Off Topic Sport Other than Football - formerly the Ashes Thread

The Jones vs Cheika "mind games" remind me a fair bit of Fergie vs Keegan PL 1996.

Cheika seemed to be consumed with some obsession that he has
had to demonstrate that Aus playing "flowing" rugby and England do not.
I would have thought that the 0-3 series rout in 2016 would have cured that.

Seeing Aus trying to play out from their own "22" etc in the 1st half when a
decent long punt to touch would have sufficed, was bizarre.


"It’ll be interesting to see who he selects the next game on the back of this."

The same starting XV is probably ok.
However IMHO the overall "kick to chase" has to improve significantly though.

 

Yeah Jones does play the game pretty well. It doesn’t work on everyone but for some coaches he does seem to really get into their heads.

I think England will play the game differently in terms of tactics, New Zealand seem to kick a lot and kick well and England will have to find a way to deal with that and contain their 10/15 axis and their electric wingers.

It feels a bit harsh on Ford to change the team like this after the group stage but if Farrell keeps his head screwed on he’s the 10 you want in these games. A lot depends on the fitness of Slade in terms of how that 10-12-13 selection looks as well. Daly at fullback worries me a bit too.

 

Indeed.

Go back to 2003 for the games where Woodward choose Catt at 12
to relieve the decision-making / kicking pressure on Wilkinson.

I expect Eddie Jones to be equally pragmatic.
If the SF is won, I would not be surprised to see Jones revert back
to the Ford/Farrell 10/12 line-up whoever the opponent is.

 

I think Jones views Farrell as the man who always starts and it’s down to having one of Slade or Ford to provide some of those defter touches that don’t come quite so naturally to Farrell, though he is capable of them. It highlights the importance of having Tuilagi back fit as well because he offers the physicality and carrying threat that for too long under Jones was only really offered by Billy Vunipola.

I think Jones views his best midfield as Farrell - Tuilagi - Slade and it’s just a matter of keeping them all fit, and is, again, quite harsh on George Ford.

 

So RWC 2019 champs will be the winner of A vs B, where :

A = NZ or England
B = SA or Wales

A repeat of 1995 in the offing ??

 

Wales vs New Zealand - the sheep derby

 

Today I learned that Jet is still supremely bangabale
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-...-stars?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

 

Did anyone else watch the draft for the 100 at the weekend? It was tedious in the extreme I managed about 30 mins.

Does anyone actually have any interest in a competition that has invented new teams and a new format when neither were actually required, when twenty/20 has already been created and is filling the grounds of traditional counties (even if some have changed their names) and making cricket more accessible to people who may find the traditional formats take up too much time?

Maybe the 100 could be made interesting if it when along the lines of indoor cricket so the wicket keeper is the only player who doesn't bowl, 10 players 10 deliveries each to bowl and 10 chosen batsman each face 10 deliveries normal scoring, but you lose 5 runs each time you are out in your 10 balls. Does that sound daft, ....probably but no more stupid than the 100 is anyway.

 

Off to watch the NBA game between the Knicks and the Bulls next week.

My fav sport other than footy.

 

I've never really watched enough basketball to appreciate it, but I can certainly see the appeal over the other American sports.
It's a lot more fluid and there are far less stoppages.

 

I think the main idea of the format is to have fewer teams.

The advantages of that are:

1. Those teams will have a higher concentration of top players, which should improve the standards and the spectacle.
2. There are fewer games meaning that each game is more of an event - usually the only one being played and televised on a particular night. That means fans can watch them all and become familiar with all the teams/players. The current Blast format often results in 16 teams playing at the same time - which makes it hard for fans to keep track of the opposition and spreads the entertainment very thin.
3. As with the IPL, the competition is more intense and more rides on each game.

 

Yeah it's fast paced, there are stoppages but they are needed and quite natural.

 

Ford back at 10, Farrell at 12.
That's because NZ don't pose the same physical threat as Aus I the backs?
Anyway, you need a couple of sons of ex GB RL internationals in your side if you're going to win this thing - from Oldham and Wigan respectively.

 

The Ireland game showed NZ can bring the physical to opposition
half-backs to at least the levels that Aus tried in the 1st half against England.

So that starting 10-12 IMHO is a brave selection.
Time will tell soon enough (if England do go with that) .

 

Decent boxing bill, topped with an excellent last fight. Good stuff.

 

So Eng vs SA in the 2019 RWC final.
On tournament form/style, we start on paper with the reverse of the 2007 final.

One thing is certain though.
For England to win they will have beaten the top 4 SH nations in one tournament
(which IMHO is a far bigger measure of excellence than 2003 was) .

 

And will not have played any other Six Nations teams!!

 

England games against the home nations tend to be a dirge
(the opponent has whatever little technical ability they have
overwhelmed by ABE syndrome) .

Contrast with the KO opponents to date.
Confident in their ability, and able to play with both pace and power.
Hence both matches have been excellent contests, flowing and fair.

 

Excellent fight. Highly recommend it, for anyone that missed it.

 

So let me see if I've got this straight: WWE have paid Cain velasquez a seven-figure salary...so he can lose to Brock Lesnar in a predetermined bout, because Lesnar (who they're also paying a seven-figure salary to) has spent years feeling insecure about losing to Velasquez in a UFC bout?

There's only one way to respond to that...

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