Rugby World Cup

[newbie babs]

XCDriver

you probably need to ask those that know more than me.

I didn't actually think you watched any games

 

[Minilad]

XCDriver

you probably need to ask those that know more than me.

I didn't actually think you watched any games

I haven't watched a single game and my original post was in response to something I heard an ex Australian International talking about on the radio.
Surely if Rugby wants to get itself more fans it is the likes of me they need to make itself attractive to. And to me lots of blowout wins makes me think that the tournament is carrying too many poor teams who offer little to the game and the spectacle.
I am not a Rugby fan by any stretch but if International players have that view I tend to listen to what they say.
Having said that if Rugby fans are happy with what they are watching then that is fine for them

 

[Greenback]

The revenue aspect I can see. Is there any subsidy of the smaller nations by the bigger nations ? Any sort of revenue sharing ?
What in your opinion would be the ideal tournament size and format. Would 12 (4 groups of 3 in the group stage) maybe be OK
I struggle to see how big blowout victories either help the small teams or provide a good spectacle for the viewing public

Personally, I would go for 4 groups of 4 teams. NZ, Aus, SA, Argentina, Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy would qualify automatically, as they play in the tri and 6 nations tournament (or soon will). Realistically, having a World Cup without all of them would damage the credibility and revenue!

The other 6 nations would have to qualify. I would suggest 3 countries from the NH, and 3 from the SH. This is where a second tier championship might help. Some adjustment might have to be made to equalise the numbers, but basically you could have:

NH

Romania, Canada, USA, Russia, Georgia, Spain

SH

Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Namibia, Samoa, Ivory Coast


I'm not sure how the money side works out. It may be that the tournament itself makes a profit, which is then shared out amongst participants. The particular arrangements may change every time though!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

To me it seems that there just isn't enough countries that play Rugby to a high enough standard to enable a competitive 16 team competition

The development is ongoing and will continue to do so, which will improve the standard of the lesser teams over a period of time. It was not so very long ago that people would laugh at the idea of Italy being a member of what is now the Six Nations Championship, but time moves along and in recent years, Italy have made great strides forward. Other forum members have made suggestions as how future tournaments may be run, so I will not add to that.

 

[Butts]

Scotland 12.....Argentina 13

The try by Argentina seven minutes from time which was converted and the missed Scotland drop goal near the end were the moments that decided this match. It had been a very dour affair played in heavy rain, with both sides obviously intent on achieving victory to strengthen their pool position.

Looks like we may fail to qualify for the quarters for the first time ever in the World Cup......

Unless of course we can vanquish the "auld enemy" on Saturday.

Sets the group up for a thrilling finish

 

[Greenback]

Wales have a proud history of World Cup failure, don't get too depressed if you don't make it through!

That said, Scotland have a proud history of upsetting England when it matters...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Wales need to win, they need to play well, be ruthless and post a big score.

At the break, matters were not looking good "points-wise" to increase their points difference, but the second half was a totally different affair. Twelve tries is a good performance in anyone's book. Nice to see Wales score more than 80 points in a match.

I have refrained from making a match analysis, following the request not to do so on the Football forum.

 

[Greenback]

It was a good Welsh performance in the end, although I was a bit disappointed with the apparent loss of focus between the 20th and 40th minutes!

Warren Gatland has criticised the scrum and the fact that the team 'went to sleep' in teh first half!

 

[anthony263]

It was a good Welsh performance in the end, although I was a bit disappointed with the apparent loss of focus between the 20th and 40th minutes!

Warren Gatland has criticised the scrum and the fact that the team 'went to sleep' in teh first half!

Whats new apart from wales do tend to fall asleep sometimes in the 2nd half after performing well for the 1st 45 minutes.

 

[Greenback]

The coaching team has definitely imrpoved the emntal attitude of the players, but it seems they still have the ability to switch off and lose concentration.

Perhaps some of the 'old guard' like Byrne and R Jones find it more difficult to adjust, or buy into the new mentality?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Japan must have thought that the 20-year wait for a Rugby World Cup win had ended, until the Canadian fly-half Ander Monro, who had missed with three out of four previous kicks, kicked a last minute penalty to level the match at 23-23.

 

[Greenback]

Japan did say they were targetting Canada and Tonga for their first ever WC win, so they must be very, very disappointed!

On the subject of the major nations v the minor nations, it wa sinteresting to hea rthe comment sof the Russia team coach last night. Their next game is against the Aussies, and he said that they hope to have a go at their opponents in the scrums and cut down on the mistakes.

I take this to mean that they are not expecting to win, but have definite areas where they want to be more competitive.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Italy overcame a determined second-half effort by U.S.A. to score the required number of tries to obtain the extra bonus point in their 27-10 victory.

This makes for an interesting final pool day in that group.
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Referee David Pearson must have had some idea that there would be no lack of incident in the Georgia v Romania match, with both sides looking to be the leading East European rugby nation and awarded a total of twenty-two penalties, fourteen of which were awarded in the first half.

 

[newbie babs]

ok all you rugby watchers. Saturday is Crunch day for three teams because 1 will go home.

Scotland v England permutations
If Scotland lose to England without a losing bonus point they are out of the World Cup

If Scotland lose to England with a losing bonus point and Argentina lose against Georgia, Scotland go through

If Scotland draw with England, they need Argentina to lose against Georgia

If Scotland and Argentina both win without a bonus point, it will come down to points difference between the three teams, though England are way out in front

If Scotland and Argentina win with bonus points, and England do not earn a losing bonus point, England are out

Have a go at leaving your predictions

Truvia for you and england team, please note Nick Easter sits on the bench ready for his return (i am in heaven now)

The meeting will be the first time in 129 matches and 140 years the teams have played on neutral soil.

