RWC 2019

[irocfan]

What a score by Cheslin Kolbe!

[irocfan]

Oh dear - what were they thinking? Mind you seeing the mess round #1's eyes t the end of the 1st half I do wonder if there was payback?

[irocfan]

Kermit power said:

Most Unions have similar restrictions. It's only the ones with a really small domestic game such as Scotland with only two professional teams who don't.

Residency rules have already been changed. Up to 5 years after this tournament.

Shame it wasn't in place to stop Ben Te'o

[irocfan]

Kermit power said:

irocfan said:

Kermit power said:

Most Unions have similar restrictions. It's only the ones with a really small domestic game such as Scotland with only two professional teams who don't.

Residency rules have already been changed. Up to 5 years after this tournament.

Shame it wasn't in place to stop Ben Te'o

That wouldn't have made a difference in his case. Samoan father, English mother.

Ahhh - fair enough then.

As an aside I do wonder what his tiff with mr angry was about

[irocfan]

Argentina in big trouble now.

[irocfan]

OF seems to have left his kicking boots at home, so much for me having him as leading scorer RWC2019 (should've gone for my #2 choice of Richie Moanga).

A stolid performance - hope that the 1st 40 has worn out the Argies

[irocfan]

paua said:

See David Campese or various military parades in Red Square from the Breznev era. Campese is your real answer in this context.

[irocfan]

Got to be honest I'm not "feeling" the England performance. I know that Argentina are no mugs but I can't help thinking that NZ/SA would've made hay against 14 man Argentina

[irocfan]

Joey Ramone said:

It's like watching fking paint dry.

As for why they keep box kicking? Because that's Eddie's game plan against a 15 man Argentina. And God forbid the players be allowed to use your initiative and adapt when the opposition lose a man. In fact I don't even think they're capable of using their initiative any more.

Yet another reason why Cips was left at home (although given how England have trained, prepared and played for the last 4 years it was, probably, the correct call).

[irocfan]

Derek Smith said:

Jasey_ said:

irocfan said:

Got to be honest I'm not "feeling" the England performance. I know that Argentina are no mugs but I can't help thinking that NZ/SA would've made hay against 14 man Argentina

Feels like they just want to get through without any injuries.

My assumption as well. There was the bonus point try, and then they decided to take things easy. I can't say I blame them. It might even have been an instruction from above.

The red card killed the match as a spectacle, but it was well deserved. He was targeted early on with a late tackle (I know complaining about Farrell being late tackled seems to be a definition of ironic) and there's no doubt in my mind that the tackle was meant, it was planned, and was seen by Argentina as an essential. The England team did all it needed to do, so 10 out of 10 there.

I thought Itoje was tremendous. He was everywhere, dominating the line out (despite some iffy throw ins), defending and hurting others in the rucks and mauls, stripping the ball, and tackling - and what tackling - all over the field. Not only that, I can't think of a single penalty awarded against him.

The laws are the laws. The act was deliberate. A red card without doubt. It was a shame from a spectator's point of view, but right. England played impeccably, not giving anyone an excuse for a card (at least after the red card), getting the bonus point and no injuries.

Naff game at times though. There was 25 mins in the second half where nothing happened, other than I left the room to relieve myself and a friend even made me a cup of tea. Both of us asked what we missed and got shrugs of shoulders.

Got to be honest here I disagree with you. I sort of see your point about playing within yourself but it is something that you rarely see top teams do (NZ never?). Push on and punish, don't doze off for 30 minutes (similar situation for this years Calcutta cup, switch off mentally and nearly fking lose!).

WRT giving no excuse for a card for England - I'd suggest that Manu was quite lucky not to be on the naughty step for his mis-timed tackle.

I'll say again I can't see that in a similar situation that NZ wouldn't have put an extra 20 on there and that like of killer/brutal mentality both surprises me (considering some of the players we have) and worries me

[irocfan]

Kermit power said:

And let's not forget... Owen Farrell is 6'2"!

That shocked me when I found that out a while back. Seem to remember that 'back in the day' Jean Patrick Lescaboura was considered a tall fly half - and he was only just over 6

[irocfan]

DocJock said:

Tackling was almost always done below the waist before the (Western) Samoans appeared on the scene in the 80's.

I'm sure current players are just as capable of doing that.

You sure about your tackle (oooer) viewpoint? I seem to recall calls of "take his head off" (and similar) from my days playing

[irocfan]

Jasey_ said:

11 is 2 more than 9

Let's be honest though not even the welsh could manage a loss to Uruguay

[irocfan]

schmalex said:

Not sure Scotland need the help of a typhoon. They don’t stand a chance against a fully fit Japan team

I dunno - whilst I would love to see Japan in the next round I can see the sweaties tucking them up

[irocfan]

What a start!!

[irocfan]

I think Wales will view this as a get out of jail free card tbh. Silly little errors are Fiji's biggest issue - they could be out of sight by now

[irocfan]

GravelBen said:

How on earth was that a penalty to Wales? Welsh player tackles Fijian player late after Fijian loses the ball but doesn't take him down, Fijian rolls out of the tackle to tackle the Welsh player who now has the ball, and gets penalised for 'tackling the player while on the ground' even though he wasn't on the ground?

Glad I wasn't the only one puzzled there

[irocfan]

Kermit power said:

irocfan said:

GravelBen said:

How on earth was that a penalty to Wales? Welsh player tackles Fijian player late after Fijian loses the ball but doesn't take him down, Fijian rolls out of the tackle to tackle the Welsh player who now has the ball, and gets penalised for 'tackling the player while on the ground' even though he wasn't on the ground?

Glad I wasn't the only one puzzled there

I wondered exactly the same thing. I thought the Fijian player had pulled off a miracle to turn attack into defence so quickly, then he got pinged for it!

If he'd actually been on the deck, then fair enough, but he wasn't!

Not sure I've even seen someone pinged for tackling whildt on the ground, not even heard of it.

[irocfan]

Jasey_ said:

Usaul Daily Mail warnings apply but looks like Eng v France is OFF !!!!!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/artic...

That's massively worrying for the sweaties!

Edited by irocfan on Wednesday 9th October 16:38

[irocfan]

Not looked at the tables but if the sweaties beat the ninjas by a point and the Ireland match is called off (sudden typhoon course change) - do Ireland then go home in 3rd?