[Closed] 2015-16 rugby, world cup year

Bumped into loads of Ireland fans at Heathrow/Paddington/London Bridge today. Plenty of shirts from all the home nations, and a few others too. Atmosphere around London really great, and all fans looking excited, and a credit to rugby. No matter what the results, a great RWC so far.

Right - good to see that Scotland have stopped messing about.

Fairly evident that while other teams have "squad players" we have a decent core and little else.What we do have is three points and about 17+ points scored. A losing point in both the remaining games would probably see us through,although I think we will be better than Samoa. I think the Samoa Japan game is going to be a 100mph cracker. The team that finishes third doesn't have to qualify for next WC.

Interested to see how 9-13 works out.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Its a good game this, I watched the Italy Canada game the other day and I thought as soon as the NFL and Ice Hockey lot in the Americas get their teeth into Rugby we (IE Europe) are going to be screwed.

Ireland's average age of 29 and 245ish days is the oldest in RWC history. 😀

Mean looking Romainians.

I thought Canada's (?) average age is 30 something? Maybe just the oldest in Irish RWC history?

Good nearly try..
Followed by a Noice actual try! Woop.

Yes DanW, that's exactly 😀 what I was trying to say.

Keef's got a bit of pace back. 🙂

Who's playing in the Keet Earls mask?

Can I just point out that Scotland has more points than any other team at the world cup at this moment in time. 😉

Have they? 😛

Not for long.

Aye - hence the "moment in time" qualifier.

Erm, can I just also point it out that the biggest of the home nations which allegedly has been playing the game the longest is the only one of the four to not have a 100% win record in the tournament at the moment. 😉

Speaking of points, dumbquestion, but 2 for a draw right, but does that then earn you 1 extra for losing by less than 7 points? So a draw is effectively 3? (I doubt this but just wondering)

WML - At the moment 😉

Toys - How can you both lose and draw the same match?

If you score four tries but also lose by <7 do you get two bonus points?

Win 4 points

Draw 2 points

Loss 0 points

4 or more tries 1 point

Loss by 7 points or less 1 point

TGA - Yes. That's what SA did

If you score four tries but also lose by <7 do you get two bonus points?

Ta.

scotroutes, yes indeed, just being dumb. I guess I saw a draw as not winning ie losing..

That's alright. I've only just found out why a Try is called a Try.

Umm why?

I guess I saw a draw as not winning ie losing..

You are captain Robshaw and I claim my free low swinging chariot finders fee.

toys19 - Member
Umm why?

because it didn't used to have score, it only gave you a "try" at scoring a goal.(what we now call a conversion)

The scoreboard at St Helens, Swansea used to note the scores as 'Try' and 'Goal', iirc. Probably still does.

So, just watched the eng/Wal first half. Looking good, and in control. I think I might just leave it there 😥

Being 1/2 irish, I feel a "switch" coming on....... 😉
[img] 2?view=976[/img]
Medium or large?

They're a bit toight wrecker. 😳

Had to go for a medium myself (bloody post-few pints purchase in Gloucester last weekend...my wallet didn't thank me). Welcome to the green machine. We are all one big rugby family anyway. 😀

Gif here of Wood booting Liam in the head. I'm sure its accidental but this reckless play needs to be stopped. Pro players these days need to act with more care. Accidental lifting tackles get jumped on. Look at the fuss caused by Lydiates chop that was fine. I cannot understand how the video ref didnt see it. If nothing else it should have been a penalty.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/rugby-world-cup-2015-wales-10142745

[img] https://vine.co/v/exweQzegeOW [/img]

Looks bad from that angle and at that speed. One game ban for being a big clumsy oaf.

cheers Darcy. I like this one, I'd feel quite at home with the colour too 😛
[img] [/img]

Not long back from brum. Literally bumped in the south Africa team at new steet station they looked fresh after one night, a worry indeed.
Atmosphere was fantastic all day plenty of different shirts on show in the ground. We sat behind the bagpipe aussie fans everyone in the ground wanted URUGUAY to get a try.
Good day out

I think that would show up the Guinness stains badly! With my athletic figure I'm not a fan of these football type tops, still in my 2001 number.

Anyway, really pleased with the display from the 2nd XV today. Zebo was the stand out performer for me. I thought every part of his game was excellent. It looks like Healy is still far from starting against the better teams. I'd stick with McGrath.

Why has the plant on that white jersey wilted?

With my athletic figure I'm not a fan of these football type tops, still in my 2001 number.

Ha, I can still fit into my early 90s Swansea jersey. Although I think the trend back then was to have them quite baggy.... 😳

Only just got round to watching ScrumV.

Containing THAT interview with Mike Brown after the game. Whoever it was within the English set up who allowed him anywhere near a camera should be fired immediately.

Unless of course Brown had been through all the media training and someone said, "You OK to do some interviews, Mike? " and that was the result.

Either way, I ended up feeling sorry for him.

