Rugby World Cup 18 Sep - 31 Oct 2015

Henry wrote:So he's a bit isolated on this.....

Is this the biggest racist in South Africa??

Lindsay no.2 wrote:

taipan wrote:Looks like the Welsh scrummie is out of the WC. Big blow to Wales.

Sad news for Webb. Will be all over for them if Halfpenny doesn't make it to the tournament.

And Scotland just put in a very decent performance against France. They more than matched a French pack that England struggled to compete against.

Halfpenny gone and so are Wales. Pity I had them as my dark horse

So, on the eve.

England seem permanently under construction. Fiji are renowned for hard hitting and free running - I presume they will continue the tradition. So, will the home team mess up their bid on Day 1? With England, everything is possible.

Despite indifferent form of late, Ireland must be an outside bet to go far - semis anyway. They will have all the support - just a quick hop across the Water - without the pressures of expectation or home anxiety. And they always relish giving it the full battling spirit as underdogs, the mighty O'Connell to the fore. The problem there is consistency. On their day, they have the potential to beat anyone, not excluding NZ. But will every day be their day? Probably not.

Wales have taken two massive hits before the tournament even starts, as noted above. But on the other hand, that gives others the chance to step up. And with the two setbacks, Wales may have the sort of "Irish" mindset just mentioned. They can never be underestimated - and for all his Plan A, or Plan A limitations, Gatland is a master chess strategist. So who knows?

Would anyone ever confidently predict the All-Blacks will not win the pot?

I guess we'd better have an official thread. Kicks off tonight with England taking on Fiji at 4.45am AEST preceded by the opening ceremony.
Hmmm....might have to catch up on the replay.

You mean an official thread just like the one that has been rikkied?

taipan wrote:You mean an official thread just like the one that has been rikkied?

Oops....when did that happen?

Just ignor this one then.

Big Dog wrote:

taipan wrote:You mean an official thread just like the one that has been rikkied?

Oops....when did that happen?

Just ignor this one then.

it was left of screen

It's even more embarrassing merging them. Hang your head in shame.

It all adds to the merriment of life's rich tapestry, aka "Flaming Bails".

Oh, I'm all for it - don't get me wrong. I'll just be sitting here with my schlong flopped out.

Which brewer is responsible?

Brass Monkey wrote:Oh, I'm all for it - don't get me wrong. I'll just be sitting here with my schlong flopped out.

in custard?

You two are twisted individuals. Although when you're together, I suppose you could be called Twisted Sister.

PeterCS wrote:So, on the eve.

England seem permanently under construction. Fiji are renowned for hard hitting and free running - I presume they will continue the tradition. So, will the home team mess up their bid on Day 1? With England, everything is possible.

Despite indifferent form of late, Ireland must be an outside bet to go far - semis anyway. They will have all the support - just a quick hop across the Water - without the pressures of expectation or home anxiety. And they always relish giving it the full battling spirit as underdogs, the mighty O'Connell to the fore. The problem there is consistency. On their day, they have the potential to beat anyone, not excluding NZ. But will every day be their day?  Probably not.

Wales have taken two massive hits before the tournament even starts, as noted above. But on the other hand, that gives others the chance to step up. And with the two setbacks, Wales may have the sort of "Irish" mindset just mentioned. They can never be underestimated - and for all his Plan A, or Plan A limitations, Gatland is a master chess strategist. So who knows?

Would anyone ever confidently predict the All-Blacks will not win the pot?

Well I have England winning and NZ losing in the semis.

Bold forecast.

Entertaining first half. England hav'nt got it all their own way. Great Try to Nadolo. 18-8 at the half.

England win 35-11 & pick up a bonus point. Fiji were well in it until midway through the second half when they succumbed  to the pressure from England.

If Fiji had kicked straight .... They certainly competed hard enough, even if the accuracy was a lot less impressive. Numbers 9 and 11 especially striking.


For England, "a win is a win" (and a great relief), and the squeaked fourth try a definite bonus as well as point.

The area of greatest concern seemed to me the slow, slow release from "held" situations (mauls, rucks, anything post-tackle). I don't mean the calculated grinding-down surging progress from scrums and mauls - though that carries risks of lost possession, it had an eventual attritional effect on Fiji's forwards - I mean the turgid channelling of possession. Which so often led to turnovers. Especially given the way Fiji used their weight and power to barge their opponents off the ball in such plodding delays. (And a decent scrum half should more often size up the options to left, right and behind BEFORE or AS he stoops to collect & move).

Also, Barritt had a stinker - I don't suppose he can play that badly again.

Most of the substitutions visibly improved England. (I realise some of that is simply fresh bodies against tiring opponents, but Launchbury, Farrell, the new-look B Vunipola, for example, added resourcefulness, determination & SPEED!!! ....)

Still not sure about J May, though he's improving in his gangling way, and did some good things in attack.

First-match nerves? Or serious deficiencies? We'll see. It's a group of superdeath.


Lots of matches tomorrow.

I'm surprised that England are second favourites for the tournament, of all of the big teams they have by far the hardest group and it wouldn't be that big a shock to see them out at the group stage with Wales and Australia going through.

We can but hope ... even those of us uninterested in rugby.

Go Wales. Go Australian rugby thingies.

Where should they go?

Aren't they called the "Boomers"?

Fiji almost blew the points start. They really do need dial back the entertainers/hard men aspects (sort of an oxymoron) of the game in favour of.....well the game.

PeterCS wrote:Aren't they called the "Boomers"?

I was taking a punt each way - they're either the Wallabies or the Kangaroos, I've never been sure. Googled it now of course and I can see it's the former.

Pademelonheads. That covers it.