Why arern't final pool games on at same time - so no team is given an advantage?

Isn't unfair on both England and Scotland today that Argentina now know exactly what they have to do tomorrow to qualify for the knockout stage. Likewise isn't it unfair on Australia that both Ireland and Italy know tomorrow what they have to do. Surely the final pair of games in each group should be played simultaneously so no team with a chance of qualifying gets an advantage over the others - just as it works with the Champions League in soccer where the final pool games all kick off at the same time and in most soccer leagues where all the final series games kick off at the same time - and in rugby in the HC when all final series pool games kick off at the same time.

No doubt it all comes down to money with the RWC and the TV companies not wanting any overlapping games to reduce their revenues - but if it can work in the HC and in soccer, why not in the RWC

It is a bit unfair. The same happens in the 6 Nations. Remember 2007? Ireland played Italy on the last day not knowing how many points they had to win by. They played brilliant attacking rugby. The score was something like 51-17. But, not knowing what we needed, we kept attacking and conceded a try from an Italy counter attack.

Later on France knew exactly what they needed against Scotland. They were around 20 points up. The clock was red, but they knew for sure they needed one more try to win the championship on points difference. They went for a pushover try. It was given (dodgy call from the TMO if I recall), and they won the tournament. Not very fair on Ireland that year.

But TV provides big money so they can get what they want I'm afraid. At least at this tournament it's Ireland who'll have prior knowledge of what they need to do.

TV

As others have said its TV money, they would lose alot of money showing two matchs at the same time and one match could get completly ignored by everyone if the one was make or break.

It all comes down to the money. It would be better if the games were grouped more though, so all group A final matches on one day, all group B on the next, etc, which would lesson the impact a bit, but it's not likely to change soon.

I want to watch all the games live that would not be possible if they were all on at the same time.
Knowing how many points you need to get can add more pressure on sides so it's not always a advantage.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:TV

TV, money, everything wrong with Professional rugby can be attributed to those two things.

over exposure of players.
too long seasons
no tours
inequality for minnows at RWC
etc.
etc.

etc.




etc.




etc.








etc.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:TV

^ this answer.

Any world cup (rugby, football, even tiddlywinks) that scheduled games at the same time would be shooting itself in the foot. How do you grow a game when you only show some of the matches live at THE showpiece event of the sport? Everyone should be able to watch every game. That's what makes world cups special in every sport. Deliberately clashing fixtures??? Ridiculous.

Why aren´t final pool games played on the same rugby field at the same time so we call all watch the same game together?

The final group games in the soccewr world cup are played at the same time. I.e the final group A games will be on the same time, the Group B games finish at the same time etc.