Sport Rugby World Cup Thread

[Gary Baldi]

The Rugby World Cup started today - was good to see the Japanese get into the tournament so much - and we have 6 weeks of rugger buggers in red chinos pontificating about why Rugby is better than Football (it's not and never will be ).

While I hope ??????? win, more over, I hope it's a decent tournament shorn of the seeming usual huffing and puffing about VAR, officiating, etc.

 

[Scotchegg]

A very open World Cup this time round with NZ, SA, Wales, England and the Aussies only a few points apart in the world rankings. Ireland have slipped a little in the last 12 months but will still be a threat, France are a funny team who could surprise a few and Scotland aren't a walkover. We've even seen how far teams like Japan, Fiji and Argentina have come on.

I actually think England have a decent chance. Eddie Jones has been working towards this for 4 years and has the experience of previous tournaments and being in Japan. But true to form we'll probably get turned over by Tongo tomorrow!!!

 

[yellowbow]

Some good matches so far but what are people’s thoughts on ITV’s coverage? I’m finding some of it a bit embarrassing- wtf is the rugby players in the studio acting out plays all about?! Yet again I feel the BBC do such a better job covering sporting events.

 

[Gary Baldi]

The ITV coverage is a bit basic, lots of voices, but that's it. The in game coverage is a lot better, apart from the 3 man booth that they had on the England game today.

It was an ok performance today by England, lots of unforced errors that teams like NZ will punish. Speaking of NZ, they were brutally efficient yesterday. SA lost control of small moments and lost out as a consequence.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Can’t see past NZ this year. SA forced some early mistakes and I was impressed at their tempo keeping the All Blacks in and around the 22 but the technical ability of the All Blacks with ball in hand shone through after they weathered the small. It was a fairly typical (in recent years) display from SA.

Looking at the Southern Hemisphere teams NZ are head and shoulders above their tri nation counterparts. As was seen today it’s always good to watch the Pacific Islanders but they tire and aren’t going to be winning a World Cup any time soon (especially when other teams are picking up their players). Argentina is going to be a tough test as they usually are in the forwards. Need to limit the penalties around the ruck area against them.

As for the usual crowd in the Northern Hemisphere it will be interesting to see how Ireland get on this World Cup. Scotland are completely Jekyl and Hyde and regardless of some decent results just aren’t good enough. Who knows with France! I don’t think the team themselves know what they’ll be like when they cross the white line.

As for England it’s Wales or Australia assuming we get out of the group. At times we looked good with the ball in hand but mistakes and penalties will cost us against the better teams (as they have done under the Eddie Jones system). I’d actually prefer to play Australia than Wales as its more important for the Welsh to beat England than it is to win a World Cup.

Of the RWC games I’ve seen so far NZ and Ireland look the better sides so far. Still early days and the conditions/jet lag will no doubt be playing a part for England.

As for the coverage.... the whole ‘coaching’ piece in the studio with the presenters in socks and a group of ‘colts’ or similar pretending to ruck/tackle was pretty laughable. They’ve tried the NFL style computer stuff so maybe they felt dramatics/improv was the next new thing?!

 

[Paul Cannell]

Fuck rugby.

 

[holdsteady]

Don’t mind watching it, can’t stand the fans though, they can’t get through a sentence without mentioning football, grinds away at them that the working class sport was and is vastly more popular/successful.

Hard to look past New Zealand as usual but the gap isn’t as big as usual between them and the rest so they could lose a one off game.

 

[m]

f**k rugby.

Niche.

 

[SteMerritt]

f**k rugby.

Is that an extreme version of touch rugby?

