Rugby World Cup 2019

[TheBlackPenguin]

Good luck Russia, against Japan in the opening game :).

 

Good luck USA :).

 

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

[Hoots]

Hoping Japan can keep up the good work from last time. England can only be better, I hope!

[unreasonable]

Watching Japan is fun, but I hope Russia put up a good resistance: they are only in the cup by accident. I do not like to see any side humiliated when they give it their all to be there. Except the Welsh. And recently the Irish, both sides that have developed anti-rugby to the most tiresome degree. Maybe the Aussies, since they like to hand out a good sledge. And the Kiwis, since it is so rare, what with the referees having difficulty making out those black shirts off side in the ruck. 

 

England used to be reliable, stolid but uninspiring except for a short period, before, but not during the 2003  Cup. Now they are as maddeningly inconsistent as Scotland: from the sublime to the ridiculous in one match! As in the last Calcutta Cup. I now have no idea how they will perform.

 

But I trust in Eddie.    

[von_Tom]

39 minutes ago, unreasonable said:

I do not like to see any side humiliated when they give it their all to be there. Except the Welsh.

 

 

von Tom

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Goooood luck Russia!!

 

I really hope Wales and Ireland can pull off some magic this year. 

 

Regards from South Africa!

[Stumble]

Go the All Blacks!!! Its the thing us Kiwis are most known for... I really hope we win again ?

 

S!

Stumble

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Good luck tomorrow Stumble! All Blacks rock!

[theOden]

I'll cheer for Scotland (pls surprise me this year) and Springboks (yes, they will win 2019, I can see into the future - trust me, I'm not from Wall Street).

[jaygee485]

21 hours ago, =EXPEND=DendroAspis said:

All Blacks rock!

 

And the Springboks are the favorite foe I love to watch, and fear.

[DD_Arthur]

On 9/20/2019 at 8:44 AM, unreasonable said:

Except the Welsh.

 

Goes without saying

[JtD]

On 9/20/2019 at 9:44 AM, unreasonable said:

have developed anti-rugby to the most tiresome degree

 

Anti-rugby meaning what in laymans terms? Defensive, destructive play?

[unreasonable]

Exactly - combined with a lack of ideas in attack and a reliance on penalty kicks and rolling mauls to score. People used to criticize England for doing this but the Irish and Welsh have taken this to an absurd degree. I am sure there are parallels in football, but since I never watch that I know not what they are.  

[Hoots]

1 hour ago, unreasonable said:

Exactly - combined with a lack of ideas in attack and a reliance on penalty kicks and rolling mauls to score. People used to criticize England for doing this but the Irish and Welsh have taken this to an absurd degree. I am sure there are parallels in football, but since I never watch that I know not what they are.  

Yeah, one of the things that annoys me is the extension of the ruck back foot to a ridiculous level, just watched Tonga have four or five players lined up behind to extend it. 

[56RAF_Roblex]

I think I prefer the womens rugby now.   Unlike the men,  they rely more on ball handling and passing than just repeatedly trying to smash their way through the defence for the sake of gaining another metre.

 

[Stumble]

On 9/23/2019 at 8:20 AM, 56RAF_Roblex said:

I think I prefer the womens rugby now.   Unlike the men,  they rely more on ball handling and passing than just repeatedly trying to smash their way through the defence for the sake of gaining another metre.

 

Nah I prefer the smashing...

 

I get what you mean but watching all the Maori/pacific islanders moving through people like bulldozers is just amazing.

[56RAF_Roblex]

10 minutes ago, Stumble said:

Nah I prefer the smashing...

 

I get what you mean but watching all the Maori/pacific islanders moving through people like bulldozers is just amazing.

 

Oh it is great to see the big guys actually smash through, I used to love watching Lomu, but what I don't like is when you get five plays in a row that last 2 seconds and don't even gain any new ground ?

[unreasonable]

On 9/26/2019 at 7:22 PM, 56RAF_Roblex said:

 

but what I don't like is when you get five plays in a row that last 2 seconds and don't even gain any new ground ?

 

But.but...that is Ireland's gameplan! 

 

Who just got well beaten by Japan.    Party time!    Uruguay also beating a bigger, stronger team - Fiji.  In both cases good tackle technique and sharp running rugby upset the established order.  

[TheBlackPenguin]

Gotta love the World Cup, springing surprises. I am still hoping the US has the ability to cause one too, maybe the French will have an off day lol.

[JtD]

I took this as a recommendation to watch the Japan - Ireland match. Good one indeed, I found the Japanese pace incredible, in particular in the defense towards the end of the match. Ireland kept losing ground while on the offense.

[theOden]

Scotland going like steamrollers!

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/rugby-union/49516041

 

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Awesome results so far...sooo happy for Wales!

 

On 9/22/2019 at 10:20 PM, 56RAF_Roblex said:

I think I prefer the womens rugby now.   Unlike the men,  they rely more on ball handling and passing than just repeatedly trying to smash their way through the defence for the sake of gaining another metre.

