Should we now support England in the rugby world cup ?

horseofstone · 27-10-2019 3:21pm #1

England are our northern hemisphere ,6 nations brethren.I'm fed up with southern hemisphere sides winning it. I certainly wouldn't begrudge it to England and just to clarify I'm Irish.They play a nice brand of rugby, seem like a grounded bunch and put manners on the All Blacks.So should we support the English ?

is_that_so · 27-10-2019 3:22pm

I'm supporting a good spectacle and I hope the best team on the day wins!

ClanofLams · 27-10-2019 3:30pm

No.

vicwatson · 27-10-2019 3:31pm

Yes, they’ve been the best team thus far

Pauliedragon · 27-10-2019 3:34pm

I noticed a lot of anti Welsh sentiment before today's game which I thought was strange. I wanted 2 southern hemisphere teams in the final for once.

is_that_so · 27-10-2019 3:35pm

Pauliedragon wrote: »

I noticed a lot of anti Welsh sentiment before today's game which I thought was strange. I wanted 2 southern hemisphere teams in the final for once.

Wales can be a bit smug on the rugby front - God-given-right smugness. It tends to rub people up the wrong way.

NIMAN · 27-10-2019 3:36pm

Couldn't care at this stage.

But England will win it. That SA team are poor to watch.

Tommysocks11 · 27-10-2019 3:57pm

Course we should support the english, get over ourselves and accept we were not good enough to challenge this time, English are grand compared to the Scots who didnt even vote for our bid

flanna01 · 27-10-2019 4:02pm

Im not being petty or anything..... But do we know if any of the English rugby team are direct descendents of the black & tans??

Just asking for a friend...

mugsymugsy · 27-10-2019 4:07pm

As someone born in England even I struggle to support the English rugby team.

As someone else said hoping for a decent game unlike the first half of that Wales v South Africa

horseofstone · 27-10-2019 4:19pm

flanna01 wrote: »

Im not being petty or anything..... But do we know if any of the English rugby team are direct descendents of the black & tans??

Just asking for a friend...

Yeah but for the good of the game in a world sense would it be nice to see England win it ?

lawred2 · 27-10-2019 4:20pm

I'd be happy enough to see that team win it. Cracking set of players.

But their pundits and that media nonsense that follows everything England can f**k off

LostArt · 27-10-2019 4:25pm

Don't really care who wins tbh. I'd lean slightly towards SA because of how Rassie handled himself and Munster after Axel passed.

Vital Transformation · 27-10-2019 4:53pm

Thoroughly enjoyed England's performance yesterday. Would rather they win if SA continue to serve up the same scutter as today.

monkeysnapper · 27-10-2019 4:57pm

It absolutly kills me to say it as a welsh person but after they beat all blacks they deserve to win it...

So be it ....

....we'll be bloody hearing it for a thousand years but it is what it is.

BeardySi · 27-10-2019 5:30pm

England are on fire this year, I tipped them to win it before the tournament started so I wasn't at all surprised when they won it yesterday.

Doesn't mean I'll particularly support them (or anyone else for that matter) - I can enjoy the match as a neutral without having to pick a side.

champchamp · 27-10-2019 5:31pm

Two words sum up why we shouldn't support them - Eddie Jones.

27-10-2019 6:28pm

Any team but them

Strumms · 27-10-2019 6:30pm

If Ireland ain’t playing i watch every game as a neutral.

Ardillaun · 27-10-2019 6:32pm

I tend to support NH teams if I can (even Gatland’s Wales), plus England definitely deserve it more than South Africa after those utterly contrasting semi-final performances. A NH win would be good for rugby.

connachta · 27-10-2019 6:32pm

Would rather die in a ditch.:P

KWAG2019 · 27-10-2019 6:33pm

Don’t care either way: have bets to cover both. On the basis of the way they play and Farrell’s smirk at the haka, Go England.

Augme · 27-10-2019 6:37pm

People should support who they want. But I think it would be good for NH rugby if they win. And especially the six nation's. I think playing england knowing they are world cup winners would be a nice extra incentive in all the game and make for a bit of extra spicy. I also think seeing england win would provide a good motivational tool for all the other teams players, especially Ireland hopefully.

bizidea · 27-10-2019 6:39pm

Go on the black and tans

Former Former · 27-10-2019 6:45pm

Why should we not support England?

