RWC 2015

[Kermit power]

Slaav said:

I was also explaining to SLaavette in the car this morning that 7s tournaments the world over always seem to have Plate and even Shield comps running alongside the main cup matches - keeps everybody happy and still involved right up to near the end of the competition - and keeps spectators awake whilst the poor sods recover off the pitches.

I really don't see why we couldn't do similar in the RWC!

Laudable though the idea is, the big difference comes in the length of the game. There's very little stoppage time in a Sevens game, so whilst it takes the best part of 2 hours to get through a modern day 15 a side game, you can get through 5 or 6 games of Sevens in the same time.

If you go to one of the big Sevens tournaments, the minnows matches will generally have a small number of each country's supporters getting really excited whilst everyone else trundles off to get the beers in or snoozes in the sun in the stands, waiting for the big hitters to take to the field.

This means that you can have more minnows, and more progression for them within a tournament, as you've still got the overall crowd numbers packing out the stadium to make it viable. In the full game, you can't merge them into a single event, so you'd be reliant on enough people wanting to buy tickets to fill full-sized venues in the later stages, and you'd also need to have access to more venues for longer, which isn't necessarily going to be easy to arrange.

[CR6ZZ]

Zyp said:

Tuilagi appears to be pushing off from that leg hence the knee is a bit higher.

Yes - that's the way I would interpret it as well.

[Tam_Mullen]

CR6ZZ said:

Zyp said:

Tuilagi appears to be pushing off from that leg hence the knee is a bit higher.

Yes - that's the way I would interpret it as well.

I disagree and agree with the chap who says it was deliberate, I'm sure we have all watched it over and over but my interpretation (and I thought this when I first saw it) was that it was a change to the stride pattern he had been taking. Yes the tacklers body position wasn't the best and it was a bit desperate looking, but in my view he has taken a long stride with a high knee deliberately.

But then again I think Tom Woods kick on Williams should have been looked at too.

[DocJock]

When you're going into contact, of course you alter your stride.

You should always take contact in the way that's most advantageous to you rather than your opponent.

If Tuilagi hadn't altered his stride he'd simply have tripped over the defender.

[0000]

DocJock said:

When you're going into contact, of course you alter your stride.

Yep and you never quite know where the tackler's going to stick his head. I think it looks worse too because the timing was perfect to clatter the guy - not convinced he could've managed that a second time no matter how he tried.

5 weeks seems OTT, personally.

[irocfan]

aaaaand it looks like JJ's been a silly lad....

[dom9]

irocfan said:

aaaaand it looks like JJ's been a silly lad....

Oh?

[hornetrider]

dom9 said:

irocfan said:

aaaaand it looks like JJ's been a silly lad....

Oh?

Dipping his wick in some sidebar tinpot z-lister. Totes non-story really, and reeks of something the red tops have been sitting on until England get dumped out of the tournament.

That said, never nice to see some lad doing the dirty on a long-term mrs.

[Crush]

Review of the decision to kick to touch in the England v Wales game

http://youtu.be/CrWiG7dvZIg

Well worth a look, some good insight from the interviewee.

[Slaav]

Kermit power said:

Laudable though the idea is, the big difference comes in the length of the game. There's very little stoppage time in a Sevens game, so whilst it takes the best part of 2 hours to get through a modern day 15 a side game, you can get through 5 or 6 games of Sevens in the same time.

If you go to one of the big Sevens tournaments, the minnows matches will generally have a small number of each country's supporters getting really excited whilst everyone else trundles off to get the beers in or snoozes in the sun in the stands, waiting for the big hitters to take to the field.

This means that you can have more minnows, and more progression for them within a tournament, as you've still got the overall crowd numbers packing out the stadium to make it viable. In the full game, you can't merge them into a single event, so you'd be reliant on enough people wanting to buy tickets to fill full-sized venues in the later stages, and you'd also need to have access to more venues for longer, which isn't necessarily going to be easy to arrange.

Yes agreed but if you take the analogy further, you are simply stretching a one or more likely, a two day 7s tournament out over (eg) 6-8 weeks..... That fits with the concept and timings. The 7s games stretch to 80 mins, two or three games at most each day and rest periods etc.

Plenty of scope for a plate and/or shield comp!

[irocfan]

Crush said:

Review of the decision to kick to touch in the England v Wales game

http://youtu.be/CrWiG7dvZIg

Well worth a look, some good insight from the interviewee.

Chariotectomy

[prand]

Slaav said:

Yes agreed but if you take the analogy further, you are simply stretching a one or more likely, a two day 7s tournament out over (eg) 6-8 weeks..... That fits with the concept and timings. The 7s games stretch to 80 mins, two or three games at most each day and rest periods etc.

Plenty of scope for a plate and/or shield comp!

