Rugby World Cup - other team/games and general chat

First topic message reminder :

Carried on from.........

https://www.606v2.com/t71218-rugby-world-cup-other-team-games-and-general-chat

Heaf wrote:The bit in bold clarifies it - the first criteria (head to head) is indeterminate for 3 tied teams so it moves to the second one - points difference.  Once the top team is determined from PD then the criteria goes back to the top for the remaining 2 teams - head to head ...

Please don't mention head-to-head helping determine winners if Owen Farrell is within listening distance.

Ah man do we have to have this monotonal female commentator every game. If they have to insist on females commentating there must be better ones.

Watching the French game chuckling that people complained that England kicked TOO much

Geordie wrote:Ah man do we have to have this monotonal female commentator every game. If they have to insist on females commentating there must be better ones.

She’s awful. Truly truly awful.

And it’s not because she’s a woman by the way. Claire Thomas is a good commentator. Nolli Waterman is just a screeching noise

Well that’s it. Rugby is fecked

Oh look, Marius Jonker oversteps his remit again. He was arguing for clear head contact when a) it’s not clear at all and b) as Waterman has correctly pointed out, Lucu was dropping into a clearout that was otherwise legal.

The Italian hit the 9 in the chest then the 9 couldn’t handle the hit and folded like an accordion.

Of anything the French 9 chinned the Italian. That’s a right Love sacks call

Ehhhh. Why did three french players chase that conversion attempt? Did they think it was a penalty lol

tigertattie wrote:Ehhhh. Why did three french players chase that conversion attempt? Did they think it was a penalty lol

They're just getting some more metres in the legs for next week's QF.

Poorfour wrote:Oh look, Marius Jonker oversteps his remit again. He was arguing for clear head contact when a) it’s not clear at all and b) as Waterman has correctly pointed out, Lucu was dropping into a clearout that was otherwise legal.

Maybe he got confused as he's wearing a white shirt ...

Japan/Argentina starts in a few minutes. Effectively a straight knockout game with both teams on 9 points. Wouldn't have given Japan much of a chance before the tournament started, but Argentina have been quite poor in the World Cup so far.

Now my lot have been sent homeward tae think again, I can focus on the big questions around the other teams.

Question 1 - Why is the Japanese hooker playing in what appears to be a giant nappie???

Argentina win 39-27, one of the best games at this World Cup.

Yep, Wales v Argentina is looking more interesting now ...

I said on the Welsh thread, that I think wales will be a bit better defensively than Japan were. It’ll be a good game though. Sad to see Argentina probably lose a key backrower today too.

Aussies starting to dream? Portugal leading 10-3.

Portugal nearly went back-to-back, before Fiji countered and leveled it up at 10-10.

But Botia could be red-carded for a head-on-head. Unlikely, the way this WC has been officiated...

Portugal get over again!

Wow...

Would England rather play Australia?

Geordie wrote:Would England rather play Australia?

I'd have said yes a few weeks ago, but Fiji have been so poor against Georgia and Portugal that I'm not sure there'll be much of a difference.

The England-Australia potential QF would be played at the same ground as in 2007.

Are Australia through if Fiji lose or is it a po8nts requirement

Also why do they roll this female commentator every game? She's awful...

Waiting for Fiji to push the big black and white entertainment button...ffs.

Fiji have to lose by 8 points or more and not get four tries for Australia to get through.

So is this the Fiji that is apparently going to murder us next week?  Do we think perhaps they've been a little overhyped based on a world cup warm up? And maybe there has been a slight overestimation of them?

Probably not based on the warm up. They looked strong against Wales and Australia at the beginning of the World Cup, but their level has fallen off v Georgia and Portugal.

I wonder how the Australia squad are feeling right now!

Aw God I wish she'd shut up

Duty281 wrote:Probably not based on the warm up. They looked strong against Wales and Australia at the beginning of the World Cup, but their level has fallen off v Georgia and Portugal.

I'm not saying they are a bad team or that we we'll definitely win, but the fatalism of some English fans has been ridiculous.

Fiji are missing Kuruvoli and Tagitagivalu who have been two of their best players across the tournament. Tela who is their best remaining 10 with Muntz sadly injured. Draosese who is their best 15. Plus Radrada of course but their wing and centre depth is very good.

There are a fair few absentees from a likely 23 for the QFs.

I like that Portuguese winger - the no.11

Bloody brilliant for Portugal....that's fabulous

lostinwales wrote:I like that Portuguese winger - the no.11

14 is better

Love the passion, I would hazard the opinion that if English players went about things with that level of commitment, we wouldn't find ourselves as disappointed as we often are.

Geordie wrote:

lostinwales wrote:I like that Portuguese winger - the no.11

14 is better

To be honest the Portuguese back line is good. The handling skills make us look even more terrible

Amazing! Well done Portugal, fully deserved. They've been a breath of fresh air at this World Cup, plus their fans are tremendously passionate. Get them in the Six Nations.

