World Rugby - 2024 Thread

[happynz]

This isn't a World Rugby Cup year, but nevertheless, the show must go on.

The biggest international shows will be the Six Nations, the Winter Internationals when the Northern Hemisphere teams visit the Southern Hemisphere in July, the Rugby Championship featuring Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand. Then to finish off the year there's the End of Year tour where the Southern Hemisphere teams tour the Northern Hemisphere.

Predictions:

South Africa will go into a rebuilding phase as a lot of their aging stars retire or chase money in Japan, France, and in the British Isles.

England will surprise some and disappoint others. So, a typical English campaign.

The Irish will battle the French for Northern Hemisphere dominance.

The All Blacks under new coach Scott Robertson will win the Rugby Championship, but will lose at least one match on the End of Year Tour.

Australia will field a stronger more cohesive team, but will still struggle with consistency.

Japan, Samoa, and Fiji will get at least one scalp this year.

Happy New Year, and good luck to who you support.

[DrWilly]

Happy New Year. Six Nations starts soon, 2nd of Feb is about 3 weeks away.

[Bettyboo]

I wonder if Wales can rebuild this year and be good?

[david44]

HNY TO YOU AND YOUR FLOCK

Looking forward to more matches after exciting Paris final

Japan, Samoa, and Fiji will get at least one scalp this year.

can you refine your crystal balls before I place my bets

[happynz]

Six Nations start this coming weekend.

France v Ireland
Italy v England
Wales v Scotland

I've got...
France by 4
England by 10
Wales by 6

[harrybarracuda]

I hear Makha Bucha Day is going to bugger up at least one day of the Six Nations.

[cyrille]

Who does he play for?

[DrWilly]

Ireland by 6
England by 24
Scotland by 10

[DrWilly]

This might be the Melbourne Rebels last season…

Rugby Australia is working with the debt-ridden Melbourne Rebels to ensure they field a team in this year's Super Rugby Pacific competition but has offered no guarantees beyond that.
Key points:

• Embattled Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels have entered voluntary administration just a month before the season kicks off
• The Rebels are believed to be $9 million in debt
• Rugby Australia will ensure the club plays through the 2024 campaign but their survival beyond that is up in the air

Melbourne formally entered voluntary administration on Monday night, with the season set to get underway in less than a month.
The national governing body said it remains committed to rugby in Victoria but offered no clues about how that may look.
In a statement, Rugby Australia (RA) said it will focus on a "viable professional rugby footprint in Melbourne that can be sustainable and commercially successful in the future".
RA boss Phil Waugh said head office will work with the appointed administrator to ensure Melbourne teams play in this year's men's and women's Super Rugby competitions.
"RA is committed to ensuring the Melbourne Rebels play in the 2024 Super Rugby competitions, and we will support their preparation for the new season," Waugh said in a statement.
"As custodians of the game, we are determined to ensure that RA is making responsible decisions for a sustainable and successful future — we will work with the Rebels and the relevant stakeholders to that end."
Super Rugby Pacific's Super Round, set to take place on March 1-3 at AAMI Park, will not be impacted by the Rebels' struggles.
Waugh said the Victorian government would be involved in talks over the future of the club, which is believed to be $9 million in debt.
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Executives from the Rebels called in insolvency firm Wexted Advisors last Thursday, with the board meeting over the weekend to see if they could avoid administration.
The state government previously bailed out the Rebels in 2017, reaching an agreement with RA that involved hosting rights for the Bledisloe Cup and British and Irish Lions Test matches in Melbourne.
"The Victorian government has been a long-standing and significant supporter of professional and community rugby," Waugh said.
"Our focus is to work with the Victorian government and its key agencies … to ensure the Rebels' participation in the 2024 Super Rugby season and the continuation of professional rugby in the state

.https://www.xxx.xxx.xx/news/2024-01-30/melbourne-rebels-future-super-rugby-voluntary-administration/103403808

[DrWilly]

Ireland romp it home 38–17

[happynz]

No kidding! Ireland for the grand slam?

[harrybarracuda]

No kidding! Ireland for the grand slam?

Do you say that because they're odds on favourites or was it a lucky guess?

[happynz]

555


Well, I picked France, so, erm, I got nuthin'.

[david44]

ENGLAND iTALY IN AN HOUR KICK OFF 2115 LOS

For those with access to ITVX THE SHOW STARTS IN 10M

[DrWilly]

Wobbly start for Eng

14-17 at HT

[DrWilly]

England in control in the second half. 24-27 but they will struggle against a proper side.

The Scot’s were smashing wales so I turned if off half way through the second half only to discover they almost lost the game. 26-27

[harrybarracuda]

Had some excitable sheep shaggers in the bar last night, it was more amusing watching them than the game.

[DrWilly]

[Bettyboo]

England are crap. Wales and Scotland are not very good. Ireland either don't have depth or bottle it in the WC. The Kiwis are nowhere near their best. The Convicts are poor. The Bokke bastards are massively over-rated, and would not have won WCs against the quality Kiwi, Convict sides or England 2003.

The rule changes, the style of play, it has just dropped rugby down several notches during the last 5+ years, imho. Frankly, I don't enjoy watching games anymore. Should this be in the rant thread???

[happynz]

Munster v Canterbury Crusaders before a packed house of 40,000. Munster in control most of the game and held a 21-14 lead as the clock ticked into the red. The Crusaders managed to score, but Noah Hotham pulled the conversion to the left. Final score Munster 21-19 Crusaders.

[PlanK]

The rule changes, the style of play, it has just dropped rugby down several notches during the last 5+ years, imho. Frankly, I don't enjoy watching games anymore. Should this be in the rant thread???

Nah, I feel ya.

I walked away from watching three games last year, including the RWC final. The inconsistancy of the new head knock rules that have players red-carded for non-intentional offences, combined with the NH insistence to continue with their retard redcard rules when the SH has shown better results with the 20 minute penalty have led me to lose a lot of passion for watching the game. The France v Ireland game lost it's contest with the red card and the scoreline ballooned. Eng v Italy and Sco v Wales were much more enjoyable to watch.

I only watched these games highlight reels, and only d/l them because I had nothing better to do today. Watching rugby now is more an exercise in frustration than enjoyment of the skills in play.

Or maybe I'm just getting old? I remember whan I was young my old man said he used to follow all the teams and know all the players, now he just reads the score headlines. I think I'm heading that way.

[Bonecollector]

Rugby has gone down hill ever since the kicking started

Great win for the Scottis!

[happynz]

This weekend in the Six Nations

Scotland v France Sat 11 Feb 2115 TST

England v Wales Sat 11 Feb 2345 TST

Ireland v Italy Sun 12 Feb 2200 TST


My picks

France
Wales
Ireland

[DrWilly]

France
England
Ireland


But I'd happily see Wales win.

[david44]

Great Scotland France finish, no spoliers for those on catch up