 

[Gary Baldi]

Ireland losing today was a stand out performance of the World Cup. Japan are a sneaky team, they look like nothing but will catch you out. The rest of the tournaments start feels like the hors d'oeuvres to the rest. I'm sure some Taffs had a good laugh at Farrell having his nose smeared across his face

 

[Didcotox]

International rugby is far more appealing to me than international football.
Have v little interest in club rugby though, and club football is the greatest sport of all.
If I had to choose between an Oxford promotion or a tournament win for England it’ll be Oxford every day.
Think most footy fans would choose club over country but it’s viceversa in rugby.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Ireland losing today was a stand out performance of the World Cup. Japan are a sneaky team, they look like nothing but will catch you out. The rest of the tournaments start feels like the hors d'oeuvres to the rest. I'm sure some Taffs had a good laugh at Farrell having his nose smeared across his face

Certainly the first big upset of the competition so far. I’m personally pleased that Wales beat Australia as I’d much rather we played the Aussies in the knock out stages (if we were to top the group).

Scotland had a decent game the other day to be fair. Perhaps one of the first teams to properly play to the slippery conditions and keep the ball close a little more.

 

[Bigfella72]

Only Scotland could get knocked out of a world cup by a bad spell of whether ?

 

[Gary Baldi]

Only Scotland could get knocked out of a world cup by a bad spell of whether ?

And threaten legal action if they go out

 

[Foley]

Not finished yet but maybe Scorland wish the weather had saved their embarrassment!!

 

[Gary Baldi]

I am a big Japan fan at the moment! Nothing makes me laugh more than Scots complaining

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Scotland would have got more points if the game had been called off

 

[Sarge]

Scotland would have got more points if the game had been called off

blimey!

does that result mean the Scottish ruby side will be upholding their National habit (in sporting team events) of heading home after the first stage?

 

[beyondthefourth]

I am a big Japan fan at the moment! Nothing makes me laugh more than Scots complaining

Can't agree with that sentiment as I'm married to one.

She says she's happy they at least got to exit the tournament on merit, and not on a technicality.

 

[Foley]

I did like the comments that Scotland were in a roll having beaten Russia and Samoa!!
They managed to heroically underachieve as usual though .

 

[carefreeoufc]

Japan played some absolutely excellent rugby first half! Great, quick passing and decisive moves as they went forward. The were looking more like an All Blacks side the way they were offloading when tackled.

Scotland were lucky when half time came because they were getting absolutely run ragged. Can’t say I’m overly surprised Scotland didn’t qualify for the next round. Japan were definitely a surprise but the Scots really aren’t as good as some of their fans/pundits think they are.

Could be an interesting game when Japan play South Africa particularly if they can get some early points and the ‘boks start to lose their heads.

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Japan played some absolutely excellent rugby first half! Great, quick passing and decisive moves as they went forward. The were looking more like an All Blacks side the way they were offloading when tackled.

Scotland were lucky when half time came because they were getting absolutely run ragged. Can’t say I’m overly surprised Scotland didn’t qualify for the next round. Japan were definitely a surprise but the Scots really aren’t as good as some of their fans/pundits think they are.

Could be an interesting game when Japan play South Africa particularly if they can get some early points and the ‘boks start to lose their heads.

Yeah a lot of Scotland pundits are living in the past. They’re comfortably the worst 6 nations side in my view and you certainly wouldn’t bet on them beating England, Ireland or Wales

 

[carefreeoufc]

I thought we’d probably end up here (Eng vs NZ). I guess you have to beat the best teams to win the World Cup!!

Looking at the other side of the draw I think the winners this year will come from our semi final. As it stands head is saying New Zealand. Farrell kicked well today but he’s one that has an off game from time to time. NZ all round the park are just consistent.

If we were to beat them (regardless of the performance) I’d fancy us to go all the way. The other side of the draw doesn’t have anyone in it that should concern England particularly. We have our flaws but so do the teams vying for a place in the final on the other side!!

Getting very interesting now.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Wales were very lucky today against a typically indifferent France. Like Ireland, the game is easy in meaningless games, when the pressure is on, they struggle.

England have a big game next week - they look a well coached team where the players know their roles and execute on it. New Zealand are a quality team, but beatable if you don't stand and just admire the aura, rather than what they are on the pitch. Human.

