2015 Rugby World Cup thread

[Slava]

Maybe the English ought to have selected Boris for their squad this year. Maybe with plays like this they would still be in it! http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blo...ese-schoolboys

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

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.

Has it been perfect? No? Never will be. It's been pretty darn good though.

And my point is that it makes every effort possible to match the best officials with the top games regardless of how many games they have reffed previously. If this was soccer the four QF refs are pretty much eliminated from any chance of reffing further.

What makes you think that they are not picking refs on quality?

[FireGilbert]

Crazy news, the French have rebelled against their coach and will be coaching themselves against the ABs!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/ru...-1227571108902

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Has it been perfect? No? Never will be. It's been pretty darn good though.

And my point is that it makes every effort possible to match the best officials with the top games regardless of how many games they have reffed previously. If this was soccer the four QF refs are pretty much eliminated from any chance of reffing further.

What makes you think that they are not picking refs on quality?

Did you watch the Canada v Italy game. The ref was shocking as the the ARs.

I will go further and say the complete set up is a mess, from Refs, TMO, and citing.

I can't find a reference, but I seem to recall and interview or piece that said only refs from top nations are considered.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Crazy news, the French have rebelled against their coach and will be coaching themselves against the ABs!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/ru...-1227571108902

How can you not love the French.

They continually make be crazy and joyous.

As a nation they have produced some amazing players, and IMO one of the greatest (tied for #1 spot) centre to ever play the game.

[Slava]

Sounds like Sexton is playing for Ireland this weekend. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/34531899

[undercoverbrother]

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (c) 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Quade Cooper

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c), 8 Dave Denton, 7 John Hardie, 6 Blair Cowan, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 WP Nel, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Alasdair Strokosch, 20 Josh Strauss, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Richie Vernon, 23 Sean Lamont.

Wow, Beale is the back up. What a quality player, I actually like him at 12 better, but at 15 he can kill you.

I think the Scottish back 3 are going to have a long day at the office.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Crazy news, the French have rebelled against their coach and will be coaching themselves against the ABs!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/ru...-1227571108902

Of course they have.

Of course they have.

Its like a French tradition at this point.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Did you watch the Canada v Italy game. The ref was shocking as the the ARs.

I will go further and say the complete set up is a mess, from Refs, TMO, and citing.

I can't find a reference, but I seem to recall and interview or piece that said only refs from top nations are considered.

That game aside, what other issues concern you? One game is hardly a mess and we are nowhere near a place where referring controversy is a key talking point of the tournament.

So what is your solution? Grandfather a few refs from lower tier nations into a group stage game or two? Have them ref in the top leagues for experience?

Because if there is one thing that can be learned from soccer is that refs from lower tier nations/leagues that have no experience of reffing at the top level consistently make up a significant part of the game story due to being worked/duped/intimidated by the more seasoned pros.

I like that only top nations are considered because that is where the top leagues are. That is where the experience at working with the top players is at?

I'm struggling to see your problem with it? Is it simply the absence of tier 2 refs?

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Slava

Sounds like Sexton is playing for Ireland this weekend. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/34531899

Yeah, he was announced in the line up yesterday but has been withdrawn today.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugb...-34117443.html

[ChuckieNZ]

Wales are looking good and take a 13-12 lead into the break. South Africa not looking very dynamic on attack, it'll be interesting to see if they keep ball in hand more in the 2nd half.

[Locke]

The Boks just relentlessly making errors at the critical moment.

[Bagor]

Great game.

Anyone know what questions the physio would have asked Biggar (name, place, time) or would the call have been made on general demeanour (glazed look)?

Regardless gutsy call at that stage of the game.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Great game.

Anyone know what questions the physio would have asked Biggar (name, place, time) or would the call have been made on general demeanour (glazed look)?

Regardless gutsy call at that stage of the game.

I understand that Jose Mourinho has already called for the physio to get fired.

Amazing match, the Welsh put in a hell of a performance but they just couldnt take the Springbok assault in the second half.

And what about that pass? Big man's got some hands.

[Bagor]

Comparing to soccer again but I was thinking of this.

“Shortly after the blow, Kramer came to me asking: ‘Ref, is this the final?’” Nicola Rizzoli told the Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday. “I thought he was joking and made him repeat the question and then he said: ‘I need to know if this is really the final.’ When I said: ‘Yes,’ he concluded: ‘Thanks, it was important to know that.’” Rizzoli said he let the Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger know about the exchange during Sunday’s game but Kramer continued playing for 14 minutes following the collision with the Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...cup-final-2014

Biggest game in the sport? Check
Player not aware that he is participating in the biggest game in the sport? Check

Nothing to be worried about .... carry on.

Biggar by contrast was probably taken off for not knowing the square root of 1341/277

[Locke]

I dont even know what to expect this afternoon.

I think the All Blacks are just getting into their groove but the French are a complete wildcard.

It could be an intense, close match or it could be high comedy.

[Slava]

I think that this was a great RWC for Wales. They just had too many injuries and couldn't quite seal the deal against the 'Boks. They played a fantastic game against England and looked good against South Africa here, but that attack was relentless and there were a number of times they managed to escape within 10 metres of the line. Finally though that set piece 5m out got them. You could see that scrum wheel to expose the blindside, and then the eight made a great play to draw in the two Welsh defenders. That behind the back flip to the scrum half was just perfect and that was it. Great play from South Africa to clinch that win.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think that this was a great RWC for Wales. They just had too many injuries and couldn't quite seal the deal against the 'Boks. They played a fantastic game against England and looked good against South Africa here, but that attack was relentless and there were a number of times they managed to escape within 10 metres of the line. Finally though that set piece 5m out got them. You could see that scrum wheel to expose the blindside, and then the eight made a great play to draw in the two Welsh defenders. That behind the back flip to the scrum half was just perfect and that was it. Great play from South Africa to clinch that win.

This is true, I think the Welsh can claim this was a very successful RWC for them, this is the Quarters, this is where the rubber hits the road and the Welsh ran into the Boks and played them straight all the way to the end.

Cant be too upset with that.

[Locke]

Well that answers that. All Blacks not screwing around.

[Party Elephant]

Savea the battering ram!