Well what a cracking day's rugby! Oz just had too much for Fiji in the end but entertaining stuff. How many times did Fiji drop the ball in tackles and errors? Odd that the officials and especially the TMO have missed two cards for shoulder hits so far in the first two games of the tournament. You can't go 30 seconds in a 6 Nations game without the TMO chiming in! France very lucky to beat Argentina. How France didn't get a yellow in that game is beyond me. Again, entertaining stuff. I can see England winning this group comfortably. And the best for last! NZ looking unbeatable in patches but SA looking strong also and that game could have been a lot closer but for a few crucial SA mistakes. In conclusion, I'm now thinking not only will Wales need a minor miracle to win the WC but getting out of the group could be a struggle. Roll on tomorrow and let's hope the Tivo can handle the recording battering it's getting!
1st game nerves has a lot to do with the fancied teams having a rocky start . But all games resulted in the more fancied teams in the end....Wales will should top their group with little problem imo...Gatland is the more experienced coach and will want to do well in his final swansong for Wales. Anything less than a semifinal will be deemed a failing for Gatts....
Did you see the Aus - Fiji game today? Fiji were fantastic and considering the Wales game will be their all-or-nothing I'm expecting a very nervous 80 mins. Then there's the Aus game as well.... those are going to be two very tough games for Wales. "little problem imo" is very naive IMO. I hope you're right though!
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/graham-henry-searingly-honest-view-16960396 Oops
A good weekend of rugby just gone. Our turn now. Agree with diamondgeezer, we need to go full bore against fiji. **** or bust.
Well it was 5 points and 6 tries and a comfortable win but that second half was worrying. Eng and Ire had comfortable first halves and continued the same way in the second. We should have done the same to make Aus think but after seeing that Aus must be licking their lips. We've got enough to finish second in the group but the draw gets really hard then and I'm not optimistic at all. If we could beat Aus though, it's a great draw.... roll on Sunday and let's have a crack.
With hindsight ive got mixed views. We've struggled against teams like this in the past, so blowing them away in the first half was pleasing. Other teams, especially NZ, just put their foot on the throat of teams like this and batter them, which we struggle to do. On the flip side it stops complaceny setting in with stuff to work on. Gatland is the master at picking the right team and the right tactics for big games. I think we might sneak past Aus.
Watched the russia v samoa game this morning. Poor officiating. Two terrible tackles that should have both seen red. Farrell will be licking his lips thinking he can get away with his no arm charges!
They say he's been refining his technique. no need now! Absolutely loved the Fiji - Uruguay game, what a performance! Needed a bit of help with Fiji missing so many kicks but fantastic to see their elation at winning.
Just watched Italy v Canada. Game a lot closer than the scoreline suggests. The difference? Italy scored off their chances, Canada butchered theirs. Don't think I'll bother with the next game today. The next big game is on Sunday.
Yep, if Canada had scored that sitter they bombed under the posts then that scoreline would have been very different. As it is they were stuffed. I did watch "the next game" - unfortunately. Totally one sided and not very entertaining (for the neutral!). USA were pretty woeful and got the honour of the first in game red card. Probably the easiest red of the four so far.
England had no problem and very easy for them....Has to be in with a chance of another RWC. They have not played anyone of significance yet but are looking good nevertheless.
Yes Fair play to the mouthy git, he got back up and started chopsing. It does make you wonder if there was some pressure put on before the tournament to make it more "viewer friendly" (i.e. for general consumption by those with no real interest in rugby) by being lenient on red cards. If those games had been in the 6 nations every one would have been a red in-game, no question.
Agree Dai, I thought England were second favourites before it started and I haven't changed my mind.... yet... the only issue is whether they bottle it when it comes to the crunch
