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

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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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Some Kiwis won't exactly be popping champagne corks about this either. The All Blacks have lost 8 tests (3 against Australia, 2 each against Ireland and France and 1 to South Africa) when Wayne Barnes has been the referee.
 
Quarter Final referees:

Wales vs Argentina - Jaco Peyper

Ireland vs New Zealand - Wayne Barnes

England vs Fiji - Mathieu Raynal

France vs South Africa - Ben O'Keeffe
 
Xaviesta said:
Quarter Final referees:

Wales vs Argentina - Jaco Peyper

Ireland vs New Zealand - Wayne Barnes

England vs Fiji - Mathieu Raynal

France vs South Africa - Ben O'Keeffe
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I'm not too bothered with Wayne he always done us good at Munster unlike a little Welsh man who genuinely hated us.
 
QF Predictions:

Argentina v Wales - relatively easy win for Wales who are improving fast under Gatland

Ireland v New Zealand - Ireland to win by a decent margin. Ireland have been the best team so far while NZ are flat track bullies.

England v Fiji - the big one. Slightly worried by the Ford & Farrell tribute to Gerrard & Lampard but England should have enough nous to get through

France v South Africa - a very tight game to be decided by the kicking ability of Thomas Ramos
 
France V SA should be epic. So too Ireland v NZ.
Going for Fiji & Argentina in the other quarters but wins for England & Wales are just as likely .
 
MoskvaRed said:
QF Predictions:

Argentina v Wales - relatively easy win for Wales who are improving fast under Gatland

Ireland v New Zealand - Ireland to win by a decent margin. Ireland have been the best team so far while NZ are flat track bullies.

England v Fiji - the big one. Slightly worried by the Ford & Farrell tribute to Gerrard & Lampard but England should have enough nous to get through

France v South Africa - a very tight game to be decided by the kicking ability of Thomas Ramos
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Probably a fair assessment, although I think France may win by a decentmargin simply because SA will be chasing the game with 10-15mins to go.
 
Zoo said:
George Ford dropped, captain Owen at 10. Called it.
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Farrell is better defensively than Ford (assuming no red card). I worry that we’ll grind through this fixture with a highly conservative game plan and then try to do the same in the SF and get our arses handed to us by France or South Africa. We’d lose to those two teams 9/10 times anyway but I’d prefer to take some risk with Arundell and Smith.
 
MoskvaRed said:
Farrell is better defensively than Ford (assuming no red card). I worry that we’ll grind through this fixture with a highly conservative game plan and then try to do the same in the SF and get our arses handed to us by France or South Africa. We’d lose to those two teams 9/10 times anyway but I’d prefer to take some risk with Arundell and Smith.
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That is exactly what I predict as well. And it could backfire spectacularly.

I always shudder when I see Raynal reffing us, or anyone for that matter….but I think he reffed the Argentina game and penalised them very consistently, so might end up being a positive

As @JPRouve says (with no hint of irony), he’s the best French ref
 
T00lsh3d said:
That is exactly what I predict as well. And it could backfire spectacularly.

I always shudder when I see Raynal reffing us, or anyone for that matter….but I think he reffed the Argentina game and penalised them very consistently, so might end up being a positive

As @JPRouve says (with no hint of irony), he’s the best French ref
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He is one of the best but he isn't the best, and he isn't good. The best would be Tual Trainini but he is semi-professional which is why he isn't really selected internationally.
 
JPRouve said:
He is one of the best but he isn't the best, and he isn't good. The best would be Tual Trainini but he is semi-professional which is why he isn't really selected internationally.
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I think he may actually suit us in this match, as I can see Fiji being quite emotionally charged and giving away a few pens. And Raynal doesn’t exactly mind dishing them out
 
Wales
Ireland
England
France but I hope South Africa beat them

It seems likely that Eddie Jones will replace Jamie Joseph as Japan coach. If so, good riddance, Eddie and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
 
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I don't think southern hemisphere rugby is ready to roll over just yet. My predictions:

Wales vs. Argentina- It'll be closer than some think but Wales' defense and Gatland's plan makes them favorites here.

NZ vs Ireland- All Blacks have less minutes on their legs than the Irish starters. Beautiful back and forth game but the AB's come on top by 3 points or less.

England vs Fiji- England goes full Millwall and wins with a tour de force of defensive rugby.

South Africa vs France- I love, love the France national rugby team, but they're due a bad game and I think this is it. Springboks to win unless their kicking game is a shambles.
 
