Rugby World Cup 2019

[Ian]

WHAT: The Union of Egg-Chasing's premier international tournament.

WHEN: From today until... whenever the final is.

WHERE: Japan

WHY: Moar freds, innit.

Opening game is today with Japan taking on Russia at 11.45am.

I'll watch as much of it as I can, especially the knockouts, but work is liable to interfere because of the times of day the games are on.

If we get one thing as enjoyable as Japan beating the Saffers last time I'll be happy I reckon. And ideally if New Zealand don't win AGAIN. Which they probably will. Dickheads.

[Queenslander]

Saffers are my smokey.

[Manc]

France and Japan to do bits.

[Pleb]

Japan nearly gifting the Russians a try there.

[Queenslander]

Pocock is my player of the tournment. Also IRB most handsome player of the year.

[SincereTheRebel]

I've never watched a Rugby game from start to finish but I will try and tune into a game.

[Baz]

I've never watched a Rugby game from start to finish but I will try and tune into a game.Don't bother, mate. It's rugby yawnion.

The proper rugby world cup is in 2021. Prepare.

[The Merse]

Can’t wait to get out there.

Flying out on the 6th through to the 21st, heading to Sco vs Russia, Aussies vs Georgia and the Quarter Final that the runner up in Scotland/Ireland/Japans group will end up in. Likely Scotland vs All Blacks.

Will hit up a few fan parks for big matches between those whilst getting around Japan with a mate.

Was feeling relatively positive about Scotland, but the omissions of Matt Fagerson, Richie Gray and Rory Hutchinson and Toonie dropping Graham in favour of Maitland, never mind the ongoing inclusion of the limited Ryan Wilson, has set a disappointing early tone.

[Giggles]

Don't bother, mate. It's rugby yawnion.

The proper rugby world cup is in 2021. Prepare.

Baz knows :cool:

[The Merse]

League-heads are all wrong.

Oldie but a goody that sums it all up (ie rugby league is a game for meathead thickos):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9JWLSNbqaUI

[Queenslander]

I would love to have the best League players playing for the Wallabies.

[Queenslander]

If Beale is to fucking hopeless to find touch then it will be a long day.

[Queenslander]

Fucking Kurtley Beale.

[Spikey M]

Fiji :(

[Queenslander]

Losing their 7 to concussion was a big win for us.

[Disco]

France almost French enough to throw that one away.

[Ian]

I enjoyed the end of that game until they failed to French it up enough.

Also that set is pretty lol.

[Ian]

I'm not sure I've seen New Zealand kept to their own half for this long, Saffers just keeping at it so far but you feel they need to get some points out of it.

[John Arne]

The Argie full back trying to claim that the drop goal didn't go over the posts :Face:

[Manc]

Kolbe is tremendous.

[hfswjyr]

Good game with some poor refereeing there. Some of the skills shown by both teams are out of this world. And SBW has decided he's in the team to kick.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Scotland are tragic.

[niko_cee]

Is there any way to make the scrum non-farcical?

Why are you allowed to put it in ludicrously not straight when you can't do the same at a line-out? Isn't it, at least theoretically, meant to be fed into the middle/hooker region?

[Queenslander]

Yep. Pretty much left to the ref these days which sucks.

[Queenslander]

Bit of scrap atm.

[Ian]

Is there any way to make the scrum non-farcical?

Why are you allowed to put it in ludicrously not straight when you can't do the same at a line-out? Isn't it, at least theoretically, meant to be fed into the middle/hooker region?

Didn't they make a big song and dance about how the refs were ordered to be on top of this starting at the '18 Six Nations and it lasted about fifteen minutes of the first game?

[Queenslander]

This a pretty ugly game.

[Disco]

The delicious irony is if you made them do proper scrums where the hookers had to actually hook then they'd fall over an awful lot less.

[ItalAussie]

My wildly early assessment based on a handful of games is that NZ-SA is the most likely final.

Cue both going out in the quarter-final stage.

[hfswjyr]

Don't jinx us like that.

I don't think any team has looked particularly outstanding yet. A lot of tougher tests to come though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As long as Wales don't win I'm happy.

[Queenslander]

Uruguay 30 - Fiji 27 :drool:

[Queenslander]

Righto then Tonga is a League Nation.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Japan absolutely all over the Irish here. Look by far the better team.

[Disco]

You feel the Irish will finish the stronger but man, what a second half this has been.

[Ian]

Japan. :cool:

Ireland will get it over the line you'd think but it's been good stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah they need another score or two to win it, but they just look so disciplined compared to other tier 2 nations.

