2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

FintanMcluskey · 29-09-2023 11:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174746#Comment_121174746

But ask any of the minnows if they would give up the opportunity to play Ireland, France, New Zealand or South Africa

3 of those teams have made at least 3 world cup finals.

There is one interloper who I doubt many of the minnows players grew up dreaming about.

Let's keep our feet on the ground for now

tobefrank321 · 29-09-2023 11:16pm

NZ are and probably always have been the ultimate flat track bullies in rugby going back to Lomu's time. Once they get a few tries up on a weak or average team they won't stop.

But if they fall behind or can't rack up big scores they get frustrated like all flat track bullies.

If Ireland are ahead, level or behind by 10 points or less at half time against NZ, I'd favour Ireland to win all day long.

thebaz · 29-09-2023 11:16pm

Next world cup is 20 teams, and thers talk about expanding the next one.

Right now world cup should only be for 16 teams , would be much more competive , yes ther will be hidings , Italy would be in that 16 - but not as many - not good for expanding the game, so many hidings.

World cup has been too predictable , needs a Japan beating South Africa game

downtheroad · 29-09-2023 11:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175123#Comment_121175123

Next world cup is 24 teams.

It should be 8 or 12 tops.

ersatz · 29-09-2023 11:22pm

As people say, no-one can rack up a score against poor opposition like NZ, ma cost e successo all'italia? They were useless. NO doubt the ABs have something to celebrate but I doubt they'll consider that demolishing a poor Italian side says much about how they'll operate against Ireland, France or SA for that matter. I watched with a couple of veteran Kiwis, they were happy but ruminating on Ireland having SA and Scotland as their warmup while NZ have today and Uruguay.

FintanMcluskey · 29-09-2023 11:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175133#Comment_121175133

Matt Williams summed it up the best, the top 4 can all beat each other on any given day.

I'd expand that to the top 8. I still think England will make the final

tobefrank321 · 29-09-2023 11:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175153#Comment_121175153

For England to make the final they'd have to beat one of the top 4, and I could only see them beating France as they seem to have a habit of beating them in big games.

Not sure who you are counting in the top 8 thats as good as the top 4. Wales, Australia, Fiji, Argentina are a good bit off.

ersatz · 29-09-2023 11:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175153#Comment_121175153

I would be surprised if Wales, England or Argentina can make the step up to the level of FR, Irl, SA and NZ but who knows. England and Wales will be playing with real confidence now.

Seadin · 30-09-2023 12:02am

Ireland will struggle with New Zealand. New Zealand are different animals in the rugby world cup. I really can't see us performing good enough that we will beat them. We must worry about Scotland first but here's hoping.

MaddChris · 30-09-2023 12:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175219#Comment_121175219

Different animal in the World Cup?

They've already lost to France in this world cup by 14 points.

If we play them in a quater final will it be challenging, of course it f**king will. Where as there is no evidence whatsoever Ireland collapse and they walk over us.

ersatz · 30-09-2023 12:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175219#Comment_121175219

Agree we should be wary of NZ always, even when they aren't great. But let's not forget their abject performance against England in the semi of the last World Cup. Completely blown away.

TheRona · 30-09-2023 5:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175121#Comment_121175121

Out of interest, how many times has Ireland come back from 10 points down, and against which teams?

I can think off the top of my head examples of them falling 10 points behind and losing, but it's very hard to overturn that kind of deficit against a top side.

OldRio · 30-09-2023 9:10am

Why oh why do people respond to the seagulls? Responding to posts that are basically crys for attention (help). These posters have no intention of reasoned debate. Best ignore IMHO.

FrancieBrady · 30-09-2023 9:48am

Would this be the consensus here now? Can't see it any other way tbh

realhorrorshow · 30-09-2023 9:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175761#Comment_121175761

I think there's a reasonable chance that Japan beat Argentina.

FrancieBrady · 30-09-2023 10:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175781#Comment_121175781

Probably the only one I could be persuaded to have a bet on, alright.

pixelburp · 30-09-2023 10:05am

Japan and Argentina are two underperforming teams separated only by the fact Japan are marginally better coached IMO. I'd see them edge out into the Quarters, heads then rolling back in Buenos Aires.

