The first game of a tournament is never easy and Argentina are the toughest team in the group therefore i'm happy.
Rugby world cup
- Thread starter scream
- Start date
you are right, a win is a win, and it gives you the chance to rectify the things that went bad
Christ on a bike that was horrible to watch.
Why the hell were England wearing an all black strip?
Rip em a new one Sean
Their attempt to piss Kiwi rugby fans off
fecking time zones 
I expect nothing less than to kick the feck out of these USA boys, we need it for confidence
I expect nothing less than to kick the feck out of these USA boys, we need it for confidence
Jesus Christ that thing on the PA system just murdered "Ireland's call" I could cry, I could fricking cry
There was a large cow in green there a minute ago. 2am...fml.
The Irish pack looks so much stronger, really pushing them back
Man this is pathetic from Ireland so far really, not impressed no point doing all the work, having loads of possession but not being able to get points
We were unlucky there. If only the drop goal or penalty near the end had gone over. Still, very good performance nonetheless.
He shouldn't have gone for the drop goal. Bizarre decision.
Wales are always a great watch for one reason or another.
Wales are always a great watch for one reason or another.
Very unlucky Wales, really wanted them to beat SA.
Righto, rugger oddballs; I haven't followed this sport at all since the early 00s. I know as close to nothing about it as its possible to know about a sport without actually knowing nothing. Sort of like David Pleat and football.
1) So help me out folks; who are the best players in the following teams:
France, England, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia
2) What do you think of the Wallabies' chances?
3) One bloke told me that Quade Cooper was the 'Cristiano Ronaldo of rugby at the moment'. How accurate is he?
4) Are Scotland actually a bit gash at rugby?
5) Is Brian O'Driscoll some sort of machine? I realised, much to my shock the other night, that he's still playing for Ireland. Given that the bloke was a star in the Lions tour of Oz in 2000 or so, I figure that makes him roughly the same age as Teddy Sheringham.
6) Who do you think will win this tournament and why? Other than the All Blacks, obviously. I'm sick of hearing about the fecking All Blacks.
1) So help me out folks; who are the best players in the following teams:
France, England, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia
2) What do you think of the Wallabies' chances?
3) One bloke told me that Quade Cooper was the 'Cristiano Ronaldo of rugby at the moment'. How accurate is he?
4) Are Scotland actually a bit gash at rugby?
5) Is Brian O'Driscoll some sort of machine? I realised, much to my shock the other night, that he's still playing for Ireland. Given that the bloke was a star in the Lions tour of Oz in 2000 or so, I figure that makes him roughly the same age as Teddy Sheringham.
6) Who do you think will win this tournament and why? Other than the All Blacks, obviously. I'm sick of hearing about the fecking All Blacks.
Without getting into the best players bit, as it requires a bit more thought than the rest:
Australia have a good chance of winning, I'd pick them as favourites if the All Blacks aren't being considered, and they beat New Zealand to win the Tri-Nations a few weeks ago. The Cooper/Ronaldo comparison isn't a mile off talent wise, he was one of the Reds best players in winning the Super 15 and has been excellent for Australia.
Scotland are pretty rubbish in my opinion, they're in the weakest group and still won't get through. O'Driscoll is 32, and Ireland still miss him pretty badly when he doesn't play.
These are my opinions so others may differ
1. France - Harinordiquay, England - Ashton or Youngs, Ireland - probably still O'Driscoll on his day, South Africa - Bryan Habana, New Zealand - Dan Carter, Australia - Quade Cooper.
2. Good, probably 2nd or 3rd choice
3. Fairly, he's controversial, Kiwi born but plays for Wallabies, focus of hate for Kiwis.
4. They blow warm and cold but havve been very cold recently. Never going to set the world on fire but can hold their own on their day.
5. O'Driscoll is 32. If he was a machine he wouldn't get injured so much. A joy to watch when on song.
6. You can't argue against Australia for me really. They always seem organised, good going forward and would love to win it at their biggest rivals.
1. France - Harinordiquay, England - Ashton or Youngs, Ireland - probably still O'Driscoll on his day, South Africa - Bryan Habana, New Zealand - Dan Carter, Australia - Quade Cooper.
2. Good, probably 2nd or 3rd choice
3. Fairly, he's controversial, Kiwi born but plays for Wallabies, focus of hate for Kiwis.
4. They blow warm and cold but havve been very cold recently. Never going to set the world on fire but can hold their own on their day.