[Disco]

Wallop. What a performance, can they top the group from here?

[Giggles]

Glorious.

https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/633/369/9369633.gif

[Ian]

What a game.

[ItalAussie]

What was the Irish kick at full-time? Surrender? Didn't hear the whistle?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Protecting the losing bonus point, they say, which is exactly my kind of cynicism, that's how you get through tournaments.

I doubt you could have not heard that gong.

[Yevrah]

How does that work Jim?

[Disco]

The losing bonus point?

[Jimmy Floyd]

How does that work Jim?

The scoring system is 4pts for a win, 0pts for a loss, but with the following bonus points available: any team that scores 4 tries in a game gets 1pt, and if you lose by 7 or fewer, you get 1pt.

As such if they'd carried on desperately playing they would have risked Japan scoring again which would have taken them beyond 7pts clear and so Ireland would have lost their BP.

Ireland have already comfortably won their supposedly hardest game (vs Scotland) and only have Samoa and Russia to come in the group, so with the extra bonus point from today's game all they need is a couple of comfortable wins there, a helpful result elsewhere, and they will still top the group. Without the bonus point, they would have been more reliant on several other results. 2nd place in this group plays the All Blacks in the QF, so you don't want that.

[niko_cee]

First plays South Africa though doesn't it (?) which isn't much better. I suppose Japan might fancy that.

[Yevrah]

Cheers.Why would a losing bonus point exist though? Unless I'm missing something that strikes me as a shit idea.

[Queenslander]

Ireland would have to fancy themselves against South Africa.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rugby_union_matches_between_Ireland_and _South_Africa

[Queenslander]

It is a shame Georgia and Italy are not in the same group.

[Ian]

Cheers.Why would a losing bonus point exist though? Unless I'm missing something that strikes me as a shit idea.

Just more chance for the better teams to get more points as they're more likely to get that sort of bonus point. Bonus points in general are bollocks.

[Giggles]

:cool: Such a troll, but a legend all the same.


1177909378713899008


1178208508883415040

[Queenslander]

Foley playing well lol

[Queenslander]

The IRB are soft cunts

[Queenslander]

Well Rugby has been ruined.

[niko_cee]

:D

They'd already had a warning about that.

I must say I have no idea (as with most rugby rules) how the rush defence works with the offside rule - does the interceptor guy have to be behind the ball when Genia (was it?) picks it up?

As for the Irish, which ones is it that don't like the team and is it because it's an all Ireland effort?

[Giggles]

:D

They'd already had a warning about that.

I must say I have no idea (as with most rugby rules) how the rush defence works with the offside rule - does the interceptor guy have to be behind the ball when Genia (was it?) picks it up?

As for the Irish, which ones is it that don't like the team and is it because it's an all Ireland effort?

It’s not an all Ireland effort, it’s an Ireland + Loyalist Northern Ireland effort, that’s the problem. It’s not a national side at all but more a makey-uppey thing like the Barbarians or something. Any “national” side not playing their anthem before a game for fear of offending our enemies is no national side at all.

It’s also an elitist sport in this country also, which doesn’t help.

[niko_cee]

It’s not an all Ireland effort, it’s an Ireland + Loyalist Northern Ireland effort, that’s the problem. It’s not a national side at all but more a makey-uppey thing like the Barbarians or something. Any “national” side not playing their anthem before a game for fear of offending our enemies is no national side at all.

It’s also an elitist sport in this country also, which doesn’t help.

It's an elitist sport everywhere.

We're going to go to the wall internationally when Red Jez shuts down the public schools (same for cricket).

I know it's a minefield, but the people from the north who want a united Ireland not wanting to play for a united Ireland rugby team (is that what you are saying?), whatever way you want to look at it, seems daft.

[niko_cee]

Anyway, does this outcome if it stays the same mean that should England win their group their route to the final is Australia then New Zealand? Hmmm.

[Giggles]

It's an elitist sport everywhere.

We're going to go to the wall internationally when Red Jez shuts down the public schools (same for cricket).

I know it's a minefield, but the people from the north who want a united Ireland not wanting to play for a united Ireland rugby team (is that what you are saying?), whatever way you want to look at it, seems daft.

This United Ireland that people talk about (the amalgamation of Ireland and Northern Ireland) doesn’t exist so there should be an Ireland (Republic in the name like the soccer team if you like) rugby team and a Northern Ireland rugby team. Or the NI players should be playing with Scotland as the demographic there that plays and follows the sport would be far more aligned to Scotland than Ireland. Then we could have a compromise-free national side of our own.

Same goes for cricket, hockey, etc (the Loyalist sports). ‘Irelands Call’ can kiss my hole.

