2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

Brief_Lives

I figured out who the samoan scrum half reminds me of

Burkie1203

Dupont fractured cheekbone confirmed. That's a ~6 week recovery?

pickarooney

The handling in this game is beyond woeful. I get that it's wet but Jesus

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121144277#Comment_121144277

It's not that good!

ArmaniJeanss

Any reason known for such an early kick-off time? It's the only game today and the French generally seem to like 9pm games.

It's doesn't particularly suit either teams home fans.

lawrencesummers

I think Argentina are the biggest disappointment of the world cup.

The have a very experienced coach who im starting to think is just a bluffer. They have wins over big nations the last few years. They have great players playing for some great teams. They are in a relatively easy group and they look completely headless and tactically unaware.

To be honest they are just an embarrassment to some of the teams that have worn that jersey previously.

Shehal

Argentina would be doing well to get out of the pool at this stage the way they are playing.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121144442#Comment_121144442

Cheika was a very good coach in his day, has nothing to offer these days. Getting by on reputation alone for a while now, much like Gatland and EJ.

Argentina have to choose their next coach carefully. I wonder would Townsend be interested.

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121144466#Comment_121144466

they still display amazing skills and vision but the nuts and bolts are terrible plus way too many handling errors. I think Cheika is double jobbing a bit too much. International coaching is not something to do while you are simultaneously running a clothing empire.

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121144495#Comment_121144495

Triple jobbing. He coached Lebanon at the rugby league world cup last year.

Enzokk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121143448#Comment_121143448

What are the top structures like at World Rugby? I assume it will be mainly people from the big nations, which will inevitably mean it will be hard for them to make decisions that goes against their home nations. Add in that rugby isn't that big of a money maker when you go outside of the big nations, it means that you will have the environment where they are trying to grow the game but they are doing it with both hands tied behind their back and its not something they want to be doing willingly either.

OldRio

It has to be said but there's an awful amount of utterly dreadful rugby on display. Some of the teams that make the quarter finals are going to be hammered.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145893#Comment_121145893

Unfortunately the awful teams will be playing each other in the quarters so some are guaranteed to be in the semis.

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145893#Comment_121145893

I actually think all the quarters will be very evenly matched due to the draw. There's very little between Ireland, France, South Africa and New Zealand. While on the other side there's not much between Wales, Fiji, Australia, Argentina and England. Any of those teams could easily make the semifinal.

Now, the semi-,final is different. But I do think the pressure of a semi-final will help even things up a bit, but still should be comfortable enough.

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145666#Comment_121145666

I'm sure WR would point to all sorts of initiatives being run to promote the game in non-traditional nations, and doubtless they are trying, but I'd argue whether there's a cohesive, targeted strategy behind it all to pull up Tier 2 standards and make competitions more unpredictable. The nature of rugby is there are closed doors, it's built into the competitions.

That proposed tournament to replace the summer and autumn windows has met with criticism; I can't remember how the suggested promotion / relegation is supposed to work WRT Tier 2 nations, but certainly having it in summer will kill off any chance of Tier 1 tours, as was suggested earlier re. The Wolfhounds.

Brief_Lives

Georgia score after 90 seconds against Portugal, in Toulouse. Looks like a brilliant atmosphere there.

swiwi_

All Blacks with a Georgian of course. David Havili 😀

pixelburp

Poor Portugal can't seem to figure how to wrestle with Georgia. Have they even had any sustained periods in Georgia's half?

Edit: and just as I type all that, they score. Well then.

Brief_Lives

oh no... a card would ruin this game now...

Eoinbmw

Looked like a tired attempt at a tackle rather than malicious

SaoPaulo41

Thats the game now

fitz

Portugal are poor without the ball. Really shocking tackling.

But they're able to throw it around, and look a bit more dangerous going forward than Georgia.

Expect Georgia to outmuscle them though.

razorblunt

The Portuguese try could easily have been a penalty try for the high tackle. You'd hate to see a try taken off an individual but if the missed conversion comes back to bite them it could be worse.

Perfect example of an incident that deserves post try penalty as well.

fitz

That's where these small in goal areas would piss you off. Proper size pitch and Portugal would probably have scored that.

Decent start to the second half from them though, hopefully they can put it up to Georgia now.

FrancieBrady

Portugal could overhaul Georgia here

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146746#Comment_121146746

Would love to see it.

fitz

Ah, think they were in there if he'd passed outside.

Brief_Lives

that passage of play was great fun.

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146766#Comment_121146766

Plenty of mistakes, but this is great fun to watch. Roaring at the TV for Portugal.

Dillonb3

Beautiful rugby from Portugal