2023 Men's Rugby World Cup Thread

[Bagor]

Starts tomorrow! Kiwis/France

I'm on the Paddywagon again. Confident this time that they'll get out of the group and make the quarters. They're a more assured, well drilled unit this time. Who knows after that with the Kiwis and France at home waiting.

Not total outsiders but would love to see the Argies come out of their group.

[FireGilbert]

Poor Ireland with their best ever chance at the Cup and they get pretty much the toughest path ever. I've put money on them the last 2 Cups but have learned my lesson. Hot take they will choke earlier than usual and not even make it out of their group probably on some silly point differential tie breaker.

I predict NZ, France, SA, Scotland, Australia, Fiji, England, and Argentina will be the quarter finalists. France will beat SA in the final with Argentina beating Fiji for 3rd.

[undercoverbrother]

#### yeah it's game day.


I'm about to leave to pick up the boy, pulling him out of school, then grab a few buddies and off to the pub!

Can't wait, Allez les Bleus!!!!

[Slava]

And what an opening match to kick things off!!

[ChuckieNZ]

Originally Posted by ChuckieNZ

Ouch.

And again.

[FireGilbert]

Great start! Not used to the ABs getting dominated in a 2nd half. Usually their superior skill and depth takes over. Score probably flattered them too with a couple big calls going their way.

Looking forward to the Wallabies Georgia and England Argentina games tomorrow.

[ChuckieNZ]

Yea, too many handling errors, too many penalties from the ABs. Being so clinical and excelling at the basics was the cornerstone of their success, but that has now been missing two games in a row and that is what is troublesome from an ABs fan perspective. However, I'm excited for what should be a really competitive World Cup, especially with a stacked Pools A & B.

[FireGilbert]

Strange situation for NZ and France where they play their next 3 games basically trying not to get injured in preparation for an intense QF against Ireland/SA/Scotland.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Strange situation for NZ and France where they play their next 3 games basically trying not to get injured in preparation for an intense QF against Ireland/SA/Scotland.

Its not great entertainment for the rest of us.

[ChuckieNZ]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Strange situation for NZ and France where they play their next 3 games basically trying not to get injured in preparation for an intense QF against Ireland/SA/Scotland.

Yea, and I think it's already been mentioned but it's crazy that three of the top 5 teams in the World Rugby rankings are guaranteed to be eliminated by the time the semi-finals roll around.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by ChuckieNZ

Yea, too many handling errors, too many penalties from the ABs. Being so clinical and excelling at the basics was the cornerstone of their success, but that has now been missing two games in a row and that is what is troublesome from an ABs fan perspective.

Early days. At least they've got three games to iron out the crinkles before the quarters.

I don't think the value of home field advantage for France can't be stated enough. That and I think red cards are going to decide a few games.

But yeah. A lot of penalties. Is it more of a case of ABs having stagnated whilst everyone else has got better or are they regressing?

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Looking forward to the Wallabies Georgia and England Argentina games tomorrow.

That's a potential elimination game right there. Between two countries with a history.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Is it more of a case of ABs having stagnated whilst everyone else has got better or are they regressing?



That's a potential elimination game right there. Between two countries with a history.

The ABs haven't found a replacement for the GOAT, the breakdown was owned by him for years. It's not that Cane et all are bad or even not international players they just are nowhere near McCaw's level.


I can't wait for the Argie v Eng game

[FireGilbert]

A couple fun games so far. Namibia played really hard early keeping things close before Italy turned it on with some exciting play. Then Ireland looked nervous early but figured things out and showed whey they are #1.

Go Wallabies!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

A couple fun games so far. Namibia played really hard early keeping things close before Italy turned it on with some exciting play. Then Ireland looked nervous early but figured things out and showed whey they are #1.

Go Wallabies!

Watching Italy continually improve is a bit tough. Going back like 20 years ago, some people were pushing for Canada to be added to the five nations and not Italy. Playing top competition like that would've made our program evolve and become so much better. Instead, we've gone the complete other way.

And seeing teams like Romania and Georgia here just makes me wish Rugby Canada could get their stuff together. We could be there getting whacked 80-6!

[ChuckieNZ]

And here comes the card parade....

[Bagor]

Argie player's looked more dangerous, malicious and cynical whilst England one was pure carelessness and not malicious yet he got upgraded to a red.

[ChuckieNZ]

Yup.

George Ford trying his best to beat Jannie de Beer's record of five drop goals in a single match. Pretty smart tactics to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Interested to see how Argentina responds after half time, and what adjustments Cheika makes.

[undercoverbrother]

Boring

Imagine if that was the first 80 mins of rugby you had ever watched in your life.

Argies were useless, looked lost.

What an awful game.

[FireGilbert]

Super impressed with Ireland last night playing 80 minutes of attacking rugby with zero shots at goal. They kept their starters on until the bonus point was guaranteed then continued putting the pedal down to get a huge point differential.

Compare with the Wallabies, who played well, but blew the bonus point with a lack of aggression early and failure to make a late stop, and England who decided they didn't need to score tries.

[ChuckieNZ]

Agreed with the Pumas looking lost - that was just an awful, awful game from them. I can understand England playing the way they did being down a man the whole game.