[Queenslander]

If we had Toomua starting we would be not as shit. No shame losing to this Wales team obviously.

[Queenslander]

This is a disgrace.

[niko_cee]

This United Ireland that people talk about (the amalgamation of Ireland and Northern Ireland) doesn’t exist so there should be an Ireland (Republic in the name like the soccer team if you like) rugby team and a Northern Ireland rugby team. Or the NI players should be playing with Scotland as the demographic there that plays and follows the sport would be far more aligned to Scotland than Ireland. Then we could have a compromise-free national side of our own.

Same goes for cricket, hockey, etc (the Loyalist sports). ‘Irelands Call’ can kiss my hole.

Is the existence of the team in it's current form an anachronism because it existed before the division of the countries (international rugby has been around for longer than international football) or is it modern construct?

This high tackle shit is worse than VAR in football.

[Queenslander]

Good tight forward shift.

[Queenslander]

And our scrum is dominant...

[Queenslander]

Fuck the French.

[Queenslander]

Well played Wales.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You will beat us in the QF.

[Disco]

Missing touch at the end is unforgivable, they deserved to lose just for that.

[Lewis]

I like the gong. Hopefully it becomes a fixture in every game like that stupid French horn.

[Queenslander]

Toomua starting that game would be very interesting. Foley is the biggest binman 10 to have ever player Test Rugby.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like the gong. Hopefully it becomes a fixture in every game like that stupid French horn.

Should be a similarly lazy stereotype sound for the hosting country. Digeridoo in Aus, accordion in France, bit of fiddle in Ireland, and a man shouting 'Raa!' at Twickers.

[Queenslander]

You will beat us in the QF.

The mocker gods dont care for this language.

[SincereTheRebel]

It is much better than american hand egg.

[Lewis]

Should be a similarly lazy stereotype sound for the hosting country. Digeridoo in Aus, accordion in France, bit of fiddle in Ireland, and a man shouting 'Raa!' at Twickers.

Mr Shake Hands Man and Lady One Question not being on media duties is a disgrace.

[The Merse]

It's an elitist sport everywhere.


Fuck off with that, you numpty. In the Midlands and South West it's very much a broad spectrum sport, particularly in the Coventry/Leicester area. I played it at school there and further West in the Midlands, both state schools, one of them in Ofsted's bottom 100 at the time, whilst I lived in council estate mundanity.

Add to that, in Wales and the Scottish Borders and Ayrshire specifically, it is again a broad spectrum playing. South Wales in particular has very little 'elite' or even 'middle' class to speak of, yet it's still revered as the 'national' sport.

Yes, it's very much more the sport of the middle and upper classes in the South East, North (basically it's Durham and Yorkshire, right?) and the East coast of Scotland, but hey yeh, just go ahead and completely ignore the geographical nuance of the sport and make sweeping and inaccurate statements, eh?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It has 10-20 square mile pockets of supremacy over football dotted around the country, largely in affluent areas, but other than that it's just a private school sport and plays second fiddle to football. I live in one of the pockets, so I know.

[Boydy]

This United Ireland that people talk about (the amalgamation of Ireland and Northern Ireland) doesn’t exist so there should be an Ireland (Republic in the name like the soccer team if you like) rugby team and a Northern Ireland rugby team. Or the NI players should be playing with Scotland as the demographic there that plays and follows the sport would be far more aligned to Scotland than Ireland. Then we could have a compromise-free national side of our own.

Same goes for cricket, hockey, etc (the Loyalist sports). ‘Irelands Call’ can kiss my hole.

Loyalist? They're not playing rugby or cricket on the Shankill Road.

[niko_cee]

Fuck off with that, you numpty. In the Midlands and South West it's very much a broad spectrum sport, particularly in the Coventry/Leicester area. I played it at school there and further West in the Midlands, both state schools, one of them in Ofsted's bottom 100 at the time, whilst I lived in council estate mundanity.

Add to that, in Wales and the Scottish Borders and Ayrshire specifically, it is again a broad spectrum playing. South Wales in particular has very little 'elite' or even 'middle' class to speak of, yet it's still revered as the 'national' sport.

Yes, it's very much more the sport of the middle and upper classes in the South East, North (basically it's Durham and Yorkshire, right?) and the East coast of Scotland, but hey yeh, just go ahead and completely ignore the geographical nuance of the sport and make sweeping and inaccurate statements, eh?

Of the 33 UK-educated players in the recent Scotland squad, 13 went to private school - just under 40%.

