2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

fitz · 10-09-2023 12:51pm

Gonna be at least a yellow.

swiwi_ · 10-09-2023 12:55pm

Think Joseph’s time is up. Japan need fresh ideas.

Yeah_Right · 10-09-2023 12:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121092195#Comment_121092195

Heading back to the Highlanders next year I think.

pixelburp · 10-09-2023 1:04pm

Tough try and card to ship just before halftime; I hope this doesn't drop heads and cause another cricket score.

pickarooney · 10-09-2023 1:05pm

If that yellow is upgraded I give up. The Japanese player ran into him. Nobody was hurt, just play on.

bilston · 10-09-2023 1:22pm

You've got to love Chile. They have some really good players who I'm assuming are semi pro. Great to see them really put it up to Japan here.

FrancieBrady · 10-09-2023 1:23pm

Brilliant Chile - game on?

swiwi_ · 10-09-2023 1:23pm

The Chile hooker looks a top player.

MaddChris · 10-09-2023 1:23pm

Super atmosphere

10x as entertaining as the drivel that was last night.

fitz · 10-09-2023 1:23pm

Full back did all the hard work there and then nearly blew it. Fun game this.

pixelburp · 10-09-2023 1:24pm

Shame that conversion was missed but the try was fantastically well-worked, full of energy. Squidge Rugby had been boosting Chile for a while and you can see why in watching them live.

FrancieBrady · 10-09-2023 1:43pm

Hope Chile don't cave in here. They've done well

pixelburp · 10-09-2023 1:58pm

Bah, to trot out the aphorism, that try has put a gloss on the scoreline. Chile just ran out of energy, they really gave it their all. the scoreline makes Japan look better than they were, Chile worse than they were. Hate it when that happens in Rugby.

These kind of games really show what the difference can be with Tier 1, if it wasn't alrady clear. Chile played good rugby but you saw the ... I dunno, 5-10% worse decision making; passes not quite sticking; the shapes not quite perfect to make gains. Lots of little things a better team wouldn't do, but only needs that little more experience & training to eradicate as well.

At least they have 6 days 'til the next match, then 7 between each of the last two. They'll need the rest.

MaddChris · 10-09-2023 2:06pm

All but one of the Japanese trys came from a mistake Chile made. They're not a patch on the team from 4 years ago.

Scoreline hugely flatters Japan. Chile put in a brave performance for 60+ minutes and they played some entertaining rugby when in full flow. Just the lack of experience and intensity of Test rugby holding them up.

FrancieBrady · 10-09-2023 2:06pm

Eng won't be losing any sleep after that.

AbusesToilets · 10-09-2023 2:24pm

Love the growth of South American rugby, they have that spirit of the classic French style. Hope it keeps building from here.

cmyk · 10-09-2023 3:54pm

Just thinking today with no team really impressing so far, and a good few potential opponents with stronger openers, are our fixtures looking pretty favourable now from a tactical standpoint?

We get to play two games (one down) that we really should win just by playing a good strong basic game.

While at the same time we're going to get a good look tonight at SA/SCOTS going at it without being able to hold anything back? Or do we already know full well what we're getting with both of them?