General Rugby Discussion II

AbusesToilets · 04-07-2021 6:14pm

hahashake wrote: »

What about every year, take the top 6 nations and play a round robin...no idea what to call it though.

Indeed. Never going to happen tho

Trey13 · 05-07-2021 1:34am

Watched a fair bit of the rugby over the weekend and have been thinking about where the game goes in the next 10-20 years.

The NZ Tonga result was obviously terrible but with so many Tongan players missing, the game was never going to be close. Tonga have at least put in good performances in the last couple of rugby world cups.

Watching South Africa v Georgia, Ireland v Japan and England v USA really got me thinking that there needs to be more games for these “Tier 2” countries against top opposition. Japan have obviously been very good over the last two world cups, while the USA have sometimes been good in stand alone fixtures, albeit against weakened sides. Georgia are showing signs of improvement but need more games v Tier 1 teams. I haven’t even mentioned Uruguay, who I have a soft spot for after their win over Fiji in RWC19.

I don’t know what the answer is, but where is rugby going and how do we get more competitive teams? As much as I love the sport, Pool B of the 2019 RWC is damning. Italy, Namibia and Canada all in one pool and none of those teams would test any top 10 team now. I’d like to see a RWC where 15/20 (at least)teams are capable of progressing to a quarter final. As it stands now, I think there’s probably only 10 realistically. Can we get Uruguay, Georgia, USA, Italy, Russia etc to a stage where they can compete with some of the Tier 1 teams regularly?!

Podge_irl · 05-07-2021 7:46am

The very fact that you are including Italy in that list highlights the problem. They have had the most support of any "developing" team both financially and in terms of matches and they have not improved massively.

(although personally I don't really think they belong in that list, they would beat all those teams relatively comfortably I suspect).

16-07-2021 8:31am

Lewis Ludlow has gotten a 4 game ban for his knee to the head on Jake ILnicky in the Canada game.

I have no idea why they referee only gave a yellow card during the game, it was a clear act of dangerous play & there were no mitigating factors at all

fitz · 17-07-2021 7:37am

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117618533#Comment_117618533

Yeah, totally nuts that it wasn't a red. It should have been a quick and easy call for the ref. Completely bottled it.

17-07-2021 10:18am

Aussie No11 sent off inside the first 5 mins against France....

Clegg · 17-07-2021 10:30am

The online reaction to the Koroibete red card is interesting. Seems to be a NH/SH split with the former saying red and the latter calling the decision a travesty.

We've sort of seen this in recent weeks with referees in the south letting things go which a lot of European referees would red card.

Fwiw I think it's a fairly clear cut red card. Koroibete steamed into the player at full tilt, was fairly upright making the tackle and made contact with his shoulder into the French players chin.

Dave_The_Sheep · 17-07-2021 10:35am

Anything that pisses the Aussie rugby community off is OK in my book.

17-07-2021 10:41am

Watching on Aussie tv and they are definitely screaming travesty....he definitely made contact with the neck and jaw of the French player though, no doubt at all

Mrcaramelchoc · 17-07-2021 10:55am

Australian commentary very biased

Clegg · 17-07-2021 11:21am

That's a gorgeous France try.

17-07-2021 11:54am

The Teddy Thomas disallowed one? :)

It's a cracking game though

Dave_The_Sheep · 17-07-2021 12:01pm

For f*cks sake, France, you had one job. One job!

17-07-2021 12:42pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117623740#Comment_117623740

Have to give credit to the Aussies, Hooper was POMesque in his pashun stakes...and they did deserve the win I think

17-07-2021 3:51pm

Wales got absolutely hammered by Argentina

Clegg · 19-07-2021 10:10am

Richard Cockerill has left Edinburgh by mutual consent. Big blow for the club as he'd improved them a huge amount. They were walkovers before he took over.