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Wrecker, there is a lot of quality, but the boks have been in turmoil for a few months, and badly out of form.
Absolutely, but they are still ranked 3rd in the world.
I agree that group B has suddenly become one of the most interesting. Any two of four in that group could go through. Samoa have a very good team this year and are more than capable of beating the scots, Sa and japan on their day.
Can anyone explain what the point of that Orangutan is? I hate itv this world cup for me proves the worth of the license fee.
Indeed - ads in between the anthems and kickoff FFS! No idea about the monkey,
I hope Junior AA enjoy it - we've just started KJ01's second season last week, and they've start pad work (mauls) and now all passes must be backward, whereas last year was throwing and catching, running then mini games of tag. Its starting to looking a bit more real!
Why is there no plate competition for the teamsvwho do not make it through..... I would have thought it would develop the skills of the countries and throw up some interesing games?
Can anyone explain what the point of that Orangutan is? I hate itv this world cup for me proves the worth of the license fee.
Apparently it's so that my boys can try to be the first to shout 'Sam/Joe get off the pitch' at each other every time it appears.
Erm.
Good to see the proper Haka back.
McCaw binned, first time I have ever liked a Wayne Barnes decision
Glad we seem to have skimmed over the Wales game as it wasn't great 😳 Pretty much as expected from a makeshift team (Wales not Uruguay!). Of the players on for any decent length of time, only Davies looked sharp. The team selection seemed to be about avoiding injury to the key players and they still seemed to pick them up! It can't be long before Hook, Phillips and Jones re-unite 😆
It looks like Cory Allen has done a significant hamstring injury. He is going to be scanned tomorrow (Monday) and Liam Williams got a knock on the thigh. Samson Lee and Paul James have got tight calves and Dan Lydiate had a head assessment, but he has passed that, which is good, as he’s now able to take a full part in training next week. Aaron Jarvis popped a rib cartilage as well. I don’t think it’s too serious, but he was in quite significant pain. He really dug in deep for the last 20 minutes or else we would have had to go down to 14 men. He really put his body on the line which was impressive from him. Sam Warburton had a bit of a tight groin, but he’s ok. I’m all right!
Given the way this tournament is being reff-ed so far and the use of TMO McCaw is going to have to change the way he plays or he's going to be off the field every match. NZ looked pretty rusty and butchered plenty of chances, they'll get better but didn't look close to RWC winners today
Havent watched the Wales game. Bit worried about Williams and Samson. Can we risk starting with Samson or having him on the bench? If Liam plays Amos can play wing and butter fingers Calamity Cuthbert can be dropped. No idea who would cover back 3 from the bench though. Please no one say Morgan or you will make me cry!!
I'm not much of rugby follower but I'm enjoying watching some matches on TV so far, except for that caterwauling horror Paloma Faith. What were they thinking!
from how cuthbert played today, morgan is the least of the problems!
That Uruguayan open side looked like a 45 year old prop! Turns out he's an IT consultant..........I'd better watch what I say, he might be a STW member!
Cuthburt and Amos were both pretty awful. Cuthburt didn't catch anything all game and Amos was constantly offloading to the opposition. Morgan even cleaned out a ruck!
No idea who would cover back 3 from the bench though.
When asked in the studio the unanimous answer was "Hook.... or er... well Hook... but here's some others Gatland will actually bring in instead"
Given the way this tournament is being reff-ed so far and the use of TMO McCaw is going to have to change the way he plays or he's going to be off the field every match.
There was a noticeable difference between watching NZ around the breakdown and everyone else so far- they really did stick out for pushing the limits (and breaking them). That said, the way the breakdown seems to be refereed is anything goes for the attacking team and only slightly stricter for the defending team. It does make for more flowing rugby but the pedants must find it hard to watch 😀 You still won't get away with tripping someone though by the looks of it- naughty boy!