FrancieBrady · 30-09-2023 10:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175810#Comment_121175810

We'll know more after the Chile game today. Think Argies might improve more than Japan

molloyjh · 30-09-2023 10:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175054#Comment_121175054

Posts like this are incredibly reductive. We could play really well in the QF and lose to a team that also plays really well. We have to get away from looking at that as a failure. That’s sport. Failing would be not playing to our ability, something that has been the case in quite a few RWCs now.

Also, this “we’ve been here before” shtick is incredibly reductive too. We’ve never been here before. I’ve posted elsewhere what the difference is now to before. But long story short, we’ve never come into a RWC with this kind of form or consistency before. And we’ve never performed this well in the pool stages, ie continued that form through the pool stages.

The SA game wasn’t just a one off game that we won, like Australia in 2011. It was another in a long list of big games that we won and another example of numerous examples of why we should be considered the best team in the world. We have never been in this position at any other RWC ever. But that doesn’t mean we have some divine right to progress or to expect that we will.

pixelburp · 30-09-2023 11:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175901#Comment_121175901

It's been said in RL and I agree: the difference with this Irish team, fundamentally, is that 5, 10+ years ago those opening 20 minutes against SA we'd have lost the plot, either sticking to plan A or abandoning all plans and winging it. Cue gallant loss and lots of self recriminations.

We might still lose to NZ, and we'll need to play like we did against the Boks for the full 80, but last week didn't feel like a once off, a spontaneous bit of being "up for the match", but rather another day at the office. Like NZ an arrogance that we're better and just a case of believing in ourselves.

thebaz · 30-09-2023 11:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175130#Comment_121175130

are you sure it is 24 ? no way it should be expanded , given what we have seen.

The highight match tonight , is another non match involving Romania.

gameoverdude · 30-09-2023 11:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121176025#Comment_121176025

I'm kinda looking forward to the other two matches. Something a bit different.

sydthebeat · 30-09-2023 12:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121176025#Comment_121176025

Fiji Georgia is surely the highlight game.

Scotland Romania is simply the late game

pixelburp · 30-09-2023 1:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121176025#Comment_121176025

The spitball is 24 but IIRC it's not official yet? At least last I saw but I might have been reading older outlets' articles.

And TBH if the chatter is about how world rugby is stagnating, and various Tier 1 countries beginning to buckle, I'm not sure shrinking the World Cup's appeal & exposure is an especially smart long term move. Circling the wagons isn't the answer here. 16 teams is marginal, 12 would be insane and kill the sports interest across Tier 2 nations stone dead.

Italy's result was ... something. There was something to their performance beyond simple lack of ability. They're not ordinarily 100 points bad. While globally it can't be overstated how F'ed some countries were thanks to COVID; these mismatches suck as spectacles but the answer can't just be to tell Tier 2 to fúck off and get good - but never allow them a chance to compete either.

thebaz · 30-09-2023 1:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121176160#Comment_121176160

agree on Fiji/Georgia , but the Saturday 8 is prime time - even Argentina /Chile would be better

lbunnae · 30-09-2023 1:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121176025#Comment_121176025

Yeah I think NZ Vs Italy proved it shouldn't be expanded.

Brief_Lives · 30-09-2023 1:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121175761#Comment_121175761

Argentina are my no.2 team... i think they are starting to improve, and will beat wales.

Ribs1234 · 30-09-2023 1:46pm

The Nz players laughing and joking as they were losing in the second half against France still haunts me. Did they really care about that game?

The next World Cup would like to see groups of 5, top 2 to knockouts, 3rd and 4th to a plate competition (auto qualification to following World Cup if get to semi finals of plate), and 5th goes home. That would be 20 teams, could do 24 teams if 5 and 6 goes home and has to qualify the next time.

pickarooney · 30-09-2023 1:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121176025#Comment_121176025

That's definitely the least interesting of the three games.

You might be missing out on some great rugby if you're not watching the likes of Portugal/Georgia or Samoa/Namibia and just concentrating on the mismatches.

gameoverdude · 30-09-2023 1:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121176444#Comment_121176444

I can't understand that result.

A handy enough win for nz i expected, but thought it would be interesting for 50/60 minutes.

Must be something going on with Italy, apart from mucking up their development structure.

2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

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