Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

As someone with a very limited understanding of the game and rules, it was very frustrating watching us constantly giving away penalty kicks, and then failing to convert pretty much whenever we had a penalty kick.

Pretty disappointing, but we did get dogged with a hard first final due to our group alignment.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

Pretty disappointing, but we did get dogged with a hard first final due to our group alignment.

On form, dunno I can agree with that. Poms hadn't played well recently. Ditto for NZ - dunno if anyone gave the French much chance.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

Yeah, I was told last night whilst the game started that we were actually favorites, I was already being negative saying we were going down by field goals, much like it ended up happening. For all our form, and apparent advantages over England, I just didn't think we controlled enough play, and really looked threatening all night. Too many easy turnovers, heaps of things.

As a 'non-follower' I don't really know much about the rankings of teams etc. I just thought we had a tough group, either having to play the Springbox or the Poms in the first final.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

IIRC, the Poms almost missed out on the finals, ie we were not necessarily expected to play them at this stage ie the winners of each group play other second placed teams.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

True, Tonga(?) perhaps were sitting in second for a while of that particular group.

[southerncross]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

On form, dunno I can agree with that. Poms hadn't played well recently. Ditto for NZ - dunno if anyone gave the French much chance.

It was reported on SEN before that one guy put 5 million on the All Blacks yesterday.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

My family's pretty upset about the Rugby today, my mum's side anyway, my dad's side couldn't care less, and to top things off, Dan Carter got injured...excellent

[Dry Rot]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

Great game tonight. Fiji gave it a real crack.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

Bloody hell- England through to the Final. Dunno why, I just hate Johnny Wilkinson.

Can the Pumas get up against the Springboks?

[westdog54]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

Bloody hell- England through to the Final. Dunno why, I just hate Johnny Wilkinson.

Can the Pumas get up against the Springboks?

It would appear not . Having said that I would have loved to see Argentina in the final.

DR, there's been calls for Argentina to be included into the Super 14's and Tri-Nations. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this, and the only problem I can see with it is the logistical difficulties of playing on 3 continents. Any potential problems would surely have nothing to do with the quality of rugby on offer, based on Los Pumas' performance at this World Cup?

[Dry Rot]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

Ideally I'd like to see the Argetinians and the Paciifc nations involved with this.

IMO it won't happen because

1. Logistics/travel/time zones etc

2. The best players from these countries play as pros in Europe, and don't get released unless it's the World Cup (or may be the odd Test game)

Best game I've seen so far was S Africa v Fiji - a ripper.

[westdog54]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

The first con is obviously a big consideration, especially if a SA team was playing Argentina.

But if the proposal was to get IRB support do you think the IRB would try to work with the European clubs to release a few Argentinians so that they could play at home? Or possibly to set a date when Argentina would enter the Super 14, so that the Argentinian players could work their contract negotiations around it?

Or am I being a bit too pie-in-the-sky here?

[Dry Rot]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

I've read that European clubs are quite powerful and commercial, and it's really hard to secure players for national games of the lesser countries.

Pity.

[westdog54]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

I've read that European clubs are quite powerful and commercial, and it's really hard to secure players for national games of the lesser countries.

Pity.

Argentina are hardly a lesser country anymore, they're starting to become a rugby power and I think the game is better for it.

Moreso to this, I think it'll give great opportunities for guys from countries like Uruguay, USA, etc to play professional rugby closer to home if Argentina gets a team or 2 in the Super 14.

If SANZAR were to announce, for example, that in 2010 they will invite 2 Argentinian teams to enter the Super 14, this would give time for clubs to form, for players out of contract in Europe and young local talent to be recruited etc.

I think it could work.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Any Rugby World Cup fans here?

I agree it would be good but IIRC their players wouldn't be available - and they won't forgo European club money to play for their countries.

Pity.