Rugby world cup.

[Odds]

No good having a pop at SB. Or does he smear butter on their fingers when sending them off to battle?
Seems like it. Buthis contract is written in blood til '27.
And someone should have a word about maintaining contact between the pack and the backline since they don't always stay close to maintain pressure on the ball. Itoje's played well from what i've seen so far, so he'd better stay fit.

 

[gant]

If you watch Sanderson at sale you can see what a coach can do with limited resources.
Hope they don't pinch him.

 

[gant]

England really answered only one question: can they kick it? Oh God, yes | Jonathan Liew

After the euphoria of the win over Argentina, this was a reminder of how far Steve Borthwick’s side have to go

www.theguardian.com

 

[Odds]

If you watch Sanderson at sale you can see what a coach can do with limited resources.
Hope they don't pinch him.

I never got into club rugger so i don't really know about that level.
Watching the Five Nations, as it should be, has been a tradition since i watched the '73 Barbarians weave their way into legend.

Did you read the piece in the Graun where Warren Gatland calls for an extended tournament?
more rugger@the Grundian
Says it'll improve quality of 2nd tier nations.
That's what they said about Italy making up the six nations but since they've only beaten Scotland in 20 years (to my eternal merriment) it hasn't really worked out so well. There was talk of Romania joining a while back but after briefly watching SA march through their lines like stormtroopers on a day out it hardly seems worth it. Portugal? I didn't even know they played the game til now!

 

[gant]

Any player with any talent from the emerging nations gets snapped up and a great great grandmother is found to qualify them for the international side.

 

[Odds]

Any player with any talent from the emerging nations gets snapped up and a great great grandmother is found to qualify them for the international side.

Like finding a striker for the Republic of Ireland, then.
Got it.

It isn't often i read Jonathan Liew in the Graun but he's right about England kicking their way to glory. I think someone already mentioned that on this thread...
Even if England manage to fluke their way to a semi, one of the big four await and no way can i see a way past any one of them.

 

[charliegolf]

Any player with any talent from the emerging nations gets snapped up and a great great grandmother is found to qualify them for the international side.

This my abiding gripe about rugby... Not even a need for a great grandparent- just snap em up at 17, stick em in an academy for 3 years- residency applies. It's shameful; and now, take someone like Corefi (sp) the Fijian Aussie, who can, when discarded by Oz, pop home to Fiji for a bit, and see out his days with them!

It should be... Born in the country or have a parent born in that country or a grandparent* born in that country. Or, have lived in the country for more than 10 years. The latter would recognise the likes of Faletau and the Vinipolas, who came to UK as small children, not as rugby migrants.

* Grandparent rights have always been there, so fair enough...

 

[Brigadier]

This my abiding gripe about rugby... Not even a need for a great grandparent- just snap em up at 17, stick em in an academy for 3 years- residency applies. It's shameful; and now, take someone like Corefi (sp) the Fijian Aussie, who can, when discarded by Oz, pop home to Fiji for a bit, and see out his days with them!

It should be... Born in the country or have a parent born in that country or a grandparent* born in that country. Or, have lived in the country for more than 10 years. The latter would recognise the likes of Faletau and the Vinipolas, who came to UK as small children, not as rugby migrants.

* Grandparent rights have always been there, so fair enough...

The gulf states have bought track and field athletes in recent years, IIRC.

No qualifications required, other than piles of cash to the athlete's home federation.

 

[Old Salt]

World rugby have a stated policy of residency. I believe it is 2 years, hence why you get “foreign” players playing for whoever will have them.

The “smaller” nations will only improve by playing stronger opposition and gaining experience from seasoned coaches etc.

If rugby is to survive it needs to be played more at grass roos level, amateur clubs, schools etc.

 

[charliegolf]

The “smaller” nations will only improve by playing stronger opposition and gaining experience from seasoned coaches etc.

You don't think having their best talent hollowed out is hampering improvement?

 

[gant]

Too try to cut down on the kicking game there's some suggestion the caterpillar ruck should be outlawed so as to cut down on box kicking.

 

[Odds]

I had to find a translation for that post >>> Not Illegal@ruck.co.uk

 

[Odds]

After seeing the result of the France-Namibia match it's hard to see how making the World Cup any bigger will help such teams avoid crushing defeats as 96-0.

The real Test match is tomorrow and i think i'll get a couple o' cans of the Black Nectar to enjoy it.
Whoever loses will likely play France in the quarters - although winning the group will mean you'll probably play NZ; so, Hobson's Choice, really.

If that's not enough, then the Wales-Australia match up on Sunday will be all kindsa fun: whoever's runner up in that group could play England, if they win their group....which they should.

One more thing: i wish they'd make the score-box larger in the corner of the screen: i can't see a damn thing without me specs on.

 

[gant]

I watched the Uruguay Italy game thought there might be an upset on the cards, halftime 17. 7.
Normal service was resumed in the second half when Uruguay failed to score and Italy put a score of 38 up.
Result Italy 38 Uruguay 17

 

[Odds]

I watched the Uruguay Italy game thought there might be an upset on the cards, halftime 17. 7.
Normal service was resumed in the second half when Uruguay failed to score and Italy put a score of 38 up.
Result Italy 38 Uruguay 17

So what did we learn from that?
Italy are marginally better than Uruguay, who are rubbish.
Meh.
I preferred to catch up with the egg throwers in the NFL: much more fun, and the rugby fills the gap at the weekends. Most excellent.