5. O'Driscoll is 32. If he was a machine he wouldn't get injured so much. A joy to watch when on song.
6. You can't argue against Australia for me really. They always seem organised, good going forward and would love to win it at their biggest rivals.
Keep the replies coming to the previous set of questions, and thanks for your replies Screanm and Paddy.
One more important question: What seperates the good rugby teams from the shit ones? When I followed rugby to some extent, I could name all the Wallaby players and most of the All Blacks, but even then I knew feck all about the vagaries.
From what I've observed over the yeras, these are the differences:
Lineouts - The more polished sides in teh world almost always win their own line-outs, and when they're up against the shit teams, they seem to steal a fair few of the opposition's ones as well.
Penalties and Try Conversions - The good teams have people like your Dan Carters and Jonny Wilkinsons of the world who are close to 100% guaranteed to convert the easy kicks, a pretty good chance of converting the ones from difficult angles as long as they're from close-ish range, and pose a potent threat from anything within 50 metres. The shit teams have fly halves who are wasteful with some of the easy ones, and dismal with the harder ones.
General kicking The good teams who have good professional leagues in their countries tend to have a lot of polish in this respect and can kick well, for maximum meterage and strategic benefit. The shit teams kick badly.
Rolling mauls (Or at least I think that's what they're called) - The good teams seem to be able to push the shit teams even up to 10 to 20 metres in these sorts of situations. They're never able to do this when they come up against other good teams, who manage to hold their ground. The same seems to be true for scrums. This is something I don't understand, to be honest. I can understand Pacific Island teams like Fiji and Tonga lacking a bit of polish and quality in other respects, but what's stopping 15 enormous Islander blokes holding their own in scrums and mauls?
Also, defence is another big one. The shit teams seem to lack a level of organisation and when enough pressure is exerted on them, holes invariably appear and they let runners through and eventually concede tries.
Am I on the right track so far? What have I missed?
I've also struggled to understand what makes certain considered to be better than others. In the case of of players like Burke, Larkham and Campese, the skill was obvious. But I never understood what made Georgie Gregan a good player, for instance. It can't be that hard to pick up a ball and throw it to the bloke next to you, can it? Also Phil Kearns and John Eales. I suppose it's because I don't understand what each person's role in the side is supposed to be, the way I do in football.
Yes, I'm a bit of a novice at this.
One more important question: What seperates the good rugby teams from the shit ones? When I followed rugby to some extent, I could name all the Wallaby players and most of the All Blacks, but even then I knew feck all about the vagaries.
From what I've observed over the yeras, these are the differences:
Lineouts - The more polished sides in teh world almost always win their own line-outs, and when they're up against the shit teams, they seem to steal a fair few of the opposition's ones as well.
Penalties and Try Conversions - The good teams have people like your Dan Carters and Jonny Wilkinsons of the world who are close to 100% guaranteed to convert the easy kicks, a pretty good chance of converting the ones from difficult angles as long as they're from close-ish range, and pose a potent threat from anything within 50 metres. The shit teams have fly halves who are wasteful with some of the easy ones, and dismal with the harder ones.
General kicking The good teams who have good professional leagues in their countries tend to have a lot of polish in this respect and can kick well, for maximum meterage and strategic benefit. The shit teams kick badly.
Rolling mauls (Or at least I think that's what they're called) - The good teams seem to be able to push the shit teams even up to 10 to 20 metres in these sorts of situations. They're never able to do this when they come up against other good teams, who manage to hold their ground. The same seems to be true for scrums. This is something I don't understand, to be honest. I can understand Pacific Island teams like Fiji and Tonga lacking a bit of polish and quality in other respects, but what's stopping 15 enormous Islander blokes holding their own in scrums and mauls?
Also, defence is another big one. The shit teams seem to lack a level of organisation and when enough pressure is exerted on them, holes invariably appear and they let runners through and eventually concede tries.
Am I on the right track so far? What have I missed?
I've also struggled to understand what makes certain considered to be better than others. In the case of of players like Burke, Larkham and Campese, the skill was obvious. But I never understood what made Georgie Gregan a good player, for instance. It can't be that hard to pick up a ball and throw it to the bloke next to you, can it? Also Phil Kearns and John Eales. I suppose it's because I don't understand what each person's role in the side is supposed to be, the way I do in football.
Yes, I'm a bit of a novice at this.