Well that was a pretty fantastic first weekend of the world cup, good opening ceremony with a nod to the history albeit inaccurate, lots of good games, brilliant crowds (both size and atmosphere) and a big upset - roll on next week.
Yep, absolutely loved the first weekend!! Some great games! SA v Japan, NZ v Argentina and Tonga v Georgia we all fantastic.
Would appreciate a proper STWRefOpinion but isn't a deliberate trip a straight red?
I thought that as well, CFH.
It would appear not!
http://laws.worldrugby.org/?highlight=Trip&law=10.4
Seems a yellow was above the norm. Bravo, Barnes!
Thought carter trying to dislodge the ball with his foot needs looking at, reckless and caused injury.
A lot of cynical play from the all blacks, they do t like it when it doesn't go there way. McCaw sent for ' I can barely believe it.
Massive respect for Barnes, great referring today.
Massive respect for Barnes, great referring today.
Was his consulting the TMO on the fly a new innovation? When can they consult TMOs now?
A lot of cynical play from the [s]all blacks,[/s] New Zealand
Plus ca change....
Was his consulting the TMO on the fly a new innovation?
Nope. Y Nige has been doing it for a while now. Including, during the Georgia/Tonga game saying to the TMO (And I paraphrase)., "Yes, yes, I saw it. Nothing in it, we'll play on. Thanks...." in a slightly annoyed tone. 🙂
Eh?
No, I don't agree about Barnes. He penalized Argentina several times for breakdown offences but allowed NZ to get away with exactly the same ones. Not consistent.
I looked at those laws as well, CFH. Terribly written, terribly unclear. It defines what the cards are but then doesn't expalin when to apply them. On page 6 it says that a red card is used for contravention of Law 10, Foul Play. But under Law 10 every single offence is listed as a penalty. If you use the laws as written nobody ever gets sent off.
Only one answer to all these injuries
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I think he should just be a good boy and stay nice and safe in Brizzle. Rugby world cup? Pah. We've got Jersey away next week. 😀
We've had two tries called back now just prior to the conversion after the ref has seen the big screen. I sincerely hope the video guy at Twickenham does not show any replays of England tries 🙂
Also I propose the producers keep a camera on McCaw and show a replay on the big screen every time he's on the opposite side of the breakdown to the ref 🙂
Thought carter trying to dislodge the ball with his foot needs looking at, reckless and caused injury.
No different to one of North's concussions really
Nope. Y Nige has been doing it for a while now. Including, during the Georgia/Tonga game saying to the TMO (And I paraphrase)., "Yes, yes, I saw it. Nothing in it, we'll play on. Thanks...." in a slightly annoyed tone.
That will be his touch judges,not the TMO.
According to this page, Wayne Barnes is either a good ref or one who just misses NZ infringements.The usual suspects are again pedalling their "They only win because they cheat."rhetoric. Oh,or target Courtney Lawes...A visit from Zokes and we can call house. Ali Williams is tying evidence labels to some of you as I type.
The uncomfy fact for all the Engerland fans is the NZ put in exactly the type of performance that you lot did in 03. They imposed their game plan on one of the best sides in the world and didn't fold even when down to 13 men...And you lot didn't on Friday. Not seen AUS yet,but based on that weekend, still NZ by a mile.
Lol!
England's defence will stop that AB March up the field much harder and quicker than Argentina did. If McCaw is neutralised by the ref we stand a much better chance. Sonny Bill looked impressive though - ultra world class.
Walls should b worried - if Englamd don't put them to the sword it's a massive fail on our part, we should, edge them all over the park, and a little intensity into the mix should see the, crumble, as long as we hold onto the ball and take it up,the middle.
We've had two tries called back now just prior to the conversion after the ref has seen the big screen.
Indeed, but there was a difference between them too.
In the Eng/Fiji game the ref awarded the try and then saw it on the big screen and went to the TMO to reverse it.
Whereas in the Fra/It game the ref actually went to the TMO to make sure the ball had got to the try-scorer legally and then gave the try and THEN noticed him dropping the ball on the big screen and called it back. Why couldn't the TMO have just spotted it in the first place?