FrancieBrady · 27-10-2019 6:47pm

What a cringe thread title. :rolleyes:

Do you need permission to shout for England now?

I support one team - Ireland. Other than that , let the best team win...the world won't quit turning if 'we' in Ireland don't support them or if 'we' do.

Knock yourself out.

Dubinusa · 28-10-2019 1:04am

I hope England win. Brilliant side, well coached and extremely talented. They mangled the kiwis and us. They are thoroughly deserving of it. Eddie Jones has done a fantastic job. Easily the best coach around.
There response to the haka was great. It could only be bettered if they Morris danced or did a monthy python skit as a rebuttal.

mangobob · 28-10-2019 2:10am

lawred2 wrote: »

I'd be happy enough to see that team win it. Cracking set of players.

But their pundits and that media nonsense that follows everything England can f**k off

I completely agree with the first sentence. This England side have a fantastic set of players. They not only completely destroyed us but managed to make the AB's look positively average which is some feat.

As for the second point, yes its true. But its hardly the teams fault that their media can be unbearable when they win and in truth we are in absolutely no position to point fingers as we are just as bad in this country. Our media coverage can often be every bit as obnoxious and one-eyed as anything served up across the pond. Paeans of nauseating drivel, often bordering on hero worship are spewed out when we win, while the coverage can turn pretty savage when we dont (the medias appraisal of Joes legacy in the immediate aftermath being a case in point).

While we can boast some excellent rugby minds in a few quarters, in truth our own pundits run the gamut from tiresome attention seeking contrarians like Dunphy and Hook, to our own Stephen Jones wannabe Franno and a plethora of former players and coaches whose "analysis" often amounts to little more than puff pieces heavily skewed by either provincial bias (like Quinlan and Luke Fitz) or a personal axe to grind (a la EOS). Finally we also have that peculiarly Irish phenomenon of the Ewan Mckennas of the world who have a massive inferiority complex and a giant chip on their shoulders when it comes to the game of rugby who take utter glee from every defeat and love nothing more than to wallow in the teams failure. The Ewanites will always be with us, waiting hungrily in the long grass to gorge themselves on the carcass of another disappointing campaign. Believe me we have little to be proud of in terms of our own shower over here.

I realise i am in the minority on this but I would have no hesitation in supporting England generally. I see no contradiction in being a proud Irish person and still supporting our nearest neighbour. I for one hope England win on Saturday. Nothing against S.A. but this is Englands trophy to lose imo. They are a team who have peaked at exactly the right moment and they would be worthy winners. More power to them.

ClanofLams · 28-10-2019 2:15am

Former Former wrote: »

Why should we not support England?

Support who you want.

England are natural rivals given the proximity between countries and that they play in the same championship every year as well in Europe at a club/provincial level. I don’t fancy listening to their media bang on about it every year. Or Eddie Jones for that matter. I don’t mind Eddie Jones really but he already has a very healthy level of confidence, which is justified to an extent in fairness.

clsmooth · 28-10-2019 3:27am

Yes. We need a northern hemisphere win. I think it’s fair to say Ireland and Wales improved hugely after 2003. How much of that was the acceptance of professionalism as opposed to playing the world champions every year? Either way, the bigger picture for us is an England win.

sdanseo · 28-10-2019 3:47am

If Dylan Hartley was playing, I would make a half joke, half serious jibe about how seeing him sent off in a WC Final would be the most entertaining thing of the century.

Since he's not:

1. Yes, we need a northern Hemisphere Win.
2. This is very much tempered by my general opinion that the English rugby team think too much of themselves and need to be taken down a peg or three at regular intervals.
3. If RSA win, it will be very much "against the run of play" to use a soccer term - and further proof that the world cup does not crown the best team in the world.

This is especially true in Rugby. While we have had a bad run of form ourselves this year, averaged over four, we have been better than 5th to 8th in the world as the rankings will put us after the tournament.
The other teams who have progressed to Quarters and beyond have not necessarily been the best teams consistently in the last year let alone four.
If anything, it has been difficult to decipher anything consistent from any of the SH teams.

