Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

Final should be good at least

And the commentators still only talking about England… It’s the disrespect that really annoys me

Who do you think SA commentators are talking about? 

One point. Ah, man, thats painful.

Ahhhhhh, what a way to go out! 

Never good to lose, but England did better than anyone expected. 

At least one STW miseryguts might have cheered up a bit

Well played South Africa

Who do you think SA commentators are talking about?

I haven’t listened to them but I do listen to the other home nations commentators on their matches talking fairly about the game that’s being played rather than cheering their side like this lot do.

Anyway, England were a lot better this game than before. And it’s always hard to lose like that.

Exciting finish to an awful game. I feel sorry for England, thought they were marginally the better side. 

I haven’t listened to them but I do listen to the other home nations commentators on their matches talking fairly about the game that’s being played rather than cheering their side like this lot do

🤣🙄

England first half tactics the same as second half, kick and hope to force errors, then the crumbling scrum and absolutely no ball handling or creativity. Yeah it was wet, but isn’t the normal season through winter when it usually rains lots anyway. That throw in from George should be the meme for the game.

I’ve been watching Irish TV for this game. It’s nuanced and balanced. The commentators aren’t unbiased but they’re commentators instead of cheerleaders. Ben O’Keefe is getting slated right now by the studio pundits.

We made that game difficult for SA, but silly mistakes cost us.

And the commentators still only talking about England… It’s the disrespect that really annoys me

Odd as I heard mention SA loads. 

in the spirit of this thread, whinging about little decisions etc… not sure if they’ll show it but SA’s try – previous ball carrier was tackled and got back to his feet… should’ve been a pen to England! 😂

n the spirit of this thread, whinging about little decisions etc… not sure if they’ll show it but SA’s try – previous ball carrier was tackled and got back to his feet… should’ve been a pen to England

Just seen that mentioned on another forum. 🤬

So, who’s going to win the big one then?

SA have been better all tournament, but I never bet against the All Blacks

As soon as faf comes on it’s generally over for the opposite team.

Cannot believe it’s taken this long for the refs to have enough of the water carrying tactics.

Yesterday’s All blacks are going to ruin this Bokks side.

not sure if they’ll show it but SA’s try – previous ball carrier was tackled and got back to his feet… should’ve been a pen to England!

Think of it as karma for Itoje tacking a player while lying on the floor in the England 22.

Ben O’Keefe had another shocker but I can’t tell which team it favoured overall.

Ben O’Keefe had another shocker but I can’t tell which team it favoured overall

Definitely SA! 😉

The AB’s will win.  Easier match this week vs 2 tough games for SA more recovery and they’ve watch SA’s issues unravel the team. 

Incidentally, first game I’ve seen in I don’t know how long that had no input from the TMO.  Like nothing.

I Ben O’Keefe favoured England in the first half with a couple of mistaken penalties awarded, and SA in the second half when he clearly decided the Bokke scrum was on top and started looking for English infringements.

Incidentally, first game I’ve seen in I don’t know how long that had no input from the TMO. Like nothing.

Good point, but I suspect that was because essentially nothing happened for most of it.

The TMO will have seen those Siya Kolisi and PSdT calls in the first half and died a little inside. That said, there was very little to refer to him: few try opportunities; no foul play referrals.

TMO did pick up on a knock on by SA from a restart, but that was about it.

Shame for England they played exactly as they needed to and I really thought they were going to do it

when he clearly decided the Bokke scrum was on top

That’s because it was, massively so.

England way better than expected, not sure either team threatened with ball in hand so not just an English problem. England didn’t manage the game well second half, Koch massively on angle in scrum but shouldn’t be scrumming in that part of field.
England don’t deserve to be in final but all you can ask of your team is to play with pride passion and fight, be nice to play with style too but this is a World Cup. They did first bit with little style but weren’t good enough fair play to SA, can’t blame the commentators for the team though.

The final will be very interesting with S. Africa having slight edge over NZ.

Looking at it it was a big mistake by Steward (who had a good game otherwise) to kick the ball too short so that it landed in an area where SA had a scrum from the knock on within penalty range. If he’d only kicked it long it probably wouldn’t have mattered.

Correct

As a Welsh man, living in Wales with my Welsh family….the commentary is not less biased here than what ITV is towards the English.

Well done Emgland, really enjoyed that game. They were so focused, made for a great game. And as a neutral I absolutely loved it. I’m really looking forward to the final now. 

England battled really hard this was a brave performance from a team that had a good game plan. In the end I say South Africa were just a bit better. Their early changes in the second half were the key, their scrum became dominant , and England conceded crucial penalties. Although England got an easy run to the latter stages of the world cup I think some of the criticism they got in the earlier part of the year may have been ott,

Usual mince spouted on here as usual. Commentary was as per every other game ITV ever broadcast.

Ben O’Keefe had a good game. Game changer was the front row changes, England’s didn’t pan out and Jamie George had to play the full 80 despite being dead on his feet after 60 mins.

O’Keefe favoured the SA scrum towards the because they were destroying England.

I have NZ as slight  favourites for the title. Can’t really be too disappointed with the result tonight, I genuinely though that we’d lose by 20+.

It looks like the big games wore SA out, the speed of the France game was lacking and England were able to drag them into an arm wrestle. Englands best performance of 2023 wasn’t enough against a team that had bested Scotland, France and NZ in the last odd month, no shame in that.Lots of slagging of the ref online and in the English press with the current narrative being that the SA scrum wasn’t dominant but just cheating, but it isn’t like you haven’t known what was coming for 4 years, is it? Hopefully NZ will run the legs off them and their vile coaching team. Also; crusader outfits…bit tone deaf maybe?

The SA scrum was cheating, it was plain to see – both SA props we’re in at angles after the initial shove.   But when it’s as dominant as that it’s very hard to tell whether it’s deliberate or just becuase the English props were collapsing.   Vunipola was a massive liability, he’s gone downhill quickly – poor hands and slow/out of place for the SA try.

i was curious about the early changes for SA but now realise it’s becuase Rassie saw the need/timing for scrum dominance and reliable longer range kick penalties.  He timed it perfectly to remove Marler and Cole and bring the weaker props onto the field.

Anyway, slightly under the obvious radar Courtney Lawes was immense and pretty much left the field in pieces, thats at least one retirement announcement I’m expecting before Christmas. Out of the whole team it’s him that commands my greatest respect.

The makings of a great England team to come. Lawes will be missed Billy not so much. Steward back to 15. I’d start with other things too. Take the rose on the tracksuits back to red.

SA weren’t able to play their game but a very good team will overcome that and they did.

Gutted for them – having seen their game in Marseille it was actually tactically a brilliant game by England.

Last nights game tactically started brilliant if not the prettiest of rugby

IMO it’s the scrum changes the lost the game, but could Marler have kept going. Sinclair has been a liability all tournament

All Blacks will win, SA had tired legs last night

The irony meter broke last night when the panel said NZ had an easier route to the final than SA.

Jamie George had to play the full 80 despite being dead on his feet after 60 mins

He didn’t have to. Dan was still on the bench and only came on to break up the fight at the end. Can’t imagine why he was unused.

I further can’t imagine why Sinckler is still used…

Yeah, Sinckler really doesn’t seem strong enough compared to the other international props.

All Blacks have peaked at the right time. I’m not a predictor, but can’t see them losing against that SA side, especially with the panicky subbing “tactics” they had yesterday.

The ‘boks didn’t like the wet conditions, or they just suddenly acquired butterfingers. They may stand a better chance in the dry.