[Closed] 2015-16 rugby, world cup year

FFS, more England talk, seems like they are the only team playing on Saturday!

Or the bloke led on top of him who was guilty of at least 2 offences?

See my point about Lacey penalising the second or third offence. 😉

Feel free to talk about your own team!!

nbt - Member
And wtf did the game kick off at 4.45?

Presumably so it could be shown live in Fiji at a vaguely acceptable hour, rather than an 8pm kick off which would be the middle of the night

3.45am, if my maths is correct. Try again? 🙂

See my point about Lacey penalising the second or third offence.

Anyone heard how Looney Liams head is? We need him v Aus

Still in Houston. 🙁

Well, a win is a win but once again a failure to really put the game away. Of course, this is all part of Y Gat's masterplan. Lull everyone else in to a false sense of security.

Wasn't a great game. Lacey was poor - but at least it balanced. Wales do look pretty bedraggled - looking forward to seeing them play Australia. And thank **** Australia told them to **** off when they asked for it to be played at the Millenium. I have no problem with the stadium being used, but Wales shouldn't be playing there.

Tyler Ardron off injured for Canada..would rhe last fit player in Wales please turn the light off!

[url= https://twitter.com/JoeMarler/status/649307739139796992 ]Marler invited Kaplan for a coffee to discuss his wonky srummaging and gets some good ribbing on Twitter[/url]

Canada, eh?!?!?!?

Great stuff from Canada here

Canada are making a very decent fist of this!

France are not helping themselves by kicking away any ball they get, apart from the slow ball in their own 22 when they try to run it.

I predict a fight amongst the French team before the end of the WC.

Did I hear correct that Phillip SA has been sacked before the WC but is still expected to coach until they get knocked out or win it?

Really enjoying this game. Cudmore's doing well at the breakdown isn't he? He's quite handy when POC's nowhere near. 😀

I have no problem with the stadium being used, but Wales shouldn't be playing there.

I agree. Can anyone remind me why Cardiff is being used? I remember reading about it but have totally forgotten why. 😕

Oh, who knows what horse trading goes on between the RUs when these decisions are made? I think Cardiff agreed to support the tournament with quite a bit of cash, fan zone, guaranteed big drinking crowds to slurp up the pish sold in said zones, etc etc. I believe they even lobbied for the Wales -England game to played there. Cheeky fleckers. 😀

Btw, I thought JP Doyle ran the game quite nicely tonight. Apart from letting France throw every line out crooked and not inform Canada that it would be ok just this once for a Tier 2 nation to do the same. 😀

I think the WRU only agreed to vote in favour of awarding the RWC to England if the MS got some games.

Warren Gatland says, if Australia win on Saturday, then any England players who have a bit of Welsh ancestry and fancy a run out in the second round, could they give him a ring.
Only the good ones obviously.

That Marler twitter feed is fantastic.

This WC is fantastic. Still a lot of rugby to play, France getting better each game, NZ still not really tested, Aus - Eng as a practical knockout game, SA with a point to prove, Wales rising above adversity...
No teams are through yet, Saturday will be epic whoever wins.
Get ready beer belly!

NZ still not really tested,

And possibly the green machine in the QFs - and we all know how that'll pan out. 😐 😀

Why's that DD, are Tonga gonna beat NZ 😀

NZ Herald seemed to take exception to D'Arcy's article about Burgess

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11522152

My English mate just asked me who I'd be supporting on Saturday in England v Australia, and seemed surprised when I considered this a silly question.

They have a fair point that Burgess was off the field at that point, however, England had already been opened up with him on the field. I don't think anyone in Wales is that surprised rugby league converts take time and can't defend or kick properly as we tied the same idea with Iestyn Harris nearly 15 years ago.

Its a bit of a one eyed piece though, not sure why, but its transparently pro England, anti Ireland, Wales, and Oz. Do the Kiwis love engerlanders most then, I spent 3 months travelling north and south islands and thought they were just dead friendly to all peeps?
(or maybe its just a disspasionate cold hearted assessment of each team in the group)

I've picked up a few pieces in the nzherald through twitter during the RWC. Seems to mostly troll other writers and teams, according to who they feel needs winding up on the day.

Yeah there is a piece on the site about them not beiong sure who they hate most, the Ozzies or their colonial fathers the English. Just clickbait then.

Kearney out for Italy game. Zebo to play at 15. Interesting...

Henshaw in...looking forward to seeing him.

Kee(f/t) moves to centre? 😯

(We all live in a team of) Tommy Bowe (s) and Brother Dave on the wings.

Forwards as expected. SOB back in as well. Healy back on the bench. Otherwise, the pack looks good and should provide the platform, really.

