Rugby World Cup so far

[Simster]

So what are your impressions so far.

Great way to start the tourny with the Argies winning. Some of the minnows have performed well - I quite liked the look of all of the home nations opponents, even if they were playing opponents who were badly out of sorts.

NZ are justifiably favourites but the way the Aussies turned over Japan suggests that 7/1 was a very good price.

I think one very impressive fact is that the crowds have been huge in France - even for the nothing games. 40,000 for Georgia v Argentina yesterday!

 

[tedebear]

oops has it started? not a very good impression from me then

 

[Normal Rob]

i fear for Portugal against NZ this weekend. if NZ field a strong team it could be 150 points plus. Iactually worry that a Portugal player could get seriously hurt. You would not put a World Champion boxer up against an amateur....

 

[Napper]

think it's great , I've managed to avoid all of it so far

 

[Timbo]

i fear for Portugal against NZ this weekend. if NZ field a strong team it could be 150 points plus. Iactually worry that a Portugal player could get seriously hurt. You would not put a World Champion boxer up against an amateur....

No rugby fan but you're right. This game has got to be a very bad idea.

Its the same with the cricket w/c, you have to have more teams involved otherwise you end up with the same old 5 or 6 teams, but when it becomes dangerous you have to question it.

 

[Cian]

No rugby fan but you're right. This game has got to be a very bad idea.

Its the same with the cricket w/c, you have to have more teams involved otherwise you end up with the same old 5 or 6 teams, but when it becomes dangerous you have to question it.

I didn't see any risk of the rank amateurs in the cricket WC (Ireland, for instance) being at any physical danger, though. Unless that's the point you're trying to make?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

My favourite game thus far has to be Ireland vs Namibia. They put up a great fight and the score was flattering on Ireland in the end.

I also thoroughly enjoyed South Africa vs Samoa. The Samoans gave a good account of themselves in periods and were unlucky to only score 7.

All in all, it has been enjoyable and nice to see that some of the minnows have progressed well in the last four years.

 

[Timbo]

I didn't see any risk of the rank amateurs in the cricket WC (Ireland, for instance) being at any physical danger, though. Unless that's the point you're trying to make?

Certainly not with Ireland and to be honest most non test teams seem to be progressing well, largely due to their involvement in W/C's etc. But if you put someone in who has never played at a high level before and Glenn McGrath starts pinging the ball up under his chin, you have to question the wisdom of it.

Same with Portugal. Try getting someone of the street and let a 20 stone kiwi run into him a dozen times.

 

[wehatepalace]

think it's great , I've managed to avoid all of it so far

Yes we gathered on the other threads that you don't like rugby you, don't need to keep telling us !

 

[Cian]

Certainly not with Ireland and to be honest most non test teams seem to be progressing well, largely due to their involvement in W/C's etc. But if you put someone in who has never played at a high level before and Glenn McGrath starts pinging the ball up under his chin, you have to question the wisdom of it.

Hrm, true; its not quite the same level of injury you'd get having an all black land on you mind. I've played cricket badly against much better players a few times and never had more than a bruised thigh

 

[severnside gull]

One thing I can't understand is why the world cup in France includes home advantage for Wales and Scotland. Why coudn't we play at Twickers and the Italians in Milan?

Unfortunately I think our world cup will effectively end with the game against south africa so I'm finding it hard to be enthused.

Good luck to the all blacks though - they look a class apart

 

[Yoda]

One thing I can't understand is why the world cup in France includes home advantage for Wales and Scotland. Why coudn't we play at Twickers and the Italians in Milan?

Unfortunately I think our world cup will effectively end with the game against south africa so I'm finding it hard to be enthused.

Good luck to the all blacks though - they look a class apart

Bit like in Wales in 1995. It was more like Europe hosting it.

BTW. Italy play their home games in Rome not Milan.

 

[Simster]

i fear for Portugal against NZ this weekend. if NZ field a strong team it could be 150 points plus. Iactually worry that a Portugal player could get seriously hurt. You would not put a World Champion boxer up against an amateur....

The thing is, NZ have made eleven changes for that one - and this will be the highlight of the lives of those Portugese players I'd have thought.

Eleven changes + plucky minnows - I think the smart money might just be on NZ settling for 80 points or so.

 

[Grendel]

Bit like in Wales in 1995. It was more like Europe hosting it.

1999. South Africa hosted it in 1995.

 

[Icy Gull]

Watched 20 mins of England v USA and decided to go and do something that wouldn't irritate me, apart from that I've only watched snatches but really can't get enthused about massive mismatches. Really enjoyed France vs Argentina which is the only game I've watched from start to finish and looking forward (but dreading ) England vs SA.

This tournament will only come alive once the group stages are over, much like a football WC, I doubt England will still be involved at that stage though.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I like it, its been good so far because apart from the NZ and Australia games the underdog has put up a fight unlike last time.

 

[wehatepalace]

one thing I have noticed is how much the smaller teams have improved since the last world cup

 

[Silvanus]

Been a decent start so far IMO

 

[Fixtures]

Watched 20 mins of England v USA and decided to go and do something that wouldn't irritate me, apart from that I've only watched snatches but really can't get enthused about massive mismatches.

On the contrary, some of the 'mismatches' so far have been very entertaining. Yesterday's clash between Argentina and Georgia was excellent, as was Ireland vs Namibia.

 

[wehatepalace]

On the contrary, some of the 'mismatches' so far have been very entertaining. Yesterday's clash between Argentina and Georgia was excellent, as was Ireland vs Namibia.

I agree argentina v georgia was a great game and it's nice to see the minnows start to compete against the big boys