Rugby World Cup - other team/games and general chat

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I couldn't see a topic to discuss general WC stuff and non home nations games.......

Now we do...

mikey_dragon wrote:Aus made a fast start but they don’t quite look at the races. Fiji seem full of life and are controlling the game better.

Oz will be getting a rocket from Eddie at half time, but Fiji are playing for their life in the tournament.

Australian lineout and maul defence is pretty solid - Fiji may be better taking the points until Aus have to chase the game.

Fiji are pretty good when they get reffef properly. Still in shock the Aus try was allowed.

Competition for worst ref is going to be close ...

It's so sad that Caleb Muntz was ruled out of the tournament. Fiji could have been genuine contenders to top this group with their best FH and some more balanced reffing.

They may have been done at the breakdown but Fiji switched off badly for the Australia try, none of them were looking at the possibility of a quick throw.

Yep but TMO should have told Brace he missed a clear and obvious pen to Fiji in the build-up - and Brace should actually know the laws

BigGee wrote:They may have been done at the breakdown but Fiji switched off badly for the Australia try, none of them were looking at the possibility of a quick throw.

There nearest player was the captain and when the ball went dead he turned to talk to Brace. Bad timing.

Between that try and the 9s break being called back for no good reason after passing into the Wallaby on the floor Brace hasn't really helped Fiji much that half.

Heaf wrote:Yep but TMO should have told Brace he missed a clear and obvious pen to Fiji in the build-up - and Brace should actually know the laws

Agree with all that, but you gotta play to the whistle

Don't know who will win this. Australia might if they keep hold of the ball but they haven't so far. Also a question of how well Fiji can keep up the pace but deservedly in front at HT.

king_carlos wrote:It's so sad that Caleb Muntz was ruled out of the tournament. Fiji could have been genuine contenders to top this group with their best FH and some more balanced reffing.

They could still top the group providing they win here and Australia beat Wales.

Duty281 wrote:

king_carlos wrote:It's so sad that Caleb Muntz was ruled out of the tournament. Fiji could have been genuine contenders to top this group with their best FH and some more balanced reffing.

They could still top the group providing they win here and Australia beat Wales.

They will likely need a BP for that and no sign of a try yet

Calling back that Aussie lineout doesn't look a good call either. Brace did it long before Fiji made something of it mind so no conspiracy here. Lucky for Australia.

Whoohoo ... let's see them try to scrub it out now

Yes, Fiji!

wow. maybe the win over England was not a one off.....

Bounce of the ball finally favours Fiji

Nice conversion too

I think the call went up 'Yours'

What a howler from Australia!

I like that Fijian SH

Well I never - Oz offside

Wales beat Fiji, Fiji beat Australia, Australia beat Wales. All down to BPs...?

Australian kicking game is a bit Anglo...

king_carlos wrote:Wales beat Fiji, Fiji beat Australia, Australia beat Wales. All down to BPs...?

Would add a certain attacking intent to the group games wouldn't it. "Right lads we need bonus points and then as high a points score as we can get".

Not the best time to lose your kicker though

bummer

king_carlos wrote:Wales beat Fiji, Fiji beat Australia, Australia beat Wales. All down to BPs...?

Fiji likely to end with 15-16 points, depending on how many BP wins they get. Presuming they don't get one here, but a BP win over Portugal + not Georgia gets them to 15. BP wins over Portugal and Georgia lifts them to 16.
Australia likely to get 5 points over Portugal. A win over Wales leaves them with 14/15, depending on the BP. Presuming they lose here, a losing BP might take them to 15/16. Look unlikely to get a losing BP at the moment, however!
Wales lose to Australia with a BP gets them to 11. No BP keeps them at 10. Win over Georgia without a BP is 14/15. With is 15/16.

Goodness! Maybe Wales will just beat Australia and leave it uncomplicated!

Ouch, he butchered that one!

Mawi is a good player. He’s had a great game today.

The female commentator is annoying me....far too much talk...less is more, much of the time

hugehandoff wrote:The female commentator is annoying me....far too much talk...less is more, much of the time

Unfortunately, I think most of the commentary teams have not been good. Maybe something to do with how they were put together, because some of the people I generally like. But as commentary teams not so much. It also sounds like they are mostly (all?) in studio and not at the games.

hugehandoff wrote:The female commentator is annoying me....far too much talk...less is more, much of the time

It's mainly because there's a lot of time to fill and the commentators aren't really bouncing off each other.