I'll probably give you the Welsh, but without looking into it too much I'd guess a large majority of professional players are hoovered into the private school system. Hence elitist. Maybe it's a chicken and egg (chasing) thing. That is certainly the case with cricket. As for all the wellington wearing hooray henrys who make it the national sport of the south west, well, have you ever been to Bath?

[Disco]

For every Bath there are three or four Launcestons though, he's not wrong there.

[Lewis]

In Welsh rugby 'elite' traditionally meant 'white'.

[Giggles]

Loyalist? They're not playing rugby or cricket on the Shankill Road.

Loyalist/Republican. That’s what people really are so the two watered down terms are void.

[The Merse]

Of the 33 UK-educated players in the recent Scotland squad, 13 went to private school - just under 40%.

I'll probably give you the Welsh, but without looking into it too much I'd guess a large majority of professional players are hoovered into the private school system. Hence elitist. Maybe it's a chicken and egg (chasing) thing. That is certainly the case with cricket. As for all the wellington wearing hooray henrys who make it the national sport of the south west, well, have you ever been to Bath?

So 40% of one of the squads equates to the entire sport being elitist? I’m absolutely up for saying it is overwhelmingly more popular amongst the more affluent than the less affluent, but that’s a very different statement than to say it is the reserve of the affluent, and I think that figure itself backs that up.

And no, in Wales the players aren’t hoovered into the Private schools, just normal comp ysgols...

Similarly, I’ll give you the Irish wholeheartedly, and admit that the English squads are still dominated with upper class cunts that don’t really represent the broader demographic of participants - but Leicester turning out shite for such a long time along with the folding of most of their Midlands rivals will do that... but again - that doesn’t equate to elitism across the sport as a whole. It’s a farmers sport in France and Italy, and an Everyman sport in any of the Southern Hemisphere teams.

Oh, and the SW also contains Bristol and Gloucester, rugby hotspots that aren’t affluent (albeit Gloucester also has a sizeable rugby going farming community, who are pretty affluent and feed into Glos via Hartpury College).

[Lewis]

Rugby league was the stronger code in France before the war, but then the Vichy government banned it as socialist and gave all of its assets to union. The Catalan hardcore (average age: dead) still throw 'Vichyball' around for the lols.

[niko_cee]

I meant give you the Welsh in that I accept they probably don't even have private schools there.

My limited understanding of Australian rugby union is that most of their players (maybe not the indigenous ones) come from the posho schools of Sydney and Brisbane in the mould of Dulwich College or wherever they go in England. Or league, natch.

[Ian]

Mon the Fiji.

[Queenslander]

They will fade in the last 20 surely.

[niko_cee]

lol if the Jocks get bounced out by a typhoon.

What a shambles.

[Waffdon]

Lol, can they just straight up cancel a match?

[thommo]

Yeah, both England v France and New Zealand v Italy have already been abandoned. Officially will go down as 0-0 draws.

[Waffdon]

Hahahh, that’s amazing. The most Scottish thing ever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't know if's just the time zones, but this has felt like a drudge of a tournament to me. Crushingly predictable results apart from maybe two (rugby is a horribly predictable sport really) and now half the teams having their fourth game cancelled.

[Disco]

Contrastingly I've been loving it, I can watch the early games in bed and then roll out and have breakfast watching the next one.

It's a walkover for the big sides until the knockouts but that's the same every time, the game has too many enormous gulfs in talent to support a tournament that would be competitive all the way through.

[Ian]

Yeah I've enjoyed it well enough. I've found the gaps between fixtures more annoying.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The other thing that annoys me is the bonus point system acts against any upsets that there are being meaningful, e.g. Uruguay were still completely out of contention for 3rd place even after they won their first game against Fiji, and I think the same thing did for Japan last time round.

[Disco]

Yeah I've enjoyed it well enough. I've found the gaps between fixtures more annoying.

The scheduling is illogical but entirely predictable because in rugby if you can screw over the smaller nations then you absolutely will.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What are the main profitable TV markets for them? GB&I? There isn't even much worldwide diaspora like there is with cricket.

[Disco]

Unless you count Australians it's here and France.

[Ian]

The other thing that annoys me is the bonus point system acts against any upsets that there are being meaningful, e.g. Uruguay were still completely out of contention for 3rd place even after they won their first game against Fiji, and I think the same thing did for Japan last time round.

I'm sure I already had my rant about it here since this World Cup started but bonus points are utter horseshit.

[Queenslander]

Keeping the losing bonus point makes more sense than keeping the 4 try bonus point.

