The Rugby Thread

[talkshowhost86]

Looking at the final now (sorry E17) my main concern is how England do under the high ball.

Halfpenny largely did well today but he wasn't always under a huge amount of pressure. If Faf kicks a bit better it will put a lot of pressure on Daly. He's going to need to have a big game.

And the breakdown is going to be fascinating. They conceded some silly penalties today, but South Africa did look a real nuisance and Curry and Underhill were superb yesterday.

I think England have got the pack to match South Africa, and there are certainly tries in our backs if we can get playing.

Before the tournament most would have made South Africa favourites against England. I think based on the tournament so far England definitely start as favourites.

But one thing that E17 has said that was right is that whats gone before really doesn't matter. It's all about who turns up on the day.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

It’s not hard. You have forced errors and you have unforced errors.

The majority of errors that NZ made were forced as a result of a brilliant game by England but they still made a lot (at least 5) unforced errors that you’d never see do

I was not claiming any unusual insight into the game, but you do have to take into account the game situation when deciding whether an error is forced or not. It's one thing knocking on because Maro is about to smack you into a different dimension, but feeling the game slipping away applies its own pressure that distracts the mind.

I haven't seen England apply so much concerted pressure for the full 80 since maybe ever. It's one reason why I don't feel overly confident about next week. England's average performance over the past few months / year or so has been so far below what they produced yesterday.

You don't turn into a bad team overnight, but you don't turn into nailed-on world-beaters either. And who knows what a World Cup final will do to the 'unforced' error count?

 

[E17yid]

I was not claiming any unusual insight into the game, but you do have to take into account the game situation when deciding whether an error is forced or not. It's one thing knocking on because Maro is about to smack you into a different dimension, but feeling the game slipping away applies its own pressure that distracts the mind.

I haven't seen England apply so much concerted pressure for the full 80 since maybe ever. It's one reason why I don't feel overly confident about next week. England's average performance over the past few months / year or so has been so far below what they produced yesterday.

You don't turn into a bad team overnight, but you don't turn into nailed-on world-beaters either. And who knows what a World Cup final will do to the 'unforced' error count?

It was more their passing in your game when there was no pressure. A knock on when there isn’t a opposition player within 5 meters of you is, again, an unforced error. Talking about distraction of the mind would imply it’s unforced unless you’ve got Professor Xavier playing for you. This is NZ we’re talking about.

Today no matter what TSH talks about SA were far from awful, they were actually pretty good. It was, obviously, a totally different match from a tactical point of view.

 

[E17yid]

By 'dragged down' I would interpret that in terms of performance rather than style.

Watching that game today I didn't feel as if South Africa imposed their game on Wales because Wales didn't really offer much to impose on.

If England play like they did yesterday South Africa will absolutely have to impose themselves if they're going to play their game.

You’re making out that they were terrible today. It wasn’t vintage SA or wales but both teams were alright really. It’s semi final rugby, you tend so see less risks taken at this stage in the tournament and SA are the best in the world at what they do. Were they playing to their ability? Obviously not, but looking at that game in isolation is stupid.

Anyway, we’ll see how you fair on Saturday. I’ll be amazed if you play the same way you did against NZ.

 

[talkshowhost86]

You’re making out that they were terrible today. It wasn’t vintage SA or wales but both teams were alright really. It’s semi final rugby, you tend so see less risks taken at this stage in the tournament and SA are the best in the world at what they do. Were they playing to their ability? Obviously not, but looking at that game in isolation is stupid.

Anyway, we’ll see how you fair on Saturday. I’ll be amazed if you play the same way you did against NZ.

I haven't said they were terrible. They weren't good though. And Wales were worse.

I'll also be amazed if we play the same way we did against NZ. That's the concern really.

 

[E17yid]

I haven't said they were terrible. They weren't good though. And Wales were worse.

I'll also be amazed if we play the same way we did against NZ. That's the concern really.

I disagree. We were actually pretty good. Was proud of the boys. Our best scrummager going off as well as North in the first half (who was playing well) was not ideal but we dug in, got some good turnovers, defended well. I was a bit disappointed with some of our kicking but you’re never going to nail every kick abs we lacked that composure at a crucial time when we conceded than pen after our line out. Fine margins.

 

[LeSoupeKitchen]

Fucking hell, you can tell you’ve only been watching rugby for a few years.

We also did have another option, did you miss that sub.

What game plan would you have come up with genius.

You two have been arguing about rugby for more than a few years.

