
NZ vs South Africa 10.45 - the main event, could be an absolute classic contest
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NZ vs South Africa 10.45 - the main event, could be an absolute classic contest
Could be the final??
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France v Argentina pick of Saturday's games for me.
England unconvincing yesterday as were Australia... Looking forward to the Wales game shortly!
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NZ vs South Africa 10.45 - the main event, could be an absolute classic contest
Could be the final??
Statement withdrawn!
Think it's too early in tournament to see teams gelling yet.
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France v Argentina pick of Saturday's games for me.
England unconvincing yesterday as were Australia... Looking forward to the Wales game shortly!
Agree about France V Argentina being the pick and IMO Argentina were very unlucky. France had ~15 mins in the first half where they ran rampant, bagged a couple of tries then it was virtually all Argentina pressure in second half. France totally switched off. Referee seemed rather reluctant to yellow card them after persistent and one in particular very cynical penalty that almost certainly resulted in Argentina coming away with only 3 points instead of 5-7!
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Agree on the above. I really enjoyed seeing the Fijians batter the Aussies though... wish they’d been able to hold out
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Anyone making the Aussies look bad is a win in my book.
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Unbelievable scenes in Japan!!!!
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Unbelievable scenes in Japan!!!!
it’ll be mega if they qualify!
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Unbelievable scenes in Japan!!!!
it’ll be mega if they qualify!
Love watching Japan play. Their pace and intensity is amazing!
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Wales good at HT too!
Just got to wrestle the TV away from Octonauts now....
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Really turning into a good world Cup. Wales game today was a classic and seeing the hosts turn over Ireland yesterday has made for an entertaining weekend.
Looking like England have a hard route to the final with aus and the all blacks to get past.
I am heading out for the final week, on tour with 21 U16s from Alnwick three matches organised for then and tickets to the bronze/losers final so hoping England are still in it.
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Agreed, it has been a great weekend of Rugby. Japan and their fans were ecstatic yesterday and the Welsh game this morning got more and more exciting.
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Wales good at HT too!
You've changed your tune!!!
May 24, 2016, 05:48:26 pm - Egg chasing rubbish
;)
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All quiet?
Much as I hate to say it, England look hard to beat!
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What an absolute stonker of a game. The media responses have been great from both Eng and NZ papers
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Shame Wales weren't good enough on the day - I fancy our chances against SA though!
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I've never seen the ABs look so outclassed against anyone.
Much as I hate to admit it, SA pulling it out the bag and winning against England will be an injustice.
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All went quite here?
Injustice was served? Actually thought SA dominated the game start to finish and deserved the win. I think England gave everything against AB, nothing left for the final.
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V poor game from the English. All the talk about not having a plan B correct. The Welsh know how to undo us, as do the Saffers.
Also losing Sinkler in the 3rd minute and having a French ref didn’t help...
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All went quite here?
Injustice was served? Actually thought SA dominated the game start to finish and deserved the win. I think England gave everything against AB, nothing left for the final.
It was a shame to lose as an England fan but I couldn't be disappointed when we were outclassed like that. SA did to us what we did to NZ.
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having a French ref didn’t help...
Really? I don't recall any decisions that didn't seem sound.
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having a French ref didn’t help...
Really? I don't recall any decisions that didn't seem sound.
I think maybe ‘having that particular ref’ would be more appropriate... I don’t think he was biased - but he certainly seemed to have a different view of what to let ride (or not) with the scrums - and was not at all trigger happy with the TMO replays (were there any?). Maybe that reflects the type of game - but there did seem to be quite large differences in the rule interpretation between refs.
Of course we’ll done to SA for reading that/playing by his rules...
And England choked. Esp in the first 15 min... lots of errors (so it seemed to me).
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That doesn’t really say the right team won - which it did - and well done!
(Footballs better anyway... 😄)
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(Footballs better anyway... 😄)
Have you watched it lately, complete varce
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having a French ref didn’t help...
Really? I don't recall any decisions that didn't seem sound.
I think maybe ‘having that particular ref’ would be more appropriate... I don’t think he was biased - but he certainly seemed to have a different view of what to let ride (or not) with the scrums - and was not at all trigger happy with the TMO replays (were there any?). Maybe that reflects the type of game - but there did seem to be quite large differences in the rule interpretation between refs.
Of course we’ll done to SA for reading that/playing by his rules...
And England choked. Esp in the first 15 min... lots of errors (so it seemed to me).
