2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

Thanks for many excellent replies to simply a question I posed. I take points made on board and accept that the tournament is probably poorer since France and Ireland exited from it, not simply from the point of view of the standard of rugby itself being played over this weekend but the interest surrounding the tournament. IMHO the real problem has arisen mostly due to the lopsided draw and but for that we might have had a better semi final lineup.

Here's hoping Argentina and England can reach a level that at least gives them a fighting chance of upsetting the odds.

Which is objectively a great thing for the tournament.

A small number that could have been Red, but were not given/upgraded. But overall the threat of the red seems to be changing most players behaviour, which is good to see at the elite level and hopefully filters down to the lower levels as training techniques focus on avoiding head and high contact, while still realising that sometimes accidents happen despite everyone's best efforts.

Much better to be talking about the intensity of the games, the conversion blockdown, the fantastic chip and chase tries and seeing a scrum called for a mark than foul play and player injuries. Just a pity Ireland are not there a bit longer :-( .

Comments like "there's nothing to get excited about with a NZ vs SA final." are absolutely baffling tbh. There's nothing to get excited about the two best teams in the tournament facing off in a world cup final? Wow talk about hating rugby with that attitude.

Having watched the QF matches the quality on display in each quarter final I really don't know how anyone could say that Argentina vs England would be a better and more enjoyable final than NZ and SA.

As a rugby fan a SA vs NZ final is absolutely mouth watering. Can't understand how anyone could think differently.

It's like watching an amazing action movie. After the third, fourth, fifth viewing it loses its appeal. What's boring to me is despite what everyone thinks every world cup boils down to the same 2 or 3 teams (the 6 nations is less predictable than the world cup). That becomes stale. Not to mention the fact that SA and NZ have already met twice this year in the last few months. Variety is not the spice of life in rugby unfortunately. I'm sure it's great if you are form New Zealand or South Africa but it does nothing for the sport as a whole.

BTW, I'm someone who watches rugby all the time. I get up early to watch the rugby championship all the time, so I don't hate rugby, I'm beginning to hate the World Cup as all it has brought for me is disappointment (apart form the ecstasy of an odd group stage game like the SA game this time around which I was at) and inevitable predictability. I hate that it hasn't moved on as a competitive sport at World Cups. Maybe it's the fact that here in Ireland we celebrate a 6 nations title in the same way they would celebrate a world cup (I include myself in that, I'm giddy every 6 nations and go to as many games as I can get tickets for and scream my head off). The southern teams can take or leave a rugby championship. Their single focus is the world cup and they will build a plan around that. It's definitely a money thing as the 6 nations is the bread and butter for northern teams.

I've always supported S.A when Ireland are out. This team has heart and a mentality that most teams would give a nut for. But in saying that, England will be pumped up and I think it will be a close game. Whilst not a vintage team and having had an armchair ride this far, you'd think that England could play a game of their lives. I expect England to make a bollocks of every ruck and play on the edge. I hope the boks crush them

The Pumas are also a poor enough team and I expect the kiwis to win this easily. Could be done by halftime.

I know I'm in a tiny minority but I don't want the next 4 years to be solely focused on winning 1 knockout match 4 years from now. If we have the misfortune of NZ again in the quarters we'll be probably at best 50/50 to win that game. That attitude is crazy to me.

4 years of dross for 1 WC semi-final appearance? no thanks.

And that's the point. SA haven't won it since 2019 yet won the last world cup and are likely heading to another final. That proves my point of it just being a squad building exercise. The average South African will prefer their world cup history over winning a few more rugby championships whereas the average Irish supporter would not sacrifice 6 nations success for the chance of winning a knockout game at a world cup. Different priorities.

I wouldn't agree with your last part about other 6 nations teams taking or leaving it. The 6 nations funds those unions. Even winning the World Cup will not replace that revenue.

As regards the devaluing of the world cup it has in recent years turned into the who wins between South Africa and New Zealand. Not exactly edge of the seat stuff.

Look at this years RC. They split their squad in half! If that's not using a tournament to squad build what is?

I didn't say all the games were boring. Christ, I was screaming at both games last weekend. I'm talking about the inevitable shakeup at the end of it all which essentially is groundhog day. The only NH team to consistently show up at world cups is England. I know they got an armchair ride this time but time and time again they perform above themselves to get to finals.

Remember this is all opinion. I believe one thing, you believe another. We're not going to change each others minds.