[Closed] Winters coming;all inclusive rugby thread.

Been looking at the torygraph one.

Richie McCaw has just told Brendan Gallagher he is not quite sure what to make of Boris, Brendan says "join a long queue Richie but always entertaining."

England and Wales same group! I think 😕

True, with OZ

Australia, England and Wales could well be joined by Fiji, in so doing making it the Pool of Death

....australia. Group of death. 😐

Happy with Ireland's draw, Italy & France, ouch for Wales!

Pool A: Australia, England, Wales, Oceania 1, Playoff winner.

Pool B: South Africa, Samoa, Scotland, Asia 1, Americas 2.

Pool C: New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, Europe 1, Africa 1.

Pool D: France, Ireland, Italy, Americas 1, Europe 2.

QFinalists...

England, Wales, SA, Samoa, NZ, Argentina, France, Ireland

I'd love it if we (Eng and Wales) sent the Ozzies home early.

I was looking at the odds too, to see who the bookies thought got a "good draw":
- the odds shortened on NZ, SA and Ireland, Scotland and Samoa.
- Lengthened on England, Oz, Wales, France (?)

For the patiotic gamblers -england went out to 8/1 from 5/1. That now looks good ew value to me for the hosts. Can't see it staying that big as the tournament approaches and everyone jumps on the band wagon.
NZ are stronger favourites now, came in to evens from 6/4 .

so australia, england and wales... I was close to being right.
Wales will get the short turnarounds so will have to be very careful with players and lucky with injuries. Tough group though, any of those 3 could beat each other. I presume Wales wont get home games but england will?

I thought that Wales would be playing in the millenium?
I'd certainly imagine that the wales/england game would be at twickers though.

Does anyone know how the folowing rounds would square up?
like winnerA v runnerupB ?
I'd have guessed that it would be determined before teams are allocated to each pool, but can't seem to find it anywhere.

edit: just seen it is as above, with winnerC v runnerupD likewise.
Not the best news for Ireland

found it 🙂

Quarter-finals
QF1: Winner of Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
QF2: Winner of Pool C v runner-up Pool D
QF3: Winner of Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
QF4: Winner of Pool D v runner-up C
Semi-finals
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
SF2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

One way or another that's going to be one hell of a group!

more nasty islanders beating up welshists!

Jeremy Guscott's team: R Kearney (Ire), T Visser (Sco), B O'Driscoll (Ire), M Tuilagi (Eng), G North (Wal); J Sexton (Ire), D Care (Eng); C Healy (Ire), R Best (Ire), A Jones (Wal), R Gray (Sco), G Parling (Eng), T Croft (Eng), S Armitage (Eng), D Denton (Sco).
Keith Wood's team: L Halfpenny (Wal), T Bowe (Ire), M Tuilagi (Eng), B O Driscoll (Ire), G North (Wal); J Sexton (Ire), B Youngs (Eng); C Healy (Ire), R Best (Ire), A Jones (Wal), R Gray (Sco), C Lawes (Eng), S Ferris (Ire), S Warburton (Wal), S O'Brien (Ire).
Andy Nicol's team: A Goode (Eng), T Bowe (Ire), M Tuilagi (Eng), J Roberts (Wal), T Visser (Sco); J Sexton (Ire), B Youngs (Eng); G Jenkins (Wal), D Hartley (Eng), D Cole (Eng), R Gray (Sco), C Lawes (Eng), S Ferris (Ire), S O'Brien (Ire), T Faletau (Wal).
Jonathan Davies's team: R Kearney (Ire), T Bowe (Ire), J Davies (Wal), M Tuilagi (Eng), G North (Wal); J Sexton (Ire), D Care (Eng); C Healy (Ire), D Hartley (Eng), A Jones (Wal), J Launchbury (Eng), AW Jones (Wal), T Wood (Eng), S Warburton (Wal), B Morgan (Eng). * Updated 14:51 GMT Monday

how anyone who knows anything could pick Gethin given his current form is beyond me. Do these idiots watch any rugby.

A pint of whatever boxfish is drinking please. Scotland will qualify for the Q's.

Scotland WILL beat Samoa is Bold statement on currrent form. Cant see wales getting thru .

Me neither 😥 we can never have our best 15 all fit and healthy it seems, Roberts has been getting dogs where I work, to slow to predictable, they may have a point.

A lot will change in over two years chaps!! By that time Ireland will be number one in the world doubled our number of grand slams to 4 and beaten all the SH superpowers by 50 points!! 😀

Roberts is fine when used right which is off fast ruck ball direct from Phillips or quick middle of lineout ball. How much of either did wales get this autumn? As usual the welsh pack gets ****ed over and the backs get the blame for not scoring tries. Problem with wales was from numbers 1-5.

