The Rugby Thread

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Ooh the lesser spotted conversion charge down!

The 1% that makes a monumental difference.

 

[spurs mental]

The 1% that makes a monumental difference.

Similar to Barret getting his arm under the ball on the line Saturday night.

 

[Japhet]

Bit more inconsistent reffing imo. Don't see how Tom Curry is a straight red for head contact but Etzebeth just gets a yellow.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Bit more inconsistent reffing imo. Don't see how Tom Curry is a straight red for head contact but Etzebeth just gets a yellow.

I think the curry one was harsh but was also early stages of the tournament. It seems refs came to a more balanced view as the games progressed?

 

[Japhet]

I think the curry one was harsh but was also early stages of the tournament. It seems refs came to a more balanced view as the games progressed?

Fair enough, but I still think it's inconsistent. Etzebeth would be missing the final if they hadn't relaxed the officiating, and it's there for the protection of the players which makes it a bizarre turnaround.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

As a South African, I take nothing for granted. I prefer to ignore form and want the Boks to go all in cause anything can happen in sport. We have to take it to the English. Argentina stand no chance against the All Blacks though.

You've got one hell of a team there. England won't be able to live with your backs when they get into space.

I fear a mauling. Anything under 30 points would be a decent turn out!
But, as you say, there's usually a chance in sport and England may resort to a kicking game to try and stifle you a bit. But ultimately it'll just give you possession.

If anything, England should relax and try and play a bit. Noone expects anything.

 

[Japhet]

Bit of a dilemma for Borthwick as I don't see how he can drop Ben Earl after a performance like that but he also can't afford to drop the pack weight against the Boks. Probably drop Chessum, move Lawes into lock and put in the back row I guess.

 

[CanadaSpurs]

We went from an all-Northern Hemisphere semi-final on Friday to very nearly an all-Southern one.

Pretty funny, though I would have preferred to see France move on.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

We went from an all-Northern Hemisphere semi-final on Friday to very nearly an all-Southern one.

Pretty funny, though I would have preferred to see France move on.

To be fair, those who predicted all Northern hemisphere semi finalists were really close to being right!

 

[jimbo]

I thought France were really unlucky there, two of those first half SA tries depend on a fortunate bounce of the ball, and they dominated territory for most of the game. But SA fought hard, played smart and squeaked it.

It seems like we're looking at another SA vs NZ final, which I can't say I'm thrilled about from an interest point of view.

Is it possible that the physicality of France takes a bit out of SA for the match with England? Seems unlikely, and if it did then England would be in the same place for the final if they did somehow manage to win.

My predictions have been terrible so far, so I'm going for the semi-finals to be won by NZ and SA with 20+ point margins - a sharp contrast to the two massive QFs decided by a handful of points we've just enjoyed.

And of course massive, massive congratulations to England for beating Fiji.

 

[Dakes]

Noone expects anything.

This is what I think makes England a real threat going into the game.

 

[Pink_Floyd]

Funny

 

[Cinemattis]

Being a total and complete noob as a follower of international rugby, I’ll probably make a total fool of myself when venturing into predictions of the knockout stage. But you guys all love a clown, don’t you?

Wales - Argentina | Wales
England - Fiji | England

Neither of the two UK teams have made new, internationals fans (including myself). But they win. Ugly wins are still wins, and neither Argentina (especially) nor Fiji have shown a strong ability to get the next level results needed in this WC. Fiji with a slightly bigger chance to make an upset though.

France - South Africa | ? France ?
Ireland - New Zealand | Ireland

Both matches could easily have been the final. And the finalists and the final winner is extremely likely to be found here.

F-SA is the most open quarterfinal as far as I can understand. #2 in the World rankings, the host nation against the reigning champions and the best defensive team in the world . Home crowd the decider?

I-NZ would in any other WC be an odds on win for the all blacks. But the 6 Nations winners will not only get by their quarterfinal curse, I think they’ll be the final winners as they are probably the most complete team.

4th: England
Bronze: Wales
Silver: France
Gold: Ireland

Ok - you can start laughing now

That went well …

 

[Yid-ol]

 

[Pink_Floyd]

 

[talkshowhost86]

Steward, Martin and Marler in.

Steward makes sense and I also get the logic with Marler.

Personally I think Chessum has been great when he's played in this tournament so that's an odd one, but perhaps we think he has more impact off the bench.

Sadly though I think it'll be game over before the bench becomes a factor.

 

[Dakes]

Steward, Martin and Marler in.

Steward makes sense and I also get the logic with Marler.

Personally I think Chessum has been great when he's played in this tournament so that's an odd one, but perhaps we think he has more impact off the bench.

Sadly though I think it'll be game over before the bench becomes a factor.

You guys really underestimate your team. Many of your players have played in a World Cup final. You have good players, it's just that the team hasn't been playing well for a while. I haven't been following English rugby, so I don't know the reasons why. But, on the day, they are able to beat us. I am hoping we beat the English but I know that it's far from a foregone conclusion as many are making it out to be.

I hope it goes the way that many expect, but I don't see this as being smooth sailing for us by any stretch.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

@TheHoddleWaddle

Are you on commentating duty today?

 

[talkshowhost86]

Argentina need to be much better than their best today...and so far they really aren't.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

@TheHoddleWaddle

Are you on commentating duty today?

I'm talking to the dog instead....!

I've got it on telly but I'm not really playing attention. Argentina getting to this semi is probably more surprising than England.getting to the other.