Rugby Union 21/22/23 Discussion | RWC time!

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Portugal win, Fiji through, everyone happy (sorry aussie caftards).
 
That’s awesome! Delighted for Portugal, they’ve been a breath of fresh air this tournament.
 
Last time I celebrated that much was Eder scoring in 2016
 
Skills said:
They're not though?
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They are mate.

Thank you all for the kind words.

It was an incredible historic win. Hopefully we can build on this since Rugby is way behind football, futsal, handball and hockey in popularity.

I'll definitely go to the airport to support our players.

Our run ends but we are incredibly proud.
 
Just seen my tagline on redcafe and I am convinced it’s got something to do with this thread :lol:
 
I just watched the highlights of the Portugal/Fiji game. Great stuff.
It was Portugal that had a chance to win with the last kick v Georgia, but that game ended in a draw.
So, Portugal featured in the two most fun games that I’ve seen at this WC.

You could see the unbridled joy at the end. Brilliant!
 
Wales -4 (vs Argentina)
Ireland -1 (vs New Zealand)
France -1 (vs South Africa)
England -7 (vs Fiji)
 
T00lsh3d said:
Wales -4 (vs Argentina)
Ireland -1 (vs New Zealand)
France -1 (vs South Africa)
England -7 (vs Fiji)
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I think Ireland will start the match very nervously next weekend.
After all, NZ basically ended the match within 20mins at the last world cup.

If they can hang on in that first part and settle down, I'd say they have a great chance.
 
unchanged_lineup said:
I think Ireland will start the match very nervously next weekend.
After all, NZ basically ended the match within 20mins at the last world cup.

If they can hang on in that first part and settle down, I'd say they have a great chance.
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If we start nervously we're toast.

We really shouldn't be nervous of NZ at all, at this stage. We're quite familiar with them now and know we have the beating of them if we perform. I still think it's going to be 50/50 but I'll be shitting myself if we come out and start fecking up lineouts, missing tackles and dropping the ball.
 
I had made peace with the Wallabies exiting the World Cup in the pool stage. Then along comes Portugal to give us some hope that the mother of all miracles could happen, only for the Portuguese to fall 7 points short of the margin Australia needed them to win by while also producing a wonderful win of their own.

In truth, the Wallabies paid a huge price for putting their fate in the hands of others. A 1 point win against Fiji for the Wallabies would have pretty much sent the Fijians out and in all likelihood booked the Aussies a spot in the last 8. A Dave Rennie coached Wallabies side full of experience would probably have beaten Fiji.

Eddie Jones started off talking about a ''smash and grab'' approach to this tournament, with the idea of going all in on the aim getting to a semi final. By selecting a squad full of inexperience, Eddie is complicit in what has transpired. Those who allowed him to take an inexperienced squad to this tournament when a semi final was out of the question given the generous draw are also accountable.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan was strong enough to make a bold and now seemingly incorrect call to change the coach 9 months out from the World Cup but isn't strong enough to stand up Eddie and question some of his ideas in a constructive way. When you listen to Hamish speak about Eddie, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's the day after England's 2019 World Cup semi final win over New Zealand, arguably the last great performance by an Eddie Jones coached team. You could say the same about former Wallaby Phil Waugh ( a board member when Eddie was reappointed and now CEO), Dan Herbert and Joe Roff, two World Cup winners are on the board and they weren't strong enough to challenge Eddie's ideas in a positive manner.

The game is in poor shape here but with an appropriate blend of youth and experience, the Wallabies were good enough to beat Fiji, Georgia and Portugal. The saying goes that 2 out of 3 ain't bad but in this case, it is. A golden opportunity to bring some positivity to a game that desperately needs it has been pissed up the wall by a washed up coach and a chairman who still thinks it's the day after England beat New Zealand 19-7 to make the 2019 World Cup final.

Finally, good luck to the remaining countries and Bill Sweeney is a genius for not inserting a non compete clause as part of Eddie's severance package.
 
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Dupont cleared for training so he'll be available if Gauthier wants him.

Still think Lucu should start
 
unchanged_lineup said:
I think Ireland will start the match very nervously next weekend.
After all, NZ basically ended the match within 20mins at the last world cup.

If they can hang on in that first part and settle down, I'd say they have a great chance.
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Withnail said:
If we start nervously we're toast.

We really shouldn't be nervous of NZ at all, at this stage. We're quite familiar with them now and know we have the beating of them if we perform. I still think it's going to be 50/50 but I'll be shitting myself if we come out and start fecking up lineouts, missing tackles and dropping the ball.
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I’ve got £100 on you at -1, so I’ll be nervous as well :lol:

I actually think it’s pretty safe though
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Feck me. If Ireland do go one better than our previous best in a WC you can’t say we didn’t do it the hard way. Wayne Barnes to ref the game on Saturday :lol:
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There is an easy fix. Sexton needs to greet him as follows:

"Bonjour monsieur l'arbitre, comment allez-vous?"

Every calls will be in your favor.
 
In other refereeing related news, Nic Berry is not refereeing the QF involving South Africa.
 
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