That is the only way to beat them,but I can't see it,esp as you are playing without a 7 or a quick 8. I can't see how anybody is going to deal with the sheer number of threats the AB's have in every sodding position. However if I never have to see Woodcocks ears again that would be fine by me.England's defence will stop that AB March up the field much harder and quicker than Argentina did
The TMO isn't supposed to speak until spoken too! I don't think they are either,Ben Kay highlighted Barnes talking to his TMO today as good,but it was the touch judge the ref was talking to.
edge them all over the park, and a little intensity into the mix should see the, crumble, as long as we hold onto the ball and take it up,the middle.
I'm confused. Are you going all over the park or going up the middle? Have you been watching Lancaster Lecture 001.3, England Tactics 2015? The one they applied to the Fiji game. 😉
The usual suspects are again pedalling their "They only win because they cheat."rhetoric.
+1
It gets a bit boring. They win most games because they're awesome at rugby and as duckie says, every player poses a threat with his mobility.
I will concede that the green machine only win when they cheat. 😀 (A level 11b referee told me.)
I'm confused. Are you going all over the park or going up the middle? Have you been watching Lancaster Lecture 001.3, England Tactics 2015? The one they applied
My point is, that they play England 101. If the forwards take it up e park and we play the mauls, we'll suffocate the Welsh. Should it go outside, or priest land kicks like that again we finally have a threat on the backs to score that way.
Re NZ - yes our defence is more robust and we've send that possession is 9/10ths of the game Arg did that right. I also agree that NZ have a lot of threats, but it's Smith/sonny Bill / savea that will undo us IMO.
priest land kicks like that again we finally have a threat on the backs to score that way.
He won't be playing. (Please to all the gods and little demons, don't let Priestland play..)
Changed the rules to stop you cheating DD... 😆
Wales scrummaging options not looking too clever, perhaps uncontested scrums are part of the Gatland master plan ?
My point is, that they play England 101. If the forwards take it up e park and we play the mauls, we'll suffocate the Welsh. Should it go outside, or priest land kicks like that again we finally have a threat on the backs to score that way.
You are really just making yourself look silly.
we'll see next weekend wont we.
For as long as I can remember, the England game has been based on forward strength, 70% possession and squeezing penalties.
At the moment, we are struggling in the scrum/breakdown and having less than 50% possession, but still winning games - that has to be a good sign. We still have a great pack, and "if" they get themselves sorted, we could seriously click.
I'd not be reading too much into the Wales performance yesterday, it was the u15 girls squad playing and you could see they were playing to score tries at the expense of playing 'properly'. This may be over optimistic hopefulness more than belief. The winner from that group is the Aussies, none of the other teams looked convincing and they will take some reassurance from that.
After that performance I sincerely hope Priestland doesn't get on the pitch again. I'm fairly sure I could hear his mum calling for him to be taken off when he missed touch the 2nd time and she was sat on the opposite side of the pitch to me.
we'll see next weekend wont we.
No we wont thats the point. Priestland wont be at 10 Biggar will. Wales will most likely lose but your analysis is that of a parody rugby fan again.
u could see they were playing to score tries at the expense of playing 'properly'
Priestland looked under orders to gamble to get pens right in the corner and not worry about missing. The rest of Wales missed touches were based on them not actually kicking for touch as its been a Gatwards tic tac for years.
Priestland looked under orders to gamble to get pens right in the corner and not worry about missing. The rest of Wales missed touches were based on them not actually kicking for touch as its been a Gatwards tic tac for years.
It was a definite tactic to get as many mauls in as close to the line as possible as it seems to be the one big area of success for almost all teams but not one Wales really count as a strength. I'm not sure I agree there wasn't any pressure on the kicks to touch as Priestland looked really down in the dumps. The tic tac is normal... but we don't have any kicking wings and could probably do with Hooks huge range if Williams is struggling