Either way, I ended up feeling sorry for him.

He came across like a petulant, sulky child. I know (or rather I can imagine) that it must be difficult to make sensible comments after a game of that intensity but still, it was rather pathetic.

Garin Jenking while being interviewed coming off the pitch, a long time ago, could only scream "We had them blowing out of their a&$@#." 😆

The London Times has part of an article describing the Reffing of the breakdown as one of two reasons why England lost. "They will not complain openly,for that is not their way,and they know it will achieve nothing,but their broken dreams will be full of the image of Jerome Garces,the French referee and his officiating of the breakdown,where they were so heavily penalised."
Sigh. Must have seen a different game to most folk I know,the sight of Dan " George Dawes" Cole flopping over had me comparing him to a prop in a school team who sees the ball just at the other side of the ruck and can't help himself. That group is still wide open especially with the Welsh injury list,although England have a few worries themselves it would seem!

Garces was consistent at the breakdown and fair I thought. Missed a blatent knock on by Brown just after saying Biggar had knocked on when he hadnt. Could easily have bunned Gethin for coming round the side of a ruck too. Ocerall he was the anti Owens and it led to a stop start penalty fest but he was consistent.
Anyone got the link to the Brown interview I need a laugh!

Well I watched the game in a pub up in Golspie (the trails are great) and its the first time I've ever enjoyed seeing England lose.

Hats off to a courageous performance by Wales.

England were hopeless at the breakdown - as they have been all along - and got what they deserved.

Mike Brown is a pr**k.

Here you go a_a

Chopsie ****. Hope that pat on the back from george when he lost his team the game haunts him. At least our chopsie ****s are kept away from the camera's!!!

Very good analysis of the breakdown in this Telegraph article and other facets where it went wrong for England - [url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/rugby-world-cup/11894139/England-vs-Wales-Six-areas-where-Warren-Gatlands-side-overhauled-World-Cup-hosts.html ]here[/url]

I didn't think the Brown interview was that bad, he was obviously hurting 😆

Jiffy enjoyed putting the knife in though.

Brown has been a total w***er for years. He runs round the pitch gobbing off at people, shoving off the ball and yelling at officials in the manner of an association footballer.

If I was English, which by the grace of God I'm not,that is exactly the way I would want my players to be after a game. Don't see whats wrong with that interview.

He's clearly a very good player but also a very strange character. Huget on the field, shy as a mouse off. If North is indeed Dai Lama then it makes the pat and comments even more funny 🙂 they clearly enjoy winding him up

Why did the crowd feel the need to boo Gatland? Rather unsporting, chaps.

Sad stuff, especially so early in his last RWC.
http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=3210744

You know what wrecker; I saw that yesterday and actually felt guilty as a Scotland supporter about what my first thoughts were. To come back from all the surgery to have something fairly straightforward stop you seems bloody unfair.

Must have been some impact to break [i]that[/i] jaw!!!

Crazy JDV was even at the WC after the knee reconstruction let alone the first jaw fracture! Amazing player

A mate predicted this sad exit of JDV.
Perfect way to leave the team he sadly should not have been in for the RWC15.
Look at his post game interview, what broken jaw?
Ps by "perfect" I mean staged/planned.
Only 4 hours of international rugby leading up to the WC?? Should never have been selected in the first place.
Now Bok supporters happy with De Allende/Kriel pairing.

Shame about JDV 🙁

As for the Brown interview....wasn't half as bad as I was expecting given the comments on here! I agree with duckman *there's a first!*

Perennially grumpy bloke gets interviewed after losing possibly the biggest game of his career. When asked typically 'stating the obvious' questions by the usual annoying interviewers is understandably a bit miffed. I'd much prefer that to your typical personality bereft media clone interviews.

As for how he is on the pitch....well he's fiesty, can be a bit gobby, but in my opinion a fair player and the fact that he gets singled out is because he's our best player....best 15 of the tournament so far I'd say. (Obviously others will disagree :lol:)

I've loved the tournament so far, and can't wait for next Saturday!! What a day that looks.

t he gets singled out is because he's our best player..

More being singled out. Got any evidence for this or is it like the Lawes stuff. All in your head? Was he singled out by Warburton as Brown ran into the fowards from miles away to grab the Welsh captain?

If the english pack had a fraction of the fire that Brown has, perhaps they wouldn't be in the position they are currently in.

Thats true. I think Brown is a very very good player but he needs to be told to pull his head in because he gets too fired up. Loopy Liam is very similar but the Wales set up have done a good job of keeping the competitor and getting rid of the angry fighter. Brown going for Warburton from where he had no involvment is a prime example.

If the english pack had a fraction of the fire that Brown has, perhaps they wouldn't be in the position they are currently in.

This

Brown quickly goes from fiery determination to completely cracking which is the problem.

There were some discussions elsewhere on Robshaw being quite an absent leader and you wouldn't see Warbuton/ McCaw/ Dusautoir/ O'Connell/ etc take a backwards step when someone like Brown needs a bit of backup and then calming down when everyone disperses. Maybe I missed it but I didn't see him around.

