2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

TheRona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121335880#Comment_121335880

That comment was taken completely out of context. Sure, he was saying that people like to see tries scored, but his main point was all the messing around in that game with waterboys on the pitch, players down for injuries, general time wasting.

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121335098#Comment_121335098

One thing about rugby, with the way the laws change from year to year there always seems to be innovations in game play.

The 50:22 and the goal line drop out for example.

If we had a situation where all teams came to the same conclusion that the most rewarding style was low risk predictable stuff, I think it would be a problem for the future of the sport.

I don't think it will happen however, Ireland and New Zealand and formerly Japan have showed there is a way to play winning rugby with expansive passing movements and variety of attack. I honestly think Ireland are THE BEST team to watch since they've adopted Catt's attacking game plan in recent years. I'd dread the thought of going back to a game plan like trying to get an early score and then hold out with defence and simple pick and goes and garryowens for the rest of the match.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121336102#Comment_121336102

That was part of his point, but I saw the interview - I'm not taking it out of context. The NZ-Italy game was a crap spectacle and talking about ball in play time being higher in it as if that's what people want more was silly.

TheRona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121336304#Comment_121336304

Personally, I enjoyed the NZ-Italy game. I can appreciate some of the amazing skills that were on show. Everyone jumped on this whole thing about him saying one thing, when it was really part of a bigger point he was making.

Yes, low scoring games can be exciting, but all the ridiculous time wasting needs to be stopped. Rugby should be a game where scoring tries is the main objective, and fitness should be a factor. A lot of South Africans genuinely believe they were the most exciting team at the World Cup. Just because they were involved in 4 close games that are by nature exciting, doesn't make them an exciting team.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121336349#Comment_121336349

Oh I think SA are an awful team to watch for the most part and the time-wasting drives me mad.

I still think Foster is just a pretty bitter person and his inability to deal with how the game is played as opposed to how he wants it to be played is part of the reason for his lack of success.

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121336398#Comment_121336398

Agreed. I think Foster was out of his depth as an international head coach and it was only when other coaches were added last year that we saw improvements and changes in the ABs style. I don't think Foster knew how to have his team impose their style on good teams. I also don't think the ABs had a strong enough captain to get in the ref's ear about the slowing down of the game.

The SA time wasting and water carriers annoy me as well. In couple of games you could hear the ref saying "water off" several times because they were running on for every break in play. Would love to see a ref just start penalizing that.

swiwi_

Just for you Yeah_Right

T-Maxx

Well trying to headbutt Etzebeth's forearm is never going to end well.

RichieRich_89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121344289#Comment_121344289

Making fun of blind people. Nice.

Jacovs

I only see someone making fun of the referee, making it out that he is blind/cant see whats right infront of him. I dont see anyone making fun of blind people. Blind people cant see, they know that.

In other news, Duane Vermeulen retired from test rugby, which was expected.

And certain SA politicians taking a very positive thing and trying to make it very negative. This is why we cant have anything nice.

swiwi_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121344829#Comment_121344829

Careful now dismounting from your high horse.

ruggedguy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121333517#Comment_121333517

Yeah I thought it be a yellow card only because it looked similar to porters tackle in the nz series but oh well. And as for kolisi tackle on savea? To me that’s a good hit and didn’t warrant a yellow card but yeah I know the laws of the game says otherwise.

ruggedguy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121325590#Comment_121325590

I feel you brother, I was ready to move on from foster since 2019 because I wanted a new coaching staff with a different perspective/ideas from previous regime, whether it worked or not it was better than watching foster try the same thing over and over again.

Before the World Cup my expectations were low for this foster lead all blacks team and expected them to be one and done in the quarters. But props to foster, he ALMOST pulled it off in the end. The only thing I’m bitter about the finals is we lost with 14 players on the field (our own fault) for almost the entire match…..it would’ve been a lot easier for me to accept and move on if SA beat us with our 15 on the field.

For me 2007 World Cup campaign will always be the heart breaker, I had so much high hopes for that squad. Kind of reminds me of this years Ireland team. Hence why I know how our fellow Irish lads feels after their quarter final exists…..I too felt that way in 2007

p.s if it wasn’t the ABs, I had my hopes in france finally winning the World Cup

typhoony

I see NZ are still trying to find reasons to have a chip on their shoulder, unofficially world rugby have admitted that the Aaron Smyth try in the final should have stood as the Savea knockon was 4 phases on from the try.

TheRona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366590#Comment_121366590

I dunno if it's a chip on their shoulder. It's not like it's up for debate that the TMO made a ruling outside the scope of what they're allowed to do, and NZ questioned it.

It won't change the result, but clarity should be made around things so that they don't happen again. I think it would have been interesting if it was pointed out to Barnes at the time that the TMO isn't allowed to make that ruling, whether he would have just gone ahead and awarded the try.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366590#Comment_121366590

well...

perhaps you should preface that with "new zealand newspaper suggests......"

tritriagain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366590#Comment_121366590

Could you imagine if Ireland had a try like that disallowed in WC final. We would still be talking about in 800 years.

Podge_irl

While I doubt I would be equally magnanimous if it was affecting Ireland, "wrong process, right decision" outcomes are hard too get too outraged by.

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366874#Comment_121366874

I dunno about that: different sport but I get the impression the soccer world has moved on from Thierry Henry's blatant handball; a controversy that included talk about Ireland getting a by into an inflated, 33 team tournament of 2010. I think the Irish rugby community would have been salty as F, but given we would have also made the final in the first place, I think that would have balanced out the pain.

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366590#Comment_121366590

It reminds me of Irish fans going on about how Owens admitted he made a mistake penalising McGrath against the ABs with time nearly up in 2013. No proof of that seen any where but a lot of fans claiming it. Anyway, it changes nothing. Still lost. Same as the VAR screw up in Tottenham v Liverpool. Admitting the mistake after match (officially or unofficially) doesn't change the result.

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121356877#Comment_121356877

Cheers. 2007 sucked but 1995 was the most painful for me. And remarkably like this year. Low expectation going in but they had my hopes up by the time the final came round.

Felt the same when Foster was appointed. Thought they needed fresh ideas. Also felt the coaching team was too Waikato centric (sorry @TheRona )

Have to say, still not enjoying rugby at the moment 😪😄

TheRona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121372114#Comment_121372114

Ah yeah, I wouldn't be a fan of Fozzie, or the Waikato. I'm from 'Canes territory.

Not enjoying any sport at the moment, especially after the cricket result now. Still, the boys put in a good effort.

For all the talk about the format of the RWC and the amount of one-sided matches, the cricket has been way way worse. Very few close matches. Some people were trying to use cricket as an example of how to run a World Cup.

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366972#Comment_121366972

Henry's handball comes to mind. Outrageous as it was calls for a replay etc seemed to last for months.