Neil3030 · 28-10-2019 4:35am

Former Former wrote: »

Why should we not support England?

Let's see... em... a long time ago there were people in England who really really liked a particular type of fruit...

Spook_ie · 28-10-2019 5:46am

Of course we should support them to win the world cup, how much sweeter it would be to beat the world champions during the six nations than the runner ups.

corny · 28-10-2019 9:02am

Assuming i had to pick a side of course i'd pick England. Why support the SH sides? No affinity there.

sydthebeat · 29-10-2019 9:17am

I can't even shout for the ref!!!

Just hoping for a good game really

ToBeFrank123 · 29-10-2019 3:02pm

I'd support them purely because they are the nearest nation to us in the final.

They've been the best team so far and played the most positive rugby and that's the type of team you want to see winning any competition.

Shefwedfan · 29-10-2019 5:00pm

England voted for Ireland WC bid

So yes I will support them,......

RobbieRuns · 29-10-2019 5:44pm

yes............. reluctantly.

Want a NH team, a 6N team to win.

Have to say though that I think that SA will win. SA have the physical weapons to match. NZ did not back up the performance against Ireland and it is a big ask to do it twice. SA were average enough v Wales and they have a big game in them. A card for either team could be crucial in the final.

England under Jones has them all fired up, they are a great team, but not the style of rugby that I like, it is just too physical for me. (don't laugh, I know it sounds crazy!) Every game they play is about line speed, huge hits, battle at the breakdown, ferocity, aggression etc etc. I know that this is what most teams want and strive for, but just not enough finesse for me. The game at the Aviva this year was the most violent that I have ever seen, successful but not a great spectacle for me. I applaud them for their courage, heart and bravery but it is like watching Saracens when I watch England, successful rugby but...... not for me.

bilston · 29-10-2019 8:17pm

Support whoever you want.

It's rare I support them at rugby, but I'll be supporting England just because they have been the best team in the tournament and unusually for them play a good brand of rugby. They deserve to win it...so far...

Utah_Saint · 29-10-2019 8:59pm

Looking forward to a great match but will be supporting England. Coming to Dublin in 73 when others would not and voting for our World Cup bid seals it for me....

If Dylan Hartley was playing i would struggle....

Dave_The_Sheep · 29-10-2019 11:51pm

If it wasn't for Eddie Jones, I would, in a heartbeat. They've been the best team, they're NH, and they're actually moderately likeable as a set of players too.

Really struggling to do that though.

Downlinz · 30-10-2019 12:01am

I don't think a Northern Hemisphere win achieves much for us other than humbling a few kiwi journalists, although they could still credit the win to the southern hemisphere influence of Jones and key players Tuilagi and the Vunipolas.

I'd rather South Africa win for Felix Jones, Rassie and Nienaber.

Hands Like Flippers · 30-10-2019 1:30am

horseofstone wrote: »

England are our northern hemisphere ,6 nations brethren.I'm fed up with southern hemisphere sides winning it. I certainly wouldn't begrudge it to England and just to clarify I'm Irish.They play a nice brand of rugby, seem like a grounded bunch and put manners on the All Blacks.So should we support the English ?

Yes

30-10-2019 9:42am

RobbieRuns wrote: »

yes............. reluctantly.

Want a NH team, a 6N team to win.

Have to say though that I think that SA will win. SA have the physical weapons to match. NZ did not back up the performance against Ireland and it is a big ask to do it twice. SA were average enough v Wales and they have a big game in them. A card for either team could be crucial in the final.

England under Jones has them all fired up, they are a great team, but not the style of rugby that I like, it is just too physical for me. (don't laugh, I know it sounds crazy!) Every game they play is about line speed, huge hits, battle at the breakdown, ferocity, aggression etc etc. I know that this is what most teams want and strive for, but just not enough finesse for me. The game at the Aviva this year was the most violent that I have ever seen, successful but not a great spectacle for me. I applaud them for their courage, heart and bravery but it is like watching Saracens when I watch England, successful rugby but...... not for me.

Have you considered that maybe a game played by 2m tall 120kilo athletes is not for you?

Maybe you could try netball, or badminton. Maybe a nice relaxing game of chess.