Kind of leading on from that there's no way he should let two dedicated place kickers on the pitch pass up 3 points. It's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. Even if they didn't fancy it a good captain would instill the confidence they needed. As soon as they went for the corner you could sense every Welsh fan and player be lifted and feel they had a chance to win the game. You can't defend a penalty!

There are some interesting quotes from Ben Youngs too who apparently has ankle swelling hence the substitution. I'm not sure if I read the last sentence as struggling to find someone in the team who can't leave the ball alone or struggling to find someone to instill some discipline on pitch

Ill-discipline hurt us against France away in the warm-ups and it came back and bite us again (on Saturday night).

There are only so many times you can tell people to leave the ball alone before you physically assault them on the pitch.

If nobody is willing to do that, it is tough.

I'm another who can't see much wrong with that Brown interview he must be absolutely gutted. I think he is a complete tit normally, but lets be honest if you were on the end of that defeat you'd be sick as.

England's decision making cost them, simple as. Like all sports you need to play with your brain engaged at all times and be street smart, England did neither in the 2nd half.

Agree a_a. Must be difficult trying to reign him in without losing that edge. Same with Farrell, people call him petulant but really there's little wrong with a bit of bare aggression. It's not like they knock around swinging punches. The pack look like they're out on a flipping picnic sometimes. Wear a bloody frown FFS.
As for the brown interview, I'd be more annoyed if he was smiley and chatty. The bloke has been massively let down by the team and he's clearly annoyed. He should have had the nouse to say "not tonight lads" to the film crew though.

I thought Burgess went awol with his cheerleading and Farrel despite playing very well didnt seem to be the leader he was before he was dropped.
Wales on the otherhand have Warburton being supported by AWJones and Biggar who are both very vocal leaders.

Number 1 action for Lancaster;
Sack Andy Farrell.
Anyone else hear about the Catt/Farrell fall out?

Buts that's where you choose your captain,and by dint of that your coach, carefully. I am trying to think who could replace Robshaw as skipper in that starting 15.
Wales could use Gethin,AWJ,Dr Chin,even Williams. Hell even biggar was stepping up. Where is that spine in that England team? It has been coached out of them.

Which particular starting 15? 😀
It's the RWC, and England still don't know what it is!!!!!

Sack Andy Farrell.

I don't like him (but that's just for his personality, not some anti-English sentiment) but thought he had a very good first half.

I think the number 1 action for Lancaster would be to step down (unless England win the RWC). England need a leader desperately. I wish Johnson had spent the intervening off-the-pitch years getting some club experience and could step into the job now. He clearly had no experience of leading off the pitch the last time, but who knows now.

deadlydarcy - Member
Sack Andy Farrell.
I don't like him (but that's just for his personality, not some anti-English sentiment) but thought he had a very good first half.

I agree, he sat very nicely and didn't fidget the whole 40 mins.

The problem with all the changes to team lineups is no one feels confident to lead and people have no built up experience. Who has 50 plus caps in the england team?

😳

I read it as "Sack [b]Owen[/b] Farrell".

I don't like him (but that's just for his personality, not some anti-English sentiment) but thought he had a very good first half.

Not sure if joking.

I don't see the issue with Farrell, father or son. But I do wonder if something is not right in the England camp. But he knows his stuff, as proven with the Lions (selected over the universally praised Edwards).

This handwringing in the RFU about anyone with a League background is really distracting from wider issues.

Where is that spine in that England team?

Hartley, Care, Manu maybe... oops they're not in because they are very naughty boys

The problem with all the changes to team lineups is no one feels confident to lead and people have no built up experience. Who has 50 plus caps in the england team?

Haskell must have over 50, although I understand he also requires someone to tie his laces for him 🙂

This handwringing in the RFU about anyone with a League background is really distracting from wider issues.

There is a bit of distraction there, it's nothing to do with where he's come from. It's to do with the fact that he's holding the team back (IMHO).

Anyone else hear about the Catt/Farrell fall out?

Intrigued....

The next England captain thing is very, very interesting. I suspect that Robshaw will step down unless England at least get to the semi-finals and this is looking a tad unlikely right now.

When picking the captain the first thing to think about is if they are a guaranteed pick which seems to be at the moment Cole, T Youngs, Lawes and Brown none of whom seem to be natural choices. Tom Wood is close and seems to get on the sheet most weeks so I would guess it would be him by default. Not ideal though is it?

I heard that they aren't getting on (to put it mildly), with very different visions of how the team should play. Catt prefers a JJ/Slade/Ford open approach and Farrell wants burgess/barritt/farrel wallop type game. Obviously Farrell won the argument.

And of those Cole, Lawes and Brown are all penalty magnates or need a steadying hand at times.

And of those Cole, Lawes and Brown are all penalty magnates or need a steadying hand at times.