Bizarre being favourites against All Blacks. I don't really buy it.

Number 1 team and all but ABs are an anomaly. They can put 20 good minutes together and make shit of any team.

Plus there is the mental hurdle of never, ever winning a knockout match. I'd be fairly surprised if we won.
 
Shane88 said:
Bizarre being favourites against All Blacks. I don't really buy it.

Number 1 team and all but ABs are an anomaly. They can put 20 good minutes together and make shit of any team.

Plus there is the mental hurdle of never, ever winning a knockout match. I'd be fairly surprised if we won.
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Yeah i think this iteration of the AB's are there for the taking though. Deny them possession or quick ball by dominating them upfront (which SA, Fra - & now Ireland) all have done/should do....and they'll struggle.

Foster really hasn't been a good appointment but agreed with your overall point - they're still the AB's and are a dangerous side who can topple anyone on their day. It wasn't that long ago that beat the Boks in the Championship - albeit at home. Then there's obviously the mental hurdle of a knockout match as well.

There's very little between the "top 4" IMO, but i think the AB's are recognised rightfully as number 4 at this moment in time.
 
Ish said:
Yeah i think this iteration of the AB's are there for the taking though. Deny them possession or quick ball by dominating them upfront (which SA, Fra - & now Ireland) all have done/should do....and they'll struggle.

Foster really hasn't been a good appointment but agreed with your overall point - they're still the AB's and are a dangerous side who can topple anyone on their day. It wasn't that long ago that beat the Boks in the Championship - albeit at home. Then there's obviously the mental hurdle of a knockout match as well.

There's very little between the "top 4" IMO, but i think the AB's are recognised rightfully as number 4 at this moment in time.
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The worry for Ireland is that Joe Schmidt will turn out to have been a great appointment. For this one match anyway. One of his greatest strengths when he was in charge of Ireland was coming up with a specific game plan to counter each opponent. And no better man to work out how to beat Ireland than their former manager :nervous:
 
Xaviesta said:
I actually think France vs South Africa is the QF that will be close.
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Yeah I think that and the bookies would agree.

I think England and wales will just have too much nouse, and Ireland will be too good for the ABs

England
Wales
Ireland
France/SA

An all-NH semis was about 6.4 when I looked, which I don’t think is that bad a bet, but I’ve already invested heavily
 
Ish said:
Yeah i think this iteration of the AB's are there for the taking though. Deny them possession or quick ball by dominating them upfront (which SA, Fra - & now Ireland) all have done/should do....and they'll struggle.

Foster really hasn't been a good appointment but agreed with your overall point - they're still the AB's and are a dangerous side who can topple anyone on their day. It wasn't that long ago that beat the Boks in the Championship - albeit at home. Then there's obviously the mental hurdle of a knockout match as well.

There's very little between the "top 4" IMO, but i think the AB's are recognised rightfully as number 4 at this moment in time.
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This.

It’s noticeable that the Irish posters in here are nervous about the match (and fair enough), but the neutrals are pretty confident it’s going to go one way
 
Pogue Mahone said:
The worry for Ireland is that Joe Schmidt will turn out to have been a great appointment. For this one match anyway. One of his greatest strengths when he was in charge of Ireland was coming up with a specific game plan to counter each opponent. And no better man to work out how to beat Ireland than their former manager :nervous:
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Yeah, he's made a difference to them alright. The AB's were almost a laughingstock at one point - losing to Argentina as well during that torrid run, iirc. He's also managed to save Fosters bacon and keep him in the role as their performances improved. Ironically, it was a victory against the Boks which kept Foster in the job and then he re-shuffled and added to his management team (Schmidt) when he should probably have been axed. They looked good in the Championship but again, outside of the Boks, the quality of the opposition isn't up to scratch at the moment either. But yeah, still a very dangerous side with match winners all over the pitch. They also have a few key players back from injury.

T00lsh3d said:
This.

It’s noticeable that the Irish posters in here are nervous about the match (and fair enough), but the neutrals are pretty confident it’s going to go one way
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Yeah, I see this one as a more comfortable call than Fra v SA, which i think will be very close.
 
boksvfrance.jpg
 
T00lsh3d said:
Surely Faf will play
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This is the official line up. Not surprised Libbok is playing, but I think it will cost us in the end. The Faf call though, very surprising - wonder if he picked up a knock and isn't 100%.

Every one of our XV will have to play out of their skin, France at home will get the 50/50s so I'm expecting a Rassie rant if we lose :lol:
 
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