Fiji need to keep kicking, Aus are clueless and don’t know how to field it.

Gordon gets the shepherd’s crook. He’s been truly awful. I’m all for building a team for the future but you don’t do it at world cups.

I’d say wales are favourites against Oz right now and Georgia could very well have a big say in the group

Fiji's line-out is their weak link at the moment

I don't think that warranted a talking to. Fiji's first high tackle for 60 minutes, and it was a marginal one.

tigertattie wrote:Gordon gets the shepherd’s crook. He’s been truly awful. I’m all for building a team for the future but you don’t do it at world cups.

I’d say wales are favourites against Oz right now and Georgia could very well have a big say in the group

Wales did not look great against Portugal, albeit they did not put out their strongest team. That could end up being a pivotal game in the group and Wales also need to get a BP against Georgia

Heaf wrote:Fiji's line-out is their weak link at the moment

Need to just take the easy option and go to the front for the next couple.

A card for Arnold wouldn't go amiss

doctor_grey wrote:

hugehandoff wrote:The female commentator is annoying me....far too much talk...less is more, much of the time

Unfortunately, I think most of the commentary teams have not been good.  Maybe something to do with how they were put together, because some of the people I generally like.  But as commentary teams not so much.  It also sounds like they are mostly (all?) in studio and not at the games.    

The standard of commentary has fallen dramatically in recent years. There are many reasons for this but trying to fill quotas instead of giving the best person the roll doesn't help.

That kids is not how you tackle. Making sure the player you are tackling has the ball also helps.

Not a vintage game for sure, but Aussies woeful. Aus screaming out for a Quade Cooper at this point.

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Gordon gets the shepherd’s crook. He’s been truly awful. I’m all for building a team for the future but you don’t do it at world cups.

I’d say wales are favourites against Oz right now and Georgia could very well have a big say in the group

Wales did not look great against Portugal, albeit they did not put out their strongest team. That could end up being a pivotal game in the group and Wales also need to get a BP against Georgia

It would be an absolute travesty if that Wales game cost Fiji a place in the QF. It's why I find myself cheering them on more than I cheered on Ireland last night.

Good game management from Fiji. Lead up to 14.

Wales showed a lot more against Fiji than Australia have, but I still wouldn't like to call Wales/Australia. Last five games between those two have all been settled by no greater than an eight point margin.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

hugehandoff wrote:The female commentator is annoying me....far too much talk...less is more, much of the time

Unfortunately, I think most of the commentary teams have not been good.  Maybe something to do with how they were put together, because some of the people I generally like.  But as commentary teams not so much.  It also sounds like they are mostly (all?) in studio and not at the games.    

The standard of commentary has fallen dramatically in recent years. There are many reasons for this but trying to fill quotas instead of giving the best person the roll doesn't help.

As a combo it is awful. They certainly detract from the game rather than adding to it

Australia just seem to have come back into the game in last few mins.

Even a BP for them could be very useful going forward

BP would be huge for Australia, but they'll want more now they're back within 7.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Gordon gets the shepherd’s crook. He’s been truly awful. I’m all for building a team for the future but you don’t do it at world cups.

I’d say wales are favourites against Oz right now and Georgia could very well have a big say in the group

Wales did not look great against Portugal, albeit they did not put out their strongest team. That could end up being a pivotal game in the group and Wales also need to get a BP against Georgia

It would be an absolute travesty if that Wales game cost Fiji a place in the QF. It's why I find myself cheering them on more than I cheered on Ireland last night.

Gonna be wales top and Fiji 2nd I reckon

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think it’ll be the first time Oz don’t get out their group if it happens. I normally don’t have anything against Oz (they gave us neighbours after all) but I’ll LoL my head off of they don’t get out just because of Eddie jones.

But for a couple of typical Brace blunders Fiji could be home and dry by now ...

A slight worry for Fiji is that their fitness levels don't look as good, they have been fading now for a good few mins