England team: B Foden; C Ashton, M Tuilagi, M Tindall, D Armitage; J Wilkinson, B Youngs; M Stevens, S Thompson, D Cole, L Deacon, C Lawes, T Croft, L Moody (capt), J Haskell.

Replacements: D Hartley, A Corbisiero, T Palmer, N Easter, R Wigglesworth, T Flood, M Banahan.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It is noticeable that England have decided to strengthen their pack in readiness for the match against Scotland by recalling lock Courtney Lawes after his suspension was served and by naming Matt Stevens as prop forward, to counter the threat posed by the large Scotland pack.

 

[Greenback]

England will beat Scotland and Argentina will beat Georgia. Which, of course means that Scotland will be out. If this does happen, I hope Andy Robinson isn't sacked. He seems to have made Scotland more comeptitive than they have been for years - his only mistake is to continue to select Dan Parks.

I think that England need to put in another convincing performance so that they will be able to ehad into the quarter finals with a lot of confidence.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The matter of indiscipline in the England team play that leads to the penalty count against them still has not been correctly dealt with by their team management. The penalties conceded by England during the later stages of the tournament will be far more harshly punished by the kicking ability of the better quality teams in the later stages of the tournament, should they progress.

 

[Greenback]

It should also be a concern that England will be meeting more streetwise teams when they progress.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Rugby Football Union have suspended two of the England coaching staff for the game against Scotland. Kicking coach Dave Aldred and fitness specialist Paul Stridgeon were found to have switched the ball that Jonny Wilkinson was ready to kick in the recent World Cup match against Romania.
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South Africa 13....Samoa 5

This result means that Wales only need a single point from the match against Fiji to progress to the final stages.

 

[Greenback]

The result this morning helps Wales. The results and performances in the pool suggest that Samoa, Wales and South Africa are not as far apart as the world rankings might suggest!

 

[Butts]

England will beat Scotland and Argentina will beat Georgia. Which, of course means that Scotland will be out. If this does happen, I hope Andy Robinson isn't sacked. He seems to have made Scotland more comeptitive than they have been for years - his only mistake is to continue to select Dan Parks.

I think that England need to put in another convincing performance so that they will be able to ehad into the quarter finals with a lot of confidence.

I believe Scotland will beat England but not by the required margin to qualify

 

[newbie babs]

Fot those that asked about the little clubs, this morning witnessed why

Tonga 19, France 14, Tonga came within a hairs breath of kicking France out of the world cup and facing possibly England in the quarter finals.

They played their hearts out and France played like they did not know each other

Come on England, England to win 41 - 10
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I always criticise when it`s due, and omg England are playing crap, Thompson has lost the ability to mange the line out`s and Wilkinson can`t kick.
It`s awful and most the those on the bench need to come on.

Flood creates more play and although his kicking can be iffy, Wilkinsons kicking is bad missed three and managed the last one.

Scotland 9 - England 3 at half time
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we have sweated buckets and those on the bench came on and one by one we clawed our way back and we broke scotlands hearts in the final few minutes and won England 16 - 12

What was odd was Scotland had already got their souvenirs and booked their coach for the airport yesterday, how can you do that before the game, such negativity.

We play France next weekend and that will be equally as good after their performance today.

 

[Greenback]

Scotland do not have enough quality. Despite a very poor England performance in the first half, they still contrived to lose the game.

Two moments stand out for me. Dan Parks' kick through for a second row to chase, and Mike Blair's quick tap and go penalty which merely resulted in a trunover. I know they only have a split second to make the decisions, but these were not the best options at that moment.

 

[Oswyntail]

Typical England/Scotland. Scotland way too pumped up with thoughts of sending the "Auld Enemy" home "to think again" to think much themselves. England get caught up in the frenzy. Only when England calmed down a bit did any quality emerge. But England do seem to have the knack of playing each game as it comes.

 

[flymo]

England's quality never emerged. They were so bad it beggars belief. Jonny Wilkinson couldn't find the posts with a GPS and a goal-post detector. If Scotland had scored the try they almost did in the latter stages England would be out of it. The indiscipline of the England squad today was yet again their undoing and will be again in the next stage. The England scrum was abysmal and they know it. This victory is nothing to celebrate, it is a kick up the backside which need addressing.

Truly shocking.

And yes I'm an England fan and was watching it live today.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Argentina 25.....Georgia 7

This result, though not unexpected, means that Scotland do not qualify for the final stages of the tournament.

 

[Butts]

Argentina 25.....Georgia 7

This result, though not unexpected, means that Scotland do not qualify for the final stages of the tournament.

Theres no need to rub it in - we were not good enough at the end of the day.

Good luck to England , Wales and Ireland - I'd rather one of them won than the frogs or antipodeans or bocks.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Wales 66....Fiji 0

A very professional performance which saw the four-try bonus point obtained by the break when the score was 31-0, then the continuance of the pressure in the second period to add another 35 points, against quite strong physical opponents.

They have deserved to progress to the final stages through their co-ordinated teamwork.

 

[valenta]

Wales 66....Fiji 0

A bit of a thrashing!

 

[flymo]

QF line up:

8 Oct
Ireland - Wales

England - France

9 Oct
South Africa - Australia

New Zealand - Argentina

Should be a heck of a weekend next week.