 

Maybe watch the All Blacks play.?

[MiloMorai]

This tread got me curious, so watched the Ozland-Welsh game last night. I didn't think there was that much 'bulldozer' type play. Welsh 29, Ozland 25

 

I thought it was cute when the ball girls would hand, not toss, the ball to a player they would give a little bow.

[unreasonable]

Asian girls are always cute, handling balls, bowing or otherwise engaged.  Seriously, the hosts are doing a fantastic job, as well as their own side playing such attractive rugby.

 

Oz- Wales was an very good game, but some of the referring shows the problem rugby is having at the moment with dealing with contacts to the head. They are trying to maintain the physicality of the game without exposing the clubs and national unions to bankruptcy from lawsuits from players with long term concussion problems.  This will require the players and coaches to change their techniques: I am not completely sure that it can be done, but if they do not I can see no long term future for the sport.

[=EXPEND=Capt_Yorkshire]

I put a bet on for England and new zealand to meet in the final.  fingers crossed.

[Dogbert1953]

On 9/21/2019 at 11:25 AM, DD_Arthur said:

 

Goes without saying

 

I hate the english with a vengeance.

 

Anyone playing them, get's my automatic support.

 

 

[=EXPEND=Capt_Yorkshire]

Oh dear  another Welshman that hates the English for no reason.  If you ever met me you'd think i was fantastic and lovable.

[Swing]

The Tonga Team have scared me......and the fourteen French fault too......but it's done...

[JtD]

Two Saturday matches cancelled due to a Typhoon approaching. Tough luck for the Italians.

[unreasonable]

Yes, Typhoon Haggis (  ) may put the Scots out as well: they almost certainly have to beat Japan to progress to the QFs.

 

I was looking forwards to the England France match, even though both have already qualified. "Le Crunch" is always interesting. 

[Swing]

"Le Crunch" may be "crunchy" for the French......The English Team is clearly of a higher level right now...

[TheBlackPenguin]

On 10/10/2019 at 4:55 AM, Swing said:

"Le Crunch" may be "crunchy" for the French......The English Team is clearly of a higher level right now...

 

It was unfortunately canceled, but safety first imho. never know with the French, they have that flair within them that can spark and put away any team, and then a week later everyone is wondering what happened to it. I have seen it called a super Typhoon, maybe the Scot's will be less whiny on Sunday when they see the storm for themselves. It sucks for them, but if you don't get those points...

[Swing]

The Typhoon...It was the Japan Team...! ...Impressive...

[theOden]

I feel sad for Scotland but so impressed by Japan at the same time - well worth victory to be honest.

Used to play 14 before I moved back to fullback but my God, I could never run half that fast as the Japanese Wing, a typhoon as Swing just said.

[Trooper117]

Fantastic match today... The Japanese were something to behold.

It was one of the most gripping matches I have watched so far!

[unreasonable]

I watched Japan vs Scotland in a pub packed with Sons and Daughters of Nippon and a few Scots and other assorted neutral migrants: awesome entertainment: one of the most gripping matches I have seen in ages. So glad the Scots got to play - and get booted out on merit, otherwise we would have had an earful from them for years. Since it was a "Buddha Day" the pub's windows were all papered over and we all drank booze from paper cups, with "tea" printed on the receipts, which somehow added to the atmosphere. Not fooling the locals, but appearances must be kept up.... 

 

BTW this "reserved Japanese" idea may be a thing, but they certainly know when to turn it off: they all were screaming and crying with excitement!   

 

 

 

[JtD]

So if you have no offence, rely on forward passes to win a match...very entertaining first half, though.

[MiloMorai]

England really put it to Ozland, 40-16.

Wales a squeaker over France , 20-19.

 

England vs NZ on the 26 Oct

Wales vs SA on the 27 Oct

 

Final Nov 2

[JtD]

Of the quarter final performances I found NZ the most convincing. Most fun to watch as well. To me, England vs. NZ should be the final, not one of the semis. Still, two interesting matches coming up next weekend.

[unreasonable]

NZ was the most convincing; they are the best side; but Ireland have been getting weaker for a while now, so no surprises there.  Similarly I did not expect England to lose to Australia: the last time Aus won that fixture was at the last world cup. 

 

I give Wales no chance vs SA: if they had not had such a rough time with injuries to top players they would have had a decent chance, but as it is I will be astonished if they win. They will need another red card, and even that may not be enough. I thought their last try against France was just forwards - but it has to be "clear and obvious" so I can see why it was allowed.

 

The last few matches of NZ vs England have been fairly close; if we (England) can keep the game tight we have a chance to win, but NZ are deserved favourites. 

 

  

[JtD]

The "clear and obvious" forward happened when the Welsh were deep in their half and had just stolen the ball from the attacking French. From there they went on forward to eventually score the decisive try. I don't really have a lot of rugby-watching experience and sometimes miss a bit, but that one I'm sure I saw.

 

That said, my expectations are pretty close to yours, but I give the Welsh a small rather than no chance.