***England v France - MATCH CANCELLED***

by TightHEAD Mon 07 Oct 2019, 1:00 pm

First topic message reminder :

MATCH CANCELLED Result in the book is 0-0.

Massive disappointment all round.

Was looking forward to witnessing two teams try their hardest not to win the pool and have the easier route to the Final.
As it is England finish on top and now face a massive challenge to overcome to make the final.

Can't help but think dark forces are at work to scupper our chances of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup again. mad

by Guest Thu 10 Oct 2019, 10:21 pm

Fans can understand it, maj. It's the fact that this isn't an unforeseen consequence - like ChristChurch earthquake, say, or a terrorist attack. The games are still 36 hours away from when they're meant to be played. There are options - plenty of options - between simply going ahead recklessly, and cancelling it.

by Old Man Thu 10 Oct 2019, 10:24 pm

majesticimperialman wrote:
Old Man wrote:
Gooseberry wrote:
Old Man wrote:

The England vs France match cancelled is wrong from every perspective.

Its really not. Its unfortunate but has little impact on the world cup.

Same with the Italy game.

Theres some nonsense controversy every world cop. Its only a couple of kiwi posters on here who still bang on about food poisoning conspiracies and Wayne Barnes, the rest of us just check wikipedia to see who won the thing. Who remember Joubert fleeing the pitch after putting Scotland out with a howler? Dodgy balls at the 2011 world cup?

It maybe wouldve been a better option, but potentially not solved every situation ( what if the stadium gets wrecked by the typhoon?) to have a closed door match on a reserve day lined up for every fixture, but that could easily have given someone a 3 day instead of 4 day turnaround.

The rules are being followed and consistently applied. Unlike when Australia try to tackle people.

How can you say cancellation of the England vs France match has no impact?

It is the decider of who wins the pool

That would be England, right, who wins the pool i mean. England have more points than France any way.

Besides, i would rather the game be cancelled than any player, member of the public, be put in any danger from flying objects ripped off roofs etc.

It is purely for "SAFETY" reasons. That this game is cancelled. Why can people/fans not understand that?

By people you are saying I don’t understand that?

Firstly, I understand the reasons for safety, that is not what I am arguing, that is one matter.

With England on 15 points and France on 13 points, a French win would see them top of the pool. England may be the in form team in the pool, but it isn’t guaranteed they will win the match.

by No 7&1/2 Thu 10 Oct 2019, 10:35 pm

I thought all the discussion was about how both teams would try to lose to get the easier games. England have clearly lost put here!

by Guest Thu 10 Oct 2019, 10:49 pm

In the grand scheme of things, not playing is probably better than losing and getting an 'easier' draw. England really ought to take Australia apart in the first 30 minutes - a big enough lead and a good enough kicking game second half, and inspite of how dangerous the Wallabies look in broken field, England ought to win.

by Cyril Thu 10 Oct 2019, 11:02 pm

Agreed, miaow. Though England would beat Australia regardless.

Re. all the experts on here about the whys and wherefores about reorganising a major tournament during a serious weather situation. Most are probably lucky they’re not sacked for Internet abuse when they’re supposed to be filing their manager’s expenses!

by No 7&1/2 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 6:56 am

Yeah we should win. Some good lineups in this ext set of games. Personally hoping we get ireland nz as I think that would be a cracker and it means a good chance that england wouldn't even have to play nz. And obviously then we all get to enjoy meltdowns from a few posters.

by Engine#4 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 8:13 am

It's a great result for England. Imagine they had played France and won but lost Farrell, Tuilagi, Itoje, Curry and Vunipola through injuries and suspension. Unlikely but possible. Of course it's a positive result for them.

by **Pal Joey** Fri 11 Oct 2019, 8:18 am

Yes, it was a great win for England. Australia will be checking out early this time.

by Gooseberry Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:10 am

If you'd asked the players they likely would rather the game had gone ahead but in terms of the tournament it makes little odds. The concept of throwing a game or an easier side of the draw is daft, certainly in relation to a team that has serious designs on wining the cup as an achievable target.

