Rugby World Cup 2023

[Kurt.]

Glad to see everyone happy with the Welsh win

 

[sbbefc]

About 5 minutes before half-time the ref called a penalty to Fiji, but, as per the normal practise, play was allowed to continue as Fiji had possession. Possession ended due to Wales gaining possession, and a Fiji tackle was deemed high (even thought the Wales player was bent over to about waist height). Penalty to Wales. Now I thought the ref would move things back to a Fiji penalty, eminently kickable for 3. But he ignored that. Maybe I'm getting the rule wrong, but once Wales got possession, shouldn't the ref had blown and taken the play back to the Fiji penalty? Just as in football, the ref plays on for a couple of seconds or so until he sees there is no advantage to the team that was on the wrong end of the foul. I thought Fiji were 'done' on that one...

Depends how much advantage Fiji got. I can't recall this exact moment. I was half watching tbh. But if they gained only 10-20m then I'd argue it should have gone back to the initial offence. But any further than that then advantage over.

 

[Charlie Sweet]

Pettiness, pettiness, the only gift this isle posses
Lets thank the Lord that we've been blessed
With a tory share of pettiness

He's right though isn't he? William happy to ignore the ladies women's team in a world Cup final but won't miss a Welsh group match? Disgusting behaviour

 

[Charlie Sweet]

Tell you what, the RFU are marketing geniuses because this sport is the absolute pits.

Ha ha says a league fan no doubt. Union in its purest form is the best sport on the planet.

 

[Milk]

Fiji are everyone's second favourite team

Interesting stat from last night. Since 2019, Wales have played 45 internationals to Fijis 15.
That needs changing because they are a joy to watch ... and I'm Welsh

 

[widnesblue]

Ha ha says a league fan no doubt. Union in its purest form is the best sport on the planet.

In its purest? So one game out of every 50 then? When League is played at its best, Union can’t even compete with it. Union has improved an awful lot in the last 20/30 years, no doubt. League has gone terrible in the last 15 years, more so in this country. Unions become what league was, ironic that they’ve had to use league has an example of how to improve from a skill set. Unions become quicker, more skilful and the ball gets thrown around a lot more now.

I’ve seen Widnes teams, wigan teams and St. Helens teams play some of the most exciting rugby that can be played. The is a reason why ex union lads who came to league, went and played in the NRL in the winter say that the NRL is the truest form of rugby that can be played.

Also a reason why so many ex league players are going over to union to coach and why from a grassroots, union are recruiting kids from league backgrounds because they don’t need to coach them the basics of tackling, ball handling skills, positional play, how to create over laps, to run on the angle, how to carry the ball and not knock it on when they are under pressure.

 

[blueloon]

Fiji are everyone's second favourite team

Interesting stat from last night. Since 2019, Wales have played 45 internationals to Fijis 15.
That needs changing because they are a joy to watch ... and I'm Welsh

Fiji‘s history is quite chequered and in some ways there love for all things Sevens held back the 15 man game a bit , but that’s changed. There’s a wonderful book “ Sevens Heavens - Fijis beautiful chaos” by Ben Ryan the coach who lead the 7’s team to their first Olympic Gold. It covers a lot of the “ mentality” of Fijian rugby.

The fact they’ve now got a team , the Drua , playing In Super Rugby is a great step forward for them. But I suspect if the South African teams hadn’t pulled out they perhaps wouldn’t have got so much help. Fitting in more international games is a problem , nobody wants to tour Fiji/ Samoa in the summer and in the autumn the 6 Nation teams want to play the ABs, Boks , Australia , because they sell out stadiums. Hopefully that too is changing.

On the field , rugby union administrators can be quite innovative with rule changes etc, off it though there’s still an “ old boys blazers club” mentality which makes all the right noises towards Tier 2 nations like Fiji and Georgia, but still remain reluctant to change the status quo too much.

 

[Charlie Sweet]

In its purest? So one game out of every 50 then? When League is played at its best, Union can’t even compete with it. Union has improved an awful lot in the last 20/30 years, no doubt. League has gone terrible in the last 15 years, more so in this country. Unions become what league was, ironic that they’ve had to use league has an example of how to improve from a skill set. Unions become quicker, more skilful and the ball gets thrown around a lot more now.

I’ve seen Widnes teams, wigan teams and St. Helens teams play some of the most exciting rugby that can be played. The is a reason why ex union lads who came to league, went and played in the NRL in the winter say that the NRL is the truest form of rugby that can be played.

Also a reason why so many ex league players are going over to union to coach and why from a grassroots, union are recruiting kids from league backgrounds because they don’t need to coach them the basics of tackling, ball handling skills, positional play, how to create over laps, to run on the angle, how to carry the ball and not knock it on when they are under pressure.

Haha rugby league is a series of steroid pumped meat heads lumping into each other then a random kick every few minutes. It's akin to sumo wrestling with a rugby ball!

 

[widnesblue]

Haha rugby league is a series of steroid pumped meat heads lumping into each other then a random kick every few minutes. It's akin to sumo wrestling with a rugby ball!

Steroid pumped up? Seriously? Although now, they are all massive, it’s one of the reason the game is struggling because the players are far too big. It’s took away from their skill, pace and speed and just added more power. I’ll give you that.

So what are union players then? Fat, pumped up, juiced up love a game of pile on each other til then can kick it? Union more than league, always has, hence why it’s known as kick and clap. Imagine them forwards in Union running at league lads? They’d get absolute pin wheeled from lads at the age of 16 never mind the pros. Just think to, England had to rely on the kicking of a kid who grew up playing league and his dad a former GB international who is a highly rated union coach, wasn’t good enough to coach in super league and had to coach on the lower leagues of league.

