RWC 2015 - build-up thread

Would it make sense at all to expand the size of the WC squad considering so many countries have elected to run some kind of injury risk?

Akrasia

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Wales and Australia could face sanctions over lack of frontrow cover
"Decision to name only two hookers in World Cup squads could backfire"

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/wales-and-australia-could-face-sanctions-over-lack-of-frontrow-cover-1.2338047

Would be pleased if Gatland got caught out!
Ireland have no worries here. Madser & Tadhger :P

It's a stupid risk

Part of me hopes it backfires, the other part of me would feel so devastated for the welsh fans if their world cup was ruined because of this.

Akrasia

Deleted User wrote: »

Would it make sense at all to expand the size of the WC squad considering so many countries have elected to run some kind of injury risk?

It wouldn't really be fair to the smaller nations who haven't got such a large pool of world class players to choose from

ionadnapokot

I thought 32 would be a better number. Insofar as you must bring 3 LH, TH and Hooker. But i remember one poster rightly pointing out that it would be unfair on the weaker nations. i.e. bigger squads.
More front row players would suit Georgia or Romania but probably not Japan or Fiji.

thomond2006

Ticket sales for US vs Wallybees this weekend in Chicago don't look too healthy: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/04004EB4D1052F11&#ref=usarugby

I wonder if this will have any impact on the rumoured US/Maori & Ireland/NZ double header in 2016.

xredmanlfcx

Robshaw, Billy Vunipola, Dusatoir, Nyanga, Faletau, Aaron Smith, Folau, Fekitoa, Nonu, Halfpenny.

Any of these unlikely to start? Considering for fantasy teams haha.

sydthebeat

xredmanlfcx wrote: »

Robshaw, Billy Vunipola, Dusatoir, Nyanga, Faletau, Aaron Smith, Folau, Fekitoa, Nonu, Halfpenny.

Any of these unlikely to start? Considering for fantasy teams haha.

unlikely to start what? the first round RWC games?

Buer

xredmanlfcx wrote: »

Robshaw, Billy Vunipola, Dusatoir, Nyanga, Faletau, Aaron Smith, Folau, Fekitoa, Nonu, Halfpenny.

Any of these unlikely to start? Considering for fantasy teams haha.

In a first choice team, I assume?

Good chance BV loses out to Ben Morgan at this point. Good luck picking the French back row, doubt Nyanga will start; he has only one start for France this year.

Fekitoa won't start unless there's an injury (or maybe even two).

Robshaw, Faletau, Dusautoir, Smith, Folau, Nonu and Halfpenny will all be first choice.

CatFromHue

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Wales and Australia could face sanctions over lack of frontrow cover
"Decision to name only two hookers in World Cup squads could backfire"

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/wales-and-australia-could-face-sanctions-over-lack-of-frontrow-cover-1.2338047

Would be pleased if Gatland got caught out!
Ireland have no worries here. Madser & Tadhger :P

Oz, Uruguay, Wales, USA, Arg, Namibia all have only 2 hookers.

sydthebeat

the teams are going to chop and change a lot for the first few weeks, so look at the fixtures and see what games the "first teamers" will be put out
for example, the AB's are up against the argies first out so they will most likely put out their first team, as so might Argentina... whereas wales play Uruguay so the will rest a lot of their first liners, and use it to try out players in different positions.

if you select a "best" fifteen to start with you might find a lot of them not playing.

also look at whos carrying niggles (L williams), whos in form (D Kearney) and who will best score points for you in each week.

These ads are great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eB7cuq3JwE

JF100

WTF?
For a start that's Bryan Habana...
But I'm not sure who the plastic is supposed to be...

Buer

JF100 wrote: »

WTF?
For a start that's Bryan Habana...
But I'm not sure who the plastic is supposed to be...

Did you watch the video?

ionadnapokot

CatFromHue wrote: »

Oz, Uruguay, Wales, USA, Arg, Namibia all have only 2 hookers.