Ireland: S Zebo; T Bowe, K Earls, R Henshaw, D Kearney; J Sexton, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; I Henderson, P O'Connell (capt); P O'Mahony, S O'Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, C Healy, N White, D Toner, C Henry, E Reddan, I Madigan, L Fitzgerald

No news on Parisse? Hope he plays.

parisse plays

If that's true, it's excellent news.

Based on team selection published on rugby world cup twitter feed

Not one Australian would get into that England team right now. The Aussies will be fired up, but when it comes down to it, head-to-head England are too strong.

'England's defensive structure combined with the attacking weapons they have at their disposal make it hard to see past an England win.'

Cippers in the Flail.
Step away from the crack pipe son.

Lets look at the head to head:

15 Folou v Brown adv Aus

I rest my case.

😆

Not one Australian would get into that England team right now.

Is he looking at this year's team? The team that won the Championship? The one that contains Giteau, Hooper, Pocock. Maybe he doesn't even know who Kuridrani is? Are England aiming to turn into a team of alternative comedians by the end of the season? They are certainly making me chuckle on an almost daily basis, and even if Wales get knocked out at pool stage then England have will be good for a bit of entertainment. 😆

They are certainly making me chuckle on an almost daily basis, and even if Wales get knocked out at pool stage then England have will be good for a bit of entertainment.

This is a sad fact, the whole setup appears quite amateur-ish from the outside at least, like even the coaches are out of their depth...

IdleJon - Member

I have no problem with the stadium being used, but Wales shouldn't be playing there.

I agree. Can anyone remind me why Cardiff is being used? I remember reading about it but have totally forgotten why.

It was probably due to a lack of available large stadiums to host the 'big matches' during the football season rather than any underhand deal by the WRU.

After all when Wales hosted the 1999 RWC Twickenham was used for Pool B so England played their first round matches 'at home' in fact all the '5 nations' (as it was) teams played their pool matched at home.

But you know, don't let that stop anyone spreading anti-Welsh conspiracy theories.

After all when Wales hosted the 1999 RWC Twickenham was used for Pool B so England played their first round matches 'at home' in fact all the '5 nations' (as it was) teams played their pool matched at home.

But you know, don't let that stop anyone spreading anti-Welsh conspiracy theories.

I seem to remember that in 1999 Wales needed help simply because of the lack of decent venues. This time it is different - England have more than enough to cope on their own and THEY are the hosts, not Wales. If Wales get an advantage from playing at home I'd be unhappy if I was English.

Back in 1991 btw, Pontypool Park was used for a few games and I'm sure the tournament brochure talked about it being 40,000 capacity. 😯

his time it is different - England have more than enough to cope on their own and THEY are the hosts, not Wales.

So why didnt they?

Errr, that was the question I asked! 🙄

I believe it was something to do with votes, as mentioned above.

But you know, don't let that stop anyone spreading anti-Welsh conspiracy theories.

Just to be straight, it wasn't an anti-Welsh thing on my part. I'd feel the same if Landsdown Road was used for green machine games or Murrayfield for Scotland. England could have hosted this just fine inside its borders - but whatever deals were done were done for whatever votes were traded. Doesn't make it right though. At least Austrlia had the clout to tell them to **** off and have it played at a neutral venue. I doubt Fiji or Uruguay have quite the same sway.

@IdleJon

Okay...

Does it really matter though? England v Wales was at Twickenham, so England were home, even if Wales played all of their pool matches in Twickenham they might as well be 'home' it's not the building that makes it a home venue, it's the fans - 3 million Welsh people live a few hours drive from Twickenham v maybe a few thousand touring Aussies and a handful (relatively) of Fijians and Uruguayans.

I really don't understand why there seems to be this pre determined idea that England should get through the 'pool of death' with Australia and that Wales are somehow lucky, or the ref was unfair, or even it's unfair that a neighbouring country hosts a few pool matches despite it being a feature of every RWC held in the Northern Hemisphere - apparently beating a nation who sits higher on the world rankings is just a formality.

3 million Welsh people live a few hours drive from Twickenham v maybe a few thousand touring Aussies

I take it you've never ordered a drink in London then?

Maybe they just couldnt find the stadia?

Does it really matter though?

Not at all, I was genuinely curious that's all.

pre determined idea that England should get through the 'pool of death' with Australia

Who is saying that, other than the media?

molgrips - Member

3 million Welsh people live a few hours drive from Twickenham v maybe a few thousand touring Aussies

I take it you've never ordered a drink in London then?

No I haven't had cause to visit Mordor since 2007 and have no plans to do so again.

I'm pretty anti-city, I live 3 miles from Cardiff City Centre, I'm told it's a shopping and sophisticated eating Nirvana and almost perfect for a bit of binge drinking and vomiting late at night.

I haven't been there in 3 years, it was 2 before that.

I'm pretty anti-city, I live 3 miles from Cardiff City Centre

Er....?

