Rugby World Cup 2015

[Billions 687]

Really looking forward to this.....opening fixture tonight (England v Fiji).I have been a life-long Rugby League supporter so I have surprised myself by my enthusiasm for this tournament.

 

I looked up a few Jonah Lomu videos earlier today to whet my appetite.....Lomu is a legend,a New Zealander who was quite simply the best player of his generation,a superhuman athlete. If you have time available,watch these :

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsXTa7UCGlk

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Judms69Zw8g

[atlas2 4,329]

Setting my daily activities around this.......Got a doze in today so looking forward to the start.

 

Despite the stale stereotypes always trotted out of the snotty, superior English needing taking down a peg or two, the English can never approach any sport with any sense of confidence.

 

Fiji are a BIG worry in every way.

 

'Game on'

[keyman 1,413]

Setting my daily activities around this.......Got a doze in today so looking forward to the start.

 

Despite the stale stereotypes always trotted out of the snotty, superior English needing taking down a peg or two, the English can never approach any sport with any sense of confidence.

 

Fiji are a BIG worry in every way.

 

'Game on'

 

Well, although they didn't play brilliantly, that BIG worry is behind them and they are 5 points to the better in their group.

And as ex winners of the World Cup in 2003, they absolutely do have the right to approach this with confidence.

 

KM

[TheFiend 1,181]

Nice to see Sam Burgess get a few minutes on the pitch and showed what he is capable of.....

 

Also interesting to see how much Rugby League pedigree was on that pitch tonight.. Part from Sam Burgess both Owen Farrell and George Ford played rugby league in their younger days. Such a shame that such talent has been lost to Union, although I reckon Burgess will be back playing League in 2 or 3 years time.

[Billions 687]

Sam Burgess looked dangerous tonight,slipped a couple of impossible passes out when it looked like he was caught in possession. Just like Sonny Bill does for New Zealand,these guys unload in the tackle to generate another movement instead of going to ground and causing a breakdown.

 

Another Rugby League convert to look out for of course is Israel Folau,the Wizard of Oz.

 

Ford and Farrell are fantastic players,their respective fathers having been top performers in Rugby League before both going on to be leading coaches in Union.

 

And to think that only a few years ago anyone playing League,at any level was banned for life from ever playing Union.

[atlas2 4,329]

I love these things......From the opening ceremony.

 

Edited September 19, 2015 by atlas2

[Fatboyfat 361]

Great atmosphere at "Twikkers" last night. That was a good game for England (notoriously slow starters) to begin with, better than a walkover team IMHO. I hadn't realised just how enormous a man that Nadolo is, until seeng him in the flesh. Makes Jonah Lomu look like a lightweight! Back to Twickenham again tonight for France v Italy I fear it may be a bit of a "bore-fest" for the neutral.

[Fatboyfat 361]

Nice to see Sam Burgess get a few minutes on the pitch and showed what he is capable of.....

 

Also interesting to see how much Rugby League pedigree was on that pitch tonight.. Part from Sam Burgess both Owen Farrell and George Ford played rugby league in their younger days. Such a shame that such talent has been lost to Union, although I reckon Burgess will be back playing League in 2 or 3 years time.

Burgess is probably destined for the bench throughout this world cup due to his relative inexperience and also versatility in either back or loose forward play. With the huge pay differential for top players in Union compared to League in UK (and possibly France later on) I very much doubt he will return to League.

The Welsh (in particular) supporters of my era feel a touch of "schadenfreude" with respect to top League players coming across to Union nowadays!

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

England need a big step up on that form to win the WC. Ref seemed very partial towards England and the TMO took too long. I can't see beyond the All Blacks this time even though the Springboks were, IMO, robbed in the last WC. France are dark horses and though they have a had a bad few years they usually up their game at the World Cup.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Burgess is probably destined for the bench throughout this world cup due to his relative inexperience and also versatility in either back or loose forward play. With the huge pay differential for top players in Union compared to League in UK (and possibly France later on) I very much doubt he will return to League.

The Welsh (in particular) supporters of my era feel a touch of "schadenfreude" with respect to top League players coming across to Union nowadays!

 

The RFL have brought in a marquee player ruling which will allow teams to sign one player not governed by the "Salary Cap limitations" imposed on the clubs. It's to try and stop the best players being attracted by the big money being offered by the NRL in Australia, but it could also be used to attract players back from the NRL but also from Rugby Union. If the right money was on the table Sam would come back to League. Marwin Koukash at Salford Red Devils has the money to sign him as a marquee player if he wanted to.

 

i could see Sam Burgess being like Sonny Bill Williams and swapping between the two codes.

[yorta2 693]

Hmm, Springboks? Well done Japan!

[atlas2 4,329]

Yes we all like to see the less established nations do well.........Except against our own team.

 

I missed it but will check out the highlights....Not the same as watching live of course. Well done the Blushing Blossoms or whatever they are called.

 

Samoa Vs USA today. I would think the US are the underdogs for a change...I'm sure they'll give Samoa a few worries.

[wacmedia 277]

Hmm, Springboks? Well done Japan!

 

Hi,

 

Great game. I like to watch the teams I dont usually see. Japanese were very creative in attack and went for victory rather than a draw at the end. USA v Samoa and Uruguay play Wales. Uruguay seems a very interesting country. Have to make it there at some stage.

[Fatboyfat 361]

Well I got the wrong match yesterday!.... but bottom line was that I couldn't get tickets for the Brighton venue Boks/Japan. I was originally after that one on the South coast prior to my football sojourn today at Southampton. France looked pretty serious though, and although not a great game against Italy the atmosphere at "Twickenham de Francais" was again excellent; and they still managed to smuggle that cockerel into the ground! Today's football match will almost certainly contrast with typical hate-filled tribalism probably being the order of the day!

