Rugby World Cup - other team/games and general chat

First topic message reminder :

I couldn't see a topic to discuss general WC stuff and non home nations games.......

Now we do...

Heaf wrote:Have to admire Ireland for keeping going after full time for the last try - but would have looked daft if someone had picked up an injury at that point ...

Won't lie I was pleading at the TV for someone to hoof it off the park

Heaf wrote:Have to admire Ireland for keeping going after full time for the last try - but would have looked daft if someone had picked up an injury at that point ...

It's very possible that qualification in that group comes down to points difference to be fair. It's not unforeseeable that SA, Ire and Scotland each take a game off each other leaving the three of them with 3 wins and a loss. Tonga could crash the party as well. If Ireland win all their group games to top it for instance then Scotland might beat the Boks and lose to Tonga. Leaving the second qualifiers on 2 wins apiece.

BPs and points difference could be all important in a few weeks.

Australia/Georgia could be intriguing. It's 9th v 11th in the world rankings...

Do think the heavy Georgian pack will struggle in this hot weather. At least, I'm presuming they're heavy based on watching them before, I haven't seen any stats.

Georgia' s development has kind of mirrored Argentina' s. Much greater ability to play in the backs but the scrum strength has largely gone.

Don't have a scary tight head like Davit Zirakashvili
or a ball carrying monster like Gorgodze.

Looks like Oz could run away with this unless Georgia can get some time with the ball.

Looks like white lifted that to me.

The Australian pack weight is massive (probably solely down to Skelton). Georgia do look less fit than Australia. Australia will waltz this.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Looks like white lifted that to me.

100%. The female commentator even said as much, albeit she said he lifted it on to a leg, so not out (I would assume that’s still lifted off the ground )

sensisball wrote:Georgia' s development has kind of mirrored Argentina' s. Much greater ability to play in the backs but the scrum strength has largely gone.

Don't have a scary tight head like Davit Zirakashvili
or a ball carrying monster like Gorgodze.

Looks like Oz could run away with this unless Georgia can get some time with the ball.

Gorgadze at 8 is a good ball carrier, isn't the same beast as Gorgodze was though they did work well on tandem back in 2019.

They've struggled to generate momentum, when they've had a couple of phases over the gain line they've looked alright but they definitely do miss a talismanic figure up front.

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Have to admire Ireland for keeping going after full time for the last try - but would have looked daft if someone had picked up an injury at that point ...

It's very possible that qualification in that group comes down to points difference to be fair. It's not unforeseeable that SA, Ire and Scotland each take a game off each other leaving the three of them with 3 wins and a loss. Tonga could crash the party as well. If Ireland win all their group games to top it for instance then Scotland might beat the Boks and lose to Tonga. Leaving the second qualifiers on 2 wins apiece.

BPs and points difference could be all important in a few weeks.

Ah yeh - forgot this was the group of death ...

carpet baboon wrote:

Heaf wrote:Have to admire Ireland for keeping going after full time for the last try - but would have looked daft if someone had picked up an injury at that point ...

Won't lie I was pleading at the TV for someone to hoof it off the park

I wanted another try

There has been a ridiculous amount of kicking from hand in the opening weekend of RWC

Rugby has issues. The lack of ball in play here is worrying

Once this heat wave breaks things should settle down to more normal patterns of play.
Hopefully by round 2, definitely by round 3.

Rugby Union is predominantly a kicking game, where territory is more important than possession, and especially with the breakdown laws not exactly encouraging teams to play from deep.

If you want less kicking, go and watch League or 7s.

Yeah it's not been an overly high quality opening weekend of games, and that's not just about the kicking. It really needs a game to spark the tournament into life.

Hopefully that comes from Scotland...!

We're all Fijian today, right?

For now I'm Chile

Chile with some nice set plays and great energy, but signs everywhere that Japan are just a better team. Fitness levels will be key here I think.

Japan looking pretty average. What's happened to the team that beat SA in 2015 and had a great run in 2019!

RDW wrote:Japan looking pretty average. What's happened to the team that beat SA in 2015 and had a great run in 2019!

Was thinking the same thing. Making Chile seem pretty assured.

I'd be amazed if Chile can keep this up though!

Especially with that yellow card!
Japan have a pretty high powered coaching team.

That yellow card seemed a bit harsh. It was late, definitely, but it was also low and he clearly wrapped. The Japanese prop getting some treatment on his knee as a result made it look worse and resulted in that yellow card.

