Rugby World Cup 2015

[GeraintElberion]

Apparently,the world's third largest sporting contest behind the Olympics and the football world cup.

There's a chance this will just be me and 8th Dwarf chatting away again. Which is always fun :D

Anyway, neat video of the last one to get you in the mood.

[GeraintElberion]

Greatest surprise victory in RWC history
Japan beat South Africa!

A lot of good games so far.

[Bluenose]

Argentina had a good old go against New Zealand too. Though that's less of a surprise. NZ could easily have ended with fourteen, Conrad Smith could/should have picked up a second yellow card in the second half.

Congratulations to Japan on the biggest shock in RWC history, beating even the day Wales weren't even able to beat part of Samoa, or Argentina's third place including two defeats of France. Also to Georgia, who also beat a higher ranked side, and who gained enough points doing so that they're now above Italy in the world rankings.

[GeraintElberion]

I have to give kudos to the organisers.

They have created competition within the competition by making a third-place in the group stages grant automatic qualification for the next one.

A huge incentive for minnows, not only to beat one and other but also to compete and keep the score down against bigger sides.

best tries so far First one is for USA.

[Bluenose]

So today we've got:

Scotland vs Japan at Kingsholm, just down the road from where I work. I could go if it wasn't an afternoon game. While I don't think Scotland are a better team than South Africa, I think their game style would be less disrupted by the tactics the Japanese employed against SA. I also wonder how well Japan will have recovered physically after playing on Saturday. Scotland to win after a tight first half but with Japan tiring in the last quarter.

Australia vs Fiji. Fiji gave England a harder game than I expected, but they seem to lack a reliable goal kicker and I think Australia are more likely to punish loose play than England. Australia to win, probably quite convincingly.

France vs Romania. France weren't good against Italy and still won by a big margin. They'll win this, but probably not by as large a margin as people expect.

[grimdog73]

best part of the rugby world cup...watching New Zealand do the Haka....i always get excited when I see the Kiwis do it.

[aeglos]

it is the first rugby world cup with good tv coverage here in Germany

I will watch as much as I can,

Rugby is a great game

[aeglos]

and by chamce I will spend the next weekend in London on a boys trip with co-workers

we will be in London while England plays Australia there

[aeglos]

I have even been in Twickenham Stadium - Iron Maiden played there in 2008

[aeglos]

Australia vs Fidji on TV

..must watch as much as possible before wife complains.....

[GeraintElberion]

It's a shame that Japan couldn't do it again. Well beaten by Scotland.
highlights

That's part of the unseeded nations' problem: a four day turnaround between games against the top two seeds in their group.

Romania kept parity with France for half an hour but have fallen behind now. The once-Mighty Oaks :(

[Bluenose]

I think it'll be interesting to see how some of the teams that played today do if they have games at the week - Australia have Uruguay, Romania have Ireland, and Scotland have the USA. Australia should have too much for Uruguay regardless, Romania were never likely to push Ireland, but Scotland's self proclaimed fitness might be a bit tested late in their match.

Today, New Zealand against Namibia. I don't think this is going to be one of those David against Goliath moments.

[GeraintElberion]

Namibia did very respectably, considering their status.

They were utterly delighted to get a try.

[Bluenose]

It's been a good tournament that way, even the smallest of the "minnows" have been able to take a few bites out of the "sharks". The development program, even giving more to the Tier-1 nations as it does, appears to have helped the lower ranked sides close the gap.

Today, Argentina vs Georgia. I don't think Georgia have any choice but to take on Argentina in the pack. Argentina will win, but the margin won't be large.

[Aranna]

GeraintElberion wrote:

Apparently,the world's third largest sporting contest behind the Olympics and the football world cup.

There's a chance this will just be me and 8th Dwarf chatting away again. Which is always fun :D

Anyway, neat video of the last one to get you in the mood.

Odd I had never realized anyone outside the UK actually played or watched this... I am still uncertain what the sport even is. I think the only time I ever heard a reference to it was in regards to English college sports.

[Bluenose]

Aranna wrote:

GeraintElberion wrote:

Apparently,the world's third largest sporting contest behind the Olympics and the football world cup.