Overall the additional rest is likely to help rather than hinder both these teams. But no by such a margin that it seriously affects the outcome of the tournament any more than arbitrary things like how the group opponents were decided based on 3 year old rankings and the hosts being a pot 1 team.

The Scotland Japan situation is a much bigger storm, but again not one thats likely to really be the decisive factor in where the cup goes just who gets to be a plucky loser.

by **Pal Joey** Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:17 am

Gooseberry wrote:If you'd asked the players they likely would rather the game had gone ahead but in terms of the tournament it makes little odds.

I'm not so sure, Goose. That Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort in Miyazaki looks like a very nice place indeed to escape the typhoon. Wink

by Gooseberry Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:19 am

Pal Joey wrote:
Gooseberry wrote:If you'd asked the players they likely would rather the game had gone ahead but in terms of the tournament it makes little odds.

I'm not so sure, Goose. That Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort in Miyazaki looks like a very nice place indeed to escape the typhoon.

Do they have dwarf tossing in the bar though?

by **Pal Joey** Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:22 am

Gooseberry wrote:
Pal Joey wrote:
Gooseberry wrote:If you'd asked the players they likely would rather the game had gone ahead but in terms of the tournament it makes little odds.

I'm not so sure, Goose. That Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort in Miyazaki looks like a very nice place indeed to escape the typhoon.

Do they have dwarf tossing in the bar though?

I'm sure it can be arranged with Eddie's local connections. There's probably pedalos too! Laugh

by TightHEAD Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:40 am

Just use Eddie!

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:45 am

Time on hands, pedalos, dwarf tossing, what next? Not looking good for England.

by TightHEAD Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:48 am

ebop wrote:Time on hands, pedalos, dwarf tossing, what next? Not looking good for England.

I think the 2011 lads had a great rugby tour of NZ.

by **Pal Joey** Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:52 am

OF can get a few extra Raku’s Therapeutic Japanese Head Massages in as well.

http://rakuheadmassage.com/

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:53 am

Lots of different view on the cancellations.

Eddie Jones has taken a very unsympathetic view on Scotland potentially getting knocked out in stating everyone knew it could happen beforehand. Joe Schmidt reckons the cancellations favour NZ and England.

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 9:58 am

So much time though TightHEAD! They’ll be jumping out of their skins with all that pent up energy. Maybe the cunning Australians will pull a swifty like ‘91’.

by TightHEAD Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:01 am

Eddie will beast them in training. Don't worry he'll have them ready.

'In Eddie we Trust.'

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:02 am

Guns, no one cares what Schmidt says, he’s a damp squib

by SecretFly Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:02 am

Let's look forward to the next WC instead - this one has become a Monty Python sketch. "The parrot is Dead"

So when is the pool draws for 2023.

by SecretFly Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:04 am

TightHEAD wrote:Eddie will beast them in training. Don't worry he'll have them ready.

'In Eddie we Trust.'

I'll only believe it if there are five serious injuries, Tight. We gotta have evidence.

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:08 am

ebop wrote:Guns, no one cares what Schmidt says, he’s a damp squib

Really, less than a year ago NZ was on their knees begging for him to come home. Snubbed.

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:13 am

Collapse2005 wrote:
ebop wrote:Guns, no one cares what Schmidt says, he’s a damp squib

Really, less than a year ago NZ was on their knees begging for him to come home. Snubbed.

But then he checked out. Guns, he looks tired and run down. I wish him and his family the best.

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:15 am

His mother died Ebop, of course he looks tired. He only checked out of NZ though. Not going back.

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 10:17 am

Drawing a long bow there Guns

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 11:15 am

How so? He has recently confirmed that now that his mother has passed he plans on staying in Ireland.

He isnt the only coach leaving at the end of the RWC. Hansen, Jones (potentially), Cheika etc.