I thought in the first half he was v quick to penalise holding on to the ball after tackle. Normally there's a few seconds grace but Jerome was straight in there with the blow of his whistle after no time at all...
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Garces is always pretty quick on holding on/not rolling away (I thought he gave one of these the wrong way on the day). A bigger factor was that he is also minded to award more penalties to the dominant side on the scrum.
Referees in rugby have a certain amount of leeway as to how they interpret some rules. Sometimes these will favour one side. The differences between refs is smaller than it used to be though. Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere refs used to appear to referee entirely different sports.
The teams are all aware of how each ref interprets things so his performance won't have been a surprise to either side.
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Garces is always pretty quick on holding on/not rolling away (I thought he gave one of these the wrong way on the day). A bigger factor was that he is also minded to award more penalties to the dominant side on the scrum.
Referees in rugby have a certain amount of leeway as to how they interpret some rules. Sometimes these will favour one side. The differences between refs is smaller than it used to be though. Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere refs used to appear to referee entirely different sports.
The teams are all aware of how each ref interprets things so his performance won't have been a surprise to either side.
Fair enough, we'll just have to come back stronger. At least Six Nations will be at a more convenient viewing time for me :D
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I was lucky enough to be out there. Saw the bronze final and final. South Africa just had a plan that they stuck to and it didn’t let us even get started. We were under pressure from the whistle, on our back foot and never got off it. Pretty much what we did to the All Blacks.
It was a disappointing end but didn’t sour what was an amazing week. I was out there with 21 kids from Alnwick’s U16s on tour and the Japanese could not have been more welcoming. They don’t have much rugby at our kids age so we had to play up 2 years We played 5 high school teams and the standard of U18s rugby is equal if not better than I have seen in UK. Two of the schools were special rugby schools where the game comes first and lessons 2nd. Think they will be up there with the best in 10-15 years.
We had an amazing trip and suggest the olympics will be pretty special as well.
Highlights other than watching the games was spending a morning with the England team training and Shibuya crossing on Halloween which was utterly mental.
Just need to let my liver recover now. And if anyone ever thinks about getting drunk on a local drink called Hoppy don’t. Never had a hangover like it in my life.
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Sounds like a great trip gme! Jealous!
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Garces is always pretty quick on holding on/not rolling away (I thought he gave one of these the wrong way on the day). A bigger factor was that he is also minded to award more penalties to the dominant side on the scrum.
Referees in rugby have a certain amount of leeway as to how they interpret some rules. Sometimes these will favour one side. The differences between refs is smaller than it used to be though. Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere refs used to appear to referee entirely different sports.
The teams are all aware of how each ref interprets things so his performance won't have been a surprise to either side.
Fair enough, we'll just have to come back stronger. At least Six Nations will be at a more convenient viewing time for me :D
As a Welsh supporter, I'm very used to wanting to come back stronger after a world cup campaign!
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As a Welsh supporter, I'm very used to wanting to come back stronger after a world cup campaign!
The main reason I wanted SA to beat Wales in the semis was because Wales have a habit of beating England. It seems the Welsh spoke to SA in the pub and shared the secret...
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The secret being - be better than them.
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4 years on, the resurrection.
Let's get the whipping stages done. Hope Scotland get through though.
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There have been relatively few whippings (SA today aside) which has been good to see. I know England won comfortably enough today but that was a closer match than the score suggests.
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Great to see Fiji pull off a big win, and not just in the stereotypical chuck-it-around Fijian way but by playing a tactically smart controlled game, which shows they really have the potential to go far. Makes that group interesting as well, bonus points may count for a lot.
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Indeed. I wouldn't be unhappy to see Australia packing bags. Sunday will be the crunch.
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Desperately hoping Aus pound Wales next weekend and Wales go out on points difference. I never want to see Dan Biggar happy.
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Desperately hoping Aus pound Wales next weekend and Wales go out on points difference. I never want to see Dan Biggar happy.
On the plus side you might get to see more of him unhappy, which as a neutral is highly entertaining.
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England have in recent times been accused of playing somewhat brainless rugby, so good to see them finally using their head.
I'll get my coat....
(I predict Farrell will come in for Ford next match and we'll be home on the next plane thereafter, and deservedly too)
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Great to see Fiji pull off a big win, and not just in the stereotypical chuck-it-around Fijian way but by playing a tactically smart controlled game, which shows they really have the potential to go far. Makes that group interesting as well, bonus points may count for a lot.
Personally thought Fiji - Aus was the game of the weekend, think Australia had a good chance to win it with 15 mins to go but their breakdown work was shocking.