I only know Argies have always gone with 2 hookers in their WC squads. But thats because one of their props can hook.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Bit late to this but on the South Africa quotas thing... I just recently finished reading "Playing The Enemy" by John Carlin which is all about the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995 and how Mandela used rugby as a tool to manipulate and unite the nation. It was a very interesting read and without going into too much detail it was pretty enlightening. Basically up until 1995 the black population of South Africa had zero interest in rugby, it was seen as one of the main symbols of apartheid and even non Afrikaner whites had a hard time getting into the teams.(Even look now at how many of the white names are still Afrikaner) Bearing in mind that this is only 20 years ago it shouldn't be that surprising that the number of black South Africans on the Springboks team is still quite low. Realistically you're looking at the current generation of teens as being the first generation of black South Africans to grow up with rugby as an inclusive sport. Presumably an extremely gifted athlete could take up the sport in their late teens and make some inroads into the professional set up but when you compare this to the Afrikaner youth who are born into it and play it from they're old enough to hold a ball and go to the SA equivalents of schools like Blackrock and Gonzaga it's not that much of a stretch to believe that the squad is picked purely on ability. While I understand as a black South African it must be difficult to see how slow change is in coming it's not going to help anything by picking players just because they're black. I don't know what effort is or isn't being put into the game at grassroots level but that's where the change comes. Clubs in the townships being properly funded and run, and as I said above it is realistically a bit too soon to see the change on an international level.

ionadnapokot

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Bit late to this but on the South Africa quotas thing... I just recently finished reading "Playing The Enemy" by John Carlin

Its a great read. Pity the movie was malogen.


The story behind Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika is brilliantly told in the book. And how the Springbok embraced it.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/07/nelson-mandela-freedom-fighter-john-carlin

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Its a great read. Pity the movie was malogen.


The story behind Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika is brilliantly told in the book. And how the Springbok embraced it.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/07/nelson-mandela-freedom-fighter-john-carlin

It is a fantastic read. I was aware of that World Cup being important for South Africa but I had no idea how big a deal it actually was to have the black South Africans on board with the Springboks and how much work went into it. I haven't seen the film but after watching a brief scene on youtube I don't plan on seeing it.

pickarooney

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Bit late to this but on the South Africa quotas thing... I just recently finished reading "Playing The Enemy" by John Carlin which is all about the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995 and how Mandela used rugby as a tool to manipulate and unite the nation. It was a very interesting read and without going into too much detail it was pretty enlightening. Basically up until 1995 the black population of South Africa had zero interest in rugby, it was seen as one of the main symbols of apartheid and even non Afrikaner whites had a hard time getting into the teams.(Even look now at how many of the white names are still Afrikaner) Bearing in mind that this is only 20 years ago it shouldn't be that surprising that the number of black South Africans on the Springboks team is still quite low. Realistically you're looking at the current generation of teens as being the first generation of black South Africans to grow up with rugby as an inclusive sport. Presumably an extremely gifted athlete could take up the sport in their late teens and make some inroads into the professional set up but when you compare this to the Afrikaner youth who are born into it and play it from they're old enough to hold a ball and go to the SA equivalents of schools like Blackrock and Gonzaga it's not that much of a stretch to believe that the squad is picked purely on ability. While I understand as a black South African it must be difficult to see how slow change is in coming it's not going to help anything by picking players just because they're black. I don't know what effort is or isn't being put into the game at grassroots level but that's where the change comes. Clubs in the townships being properly funded and run, and as I said above it is realistically a bit too soon to see the change on an international level.

Siya Kolisi came from a township, got a scholarship to Grey High School and is now in the World Cup squad. Trevor Nyakane came from fairly humble beginnings too.

Also many South Africans of colour speak Afrikaans and have Afrikaans last names, Kirchner and Pietersen for example. The blondest and boerest mostly have French names.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

pickarooney wrote: »

Siya Kolisi came from a township, got a scholarship to Grey High School and is now in the World Cup squad. Trevor Nyakane came from fairly humble beginnings too.

I didn't say it wasn't possible or that the kids from townships weren't getting the opportunities. I'm just saying that 20 years is a relatively short time to expect real change and not just token change.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Just watching Scotland against France here and I've noticed France don't have sponsors on their shirt and I can't remember if they ever do?

Narcissus

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Just watching Scotland against France here and I've noticed France don't have sponsors on their shirt and I can't remember if they ever do?

is it on tv ?

aimee1

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Just watching Scotland against France here and I've noticed France don't have sponsors on their shirt and I can't remember if they ever do?

usually only on the tracksuits or training gear

aimee1

Narcissus wrote: »

is it on tv ?

BT

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Just watching Scotland against France here and I've noticed France don't have sponsors on their shirt and I can't remember if they ever do?

