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press and pundits
Yes but we aren't press and pundits in here are we? We all been in these these rugby threads and often things get heated or nasty - I'm as guilty in the past as anyone - but it would be nice to think that that we could all enjoy some banter over the next few weeks without spiteful comments, insults or arguments. When that happens its a pretty good place to be in these threads.
Do I want England to win? Yes. Would I be gutted if they don't get to the final? Yes. Would I start spouting offensive shite should <insert your national team here> knock England out/go forward to the final/win? No I won't. There's just no need for it, lets all enjoy ourselves, there's enough offensery going on elsewhere in the world.
There’s just no need for it, lets all enjoy ourselves, there’s enough offensery going on elsewhere in the world.
Amen to that.
– I’m as guilty in the past as anyone – I’m as guilty in the past as anyone
Yes you are, so very guilty which is why I made my second post.
I won’t be rude or offensive but I really don’t want england to win.
You have to deal with that, take it as a backhanded compliment.
I think "very" is a stretch, but anyway... 😀
but it would be nice to think that that we could all enjoy some banter over the next few weeks without spiteful comments, insults or arguments.
Going to be very hard to have any banter if the Englanders get upset when people say ABE!!!
Aye - gonna be some banter, gonna be some nippy sweeties from the welsh when they get stuffed by Fiji. We need to try to keep it on the right side of nastiness.
The Irish - well the less said the better. england - Wheels fallen of the chariot yet?
Scotland for the win
Wheels fallen of the chariot yet?
no Dwarf throwing reported as yet.
We should have a haircut of the competition contest - I nominate Darcy Graham who is now sporting a peroxide spike do. Some serious coiffures among the Scotland team Hastings is even known as haircut for his
Also a beautiful 15, and ugly 15 and a midgets 15 ( oh thats Scotland)
On ABE - its ( IMO) two issues. One is in every family everyone wants to beat their bigger brother. IN this case the bigger brother is England and also the arrogance as in from a few years ago stating they were too good for the 6N to the blind partisanship of the supposed UK press
Just chuck it back at folk - take it as a complement.
TJ; what part of Fiji are the Druids playing? The whole island or just the western part?
I think its the bit where big bill McMata, mad McMatowalo and Leone McNakarawa come from
So who is going to make predictions then? Given my excellent record of predicting rugby matches I suggest someone else really should go first 😉
So who is going to make predictions then? Given my excellent record of predicting rugby matches I suggest someone else really should go first 😉
I’m game, although some tough calls for tomorrow:
Aus v Fiji 34:17
Fra v Arg 25:18
NZ v SA 20:15
I was thinking more about the winners etc
SA to win
NZ or england to be the beaten finalists
Scotland - out in the q/f as are Wales
ireland to make the semis
Arentina to surprise a few folk and I am scared about Japan / Scotland
I was thinking more about the winners etc
SA to win
NZ or england to be the beaten finalists
Scotland – out in the q/f as are Wales
ireland to make the semis
Arentina to surprise a few folk and I am scared about Japan / Scotland
There’s a fair bit of hedging your bets there ; )
Yoiu know my record of predictions surely!
Scotland team
Hogg; Seymour, Taylor, Johnson, Maitland; Russell, Laidlaw; Dell, McInally (captain), Nel, Gilchrist, Gray, Barclay, Watson, Wilson.
Replacements: Brown, Reid, Berghan, Cummings, Thomson, Price, Harris, Graham
No 10 on the bench ( we don't really have another one.) Russell goes off injured laidlaw will have to go to 10 or Hogg
Graham to come on against tiring defenses.
A slightly conservative selection from Toonie - has some swapped his acid for horlicks?
The whole island or just the western part?
That's Samoa, shirley...
Am at the stage of trying to stay awake for the first kick off, but tiring fast. Annoyingly, Fiji v Australia is the game I'd most want to see of the saturd Saturday games, but as Friday night ebbs away here in Merka, I fear I may be snoring shortly...