Feeling quite conflicted about Wales v Aus, hate seeing Wales win but Aussies losing would almost guarantee Fiji a QF spot. But then this would be against England... and of the 3 I think England beat Australia the most reliably. Not sure an England - Fiji QF would finish any differently to their most recent meeting at Twickenham
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Still think theres a non-trivial chance a Jones-led Australia could turn England over in a knockout game. Hes really good at knockout rugby. Would 100% rather play Fiji or Aus than Wales in a knockout though, I don't mind being knocked out but simply cannot have being knocked out by Wales.
My money would be on Aus winning quite well against Wales. God knows how it will shake out if that happens, presumably will come down to bonus points, head to head record and then points difference?
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https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/35290
Yeah it's match points (which includes bonuses) first, then head-to-head, then points difference.
Unless they switch off too much after two big games, Fiji should be able to get two bonus point wins and finish on 16 points, which is likely to put them through - Australia can only equal that at best, which would mean for Australia to go through they likely need to take all 5 points against Wales and deny Wales any losing bonus points. If Wales lose but get a bonus point it will be very tight. If Wales lose but get two bonus points, as Fiji did against them, any win against Georgia would guarantee them winning the group.
It's almost the first knockout game really.
But Ireland v SA is the main event :weakbench:
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Cheers Andy; yep looks like Aus need to torch Wales to stay in it realistically. They have that kind of performance in them, especially considering Wales are a poor side objectively.
Massive game for Ireland. I'd want to avoid France at all costs at this stage.
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Actually what I wrote there isn't quite right - Australia don't necessarily need a winning bonus point against Wales to qualify, but they probably do need to deny Wales any points.
It's a weird situation to be Irish and wanting to face NZ in a quarter final, but that's how it is.
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I can't be doing with that much excitement after an 8pm kick-off, it's affecting my sleep.
That was intense, and the atmosphere sounded unreal.
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That was awesome. Ireland left so many points out there, thought they were going to get chinned at the end. I did immediately have a fiver on SA to win the whole thing though, don't think they will be at all overawed at the prospect of France without Dupont and Ntamack.
Zombie sounded pretty good in the Stade de France!
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Zombie sounded pretty good in the Stade de France!
I was wondering what they would have played if SA had won.
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I did immediately have a fiver on SA to win the whole thing though, don't think they will be at all overawed at the prospect of France without Dupont and Ntamack.
I wouldn't bet against that. I don't know that Ntamack is such a crucial loss as Jalibert's been looking good, but Dupont is such a freak (in the best possible way) that his absence definitely costs France a special edge. Still, I wouldn't bet against them either. Leinster mashed Toulouse (avec Dupont) and got beaten by La Rochelle (sans Dupont) in the semis and final of the Champions Cup, so the French do have other ways of winning.
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Cheers Andy; yep looks like Aus need to torch Wales to stay in it realistically. They have that kind of performance in them, especially considering Wales are a poor side objectively.
::)
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Haha yep glad I didn't have a bet on that! Thoroughly painful watching Wales win so well. Never seen an Australia side so poor.
By my calculations the likely quarter finals are:
Ire V NZ
France v SA
Wales v Arg/Samoa
Eng v Fiji
Boggles the mind that England and Wales probably should make it to a world cup semi given their respective shitness but there we are!
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By my calculations the likely quarter finals are:
Ire V NZ
France v SA
Wales v Arg/Samoa
Eng v Fiji
Yeah, I suspect the final two weeks of pool games are going to drag a bit because there aren't many games that are likely to be consequential in affecting this QF line-up. Ireland v Scotland is the likeliest potential upset, the next most likely probably England v Samoa, but I don't see that happening now that England are gaining some confidence.
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Still feels wrong that Scotland, Ireland and SA ended up in the same group, compared to Group D. As a supported of first SA, then Scotland, it was never going to be an easy outcome.
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Scotland definitely drew the shortest straw at this World Cup.
If Ireland play close to their best, Scotland will be out - but that is not a given.
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well if you use the logic of Scotland vs SA and Ireland vs SA, Scotland have no chance. But I know it doesn't always play out like that....
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Still feels wrong that Scotland, Ireland and SA ended up in the same group, compared to Group D. As a supported of first SA, then Scotland, it was never going to be an easy outcome.
Whilst i admit it is a pretty hard draw this time Scotland have had easy draws for the last two world cups so cant really complain.
There have been some classic matches already in the WC with the IRE v SA one being a game for the ages. The Fiji v Wales one was up there for entertainment as well.