If anything Schmidts problem is he doesnt check out enough.

by Taylorman Fri 11 Oct 2019, 11:25 am

Yes there’s a bit of a clean out, good for the game though the ABs will just install the next off the lot...foster probably. Bit boring in that sense. New ideas are needed though this year there has been a fair shake up across the board, front row, loosies, 10/ 15, midfield and the wingers so if anything the ABs look fresher now than they have in years.
We know Pivac is at Wales but oz, NZ, Ireland? Anyone yet?

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 11:25 am

Guns, I said he’s a damp squib and checked out and you haven’t really made an argument to say otherwise. Your team (assuming it’s Ireland and not Australia) is playing like a team coached by a damp squib. Say otherwise. Losing to Japan, that’s poor coaching from a team that was apparently #1 recently. That’s check out time Guns.

by SecretFly Fri 11 Oct 2019, 11:31 am

So far. The deception is working perfectly. One fire up against Scotland. Then return to 2019 vintage for max cloaking of real potential Wink

Joe's got this. He's got this.

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 11:37 am

He got plan B? Your forwards do look like boiled beetroots after their shift it has to be said. Too big?

by SecretFly Fri 11 Oct 2019, 11:42 am

They're giving themselves the shifts. Ain't no kids they'll be playing in the QF if they get there. Practice, practice, practice the beetroot.

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:02 pm

ebop wrote:Guns, I said he’s a damp squib and checked out and you haven’t really made an argument to say otherwise. Your team (assuming it’s Ireland and not Australia) is playing like a team coached by a damp squib. Say otherwise. Losing to Japan, that’s poor coaching from a team that was apparently #1 recently. That’s check out time Guns.

Big leap to suggest just because a team loses a game means their manager has checked out. Unless getting smashed by Australia means Hansen who is also leaving after the RWC had at that point checked out too? Had Jones checked out when England lost to Wales in the six nations and drew with Scotland at home?

Think you are making some petty silly assumptions based on no evidence. Id say the onus is on you to show the evidence that the loss is down to Schmidt checking out given its a bit of a wild claim.

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:09 pm

ebop wrote:He got plan B? Your forwards do look like boiled beetroots after their shift it has to be said. Too big?

If Im not mistaken NZ have the biggest pack in the RWC. Ireland's isnt that big.

by Guest Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:13 pm

Collapse2005 wrote:
ebop wrote:He got plan B? Your forwards do look like boiled beetroots after their shift it has to be said. Too big?

If Im not mistaken NZ have the biggest pack in the RWC. Ireland's isnt that big.

But the Irish looked stuffed after playing tier 2 Japan. Is fitness an issue for your team? If so, Schmidt has dropped the ball thinking his standard game plan A (only game plan) will suffice.

by Taylorman Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:14 pm

Four losses already this year though? None of those you name have had that many. Not often a World champion loses four in the year they win it. SA are best so far with only one.

by lostinwales Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:14 pm

Collapse2005 wrote:
ebop wrote:He got plan B? Your forwards do look like boiled beetroots after their shift it has to be said. Too big?

If Im not mistaken NZ have the biggest pack in the RWC. Ireland's isnt that big.

Just looked it up.

Tonga heaviest at 118.5Kg average
NZ 114
England 115.4

by Poorfour Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:15 pm

Collapse, you are mistaken.

NZ apparently tip the scales at 113.7 kg per man, slightly bigger than the overall average of 112kg. They're some way behind Tonga (118.5kg) and even behind England (115kg)

NZ Herald
Ruck

by Taylorman Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:15 pm

ebop wrote:
Collapse2005 wrote:
ebop wrote:He got plan B? Your forwards do look like boiled beetroots after their shift it has to be said. Too big?

If Im not mistaken NZ have the biggest pack in the RWC. Ireland's isnt that big.
But the Irish looked stuffed after playing tier 2 Japan. Is fitness an issue for your team? If so, Schmidt has dropped the ball thinking his standard game plan A (only game plan) will suffice.

That’s very true, their finishing has been lacking, the high temps seem to be getting to them.

by Soul Requiem Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:21 pm

Size is often misleading, Itoje and Lawes are big men but naturally athletic whereas guys like Haskell and O'Mahony have clearly spent a lot of time in the gym putting on muscle, the latter tend to flag in games.

by Taylorman Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:21 pm

Poorfour wrote:Collapse, you are mistaken.