Aren't we lucky the World Cup is not for 3 years then eh. Time at least to get a decent coach in charge.

Lets just wait and see what happens in the 6 nations. Apart from Italy I doubt many will think that Scotland will be a walk over. And I think Wales will come good too.

Is this use of the video ref part of the experimental changes?
Deacon should have given him a proper smack if he was going to get red.

I thought 2 yellows would've done it but interesting to see the video ref used that way.

It wasn't even a proper high tackle.

This is a proper high tackle:

Well the 12 was out before he hit the ground so it wasnt a bad attempt!

True but he kinda ducked into the tackle a bit and O'Banamanohanrahan is about 7ft tall so it was a tad unfortunate.

Unfortunate my arse, the tackler has a duty of care. Stone cold straight red imo. Deacon was unlucky to get red too.

what he means is there didn't appear to be any malice in it, Deacon had to go, punch to face straight red regardless.
Let's not become like football and become lenient in punishing players.

If there was no malice he would have pulled it and just given him a slap on the chops. He kept his arm stiff and knocked the poor ****er out. Deserve a big ban. Being a big donkey with poor techique is not an excuse for a pro player.

I saw bananaman in sainsburys in bath last thursday. He is massive!
Probably why i resisted the urge to say "This is 29 Acacia road. And this is Eric......". If I'd have been 5 pints heavy, it would have turned out differently I expect. 😀

Can anyone point me in the right direction how to download/watch the England game

I watched the 2nd half in pub after returning from TigersvBath game but was a bit mullered and missed bits

Thanks

[i]more nasty islanders beating up welshists![/i]

I fail to see how that one was much more than a BIG tackle! Red card is ridiculous.

[i]Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that the player’s head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play. [/i]

Ok, so his feet came off the ground, but he wasn't [i]lifted[/i]. Very harsh decision.

A_A "Being a big donkey with poor techique is not an excuse for a pro player."

And why do Wales thing that as hosts of the RWC Eng will want to play a "home" game in Wales and give over the advantage?

Bananaman straight red, Deacon as well,doesn't matter that Deacon punches like a girl, fact is that he throws his little tippy tappy efforts in the first place.. London Irish player, cracking tackle, no red. He got sent off for previous instances of being a pain and hitting the Welshie too hard in the refs opinion.

I presume thats mongo smacking Mcawe. Kind of proves my point!!!
That lodon irish tackle is a certain yellow and a red if following the letter of the law too. Lifts beyondhhorizontal tackler has to be responsible for bringing him down. The reality is he timed it almost too well. Bit like warbs on clerc.

TimP - Member

And why do Wales thing that as hosts of the RWC Eng will want to play a "home" game in Wales and give over the advantage?

With that group Wales will be trying anything they can!

Just watched the Banahan red card - the arm that hit Allen in the chin was at Banahan's waist height, a split second later Allen ducks down to waist height. Yeah, red card cos of the effect on the player, but agree with the commentator that it wasn't deliberate.

It wasnt deliberate but its still a ****ing shocker and he could have pulled it had he wanted to but that would have meant him missing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/mobile/rugby-union/20594941

madness.

And why do Wales thing that as hosts of the RWC Eng will want to play a "home" game in Wales and give over the advantage?

Becuase the Welsh RFU helped us win the bid, and this is their way of thinking we might pay them, back. Nah, but we'll let them play Aus at home, how's that?

Becuase the Welsh RFU helped us win the bid, and this is their way of thinking we might pay them, back.

Don't think the RFU make the calls on where games are played? Think it's Rugby World Cup Ltd (or whatever the organisers are called)

Of the SH teams to face Aus would have been my choice, and the Welsh record against England hasn't been too shabby of late so I think the draw could have been worse!

Can see that game becoming the WC opener to put an easy stop to the debate, as that WILL be at Twickenham.

Nah, England v Wales at Kingsholm, now that would be great.

Not going to happen though, more likely to be no hopers like Scotland v Galapagos Islands or something.

more likely to be no hopers like Scotland v Galapagos Islands or something.

That's a bit harsh on the Galapagos Islands! 😉

Worcester v Perpignan last night. Worcester won the game by 1 point awarded the dodgiest penalty I've seen for a long time. Once again a terrible ref decision changes the outcome of the game.

James Hook simultaneously showed his range of skills and also why he isn't first choice OH for Wales. Makes lovely break between 2 players and then kicks ball straight to touch. Can't control the game at all, in fact makes Andy Goode, his opposite, look like the complete OH. Kicks deep straight at opposite 15 or wing whenever possible and it takes Richard Haughton to come off the bench and show him how to kick deep properly. And simply kicking away good possession all the time! Just a few examples, but jeez, what a waste of talent. When he first arrived he looked as though, with a bit of development, he would be one of the best 10s Wales had seen. and nothing has changed. He is still exactly the same player making exactly the same bad decisions.