There's a chance this will just be me and 8th Dwarf chatting away again. Which is always fun :D

Anyway, neat video of the last one to get you in the mood.

Odd I had never realized anyone outside the UK actually played or watched this... I am still uncertain what the sport even is. I think the only time I ever heard a reference to it was in regards to English college sports.

Outside of football, which is of course far out in a class of it's own, it's the most popular team sport in the world. You'll probably have a chance ot catch some of it next year, because their's going to be a Rugby 7s tournament at the Rio Olympics. I'd suggest that's a better introduction for a new viewer than the world cup. But as for being significant outside the UK, it's played in a surprising number of countries and in a few - most prominently New Zealand - it's enormously significant as a game.

As for today's games, I was surprised how good an effort Canada made. A little bit better in attack and they'd have beaten Italy, though to be fair I think Italy are in terrible form. And Samoa were exceptionally disappointing against South Africa, after that display I expect Japan to beat Samoa and be in with a chance of qualifying for the next round, though it'll probably depend on points difference in the end. With England vs Wales about to start, I think England have too much against this Welsh team with the injuries they've picked up, but it's not going to be easy and the England centre pairing is a huge gamble that won't be good enough later in the tournament.

[Aranna]

3rd largest sporting contest? What do you mean by that? Largest in what way? I thought you meant fans... but an online search clearly disproved that. Largest in terms of time to complete it? Is that it? Cause that would make sense The only two longer ones are maybe the Olympics and World Cup Soccer (football everywhere else)(And why did we make a new sport and call it the same as an old sport anyway, too confusing).

I might watch some rugby just to see what it is...

[GeraintElberion]

Bluenose wrote:

after that display I expect Japan to beat Samoa and be in with a chance of qualifying for the next round, though it'll probably depend on points difference in the end.

They've got a different system.

In the event of a tie, the winner will be the one who beat the other.

Points difference will only come in if they drew their match, or if it was a weird three-way tie.

[GeraintElberion]

Aranna wrote:

3rd largest sporting contest? What do you mean by that? Largest in what way? I thought you meant fans... but an online search clearly disproved that. Largest in terms of time to complete it? Is that it? Cause that would make sense The only two longer ones are maybe the Olympics and World Cup Soccer (football everywhere else)(And why did we make a new sport and call it the same as an old sport anyway, too confusing).

I might watch some rugby just to see what it is...

There are about eight different events which all claim to be the third largest. Behind the football World Cup and the Olympics it all gets a bit fuzzy.

You can watch all of the RWC games in full on youtube. Or, for highlights find the channel for World Rugby (the game's governing body).

[Bluenose]

GeraintElberion wrote:

Bluenose wrote:

after that display I expect Japan to beat Samoa and be in with a chance of qualifying for the next round, though it'll probably depend on points difference in the end.

They've got a different system.

In the event of a tie, the winner will be the one who beat the other.

Points difference will only come in if they drew their match, or if it was a weird three-way tie.

It's not that unlikely. Japan beat South Africa, Scotland beat Japan, South Africa beat Scotland. Now any of them might come unstuck against USA or Samoa, Japan are more likely to do that, but if they don't then the tie is right there.

[Bluenose]

Well, that's England out before the first round is complete. I wonder if they're the most disappointing team at the competition, though there's some competition there too - hi Samoa, Italy - and how long Lancaster will keep his job?

[GeraintElberion]

Press have knives out for Lancaster. I think he's doomed.

There are worse sides than England who will qualify for the quarter finals (Scotland) but England have suffered from such a tough group.

As a Welshman, I'm glad we have qualified with a game remaining.

I also thought Australia looked very good.

[Bluenose]

I rather fancy Wales for the semi-final right now. South Africa are improving but there's too many players coming back from injury who aren't quite in top form. Wales, even with their back line injuries, could well have too much for them. And Scotland were hugely flattered by the result against Japan, and look like the side that battles for the wooden spoon in the 6N. Either of those games are winnable. I can't see Scotland getting further than the QF, or Ireland regardless of whether they get New Zealand or Argentina.