[niko_cee]

If Hurricane Haggis leads to the cancellation of the Scotland game on Sunday they may as well just call the whole thing off. You can't have one of the only really meaningful games of the group stage decided in such an arbitrary way. Sergio Parisse is right to say that with the boot on the other foot and New Zealand needing to win then heaven and earth would have been moved to play that game. Italy, not so much. Thanks for coming. I have a terrible feeling this is going to recur in the proper world cup in Qatar when sand storms, A/C system failures or ISIS start fucking shit up.

[Queenslander]

Not having a plan b for typhoon season is very small time. Surely an indoor stadium could have been booked even if it is empty.

You are right if NZ needed points they would have moved the game to Auckland.

[niko_cee]

Eddie Jones and Steven Hansen on the wind-up, I assume Eddie has some sort of samurai honour thing going on with his previous paymasters, is quite funny, nonetheless.

Probably poor form to use the word 'wind' there.

[Queenslander]

If Steve Hansen isnt coaching he is trolling.

[The Merse]

Not having a plan b for typhoon season is very small time. Surely an indoor stadium could have been booked even if it is empty.

You are right if NZ needed points they would have moved the game to Auckland.

Apparently it’s the scale that is so rare this end of the season. But yeh, a few upset peeps over here. Fortunately my ticketed games are unaffected. Hoping to pick up one on Sunday in Yokohama, for Scotland vs Japan. I’m guessing the Fanzone might be called off even if the game isn’t.

Still, we’ve made our itinerary adjustments and we’re just waiting and seeing - if a fucking typhoon takes away the chance we have of progressing to the quarter final I have a ticket for I’ll be livid. Apparently the SRU are applying some serious pressure. There needs to be an answer for games like this.

[Queenslander]

Plenty of my pub mob think it is pathetic.

If this were the Wobs I would be seething.

[The Merse]

Tbh, for such a fantastically organised nation in my experience so far, the tournaments not been brilliantly managed in general. Fanzones have been turning people away well ahead of games, there’ve been issues for folk getting in and out of games, and now this. I think that rests with World Rugby as much as anything though - they have to hold the local organisers to their word in delivering the goods and having the right contingencies in place.

[hfswjyr]

Not having a plan b for typhoon season is very small time. Surely an indoor stadium could have been booked even if it is empty.


I'm not sure you're understanding what a typhoon is... Japan evacuated 1 million people at this time last year.
Not exactly the time to be playing rugby under a roof.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG5707dYG1I

[Queenslander]

I'm not sure you're understanding what a typhoon is... Japan evacuated 1 million people at this time last year.
Not exactly the time to be playing rugby under a roof.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG5707dYG1I

I am definitely guilty of being ignorant with typhoon season.

Im not used to Union World Cup games being cancelled so Im just going with my gut.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't understand why they can't just play it on Tuesday or whenever.

[Queenslander]

I get the penalty but the TMO could have given a yellow for half a dozen other high shots so far.

[hfswjyr]

I have no problem with the rules being the way they are, but why did they only start reffing this way in the world cup? Surely World Rugby could have told the referees to start following these rules during the Rugby Championship and Six Nations?

[Queenslander]

I have no problem with the rules being the way they are, but why did they only start reffing this way in the world cup? Surely World Rugby could have told the referees to start following these rules during the Rugby Championship and Six Nations?

It doesnt make any sense from a Southern Hemisphere point of view. And just now Haylett-Petty copped one of those sliding up high shots and nothing...

Edit: TMO has now called it.

[Queenslander]

Koroibete :drool:

[Queenslander]

This seat belt penalty needs a bit of a work shop.

[Lewis]

Going out to the weather would be the lollest lol Scotland thing ever. Merse sat there in his long-sleeved t-shirts seething.

[Waffdon]

Scotland to win by 6 points since the weather won’t be an excuse.

[Waffdon]

Can you just pass the ball forward and get away with it 75% of the time in rugby?

[Lewis]

If it leads to something and they don't want to have to call it yes.

[Manc]

Great hands from Japan.

[Giggles]

Can a win for either in this knock Ireland out?

[Waffdon]

Naw, Japan winning gives them New Zealand though.

[Disco]

Can you just pass the ball forward and get away with it 75% of the time in rugby?

You can bump that up a bit if you put a black shirt on.

[Waffdon]

Imagine losing to Japan at a sporting event. Tory bastards.

[hfswjyr]

Scotland have been totally overawed by the occasion here.

[Waffdon]

Well of course, it’s Scotland.

[Giggles]

Scotland have been totally overawed by the occasion here.

Are they not just normally very bad at sport?

[Kikó]

Well well.

[Spikey M]

:harold: Are they going to sue because the game has been able to go ahead now?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They have been shite for fully 20 years now. Same in football.