Would love a Fiji win today
I'll go
Fiji 42 Oz 36
If not today, then v Wales. As long as Fiji get through and a.n. other
Ireland can't beat the argies in world cups so I'd be happy for France and England to go through. ( Not that Ireland can beat anyone in the knockout rounds ) but I'll go
France 24 arg 12
All Blacks and SA are the best two sides in it. They'll both go through, but I'll go NZ to win today with Reece for top tryscorerer
NZ 36 SA 24
And that result will put a bit more pressure on Ireland Scotland tomorrow, second place to get All Blacks next round. Will be played like the first knockout game of the tournament. I'll go
Ireland 3 Scotland 0
Come on Weegie fiji
Oh, to be a fly on the wall of the Aussie changing room during the half-time break.
Come on Fiji
Dirty shoulder barge to the head of Yato put him off. Was player of the tournament up to there
Pen try and red for me.
Hodge shouldn't have been on the pitch to score his. It's a fix 😉
What a game. It feels like Fiji have had 80% possession. Both teams looking fast and strong, but Fiji are unbelievable. Lots of turnovers. They’re no10 is managing to move them about and take his kicks, which I’ve not noticed in a Fiji team before. Australia have scored when they’ve got close enough. Halftime and the score is close, so I guess bizarrely that makes Australia favourites to win. Worried for Wales!
Volovolo ( sp?) the Fiji 10 plays for racing and is a great player. He is Racings sensible 10 as Russell is their other one!
I think it’s Volavola.(I recognise some of the Fiji names, but don’t know their players) he’s having a good game.
Shame for fiji in the end. Aus strangled them with dull play and penalties cost Fiji .
Australia no doubt happy with that result, along with no obvious injuries. They made some handling errors, but it was their first game and Fiji had them rattled for a time. Fiji must be encouraged that they could still get out of the group.
Looks like all the officials missd a red card against Aus on the fijian 7
I switched on at half time, couldnt understand why the 3 experts were jabbering on about no attempt to wrap, which he did try to do he just smacked him high in the head!
I can understand the on field officials missing it - they were all behind the play and would not have had much of a view and it wasn't a blatant no arms but the TMO should have caught it.
AA - experts? the ruddy commentators were utter pish and Dayglo is a twonk!
AA – experts? the ruddy commentators were utter pish and Dayglo is a twonk!
I was trying to be polite, the Englanders get upset if you criticise DillyDally DayGlo
Trying to be polite? On a rugby thread? Mod mods - AA has been hacked!
Who is that Irish guy on itv? He just said with a straight face that the France v pumas game is the most important game this weekend, as only two teams from the group make it out, and England are in that group. I know the rules are to talk about England every five minutes whatever game is on, but that was a stretch.
The full Wales team to face Georgia: Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi. Substitutes: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Aaron Shingler, Ross Moriarty, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Leigh Halfpenny.
Angus Gardner forgot his yellow cards and needs to revise his rules on scrummaging. Argentina forgot any tactics they might ever have learned. A very tense game. Enjoyed!
Oh, and can we get rid of the moronic English commentary. I don’t mind the ex-players.....hold on, the studio just started talking about Wilkinson in 2003. Ffs! This is why ABE. 🙄
They did seem more interested in discussing old England matches than the game that just happened.
English TV channel with English pundits and ex English players talking about England shocker...
Theres at least 3 minutes of AB’s talk going on here on balance...
English TV channel with English pundits and ex English players talking about England shocker…
You never quite understand the subtleties, do you. English TV?
Obviously not. Feel free to clarify.
AB’s look terribly serious....
I’m loving the Japanese gong thing to end the halves of the games. (Apologies for not knowing what it’s called. 😁 )
Should be extended to other nations. Scotland could use a bagpipe note. Wales a choir note from the Morriston Orpheus. England, the tinkle of Morris dancer bells. 😂
The point is that no matter what match is being played any player who plays in the english league is refferd to as "so and so the Sale player" Wheras if they play in Ireland or Scotland or wales its never mentioned.
Also no matter the game the pundits always come round to talking about england.
When you are not an England supporter it becomes tiresome to here every game being commented on with comments about england.
ITV are supplying commentary for the whole of the UK not just Engerland!
ITV are supplying commentary for the whole of the UK not just Engerland!