Tell you what though, even though I'd like this to happen in the RWC, I remember playing in 7s competitions and hating the Shield/Plate thing. It was bad enough playing 7s which is seriously knackering, and it hurts twice as bad when you are being thrashed and demoralised by the better opposition in the first rounds. Being being knocked out in the semis of the plate feels rubbish! You end up playing many more games you were expecting to, and you're not able to can't slink off home early. The worst thing is the mad scramble tpo try and find your team when you've already got stuck into some recovery beers with ice on a pulled knee and your team name comes over the tannoy that you are up on pitch next.

[hornetrider]

England v Uruguay tickets available for £2.50 h'apparently. Premiership coaches aren't happy about England either.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/intern...

[Slaav]

prand said:

Tell you what though, even though I'd like this to happen in the RWC, I remember playing in 7s competitions and hating the Shield/Plate thing. It was bad enough playing 7s which is seriously knackering, and it hurts twice as bad when you are being thrashed and demoralised by the better opposition in the first rounds. Being being knocked out in the semis of the plate feels rubbish! You end up playing many more games you were expecting to, and you're not able to can't slink off home early. The worst thing is the mad scramble tpo try and find your team when you've already got stuck into some recovery beers with ice on a pulled knee and your team name comes over the tannoy that you are up on pitch next.

Don't get me wrong, as a 6/8, I used to have a love/hate relationship with 7s. Playing 'L/H' was comedy gold though as we simply lifted and pushed the bu66ers off our ball and if I got it right, we could secure their ball more often than not as well; unless they threw the ball at the hooker's feet and then it often became 50/50 if they weren't penalised. Absolutely knackering though. A truly vile game made up by fitness coaches to remind everybody of their own mortality.... and those 8 beers from the night before

If one were to look at the likes of Namibia, Georgia, USA and others, I am sure they would love a plate tournament or similar now? After all, the effort and admin to get to the RWC in the first place must be massive.

You are correct though, getting it wrong and fining out you are on next with a beer in your hand isn't the best way to enjoy a day out

Back on topic though, I am at Twickenham tomorrow for Wales/Aus and also at Cardiff on Sunday for that decider also!!!!!

[London424]

hornetrider said:

England v Uruguay tickets available for £2.50 h'apparently. Premiership coaches aren't happy about England either.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/intern...

fk me there's some pointless moaning in that article. I'd be quite embarassed to have been quoted saying most of that stuff.

[a311]

Looking forward to the deciders between France and Ireland and Australia and Wales. Also the who get through between Japan and Scotland, Samoa haven't played well at all but are more than capable of turning the Scots over.

I'll watch the England team but Lancaster and his team are all weapons grade bell ends. Can't believe some of the names for the starting XV.

Lets reward daddy's boy Fazzlet with a start at #12 after getting sent off last week.

Lets start Cole who's been as ineffective as anyone else in this tournament.

Leave Parling in and Kruis warming the bench again. Same for Youngs starting at Hooker for Jamie George who at least is on the bench. FFS just reward those you haven't already with a start.

Can't wait to see the back these clowns.

I see England have a 3 match tour of Australia next June, that could be interested-wonder what the squad and coaching staff will look like by then?!

[JB!]

Slaav said:

prand said:

Tell you what though, even though I'd like this to happen in the RWC, I remember playing in 7s competitions and hating the Shield/Plate thing. It was bad enough playing 7s which is seriously knackering, and it hurts twice as bad when you are being thrashed and demoralised by the better opposition in the first rounds. Being being knocked out in the semis of the plate feels rubbish! You end up playing many more games you were expecting to, and you're not able to can't slink off home early. The worst thing is the mad scramble tpo try and find your team when you've already got stuck into some recovery beers with ice on a pulled knee and your team name comes over the tannoy that you are up on pitch next.

Don't get me wrong, as a 6/8, I used to have a love/hate relationship with 7s. Playing 'L/H' was comedy gold though as we simply lifted and pushed the bu66ers off our ball and if I got it right, we could secure their ball more often than not as well; unless they threw the ball at the hooker's feet and then it often became 50/50 if they weren't penalised. Absolutely knackering though. A truly vile game made up by fitness coaches to remind everybody of their own mortality.... and those 8 beers from the night before

If one were to look at the likes of Namibia, Georgia, USA and others, I am sure they would love a plate tournament or similar now? After all, the effort and admin to get to the RWC in the first place must be massive.

You are correct though, getting it wrong and fining out you are on next with a beer in your hand isn't the best way to enjoy a day out

Back on topic though, I am at Twickenham tomorrow for Wales/Aus and also at Cardiff on Sunday for that decider also!!!!!

Totally with you, a 2nd tier tourney would reward those who have made the long trips as amateurs.

[anonymous-user]

said:

England coaches Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree banned for Uruguay game

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/09/engla...

The daft buggers.

[0000]

To be fair they may as well have tried it on, hopeless as it no doubt was. It was an all or nothing game.

[hornetrider]

Symbolica said:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/09/engla...

The daft buggers.

England's World Cup of Shame

Oh dear how sad never mind

In other news. ABs v Tonga on now