[Waffdon]

It’s the lifestyle. Everyone is happy to take party and be a part of the occasion. Comes from the fans into the teams.

[Lewis]

Imagine losing to Japan at a sporting event. Tory bastards.

Really leaning into that *Japan* ('J'parn') like Alex Ferguson.

[Queenslander]

I wonder who taddled on the Scots.

[The Merse]

Scotland have been totally overawed by the occasion here.

Funadamentals of coaching aren’t there for me. We knew what we needed to do - good phase 1 defence, slow Japanese ball down and drop off the wings. The number of overlaps created off 2-3 passes and inside lines completely untouched was just hideous. It’s been getting worse and worse under Matt Taylor, and ultimately Townsend takes a big portion of that blame. Add to that the selections - Barclay, Taylor and Watson, with about 10 top class games between then in the past year due to injuries all shoehorned in on game 1 so that they’d have played their way into sharpness by the QF’s... Mental. Wilson, Harris over (wee big) Fagerson and Hutchinson, our big form players in the Pro 14 and Premiership last year. Ben Toolis over Richie fucking Gray... Greig still being the ‘heartbeat’ at 9 despite being the absolute antithesis of the way Toonie wants to play rugby.

Lack of options means he stays, but he’s on borrowed time.

A lot of players ended their careers this World Cup, as planned or prematurely... There’s positives but far too few.

All of that is really more about the campaign though - Japan deserved the win, they bossed it and have announced themselves as ‘T1’. It’ll be interesting to observe how that goes when the head coach doesn’t control the day to day of the entire central contracted squad (if and) when Sunwolves return and boys head abroad. I’m far more pissed off with the Ireland loss.

Been a grand World Cup to be at, but enjoying a week down south away from it’s fanfare and loud fans.

[Manc]

Let's have it.

[Queenslander]

Pocock man of the match.

[Ian]

That boy's hairline is incredible.

[Lewis]

Go on big lad.

[Queenslander]

Must be nice having a backline with multiple game plans.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I only presume this Koroibete was born and grew up in Australia, as their cricket fans have assured me it's morally wrong to have non-pureborns in your side.

[Queenslander]

I only presume this Koroibete was born and grew up in Australia, as their cricket fans have assured me it's morally wrong to have non-pureborns in your side.

Rancid poach.

[Disco]

Pocock man of the match.

You misspelled Curry mate.

[Queenslander]

You misspelled Curry mate.

And I also mockered my mate into shocker

[Lewis]

Rancid poach.

Is he regarded as a successful one? I don't recall him being that highly regarded in league.

[Queenslander]

Is he regarded as a successful one? I don't recall him being that highly regarded in league.

Best pure finisher in a generation I reckon.

[Lewis]

'Get me that Fijian winger.'
'.....'
'Not that one.'

[Queenslander]

'Get me that Fijian winger.'
'.....'
'Not that one.'

:D

[Ian]

:rave:

[Manc]

Scenes.

[Queenslander]

Okay our turn with Eddie Jones.

[Queenslander]

C'Mon Ireland!

[Pleb]

Would not be bothered if it's an Ireland-England Semi Final.

[Queenslander]

Im a lone Australian in among a sea of Kiwis atm.

[Queenslander]

The Irish made that special.

[Pleb]

Potential shutout :drool:

[Queenslander]

Fuck I made a mistake.

[Shindig]

I thought New Zealand were supposed to be on the wane?

[Queenslander]

I thought New Zealand were supposed to be on the wane?

Never on the wane they have more depth now than ever.

[Disco]

Their first XV is less nailed on that it was four years ago but nobody outside of reaching feature writers really thought that, and even if it's true it's not enough for them to be turned over by this lot.

[Queenslander]

The depth at 10 12 13 is scary. The front row has probably the least amount of depth in the forwards but everywhere is 2/3 players deep.

I still think South Africa has the grunt to slow them down.

[Disco]

I think we can beat them, but they win that game 8/10 times. There's no way they just run at our defence for 80 minutes like the Aussies did.

[Queenslander]

Yeah probably play that counter attack they are famous for I reckon.

Obviously targeting their scrum and maul defence will be key to unlocking your cracking backline.

[Giggles]

:) A bad day for the establishment.

[niko_cee]

lol at Welsh Welsh Wales (currently) bottling their World Cup against a rank bad France team AGAIN.

It's almost as if these daft provincials only really turn up for certain games.

They need to sort it out as South Africa's route to the final being Japan and then France is :sick:.

[Queenslander]

Enjoyable as a neutral.

