Official Rugby World Cup Thread
Comments
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Oh dear oh dear. Jenkins sacked already. Pretty unbelievable that they lost actually but Fiji deserved the win to be fair.
Scotland through aswell. And I wasn't too far off in my prediction on that one either!0 -
The ref was bad, the amount of nasty high tackles he let go was just pure crap, Fijian who tackled popham late into aopen kidneys deserved a red card with a couple of yellows for the other players. But all that set aside Fiji deserved to win.0
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I am not surprised that Fiji beat us, we are lacking in welsh rugby direction and strategy which manifests itself on the field in the way we have seen us play: little idea of a game plan in the first half, discovering some of the flair required to beat what shopld be inferior opponents, who, when change their game plan to suit leave us floundering again. OK the players have to shoulder a part of the responsibilty, but these are the same players that nearly did the AB's, have beaten the Aussies, and won the slam in 2005. Any coacn that publicly admits that he completely misread the opposition game plan (the Englad build up game where we were hammered) clearly does not have the political and strategic intellect required to be effective at this level. His choice of backroom coaches have been somewhat odd, Nigel davies has not exactly the most glowing CV, the others have little or no previous coaching experience at regional let alone international level. I feel sorry for Jenkins, and whilst he of course has ther biggest influence on the team and their performance; the root cause of the shambles (there is a pattern here) again rests with the WRU, who this afternoon reacted with such clueless predictability. Now tyhey are apparently "going to scour the world" for the best coach they can get. Of course we have been here before: I can already read the headlines of sanctimonous clap trap from the Western Mail screaming for some foreginers head before we get to the next RWC, and inisisiting on some installing a new welshman as our saviour. And guess what, the WRU will react in exactly the same way again....I just hope we don't have Japan and Canada in our pool next time :roll:0
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redddraggon wrote:It must be all the bloody southerners playing and running the team.
Robin Mcbryde, now he was a good player, he's the forwards coach now, and I don't think the forwards have played too badly recently.
You're not serious are you?? Japan were pushing us back in every ruck, and against Canada and Aussies we had no real solid platform to play off. No team can expect to win major tournaments with only a flourish from the backs, and we have shown little ability to control the posession when the tempo of the game is changed.0 -
Bloody hell red dragon what games have you been watching?redddraggon wrote:It must be all the bloody southerners playing and running the team.
Robin Mcbryde, now he was a good player, he's the forwards coach now, and I don't think the forwards have played too badly recently.
The Welsh team are so inconsistent and as Steve said little game plan. They do not play with right strategy for each game and try to play like the All Blacks but dont have the ability.
Gareth jenkins is a good coach and I like him but he deserved the sack. What on earth was he thinking putting out the side he did againstr England? Give England false confidence maybe?
We nearly beat Austrailia in the summer once, then got stuffed the second time and we played badly in run up to the world cup so I did not have the same level of optimism as you but still though we would scrape through to the Quarters.
from what I can see there is a difference in preperation of players in Northern and Southern hemisphere. We lack the physicality of their sides, especially in the forwards. How you say the Wlesh pack have played quite well is strange. Remember the England game? I was hiding for days ( wlesh exile!!)
We should also give credit where credit was due, Fiji out muscled us and Argentina were great against ireland and it was sad to hear Brian O'Driscolls interview stating only one side wanted to play.
Argentina turned them over dozens of times and Ireland were the worst of the home nations sides in cup.
Argentina's game plan may have not been pretty but it worked, thats exactly how England won last cup, though that style will not win cup this time.
Anyway even though I wanted Wales to win, I am realistic enough to acknoweldge we were beaten by better side on the day and some sides are improving fast and some one has to loose !!!
The trouble with Welsh rigby is similar to English football, we expect that we should win instead of focussing on actually doing it.
What are the odd's of Ruddick coming back to coach Wales? 0 -
Ne'er mind Boyo! Back to the valleys! You can join the rest of the "Celtic Fringe" watching The English Team beating the Ozzies!
Yeh, now that's really going to happen isn't it! Take more than our Jonno's left boot!Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.0 -
Looks like its going to be an all southern set of semis. SA, Argentina, Oz and the AB's.
