2023 Men's Rugby World Cup Thread

[Bagor]

So what's the story in NZ?

Is it every much a middle/uppercase class elite sport or is it accessible to all?

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Japan & Argentina take a bow.

Amazing game

Both teams deserved to win

Just caught up on this one. So good and lived up to the elimination game hype.

First Japanese try had to be one of the best ever from a forward.

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by Bagor

So what's the story in NZ?

Is it every much a middle/uppercase class elite sport or is it accessible to all?

It's THE sport as far as youth participation goes, particularly for boys. Anecdotally, pretty much every parent I've known with a school-aged son has had the son play rugby. Every small town has a rugby club that is at the heart of the community. I lived in a town of 200 people for a while, and the largest building in the town was the rugby club. Rugby clubs go beyond the sport as they're a gathering place for these towns. Think Sunday bbqs, fundraising events, even weddings and funerals. I got vaccinated at a rugby club when the first covid vaccination drive was happening. In the bigger cities the local rugby club is less of an integral part of the community, but participation in the sport is still high. You can go to any community field on a Saturday morning and it will be packed with games for all the various age groups. College (High School) rugby national finals are a big enough deal to be broadcast live.

The one area where rugby is losing popularity is as a spectator sport at the professional level. Our biggest stadiums will only fill for big event games like an All Blacks international or a Super Rugby final, but regular season games in Super Rugby and the National Provincial Championship, where the standard of play is world class, barely crack more thana few thousand. I see nostalgia videos on social media of NPC finals from the 70s and 80s where the grounds are so packed that people are standing right on the touch line to watch the game. That is far from the case today. There has been a cultural shift, as today there are virtually unlimited options for entertainment where back in the day TV had 2 channels and rugby was the only thing happening in most towns.

[Bagor]

Thanks.
You've basically just described the GAA in Ireland.
The heartbeat of the nation.

[undercoverbrother]

Cocks on the Block for the weekend

Predicted winners:

England (I want Fiji, but think England will frustrate Fiji and force errors)
Argies, I've always loved the way they play.
France, I don't think the Springbok front row, specifically hooker have it
New Zealand, they are a scorned and angry group of players

[FireGilbert]

I’m not into gambling but the All Blacks as underdogs paying $2.35 seems like great value.

[Slava]

This was a great match, and that try for Argentina is the dagger.

[Bagor]

Tackle of the tournament by Moroni.

The non card will be a talking point but I think he got it right. Gutsy non call.

So refreshing to have the transparency and communication behind the decision making process.

Dickson: “The player is falling as he is releasing, and the player falls into him. I’m at no foul play, he comes into the breakdown legally and the player falls down.

"On field at the moment we’re at no foul play, because I called tackle then the player falls significantly, the blue player is bent at the waist and comes in legally. Do you see anything different?"

Jonker: “No I don’t see anything different but I think it’s important you explain this and I'm with you on this.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Tackle of the tournament by Moroni.

The non card will be a talking point but I think he got it right. Gutsy non call.

So refreshing to have the transparency and communication behind the decision making process.

That is never a card, nothing in it and credit to the official for pushing back and getting it right.


That’s 1 I got right.

Creevy 38 and still going strong, what a beast.

[Bagor]

Death. Taxes. Losing to the ABs in the world cup.
Never recovered from the first 20.


Epic game. Hope the ABs go on to win it.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Death. Taxes. Losing to the ABs in the world cup.
Never recovered from the first 20.


Epic game. Hope the ABs go on to win it.

That 2 for 2 today for me

Kiwis scored all the tries in that match.

Just too good, people have been writing them off all tournament.

That was a statement game

Also that was a final, quality of both teams so high, shame it was played in the quarters

[Bagor]

Thought last night's game was epic.

That's as good a half of rugby I've ever seen.

[GirlySports]

First half of France/South Africa today was also insane. Teams settled down in the 2nd half, couldn't not maintain that pace.

[Bagor]

That was the half I was talking about.

[FireGilbert]

Wow what an amazing weekend of rugby!

Disappointingly Argentina was the only team I was cheering for that won but how good was it the other three teams all had a chance to win at the end of the game.

I guess the demise of the Southern Hemisphere was greatly exaggerated. I'm sure most of the 6 Nations absolutely loves England as their only representative in the semis...

[Slava]

So, South Africa and New Zealand in the finals? I can’t see England or Argentina getting by those two at this point.

But what a fantastic set of matches this weekend!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

So, South Africa and New Zealand in the finals? I can’t see England or Argentina getting by those two at this point.

But what a fantastic set of matches this weekend!

This is what the Soccer World Cup doesnt get.

Tight, epic matches. Less quantity, more quality.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is what the Soccer World Cup doesnt get.

Tight, epic matches. Less quantity, more quality.

Well soccer is different because it’s far more predictable overall. Yeah, you have some upsets and it’s not 100% nailed on, but rugby is more like hockey in that sense.

[undercoverbrother]

What a weekend.

I went 3 from 4.

I still think the French should have put it into the corner instead of kicking the last 3.

Officiating in the Fiji game wasn't great IMO.

SA v NZ final.

[Bagor]

Timed that to perfection.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1714989400939987385