Fiji limp to the KO stages. Both them and England not looking too clever.

Australia out in the group phase for the first time.

A wonderful victory for Portugal. What a celebration they are about to have. There will likely be players who have lifted the RWC in tournaments gone by that didn't feel the same level of elation as some of those Portuguese players have taken time off from work to be there.

lostinwales wrote:

Geordie wrote:

lostinwales wrote:I like that Portuguese winger - the no.11

14 is better

To be honest the Portuguese back line is good. The handling skills make us look even more terrible

absolutely....!!

Is it time for a European championship every two years?

Maybe 2/3 groups

Well done to Portugal! They’ve played some of the most attractive rugby of the pools. Deserved winners. What a way to close out the pool stages.

Portugal played with more nous, skill, bravery and spirit than Scotland could even dream of mustering.

A brilliant send off for the Bayonne Express, who  is in charge for his final match as Portugal's head coach.
Their last ditch tackling was nothing short of astounding at times, and they never, ever gave up.

So if results go a certain way history could be created next week. If Ireland, France, England & Wales all win it could be the first time in the history of the world cup that no SH side has made the semi finals.

Granted that would take some doing but not impossible at this stage.

As expected for months, there appear to be 4 teams who would be worthy winners, but they are playing each other in the quarter finals.

As for the all NH semi-final line-up, I reckon that in each QF the northern hemisphere team is the favourite:
England v Fiji - a decent to good England performance should be enough. Play like they did v Samoa and it will be tough.

Wales v Argentina - I think Wales have been the pleasant surprise of the tournament so far. Significant improvement from the 6ns. Argentina a bit of a disappointment to date. So Wales fairly solid favourites.

Ireland v NZ - Ireland currently world #1 and in great form. Such a well balanced and well organised team, that it never looks like they do any particular thing exceptionally well, but the sum of the parts is outstanding. NZ looked a bit out of sorts against France but have come back well since - probably have more 'flash' than Ireland, but also more weaknesses.

France v SA - This will be a mighty game, with probably the two most powerful teams in the tournament taking each other on. I think France have probably the better balance and flair, but will Dupont be back and playing well? Could be critical.

So the first two I have England and Wales as at least 75% likely to win, the other two are much closer although I favour the NH sides in both. Chances of a NH winner? Really depends on those last two quarters - I think if NZ or SA get through they will go on to win overall.

The other thing for consideration as a result of these QFs is what state the winners of the most gruelling games are going to be in.

Ordinarily, the winners of France/SA would be big favourites to beat the winners of England/Fiji, and the same for Ireland/NZ over Wales/Argentina, but what condition will those heavyweights be in after those intense QFs....? And a possibility of ET, too.

Its probably a goodidea if someone open a QF thread, or play off thread. Wher's the writers?

Duty281 wrote:The other thing for consideration as a result of these QFs is what state the winners of the most gruelling games are going to be in.

Ordinarily, the winners of France/SA would be big favourites to beat the winners of England/Fiji, and the same for Ireland/NZ over Wales/Argentina, but what condition will those heavyweights be in after those intense QFs....? And a possibility of ET, too.

Yeah it really is outrageous that a side at the start of the tournament ranked around 10th like Wales could get to a semi while only having to face no sides ranked above 7th in the world. While Ireland for example will have to beat 2nd, 4th and 5th in the world to get to a quarter.

That's what happens when you make the draw 3 years out ... won't be the first time or the last unless they change something ...

Heaf wrote:That's what happens when you make the draw 3 years out ... won't be the first time or the last unless they change something ...

You only have to go back to 2019 to find a team that got to the semi without beating a team ranked above 7th...

I don’t remember this volume of whinging when Wales, England and Australia were in the same pool!

mikey_dragon wrote:I don’t remember this volume of whinging when Wales, England and Australia were in the same pool!

Likewise, England, Argentina and Scotland in the same pool in 2011. England had finished 2nd, and Argentina 3rd, in the previous World Cup.

There hasn't been much chat about it here but the Argentina v Japan match was absolutely outstanding.

Can't help thinking rugby pundits spend too much time with each other at tournaments, as they start using the same turns of phrase.

Everyone currently seems averse to answering a question with the word "Yes". Instead, it's "100%".

- Ugo, do you think Portugal need more support from World Rugby?
- 100%

- Shane, can Warren Gatland get Wales to a semi-final?
- 100%

Also, teams don't seem to play rugby anymore at this World Cup, they "go about their business". While other adverbs are available, most good teams do this "quietly".

Cliches spread through conversation in all walks of life, unfortunately. In my time as a consultant we’ve had vogues for the likes of “admiring the problem”, “hitting the sweet spot”, “that’s the right answer” and “moving at the speed of e”.