Looking like Eng are going to have Fiji in 1/4s which is preferable to Wales. I think we will get to the semis, so much so that i have booked to go out to Paris for finals weekend.
All the moaning from the old guard about the game being ruined by new rules and having gone soft is getting proved complete bollocks.
Modern rugby is alive and well.
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It'll be interesting to see how England approach the Fiji game tactically (assuming that is indeed what happens).
Will they go back to a power dominated kick fest, or will they dare to play a bit more expansively, which if they don't execute well (and let's not forget that before the last 15 minutes against Japan, England looked like they couldn't attack a sandwich) could play into Fiji's hands?
I guess the Samoa match will be a dress rehearsal and maybe show their intent.
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or will they dare to play a bit more expansively,
That’s a rhetorical question, right? This is an England side that had a penalty in the opposition 22 in the first 3 mins (against a side they had scored an average of 7 tries against) and they went for the 3 points.
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It is said they are 'moving in the right direction'.
They did some running and passing against, um, Chile.
You never know. :devil-smiley:
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We wont play expansive rugby. Everyone getting excited about Smith at 15 and it wont happen except in already won or easy games.
Ford, Farrell 10/12 kick and defend will become our go to as the tournament progresses.
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I’ve just watched Wales v Aus on itv recorded after watching it live on French TV, the difference in the commentaries is massive… I’ll continue with the French TV. ITV so dull, not much passion or excitement. Bit like England really ;)
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Dont think it's unreasonable to play to your strengths in knockout rugby. The blueprint for this world cup for England is 2007 where they ground their way to (another...) final they should probably have won. No suggestion they'll do that here but a semi final would be a good result given our shitness. I was sceptical when they got rid of Jones but the state of Australia suggests probably the right call.
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Just wishful thinking from me as a non-English person who would rather see them entertainingly defeated than boringly victorious.
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Don't worry, there's every chance you'll see them boringly defeated very soon :lol:
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What people think is boring Rugby is unfortunately what wins tournaments. Fiji play the type of rugby everyone loves to watch but don't win anything.
Good kicking and good defence has proven to be a winner over and over again. You get the odd game that breaks this rule but not many.
I don't think its boring at all, the IRE v SA game wasn't particularly expansive but was gripping from start to finish. Its intensity that games need and that can come without a lot of fancy trys.
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What people think is boring Rugby is unfortunately what wins tournaments. Fiji play the type of rugby everyone loves to watch but don't win anything.
Good kicking and good defence has proven to be a winner over and over again. You get the odd game that breaks this rule but not many.
I don't think its boring at all, the IRE v SA game wasn't particularly expansive but was gripping from start to finish. Its intensity that games need and that can come without a lot of fancy trys.
Not sure I agree, Fiji have beaten England, Australia and should have beaten Wales. I think there's a really good chance that they beat England in the quarters.
Good kicking and a solid defence gets you so far, but you need another element to your game as well. SA have an unreal pack, France have flair, Ireland have an incredibly precise attack. England and Wales don't have any of those elements.
Agreed that non-expansive rugby can be interesting, it just watches a bit more like a chess match than really open rugby.
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I don't think its boring at all, the IRE v SA game wasn't particularly expansive but was gripping from start to finish. Its intensity that games need and that can come without a lot of fancy trys.
Absolutely, a great example of a brilliant low-scoring game. But not many games hit the levels of that one. All else being equal, I think most of us would rather watch two teams playing with speed and ambition, even if there aren't many tries scored, than a kick and set piece dominated slugfest.
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And on the 'let's hear it for exciting rugby' front, France are now saying they're confident Dupont will able to play in the QF :icon_beerchug:
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Listened to this last night :-
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-real-science-of-sport-podcast/id1461719225?i=1000628588189
It’s an interview with a South African club rugby coach, slightly out of date as it was before the SA v Ireland match with some poor/biased predictions. Ignoring that bit, there’s some really interesting stuff on tactics towards the end of the podcast, explaining why different teams at the World Cup are playing in the way they do. Also a slightly different view on France from the standard one. Couple of sections where I had to go back and listen again as there was so much to digest. Either way, I learnt a lot. Well worth a listen.
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That was a pretty incredible weekend of matches, but sadly none of them finished the way I wanted (apart from Wales v Argentina, about which I was fairly indifferent).
Hard not to see the semis as a training run for a SA v NZ final.
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Would have loved Wales to win, if they had played the whole match like they did in the last 10 minutes they would have taken it.
Yesterday was a nailbiter, brilliant play from both sides, but SA deserved the win I think.
