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Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan The hunt for Webb Ellis

[Deleted User]

So there will be squads announced and world cup news popping up sooner rather than later so have at it

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Burkie1203

This just looks wrong

https://twitter.com/MiriamCol/status/1186022005134561285?s=19

sydthebeat

Squidgy Black wrote: »

People keep saying NZ are very beatable, but they fairly convincingly beat SA, beat us by 32 points, and hockeyed the minnows in their group games by 60+ points.

It'll be a cracking game, don't get me wrong, but I don't think England are the favourites at all, and either do the bookies.

I fancy new Zealand to win by double figures

Squidgy Black

PokeHerKing wrote: »

It pains me to say but England are favourites to win it imo. NZ are very beatable. England have the power and pace to do them.

Hopefully I'm wrong!

People keep saying NZ are very beatable, but they fairly convincingly beat SA, beat us by 32 points, and hockeyed the minnows in their group games by 60+ points.

It'll be a cracking game, don't get me wrong, but I don't think England are the favourites at all, and either do the bookies.

mangobob

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Possibly going against the grain but I think the elimination of Japan is good for the tournament.

Hugely favourable refereeing yet again today yet they still lost by 20 points plus. Applying the rules differently to them just because they are hosts massively devalues the whole competition. I don't think they're actually any better than the likes of Fiji or Tonga once the laws are applied to them the same as everyone else.

There's also not much of a structure in Japan to build on this tournament and the Sunwolves are being disbanded, so I expect they will soon be forgotten about as a rugby force and will return to their previous levels of mediocrity.

Maybe, maybe not. But they beat us soundly and that wasn't down to biased refereeing. They were full value for their win.

In addition I am willing to bet that most neutrals would prefer to watch japan's style of play any day of the week over ours. As a one eyed Irish fan, I cannot disagree with them. I have found them incredibly entertaining to watch, even with the highly questionable decisions that went their way today. Ireland at their peak were ruthlessly effective but definitely not easy on the eye except perhaps to the purists. Japan play the game in a far, far more attractive way. I watched one of their matches with a non rugby friend who asked why Ireland are not as entertaining to watch, and repeatedly said that if all rugby was played like that he would definitely be following the 6N each year.

Furthermore, with their unprecedented success in getting to the semis and the obvious passion of their fans who were just incredible from day one, I would not bet against Japanese rugby growing in popularity and becoming a real force in the future. I for one sincerely hope they do.

MisterAnarchy

PokeHerKing wrote: »

It pains me to say but England are favourites to win it imo. NZ are very beatable. England have the power and pace to do them.

Hopefully I'm wrong!

That performance by NZ yesterday was as good as Ive seen them play in years.
It was clinical and a much more expressive form of rugby than the conservative rugby they have played in latter years.

I don't think England will be able to beat them if NZ play anywhere near they did yesterday .

Asus X540L

penybont exile wrote: »

.... and TBH Japan flattered to deceive today. For all the easy on the eye stuff they never looked like scoring a try.

Yeah Hugh on RTE singing their praises in the first half while they were going absolutely nowhere was hard to listen to. 80% possession yet didn't come near scoring a try. Emptied the clip and gassed themselves out for 3 points.

Very professional performance from SA though.

shootermacg

good comeback:

Big E
@EmilioMesskin
·
11h
Replying to
@QuadeCooper

@the_red_heifer
and
@ugomonye
If you cared about Australian Rugby, you might have learned to tackle.

penybont exile

penybont exile wrote: »

SA just kept it on an even keel. Japan faded ..... as they did against Scotland .... The Scots just were not good enough to take advantage of it.

.... and TBH Japan flattered to deceive today. For all the easy on the eye stuff they never looked like scoring a try.

penybont exile

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Main worry for Wales is that SA looked to be getting stronger rather than fading in that game. They very effectively put Japan to the sword.

SA just kept it on an even keel. Japan faded ..... as they did against Scotland .... The Scots just were not good enough to take advantage of it.

FrancieBrady

penybont exile wrote: »

Agree .......

Time to rest up this week ..... maybe even forget about rugby for a couple of days ............... Not easy with what could be a career defining game coming down the pike.

SA will carry the expectation ..... we will carry the hope .........time for WG, the coaches & backroom staff to pull one more rabbit out of the proverbial hat.

Main worry for Wales is that SA looked to be getting stronger rather than fading in that game. They very effectively put Japan to the sword.

penybont exile

fryup wrote: »

wales looked jaded, today

Agree .......

Time to rest up this week ..... maybe even forget about rugby for a couple of days ............... Not easy with what could be a career defining game coming down the pike.

SA will carry the expectation ..... we will carry the hope .........time for WG, the coaches & backroom staff to pull one more rabbit out of the proverbial hat.

fryup

wales looked jaded, today

penybont exile

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Truth, the Welsh team have got probably the most dog and heart out of any I've seen in a long time, bar perhaps NZ. They're well worth their win. Congrats.

Is Davies back for the semi? Your inability to generate scores will bite in the end I think. Can't always hope for a mistake from the opposition to steal a score.