[url=

this be done?[/url]

molgrips - Member

I'm pretty anti-city, I live 3 miles from Cardiff City Centre

Er....?

Do you need some more information?

I haven't been there in 3 years, it was 2 before that.

IdleJon - Member

I haven't been there in 3 years, it was 2 before that.

Those visits were to watch rugby, presumably? 2 games in five years isn't much though..

Nope but it was about that time, I used to work for RBS and would usually 'work' all the 6 nations home games entertaining clients and whatnot (RBS sponsor the tournament of course) sometimes it was fun (I watched a great Scotland v Wales match with Ieuan Evans and David Sole once) but mostly it was absolute hell, trying to herd drunk cats about or laughing at their jokes blind sober and I really hate big crowds so it was enough to put me off for a looong time, I prefer to watch games on TV.

sophisticated

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duckman - Member
Has this be done?

I assume there's a point to that link duckie, which would be a rare thing for you, but nothing happens when I click. Is it a link to the sophistication of Cardiff?

rather than any underhand deal by the WRU.

Do you need some more information?

Just wondering why you live in a city when you're so anti-city?

I'm told it's a shopping and sophisticated eating Nirvana

[img] [/img]

I agree. Can anyone remind me why Cardiff is being used? I remember reading about it but have totally forgotten why.

Wales was the last nation to officially pull out after they failed to submit a bid by 8 May 2009,[11] but Wales backed England's bid and some games will be played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.[12]

Not one Australian would get into that England team right now.

Actually Cips has a point. None of the talented English players can get in the team either

Cips is being a good sport about being kicked out on his ars* tbh he should be all grumpy and full of spite. Aiming for a start in the 6 nations no doubt 😆

Molegrips

Just wondering why you live in a city when you're so anti-city?

Ah I'm with you, whilst I live in Cardiff, I don't live in the City. I live right on the edge of Cardiff on the border with Caerphilly it's all fields and hills where I live. I'm from a little village called Wenvoe originally which is also technically Cardiff, but it's pretty rural, I moved here because my Wife is from here and stay here for the kids school.

There's no reason for me to going into 'town' as we locals call it, I hate big crowds and noise so I don't unless I absolutely have to for work or the like.

This is what Ducky meant to post

Though, this version hasn't had over 1000000 views, only a few hundred. I hope the BBC paid him to repost it....

I suspect it may be easier to find somewhere to watch the England v Australia game in Vegas! It's a midday kick off time here as well, so I can have a beer or two! 🙂

I thought only Y Gat played silly mind games, but it looks like Australia and England are having fun doing the same! That hatchet job on Marler's angles was a prime example. Every prop has tactics, and yes his a aren't straight but is it really that much worse than anyone else's?

I live right on the edge of Cardiff

So do I, still counts though to me - I'm from the actual countryside 🙂

Anyway - everyone the Guardian asked thought that England would win tomorrow.

The station was great value tonight. Packs of scots, packs of saffers and packs of geordie football fans all giving each other a bit of friendly poke without anyone seeming to understand a word of what any of the others were saying.

The bloke directing the south africans to their hotels had the thickest county durham accent I've ever heard, I swear they walked off more confused than before they spoke to him.

jehosephat that georgia try was sweet. ABs thinking this was gonna be too easy..
Now they will go up a gear and score a brace..

What's the quickest a bonus point has been secured in an international rugby match? Tonight was 21:30ish.

How much of a dick do you have to be to go to Wales to watch NZ v Georgia and think that singing Swing Low is the thing to do? 👿

Jon, is that really happening?

Worse than chuffing vuvuzelas!

Who put butter on the ball?

Who's playing at #10 for the ABs - pale imitation of Carter?

Watching some of the southern hemisphere club rugby, Carter's star has been on the wane for a while now.

But NZ have an injury crisis according to the commentators. 😆

Great stuff from Georgia

NZ are flattering them though.

Not even bothering to check for obstruction in midfield?

Should be a yellow for Kane's neck roll surely?

Great cheer for MotM.

Carter's star has been on the wane for a while now.

Carter hasn't been himself since the Achilles problems and hasn't had thaaaat much game time over the past few years with the hamstring issues and so on. It took NZ long enough but now you feel they don't miss him at all (not just this iffy game)

Should be a yellow for Kane's neck roll surely?

Not to worry, he's sure to get a citing, just like Nandndndndndndndndodndndodddnddodlo.

[url= http://www.rugbydump.com/2015/10/4633/friday-funnies-dan-biggars-bizarre-kicking-ritual-the-biggar-shuffle ]The Biggar Shuffle [/url]

Scotland picked a side with damage limitation in mind. Heaviest team they could have picked,with the exception of Ford.I get what Cotter is doing, he is keeping an eye on the Samoa game,and if you had offered me the way Scotland have played and two bonus points,I would have bitten your hand off...But...I would love to have seen them go for it against SA.