World Rugby - 2023 Thread

[dirk diggler]

We are Scotland, we have entire reservoirs of optimism...



... that there will be an incredibly unlucky soul-crushing disappointment right at the last play.

[happynz]

Japan 17 - 8 Samoa at halftime. Japan a man down with a yellow card being viewed with change to a red (can't say upgraded as that doesn't sound right). Samoa also with a player on the naughty chair (yellow, no review).

[happynz]

For Japan, yellow remains a yellow.

[DrWilly]

Relatively interesting. Either could go through depending, but Japan looking like they have this.

[happynz]

Samoa 11 given a yellow with a red card review. Looks likely to be red.

[DrWilly]

It seems to me that we’ve seen more of that this World Cup (players tackling while upright and more knocks to the head than usual) or am I more aware of it these days?

[happynz]

Japan 28 - 22 Samoa. Samoa with a last minute converted try to make the scoreline look more respectable.

[Bettyboo]

Makes the Japan v Argentina game a winner takes all - a quarter final against an average Wales team is a decent incentive. Fiji also have a quarter final against an average England team... Anybody put money on a Fiji v Japan semi? (strangely, that last noun phrase sounds like a porno that Mr Sausages would be watching...)

[harrybarracuda]

Congratulations England on gaining a quarter final slot as group winners without playing particularly well.

[happynz]

All Blacks restoring order to the universe. With a quarter hour left ABs 68 -10 Italia.

[happynz]

Full-time ABs 96 -17 Italia.

C'mon

[Bettyboo]

^ A very good win against a decent Italian team; the Kiwis are coming to the boil, but the Ireland game is a big challenge and should be a cracker.

I've updated my predictions, but got stuck at this point...


(Can't rule Japan or Scotland out, and I'd like to see them both get through, but it'll be very tough for them.)

My predictions were pretty good... Just Ireland beating the Bokkes has caused a problem.

Wales will get to the semi, but won't be winning this WC.

The Kiwis v Ireland semi winner is my favourite to win this WC.

Fiji could beat England, but won't be winning this WC. England could beat Fiji, then could beat France or the Bokkes (unlikely) then could win the final too - I doubt it, but we're growing and have decent depth, so I won't rule it out.

France could win the WC, but it'd be tough for them to win from where there are; 3 very tough games. A France v England semi in France would be a great spectacle, imho. Also, I suspect playing the Kiwis in the final would be a tougher game for France than playing Ireland in the final (just an opinion based on very little...).

The Bokkes to beat France (unlikely) then England (50/50 in my book) then Ireland or the Kiwis (Nah) - that's the toughest route.

As I said before the WC started: France to beat NZ in the group, but lose to them in the final (I also said Ireland would beat France in the semis, but Ireland f'ked that up by beating the Bokkes... ). But, Ireland are very good, so...


Edit to add: this WC has been a bit of a slow boiler, a few cracking games (many not so...), but is starting to come together with some very interesting final group games and decent quarters which are all open.

[harrybarracuda]

^ A very good win against a decent Italian team

*chortle*

[happynz]

Italy bonus point win over France. ABs bonus point win over Uruguay. France out of the competition. The ABs running up the score on Uruguay is a safe bet, but Italy getting a bonus point win over France? It would be one of the most famous wins ever. It's unlikely to happen.

[Troy]

Italy bonus point win over France.

France out of the competition.

[PlanK]

Time for Beaudy to give the restart kicking duties back to Mo'unga'.

Good to see winger Coles showing the backs just how easy it is to sit on the outside and stroll on over.

[malmomike77]

but Italy getting a bonus point win over France?

get your money on it HNZ, you can retire

[happynz]

^ 555 there’s long shots and then there are really long shots.

[happynz]

Not sure why Romania is in the RWC. In three games they've lost to Ireland 82-8, South Africa 76-0, and Scotland 84-0. Next up for the Romanians is Tonga who will probably put up a half century on them.

[dirk diggler]

Does this mean Scotland can beat Ireland?

[DrWilly]

Does this mean Scotland can beat Ireland?

[harrybarracuda]

Not sure why Romania is in the RWC.

Only Romania?

[happynz]

Only Romania?

It should have been España, but...

They successfully qualified for the 2023 World Cup to be hosted in France. However, Spain was later on disqualified due to falsification of a copy of an ineligible player's passport. Spain has not hosted any Rugby World Cup games.

Spain at the Rugby World Cup - Wikipedia

[harrybarracuda]

It should have been España, but...

They cheated.

[harrybarracuda]

Does this mean Scotland can beat Ireland?

A better question would be "Does this mean Scotland can beat Ireland with a bonus point?"