2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

supernova5 · 07-10-2023 06:57PM

call the police, there has been an act of larceny committed in Lille

pixelburp · 07-10-2023 06:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206548#Comment_121206548

Fiji will have 15 players and 1 referee to beat cos there's no way there isn't some weird bias against the smaller teams.

07-10-2023 07:01PM

I take it England didn't pull up any trees.

It was too nice a day to watch them!

On to the main course!

ElisaAtWar · 07-10-2023 07:09PM

Roll on the Irish Scotland game. When NZ were the top of the pile I always admired them for their lack of sympathy. They simply tore teams apart. And if Ireland want to be the best team in the world then they will show no mercy to Scotland and simply put them in their place. It's as simple as that

pixelburp · 07-10-2023 07:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206589#Comment_121206589

They were sub mediocre. They are a supremely lucky team that their two main rivals have themselves had a cratering of form, cos by rights they should be going home after this weekend.

07-10-2023 07:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206578#Comment_121206578

It's because everyone views them collectively as the underdogs and so most people cheer for the minnow over the tier 1 team. We then associate the same bias we would for our own team and project it onto them in terms of decisions made against.

So supporters from EVERYWHERE are sour about ref decisions and it makes a lot of collective noise but in reality a LOT of it is people sore that 'their' team lost. There have been plenty of times where a decent number on here have felt a ref was knowingly biased against Ireland in circumstances that the result was entirely fair - multiply that by everyone bar one teams supporters and boom - conspiracy.

Buddy Bubs · 07-10-2023 07:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206753#Comment_121206753

Good post. There's no bias. Only people selectively choosing single events in matches to make a point.

These refs are there to do a paid job, yes they make mistakes but so do players, and the minnows make more than most

pixelburp · 07-10-2023 08:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206753#Comment_121206753

I hear what you say but I do think that the refs have been harsher on the minnows; quicker to blow on things the Tier 1 nations seemed to get away with. Tier 2+ do make more mistakes, especially given they lack so much in the scrum by way of example, but other little decisions always seemed more punitive.

And TBH my comment was mostly in jest 🙂 if Fiji play well they'll take the scalp of this England team, ref or no ref. Even if England will be out for revenge I'm not sure they have the wherewithal to make it happen.

And from the garbage of English rugby, to a ruthless efficiency that borders on scary; Ireland are just another level above everyone.

Augme · 07-10-2023 08:51PM

The gulf between the top four teams and the rest is massive, that's never good for sport. None of these groups have been competitive and the only competitive match that had an impact on qualification so far has been Fiji and Austailia.

ElisaAtWar · 07-10-2023 10:02PM

I said it before the game, you show no mercy. You crush the opposition. So decent result but we didn't properly crush the opposition. And crushing an opposition makes you feel invincible. And they simply didn't do it. So again the question is asked of Ireland. And that's just stupid. They should have crucified Scotland and got the invincible feeling. Instead that was just ordinary. Pity really

AbusesToilets · 07-10-2023 10:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207477#Comment_121207477

What're you on about? We were 26-0 up at the half, scored another try after the half and subbed everyone we could. What's an acceptable margin for a beating to show we're legit, 40pts, 50pts, 60pts?

tobefrank321 · 08-10-2023 12:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121204110#Comment_121204110

I said there's nothing in the current format for minnows. I didn't didn't say they shouldn't be at the world cup. Smaller groups of 4 teams with more teams able to qualify for the knock outs is the way to go.

The current 5 team group stages is just awful to watch. No genuine rugby fan can enjoy it.

ElisaAtWar · 08-10-2023 12:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207621#Comment_121207621

Zero points against

08-10-2023 12:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206627#Comment_121206627

South Africa beat them by 15 and the Scots were in the game at half time.

Certain teams have won the World Cup not beating teams by 60 pts. Think South Africa in 2007 or 2019. England beat Wales by 10pts or so in the 2003 quarter final and won the World Cup.

Different styles. I'm sure New Zealand would prefer to be scoring more against proper teams like France (13 pts), it's a better marker than walloping Italy or Uruguay.

gormdubhgorm · 08-10-2023 12:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207621#Comment_121207621

Exactly. I would have described Ireland’s win as ‘winning pulling up’. Not a game for neutrals but it is the way the top teams do it, in games others might have slipped up in.

In a game like rugby to be able to rest players like that must be invaluable? And being able to switch in to second gear before that?

AbusesToilets · 08-10-2023 12:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207963#Comment_121207963

When was the last time NZ beat a top 8 team without conceeding a score? Pretty meaningless narrative

ElisaAtWar · 08-10-2023 01:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207987#Comment_121207987

it's not meaningless for a team. in fact it's the very opposite

AbusesToilets · 08-10-2023 02:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121208017#Comment_121208017

So leading 36-0 deep into the 2nd half wasn't good enough? Jokeshop

pixelburp · 08-10-2023 06:56AM

Of course there has to be a cloud in this silver lining. Stop getting excited guys, our thorough and aggressive dismantling of Scotland wasn't thorough enough. We're clearly still shíte, really.

Perfect is not the enemy of good; words to live by I feel. I'm sure Farrell will examine why we shipped 2 tries so quickly mind you.

So are we gonna discuss why the World Cup has such obviously weak teams in. It like Scotland? 🤡

pickarooney · 08-10-2023 07:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207962#Comment_121207962

Thankfully I'm not a genuine rugby fan as I enjoyed all three games yesterday. Ireland Vs Scotland probably the least as it wasn't very competitive.

'Perfect IS the enemy of good' is the saying. Not sure why you'd want to reverse that.

swiwi_ · 08-10-2023 07:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206222#Comment_121206222

Certainly giving SA ones a run for their money in this tournament. The current Irish rugby team is excellent. The Irish TMOs are like the Irish rugby team in the 90s.

swiwi_ · 08-10-2023 07:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206436#Comment_121206436

Who actually is responsible for reffing this? Genuine Q. In one of the Irish games sexton went overtime but Barnes who was reffing said not my job to ref this.

swiwi_ · 08-10-2023 08:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207477#Comment_121207477

Ireland utterly crushed Scotland! A couple of consolation tries at the end once Ireland’s key players had been subbed doesn’t change anything.

pixelburp · 08-10-2023 08:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121208217#Comment_121208217

I get it though. Kickers are noted for their routines and methods; a referee suddenly badgering them as the clock started to run out would be disruptive and in any case. The ticking clock is pretty set in stone, it's on the kickers to get their own timing sorted.

swiwi_ · 08-10-2023 08:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121208228#Comment_121208228

You’re not answering my Q though. Who in the match officials is responsible for enforcing the shot clock? Barnes said it wasn’t him as ref. Is this correct?

swiwi_ · 08-10-2023 08:15AM

The problem with Irish tmo is thinking technology means everything is clear. Perfectly fine to say to ref “the technology is not helping us for this decision. Stick with your onfield decision”. Instead we get Joy Neville for example telling the ref “clear…”