Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#3131598 25-Sep-2023 08:59

Question from the uninitiated. Watching many, many FIFA World Cups over the decades, I have a hard time working out the timing for the RWC.
How does a team like the All Blacks have a two week break between games in a WC? Last game was Namibia on 16th Sept. Next game is Italy on 30th.
How do you run a tournament like that? That's a massive break.

Also - I am really struggling with having teams just making up the numbers. Teams being absolutely thrashed on a regular basis does not make for a good spectacle in my opinion.
I don't really think there's a place at an elite tournament like a World Cup for the likes of Namibia, Romania, Chile etc.
What do massive defeats do for rugby in those countries, other than put players off ever wanting to represent their nation in that sport? Let alone the fans and their perpetual disappointment.

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AxisOfBeagles

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#3131607 25-Sep-2023 09:37

Games are weekly, each team also has one ‘bye’ week = a two week break. Rugby is a wee bit more physical than football, playing more than weekly not a good idea.

reducing the tournament to only the top 8 or 12 or whatever teams takes away the opportunity for other nations to aspire to making the tournament, ultimately hurting participation in the sport. Also takes away the ‘upset’ potential (Japan beating South Africa in 2015).

personally, I love seeing countries like Chile or Portugal putting their hearts into the game. They know they can’t win but they’re going to give it everything they have. And over time many become more competitive as they gain experience (Japan, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga).

GV27

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#3131609 25-Sep-2023 09:46

The Australians in the crowd leaving the game with five minutes still to go tells you all you need to know.

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#3131628 25-Sep-2023 11:00

It was awful to watch Australia put in a performance like that against Wales. Wales were good, but AU was woeful.

This is bad for NZ as well.

Upon consideration of Eddies potential job interview via Zoom for Japan, it probably wasn't entirely out of line. Even with the 'support' of the board on his 'youth policy', ARU will now be under immense pressure to sack him, based off 1 win in 7 games. It was always on the cards to exit in the pool stages for them, I don't think the original older team would have gotten past quarters anyway.

I think the concept is pretty solid, they have tried everything else, but it's a painful process to undertake.

GV27

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#3135357 27-Sep-2023 07:51

So the Namibian player who took out DuPoint gets 6 matches (reduced from 12) but Farrell ended up with three from six.

So it really seems the main factor in dangerous play is which country you play for and how pivotal you are to Home Union's World Cup challenge.

JPNZ

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#3135359 27-Sep-2023 08:14

Will be interested to see the team that Foster names this week, Italy are no longer the easy beats of years gone by and will challenge us this weekend. I'm hoping he names his strongest team and that thsoe coming back from injury get through the game okay

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johno1234

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#3135367 27-Sep-2023 08:48

AxisOfBeagles:
Games are weekly, each team also has one ‘bye’ week = a two week break. Rugby is a wee bit more physical than football, playing more than weekly not a good idea.

reducing the tournament to only the top 8 or 12 or whatever teams takes away the opportunity for other nations to aspire to making the tournament, ultimately hurting participation in the sport. Also takes away the ‘upset’ potential (Japan beating South Africa in 2015).

personally, I love seeing countries like Chile or Portugal putting their hearts into the game. They know they can’t win but they’re going to give it everything they have. And over time many become more competitive as they gain experience (Japan, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga).

If the All Whites get hosed by Brazil in a football World Cup match the players would still call it one of their life’s highlights. Brazil! In a World Cup!

Same for RWC minnows against the rugby superpowers. Those guys from Namibia and Portugal will be living their dreams.

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GV27

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#3135386 27-Sep-2023 09:57

JPNZ:

Will be interested to see the team that Foster names this week, Italy are no longer the easy beats of years gone by and will challenge us this weekend. I'm hoping he names his strongest team and that thsoe coming back from injury get through the game okay

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-2023/133015710/former-all-black-vaea-fifita-cops-fourgame-ban-after-tonga-red-card-at-rugby-world-cup

And now Vaea Fifita. This was reckless, sure, but given that he's ended up with a more substantive punishment than Farrell, I'd suggest that it's yet another example of either a broken judiciary, home union bias or both.

Wombat1

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#3135459 27-Sep-2023 12:47

Looks like the All Blacks will now very likely face Ireland in the quarter finals. This puts South Africa in a very good position to take the World Cup again like they did in 2019 after also suffering one loss.

AxisOfBeagles

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#3135464 27-Sep-2023 12:58

Wombat1:

Looks like the All Blacks will now very likely face Ireland in the quarter finals. This puts South Africa in a very good position to take the World Cup again like they did in 2019 after also suffering one loss.

To win the cup, SA will (likely) have to beat France in the 1/4's, England in the semis, and Ireland again in the finals. From my perspective, they stand about the same odds as France or Ireland at this point. A lot could depend on whether DuPont will be available to play in the 1/4's

I'll be cheering for the All Blacks but were I betting my bets would have shamrocks on them.

JPNZ

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#3135470 27-Sep-2023 13:05

Quarters IMO

1. Wales v Argentina

2. Ireland v NZ

3. England v Fiji

4. France v South Africa

Winner of 1 plays 2 and 3 plays 4

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AxisOfBeagles

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#3135471 27-Sep-2023 13:10

JPNZ:

Quarters IMO

1. Wales v Argentina

2. Ireland v NZ

3. England v Fiji

4. France v South Africa

Winner of 1 plays 2 and 3 plays 4

the only possible question mark remaining is Argentina. Mathematically (I think), could still be Samoa or Japan. I picked Argentina - but Samoa are definitely still in the running - big game Friday morning with Japan.

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#3135601 27-Sep-2023 18:39

Scotland v Ireland could make Pool B interesting

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#3137011 30-Sep-2023 13:54

That was a lot of fun to watch. Italy didn't put up much of a fight but not many teams could stop a rampant ABs side. I had a feeling it would be comfortable but not that comfortable. Was disappointed we didn't break the ton and was disappointed to let in two tries.

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