World Rugby 2022 Thread

[AntRobertson]

She's awesome.

[happynz]

Maybe one of the better interviews in rugby.

[happynz]

Why do New Zealand Rugby fans want ABC (Anybody But Canterbury)?

This coming weekend in Aotearoa New Zealand rugby.

Canterbury v Wellington - NPC final.

South Canterbury v Whanganui - Meads Cup final.

East Coast v Mid Canterbury - Lachore Cup final.

555

[harrybarracuda]

The Fiji ladies beat the jaapies in the world cup for the first time ever.

How exciting.

[harrybarracuda]

And apparently England were the underdogs against Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup, but edged past them 60-6.

[harrybarracuda]

A strange tale indeed.

An Australian rugby league player has been found dead in Spain after going missing on a night out with friends.


Barcelona police found Liam Hampson's body on the floor of a nightclub where he was last seen, local media reported.


He had been travelling through Europe with a group including National Rugby League (NRL) players, who reported him missing.


The 24-year-old's family said he had an accident and did not survive, adding they are "heartbroken".


Mr Hampson played in the Queensland Cup for the Redcliffe Dolphins, a team that will enter Australia's top-tier NRL next season.


He had become separated from his friends when leaving the Sala Apollo nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday local time, his family said on social media.



Relatives had asked for help in searching for him, after he was not seen for more than 24 hours.


Barcelona police say Mr Hampson's body was found by employees around midday on Wednesday, the Brisbane Times reported.


Officers believe Mr Hampson accidentally fell to his death from a height of about 10m inside, the report said.


Mr Hampson's father Brett said the family was devastated.


"Liam had a heart of gold... words cannot express our grief," he wrote on social media.


The family said their thoughts were with the group of friends travelling with Mr Hampson - which included several top-tier players - who had searched for him.



"[You] made sure his last days were the best of his life," his sister, Tiarna Hampson, said.


Mr Hampson started his semi-professional career with the Tweed Seagulls in 2019 before joining the Dolphins this year.

Liam Hampson: Australian rugby league player found dead in Spanish club - BBC News

[prawnograph]

Why do New Zealand Rugby fans want ABC (Anybody But Canterbury)?

This coming weekend in Aotearoa New Zealand rugby.

Canterbury v Wellington - NPC final.

A-B-C - just seems the right thing to do!



NZ Bunnings NPC final
Canterbury vs Wellington, Saturday 22nd October, 7.05pm NZT (1.05pm Thailand), Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

Since the dawn of the new millennium, Canterbury (199 from 265) and Wellington (165 from 238) have won more games in the NPC than any other provinces.
However, since 2000, Canterbury have won the NPC Premiership 11 times, Wellington have lost nine finals (7 Premiership, 2 Championship) in the same period.
Canterbury beat Wellington in the 2004 (40-27), 2008 (7-6), 2009 (28-20) and 2013 (29-13) deciders.
Wellington last won the NPC Premiership in 2000 when they beat Canterbury at a sold out Lancaster Park, Christchurch, 34-29. Canterbury’s last Premiership title win came in 2017 when they defeated Tasman 35-13.
Canterbury are unbeaten at home in 2022 and dispatched the Lions 43-10 in round two in Christchurch.

[prawnograph]

2022 Autumn Internationals
South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina will be back touring Europe during the autumn of 2022.

Saturday 29th October: Japan v New Zealand; Scotland v Australia

Friday 4th November: Ireland ‘A’ v All Blacks XV

Saturday 5th November: Italy v Samoa; Scotland v Fiji; Wales v New Zealand; Ireland v South Africa; France v Australia

Sunday 6th November: England v Argentina

Saturday 12th November : Ireland v Fiji; Italy v Australia; England v Japan; Wales v Argentina; France v South Africa

Sunday 13th November: Barbarians v NZ All Blacks XV; Scotland v New Zealand

Saturday 19th November : Italy v South Africa; Wales v Georgia; Scotland v Argentina; England v New Zealand; Ireland v Australia

Sunday 20th November: France v Japan

Saturday 26th November: Wales v Australia; England v South Africa

Snapshot of the tours (World Rugby rankings of foes):
No. 3 South Africa: Plays Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 5 in order
No. 4 New Zealand: 10, 7, 6 and 5
No. 8 Argentina: 5, 7 and 6
No. 9 Australia: 6, 2, 14, 1, and 7


For international rugby 2022, that's all folks

[DrWilly]

A strange tale indeed.

Drunk kids on holiday getting harmed in countries with lax building standards?

