Started today with New Zealand trouncing Tonga. The real action begins tomorrow when England face Argentina. Been looking at the fixture list and noticed that there may be anywhere between 0 and 4 matches on a given day. Would prefer if there was a steady stream of games with 2 or 3 every day, no gaps. Also the spacing of the interesting contests could have been better. Consider this sequence: 19 September: no game 20 September: Italy v Russia 21 September: Tonga v Japan 22 September: South Africa v Namibia 23 September: Australia v United States That's 5 consecutive days of meaningless games/no game.
England lucky to get away with a win by beating Argentina 13-9. Argentina led for most of the game and could have won if they hadn't missed so many penalties. Johnny Wilkinson missed 6 out of 8 penalties, has he lost it? England will need to play much, much better if they are to get anywhere in this tournament. Scotland scored 2 late tries to beat Romania 34-24. Romania must be considered a possibility to be included in an expanded 6 Nations, wouldn't mind seeing a two-tier European League with promotion/relegation, Georgia, Russia and others could be included. France won comfortably against Japan as did Fiji against Namibia.
Three late tries led to a flattering scoreline for France......... England will improve and would of won by a larger margin had Wilkinson had his kicking boots on. As they say this is tournament rugby and an ugly win is a win...........
Wilkinson was dire. If he can't even kick anymore, what's he doing in there. Nobody will ever convince me that Flood is an int'l No.10, and Cipriani looks like he's been cast into the wilderness. Maybe it's time to give young Farrell of Sarries a try??
Do you watch rugby regularly? Wilko was one of our best players with ball in hand today. His kicking was off yes but that doesn't make his game dire. Our problem for most of the game was playing our ordinary players in front of better. We were second best in the forwards for most of the game today. Cipriani has moved to Melbourne so sent himself to the wilderness. The **** needs to grow up! Give Farrell an extra year in the Aviva and I hope he will be ready. There is also Ford who plays for Leicester.
if they had landed all there kicks it whould have been England 28 -27 Argentina but if argentina had put the ball into touch i think they could have got a try at some point
Wales were so unlucky Could and maybe should have won. One momentary lapse in concentration cost us and now we have to play Samoa :L Doubt that we are going to have many players left IF we get out of our group. So so proud but gutted as well!
I'm getting on a bit, now. But, I played the game for many years, and No.10 was my position. I've never been a massive Wilko fan - in that position. To me he's better at centre. At outside half, he's too predictable and one- paced to be considered as a top No.10
Like many sporting events, I'm sure TV has had a say and The RUWC has placed the fixtures where it suits them,
That was horribly tense but England came through a difficult game to beat Scotland and now face France in the quarter-finals, France having lost to Tonga. The momentum is with England so hopefully we'll get through to the semis.
Flood has got to start against France. He can't kick much worse than Johnny did today, and Moody/Tindall don't have the guts to overrule Wilkinson when he makes bad penalty decisions. © The Hornet's Nest.
Ok, Johny missed a few by the width of the ball, but you don't kick such an exceptional player off the team for one disappointing kicking performance. The rest of his game was outstanding. Unfortunately his injury may make the debate superfluous.
This man speaks sense. I would like to see Flood at outside centre. Wilko was brilliant today apart from the kicking. His defence was exceptional.
What with injuries hitting most sides ! This Tournament is a lot more open than some may think! A lot more tension and excitement to come