Why are Japan kicking so much in Chile 22! Keep it in hand and go through the phases and they'll score

Chile look a well drilled side.

Hopefully World Rugby look to promote a South American League with Argentina, Uruguay and Chile all likely to benefit from that which would only be good for the game. Argentina share a border with both so travel shouldn't be massively onerous.

RDW wrote:What's happened to the team that beat SA in 2015

It's actually reminding me a lot of that game so far, but with Japan in the SA role chasing a BP instead of getting clear.
Think this might be it though.

This yellow/red review seems like a carbon copy of the Curry one. Gotta be red for consistency, surely?

Don't hold your breath ...

TAFKA The Oracle wrote:This yellow/red review seems like a carbon copy of the Curry one. Gotta be red for consistency, surely?

Wasn't as much force involved and they might decide the Chilean Captain absorbs the contact more than Curry who definitely steps in to it.

Clive Woodward should not be allowed to talk pish on tv and mislead viewers like this. His views on card sanctions are so off the mark

Clive Woodward would be the best pundit in the world....if it were 2002. Unfortunately, the game has moved on and he hasn't.

Regardless of what SCW says, I can't see how the Chilean offence is anything less than Curry's offence.

World Rugby shooting itself in the foot again. Ridiculous.

However, well played Chile - only 9 points down after 50 minutes.

Consistently inconsistent!

From what I saw the tackler was moving forwards into the tackle, upright and caused a head on head so puzzled why not red too ... Given the speed of the ball carrier I would think the closing speed between the heads was no less than the Curry collision so how is it less dangerous?

king_carlos wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised if the final is a repeat of this opener. I have a feeling that the carnage of group B might tell physically come the QFs for whichever two teams from that group qualify. Then these two should have no problem dismissing whoever crawls to a semi from the make a wish foundation side of the draw.

Ok that has creased me - fair play

Heaf wrote:From what I saw the tackler was moving forwards into the tackle, upright and caused a head on head so puzzled why not red too ... Given the speed of the ball carrier I would think the closing speed between the heads was no less than the Curry collision so how is it less dangerous?

The Chilean Captain doesn't move into the contact he absorbs it. The Japanese player also is twisting as he goes into contact.

It's a 50/50 call again, Curry's last night was 50/50 as well. Whether there's mitigation is always likely to be a bit contentious.

To be fair some of those Chile players look pretty good. Reckon there could be some astute pickups for clubs there given these guys are not pro and would clearly improve in pro league conditions. That 15 for Chile for example looks very quick and useful. Could be worth a punt for some club I'm sure.

Welshmushroom wrote:To be fair some of those Chile players look pretty good.  Reckon there could be some astute pickups for clubs there given these guys are not pro and would clearly improve in pro league conditions.  That 15 for Chile for example looks very quick and useful.  Could be worth a punt for some club I'm sure.

He's already playing in the prod2 is he not?

he looked better than pro d2 standard on that showing.....exactly the sort of export I would like to have seen at the dragons as I imagine he would be cheap as well.

Welshmushroom wrote:he looked better than pro d2 standard on that showing.....exactly the sort of export I would like to have seen at the dragons as I imagine he would be cheap as well.

ProD2 is a real mixed bag of ability and funding. There's some set ups there that have big crowds and big budgets. Admittedly Ayarza plays towards the bottom of that so might well be affordable.

I thought Escobar the hooker looked handy and at 23 prime for some professional coaching to take him on. The fun to be had with his surname as well. Most of the squad seem to play for the Chilean team in the Americas League. Good to see that's a thing, slight shame to see there's so few teams in the league though.

Wales’ anthem now also botched.

The injury to Muntz already showing as a real issue to Fiji. They are playing heavily off 9 and at international level that penalty kick should have been routine.

Fiji looking really good in possession, that tempo is tough to handle, and they've finally made an attack count.

Fiji’s offloading is something else, they always make it stick.

Wales playing dumb though. The ball is greasy, knock ons will happen and Wales were trying to play out from their own 22. Biggar is a quality kicker, they've got a rapid back three, kick and chase. Play in the areas you want to be in, Wales have way to much experience to be this naive.

That was a corker

Game going as expected so far.

More than 50 tackles after 20 mins. Wales can't keep that up. Not against a team as big and as quick as Fiji.

Every time Fiji breaks the first line of defence, they look like they will score a try every time

Morgan75 wrote:Every time Fiji breaks the first line of defence, they look like they will score a try every time

It a lot of one on one tackles. You've got to double up against Fiji. Stop the offload and drive them back. Can't give them momentum.