Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

Where is the weakness?  Where do you attack the Irish?

Kick the points and defend like hell.

What pissed me off is the continued itv commentary shite. Why were they surprised when Scotland kick to the corner? They do it all the time.

“Kick the points and defend like hell” – then try to nick it at then end got to be in the game for 80 mins, lost it in the first 20.

I think this Japan v Argentina game is what you might call ‘end to end’!!

Shane says the same as I’m typing this 😃

Wales v Argentina then. Their no.11 looks dangerous.

A Scotsman walks into a bar. But it’s empty because the Englishman, the Welshman and the Irishman are still in France.

Yes it’s an old joke but sadly still a topical one. 

I enjoyed that Arg-Jpn game. I was hoping Japan would win but very entertaining, on the edge of my seat until the end.

A Scotsman walks into a bar. But it’s empty because the Englishman, the Welshman and the Irishman are still in France.

Yes it’s an old joke but sadly still a topical one

It’s a shame Scotland (and Italy) are going home. All that preparation for a couple of wins against much weaker teams. Another 4 year wait now 🙁

Cracking game that.

The only way I can think of breaching the Irish defence is by kicking. Your kicking game has to be outstanding though.
Kick to touch Ireland have a very good lineout.
Kick and chase, Irelands backs are very good under the high ball so your kick chase has to be fast and terrifying bùt legal.
Kick points – 3 wont beat 5 or 7 so that puts pressure on your own defence.
I said earlier that Irelands weakness if they have one is defending from broken play.
So I would mix all 3 and back your own running/ passing game when it’s on.

Apparently the Tongan wing is going to Leicester after the World Cup. Just in case anybody isn’t watching it.

The only way I can think of breaching the Irish defence is by kicking

Well we could see Wales face Ireland in the semi if all goes well for both in 1/4’s. Wales will kick the leather off the ball again again and again and hope to be in with a shout with 10mins to go… I doubt it will work but it’s what we’ll try. 

Not really sure what I think about Tuisova not going home for his son’s funeral but I wouldn’t presume to have any clue what would be the right thing in that situation.

Could be a good game this.

Hoping Portugal win, but Fiji get two bonus points 😃

Could be a good game this.

Great so far.
What odds on Australia winning the World Cup and Eddie Jones being the hero? 😉

This is not going how Fiji or Australia imagined it.
I’m torn between wanting the group underdogs to win this match and the world underdogs to progress further at the expense of the Aussies…

The lower tier games have been awesome!! Go Portugal!

dantsw13
Full Member
The lower tier games have been awesome!!

I see the IRB have said they won’t be looking at any future ‘shield’ matches for the lesser teams at World Cup tournaments.
Which is obviously what all rugby fans are thinking and wanting…🙄
How come all these international governing bodies completely fail to have their finger on the pulse of what fans and teams want?

I’m torn between wanting the group underdogs to win this match and the world underdogs to progress further at the expense of the Aussies…

Yes, I guess there must be a lot of us thinking the same. You can see why the most successful teams don’t play quite like this, but it has been very entertaining.

Get in!!!!

What would these countries do if they got regular tests from tier one sides? Just highlights how much of a closed shop the game is.

😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

Absolutely fantastic!!!

They have played so well all tournament!

Best of both worlds! Portugal win & Fiji still knock out Aus!!💪🏻🥳

Very entertaining match 😁

Yep, perfect ending for me. I just hate the **** adverts when we could be seeing all the post-match back-slapping and general celebrations.

So England news;

Rumours abound that the players are befuddled and confused but Farrell is basically bullying them on behalf of the management and the basis of “Captain”

To that end Andy Goode (I know) is proliferating on YouTube that Arundell had a fighty argument with Farrel during training and is basically excluded on that basis.

Will we ever find out?  I guess only if Borthwick gets the sack and someone spills the beans.    The problem England have right now is accidentally getting to the semi’s and somehow justifying some post Eddie Jones praise from the RFU, whereas in reality they really need a dose of the truth.

I was wondering if Farrell was getting in the team because RFU want Andy Farrell but he’s said he’ll only coach them if Owen gets to be captain.  Schoolboy rugby team politics…

I do feel for Lawes in all of this he has been Stella in an England Jersey and realistically he is on a downward trajectory for a professional in a physical role.  Farrell on the other hand is like a petulant school boy.

All bets are off for the next match Farrell will be targeted.

Absolutely.  Ford won’t stand up to the mass coming at him so Farrell has to be in even with the high tackle / toys out the pram risk, we can only hope everyone else starts in thier correct positions.  It should be a simple strategy of scoring more than Fiji, so the backs should be Tuilagi/Laurence(sub), Marchant, Arundell, Mallins, Steward/Smith(sub).

Cole should be left out up front, Ludlam and Underhill on the Bench, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes, Curry and Earl.

Let’s at least go out with a team of in form and in position players on the field.  This is Fiji’s big match, they know England are rattled, will smell blood and come hard.

News of the England punch up is leaking into the press now.

It should be a simple strategy of scoring more than Fiji

Genius 😂

Well I thought it’d be one up on Borthwicks 😜

Don’t punch each other on the bus trip to the game

Well I thought it’d be one up on Borthwicks 😜

True!

Speaking of which – you wonder what Ford has to do in order to be seen as the No.1 choice ahead of Farrell…

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/11/steve-borthwick-owen-farrell-george-ford-england-fiji-rugby-world-cup

I would pick Farrell ahead of Ford for this game, his technique may be rubbish but he is a far better defender against big men, Biggar had to make a shed load of tackles against Fiji, Ford would be run over.

I’d pick Farrell too but under strict instructions to not try to strip the ball and put every tackle in low.
Problem is plan A must work, there’s only Smith to bring the imaginative play.

I’d pick Farrell too but under strict instructions to not try to strip the ball and put every tackle in low.

He probably gets the same instructions from every coach before every game, before heading off to clothesline the first player he comes across.

Instagram has all the England team doing tackle practise under a limbo type arrangement piece of string. 

England to face Fiji:

15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 28 caps)

14. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 76 caps)

13. Joe Marchant  (Stade Francais, 23 caps)

12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)

11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 62 caps)

10. Owen Farrell – captain (Saracens, 109 caps)

9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 9 caps)

1. Ellis Genge – vice-captain (Bristol Bears, 55 caps)

2. Jamie George (Saracens, 82 caps)

3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 104 caps)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 73 caps)

5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps)

6. Courtney Lawes – vice-captain (Northampton Saints, 103 caps)

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 47 caps)

8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 22 caps)

Replacements

16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 6 caps)

17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 86 caps)

18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)

19. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)

20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 73 caps)

21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 93 caps)

22. George Ford – vice-captain (Sale Sharks, 89 caps)

23. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)

No real surprise, albeit should Farrel, Mitchell, Cole or May be on the pitch.  Note that Freddie Steward doesn’t get on the bench, so we’ve no Full back in the match day squad, I suppose Daly can cover.    Arundell pays the price for arguing with Farrel.  I wonder what Ludlum did to piss off Borthwick, I guess faith in Curry and the need for a fresh front row keeps him away.

My predictions for quarters – Argentina, Ireland, Fiji and France to win.

My predictions for quarters – Argentina, Ireland, Fiji and France to win.

I would be pretty happy with that!