Most Welsh fans know we got a big break today .... but we also know we've got a team that fights to the end which is all you can ask for.

Hopefully JD will be back .... Navidi & Gareth Davies too. We'll be underdogs next week but I think we've a chance if we front up and stay in the fight.

This is an opportunity to go where we should have gone 8 years ago. (We also owe them one from 2015).

Saying that I'm under no illusion about how tough this is going to be ..... we've had some tough matches whereas SA have had a fairly easy time of it since the opening weekend.

AbusesToilets

penybont exile wrote: »

The most important bit .....

Truth, the Welsh team have got probably the most dog and heart out of any I've seen in a long time, bar perhaps NZ. They're well worth their win. Congrats.

Is Davies back for the semi? Your inability to generate scores will bite in the end I think. Can't always hope for a mistake from the opposition to steal a score.

penybont exile

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Goddamn France, they had that one in the bag, with an ounce of composure. Why would you not put 8 into the scrum 5m out from the opponents try line? They were miles better than Wales, in every facet bar decision making.

The most important bit .....

PokeHerKing

It pains me to say but England are favourites to win it imo. NZ are very beatable. England have the power and pace to do them.

Hopefully I'm wrong!

HBC08

FrancieBrady wrote: »

I'd have loved us to have met that SA team.

We should never have lost to Japan. That was the real end of our WC

You're away with the fairies.

AbusesToilets

Goddamn France, they had that one in the bag, with an ounce of composure. Why would you not put 8 into the scrum 5m out from the opponents try line? They were miles better than Wales, in every facet bar decision making.

is_that_so

ScissorPaperRock wrote: »

It has to be said, Wales' resolve is quite impressive. They really never look like they're worried when they're behind.

And to keep that kind of focus after losing a key member of their coaching team just after arriving in Japan is also impressive.

It also helps when you've an opponent doing everything possible to help them win. None of those who remain will be anywhere near as generous.

ScissorPaperRock

It has to be said, Wales' resolve is quite impressive. They really never look like they're worried when they're behind.

And to keep that kind of focus after losing a key member of their coaching team just after arriving in Japan is also impressive.

Cork Boy 53

I think England/NZ is too close to call. England have not really been seriously tested in the tournament so far so will have to see how they react when they come under serious pressure from the All Blacks next week. I would fancy the Springboks to beat Wales unless there is a massive step up in the Dragons` form from what they have shown so far.

ShamoBuc

Hard to see beyond NZ

Bridge93

4 best sides in the world at the minute in the last 4. Disappointing we’re not there but should be two good games. Think the winner comes from NZ and England’s game but be good to watch. SA are simple but so powerful and wales just keep finding ways to win competitive rugby games.

ednwireland

callaway92 wrote: »

Co-commentator on Eir talking about 6 Nations taking things out of the teams even though the Rugby Championship is the same length and requires more travel etc.

I would say potentially the teams maybe out too much emphasis on the 6 Nations, particularly in a World Cup year.

huh 2019 rugby championship finished on 10 august looking for excuses more like.

sa made japan look very ordinary in the second half powered through them in the rucks

FrancieBrady

jr86 wrote: »

Think his point is that France were even worse in 2011 until the semis

I recall a poor enough English side huffing and puffing their way to the final in 07 too

Form is more applicable to league format than cup competitions. Had this been a league format of the top 10 in the world Wales would probably finish around 4th on form

But in a cup competition there's always a chance

Bookies doors are always open Jr...off you go!

joseywhales

penybont exile wrote: »

Maybe consult a Welsh / English dictionary .......

No I mean england, they will not beat nzl

jr86

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Wales beat a bad Aussie team, then looked less than convincing against Fiji and Uruguay and got a massive stroke of luck getting past a brain dead French team aided by a dodgy ref decision.

A fool and their money? Francie ain't no fool!

Think his point is that France were even worse in 2011 until the semis

I recall a poor enough English side huffing and puffing their way to the final in 07 too

Form is more applicable to league format than cup competitions. Had this been a league format of the top 10 in the world Wales would probably finish around 4th on form

But in a cup competition there's always a chance

Cosmo Kramer

Possibly going against the grain but I think the elimination of Japan is good for the tournament.

Hugely favourable refereeing yet again today yet they still lost by 20 points plus. Applying the rules differently to them just because they are hosts massively devalues the whole competition. I don't think they're actually any better than the likes of Fiji or Tonga once the laws are applied to them the same as everyone else.

There's also not much of a structure in Japan to build on this tournament and the Sunwolves are being disbanded, so I expect they will soon be forgotten about as a rugby force and will return to their previous levels of mediocrity.

penybont exile

sydthebeat wrote: »

I assume that's your version of sassanach?

Saes .... Sais .... Saxon

lord quackinton

joseywhales wrote: »

Jesus Schmidt is some man, responsible for appointments at all levels in provincial rugby aswell as coaching the national team, he must be receiving 2-3 salaries with all of these jobs he holds simultaneously

What role is felix Jones performing for SA
What role does Ireland badly need and have for a long time

When familiarity and conservatism take hold it’s hard to see the wood from the trees