The Play-Off

Is the 3rd/4th place play-off necessary? Do you consider it a waste of time?

You've got two teams who have just got over the disappointment of SF loss having to try and pick themselves up for a match that has no real meaning in the context of the tournament. Does anybody care who comes 3rd or 4th? The players would probably be happier to be on the plane returning home to their famlies than running out in a largely irrelevant match.

I enjoy having the extra match, and think the players deserve one too.

The teams that are already home would not agree with you.

I think its a waste of time.

Cymroglan wrote:The teams that are already home would not agree with you.

The teams that are already home havent just lost a SF.

shane williams will take a bronze medal and retire happy (ish)

With the 3rd/4th play-off game coming up next week what are your views on this fixture?

Do you think it's an important game? Does 3rd/4th really matter? Is it a game where players aren't really that committed or is it a chance for players/teams to be more expansive with the pressure off a bit?

Is it one game too far where players who lost in the semis just want to get on the plane and injuries can occur in a fixture where the prize not worth fighting for?

Bitter Beer wrote:

Cymroglan wrote:The teams that are already home would not agree with you.

The teams that are already home havent just lost a SF.

Bet you any money you wouldnt be posting this drivel if England were playing next saturday? But then again whats the difference between the English and Welsh rugby teams?

About 12000 miles!

TycroesOsprey wrote:

Bitter Beer wrote:

Cymroglan wrote:The teams that are already home would not agree with you.

The teams that are already home havent just lost a SF.

Bet you any money you wouldnt be posting this drivel if England were playing next saturday? But then again whats the difference between the English and Welsh rugby teams?

About 12000 miles!

Wales still lost so went just one game further. Big deal.

I know when NZ had to play off for 3rd we weren't very interested of course.

I don't think it is particularly worthwhile. There isn't much difference in coming third or fourth, and seems tough on the players after disappointment of losing the semi's.

I think it dependds how get there. If you play above all expectation and lose a semi final to a much better team then you will probably be happy to be in the 3rd place play off. If you lose to a team you know in your heart you should have destroyed (but didn't because of your own mistakes before anyone thinks I'm blaming the ref), even with a man less then you probably won't be happy and will probably come 4th.

Total waste of time. Cruel to make the players go through it after losing SF's. Should just let them go home. As for fan interest, I would say very low.

I may be in the minority, but I think this is a good time for Wales, and Australia for that matter, to play again. The management of both teams can put the focus on the game on Friday, so at least then they cant dwell too much on what happened this past weekend. From a welsh perspective, I imagine the drive to defeat a southern hemisphere scalp may also be spurring them on, or at least I hope thats how it is.

Whilst it may be a waste of time I'm still looking forward to it. CT Jnr will be in pre-school, the wife will be in work and and I can watch a rugby game in peace for a change. Just don't tell my boss I'm not working

The problem for this 3rd / 4th place play off is that Wales and Australia will play each other again at the MS in about 6 weeks.

Whether you are the 3rd or 4th team is a non issue as far as I am concerned. You have 2 sides who after going out would probably have looked forward to a few consoling beers and a rest, but they can't even do that as they have to play a meaningless game which is purely about squeezing the last $ out of the tournament.

It wouldn't bother me if Wales just gave everyone who hasn't had much game time a run out.

With Warburton banned the most fascinating match up has already been taken away from the paying public.

I have generally been in the "waste of time & pointless" camp for the last few decades as I don't think this game even affects the ranking (I could be wrong on this?) and is very much (as Hersh would put it) a Non Event.

Having said that, I really enjoyed the France/Argentina play off in 2007.

Scrap the 3rd and 4th place play-off. Instead do something good and fun in the Rugby Festival spirit - Mix the teams up (Odd numbers Welsh, even numbers aussie vs the odd numbers Aussie and even numbers welsh), or get players from the smaller nations in a Barbarians style match. Give the money to charity.

You make it sound like Its A Knockout...

how ironic.

Fact is people only remember who won the World Cup and not who came second, third, fourth, etc..
I don't suppose it is completely necessary, but certainly would not consider any world cup fixture a waste of time. With regards to this tournaments third place play-off I am so glad it is happening because we get a shot at taking down Australia.

I do quite like the Junior World Cup format though.

If you are going to travel half way around the World to fill the IRB's coffers youveant to see some matches. Not everybody can translocate for the whole shooting match.