It would be quite funny if it turned out to be England, Scotland, France and Fiji though! I wouldn't bet against one of those teams causing an upset. Shame the French can't use home advantage against NZ but hopefully enough of the French have planned a weekend in Cardiff.0 -
Anyone got a view on how far behind we're being left by the Southern Hemisphere teams at the moment? Guess its been said before and 4 years ago we (a northern hemisphere team) won it so maybe its just a regular whinge and we'll come back again soon? There seems to be alot of beef around in the SH though to be fair. I don't think you can get away with lighweights these days and NH teams do look alot smaller in comparison. For the most part anyway. France look fairly beefy at the moment.0
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Glad its all over for us.. I think even if we had been bang on form, we would still have had a mighty challenge to get past both France and Argentina. I dont think we should get too upset.. at 100 odd attempts we've won the Grand Slam in 5/6nations once so to win a world cup was a tad optimistic. That said the performance were so gutless and craftless its unreal. Here's to unearthing a few late bloomers or seeing a few ZA/Oz,NZ or Arg fringe players finding Irish roots before next WC. Think we may need a change of coach.. 6 yrs is a long time and 10 years far too long. things are looking a bit stale.0
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I was lucky enough to see South Africa beat the USA last night in Montpellier. Great atmosphere, even if the game meant nothing for the competition. The US had some good set moves and Ngwenya is one fast guy, if had a bit more ball he could of got a couple more tries. The Boks looked very good though
The only slight downer on the day were the over weight, older than they think, obnoxious British men sitting in the bar who after downing a couple of bottles of cheap pink each whilst waving their tickets around. They decided not to go to the game because they couldn't be bothered (or stand up). They were still there 3 hours later after the game. I was with a Swiss guy who asked if this was the fate of all British men once they hit 50.0 -
[quote="oldwelshmanWhat are the odd's of Ruddick coming back to coach Wales?[/quote]
None. He, Mallett, and Jones have already stated they are not interested. Ruddock has already had his nose rubbed in it by Lewis / Pickering et al so he's not going to let them have another go unless there is a completely new WRU management team. What we need is another Moffat as CE for the WRU, Second thoughts this is Wales so we'd end up with Alan Sugar :roll:0 -
They should sack half the wru
Dai Pickerring, Allan Phillips? Not the brightest of people at the top is it?
Oh and I would like to know what the Southern Hemisphere guys are on to have improved so much in last couple of years?
They have always been pretty big but used to tyre quite a bit.
Now they all look like giant wrestlers, can all sprint and last 80 minutes!!!
I wonder if they ever get tested? 0 -
Only one side of the draw looks competitive
SA for the final
I hope we can beat the aussies, we're picking our game up a lot the question is: is it enough?
I hope france can do the AB's one more time with guile but I can't see it
Pumas to beat scotland
SA to beat fiji.
SA to beat the pumas (a fantastic showing from them)
If England beat the aussies we'd beat france/lose to AB's... if the aussies win against us they'll get to the final.Purveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
Farrells out for the Aus game. I was quite looking forward to seeing how he got on in the biggest England game of the last 4 years. Although he's nothing special I kind of like his presence compared to Barkley.
I'm really not sure how things will go on Saturday. We could get tonked, it could be close or we could actually win. I've no idea what will happen at the moment.0 -
It does not matter who England choose in the backs, they only have two international class backs, Wilko and Robinson.
Farrel is not a centre he is way to slow for union centre. If he was playing bet the Aussies would be rubbing their hands
This weeks winners:
Austrailia, new Zealand, SA and Argentina.0 -
oldwelshman wrote:It does not matter who England choose in the backs, they only have two international class backs, Wilko and Robinson.
Farrel is not a centre he is way to slow for union centre. If he was playing bet the Aussies would be rubbing their hands
This weeks winners:
Austrailia, new Zealand, SA and Argentina.
Funny one with Farrell. He was never a back in league when he was younger and faster and would be playing as a prop forward if he hadn't switched codes. As said above he's too slow to play as a centre. Still, it's a shame he's out as he's used to running backwards in league, something we'll be doing plenty of on Saturday (I can bring myself to say "we" even though union isn't really my game as I'm still english and would love an English win). He hasn't played enough games to know union properly either. Shame. Maybe he'd have shined with more games and experience under his belt, maybe not. We'll never know now.
Here's hoping for an english victory, or at least a repsectable performance and scoreline.0 -
Ghost Donkey wrote:oldwelshman wrote:It does not matter who England choose in the backs, they only have two international class backs, Wilko and Robinson.
Farrel is not a centre he is way to slow for union centre. If he was playing bet the Aussies would be rubbing their hands
This weeks winners:
Austrailia, new Zealand, SA and Argentina.
Here's hoping for an english victory, or at least a repsectable performance and scoreline.
