World Rugby - 2023 Thread

[Little Chuchok]

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.

Have you watched Jordie play at 2/5 over the past year? He has been outstanding

[harrybarracuda]

Saturday (Thailand time):

14:05 NZ vs SA
16:45 Aus vs Arg

Both on Sky Sports Action UK

[Bettyboo]

France v Ireland in the U20s WC on Saturday. France have looked the best team by far, imho.

[happynz]

Have you watched Jordie play at 2/5 over the past year? He has been outstanding

Yes.

Anyway, here's the All Black side for Saturday to go up against the Boks.



Still not convinced that Caleb Clarke should be in the Gameday 23.

[PlanK]

Caleb Clarke has always been an off-the-bench impact player for me. With so many utility backs maybe Fossie thinks he can keep him in the squad for that option.

[Little Chuchok]

Caleb Clarke has always been an off-the-bench impact player for me. With so many utility backs maybe Fossie thinks he can keep him in the squad for that option.

Yep, he's a big unit to bring on.

Unlike some others think here, this may not be the best AB side. Look what the Boks did before last world cup and what they are doing now.

[happynz]

Not that anyone outside of AoNZ would or should care, including many inside the motu, lol, but Canterbury women put up 10 tries to handily beat Wellington women 58-29.

Tonight the ABs meet the Springboks.

The bookies currently have the All Blacks as favourites paying $1.51 and the Springboks at $3.01. A draw will pay $26.00.

Go the ABs, but I’m not the confident.

[Bettyboo]

The French looking good at every level:

[harrybarracuda]

Not that anyone outside of AoNZ would or should care

We don't.

[prawnograph]

In other rugby, Tonga 27 beat Australia A 21 yesterday
A A featured 13 Wallabies in their 23, Tonga had two ex-Wallaby and three ex-All Blacks courtesy of the eligibility change allowing players to switch to their home/heritage country after a minimum three years away from test rugby.
Wallabies: Adam Coleman, last test was 2019; Israel Folau (2019)
All Blacks: Charles Piutau (2015), Vaea Fifita (2019), Malakai Fekitoa (2017)

On with the tests, I've gone with SA and Australia to win.
Maybe.

[happynz]

ABs strike first!

[happynz]

ABs 17 - 0 South Africa

Bokke a bit stunned.

[happynz]

Halftime it’s ABs 20 - 3 Springboks

[harrybarracuda]

Close then.

[prawnograph]

NZ 23-SA 15 with around 20 to play

All over - All Blacks 35 - Springboks 20


The All Blacks XV has just started v Japan, a filler before the Australia-Argentina match in 40 minutes.

[Bettyboo]

That's a good win by the Kiwis.

[prawnograph]

And in Australia



Wallabies 31 Argentina 34
New coach Eddie Jones goes 0-2, and it looks worse in weeks ahead:

Wallabies v All Blacks on the 29th, South Africa v Argentina
All Blacks v Wallabies the week after 5 August (Bledisloe Cup)

Earlier, the All Blacks XV 41 beat Japan 27

[harrybarracuda]

Oh those convict tears....

[DrWilly]

That's a good win by the Kiwis.

oh bugger. I just woke up at 1:00am to catch the games. I forgot that they were in earlier this week.

[panama hat]

It's been rather dire for the Wobblies recently

[DrWilly]

Eddie Jones 0-2, next games are against an in form New Zealand and World Cup starts… is it September 10? Not looking good.

[prawnograph]

It's been rather dire for the Wobblies recently

They got the treble

Australia A lost to Tonga
Australia Wallaroos (women) lost to Canada 7-45
Wallabies lost to All Blacks

Eddie the Mouth doesn't give up:

'Look out': Eddie puts All Blacks on notice
"If I was the All Blacks, I’d look out,” Jones told reporters following the Wallabies’ heartbreaking 34-31 loss in Parramatta.

[PlanK]

Wallabies 31 Argentina 34

This was the better game to watch. Last minute, down to the wire, rugby goodness. Watching Eddie losing his shit in the coach's box was some unexpected bonus footage. One day Australia are gonna stop having final five minute brain-farts and win one of these close games.

[DrWilly]

One day Australia are gonna stop having final five minute brain-farts and win one of these close games.

Please let that be soon.

[AntRobertson]

All over - All Blacks 35 - Springboks 20

Kind of a weird game, SA actually dominated for the middle parts and imposed their style of play but those early points made in a comfortable win regardless.

And what was that all about with Faf and Kolbe taking conversions. Pre-WC experimentation I suppose.