[niko_cee]

They've done well to get to halftime without conceding again, despite their own best efforts at the end there.

[Disco]

Obviously I'm not about to start cheering for France but them winning would be the lollest result. Unfortunately I think we just watched the one half of rugby they're capable of producing on any given day.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Naturally I have full confidence in the French to maintain a healthy half time lead.

[Queenslander]

I like them bringing on a fancy field goal merchant.

[Queenslander]

Has to be red.

[niko_cee]

:lol:

[Disco]

Well no-one could have predicted that.

[Queenslander]

I am enjoying that cunt Gatland looking miserable.

[Disco]

Would holding onto this be the most French thing or the least French thing for them to do? Such a weird team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Once they went down to 14 the pendulum swung back. They only chuck things away when they should win.

[Queenslander]

I much prefer an England v Wales final over an All Blacks v Bokke.

[niko_cee]

That strip fairly obviously went forward.

What a hilarious game.

[Queenslander]

That strip fairly obviously went forward.

What a hilarious game.

Yeah I would be seething.

[Giggles]

That’s the only team gone that I wanted to win it.

[John Arne]

Saffas to win 49-3

[Disco]

Is that not a red in the current climate?

[niko_cee]

I'm more than willing to overlook the forward pass rule as far as Japan are concerned and I'm glad Wayne Barnes is of a similar mind.

[niko_cee]

Barnsey's got this.

:cool:

[Giggles]

This is wonderful.


1185980665642278912

[Queenslander]

“(It) was one of the most selfish tactical gameplans I’ve seen in a long time because it wasn’t about the players,” Monye told BT Sport.

“But he totally ignored all that with sheer stubbornness. I didn’t like the tactics, it didn’t work out and I personally feel he let his team down because it didn’t give them the best opportunity to win. How many trophies have you won (with these tactics)?”

“It was irresponsible because the game plan wasn’t about the players, it was about him. It was about ‘this is what I believe Australian rugby to be and we’re going to stick to it come hell or high water, this is the way which is going to work’.

Funny how all of Cheika's mates in the media dont share this very accurate opinion.

[Queenslander]

My boyhood Rugby Club Sunnybank are using WeChat to reach out to the Chinese community. Signed up 100 boys already for summer skills camps and they expect the number to reach 500.

https://www.sunnybankrugby.com.au/junior-rugby

[hfswjyr]

"All Asian Boys and Girls Welcome". Well, that's not very inclusive, is it...

[Queenslander]

"All Asian Boys and Girls Welcome". Well, that's not very inclusive, is it...

:D

That is a bit how's your father but they do have Chinese and Taiwanese development officers that go to local primary schools.

[Queenslander]

I have never heard such misogany that our ARU CEO Raelene Castle is copping:(. The amount of wife beaters poking the heads up on social media and on talk back radio is very scary.

[Lewis]

What use could the Chinese possibly have on a rugby pitch?

[Offshore Toon]

What use could the Chinese possibly have on a rugby pitch?
The parents must have money.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Junior club sport is a numbers game. Take the cash off 100 sets of parents and that funds you being able to make 3 of the 10 good ones brilliant.

[Lewis]

That's where league's going wrong chasing them Polynesian welfare dollars. If them BBC documentaries about China are anything to go by, which they probably aren't, Australia will probably be split between pro and anti-China like we are with remain and leave before long. They've got their clammy little fingers in all sorts of stir fries.

[Queenslander]

What use could the Chinese possibly have on a rugby pitch?

I would imagine if they start weights as early as everyone else it would be any different.

[Queenslander]

That's where league's going wrong chasing them Polynesian welfare dollars. If them BBC documentaries about China are anything to go by, which they probably aren't, Australia will probably be split between pro and anti-China like we are with remain and leave before long. They've got their clammy little fingers in all sorts of stir fries.

It is funny that the very government the boomers voted in are the ones approving the sale of the massive cattle stations to the Chinese. They complain about baby formula being sold while buying up Apple products and other items off them for decsdes.

[Queenslander]

Junior club sport is a numbers game. Take the cash off 100 sets of parents and that funds you being able to make 3 of the 10 good ones brilliant.

I think they are having to compete for the local Polynesian kids with Logan Rugby Union who are trying to make the step up to Sunnybanks level.

https://www.loganrugby.com.au/

[Queenslander]

Im surrounding myself with Kiwis again for this game, while wearing a 20 year old English Rugby jersey that I borrowed.

[Ian]

:drool:

[Queenslander]

I am rock hard. I kept telling my.mates that an ambush was coming their way.

[Ian]

The tempo we started at was amazing but we're going to regret not getting at least another three out of that early period camping around their posts, I fear.

