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**Rugby World Cup 2011**
- Thread starter Krisfield
- Start date
France will have to step up next week, the way they played today they'll get a 25 pts whooping by either Australia or the ABs.
Then again they're the French, so who knows
Then again they're the French, so who knows
Couldn't agree more, you just never know with the French.
And it's hardly like Aus or NZ are playing on form.
Could really go either way in the final.
And it's hardly like Aus or NZ are playing on form.
Could really go either way in the final.
Did you see them play Argentina?
See them playing France (and a poor show from France at that)?
Yes, they won those games, but the scorelines did not show the game as it was played, and a fired up team playing well could best them.
And yes, those are the only two 'tough' games the ABs have had to play this RWC.
See them playing France (and a poor show from France at that)?
Yes, they won those games, but the scorelines did not show the game as it was played, and a fired up team playing well could best them.
And yes, those are the only two 'tough' games the ABs have had to play this RWC.
Doesn't change the fact that the ABs aren't playing as smoothly as they usually do, and injuries are creeping in and have disrupted the first team (is Ritchie McCaw playing btw?).
They have essentially had a walk thus far.
They have essentially had a walk thus far.
The standard this world cup, is definitely up. Wales should have won their game against SA, and Ireland beat Aussie. Gone of the days when the AB's will beat Argentina by 60, 70 points. I think it will be even closer next world cup. Rugby is a growing sport. Just think, there's a million people playing rugby in Russia. The AB's have had a bad run with injuries, but its been a hard tournament, was we saw tonight. Bit of blood there.
The home nations have always been able to pull out victories here and there against the southern hemisphere, so it's nothing new.
Argentina have been getting better and better (tho I think they are going to have a slump for a few years, a lot of veteran players retiring, but the 4 nations will harden them up by the next RWC).
Where are you getting the million people playing it in Russia? As far as I'm aware it's only 15-20k.
Playing numbers make up one statistic, but only one. You need to have the heritage and public interest in the sport to be able to push it. You need the grassroots infrastructure. Which is why you still see Wales, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) Scotland bringing out strong teams, even though they have small populations, both in total and in terms of rugby players.
The general public interest in rugby and grass roots infrastructure are why the home nations, tri nations and islanders are such big hitters in rugby. It's also why the likes of the USA, Russia etc, which have large populations and larger pools of players than other nations, are still falling shorter.
Rugby is definately getting more intense, but I'd say the big jump happened about 10 years ago, when we started seeing props who lived in the gym, not the pub
I do agree that the next RWC will be interesting, will be interesting to see what fringe teams make it
I also hope the IRB pulls the stick out their a** and we don't see NZ and Aus boycotting it!
Argentina have been getting better and better (tho I think they are going to have a slump for a few years, a lot of veteran players retiring, but the 4 nations will harden them up by the next RWC).
Where are you getting the million people playing it in Russia? As far as I'm aware it's only 15-20k.
Playing numbers make up one statistic, but only one. You need to have the heritage and public interest in the sport to be able to push it. You need the grassroots infrastructure. Which is why you still see Wales, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) Scotland bringing out strong teams, even though they have small populations, both in total and in terms of rugby players.
The general public interest in rugby and grass roots infrastructure are why the home nations, tri nations and islanders are such big hitters in rugby. It's also why the likes of the USA, Russia etc, which have large populations and larger pools of players than other nations, are still falling shorter.
Rugby is definately getting more intense, but I'd say the big jump happened about 10 years ago, when we started seeing props who lived in the gym, not the pub
I do agree that the next RWC will be interesting, will be interesting to see what fringe teams make it
I also hope the IRB pulls the stick out their a** and we don't see NZ and Aus boycotting it!No, the ABs will do exactly what they need to do. Every single time. Saying that the score doesn't represent the game is pointless. The game is 80 minutes long, and if a team like the Pumas play well for the first hour, but then get beaten by 23 points, well the All Blacks certainly deserved it.
