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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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AbusesToilets

I really feel the WC would be improved by having a secondary Plate play offs for the teams in the bottom half of the Group standings.

[Deleted User]

AbusesToilets wrote: »

I really feel the WC would be improved by having a secondary Plate play offs for the teams in the bottom half of the Group standings.

Played mid week to keep the games coming

The Lost Sheep

AbusesToilets wrote: »

I really feel the WC would be improved by having a secondary Plate play offs for the teams in the bottom half of the Group standings.

I dont think so. These sides need more games and games at higher level than they get but it should be in the rest of the world cup cycle.

Ireland and other 6 nations sides dont play Georgia, Tonga etc enough and these sides should be getting extra games then not more in the one period they get more attention than the rest put together.

[Deleted User]

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

I dont think so. These sides need more games and games at higher level than they get but it should be in the rest of the world cup cycle.

Ireland and other 6 nations sides dont play Georgia, Tonga etc enough and these sides should be getting extra games then not more in the one period they get more attention than the rest put together.

Why not both?

The infrastructure is in place, crowds are there. When do Georgia get to play Fiji or Tonga etc. Different styles/approaches will be more beneficial, short term, than the spankings given out in past 4 weeks

The Lost Sheep

Deleted User wrote: »

Why not both?

The infrastructure is in place, crowds are there. When do Georgia get to play Fiji or Tonga etc. Different styles/approaches will be more beneficial, short term, than the spankings given out in past 4 weeks

because putting in something for the world cup would be easier and the top unions could then just forget/not aboutbabout them for the rest of the time and that isnt needed. It's far better for the next tier of unions to play more every year and not just during the world cup time frame.

AbusesToilets

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

because putting in something for the world cup would be easier and the top unions could then just forget/not aboutbabout them for the rest of the time and that isnt needed. It's far better for the next tier of unions to play more every year and not just during the world cup time frame.

I'm talking about having a playoff competition for the bottom teams in parallel to the regular knock stages. What's the downside in that? More games for them, a chance for some silverware, more exposure for the game.

The Lost Sheep

AbusesToilets wrote: »

I'm talking about having a playoff competition for the bottom teams in parallel to the regular knock stages. What's the downside in that? More games for them, a chance for some silverware, more exposure for the game.

except it isnt really better unless you change the rest of the international rugby competition and games structure.
Samoa and Japan need to play Ireland, New Zealand more every single calender year with their coaches getting more access to their players for these games not a few more games in a world cup. This proposal doesnt do that. This proposal will not aid any of the next tier close gap to the top sides.
Ireland, New Zealand etc dont play Georgia's etc enough. This doesnt change that

eagle eye

Of there is a belief here that the weaker nations do t ay each other it's wrong.
There are loads of tournaments where weaker nations meet each other in the four years between world cups.
The world szue is development in those countries which is a long way behind the bigger nations.

Ardillaun

jr86 wrote: »

Gatland put it better than I ever could!

'How people interpret that is up to them. And obviously, the way things are and the way - how PC everyone is, people like to make mountains out of molehills'

Of course Gatland would say that.

AbusesToilets

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

except it isnt really better unless you change the rest of the international rugby competition and games structure.
Samoa and Japan need to play Ireland, New Zealand more every single calender year with their coaches getting more access to their players for these games not a few more games in a world cup. This proposal doesnt do that. This proposal will not aid any of the next tier close gap to the top sides.
Ireland, New Zealand etc dont play Georgia's etc enough. This doesnt change that

You're arguing against giving these years more meaningful games in the WC, because they're not playing tier 1 teams? That's a poor argument. There's no downside to the idea, it doesn't impact them negatively at all, and it also offers an opportunity to play better teams, as there are always at least 2 top 10 knocked out in the pool stages.

LuckyGent88

Everything coming up rosy for Wales. Now Kolbe is out for south Africa. Massive blow to them and the tournament in general

Yeah_Right

ABs named for the semifinal. Only changes to the team that beat Ireland are Barrett starting at blindside with Savea moving to 7. Cane goes to the bench. Todd is injured so Tuipolotu comes into the 23.

