2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

Barnes was never going to give either side a penalty at the end. NZ had two kicks to win it and bottled both of them, they have no one to blame only themselves. SA played rubbish apart from some decent defence and NZ should have taken a couple of those easy three pointers early in the second half instead of constantly going for the corner, i’m delighted the cocky arrogant All Blacks lost, good riddance to them.

Dude you need to get a grip. You signed up to a NZ rugby forum to troll (you know what I’m talking about, unless there’s a second bluedex out there) and you’re clearly hurt and aggrieved. It’s only a game of rugby. Let it go. No amount of bitterness will overturn the 1/4 final result just like nothing will change SA 12 NZ 11.

Personally I love the NZ - Irish rivalry, the games are really intense and hard fought these days. Bring the next one on!

i don’t know if Rieko said what he’s alleged to have said but if so, it’s poor sport. But no different to what some Irish players said. If I was a top player I’d do my talking on the field. That’s what counts.

Trust me, bitterness will get you nothing.

Depends how you read the tone, to me it sounds like ‘I didn’t see you release but I now understand you did’, otherwise why say anything, other than his initial no release comment when awarding the penalty. He’s clearly responding to the replay, maybe he didn’t look at it but crowd and player reaction maybe persuaded him. No reason for him to say anything otherwise. And it wasn’t really a tight call, Savea didn’t dramatically raise his hands above his head but both his hands are clearly separated before the tackled play hits the ground.

There were 50 minutes left at that point. If SA had needed a try or penalty or drop goal or whatever there’s no way to know they would not have had the tactical smarts to make it happen. Their whole World Cup was delivering under the pump.

Agree with you ersatz.

Slight thing I would differ on though, is that sledging during a game is part of the game. Would never like to see that disappear.

But once the final whistle goes, sledging should be done with. As someone else said, NZ lost some respect for what was said to Sexton during the handshakes after the match.

And rightfully so. So much for their "no dickhead policy"

N.Z are always cocky and smug, imo. They are as bad as England, imo. In 2019 when they were hammered by England, I was delighted. Not because they had murdered us in the qf but, because they didn't fire a shot. They were completely outclassed. When England lost to the boks, I was chuffed. I think both are insufferable winners. I am very disappointed with our world cup. We fell short, imo. Our best chance ever, but we couldn't clear the hurdle. N.Z couldn't clear a hurdle this weekend. Their smugness was short again.

It's just my opinion. I don't like the kiwis or their cultural dancing prior to the match. I don't like any teams cultural dancing prior to kick off.

For what its worth, SA beating NZ means Ireland moves up to 2nd place in the rankings.

You're welcome.

Could you imagine how smug and arrogant you'd be had Ireland won a world cup?

I’m really suprise eztenben is not on that list. I’d have him over Retallick (he just started to come on late in the tournament)

Pretty much all 3 KO games involving the 4 top teams were similar in that regard, could have gone either way. They were literally a coin toss, a bounce of the ball, a key ref decision favouring one side. Shane Horgan made a good point at half time when he said he thought the extra man wouldn't make much difference for SA because of how they play, he was proved correct I thought.

I think SA and NZ can consider themselves reasonably lucky to be in the final, and SA to win it. But I think you'd have to say something similar if it was a France v Ireland final. Luck played a big part.

Yeah I was gutted for you guys (Ireland), being the number 1 team for the past two years and then get eliminated in the QF, it reminded me of the 2007 All Blacks (that was the worst I’ve ever felt). Don’t worry lads I truly believe Ireland time will come

And I understand what Horgan was saying BUT being a forward down for 70mins against a SA forward pack & bench…..I instantly had flashbacks of the beating we got in our last game against them. SA should’ve mauled/scrum NZ to death, the game should’ve never been this close

Yeah definitely. I thought Smith was holding NZ together at times on Saturday, never seems to make a bad decision.

The women’s and men’s world cups have both been ultimately decided by Red cards. NZ coming out on the right side of one and not the other.

I didn’t understand the English dominated board claiming an orange card type of system somehow encouraged unsafe acts. The player was still gone from the match and disciplined and they were no more or less cards it the rugby championship under those rules than any other fixture. I seriously think that and less TMO intervention will improve the spectacle.

If not rugby can continue down the trajectory towards becoming a poor man’s NFL and cede the pace and action branding to rugby league.