2015 Rugby World Cup thread

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

I thought that I would post a quick review of my attendance at a couple of the RWC games. I know that this thread is mostly for news and such, so I will keep it pretty brief. Overall though, it was awesome!

I went to Ireland/Romania at Wembley, in large part to see a game at Wembley. It was a new RWC record for 89,000+ and I would guess 89,000 were supporting Ireland with a few hundred supporting Romania. The atmosphere was awesome, and as one commentator noted a lot of Irish can't get tickets to games for things like the 6 Nations so this was a special event. Obviously the singing and cheering was awesome with the Irish winning in a walk. Afterwards I would guess about 70 of the 89k all wanted to take the underground. It took a while, but was incredibly well coordinated (more on that later) and the now drunken Irish fans were awesome. There was a lot of singing. I partook in some, but other songs I didn't know. Like I know of the "Fields of Athenrye" but don't don't know the words. I loved the "Wild Rover" as that was a song we sang back when I still played. I also enjoyed a seemingly made up song to the tune of "She'll be comin round the mountain" that just went "you can shove your f'in chariots up your hole" They were clearly thrilled that they were rolling and the English had lost to Wales the night before and looked in tough to make it to the knockout stages.

The next game I attended was at Milton Keynes and that was Canada/France. Lets be honest, we knew that the outcome was probably predetermined, but then Japan beat SA, and of course that's why the play the games and all that. We got there early and as we stepped off the train were greeted by RWC people to make sure we knew how to get home and had some arrangements for that. More importantly we were asked not once but by two different RWC people on the way out of the station whether we were going to the "Canada Bar". Of course we were! This was a bar right beside the hotel where team Canada was staying and it was full of Canadians and Canadian supporters. It was great to talk to a bunch of Canadians from all over the place who had made the trek. A fair amount of beer was consumed here, and then they had shuttles to the game. The game was pretty awesome. I had good seats here (not amazing, but good) and we were seated next to a couple British boys and their dad. They were supporting Canada of course, and were asking me about the players and whether we had any good "Canada chants" (and we don't!), and things like that. They were rather impressed with Canada in the warm-up, but that faded pretty quickly. We had a great time though, and supporting your country somewhere else was just incredible!

Overall, the RWC was fantastic. I think that the coordination and logistics are the best thing I have seen. Just excellent in terms of making sure that people got where they needed to go, and were looked after. The people were super friendly and helpful and (maybe on account of the jerseys, red wigs and flags) knew that we were in search of a bar or shuttle to the game immediately. The game at Wembley really conveyed that though; can you imagine 4 Saddledomes emptying and all heading home at the same time?! One is bad enough.

The merchandise was ridiculously priced (like 20 pounds for a T-shirt which is basically $40), and a simple hoodie was over $100 Canadian. That was my only real complaint I guess. It was probably for the best though, because had the prices been a lot more reasonable I would've spend too much money on things.

Overall the experience was awesome, and if you can get over the costs in general, I would highly recommend it to fans of the game. The next one is in Japan and I think I might go to that as well if its possible.

All my mates that have been said the same thing.

[ChuckieNZ]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Hanson, must be praying that the AB killing Frenchies don't show up. I actually hope they do show. I know if I was in that camp I would be bringing in every Frenchman that has ever beaten the AB's.

Steve doesn't seem like the religious type to me; he'll be making sure the ABs are prepared for whichever French team shows up

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by ChuckieNZ

Steve doesn't seem like the religious type to me; he'll be making sure the ABs are prepared for whichever French team shows up

I reckon the AB's will win, but there is no other country that gets into the heads of the AB players like the French.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

Hockey Canada should enforce a similar position!

nope nope nope


There is a reason the Aussies and 'Boks have gone away from this.


Look at the Pommies, the best English backrow player is playing club rugby in France.

[ChuckieNZ]

Match officials have been announced for the quarter-finals: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/112125

Wayne Barnes assigned to the South Africa v Wales games, the All Blacks get Nigel!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

After the Welsh couldn't score against 13 men, I am really liking the Aussie's chances to make the final. They seem to have sorted out their issue with the scrum. I think the Scots won't be much of an issue, and I actually like how they stack up against the Irish or the Argies.