I went to Varsity match for the first time yesterday. Admittedly through beer/rioja glasses, it wasnt bad entertainment and a surprising turnaround by Oxford who looked out-of-it at half time.

The joy of watching that standard, is that everyone in the crowd can related to it better and therefore, lots of "we could have done better than" type stuff!!! 😉

all the above is irrelevant, seen the latest big news 😉

[url= http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/4683173/katie-price-spotted-on-date-with-gavin-henson.html ]super gav[/url]

I've just seen the Toulon side coming to Salford tomorrow!

Pick any 15 from 24!!!! A fantastic looking team although a few past their prime 😯

Talking of super Gav, most of Hooks best performances at ten he had Gav at 12 whispering in his ear. For someone so utterly ****ing stupid he does have a great rugby brain. Hook was also helped by having Marshal at 9 too. Having said that Hook couldnt be worse than Priestland on current fom.

What a great weekend of rugby in store!

Northampton V Ulster 8pm Fri
Ospreys V Tolouse 1.45 Sat
Munster V Saracens - 6 pm Saturday
Clermont V Leinster 4pm Sunday

Few other games but these are the pick

anagallis_arvensis - Member
...more nasty islanders beating up welshists!

Update from bbc:

1236: RUGBY UNION
London Irish forward Chris Hala'Ufia wins his appeal after he was banned for five weeks by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel on Tuesday. Hala'Ufia received a red card from referee JP Doyle for a tip tackle during last weekend's Premiership defeat against London Welsh. But he appealed both the sanction and guilty verdict of the disciplinary committee and it means he is free to play again immediately.

Really looking forward to the Ulster game tonight. Always a bit of niggle between the teams and we owe them one from the QF two years ago.

If we can take Saints on up front then I think we can sneek it. It will be very close though.

This made me chuckle on the UAFC...

[img] http://www.uafc.co.uk/download/file.php?id=2231 [/img]

😆 @ the DM Hartley!

[i]Hala'Ufia received a red card from referee JP Doyle for a tip tackle during last weekend's Premiership defeat against London Welsh. But he appealed both the sanction and guilty verdict of the disciplinary committee and it means he is free to play again immediately.[/i]
Ha! I woz right 🙂

Crazy that a citing comittee can get it wrong I cannot understand how that can happen if the rules are in any way clear. Did the first lot not bother watching the video? Citings are an utter farce. Obviously no biscuits were consumed at the second one.

Ulster blowing the Saints away!!!

SUFTUM

Frankers - Member

Can anyone point me in the right direction how to download/watch the England game

Here ya go.....

[url= http://www.rugbydump.com/2012/12/2915/england-vs-new-zealand-december-2012-full-match ]HERE[/url]

C'mon Ulster get in!!!!! Awesome!!!! Roll on ravers next week

Cracking game by Ulster.
Northants look scared of them.

Rory was certainly the, 'Best' of the hookers. Hartley lost the head again. Well done the Ulster pack took the best front row in the Aviva apart

1500

I've just seen that Quade Cooper has finally agreed a new contract with ARU. He has to be better at 10 than the guys that toured this autumn! Isn't he quite fond of the odd cheap shot on McCaw?!

He has to be better at 10 than the guys that toured this autumn!

not really, he's a bit allergic to tackling

12-0 Tolouse after 15 minutes!

12-7 at half time, Ospreys showing some spirit but look massively out gunned.

So diving over the top and sealing off is legal now is it, I cant keep up with the game these days. One day I think I'll just switch off and not bother again!

bump

🙂

Yeah agree spreys look lightweight up front. Countless basic errors to let them back into the game. Cipriani is starting at 10 for Sale v Toulon today should be a [s]trouncing[/s] great game!

Toulouse really stepped up second half in the bits that I saw. Toulon v Sale is going to be embarrassing isn't it!

Toulon line up is like a World XV pick! 😯

Nice to see Rolland using the Esoteric and Rarely Used Lawbook today. It's not used often enough!

Although it might be useful if both sides knew wtf he's on about?

Toulon line up is like a World XV pick! 

yeah fatty armitage is a nailed on test lion according to my newspaper!! Not to mention St Johnny.

What paper? The Indie were raving about him a few weeks back. I don't really catch many French teams play the full 80 so haven't actually seen him or Wilko play for a year or so. Good times!

Maybe Lobbe on a good day. Not the rest.
Good team with good players - but not the best.

Guardian.

Munster v saffas has been pretty good thus far even though only 3 ppints scored.

The saracens lineout has been about as effective as the Elvis diet.

😆

I liked that one loum. Rugby's equivalent of Rob Warner!

Oops!

[img] [/img]