Off to Gloucester on Wednesday, where the missus will join me, and meeting up with my old Japanese neighbours from Edinburgh. I suppose that I will be expected to support the Scots (the missus will almost certainly side with the Orientals), but in reality I think I would like to see another Japanese win. It will be incredibly tough for them though, having only 3 days rest between matches. General consensus is that 6/7 days between matches is the optimum, and it is the lowest unseeded teams that are inconvenienced in this way.

I am going to have to rein back on the liquid entertainment though, getting too old to keep the boozing extravaganza up :

[wacmedia 277]

Off to Gloucester on Wednesday, where the missus will join me, and meeting up with my old Japanese neighbours from Edinburgh. I suppose that I will be expected to support the Scots (the missus will almost certainly side with the Orientals), but in reality I think I would like to see another Japanese win. It will be incredibly tough for them though, having only 3 days rest between matches. General consensus is that 6/7 days between matches is the optimum, and it is the lowest unseeded teams that are inconvenienced in this way.

 

 

Hi,

 

If the Japs can play like they did against the Boks then Scotland have no chance. As you say it's a quick turnaround and unfair on the Japanese. Hard for them to raise their game in two games so close together. I thought the AB's look pretty good agaiinst a solid Argie team.

[Fatboyfat 361]

 

i could see Sam Burgess being like Sonny Bill Williams and swapping between the two codes.

The problem with that in England or France is that the players are expected to play an inordinate amount of competitive rugby for their "greedy" clubs. The RFU and the French version are reluctant to exercise the "authority" over the Premier league clubs that the Southern Hemisphere unions do, due to ever-present threats of forming break-aways. On average an active International player for any English or French club will play more than 50% extra games than their Southern Hemisphere counterparts. The Welsh are only marginally better off in that respect as are the Scots. Only the Irish compete with parity to Southern Hemisphere with regards to their International squad.

[atlas2 4,329]

Well had it been England playing Japan tonight I can imagine a Scottish board-member (sadly not around these days) scouring the sports shops and catalogues to kit himself out with a Japanese shirt...........

 

But I'll be watching all the home countries and supporting them against anyone but England.

 

It was great to see Japan cause the upset over SA....hopefully warned by that.....Scotland will be putting out the A team tonight and get a comfortable win.

[nkped 1,208]

Well had it been England playing Japan tonight I can imagine a Scottish board-member (sadly not around these days) scouring the sports shops and catalogues to kit himself out with a Japanese shirt...........

 

 

He hasn't visited the mess recently. It would not shock me if he was attending in person. If we see someone in the stands wearing a tent size kilt and a Scotland shirt carrying a combat bottle of Chang . . .

Edited September 23, 2015 by nkped

[Fatboyfat 361]

Yet another "competition deciding" disastrous decision by England captain Robshaw last night. He has history with such final minutes decisions. Not even speaking in retrospect here; there were gasps (and expletives) of disbelief all around me last night, at the time. Surely if we can work out there and then that the best option (taking into account that England already have the extra bonus point from Fiji, and play the whipping boys Uruguay last of all), is to kick for the draw; The guy that is trusted and paid to make those decisions should be able to! Now even if by some minor miracle they get through in 2nd spot they will be in the really difficult side of the draw, with the All Blacks in first round of the knockout stages.

Congrats to the "Sheep Shaggers" though; They really toughed it out, and I thought throughout the match that they were "just going to do it". Their massive injury list could be telling though, and the Fijians on Thursday are very physical, and could add players to the ever increasing sick list.

I don't think the Aussies will be overly worried having watched that match, especially since they have really improved their set-piece forward play of late.

[atlas2 4,329]

As you say the Welsh have a lot of their best players in 'the workshop' undergoing repairs. Fiji are physically competitive. By the time Wales get to playing Australia.......They could have lost even more......I expect Australia to win that match.

 

Perhaps the acute angle worried Robshaw.....Whatever, it turned out to be the wrong decision. Can't do anything about it now. England will have almost nothing to lose against Australia........If they don't win it's over. No excuses...no if only's. Should be a good game.

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

Great spirit shown by Wales. I think England showed a defensive mindset by picking Farrell and Burgess.

[Fatboyfat 361]

Hi,

 

Great spirit shown by Wales. I think England showed a defensive mindset by picking Farrell and Burgess.

Horses for courses. Wales give away penalties, and Farrell is by far the most accurate kicker. Also Wales rely a lot on the big crash bang unit that is Roberts... Burgess and latterly Farrell snuffed him out. As for outside centre, the original squad selection was at fault (as commented on by all and sundry at the time); Once Joseph is injured there is no suitable replacement. I fully expect Ford and if fit, Joseph to be re-instated for the Aussie match, as a more offensive lineup; Conversely, Haskell may have to come in for Vunipola too, to counteract the Aussie back row at the break-down.

[atlas2 4,329]

Well England have never overcome such a half-time deficit in Test rugby...........

 

Australia are playing well and now have tons of confidence........

 

Not looking good.......BUT.......If we get a break early on we can still win that half and the game.

 

Not a problem then.

[graymatter 153]

Good bye England.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Good bye England.

 

With England now out I wonder if the Rugby Leagues Superleague Grand final will get more column inches next weekend in the British press... Somehow I doubt it....

 

Didn't watch the match but I'd hazard a guess Sam Burgess gets singled out for criticism...

 

This appeared on Twitter shortly after the game finished

 

https://twitter.com/BarRorkes/status/650412352366596096

 

 

Edited October 3, 2015 by TheFiend