Hanson, must be praying that the AB killing Frenchies don't show up. I actually hope they do show. I know if I was in that camp I would be bringing in every Frenchman that has ever beaten the AB's.

I actually think the Welsh could do the 'Boks, but as always it will be won up front.

So far the team I'm liking the best are the Springboks, I think they're peaking at just the right time, but the Welsh arent going to roll over, thats going to be a war.

The All Blacks have yet to play well but they havent really needed to, that could come back to haunt them against the French.

The Aussies are also getting revved up having put in a hell of a shift against the Welsh.

The Irish worry me, I hope they can beat Argentina, that was a hell of a game they played but losing 3 starters and I thought I heard another of their players had a minor injury and another might be facing a suspension? Thats tough for them.

That said, I expect it to be the Usual Suspects moving on.

[killer_carlson]

My predictions (based on watching a grand total of 0 minutes):

Semis will be:

Springboks vs France
Ireland vs Australia

[ChuckieNZ]

My predictions:

Quarterfinal 1 - South Africa v Wales
South Africa & Wales met in the pool stages of the last World Cup, a very close encounter that South Africa ended up winning 17-16. The last time these two sides met in Cardiff in November, Wales came out on top with a 12-6 victory. I see this one going the distance, keeping in mind that South Africa didn’t really have much competition in their pool, and have an aging tight five.

Prediction: Wales wins a tight matchup, this should be the most physical of all the quarter-finals.

Quarterfinal 2 - New Zealand v France
France won’t mind playing the All Blacks, and may have even preferred it to a matchup with Argentina who have had their number in recent history. There is a lot of World Cup history between these two teams; France lost World Cup Finals to New Zealand in 1987 & 2011, but in games played in the Northern Hemisphere (see 1999 & 2007), France have been on the winning side of the ledger. There are a couple of players and coaching staff in the New Zealand squad that were there that day in 2007, so there will be no underestimating the opposition next Saturday.

Prediction: New Zealand will be too much for the French this time around, and erase the ghosts of 2007 with a big win.

Quarterfinal 3 - Ireland v Argentina
Argentina are an “in-form” team and have been improving as a side, especially since joining the Rugby Championship with Australia, South Africa & New Zealand in 2012. Ireland have all sorts of injury worries to key players and Sean O’Brien has been ruled out of the quarter-final after being cited for foul play in the game against France.

Prediction: Argentina will match a depleted Irish side up front and win a close one.

Quarterfinal 4 - Australia v Scotland
Australia have looked very threatening through the pool stages, and this looks like one of the best Wallaby sides in years. They seem be putting it together, as highlighted by their defensive effort against Wales, and are facing what I consider the weakest quarterfinal opponent in Scotland.

Prediction: Australia should win comfortably.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by ChuckieNZ

Match officials have been announced for the quarter-finals: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/112125

Wayne Barnes assigned to the South Africa v Wales games, the All Blacks get Nigel!

Yet another thing that soccer could learn from rugby.

It's the world cup. Get the top officials from the top nations and give them as many games as possible. Reward high performances.
If this was soccer we would be getting the token ref from Uruguay and Romania reffing the quarters because ... well, just because.

Was it a deliberate pool placement thing so that Wales couldn't have home advantage in the quarters?

[ChuckieNZ]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Was it a deliberate pool placement thing so that Wales couldn't have home advantage in the quarters?

Yes. It's England's World Cup, not Wales. There is an article in the Telegraph that covers the topic http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rug...is-unfair.html

Wales were desperate to play the Wallabies in the Millennium’s febrile atmosphere, too, citing economic benefit as the justification. But the Australian Rugby Union refused the idea point-blank. “The point I made was: there was only one host, England,” said John O’Neill, a former ARU chief executive and a World Cup board member, with a certain impeccable logic. “So there should only be one team who should enjoy home advantage. After that, every other team has to be on a level playing field.”

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Yet another thing that soccer could learn from rugby.

It's the world cup. Get the top officials from the top nations and give them as many games as possible. Reward high performances.
If this was soccer we would be getting the token ref from Uruguay and Romania reffing the quarters because ... well, just because.

