The rugby world cup begins tomorrow!

SmallTown

SmallTown

Well-known member
Can't wait for this. As an Englishman we are practically watching this world cup as a neutral. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out:

Can New Zealand turn round their (relatively) poor form? Can Ireland finally translate their quality into a world cup campaign?

Can France overcome their mountain of injuries?

Exciting times
 
SmallTown said:
Can't wait for this. As an Englishman we are practically watching this world cup as a neutral. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out:

Can New Zealand turn round their (relatively) poor form? Can Ireland finally translate their quality into a world cup campaign?

Can France overcome their mountain of injuries?

Exciting times
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I'm also looking forward to it and agree that England fans will be watching on this year rather than realistically competing. I feel the favourites must be South Africa and the French could gain momentum on home turf but you can never write off the All Blacks.

Are you going over for it?
 
I'm there for QF 1 in Marseille. Fair chance it could be England v Australia but I'm not sure if I'd rather not see England at all, or watch them get roundly beat :ROFLMAO:
 
This is a tough group and could take a lot out of two of the favourites. A revitalised Scotland are no mugs.

RankTeamPlayedPWonWLostLDrawnDForPFAgainstPAPoints DifferencePts DiffBonusBPointsPTS
11Ireland000000000000000000
22Romania000000000000000000
33Scotland000000000000000000
44South Africa000000000000000000
55Tonga0
 
As someone who is only a part time follower of rugby - I will watch the world cup and some 6 nations games but that's about it - why are we only watching as a neutral? Have we got no chance?

And why will Argentina be a big ask? Don't they routinely get smashed?
 
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It may well be the worst England side ever?

To compare it to football, England are playing Graham Taylor style long ball 442 in a world now dominated by Pep style fluid attacking play.

England will do will to get out of the group, start as heavy underdogs against Argentina and will probably muscle past japan and samoa but it wouldn't be at all surprising if they do not.

Lost to Fiji just last week for the first time ever.
 
Colgates_shaving_foam said:
It may well be the worst England side ever?

To compare it to football, England are playing Graham Taylor style long ball 442 in a world now dominated by Pep style fluid attacking play.

England will do will to get out of the group, start as heavy underdogs against Argentina and will probably muscle past japan and samoa but it wouldn't be at all surprising if they do not.

Lost to Fiji just last week for the first time ever.
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This is the sort of context I need so I can pretend to know what I'm talking about to my mates in the pub.
 
SE4 Red said:
As someone who is only a part time follower of rugby - I will watch the world cup and some 6 nations games but that's about it - why are we only watching as a neutral? Have we got no chance?

And why will Argentina be a big ask? Don't they routinely get smashed?
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Not now that they’ve joined the rugby championships

Playing aus nz and sa regularly.
 
SE4 Red said:
As someone who is only a part time follower of rugby - I will watch the world cup and some 6 nations games but that's about it - why are we only watching as a neutral? Have we got no chance?

And why will Argentina be a big ask? Don't they routinely get smashed?
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England were beaten 30-29 by Argentina at Twickenham the last time they met.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
I'm also looking forward to it and agree that England fans will be watching on this year rather than realistically competing. I feel the favourites must be South Africa and the French could gain momentum on home turf but you can never write off the All Blacks.

Are you going over for it?
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Sadly not. I tried so hard to get tickets, but we all had a mare. The ticketing website was shocking. I found out from a mate who was part of the team that provided the payament software that they did zero load testing!

Rant over, it was probably for the best.

I agree it looks on paper to be the sprinboks v france but the AB are all about the world cup. They could easily come good. Tomorrow should be an interesting bell weather match.
 
I’ve never known an England team going into a World Cup in such bad shape. I think Argentina will win this weekend and England will be in a battle against Samoa and Japan to qualify.

The good rugby is on the other half of the draw. It’s ridiculous to have the 4 best teams on that side. Scotland must be cursing their luck, as put them in Australia’s group and they could go a long way.

When I was younger the thought of the French winning would have turned my stomach. These days I’d be quite happy for them. Home World Cup, great rugby country and a good team too. I reckon France v South Africa final. The French might be the ones to stop the Bok powergame. Otherwise I can see South Africa winning again.

One thing that has occurred to me recently. I’ve worked in Namibia for 10 months and watched lots of Supersport coverage. The Springboks mean a lot to a lot of people. The team lives off that connection and emotion.
 
Colgates_shaving_foam said:
I'm no expert like so I'd probably wait for someone like smalltown who actually goes to rugby games before relying on my musings.
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ironically I know little about the game despite having a quins ST for the last 14 years!. Although I have just started playing so hopefully that will improve.

hewielewie said:
Was there a reason why the draw was done three years ago?
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I don't know this. It's a great question though, given the world rankings are vastly different to how they were then. Oz and England are way lower and I think scotland and fiji are a lot higher.
 
Nero said:
I’ve never known an England team going into a World Cup in such bad shape. I think Argentina will win this weekend and England will be in a battle against Samoa and Japan to qualify.

The good rugby is on the other half of the draw. It’s ridiculous to have the 4 best teams on that side. Scotland must be cursing their luck, as put them in Australia’s group and they could go a long way.

When I was younger the thought of the French winning would have turned my stomach. These days I’d be quite happy for them. Home World Cup, great rugby country and a good team too. I reckon France v South Africa final. The French might be the ones to stop the Bok powergame. Otherwise I can see South Africa winning again.

One thing that has occurred to me recently. I’ve worked in Namibia for 10 months and watched lots of Supersport coverage. The Springboks mean a lot to a lot of people. The team lives off that connection and emotion.
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We’re shocking aren’t we.

Hopefully it’s a blip snd we’ll switch on them it matters but I’m not sure.
 
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