What are you talking about? It's right there on the front, they are sponsored by le cock sportif

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

aimee1 wrote: »

usually only on the tracksuits or training gear

I've genuinely never noticed it before.

Narcissus

That French away jersey is feckin class. I'd buy it if we weren't playing them :pac:

rebel girl 15

Narcissus wrote: »

That French away jersey is feckin class. I'd buy it if we weren't playing them :pac:

I do like adidas red jerseys!

mfceiling

Pape hobbling off against Scotland.

rebel girl 15

Heard about Halfpenny going off, but Rhys Webb sounds like his WC is over if it is a fractured ankle and ligament damage.

Swan Curry

Well at least one Tommy is having a good day

rebel girl 15

Cmon Scotland, what a kick!

vienne86

mfceiling wrote: »

Pape hobbling off against Scotland.

Scotland just got a try - great kick upfield by Laidlaw, picked up by Seymour. France 12 Scotland 16!

aimee1

wtf was that

Hagz

Who was Matt Scott yelling at. That was just pure muck from him.

vienne86

Pity Scotland didn't win that, but it was a terrific finish to the match.

pickarooney

Lovely rugby from Scotland. So close at the end.

Narcissus

France 19 - 16 Scotland FT. Fair play to the Scots for giving it a go at the end, great to see.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Scotland have really come on since the 6 Nations where they showed lots of promise but way too many errors and lapses in concentration. Much more consistent now. Looking forward to seeing them against the Springboks now.

Kiwi_knock

Good game between USA and Australia. Australia winning 14-10, 35 mins gone. USA putting in some great hits and showed nice hands for their try.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Good game between USA and Australia. Australia winning 14-10, 35 mins gone. USA putting in some great hits and showed nice hands for their try.

I know Australia haven't put out their starting 15 but it's a pretty poor scoreline so far. England will be pretty happy with all these matches today.

Absoluvely

USA obliterated in the second half.

First Half:  USA 10 - 14 AUS
[U]Second Half: USA  0 - 33 AUS + [/U]
Full Time:   USA 10 - 47 AUS

Kiwi_knock

USA really tired in that second half and made simple mistakes that Australia capitalised on, the scoreline of 47-10 certainly flattered them. Positives for Australia are no injuries and Foley's goalkicking. Cheika has to find space for McMahon in his 23, and Tomane deserves a shot as well.

andymx11

Is the Canada Fiji match on anywhere?

thomond2006

Webb and Halfpenny confirmed gone. What a disaster for Wales. I assume it will be Gareth Davies and Alex Cuthbert (with nice guy Liam at 15) who will benefit.

rebel girl 15

If anyone wants to watch the match, it's being streamed here (not sure if it's region restricted though). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN_6BSr6yDA

Fiji 30 Canada 8 half time

Fiji have put huge pressure on the Canadian scrum, looked very dangerous with balls in hand. I'm at the game

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Canada are pretty terrible. I watched a few of the Pacific Nations matches and they were just shockingly bad.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Not entirely World Cup relater but an interesting read on English rugby here.... http://www.theguardian.com/sport/ng-interactive/2015/sep/04/chasing-the-chariot-in-search-of-the-soul-of-english-rugby

Goes into the game as a whole, league vs union and the new attitude Lancaster has tried to install in his players. It also explains why League has such a stronghold in the North which I could never understand. Interesting to hear how many guys involved heavily in local teams have very little time for Twickenham too.

Stheno

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Not entirely World Cup relater but an interesting read on English rugby here.... http://www.theguardian.com/sport/ng-interactive/2015/sep/04/chasing-the-chariot-in-search-of-the-soul-of-english-rugby

Goes into the game as a whole, league vs union and the new attitude Lancaster has tried to install in his players. It also explains why League has such a stronghold in the North which I could never understand. Interesting to hear how many guys involved heavily in local teams have very little time for Twickenham too.

Great article, most shocking stat from that for me, is the gap in regular players versus adult male players, the disparity between England and Ireland even as an example is shocking.

Squidgy Black

Stheno wrote: »

Great article, most shocking stat from that for me, is the gap in regular players versus adult male players, the disparity between England and Ireland even as an example is shocking.

I wouldn't really be that shocked, you have to remember that most people who played school rugby or even club rugby generally drop off after they leave school and get jobs or go to college.

irishbucsfan

Why am I only discovering this now?