England will have to defend like they have in the WC so far and take the chances that are there against an open team - Underhill and Curry have been superb so far and for players so young, really on it. If Itoje and Lawes can play as they have, this team has a big opportunity to get into the final.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Wales were very lucky today against a typically indifferent France. Like Ireland, the game is easy in meaningless games, when the pressure is on, they struggle.

England have a big game next week - they look a well coached team where the players know their roles and execute on it. New Zealand are a quality team, but beatable if you don't stand and just admire the aura, rather than what they are on the pitch. Human.

England will have to defend like they have in the WC so far and take the chances that are there against an open team - Underhill and Curry have been superb so far and for players so young, really on it. If Itoje and Lawes can play as they have, this team has a big opportunity to get into the final.

I actually think we may well beat New Zealand. Ultimately their style of play has not really changed and Jones will know how to defend it. The current All Blacks team don’t look particularly quick out wide either.

It’s starting to look like Wales may well end up in the final. The South Africa team don’t have much about them and Wales are playing well enough to beat them. If we make it to the final.... I’ll be avoiding any work west of the Severn for a while. They live for that result against England, let alone it coming to a World Cup win

 

[Scotchegg]

I think that we'll best NZ too. South Africa started strongly against them in the opening games but were a bit one dimensional. I think we have a better kicking game and strength in the pack, as well as the pace of Watson, Daly and May to trouble them far more. We also have Eddie Jones who has worked to this moment and appears to be taking everything in his stride.

In the other semi, I think South Africa will beat Wales. They've not yet really ticked, but have had a very strong 12 months. Wales have been on the decline a little, and although they won the 6 nations, they have not looked particularly convincing for some time.

So we will hopefully have a repeat of the 2007 final, and this time I think England will come out on top.

 

[tonyw]

Random thought...….this thread has been going for the entire Rugby World Cup, and I believe I'm making the 26th post.

By contrast, the Cricket World Cup got that many posts for threads about random games like Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan; most of the England games got over 100, and the final got 279.

Is that because Cricket is just a massively more popular sport in Britain than rugby?
Or is it because we're all self-selecting football fans that have more important things to worry about in the winter than egg-chasing.....but there's time for a bit of cricket in the summer?

Just idle wondering......

…..personally, I've occasionally enjoyed watching the odd game of rugby, but it's never gripped me as a sport, and I think I'd struggle to name three members of the current England team (which is a bit of an indictment given that I'm a sports obsessive, and could probably name more than three members of every League One, NFL, NHL or MLB team without much effort!)

 

[MJB]

I should imagine class will have something of an effect.

 

[SteMerritt]

Random thought...….this thread has been going for the entire Rugby World Cup, and I believe I'm making the 26th post.

By contrast, the Cricket World Cup got that many posts for threads about random games like Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan; most of the England games got over 100, and the final got 279.

Is that because Cricket is just a massively more popular sport in Britain than rugby?
Or is it because we're all self-selecting football fans that have more important things to worry about in the winter than egg-chasing.....but there's time for a bit of cricket in the summer?

Just idle wondering......

…..personally, I've occasionally enjoyed watching the odd game of rugby, but it's never gripped me as a sport, and I think I'd struggle to name three members of the current England team (which is a bit of an indictment given that I'm a sports obsessive, and could probably name more than three members of every League One, NFL, NHL or MLB team without much effort!)

Was thinking that myself earlier in the week. I think there has always been quite a large Football-Cricket fan overlap, you can see that in the flags around grounds when England tour. And the fact most Rugby fans have such a chip on their shoulders when it comes to football doesn't help either.

 

[tonyw]

I should imagine class will have something of an effect.

To an extent......but as much as people might like to think it, the OUFC supporter base is hardly made up of 100% working class heroes.
I mean look around the SSU, and for the most part, that's a pretty squarely middle class audience!

And I would've thought that the posters on here are a pretty fair sample of OUFC supporters as a whole......

So why do we, on the whole, seem to all love cricket and be entirely indifferent to rugby?