Rugby World Cup 2023

[Tri-Ungulate]

Get psyched!

If you have a VPN, you can get free live streaming from ITV.

Could finally be Les Bleus year at home. AB not looking as dominant this time around - we'll see a preview next Friday.

Ireland also looking stellar, we'll have to wait until the 23rd to see how they do against the Saffers .

[warthog]

Peacock has coverage as well I think.

I used a VPN and watched ITV last time.

It is Dupont and Toulouse vs the world.

[warthog]

Initial pick- I am going with IRELAND. They were so good last time.
France will probably win it, and I am fine with rooting for them as well, but I just have a feeling this is Ireland's year.

France NZ will kick things off at 11, for sure.

[Tri-Ungulate]

Hate to admit I've historically been a frontrunner AB fan, but mostly because Lomu was my first rugby hero. But I've always liked Les Bleus - when they show up and actually give a shit, they can be amazing -- otherwise meh. They're a frustrating team to root for, kinda like their football counterparts were until 1998, which notably was also hosted in France. I'm picking them to finally hoist the Webb Ellis this year.

Ireland is plucky and deserving, gotta like them too.

[Tri-Ungulate]

Great match.

[dcpnz]

Naturally given my user name I’m pretty disappointed in that result but les bleu earned that one. They were much better at the breakdown, caused turnovers and ABs made too many errors.

[Tri-Ungulate]

ABs looked uncharacteristically sloppy, not at all like them. Or maybe Les Bleus we’re just taking advantage of every seam.

[warthog]

That was officially the only good matchup so far. The rest have been slaughters.
Ireland looks scary, but tough to tell in that last match. Not really a fair fight at all.

[Tri-Ungulate]

The Fiji-Wales game was pretty stellar, Wales were incredibly lucky to get out of that alive, and Fiji proving they're the dark horse candidates after today.

Could the Wallabies not make it out of the pool?

[warthog]

I would not want to face Fiji. They are for real.

[WWCD]

Agreed. I was texting with some ex teammates while watching. I couldn’t wrap my head around their tight-head being the least intimidating guy out there.
Even their 9 is a beast of a man.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[warthog]

I am not sure why they decided to pull Kuruvoli. He couldn't miss. His replacement... not so much.
I am assuming there was injury worries. He was limping a little bit before they pulled him.
https://www.ultimaterugby.com/simione-kuruvoli

For those that missed it. Here are some of their highlight reels. Just some scary athletes.

[Tri-Ungulate]

That was a tight match.

[icecutknee436]

I’m pretty new to rugby and was watching the game with a South African so I was probably pretty biased.

Other than their lack of kicking I felt like South Africa was either undisciplined or the ref was calling it slightly for Ireland (but that is mainly from the guy sitting next to me)


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[dcpnz]

I thought Ireland was very effective at the breakdown and that showed in the turnovers that were critical in that game
BUT getting away with being a half a step offside at the ruck all game long massively increases pressure on the first and second ball carrier and directly leads to that tackle effectiveness.

TMO official needs to review forward passes throughout the game not just on scoring sequences too!

[WWCD]

I actually thought SA outplayed Ireland, but was at a bar and drinking, so….


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[dcpnz]

Just watched the Aussie-Wales game. Bloody hell. Australia threw everything at them and the Welsh stood firm in defense and then racked up the points with incredible efficiency.
But I’m so pissed off that the Welsh were leading by 26 points with 10 minutes to go and take an easy drop goal. WTF. Shit like that is why everyone hates the English - don’t go there Wales!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[Tri-Ungulate]

I actually thought SA outplayed Ireland, but was at a bar and drinking, so….

Agree, Saffers had the upper hand much of the match, but you can't leave 11 points on the table (some of them chip shots) in such a tight game.

Just watched the Aussie-Wales game. Bloody hell. Australia threw everything at them and the Welsh stood firm in defense and then racked up the points with incredible efficiency.
But I’m so pissed off that the Welsh were leading by 26 points with 10 minutes to go and take an easy drop goal. WTF. Shit like that is why everyone hates the English - don’t go there Wales!gbwls

LOL you're right, that was a total Wilkenson move; Welsh just faffing around not progressing and Wallabies defense not conceding a penalty like they were before, so Anscombe just pops it in nonchalantly.

[warthog]

In other news, Antoine Dupont broke his face in the Namibia match, and they are still not ruling him out for the semis.
Cue the memes about Lebron...

[ExPowderSnob]

ABs looked uncharacteristically sloppy, not at all like them. Or maybe Les Bleus we’re just taking advantage of every seam.

Sloppy, and looked tired,,, like they fell off their conditioning routines..

The new generation just doesn't have the same talent as Carter, McCaw or Lomu

[warthog]

If DuPont remains out, I am fully on the IRE bandwagon. Unless Fiji wants to make things interesting. I would love to watch those guys kick some ass.
I think FRA needs DuPont to close the deal. He is just too good. Rugby is such a funny game. You see all these giant humans, but then the little brick shithouse is the difference maker. Oh, and the good hair crew at the wing.

[Tri-Ungulate]

Re: Wallabies collapse - I've been reading in some rugby forums how Union is dying out in Aus. Seems all the young strapping lads are either going to League or Aussie roolz FB, and that none of the up-and-coming GenZ and beyond kids even bother with hoity-toity Union anymore. Reading similar vibes even from the birthplace of rugby, Engerlund, where League is becoming more popular than Union due to perceived snootiness of latter vs. former.

The new generation just doesn't have the same talent as Carter, McCaw or Lomu

Even the AB legacy doesn't seem to be immune - last time I was in Auckland, we stayed with some local friends, including some Maori types. When I brought up rugby, they seemed more enthusiastic about their local League teams, and scoffed at the set-pieces and endless penalties of Union they thought were so dead boring.

[dcpnz]

^^ well the games have kind of converged not in a good way IMHO.
Defense in union these days seems to consist of spreading out in a line across the field, take away any attacking space, encroaching close to or narrowly offside and moving forward in unison. Kind of like league back when I was a young fella.
So now offense consists of one or two passes then ball carrier smashing into said line, recycling thru ruck and repeat , maybe there’s an occasional inside shoulder pass (usually passed forward), maybe an occasional kick behind the line.
Its not exciting to watch and I feel like union is heading toward crisis, skill play is not rewarded cos there’s no space and is too risky, rolling mauls are boring as hell. The ruling bodies seem to recognize this too since the 50-22 role was developed to encourage a couple of players to stay deep and not join defensive line.

[UkBCyeti]

Finally! I was wondering if there were no other Rugby fans on this forum!
Wales played a great game against Australia. Looking good defensively, and taking chances on attack a lot better. Anscombe drop goal just the scoreboard pressure the AB's, Ireland and the Saffas are renowned for,
Fiji look the most dangerous team right now. Ireland the most stifling.
QF and SF predictions?

[WWCD]

This Fiji Portugal match is the best one I’ve watched all tourney.
I was all in on Fiji as the fun tournament underdog going forward, but these Portuguese have me cheering for them today.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums