I actually think I prefer this kind of draw, where the quarters are tougher on paper than the semis. It allows teams to manage their way to a final. England win the WC in 2019 if they had beat the ABs in the quarters instead of the semis, some matches just take too much out of you to recover from them in a week.
Rugby Union 21/22/23 Discussion | RWC time!
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Won the tour after losing the first test too. No weak mentality there.
That's remarkable. I'd day SA and France have defensive systems that will force mistakes from the Kiwis should either of them play the AB's later on.
Michael Hooper on Aussie TV: ''I just really want Fiji to win''.
I saw that yesterday and was a bit baffled but there was at least one handling error during an advantage. Zero scrums was so wild that I waited for some update on the IRB website.
Actually, good point. I do remember advantage from a knock on, once or twice. Although that was from contested kicks, I think? I honestly can’t remember a pass not sticking. Very few from Ireland too, mind you. The handling was superb all around.
Anyhoo. I need to stop obsessing. We lost to a team that played better on the night. That’s life. Time to forget about Ireland and root for a different northern hemisphere team. Vive La France!
I never thought I'd write these words but I sort of hope England win.
Botia is a beast at the breakdown.
That'll last for all of 20 minutes of actually watching them play rugby.
It was a very clean game, no doubt about it.
Fecking hell. Just heard about Tuiova missing his own son’s funeral to stay in France for the WC. Awful.
That's already two breakdown penalties won by Fiji.
Fiji’s maul defence is so bad. Terrible discipline at the breakdown. Handling errors galore already. They’re going to get destroyed. Such a poor side.
That was an obvious no arms tackle by Curry. Surely Lomani doesn't miss this one.
Lucky boy.
How's he got away with that. Just chop blocked him.
Should have been a yellow
So, so easy for England. Game over here
Marcus Smith might be injured. England are playing with some good intent.
Has to be a red
Followed by Fiji player immediately sent to the bunker and won’t come back.
The late left foot step is the only thing that can stop this being a red.
F me how is this match the same stage as last night.
How Marcus Smith still held onto that ball after been clattered into the face is absolutely remarkable.
That will be so harsh if that's the case. There's mitigating circumstances in that one, IMO.
Another brutally harsh yellow for me.... how's that his fault Smith's simply too slick for him. Part and parcel of the sport and the risk that comes with it even at the finest margins.
Smith's beautifully slick though. Barrett levels of smooth, can't wait until they fully build the team around him, but maybe that's started this tournament, he's made himself undroppable.
Smith's beautifully slick though. Barrett levels of smooth, can't wait until they fully build the team around him, but maybe that's started this tournament, he's made himself undroppable.
Aaaand now they’ve started missing kickable penalties and losing their own lineouts. Just need to lose a few scrums for the full house of rugby shitness….
England's rugby team probably won't be on the receiving end of an upset in Marseille but in Delhi, their cricket side looks likely to lose to Afghanistan.
And that's another thing that's going to feck Fiji over. Goal kicking. Abysmal
this lad cant kick for shit
That's two bad misses from Lomani now.
Fiji better with their sevens A and B teams on the field
Sound like a broken record here, but Fiji should be in the lead here if they could actually kick.
Fiji just need to avoid line-outs scrums and kicking and they might have a chance here
I called it. Maybe I should be in the bunker.
Both of these teams would've vaporised an Ireland/AB combined XV.
This is what you call quality rugby
This is what you call quality rugby
At least Fiji are consistent. They’re as bad at attacking mauls as they are at defending them.
Said it before, but this bloke is a really, really poor ref. That NZ ref is the best.
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