World Rugby - 2023 Thread

[malmomike77]

^ Have to agree, my interest has waned and no just because Wales have fallen apart. Its gone back to the 90s and an interminably dull kicking game.

[Bettyboo]

I have a theory...

NZ, SA, France and Ireland are going to smash the shit out of each other in the 'hard' side of the draw whilst England and Australia are going to have a relative armchair ride through to the semis whereupon one or the other will spring an upset and make the final.

France are looking very good, and have depth - I don't mind them winning. Kiwis winning is fine. Ireland winning would be great. Australia are improving, England are shite, but have gotten to finals in France before when playing totally shite (the ref then gave the game to the Bokkes who we very surprisingly outplayed on the day) - I can't see either being a winner this time around, but anything is possible.

Edit to add: Australia will likely have to beat an average Argentina then an average Welsh team lacking depth (in a semi - always a problem), so could get to the final in very good shape?

[AntRobertson]

It's all conjecture obviously and anything can happen on the day but it does all highlight that this is probably the most open tournament ever.

Ireland, France, NZ, SA, England, Aust are all realistic chances to varying degrees, even Scotland and Wales at a pinch.

[harrybarracuda]

Rugby these days is so boring I can't be bothered to watch it or talk about it. I'm in there somewhere.

What, the club bar?

[Bettyboo]

^ squad depth limits those choices in a WC, imho - any of those teams could get to a semi and/or beat any other team on a given day, but England, Bokke kuntz, Kiwis and France have the squad depth to beat better teams in the later stages (which is where the Irish, Scots and Welsh always suffer). Of those four, England are not good enough, but could make it to the final due to ease of draw? (I doubt it). The other side of the draw is tough, and like the last WC, let's say the French have to dig deep to win a semi against the Kiwis then they might have played their best rugby before the final (like England in the last WC - we played great against the Kiwis in the semi, but couldn't lift ourselves again in the final against a weaker team...) - the Convicts might have a real chance this WC.

But, it is anybody's...

[harrybarracuda]

As long as it doesn't clash with the footy.

[happynz]

As long as it doesn't clash with the footy.

Pub selection will be critical.

[harrybarracuda]

Pub selection will be critical.

Through a lengthy (and expensive, and alcoholic) process of subterfuge, I actually have two bars with my own TV, specifically reserved for events of my choosing.

[happynz]

The Rugby Championship

South Africa smash Australia 43-12.

Eddie Jones has his work cut out for him.

At halftime Argentina 0 - 31 All Blacks

[DrWilly]

Wasn’t the news i was hoping to wake up to

[happynz]

Full time Argentina 12 - 41 All Blacks

[harrybarracuda]

Wasn’t the news i was hoping to wake up to

It gets worse.

Eddie Jones snaps at ‘smart arse’ reporter after Springbok ‘B team’ hammer Australia

Any ‘bounce’ that Australia were anticipating in the brutal defenestration of Dave Rennie to make way for Jones lasted just eight minutes, the time in which Australia led through Marika Koroibete’s try. There followed 43 unanswered points. With a couple of scores ruled out and several Springbok handling errors, it could easily have been 60.

Many fine sides have fallen to heavy defeats in Pretoria but of particular concern to Jones – and indeed all of world rugby – was this was largely a South Africa B side with 12 of their big guns held in reserve for their match against the All Blacks.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/07/08/south-africa-v-australia-rugby-championship-live-score/

[happynz]

Next week the Springboks won't play the ABs in their Eden Park fortress, but rather at Mt Smart Stadium across town.

Unfortunately, the ABs still have Ian Foster as coach and Fossie will show his North Island bias keeping in under-performing Caleb Clarke and Beauden Barrett. Hello, Fossie! Leicester Fainga'anuku should be wearing the 11 jersey and Will Jordan should be the fullback.

[Bettyboo]

Full time Argentina 12 - 41 All Blacks

Good to see the Pumas winning the second half...