 

[Yid-ol]

This thread has been more entertaining than the game today

 

[talkshowhost86]

I disagree. We were actually pretty good. Was proud of the boys. Our best scrummager going off as well as North in the first half (who was playing well) was not ideal but we dug in, got some good turnovers, defended well. I was a bit disappointed with some of our kicking but you’re never going to nail every kick abs we lacked that composure at a crucial time when we conceded than pen after our line out. Fine margins.

See. You can disagree without being abusive!

Personally thought Wales were bang average today and not sure when they'll have a better chance of getting to a World Cup final.

I will give you the point on injuries though. Teams need to have options to counter injuries in the build up to games but the in-game injuries are harder to deal with IMO.

But the big players who were out there didn't have big enough games for Wales.

 

[talkshowhost86]

This thread has been more entertaining than the game today

Not hard to be fair.

 

[E17yid]

See. You can disagree without being abusive!

Personally thought Wales were bang average today and not sure when they'll have a better chance of getting to a World Cup final.

I will give you the point on injuries though. Teams need to have options to counter injuries in the build up to games but the in-game injuries are harder to deal with IMO.

But the big players who were out there didn't have big enough games for Wales.

“Not sure you'll have a better chance of getting to a final”

What, little old Wales. No, we couldn’t possibly. England, though, every WC, right? We should count ourselves lucky to get out of the groups. It’s not like we’ve been a top 4 team in the world for the last few years or anything.

 

[talkshowhost86]

“Not sure you'll have a better chance of getting to a final”

What, little old Wales. No, we couldn’t possibly. England, though, every WC, right? We should count ourselves lucky to get out of the groups. It’s not like we’ve been a top 4 team in the world for the last few years or anything.

That's sort of my point dude.

When you're a consistent top four team then that's the best chance to get to a final. Particularly if you can do so without having to play NZ first.

 

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

It's called an inferiority complex...

Why does England feel so inferior to every other country?

 

[E17yid]

That's sort of my point dude.

When you're a consistent top four team then that's the best chance to get to a final. Particularly if you can do so without having to play NZ first.

So we’re unlikely to remain a top 4 team is what you’re saying, then?

 

[Trix]

“Not sure you'll have a better chance of getting to a final”

What, little old Wales. No, we couldn’t possibly. England, though, every WC, right? We should count ourselves lucky to get out of the groups. It’s not like we’ve been a top 4 team in the world for the last few years or anything.

Why you have to constantly turn this into and English Welsh thing? Wales have played far better than they did today over the last couple of years, and had they been close to their best they could have won convincingly against that SA team today, albeit they are capable of playing better themselves. It was clearly a nervy game with neither team at their best, but isn't that the sign of a truly top team in any sport that they can produce when the pressure is truly on? Wale have been very unlucky with injuries and of course don't have the numbers to call on like some of the other side's, but they were still below par today imo.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Not playing like you did in this tournament ?

In the modern game I'm not sure Wales have ever had such a strong team and not sure they will again. Also their route to the final was probably the kindest they could have had. I think this was their best chance so far. If they're going to do it in 4 years time it'll probably be much harder.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Why does England feel so inferior to every other country?

Have you seen the state of our government?

 

[E17yid]

Why you have to constantly turn this into and English Welsh thing? Wales have played far better than they did today over the last couple of years, and had they been close to their best they could have won convincingly against that SA team today, albeit they are capable of playing better themselves. It was clearly a nervy game with neither team at their best, but isn't that the sign of a truly top team in any sport that they can produce when the pressure is truly on? Wale have been very unlucky with injuries and of course don't have the numbers to call on like some of the other side's, but they were still below par today imo.

What games were we better in, as a 80min performance? It certainly wasn’t any in this WC. You’d have to go back to the last 6N most notably the England game where Liam Willians was MOTM, Navidi, Hill, North, Francis all played the whole game pretty much and we didn’t have 2 injured centers. So basically a totally different scenario.

We could’ve kicked better, we could’ve shown some more composure, we needed some calm heads around 65mins but we lost by 3 points to a side that a lot of people were tipping as the favourites to win the WC.

We deserved to lose a tight game today but we were nit bang average at all especially in the context of this WC and I’d have no problem admitting if we were in fact it’d be easier to take if we did play bad. I think people think we played bad coz we didn’t “Chuck it around the park” which shows how clueless some people are. We’ll see how much you “chuck it around” next week.

 

[E17yid]

Not playing like you did in this tournament ?

In the modern game I'm not sure Wales have ever had such a strong team and not sure they will again. Also their route to the final was probably the kindest they could have had. I think this was their best chance so far. If they're going to do it in 4 years time it'll probably be much harder.

Christ, ok if you’re on a wind up that’s fine but it’s just more arrogant shit after arrogant shit.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

@E17yid at least you have the liverpool game to look forward to.....