Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

Too soon?

Jean Kleyn has just become the first Ireland international to ever make it to a World Cup semi-final, hugely happy for the Munster man.

— Patricia (@_PatriciaV_) October 15, 2023

“just not all up side”

No its not, that’s the point.

If Scotland lose to Georgia in the plate …. George take their place in the 6 nations.

Just an idea, probably stupid… but good fun 🙂

There’s a lot of chat about the incredible Irish “conveyer belt” of talent. Why then is fully half their starting back line, well, not Irish?

I guess there is 2 things going on here. People who are Irish qualified by birth through a parent and people who qualified through residency. The former I quite like and will continue to happen, we are not quite as good as Scotland but provinces are busy hoovering up players like Mike Halley, Antoine Firsh and even Billy Burns who are Irish qualified at birth, the second one like Lowe, JGP & Bundee is a bit different, qualified through residency. I suspect this will happen less and less now the qualification period is 5 years although there are a few in the system that may make it. Funniest one is Jean Kleyn who is in the SA squad this world cup having previously played for Ireland so becoming the first Irish International to make a world cup semi final!

That’s the fun thing about Wales rugby. You probably know someone who went to school with a top player, or if not you know someone who does. Jamie Roberts went to the same primary school as my kids

Was it Jac Morgan who was doing the press conference after one of the group games and recognised his old PE teacher who was there as a reporter for Radio Cymru, and said “I gyntaf, haia Miss!”

Ok so maybe Borthwick isn’t as stupid as he looks!

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 29 caps)
14. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 77 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 24 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 57 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 63 caps)
10. Owen Farrell – captain (Saracens, 110 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 87 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 83 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 105 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 74 caps)
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes – vice-captain (Northampton Saints, 104 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 48 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 23 caps)

Replacements: 16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 6 caps) 17. Ellis Genge – vice-captain (Bristol Bears, 56 caps) 18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 67 caps) 19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps) 20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps) 21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 94 caps) 22. George Ford – vice-captain (Sale Sharks, 89 caps) 23. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 19 caps)

Possibly. Look at football. Champions League, Europa and now third tier Conference.

Europe’s had three club competitions for decades though, so it’s nothing new.

So ABs are 18 point favourites Vs Argentina and SA are 13 point Favourites. Straight betting ABs are 1/9 and SA are 1/5. England maybe worth a punt to lose by less than 13 points. I think ABs will win by 20+

I’m half English half French and have hated the way England play, and am gutted about France…….. but have a suspicion England could pull it off on Saturday . Looks like a pretty dynamic set of replacements. Won’t help much if Cole and marler get mullered though

Sadly I think the days of describing Billy Vunipola as dynamic are well past. Maybe a plan to try and deal with the Bomb Squad but struggle to see them matching up. Disappointed they haven’t put Smith at full back and Steward on the wing as struggle to see where any spark comes from in that back line. I expect to see a lot of kicking in this game.

Smith isn’t available on account of getting his head smashed in

Its an obvious defensive team to hold the scrum (maybe), kick chase and collect the high balls.   England will be looking to kick for points to edge out a win.

There won’t be an England win, and it looks to be blustery in Paris tomorrow, but anyway…

There won’t be an England win

As an England supporter the knowledge that they’re almost guaranteed to lose make the match more appealing!

Although I’m glad they made it this far there are two other teams that really should have taken their place.

Nice to see the mighty Dregs represented in a world cup semi final!!

This game seems depressingly predictable! Hope I’m wrong. 

Yep.

I’d hoped for more from Arg but NZ are so in-your-face that it’s impossible to play most of the time.

Too easy for the ABs.

Barrat yellow for cynical play.  The ruck earlier where he was being commended for causing a knock on, I’m not so sure a barrat swinging arm wasn’t the cause of that too.

Sooooo boring to pick on the little shitty things you don’t like in the NZ play. What a superbly professional showing. I just love watching them when they’re on form. Will Jordan hattrick, legend in the making.

Yay…. 

Put a quid on a winning margin of 31-35 (9/1) and 36-40 (14/1)….. 

What’s Englands losing margin tomorrow? 

Argentina fans all chuffed to have selfies taken with the Barrett brothers. Proper rugby spirit…love it.

TJ – is the pillow fort available to hire, you could make some money as a few of us English supporters may need it later……

🙂

so maybe Borthwick isn’t as stupid as he looks!

On the strength of that, I’m not sure

Earl is a quality player – he’s not an 8 though. May used to be fast but now isn’t. When he catches the ball he stops, rather than accelerating. It’s odd.

Arundel is a real prospect but he’s had a fight with Faz so he’s not even on the bench. It’s nice to see Steward back, though, coz Smith isn’t a full back either.

I’ll watch it, although the result seems in little doubt.

Good stuff that ^

Not that it fills me with any confidence seeing him start, but you have to say fair play to Dan Cole….fairly sure that he was the first choice TH at the 2011 world cup!

Genge and sinkler are the dynamic props in that squad but both seem to drop their heads when on the back foot. Cole just plods on now and is lucky not to concede more penalties.

“As an England supporter the knowledge that they’re almost guaranteed to lose make the match more appealing!”

Ask any Scotland fan, they’ll tell you it is easy to turn up knowing you’ll be beaten. It’s the hope that kills you

edit what the hell has happened to the quote function?

It’s being reported those wily rascals NZ rested Scott Barrett for the last 6 minutes of last night’s game, choosing to play with 14.

So, are we on for that rare beast, a double-humping by SA in the cricket and the rugby on the same day?

Rugby can play with freedom knowing whatever happens it won’t be the worst Saffer humping today

How many HIAs will SA coaching term call? Cynical ploy to give players a little rest?

Despite my negativity towards England and how they play. Beating SA I can live with.

If

Rugby can play with freedom knowing whatever happens it won’t be the worst Saffer humping today

Yeah that was embarrassing. 

Watching from behind the sofa! 🫣

futonrivercrossing
Free Member
Watching from behind the sofa! 🫣

can you move a bit further along please it’s getting crowded down here

Supporting England today because SAffers and in particular Rassie are my least favourite team because of general level of gamesmanship and I will never forgive for the level of unsporting cynicism from the Lions tour

… If England can hold defensive discipline then SA don’t really have the game to quickly destroy a good team – unlike ABs.  Problem is scoring against SA…

C’mon England!