Do you know why a lot of league fans think union is terrible? A certain generation, probably 25 to older have seen rugby league played at a much better level than it is now. They’ve seen free flowing rugby, seen tries that union players wish they could score. They’ve seen players create things, open up play. Throw the ball around, use skills to set up tries. There is so much more could go on. The is a reason union has recruited so many league players to coach in Union. Jon Clarke who was an average league player is currently head of Australian rugby strength and conditioning, he was at England. Remember when England Rugby Union national team had to go train with Leeds Rhinos to learn the basics of how to catch a ball, tackle, kick and run with the ball? Yes England Rugby had to go to Leeds a league team to learn that. Imagine that? The establishment had to go to the north to learn how to play. Also, I’m 36, when I was growing up playing both codes, league was s head of union in every way, take the international game away from Union, the sport folds and becomes league standard.

I’ve seen a hooker (forward in league) score over 40 tries in a season, be surprised if there is that many tries in a group stage in the World Cup.

Union is better nowadays because of the influx of league. Simple. League has gone terrible because there is no money in the sport due to the absolute mismanagement of the sport over 4 decades.

 

[ForestBlue]

Haha rugby league is a series of steroid pumped meat heads lumping into each other then a random kick every few minutes. It's akin to sumo wrestling with a rugby ball!

I like both formats but how is Union any different to what you describe? Apart from much more pointless kicking (see 1st half France vs NZ for prime example)

At least the majority of the fans, players, commentators and pundits seem to understand the rules in league. Union? Not so much!

Union has got itself into a mess with all of its rule changes over the years and over complicated what was/could be/should be a fairly simple game.

 

[wandyr79]

Individually this England side is quality.

Saturday was the first time for a long time that they looked like a team. It is certainly a positive step, we can hopefully grow a bit more in the tournament and see where it takes us.

I don't really see us getting past the quarters but in this game you never know, if, as I said, they play as a team and have that bit of spark from a couple of individuals, like Ford on Saturday, then there is hope.

 

[boris]

Individually this England side is quality.

Saturday was the first time for a long time that they looked like a team. It is certainly a positive step, we can hopefully grow a bit more in the tournament and see where it takes us.

I don't really see us getting past the quarters but in this game you never know, if, as I said, they play as a team and have that bit of spark from a couple of individuals, like Ford on Saturday, then there is hope.

They're certainties for the quarters from here and I'd expect them to beat Wales in Q/F as well.

As you say, they've got a lot of talent and they may just play there way into form now whilst theta's in the other half of the draw are literally having to peak now just to get through with tough games most weeks.

 

[woomy]

Individually this England side is quality.

Saturday was the first time for a long time that they looked like a team. It is certainly a positive step, we can hopefully grow a bit more in the tournament and see where it takes us.

I don't really see us getting past the quarters but in this game you never know, if, as I said, they play as a team and have that bit of spark from a couple of individuals, like Ford on Saturday, then there is hope.

If we play like we did against Argentina, I think the semis is a possibility, then, anything can happen.
I do think Farrell should be on the bench. Ford took his chance and a Ford/Farrell midfield doesn't work.

 

[DavidH]

Fiji are everyone's second favourite team

Interesting stat from last night. Since 2019, Wales have played 45 internationals to Fijis 15.
That needs changing because they are a joy to watch ... and I'm Welsh

Mine are Western Samoa

 

[Old Blue 2]

Steroid pumped up? Seriously? Although now, they are all massive, it’s one of the reason the game is struggling because the players are far too big. It’s took away from their skill, pace and speed and just added more power. I’ll give you that.

So what are union players then? Fat, pumped up, juiced up love a game of pile on each other til then can kick it? Union more than league, always has, hence why it’s known as kick and clap. Imagine them forwards in Union running at league lads? They’d get absolute pin wheeled from lads at the age of 16 never mind the pros. Just think to, England had to rely on the kicking of a kid who grew up playing league and his dad a former GB international who is a highly rated union coach, wasn’t good enough to coach in super league and had to coach on the lower leagues of league.

Do you know why a lot of league fans think union is terrible? A certain generation, probably 25 to older have seen rugby league played at a much better level than it is now. They’ve seen free flowing rugby, seen tries that union players wish they could score. They’ve seen players create things, open up play. Throw the ball around, use skills to set up tries. There is so much more could go on. The is a reason union has recruited so many league players to coach in Union. Jon Clarke who was an average league player is currently head of Australian rugby strength and conditioning, he was at England. Remember when England Rugby Union national team had to go train with Leeds Rhinos to learn the basics of how to catch a ball, tackle, kick and run with the ball? Yes England Rugby had to go to Leeds a league team to learn that. Imagine that? The establishment had to go to the north to learn how to play. Also, I’m 36, when I was growing up playing both codes, league was s head of union in every way, take the international game away from Union, the sport folds and becomes league standard.

I’ve seen a hooker (forward in league) score over 40 tries in a season, be surprised if there is that many tries in a group stage in the World Cup.

Union is better nowadays because of the influx of league. Simple. League has gone terrible because there is no money in the sport due to the absolute mismanagement of the sport over 4 decades.

Wasn't an experiment done quite a few years ago where they took a top team from each code, and they played each other at each other's code. The Union team won at Union, and the League team won at League.