Rugby World Cup 2023

Walken · October 4, 2023

The binman chronicles said:
Tonga have always had decent players but they are let down by two things, their ill discipline which often leaves them down a player (or 3) and the fact that their really top players will try and play for New Zealand or other wealthy nations.

For those reasons I don’t think they will ever be consistently good, you may have one or two tournaments in 10 where they do well - like Samoa and Fiji.

The new recall rules might give them a better chance

Toffeepot · October 4, 2023

BNJ1878 said:
It's probably been covered earlier, but why the actual fudge do these fannies need a MINIMUM 7 days between games?

England's next game is a full 14 days after the previous one.

How on earth can any fan commit to go watch a tournament? At this rate it will be over in December.

Because they get hit with the force of a small car @30/40kph at regular intervals maybe?

blue to the bone · October 4, 2023

Toffeepot said:
It's a superb tournament

From the quarter final stages on it might be. The group stages and sheer length of it is ridiculous 70/80 point mismatches are a waste of time .

blueloon · October 4, 2023

BNJ1878 said:
It's probably been covered earlier, but why the actual fudge do these fannies need a MINIMUM 7 days between games?

England's next game is a full 14 days after the previous one.

How on earth can any fan commit to go watch a tournament? At this rate it will be over in December.

For many that’s the beauty of the tournament. I’ve had four week tours of New Zealand and Japan taking in Group matches, both wonderful countries and the one week then two week gap between games adds to the opportunity to explore . I’ve also attended matches in Wales, England and Scotland when RWC has been held in the UK , the gap between matches helped. Each team usually has one period of two weeks , when there are 5 teams per group one team will always have a blank weekend.

Mikey_Fitzgerald · October 4, 2023

Of all people, my mum is getting quite into this

No idea why as she's shown, at best, a tangential interest in sports throughout the majority of my life (mostly in relation to how much she liked Fellaini's hair)

Still though, if she keeps this enthusiasm once the tournament is over then the sport will have one new fan at least lol

Billy Dean · October 4, 2023

Why do they have so many days without any matches? I don't know much about rugby. Is it because recovery times are longer?

Tommy Chong · October 4, 2023

It would be hilarious if one of the team went out like this...

Proper Everton that!

dublinbluenose · October 5, 2023

Uruguay putting up a better effort against NZ than the Italians last week

Have they just scored ?

dublinbluenose · October 5, 2023

No in touch

dublinbluenose · October 5, 2023

Outrageous skill from McKenzie there

Rita_Poon · October 5, 2023

Very high quality refereeing all round from all concerned. Impressively so.

blueloon · October 6, 2023

Billy Dean said:
Why do they have so many days without any matches? I don't know much about rugby. Is it because recovery times are longer?

Yes, essentially 6/7 days is the norm for recovery, some of the “ lesser nations” have been forced to play at less than ideal recovery gaps.

blueloon · October 6, 2023

Some interesting changes in the backs for Italy. With Tommy Allan now at 10, Garbisi in centre and the lightening fast Capuozzo at full back. A last throw of the dice to do better than they did against the ABs , but you’d guess at France by at least 30 points …cue close game!