I think he knows that, TJ. Kryton is the person who asked for less aggro on this thread but then supposedly doesn’t realise that describing it as a English TV is arrogant. It’s either stupidity, utter ignorance or deliberate trolling. He’s been on these threads for long enough that I think i know which it is.
When you are not an England supporter it becomes tiresome to here every game being commented on with comments about england.
ITV are supplying commentary for the whole of the UK not just Engerland!
Whilst this is true, in fairness 90% of viewers are English. When you watch Scottish tv all they talk about is the Central belt, for similar reason. However, if they say one more time that these teams may meet in the final, I will explode.
I’m game, although some tough calls for tomorrow:
Aus v Fiji 34:17
Fra v Arg 25:18
NZ v SA 20:15
I’m going to claim top rate predicting : )
Final scores
I’m game, although some tough calls for tomorrow:
Aus v Fiji 39:21
Fra v Arg 23:21
NZ v SA 23:13
Yup - not bad at all!
Yup – not bad at all!
Ta ; )
I do not think it would be too crazy to think that both Ireland and Scotland have a chance against both teams, with a lot of good fortune.
Ireland and Scotland have a chance against both teams, with a lot of good fortune.
What, Japan and Russia? 🤣
The continuity announcer at the end of the coverage just now: “The Rugby World Cup magic continues tomorrow morning when it’s England vs Tonga live at 10.45.” I’d better not bother getting up if there isn’t a game before that, then, especially if there’s no game with home nation involvement. 🙄
with a lot of good fortune.
Like the opposition bus turning up at the wrong stadium?
Usually have a beer while watching Scotland, not sure I can do that first thing in the morning.
Like the opposition bus turning up at the wrong stadium?
😂
If we’re talking NZ and SA, I’d suggest that all four home nations are all very capable of beating SA. They have plenty of energy and enthusiasm but their structure is pretty poor, they lose even more structure after a few phases and it’s non-existent after they’ve botched a counter attack. De Klerk sums it up - looks great, puts loads of work in, but his passes often miss and he takes the risky option too often.
To beat NZ, you seriously need the ref on your side. 😁
^That in spades!
Really enjoyed the NZ SA game, but can't help feeling a little bit deflated. It's going to be an NZ SA final isn't it?!
Maybe Ireland have a bit of a chance against SA, presuming Ireland win the group. I expect NZ to slaughter Scotland presuming Scotland are runners up.
Other side is slightly more interesting.
What, Japan and Russia?
You are a bad man 😂😂😂
Only really watch rugby when it's on free tv. I'm reading that there are many favourites, surely NZ are the favourites. England looked very average at times during the nations tournment last spring. Has something changed since? Would be nice to see a northern hemisphere final but it's unlikely?
What games should I be looking out for as I find it more watchable than football?
Scotland Ireland tomorrow morning should be good. Wales Australia England France and Scotland Japan are probably the remaining group matches that are being eagerly anticipated.
Some games between 'lesser' nations can be mega though. Georgia and Japan are often good value.
I don't expect Scotland / Ireland to be a classic. Ireland will try to hog the ball and suffocate Scotland.
I don’t expect Scotland / Ireland to be a classic. Ireland will try to hog the ball and suffocate Scotland.
No, I agree. It will be interesting as they’re both home teams, but whilst a game like the last England v Scotland would be great; I fear it will be more like the last Ireland v Wales. Russia v Samoa on Tuesday may be entertaining.
Think ABs looked comfortable without hitting top gear against a SA side that were really up for it- first 20 they were intense.
IMO, it confirmed the ABs as clear favourite, and it's added a bit more edge to tomorrow's Ireland Scotland game.
The best the loser can hope for is ABs next round so it's almost a knockout game. Last world cup Ireland had similar position against France and that game was brutal - lost 5 key players injured doing all they could to avoid ABs. They'll both be just as desperate tomorrow - could lead to either side really chucking it about if they need points second half.
Equally deflated by SA vs NZ. The start was great and I wish it had continued for 80 mins, but in the end the ABs looked like they knew what they were doing to close the game out without an inch of panic. Tomorrow morning is very interesting now!
I don’t expect Scotland / Ireland to be a classic. Ireland will try to hog the ball and suffocate Scotland.