The Aussie bleating about us being hated and now apparently we're going to cheat has really p*ssed me off. I would love us to beat them with a last minute drop goal I can't see it though 
Beer, the reason my ambitions have not become my achievements0 -
beckenham wrote:
The Aussie bleating about us being hated and now apparently we're going to cheat has really p*ssed me off. I would love us to beat them with a last minute drop goal I can't see it though
I'd love England to win with a well worked last minute team try. That way the Aussie's can't claim we're a crap team saved by one good kicker.0 -
Ghost Donkey wrote:beckenham wrote:
The Aussie bleating about us being hated and now apparently we're going to cheat has really p*ssed me off. I would love us to beat them with a last minute drop goal I can't see it though
I'd love England to win with a well worked last minute team try. That way the Aussie's can't claim we're a crap team saved by one good kicker.
If England win by kicking, the team has needed a combination of being in the right field position, and poor discipline from the Aussies.
A win from goals, is still a win, and you have earned it (bar a tight scoreline and controversial refeering). You need to score more tries than the opposition to claim the moral victory though.0 -
As a welshy I'm torn between which side I'd most like to see lose....
Seeing as my ratio of English friends to aussie ones is in favour of the men in white then I guess I'd prefer to see them win. Even Ben "Shane who?" Cohen doesn't get close to the aussies for moronic sledging. 0 -
Catt has been selected at IC for tomorrow. He looked pretty poor against SA (then again who didn't) but he's a wise head and hopefully we'll be going forward a bit more so he can have a good game....hopefully. I'm sure the aussies will target the midfield as Tate has missed a few tackles this world cup and generally we've looked a bit disorganised when the pressures on and teams are running angles.
I'd like to see Hipkiss get a go as he's looked sharp when he's come on and put a big hit in against Tonga last week. Maybe he'll get a chance but I guess Ashton didn't want to run out with 2 relative rookies in the centres.
Going to be a huge game though whatever happens so I'm looking forward to it whatever the result. I'm expecting a loss though really.0 -
Heavymental wrote:I'd like to see Hipkiss get a go as he's looked sharp when he's come on and put a big hit in against Tonga last week. Maybe he'll get a chance but I guess Ashton didn't want to run out with 2 relative rookies in the centres.
And that is why England are so far behind. They don't believe in giving guys like Hipkiss - who is a massive talent - the chance, and would rather pick a 36 year old because of the value of his 'experience'.
Look at Australia - Larkham got injured and rather than moving Giteau to FH they went with the untested Barnes. The least experienced player in the squad in the most influential position and he's been bossing the games he's played in.
Now watch England's decrepit old soldiers paste the green Barnes tomorrow proving me completely wrong!
Rule No.10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster0 -
ContrelaMontre wrote:Heavymental wrote:I'd like to see Hipkiss get a go as he's looked sharp when he's come on and put a big hit in against Tonga last week. Maybe he'll get a chance but I guess Ashton didn't want to run out with 2 relative rookies in the centres.
And that is why England are so far behind. They don't believe in giving guys like Hipkiss - who is a massive talent - the chance, and would rather pick a 36 year old because of the value of his 'experience'.
Look at Australia - Larkham got injured and rather than moving Giteau to FH they went with the untested Barnes. The least experienced player in the squad in the most influential position and he's been bossing the games he's played in.
Now watch England's decrepit old soldiers paste the green Barnes tomorrow proving me completely wrong!
True, but I don't think the Premiership develops players to the same degree as elsewhere. Barnes walked into the team looking like the finished article. I don't think we've seen an English player look so outstanding on his debut before. It seems to me that its more a risk for England to chuck someone in hence the reliance on those who've been there before.0 -
Farrell left league too late, shame for union iguess
but in next years 6 nations Leslie Vianakolo can play for England...sweet...
COME ON ENGLANDPurveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
come on then...lets have some predictions!
I'll go for a patriotic 24-20 victory for England.
Fiji, Argentina and SA to win the others but thats no bold call. Be good to be surprised though and I wouldn't put too much money on an upset in any of those games.0 -
Heavymental wrote:come on then...lets have some predictions!
I'll go for a patriotic 24-20 victory for England.
England 26 Aussie's 18
All together now "SWING LOW..." Beer, the reason my ambitions have not become my achievements0 -
Heavymental wrote:come on then...lets have some predictions!
I'll go for a patriotic 24-20 victory for England.
Fiji, Argentina and SA to win the others but thats no bold call. Be good to be surprised though and I wouldn't put too much money on an upset in any of those games.
aren't fiji playing SA???Purveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
Glurk...yeh sorry.....I meant NZ.
Unless there's some kind of double KO and Fiji and SA both go through? Could happen...... 0
