Rugby World Cup 2023

[Time Waster]

Will they find a place for Smith?

Why is Farrell always first pick these days? Would Ford not be better, perhaps with a place for Smith in there. What about arundell? I quite enjoyed that game with a few flyers in there.

 

[Time Waster]

It's just popped into my mind. Didn't the pundits say something about Northern hemisphere teams having the better chances to win based on performances? Ireland and France especially but Scotland too performing well. England not but I seem to recall doubts about aussies and all blacks not playing well.

If I have recalled that correctly then where are we at? 3 southern hemisphere teams and an England team that were basically written off before the RWC2023. Anyone have money on these semifinal teams? No France! No Ireland! Just England!?!

 

[AndyRM]

Wow. That was some game. Absolute blast in the first half, proper technical battle of tactics in the second. Unbelievable.

 

[DogmaStu]

Ireland v NZ and France v Bokke should have been the Semi-Finals. Both games absolutely deserving of that and a clear level up on the other 4 teams in the Quarters.

England have had the easiest route to a Semi-Final they've ever had not having faced a Top 5 team yet, only playing against teams ranked lower than they are thus far. Borthwick came out as saying how England had been written off but quietly gone on to win all their games to date but so they should have! If they had lost to Fiji it would have been a huge upset.

NZ v Boks for the Final I think, the Semi-Final's will be warm-ups for them now.

 

[matticus]

3 amazing matches. Great entertainment!

Didn't see the Wales game - how did they get on?

 

[Dogtrousers]

I could see England pulling off a surprise win against NZ in the semis, but unfortunately for England they are playing RSA instead, and I can only see one result there.

unflushable turd

 

[AndyRM]

3 amazing matches. Great entertainment!

Didn't see the Wales game - how did they get on?

Light at the end of a pretty grim tunnel for them recently, result aside. They've lost a lot of players and Gatland has a proper rebuild on his hands but I reckon the way they'd clung on to the old guard that's exactly what is needed.

QF is about right and I reckon they'll be much stronger at the 6N in January.

 

[Alex321]

3 amazing matches. Great entertainment!

Didn't see the Wales game - how did they get on?

Too many mistakes from Wales.

If they had played as well as they did against Australia, they would have won fairly easily, but they just turned the ball over far too often, including two minutes from the end, two points down pushing into the Argentine 22, and get intercepted for a try that finished the game off.

 

[T4tomo]

Ireland v NZ and France v Bokke should have been the Semi-Finals. Both games absolutely deserving of that and a clear level up on the other 4 teams in the Quarters.

England have had the easiest route to a Semi-Final they've ever had not having faced a Top 5 team yet, only playing against teams ranked lower than they are thus far. Borthwick came out as saying how England had been written off but quietly gone on to win all their games to date but so they should have! If they had lost to Fiji it would have been a huge upset.

NZ v Boks for the Final I think, the Semi-Final's will be warm-ups for them now.

As Gatland said a few days ago, those moaning about having a tougher draw should have performed better in the previous world cup.

Luckily my cousin is have birthday party on Saturday so I'll have to miss us getting thrashed by the Boks.

 

[matticus]

Meanwhile, what about that Cheslin Kolbe, eh? Hands-up who can remember a conversion charge-down?

I think he was the only light in a dull but HIGHLY effective display by the boks. Have to admit I'm struggling to like them, probably still bitter after that grinding win 4 years ago. So of course they will now win the final without a try.

France looked amazing, especially in the first 10 mins; they played like the video replay had been speeded up. Improvised passing skills and movement like no other team has shown in this tournament, great shame to lose them.

 

[matticus]

Shout-out to the commentator on Ireland's game that actually pronounced their star-player's name as BUNdee AkEE - instead of the usual lazy BUNdee YAcky

 

[rualexander]

I could see England pulling off a surprise win against NZ in the semis

On recent performance, no chance

 

[Dogtrousers]

On recent performance, no chance

It would be a big shock, but I could see it happening. Weird stuff happens in knockout stages, often when NZ are playing.

Not that it matters because England aren't playing them, they are playing RSA, against whom England have no chance whatsoever.

 

[Fab Foodie]

France looked amazing, especially in the first 10 mins; they played like the video replay had been speeded up. Improvised passing skills and movement like no other team has shown in this tournament, great shame to lose them.

I likened it at the time like listening to an LP at 45 rpm - the pace of the whole game was pretty extortionary. After the fury and intensity of Ireland/NZ the England looked like they were playing on Mogadon. Am still not quite sure how they beat Fiji.

NZ/SA final should be a game to remember....

 

[DogmaStu]

It would be a big shock, but I could see it happening. Weird stuff happens in knockout stages, often when NZ are playing.

Not that it matters because England aren't playing them, they are playing RSA, against whom England have no chance whatsoever.

Yep, I struggle to see how this England side will overcome SA.

Naturally, upsets do happen so there is 'hope' but based upon recent performances, England haven't looked like a team with the ability to upset one of the Top 4.

NZ and SA have both looked like Champions-elect already. England have shown they can beat a side that was in turn beaten by...Portugal.