Rugby World Plate

[shebeen]

they have worked themselves into a bit of a dead end. Drop Farrell? that would be hard. Drop Mitchell and Start Care and Smith? I dunno. SB has left himself little options

Meanwhile this on rugbypass -- which, is of course, owned by World Rugby, so what do we make of it?

In defence of Steve Borthwick

It hasn't been pretty, it hasn't won England a new army of fans and it won't win them plaudits from pundits but it could win a World Cup

www.rugbypass.com

apologies to english followers, but I don't think it matters much for this world cup. The top 4 teams are on another level and the final is heading for a showdown between 2 teams from pool A and B. Tough QF and easy semifinals expected to get there.

 

[crossref]

apologies to english followers, but I don't think it matters much for this world cup. The top 4 teams are on another level

It matters to us !

 

[didds]

@didds When the draw was made in 2020 - Wales were ranked 4th, not 9th.
That’s why they were seeded top in a pool.
Scotland were 9th- that’s why they ended up with 2 top teams in their pool.

I know.

Thats the whole point.

 

[didds]

I guess the only consolation is they had the wobble now and also have a reminder of what Fiji (barring a very unlikely thrashing by Portugal) are going to throw at them. Will be interesting to see the changes they make on the pitch for both the team sheet and the tactics employed.

not a thrashing... but that didnt age well... ;-)

 

[shebeen]

It matters to us !

so it should! Interestingly all 4 QFs are north v south, but it will be an incredible surprise if the final is not from the bottom half of this graphic.

 

[Phil E]

I predict England and France to go through.
They then play each other on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Kismet.

 

[Volun-selected]

I predict England and France to go through.
They then play each other on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Kismet.

Hopefully England aren’t led by someone playing like they only have one arm and sight in only one eye…

 

[Phil E]

Hopefully England aren’t led by someone playing like they only have one arm and sight in only one eye…

It worked in the past

 

[tim White]

Were the Spanish involved at some point?

 

[Phil E]

Were the Spanish involved at some point?

Yes but it didn't help

 

[SimonSmith]

Were the Spanish involved at some point?

A surprising question.

No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

 

[shebeen]

Just going to put it out there, that a hybrid 2 tier competition would be great.

We could currently be holding the tier2 repechage/semifinals on today/thurs with a final next week thurs.
I think it would get decent eyeballs and grow the game more than the 90+ 0 blowouts.

 

[crossref]

meanwhile - let's have a look about RWC are doing to maintain interest in a RWC that is, well, currently a bit boring

..well the QF have definitely not been boring !