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Conversely I was delighted Wales lost :devangel: Never have to see Biggar yapping at the ref ever again.
France and Ireland threw away their respective games really. Ireland played 20 mins against 14 and dominated but didn't put points on the board. A few inexplicable errors (Sexton missed kick, knockon on halfway line from the dropout) combined with some inspired defence (how did Barrett hold that driving maul up?!). NZ probably just about the better side, so clinical in attack and amazing defence.
Similarly France only put 3 points on the board when Etzebeth was sinbinned and were poor under the high ball which directly led to two SA tries. SA were living on scraps in the first half and somehow only went in at halftime 3 behind. Again, so clinical. France were all over them like a rash between 40 and 60 mins but only scored one penalty again; kept coughing the ball up and SA defence was incredible. That sliced Jalibert penalty, the Ramos dropout out on the full...set against SA just bulldozing their way over when they could have taken the 3 in front of the sticks. They were lucky with a few decisions at the end but it happens. In the end the power told. You have to hand it to them as much as don't like it!
Bit depressing that after 4 years of NH dominance we're looking at a likely NZ SA final. That said it would be pretty funny if England turn over SA and NZ on their way to the world cup!
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Sad to say it, but I thought Ireland did not deserve to win. They just weren't as accurate or clinical as they are at their best. Unsettled perhaps partly by the NZ defence and savage breakdown work, and partly by the occasion. It's gutting that despite how excellent they've been, it goes down as just yet another QF exit.
I thought that France should have won. All South Africa's first half tries came from chaos - you can't argue that they are brilliant at executing opportunities, but there was a little bit of luck in the bounce of the ball as well. And I thought SA's last penalty should definitely have gone the other way. But they ground France down in the second half and France's attack got blunt.
I don't really care much who wins now. Conflicted about England v SA - I sort of want England as underdogs to prevent another 4 years of SA as world champions, but on the other hand it would feel like such an injustice for England to reach a final on the back of one big win, when Ireland and France have been consistently in another class. Anyway it hardly matters, as SA will absolutely hump them. Likewise I'd like Argentina as underdogs to beat NZ, but I've got no real emotional investment in Argentina winning.
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SA vs France was an amazing match
Upsets can happen but SA vs NZ seems like a bit of a given for the final and I'd call SA to win really. I think France could have won it too had they got past SA but I don't see anyone else getting close tbh
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Plus there was a complete schoolboy kick from France that could have cost them a try.
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Part of me wonders whether the Eng SA game might be quite close and England could even turn them over given the short turnaround, tired SA team, 'already played their final' feeling. Eng would obviously have to play the game of their lives as well.
The other, more accurate part of me thinks SA will win by about 40 points. :lol:
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Part of me wonders whether the Eng SA game might be quite close and England could even turn them over given the short turnaround, tired SA team, 'already played their final' feeling. Eng would obviously have to play the game of their lives as well.
The other, more accurate part of me thinks SA will win by about 40 points. :lol:
Yeah, I wouldn't be too surprised if it turns out quite tight, if England set piece and defence holds up and they get a bit of fortune off a high ball or two. But it's still so hard to imagine them beating South Africa at any style of game.
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Be interesting to see, I thought England had a harder time against Fiji than I expected.
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Part of me wonders whether the Eng SA game might be quite close and England could even turn them over given the short turnaround, tired SA team, 'already played their final' feeling. Eng would obviously have to play the game of their lives as well.
The other, more accurate part of me thinks SA will win by about 40 points. :lol:
Yeah, I wouldn't be too surprised if it turns out quite tight, if England set piece and defence holds up and they get a bit of fortune off a high ball or two. But it's still so hard to imagine them beating South Africa at any style of game.
They beat SA in 2021 when Marcus Smith kicked the winning penalty but that was very nip and tuck and from memory wasn't there a dodgy yellow card for SA?
On closer inspection I think that game was Tuilagis last international try, until he scored in the Fiji QF. perhaps a good omen...
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What an amazing weekend that was culminating in one of the best games of rugby i have ever seen. If it was like that all the time i suggest rugby would be a genuine world sport.
For once in my life i was cheering for France as the way they play is without doubt a high point for the sport. But SA just know how to win games and slowly turned the screw. France only let down was under the high ball and the Boks penalised them for this.
England into the semis and France and Ireland out (wales too but that was expected). We played well and the much maligned Farrell showed why hes the captain and essential to the team, needs to be kept at 10.