Zzippy · 30-10-2019 1:50pm

Aegir wrote: »

Have you considered that maybe a game played by 2m tall 120kilo athletes is not for you?

Maybe you could try netball, or badminton. Maybe a nice relaxing game of chess.

Maybe you could try dropping the condescension and post about the topic, not get personal about other posters. Before we have to consider that maybe a forum for respectful discussion is not for you..

RobbieRuns · 30-10-2019 3:52pm

Aegir wrote: »

Have you considered that maybe a game played by 2m tall 120kilo athletes is not for you?

Maybe you could try netball, or badminton. Maybe a nice relaxing game of chess.

Possibly......... but please do not be so condescending.

I do think that sometimes rugby is not for me, but I love the game and love supporting my local rugby team the most, then my Province and of course my country. I used to love playing it as well

I have definitely had a few thoughts about the game changing. Mostly around peoples expectation that it is a game purely for 2m tall 120kg athletes. It is not. There are other discussions going on elsewhere regarding Mr Kimmage and Mr Heaslip on what the expectations are to make yourself 120kgs even if you are not 2m tall. Be careful what you think of a game that you watch just to see those big old monsters hit each other and the expectations and pressures that the players feel to give you and others the spectacle that you crave. It might give you more entertainment than me.

One of the words that I hear Eddie Jones use a lot regarding his team is "brutality" whereas I would prefer "competitive" or even "hard" to be the terms used. Best of luck to both teams in the final and I now hope that Cheslin Kolbe has a great game against those 2m/120 kg lads.

frosty123 · 30-10-2019 4:53pm

I'm not supporting England just to "be nice" to the english..
Im supporting them cause they play a better brand of rugby than the Bulldozer rugby of SA

Beating all SH sides will make them worthy winners imo

30-10-2019 7:58pm

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Possibly......... but please do not be so condescending.

I do think that sometimes rugby is not for me, but I love the game and love supporting my local rugby team the most, then my Province and of course my country. I used to love playing it as well

I have definitely had a few thoughts about the game changing. Mostly around peoples expectation that it is a game purely for 2m tall 120kg athletes. It is not. There are other discussions going on elsewhere regarding Mr Kimmage and Mr Heaslip on what the expectations are to make yourself 120kgs even if you are not 2m tall. Be careful what you think of a game that you watch just to see those big old monsters hit each other and the expectations and pressures that the players feel to give you and others the spectacle that you crave. It might give you more entertainment than me.

One of the words that I hear Eddie Jones use a lot regarding his team is "brutality" whereas I would prefer "competitive" or even "hard" to be the terms used. Best of luck to both teams in the final and I now hope that Cheslin Kolbe has a great game against those 2m/120 kg lads.

it is a natural evolution of the game.

I remember a time when an 18 stone prop pretty much waddled from scrum to scrum. Now you have the likes of Kyle Sinckler wearing tight fitting shirts and making a line break.

the players are faster, fitter and bigger than ever and this will naturally lead to bigger hits, but (and I think this is a big but) the rules have changed and there is less potential injuries to players now.

The full game is a physical, full contact sport. If you want something with more finesse, then sevens has that in abundance.

kenmc · 31-10-2019 9:21am

Not a hope I'll cheer for england on Saturday. South Africa have an Irishman on board, Felix Jones, and Rassie did wonders during a very unfortunate time at Munster.

England have too many unlikeables for me to ever cheer for them. Starting at the top with Jones, then Farrell, Sincler, and worst of all, Billy Bigot.

Gamb!t · 31-10-2019 11:50am

kenmc wrote: »

Not a hope I'll cheer for england on Saturday. South Africa have an Irishman on board, Felix Jones, and Rassie did wonders during a very unfortunate time at Munster.

England have too many unlikeables for me to ever cheer for them. Starting at the top with Jones, then Farrell, Sincler, and worst of all, Billy Bigot.

What did he say to label him as such ?

Digifriendly · 31-10-2019 2:02pm

Gamb!t wrote: »

What did he say to label him as such ?

Anyone who is not PC today is sadly labelled a bigot. Billy has a right to his views as much as anyone else even if people disagree with him. I don't label others bigots if they disagree strongly with my firmly held views on marriage.

Should we now support England in the rugby world cup ?

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