Like this tweet courtesy of beeb text.... please log in to view this image Claire Spiller Rowe clespiller I actually thought there was a law in rugby rulebook stating that 'Richie McCaw can get away with anything' #RWC #BBCRUGBY 4:30 p.m. - 20 September 2015
My fault. To my distress my cellars contain no Argentinian Malbec, despite extensive searches, so I'm making do with a Spanish Tempranillo. Very good, but not authentic support. Last quarter, would expect a couple more scores at least from NZ. Very impressed with the Pumas though, and only 3 points in it. oh well, 10 points now.....
Be nice if the Pumas could nick 3 points for a bonus point their play deserves. All Blacks not quite looking immortal...
They should make it to the quarters, and deserve to. I haven't looked at how the draw works because I'd like to see where England finish in the group before worrying about that, but the Pumas will be no pushover.
As the competition continues, it become clearer and clearer what an absolutely, ridiculously tough group England have been put in.
Fiji are apparently ranked 9th in the world. Which means that the group has 4 of the top ten in it. The pure physical impact of getting through this group could be a major handicap once you get to the quarters. I don't buy the fitness argument though, as in the top teams are fitter than the others. A lot of these players play club rugby in Europe. I think the last quarter difference comes from the increased physical toll of defending for long periods. If you put the Kiwis under the same pressure that they put the Argies under for the second half today they would be knackered and making mistakes in the last 10 minutes. Not that Argentina did much of that.
Pardon my ignorance but were England or anyone else "put" anywhere or was it the luck of the draw? I'm guessing mathematically one group had to have 3 good teams in it so it was always going to happen???
I didn't see it either COL. I've just checked the groups and they're four groups of five. Lets say there's 9 decent teams in the World (the 6 nations minus Italy & the four nations down below) then once you've put 2 into each of the groups you're left with one over. So it would appear its unavoidable that something like this happens. Looks like England, Wales and Oz were just unlucky to be in the group with the one extra good side. It really is the group of death
It certainly is!! Just seems to have been bad luck for the sides drawn there I presume. However, even though, as Stan says, these games will take their toll, I also think that the two sides who get through will be really battle hardened and that could be an advantage over sides who have virtual walkovers (maybe!).
Emanates from the 1999 World Cup in Wales when there was an agreement between the WRU & the RFU to play some games in England, with an ongoing reciprocal agreement for future tournaments held in the respective countries.
I don't know either, and by no means do I think it was fixed. Just looks to me that one of Wales, England and Australia was seeded lower than Scotland. You'd have thought that NZ, Australia, SA, England, France, Ireland and Wales would be expected to reach the quarters, so the 3rd 'good team' in two groups would be one of Scotland, Italy or Argentina - not bloody Wales! Still, Col could be right, get though it and the qualifiers could be in storming form. And Japan have rather ****ed up my assumptions already. Good tournament so far, better than the group stages in previous cups, as far as I can recall.
Unfortunately, it was all Wales' fault ...... http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/how-wales-end-up-same-10085793
sorry to bring football into it but the size of the crowds and the atmosphere at most games this weekend goes to show how good a football world cup would have been in this country. Ah well, as an under 50 year old what youve never had you never miss...