Smith did ok at 15 but cant see him starting against the Boks as i suspect it will be a kicking game.
Our biggest issue is at 9, we just do not have a world level player at that position and its crucial.
Happier to be facing the Boks than France in the semis, i think we would not be able to defend against the intensity and type of rugby the french are playing but maybe just maybe we can against SA.
Off to Paris now for finals weekend, tickets are available for bronze final if anyone is thinking about it.
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Steward will start at 15 for sure. Agree re scrum half, both Reinach and De Klerk (who incidentally should have got a yellow for blatantly passing the ball into the French player lying on the ground in an attempt to win a penalty vs France) are light years ahead of Mitchell. I'd be inclined to start with Care as I think he is more street smart and better able to deal with De Klerk annoying him around the scrum.
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They are, and Dupont a level above them. His kicking was incredible, league above any other 9 i have ever seen. My 87 year old avid rugby fan dad says he is the best player hes ever seen.
I think start care as well but dont think we will.
Love and hate Faff in about equal measures. Hes a little shite but a good one.
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Love and hate Faff in about equal measures. Hes a little shite but a good one.
His hair is so beautiful. You want to sniff it.
You occasionally see some comment that Dupont isn't all that. I don't know if that's ignorance or bias or what, but besides the fact you kind of need to be around a bit longer than he has so far to earn such an accolade, I think 'best player ever' is not an exaggeration. He does make some mistakes like everyone else (got caught off the back of a ruck by Etzebeth in that game at the weekend, leading to the Kolbe try, which you could perhaps argue is as much the fault of whoever was supposed to be guarding the ruck), but his all-round ability is unbelievable. Passing, kicking, pace, strength, creativity, vision, leadership. Awesome to watch.
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And he is so fucking cool something that not a lot of rugby players ever pull off. Generally left to footy.
GQ front page in a yellow bath robe.
I would have his babies if I could.
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Well, bit gutted after that tbh. Pretty much the perfect game from England apart from the last 10. Thought Sinckler was unlucky to be pinged on a few occasions but once the ref got the idea he was struggling that was that. Nche was the difference for SA.
Eng had chances; 5m lineout, 5m scrum on their own ball, but couldn't convert. By comparison SA only had one 5m scrum and scored from it in the second half.
Mitchell was brilliant I thought and totally outplayed both SA scrum halves. I think we'd have lost to NZ anyway but would have been nice to turn over SA...
Sounds like Mbonambi might be in trouble for racially abusing Curry which would throw SA plans into disarray given they don't have a spare hooker.
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Really quality game in line with exactly what we needed to do if we had a chance of beating them. Came close but no prize.
Great to see how different kinds of rugby can be just as entertaining. Constant push to see more flowing “entertaining”, chuck the ball about rugby, which is great but this kind of tactical kicking game can be just as good.
Last we will see if a lot of this team, time to properly re build so I hope a few of the old boys- Marler, Cole, billy, care, May Daly Lawes manu hang up there hats. None will make another World Cup so we need to get the new wave coming through and getting experience. The earlier the better in my mind.
Shame we didn’t make the final but in fairness NZ would have beaten us anyway.
All blacks for the Cup.
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Great to see how different kinds of rugby can be just as entertaining. Constant push to see more flowing “entertaining”, chuck the ball about rugby, which is great but this kind of tactical kicking game can be just as good.
You sure you would feel that way if you were neutral? It was good to watch because it was tense and surprising that England built and held the lead for so long, but I thought it was pretty limited and predictable stuff compared to the two big QFs. Definitely true that playing that way was England's only hope though, and they very nearly did a great job of it.
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You’re comparing it to one if not two of the best games in years.
I personally loved it and would have enjoyed it had I been a non England fan.
It was pissing down with rain hence the errors. Tactically it was correct way to play and tactics are as big a part of the game as tries so I love watching it. If got right it leads to more upsets than if teams all played the same and ran about getting tries. That’s why no one is arsed with 7s.
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But it's not a straight dichotomy between champage try-fests and kick-everything set-piece slug-outs. Games can be fast and intense with lots of ball-in-play time, or slow and grinding like this one. I'm biased, but I'd say Ireland v South Africa, which had little more scoring than this, was better to watch for most neutrals. You're right of course that it makes sense to play those tactics in the rain though.
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Again you’re comparing it to a classic.
26 games so far this WC and that was in top 5 or 6
SA FRA
NZ IRE
ITE SA
WAL FIJI
FIJI PORT
ENG SA
Oh and maybe FIJI AUS.
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I have high expectations :coffee: