Rugby World Cup 2023

[BrumJim]

Well, let's face it, pool D is the only pool with two surviving teams so is obviously the toughest group.

Argentina may have lost once but that's no shame as the loss was to England who are not just the only unbeaten team but also, as the only surviving Northern Hemisphere team, are clearly the best team in the NH.

Wibble

On one hand, having Ireland vs New Zealand and France vs South Africa in the quarter finals is a massive shame. Either as a final would have been magnificent. On the other hand, we have 4 semi-finalists, each from a different continent.

 

[geocycle]

What a great weekend of games! I was gutted for Ireland as they were a wonderful team although I felt all along SA were the side to be beat in the tournament. Hats off to the referees, pressure was huge and so pleased we kept the cards and controversy to a minimum. Hard to see either SA imploding enough to give England a sniff. The unflushable turd, love it!

 

[Grant Fondo]

seems an age ago that Eng v Arg game, never thought they would both be in a SF but here we are.
Agree with others, some terrific games this weekend and hope we see the same in Paris. Really pleased for the Pumas!

 

[matticus]

I've reconsidered my position on a potential England v Argentina final. If England were to win, the tabloid media would go into a priapitic meltdown about beating Argentina. There'd also be the "wisdom" of Dallalligo to endure for another game at least, and the personality vacuum that is Wilkinson. The thought of a drop goal being involved doesn't even bear thinking about.

I've just realised there is a 3rd place playoff. Get writing those headlines guys!
🤦‍♀️

 

[MrGrumpy]

 

[AndyRM]

Must admit, that tickled me.

Was chatting about this anomaly earlier:

"But how have they managed to get here? I'm new at rugby and even I can see that they aren't very good."

"Honestly, it's a mystery to me too, but fair play. It'll be funny when they start Faf just to see him wind up Farrell, who may actually explode."

 

[matticus]

What all this mostly shows - or rather, reinforces - is that ENG are the team everyone loves to hate!

They were ranked about as low as ARG coming into this tournament - if the same group of players were from some African republic, they'd be praised for grabbing a semi place they had no right to expect. Anyone saying they're rubbish would get "What? They've won all their games! They score more points than their opponents - isn't that the aim?!?"

Didn't a successful Aussie captain once say they are always the sh1test winners?!?

 

[DogmaStu]

 

[matticus]

 

[T4tomo]

I'd love to see the wide angle video of that, all the clips I've seen don't have both players in shot at the start of the kick address. They were (?former) club teammates, so apparently Kolbe knew he took long time so might be susceptible to a charge down. Kolbe also wouldn't have been in his eyeline at all.

 

[geocycle]

So semi final weekend! I love the symmetry with the 2019 clash between England and SA, then England had just had one of their best ever performances while SA had scraped through. Logic says SA by 20 points but pressure and the favourite tag is not easy to handle. Unfortunately if logic is an enormous SA forward it’s hard to argue.

NZ should beat Argentina by a similar margin. The only hope for Argentina is if they get NZ on one of their off days. They don’t seem as infallible as usual, but it’s theirs to lose. NZ by 20.

 

[AndyRM]

I'd love to see Argentina win this evening. I've watched them evolve over the years and they are my favourite Southern Hemisphere team.

I suspect England will get walloped tomorrow, but part of me thinks they may be peaking at the right time. And that game against France must have taken a toll on South Africa so who knows?

 

[Beebo]

I think England have a small chance. They will need a bit of luck and maybe a red card.

They don’t deserve to be in the final but sport isn’t about geowhat you deserve.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

I think England have a small chance

Don't want to be unpatriotic, but I reckon you'll be reconsidering by about 20:10* tomorrow.
* trying to be optimistic.

 

[Beebo]

Don't want to be unpatriotic, but I reckon you'll be reconsidering by about 20:10* tomorrow.
* trying to be optimistic.

You are probably right.
I’m not suggesting they will win and I certainly wouldn’t put any money on it. If they played 10 times I suspect England would win once.