One thing I don't get is why can't they have a World Cup more often?
No Euros or Copa Americas to worry about
Qualifying not an issue for most
Not that big an event compared to the footie
No Euros or Copa Americas to worry about
Qualifying not an issue for most
Not that big an event compared to the footie
1) Is a bit long winded for me to answer at the moment.
2) What do you think of the Wallabies' chances?
I'm backing them to go all the way. They have so much speed and craft throughout the backs and some big boys too.
3) One bloke told me that Quade Cooper was the 'Cristiano Ronaldo of rugby at the moment'. How accurate is he?
Fair. Arrogant and really rather good, I personally think he's a wanker but loved Cristiano though.
4) Are Scotland actually a bit gash at rugby?
Quite yes.
5) Is Brian O'Driscoll some sort of machine? I realised, much to my shock the other night, that he's still playing for Ireland. Given that the bloke was a star in the Lions tour of Oz in 2000 or so, I figure that makes him roughly the same age as Teddy Sheringham.
Again, yes. Still doing it on the international and club rugby stage, great player.
6) Who do you think will win this tournament and why? Other than the All Blacks, obviously. I'm sick of hearing about the fecking All Blacks.
Aus. I watched them beat NZ to win the tri-nations and I thought they were great. That and the reds team full of Aus players winning the Super 15 means your rugby's on a high at the moment. You have a good squad too, big fan of Will Genia, think he's one of the best 9s around.
2) What do you think of the Wallabies' chances?
I'm backing them to go all the way. They have so much speed and craft throughout the backs and some big boys too.
3) One bloke told me that Quade Cooper was the 'Cristiano Ronaldo of rugby at the moment'. How accurate is he?
Fair. Arrogant and really rather good, I personally think he's a wanker but loved Cristiano though.
4) Are Scotland actually a bit gash at rugby?
Quite yes.
5) Is Brian O'Driscoll some sort of machine? I realised, much to my shock the other night, that he's still playing for Ireland. Given that the bloke was a star in the Lions tour of Oz in 2000 or so, I figure that makes him roughly the same age as Teddy Sheringham.
Again, yes. Still doing it on the international and club rugby stage, great player.
6) Who do you think will win this tournament and why? Other than the All Blacks, obviously. I'm sick of hearing about the fecking All Blacks.
Aus. I watched them beat NZ to win the tri-nations and I thought they were great. That and the reds team full of Aus players winning the Super 15 means your rugby's on a high at the moment. You have a good squad too, big fan of Will Genia, think he's one of the best 9s around.
Have you seen the scorelines at the Rugby World Cups over the years?
Having it more frequently would only devalue it even more
game result:
from the beeb: "With unseasonal spring conditions ......Among the costumes in the crowd were eagles, Captain Americas and Russian bears but the prize for bravest outfit of the evening went to an American lady who spent the entire 80 minutes stripped down to a bikini."
that's great but where are the pics of that brave lady?
the Americans beat the Russians 13 to 6
from the beeb: "With unseasonal spring conditions ......Among the costumes in the crowd were eagles, Captain Americas and Russian bears but the prize for bravest outfit of the evening went to an American lady who spent the entire 80 minutes stripped down to a bikini."
that's great but where are the pics of that brave lady?
I completely agree. Eddie O'Sullivan gave me more confidence last time than Kidney is now. Flannery being fecked won't help matters whatsoever.
I'm on nights and stayed up to watch the New Zealand match only to find out that neither Williams nor Israel Dagg are playing.
Bedtime so.
All Blacks did ok then.
He was in the subs. Came in and got 2 tries.
i have a feeling this is not going to be pretty, ireland taking on the aussies
Has moving to London made you embrace your Irishness Sparks?
i miss my GAA fix moses, its harder to get regular matches to see here, no RTE you see
i have and always will embrace my irishness, irish and proud of it!!
i have and always will embrace my irishness, irish and proud of it!!
ah feck it despite the fact they have been shit recently i cant help but feel the buzz, COME ON IRELAND!!!
I might get out of bed, the TV is blaring this eggball shite downstairs.
Jesus looks like they have woken up at last
We're doing quite well but we're not getting any real run at them.
Pissing all over their scrum.
Tom McGurk is an odious cnut. How did Miriam O'Callaghan let him sperm in her?
Come on Aussie.
Which Aussie?
Surprised at how shit Australia has been so far, should turn it on fairly soon though.