[Queenslander]

Yeah your next entry into their 22 has to result in 3 at least.

[Queenslander]

Your kickin game is something I can only dreamof seeing from an Aussie side.

[Ian]

Fuck's sake. :( Still going well though.


Your kickin game is something I can only dreamof seeing from an Aussie side.

It has been quite considered so far which I like, not just the sort of kicking designed solely to get them out of your own 22 for a stay of execution.

[Queenslander]

Kicking with purpose. :drool:

[Queenslander]

Blokes just march down the field to drop goal range ffs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't remember seeing us play as well as this in such a big game, pretty much ever. 2003 I seem to remember was pretty functional.

[Disco]

Great first half but I think we may regret not being 5 or 6 points further on.

[Queenslander]

This is easily the best half of rugby I have seen in a generation.

[Queenslander]

:drool:

[Ian]

The extra few points helps but it feels mad that it could just as eaily have been 14- or 17-0.

Need to reset and start again the same way but we've been superb so far. They've had absolutely no change out of Watson when they've tried to get going down that flank.

[Lewis]

Should have taken the three.

[Ian]

For fuck's sake.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The TMO couldn't wait to disallow either of those tries.

[Queenslander]

Should have taken the three.

Yeah have to keep ticking the scoreboard over at this stage.

[Queenslander]

I have seen plenty of Sam Cane and he is not good enough against Curry and Underhill

[Ian]

:mad:

[Ian]

After all this hard work and brilliant play you give up that shit.

[Lewis]

What?

[Queenslander]

Go fuck yourself you taddling kiwis.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jesus that was a bit Wayne Hatswell.

[Disco]

Here we go.

[Ian]

What a tackle from Underhill.

[Queenslander]

What a tackle from Underhill.

Best 7 in the world? I think so.

[Ian]

I don't watch enough other teams to compare but he's a decent hand, yeah.

[Queenslander]

Not many 7s do this to the All Blacks.

[Queenslander]

Miles forward.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nige has decided he can't be arsed with the forward pass law today I think.

[Queenslander]

Whitelock has form.

[Ian]

Aye, get lost Whitelock.

[Disco]

Nige has decided he can't be arsed with the forward pass law today I think.

They needed four camera angles to spot the one on our try but miss the most blatant one right in the middle of the pitch.

[Queenslander]

:drool:

[Queenslander]

Anyone see Sam Cane do anything? Me neither...

[Jimmy Floyd]

Itoje, Underhill and Ford all incredible today, among others. Can't separate them for MOTM.

[Queenslander]

:lol:

[Queenslander]

Itoje, Underhill and Ford all incredible today, among others. Can't separate them for MOTM.

Probably Itoje for his dominant first 30 minutes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They needed four camera angles to spot the one on our try but miss the most blatant one right in the middle of the pitch.

There's another one, they might as well have Tom Brady out there.

[Queenslander]

Another forward ffs

[Lewis]

Oh God imagine losing to Wales in the final. We would never live it down.

[Queenslander]

Thank you England.

:lol:

[Kikó]

Incredible performance for 80. Never really looked in doubt.

[Queenslander]

Oh God imagine losing to Wales in the final. We would never live it down.

I can see Wales being too smart for the Bokke.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh God imagine losing to Wales in the final. We would never live it down.

Yep we desperately need a boks win tomorrow. Come on you dirty bastards.

[Disco]

There's another one, they might as well have Tom Brady out there.

Inches from the touch judge too, they really tried their best today.

Huge performance though, absolutely smothered them at every opportunity.

[Disco]

Oh God imagine losing to Wales in the final. We would never live it down.

You'd have to invent a new sport.

[Ian]

Absolutely incredible performance. There are about five players you could give MOTM to on merit.


Thank you England.

:lol:

How close to punching you are the Kiwis you're with? :p

[Queenslander]

Absolutely incredible performance. There are about five players you could give MOTM to on merit.



How close to punching you are the Kiwis you're with? :P

I left them 35 minutes ago. Like a coward I will be sending them texts for the rest of the night though.

[Ian]

:D

[hfswjyr]

I don't remember seeing us being put under that much pressure for the full 80 before. Well deserved.

Sick of losing to England now really.

[Queenslander]

I don't remember seeing us being put under that much pressure for the full 80 before. Well deserved.

Sick of losing to England now really.

You have played too many games against our rubbish team.

[Byron]

Spare a thought for Jimmy Neesham's twitter account.

[Disco]

You have played too many games against our rubbish team.

You might as well hang onto that England shirt, make the switch permanent.