- If the reporter that Jones "snapped at" was a Bokke that's very understandable, as they are twats (the Aussie media are awful too).

- They should have kicked Foster out when they had the chance a few months back, imho. Will Jordan is by far the best performing Kiwi fullback. Actually, in the last WC the Kiwis were the best team, but just didn't fully function in the semi when England put in a strong performance; they weren't far away, but have probably dropped down since then thus making France (and maybe even the Bokkes) stronger favourites for this WC.

[prawnograph]

Will Jordan is by far the best performing Kiwi fullback.

Will Jordan missed the 2022 northern tour due to ongoing migraine-related (not concussion) issues which began last September. Returned after eight months for some of the Crusaders matches this season from mid-May to June but is out again now with the same condition so while named in the squad, didn't travel to Argentina

[Bettyboo]

^ interesting.

A few years ago, the Kiwis had endless 10s and some great 15s. Looking at those places over the last couple of years, the quality and quantity seem less.

[happynz]

Ahem! I'm confident with Richie Mo'unga or DMac at 10. Jordan is a world class fullback, but his absences are worrying. I don't think Beauden Barrett is the answer for fullback. Jordie Barrett would be fine at fullback, he's got a cannon for a leg, but now it looks like Fossie wants him at 12.

[prawnograph]

Next week the Springboks won't play the ABs in their Eden Park fortress, but rather at Mt Smart Stadium across town.

And a few $ lost to NZ Rugby due to the smaller (about 30,000) venue of Mt Smart, home of NZ Rugby League, while Eden Park is reserved/being set up for FIFA Women's Football World Cup matches.

South Africa sent twelve key players to NZ last week to prepare, resulting in an A-minus (or B-plus) team that beat Australia last night, similarly NZ rested a few v Argentina for the big one next week.

Saturday 15 July
New Zealand v South Africa 2.05pm
Australia v Argentina 4.45pm

[Bettyboo]

Ahem! I'm confident with Richie Mo'unga or DMac at 10. Jordan is a world class fullback, but his absences are worrying. I don't think Beauden Barrett is the answer for fullback. Jordie Barrett would be fine at fullback, he's got a cannon for a leg, but now it looks like Fossie wants him at 12.

All 3 Barretts are past their sell by date (shouldn't be in the team; the fact you can't find replacements is worrying), and Mo'unga is average at top tier international level. Only France are progressing with decent backs of the top teams, imho; maybe SA are semi-progressing if their backs get the ball.

Have NZ even decided upon the style they want to play, yet?

Wasn't it 2007 the last time you went out at the WC quarterfinals? I'm just sayin... I'm not trying to cause trouble here, but from afar, the Kiwis look in the worse shape I remember seeing them in a WC year.

[happynz]

ABs v Springboks at Mt Smart Stadium, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland).
19.05 NZST
14.05 TST

current odds: ABs 2/5 Springboks 5/2 Draw 33/1

Springbok lineup for Saturday looks very strong.

[prawnograph]

^ I've kept a NZ TAB betting account, they don't geoblock

Their odds today (for $1 bet)
Head to head
New Zealand 1.33; Draw 21.00; South Africa 3.30
Winning team and margin
New Zealand 1 - 12 2.80; New Zealand 13+ 2.10; South Africa 1 - 12 4.60; South Africa 13+ 9.00

I've gone for SA

[happynz]

That’s a tasty temptation with SA at 3.30.

[dirk diggler]

New South Wales Vs Queensland fir the State of Origin has been a cracking first half.

[prawnograph]

That’s a tasty temptation with SA at 3.30.

Unsure what the early head to head was, but SA 1-12 was $5 and 13+ $12 on Monday.

Mark Reason's NZ Arg match review here:
Why the All Blacks were ordinary at best against Argentina

[happynz]

Condolences to Springboks captain Eben Etzebeth who may return home to South Africa after his father passed away. What a tough decision to make.