Not that uncommon. unfortunately.

[harrybarracuda]

Drunk kids on holiday getting harmed in countries with lax building standards?

Not that uncommon. unfortunately.

Did a building collapse or something?

Ah no, just more Willy nonsense.

The Daily Telegraph reports investigators confirmed Hampson had been looking for a toilet around 4.30am only to find himself locked out of the nightclub. He attempted to scale an adjoining wall when he fell to his death

[DrWilly]

84 - 0


Oh my.

[harrybarracuda]

Fascinating numbers. What do they mean?

[prawnograph]

Fascinating numbers. What do they mean?

Means confusing rugby union with league, seems doesn't even warrant its own thread (NRL Rugby League 2022); apparently RL have a 'world cup' on . . . featuring world greats such as Fiji v Italy or Lebanon v Ireland

exorbitant ticket prices, empty stadiums and poor quality football

[DrWilly]

^ If you don't know, you don't know. Buzz off back to the girlie football thread

[prawnograph]

Fascinating numbers. What do they mean?

It's on about the same uneven level as the current Women's Rughy World Cup - and some of the teams could be competitive in RLWC from the women.

WWRC - twelve teams with eight going through to quarterfinals. England / France favourites then NZ, then . . . well, nobody.
Australia qualified second in their pool - struggled v Scotland (14-12) and Wales (13-7) while NZ beat those two teams 57-0 and 56-12. England 84 b Fiji 19; Fiji 21 b South Africa 17...

Bizarrely the WRWC opening day in Auckland was a sellout of 40,000 yet only 34,625 actually turned up - can't blame the weather; unwanted gifts maybe

[harrybarracuda]

Means confusing rugby union with league, seems doesn't even warrant its own thread (NRL Rugby League 2022); apparently RL have a 'world cup' on . . . featuring world greats such as Fiji v Italy or Lebanon v Ireland

Ah I see.

I did some research and apparently Scotland aren't very good. They got pumped by the Italians as well.

They should stick to Elephant Polo and Curling really.

[happynz]

National Provincial Championship final

Canterbury 18 - 26 Wellington

Wellington just much better on the night.

Congratulations to Wellington and all the ABCers (anybody but Canterbury).

[PlanK]

Good memories watching Lomu in the pre-game highlights.

[harrybarracuda]

I see the England laydees fair thrashed their convict counterparts in the WC QF to win a place in the semi finals against Canada.

[prawnograph]

Women's Rugby World Cup - no surprise outcome yet, heading for an England France final.

QFs
France 39 Italy 3
NZ 55 Wales 3
England 41 Australia s
Canada 32 USA 11



Semifinals: Saturday 5 November
England - USA
NZ - France

[prawnograph]

And two painfully bad international matches on the weekend
NZ All Blacks bumbled, fumbled their way to a very unconvincing 38-31 win over Japan, who played exceptionally well - great preparation from their three NZ coaches Joseph, Brown and Mitchell.

Australia beat Scotland 16-15, courtesy of Scotland's kicker missing a late penalty kick he could have thrown over ... Scotland were minus their players who play out of that country - very much a B side as this match was played outside the 'test window' November when clubs must release their international players.

All Blacks hit by injury and bereavement - the consequence of having the three Barrett brothers in the team absent due to family bereavement.

Four others in the AB squad were unavailable for injury (3) and family matter (1). Hooker Dane Coles out in the warm up pre-Japan, calf muscle sees him out of the tour. Captain Sam Cane suffered double cheekbone/eyesocket fractures and also on the plane home.

99-test Brodie Retallick red carded for a shoulder charge he'll be off home too. Read his family were flying to Wales to see his 100th.


Retallick running to the airport

This weekend could see Wales' first win over NZ since 1953.

[prawnograph]

The weekend's rugby:
Ireland ‘A’ 17 All Blacks XV 47

Italy v Samoa
Scotland v Fiji
Wales v New Zealand
Ireland v South Africa
France v Australia
England v Argentina



And from the women's rugby, semifinals this afternoon, results
England 26 Canada 19
France 24 New Zealand 25

That second game - I'd bet on France to win the tournament; they had a penalty kick in front @ 30m in the 80th min final play of the game. Missed.

Next Saturday
3rd/4th playoff
France v Canada

Final
England v New Zealand

[happynz]

All Blacks smashing Wales.

[harrybarracuda]

The pikies edged the jaapies and the cheese eating surrender monkeys squeezed past the convicts.

[DrWilly]

Difficult time of night to watch the NH games here.