Rugby World Cup 2023

[Mr Magooagain]

Pick my pal up from the airport tonight in France then we will trickle down to Bordeaux in the morning.
He’s an England supporter! He’s got to watch the Argentina game in a fanzone full of Paddy’s and Taffs!

Ireland and Wales supporters in the same town for a long weekend! Could be messy!

Sleeping rough in my Toyota pickup!

[basherX]

My mate and I are on the 10.30ish train from Folkestone on Friday. Breaking the journey halfway down and then arrive in Marseille late afternoon Saturday to meet up with another mate and his boys who are taking a plane and train approach.

Should be a good road trip.

On the way back on the 18th we’re just missioning it from Nice to Dieppe and then overnight ferry. If England have pulled a shocker in both games that could be a bit dreary.

[anonymous-user]

DodgyGeezer said:

Allegedly the Eng 15 has been leaked and it absolutely amazing! Really looking forward to th.... nope, can't do. Can't keep a straight face. The argies are going to pump us like a cheap we



https://www.ruck.co.uk/leaked-england-team-more-of...

To be fair, on paper that’s not a bad side.

To be even fairer still, England’s performances on the pitch bear no relation to what the side should be capable of on paper.

So that’s just great!

[basherX]

Pre-tournament predictions for the winners?

Going in there are still several teams you could justifiably say which is a great position to be in.

For me, head says South Africa and heart says France.

[MontyPythonX]

basherX said:

Pre-tournament predictions for the winners?

Going in there are still several teams you could justifiably say which is a great position to be in.

For me, head says South Africa and heart says France.

I just got Namibia in the work sweepstake (that I've organised!!) so I'm all in for an underdog win!

[DodgyGeezer]

I hope Ireland go further than they have until now The Rugby romantic in me wants to see the French win - the pragmatist fears it'll be the Saffas

[Mr Magooagain]

Ireland all the way.
Possible Injuries will have a huge effect to the teams after the pool games.
Fridays game is massive!

[DodgyGeezer]

Caleb Muntz (Fiji 10) is out of the tournament, injured in a non-contact session

[basherX]

Mr Magooagain said:

Fridays game is massive!

I’ve been looking forward to that game since it was announced.

[epom]

Heart - Ireland (please please don’t flop again) Head - South Africa.

[a311]

DodgyGeezer said:

Caleb Muntz (Fiji 10) is out of the tournament, injured in a non-contact session

That's gutting for the Fijians. He was the steady can play the percentages and kick well from hand and the tee 10 that they were waiting for.

I'm getting to see the England Japan game, I'd tried to get other games and try to stay out there for a week unsuccessfully but the way England are playing glad I didn't!

As a fan with no expectations I'm just going to really enjoy the tournament as a whole.

NX Vs Fra will be a good one both have injuries in similar positions. Got to fancy France at home, but NZ have never lost an opening (or any?) pool game.

Game of the weekend for me is Sco Vs SA I fancied Scotland for this one then the SA demolition of NZ happened.

England I'm not expecting them to win, what they do have in their favour is that Argentina haven't really played since the Rugby Championship so mnay be caught cold.

[anonymous-user]

A mate was telling me last night that Sam Warburton’s predictions for the semis are Eng v Fra and Ire v Arg.

Which would be a bit of a turn up!

[a311]

BlackWidow13 said:

A mate was telling me last night that Sam Warburton’s predictions for the semis are Eng v Fra and Ire v Arg.

Which would be a bit of a turn up!

It would be. Group A is a funny one as it doesn't really make much difference in the grand scheme of things win or loose, it would be a huge upset for NZ or France to loose to Italy, although Italy have at least beaten the latter before. Uruguay and Namibia are gimmies, unlike the other groups where in group B Tonga could bloody some noses, there's only Romania as a gimme, likewise Group D with Chile.

Group C is going to be really interesting. I can't see Georgia qualifying but they could claim scalp or two.

All in all its nice to be sat not having to see who finishes first/second out of the seeded teams to determine the knock outs, most Open WC in terms of the groups.

[ooo000ooo]

epom said:

Heart - Ireland (please please don’t flop again) Head - South Africa.

Heart - Ireland but i expect them to get knocked out in the quarter or semi finals,
France V South Africa for the final
France to win

[nellystew]

Wales team for Fiji on Sunday

15. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 85 caps)
14. Louis Rees Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 27 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys / Gweilch – 114 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 28 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 50 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (RC Toulonnais – 109 caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 69 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 22 caps)
2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 34 caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby – 72 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 25 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys / Gweilch – 47 caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 39 caps)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys / Gweilch – 11 caps) captain
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 100 caps)

Replacements

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons / Dreigiau – 43 caps)
17. Corey Domachowski ( Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)
18. Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 51 caps)
19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 7 caps)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerl?r – 10 caps)
21. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby/ Caerdydd – 48 caps)
22. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 4 caps)
23. Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 9 caps)

Pretty much our strongest team, though not sure about starting Toby for his first (oops, second) game in what seems ages.

Edited by nellystew on Thursday 7th September 15:01

[fat80b]

nellystew said:

Wales team for Fiji on Sunday
Pretty much our strongest team, though not sure about starting Toby for his first (oops, second) game in what seems ages.

Yes, that looks pretty good to me. Here's hoping for the right result on Sunday now that I have my match tickets in my Apple Wallet!

In terms of my own personal challenges - I discovered on Tuesday that my buddy had booked tickets to Bordeaux that arrived in the middle of the IRE game despite the fact that we have tickets for the IRE game ( as a warm up to SUnday's main event).

So it's now a game of planes, trains, and automobiles in order to get to Bordeaux in time for kick off. with a new flight heading out tomorrow to La Rochelle, a train to Bordeaux and an extra hotel night in our future.

One thing I did discover though - Folks, if you want tickets for the matches, there are lots still available, and hotels, flights, and trains can all be found to get you there. No excuse, just do it......

[Jordie Barretts sock]

As I posted in the General rugby thread, I will either be very noisy or very quiet tomorrow evening.

[basherX]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

As I posted in the General rugby thread, I will either be very noisy or very quiet tomorrow evening.

On a scale of 1-10 how confident are you?

[Jordie Barretts sock]

basherX said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

As I posted in the General rugby thread, I will either be very noisy or very quiet tomorrow evening.

On a scale of 1-10 how confident are you?

Honestly?

Heart says we'll win well. Head isn't quite so sure but thinks we will win. If I give it more than a moment's thought (which I'm not comfortable with ) then I am 60/40 we will win but by a lot or a little I don't know.

Depends who turns up. If we turn up like we did against the Saffies at Head Office then we're in trouble. If we turn up like we did in Auckland, we'll be fine. A lot also depends on France. If nerves get to them, they'll lose heavily.

[biggbn]

Once we go out, my alligances switch to the Springboks, always been my second international team. Go boks!!