NZ apparently tip the scales at 113.7 kg per man, slightly bigger than the overall average of 112kg. They're some way behind Tonga (118.5kg) and even behind England (115kg)

NZ Herald
Ruck

Think you’ll find our starting pack is much lighter, the top three in that list aren’t starters, five are below 113, so around 110-111 average.

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:28 pm

ebop wrote:
Collapse2005 wrote:
ebop wrote:He got plan B? Your forwards do look like boiled beetroots after their shift it has to be said. Too big?

If Im not mistaken NZ have the biggest pack in the RWC. Ireland's isnt that big.
But the Irish looked stuffed after playing tier 2 Japan. Is fitness an issue for your team? If so, Schmidt has dropped the ball thinking his standard game plan A (only game plan) will suffice.

Im sure they were stuffed, it was a very physical game which they lost. Fitness chat in my view is one of those rather predictable and silly fan theories that have very little in the way of sense or fact behind them.

The Ireland team like all teams have very good strength and conditioning coaches and physios with fairly up to date and scientific approach to fitness in line with pretty must every professional outfit in this RWC, except maybe France who are a bit of a basket case. Fitness isnt a really an issue albeit the team without the ball tends to tire quicker which was the case for Ireland v Japan.

by Collapse2005 Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:29 pm

Taylorman wrote:
Poorfour wrote:Collapse, you are mistaken.

NZ apparently tip the scales at 113.7 kg per man, slightly bigger than the overall average of 112kg. They're some way behind Tonga (118.5kg) and even behind England (115kg)

NZ Herald
Ruck

Think you’ll find our starting pack is much lighter, the top three in that list aren’t starters, five are below 113, so around 110-111 average.

Fair enough though arent NZ bigger than SA for example and I think they are bigger than the Ireland pack. Any stats on that?

by mikey_dragon Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:29 pm

Collapse2005 wrote:
ebop wrote:He got plan B? Your forwards do look like boiled beetroots after their shift it has to be said. Too big?

If Im not mistaken NZ have the biggest pack in the RWC. Ireland's isnt that big.

Ireland have big props and locks, that should tip the scales. Most teams are usually around even in the front 5, but can gain a weight advantage with big back-row forwards - it's usually why SA are one of the heaviest.

by Steffan Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:38 pm

Glad Gatland has made lots of changes for Uruguay. We don't need any of our best players picking up injuries while France and England are sitting in a health spar jacuzzi

by Old Man Fri 11 Oct 2019, 12:57 pm

The typical first choice pack for SA weights.

Tendai Mtwarira 116
Malcom Marx 114
Frans Malherbe124
Eben Etzebeth 123
Franco Mostert112
Sia Kolisi105
Piet Steph du Toit 120
Duane Vermeulen 117

Stephen Kitshoff 120
Bongi Mbonambi 106
Vincent Koch 118
Lood de Jager 125
Frans Louw 114

This with a 5/3 split on the bench.

Average weight for the forwards 116.46 kg

by **Pal Joey** Fri 11 Oct 2019, 1:00 pm

You'd make a great accountant, Old Man. Smile

Some heavy meat there.

by Steffan Fri 11 Oct 2019, 1:03 pm

Pal Joey wrote:You'd make a great accountant, Old Man.

Some heavy meat there.

You like heavy meat I been told

Why is your username in black by the way Pal Joey?

by Old Man Fri 11 Oct 2019, 1:10 pm

Pal Joey wrote:You'd make a great accountant, Old Man.

Some heavy meat there.

It is all those locks Joey, big people.

by **Pal Joey** Fri 11 Oct 2019, 1:17 pm

Steffan wrote:
Pal Joey wrote:You'd make a great accountant, Old Man.

Some heavy meat there.
You like heavy meat I been told

Why is your username in black by the way Pal Joey?

No idea, Steffan. Maybe someone in admin can explain?

by Sponsored content