Was it a deliberate pool placement thing so that Wales couldn't have home advantage in the quarters?

Sepp Blatter, past president of FIFA, future President of IRB/World Rugby.

Book it.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Yet another thing that soccer could learn from rugby.

It's the world cup. Get the top officials from the top nations and give them as many games as possible. Reward high performances.
If this was soccer we would be getting the token ref from Uruguay and Romania reffing the quarters because ... well, just because.

Was it a deliberate pool placement thing so that Wales couldn't have home advantage in the quarters?

Wow, easy. I would not say the reffing has been great at this world cup. Did you see the Canada v Italy game.

I think World Rugby does themselves a disfavour by only picking refs from "top nations". They should be picking refs on quality not passport. If there is one thing this world cup has shown, it is that there is quality players in the lower tiers nations. There is the possibility that there might be a quality ref down there as well, but we will never know.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

The Irish worry me, I hope they can beat Argentina, that was a hell of a game they played but losing 3 starters and I thought I heard another of their players had a minor injury and another might be facing a suspension? Thats tough for them.

That said, I expect it to be the Usual Suspects moving on.

People forget how good the Argies are. They play in the 4N and beat the 'boks this past year.

I think it is very possible that they will beat the Irish.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sepp Blatter, past president of FIFA, future President of IRB/World Rugby.

Book it.

Brian Burke should win that role before him! (He's on the Rugby Canada board)

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

People forget how good the Argies are. They play in the 4N and beat the 'boks this past year.

I think it is very possible that they will beat the Irish.

Pfft. Everyone beats the 'boks this year! Ireland has a lot of injury concerns, but if Johnny Sexton can play and the Irish get a big game from their pack I think they'll be OK.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

Pfft. Everyone beats the 'boks this year! Ireland has a lot of injury concerns, but if Johnny Sexton can play and the Irish get a big game from their pack I think they'll be OK.

Time will tell, but the Argie pack is nothing to sniff at. If the Argies get the Bajada rocking, it can be a difficult day in the engineroom for the Irish. I rate the Argie 10 up there with Sexton.


I literally can't wait till this weekend.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

Brian Burke should win that role before him! (He's on the Rugby Canada board)

Pfft. Everyone beats the 'boks this year! Ireland has a lot of injury concerns, but if Johnny Sexton can play and the Irish get a big game from their pack I think they'll be OK.

He is? Burke is on Rugby Canada? He is an American. Weird, but Rugby Canada could use fewer tied ties.

I understand that Sexton is almost certainly out.

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Time will tell, but the Argie pack is nothing to sniff at. If the Argies get the Bajada rocking, it can be a difficult day in the engineroom for the Irish. I rate the Argie 10 up there with Sexton.


I literally can't wait till this weekend.

Honestly, I favoured the Irish because of their gutsy win, I rate their intangibles very highly, they look like they really, really want it.

The Argies are a good squad. Its going to be a hell of a game.

This weekend is going to rock!

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

He is? Burke is on Rugby Canada? He is an American. Weird, but Rugby Canada could use fewer tied ties.

bra do you even CP??

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ighlight=burke

Honestly, I favoured the Irish because of their gutsy win, I rate their intangibles very highly, they look like they really, really want it.

The Argies are a good squad. Its going to be a hell of a game.

This weekend is going to rock!

See, see what I mean, underestimating


This man alone is better than the Irish backrow:




I could be wrong.............or not.

[troutman]

Not Argies.

Los Pumas.

[FireGilbert]

Thankfully for the Wallabies winning the group of death means an easy quarter final. Expect the Scots to get blown out while the other three games should be close.

I will stick with my predictions for Wallaby/Ireland and Springbok/All Black semis. Definitely hoping the French can pull off a big upset though to get revenge for their controversial one point loss four years ago.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by troutman

Not Argies.

Los Pumas.

Interesting fact: Their logo is actually a Jaguar but was mistaken for a Puma by an South African commentator in the 60s and the name stuck.

Supposedly the new Argentine Super Rugby team will be called Los Jaguares though.

Also, check out the logo for the new Japanese Super Rugby team, the "Sunwolves" who will be playing games in Tokyo and Singapore next season. All other wolf based logos now look like Maltese puppies in comparison.