And the ABs will win tonights semi. Yes, Ritchie is playing. I think most of the fuss about his foot is unwarranted. He's playing it safe, being sensible. I think Aaron Cruden in fly half is a much better footballer than the Aussies are giving him credit for, other than an obvious lack of size.
Wales should have won tonight, they were hard done by with a red card. but such is life.
And the ABs will win tonights semi. Yes, Ritchie is playing. I think most of the fuss about his foot is unwarranted. He's playing it safe, being sensible. I think Aaron Cruden in fly half is a much better footballer than the Aussies are giving him credit for, other than an obvious lack of size.
Wales should have won tonight, they were hard done by with a red card. but such is life.
You think that.
I (and everyone else I know who watches and plays) will stand by thinking they aren't playing on form, (you can still be off form and win a game).
We disagree, that's fine.
I (and everyone else I know who watches and plays) will stand by thinking they aren't playing on form, (you can still be off form and win a game).
We disagree, that's fine.
Does sound like alot. Heard it on TV the other night. Might be some sort of forecast. If the 15-aside game makes it into the olympics, it'll surely take off in countries like Russia.
The new AB flyhalf has what, 2 caps ?
Best of luck to him though.
Wales should have won, then again they missed 3 penalties and a conversion. That's 11 points, could have been 19-9 instead of 8-9.
Rugby Union has been played in the Olympics a few times, granted the last time was back in the 1920s!
Apparently 7-a-side Rugby is making it into the Olympics in 2016, which would be awesome!
Love 7's and it makes me proud to know it came from a wee Scottish village
(granted, it doesn't make us very good at it! )True, but talented!
Was it? I only thought it was 2 penalties and a conversion, but aye, as you say, they certainly could have had more points on the board.
Feel sorry for the bloke whose penalty kick fell just short!
Also, got linked to a memorandum to the rules. While the official rules state that a dump tackle or spear tackle (well, tackling offense) should be met with caution, yellow card or red card (and a penalty). The memorandum states that a dump or spear tackle must be an automatic red card.
there were 20 argentine players making their debut on a world cup, so it almost safe to say there will be no slump... Frankly the team did a lot better than what was expected of it, they hadn't played very well on the games previous to the world cup. There were even some very important players injured during the world cup and not able to play, and the reserves did quite well. that was a pleasant surprise.
4 Nations will be tough, but it can only make our game better. It's basically the lack of an yearly competition what separated our team from the bigger teams.
I do agree that AB did not play to the level that was expected, I believe all the other teams are tougher now and rugby's getting harder to predict.
But they still have a bunch of veterans (especially in the tight 5), and the experience they have is useful for the rest of the team as a whole. It isn't just Argentina, there are a lot of big players from the home nations retiring too!
Watching NZ - Aus, other than one run, Australia aren't here, they've had one good break, other than that, Aus seem to be playing worse than they were against SA. Unless they get into this, it could be a high scoring semi final for the Blackness.
On saying that, it's a good thing that the ABs don't need to rely on a kicking game
So Australia took one good run, and unsurprisingly played like absolute **** for the remainder of the game. The scores should have been further apart than they were.
New Zealand are going to be strong favourites against the French, but with the French, you never know what team is going to come out. So it could be a good match, or it could be a wash, we shall see!
Australia playing Wales for the 3rd place position, they are going to need to pull out a hell of a game to try and beat the Welsh. Still surprised the Aussies managed to get this far!
Sad days that there is only a week of the RWC left
New Zealand are going to be strong favourites against the French, but with the French, you never know what team is going to come out. So it could be a good match, or it could be a wash, we shall see!
Australia playing Wales for the 3rd place position, they are going to need to pull out a hell of a game to try and beat the Welsh. Still surprised the Aussies managed to get this far!
Sad days that there is only a week of the RWC left
Looking forward to next week. I am tipping New Zealand against the French, but then again I did the same for England and Wales and look what happened there.
Wales - Australia might be an interesting contest if they are both up for it.
Wales - Australia might be an interesting contest if they are both up for it.