It's a bigger more physical forward pack. Stronger lineout.

blinding

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Everything coming up rosy for Wales. Now Kolbe is out for south Africa. Massive blow to them and the tournament in general

He didn’t do much against Japan . Maybe he was carrying an injury .

jr86

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Everything coming up rosy for Wales. Now Kolbe is out for south Africa. Massive blow to them and the tournament in general

Part and parcel of a world cup I'm afraid

Wales themselves were decimated in 2015, them's the breaks

[Deleted User]

jr86 wrote: »

Part and parcel of a world cup I'm afraid

Wales themselves were decimated in 2015, them's the breaks

Sure Wales have a ton of injuries this time around too. Just lost Navidi who is a key player for them. JD missed the France game, lost Anscombe before the tournament, the 2nd row whose name escapes me had a burst appendix in Heathrow airport on the way over, the whole thing with Howley. I think the last team that things are coming up rosy for is Wales tbh.

jr86

Interested Observer wrote: »

Sure Wales have a ton of injuries this time around too. Just lost Navidi who is a key player for them. JD missed the France game, lost Anscombe before the tournament, the 2nd row whose name escapes me had a burst appendix in Heathrow airport on the way over, the whole thing with Howley. I think the last team that things are coming up rosy for is Wales tbh.

100%

If its coming up "rosy" for anyone (no pun intended), its England

Not a single injury heading into the semi this weekend. When on earth have they had a fully fit squad before? they have gotten serious usage out of Tuilagi and Billy V this year which has been massive for them

eagle eye

LuckyGent88 wrote:

Everything coming up rosy for Wales. Now Kolbe is out for south Africa. Massive blow to them and the tournament in general

It's not a huge deal losing Kolbe when you have Nkosi on the bench.

[Deleted User]

Just for comparison, the England and NZ sides

I like that NZ have bulked up the pack, and Scott Barrett is in form. Predicting Farrell to finally get a red card for a high shot.

The Lost Sheep

AbusesToilets wrote: »

You're arguing against giving these years more meaningful games in the WC, because they're not playing tier 1 teams? That's a poor argument. There's no downside to the idea, it doesn't impact them negatively at all, and it also offers an opportunity to play better teams, as there are always at least 2 top 10 knocked out in the pool stages.

its not a poor argument. There would be one or two of the rugby championship/6 nations sides competing in this but it still comes back to this is one of the few times that the next tier play together train together for an extended period and they dont for a lot of the rest of the time. These countries wont improve by having this. They need more games in the rest of the fwlender where they have the opportunity to close the gap to the top. The Georgia's etc already play countries at this tier from all over the world.

Georgia for example are the best in Europe of the sides not ina closed off tournament. They will only improve with yearly games against 6 nations sides including some at home in Tbilisi and not a shield competition when they'll already have played 4 games in a world cup.

[Deleted User]

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

its not a poor argument. There would be one or two of the rugby championship/6 nations sides competing in this but it still comes back to this is one of the few times that the next tier play together train together for an extended period and they dont for a lot of the rest of the time. These countries wont improve by having this. They need more games in the rest of the fwlender where they have the opportunity to close the gap to the top. The Georgia's etc already play countries at this tier from all over the world.

Georgia for example are the best in Europe of the sides not ina closed off tournament. They will only improve with yearly games against 6 nations sides including some at home in Tbilisi and not a shield competition when they'll already have played 4 games in a world cup.

No one is disputing this but that is NOT a reason to not allow them to play extra proper competitive matches at a world cup.

jr86

I'd imagine the top players would be restricted from playing in such an event. Couldn't see the French and English clubs allowing their players hang around and play in a "plate" tournament

Probably a strain financially on the smaller countries too - extra expenses for physios, hotels, logistics etc.

Dr. Bre

Will sweet chariot be sung during haka like the fields of Athenry ?

blinding

Dr. Bre wrote: »

Will sweet chariot be sung during haka like the fields of Athenry ?

The English team will do a Morris Dance as their Challenge .

frosty123

Im shouting for England...are you?

The Lost Sheep

Deleted User wrote: »

No one is disputing this but that is NOT a reason to not allow them to play extra proper competitive matches at a world cup.

it isnt though because unions, players dont want it. It is window dressing to the real issues.
Financially for smaller unions there would be problems as would issues with the clubs who are primary employers of a lot of the players for sides who dotn make quarters.

yerrahbah

https://twitter.com/Springboks/status/1187269992837861376

I heart Rassie

Yeah_Right

Dr. Bre wrote: »

Will sweet chariot be sung during haka like the fields of Athenry ?

I pretty much guarantee it.

Ardillaun

I think Farrell at 12 is a risk for England. He’s not a great centre.

aloooof

Ardillaun wrote: »

I think Farrell at 12 is a risk for England. He’s not a great centre.

I was almost expecting them to retain Farrell, Manu and Slade at 10, 12 and 13 from last week, tbh.

cson

frosty123 wrote: »

Im shouting for England...are you?

There are only 2 teams I support in Rugby; Ireland, and whoever England are playing.

Come on the Kiwis