Indeed, Ireland are capable of being more boring than Wales!!
The only thing that might work in Scotlands favour is if they do not kick well - give us too much counter attack ball and they will be in trouble. Russells gonna have to show some control tho - we cannot waste the little ball we get
Lamour is at 15, so well placed high balls and dinks through may work. Not saying Lamour is shit far from it but like 1/2p Kearney is great at being in the right place at the right time.
NZ did seem to have the rub of the green today. First half loose head had his elbow on the deck and was hinged on more than one occasion. And the first NZ try had a very flat pass in the move.
NZ also had a clear penalty try not even looked at. If the TMO had done his job, and with the resulting yellow card, I hate to think how many points they’d have racked up in those 10 minutes.
The intensity the Boks showed in defence exposed their weakness, completely disorganised after a few phases. Although it will work against a side that have forgotten how to attack on the fly. So that’s Wales and England buggered then.
So that’s Wales and England buggered then.
Steady, some of us are still clinging to more than a glimmer of hope.
Straight from the Owen Farrel school of tackling
I particularly enjoyed the smashing TV coverage today - thanks ITV!
I learned a lot of interesting things. Apparently, although they weren't playing today, England won the World Cup in 2003. They even had a chap recreating the winning drop goal in the studio.
Also, although England weren't playing today, we got to know which English clubs some of the foreigners play for. Presumably the other poor blighters don't have clubs.
And, although they weren't playing today, we learnt that England are playing tomorrow in what seems to be the only game that's on. Against Tonga.
Those Tongans look like a fearsome bunch. Wouldn't it be a wheez if we could just pinch some of their chaps to bolster our team a little? Maybe some Fijians or Samoans too? Mind you, I don't think World Rugby would allow such skulduggery would they?
Wouldn't quite be cricket would it?
Straight from the Owen Farrel school of tackling
Will he be cited, I wonder? Deserves it.
*********
“We haven't done anything special. We have enough problems with a dry ball."
- Italy forwards coach Gianpiero De Carli (ITA) has more to worry about than a wet ball in their match against Namibia on Sunday (22 September), when heavy rain is forecast. 😂
Also, although England weren’t playing today, we got to know which English clubs some of the foreigners play for. Presumably the other poor blighters don’t have clubs.
3 of the Fijians pay or have played for Scottish Clubs. did they get their proper names? NO
Its Bill McMata, Big McNaka, Mad McMatawalo
3 of the Fijians pay or have played for Scottish Clubs. did they get their proper names? NO
It would have been a start if the commentators could tell us who the players currently play for, but they don’t seem to have heard of any of those colonial clubs. I might have missed it but I don’t think I heard anything about the Chiefs, Blues, Hurricanes, Sharks etc. Although, tbf, they did manage to namecheck the Jaguares. 😁
I’m not sure that it’s English bias, just your basic incompetence.
Its English bias - they namecheck even ex england club players. Its unconscious but its still bias
The ITV commentary teams were awful. I don't listen to the pundits at half time / before and after the games but the commentators were pure mince - getting basics wrong
Namibia made a great start. They’re quite good in attack, but weak defensively. Strangely, I’m enjoying this game more than NZ v SA.
Was a good game to start the day.
Still holding out hope that Italy have other both game on them to shock SA.
Interesting to see the Scottish defence coach talking about their intent to "smash" sexton.
Classy.
Good luck both teams, let’s have a great game. And, c’mon Scotland.
Proof that triathletes are joyless psychopaths who can suck the fun out of anything. Email just received by Mrs S from her triathlon club. 🙄
OZZ RUGBY TURBO
The Mighty England v Tonga
The rules: -
England in possession = level 3 RPM 85
Tonga in possession = level 4 RPM 95
Kick from hand = sprint until caught or out of play
Scrum = full resistance seated climb RPM 75
Line out = full resistance standing climb
Kick for the posts = Eng left leg only
Kick for the posts = Tong right leg only
Time off = no effort spin
*reaches for 8am beer*
To my uneducated eye, that looked like an own try - not seen that before.
itv player not working for me despite VPN.... where can i watch the games? english speaking coverage preferred.