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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2019 17:43:09 GMT
Don't know if anybody is interested in the egg chasers but just over a month to go to the Rugby World Cup - opening game is a bit underwhelming though with the hosts Japan taking on Russia on 20th September. England's young side had a good win 33-19 at Twickenham yesterday over a strong Wales team who were looking to extend their 14 game unbeaten run and go to number 1 in the World rankings after Australia had earlier thrashed New Zealand 47-26. Reverse fixture this weekend in Cardiff, then just two more warm up games before the World Cup starts, against Ireland and then finally against Italy. England's first game in Pool C is against Tonga on 22nd September. Eddie Jones has named his 31 man squad today and it looks impressive, although presumably there could be some late changes due to injuries or impressive performances by someone forcing their way into the squad. Pool A Ireland Scotland Japan Russia Samoa Pool B New Zealand South Africa Italy Namibia Canada Pool C England France Argentina USA Tonga Pool D Australia Wales Georgia Fiji Uruguay If all goes to form and rankings, the Q-F's qualifying teams should be Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, South Africa, England, France, Australia and Wales. Can't wait ! link
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Post by GeneralFaye on Aug 13, 2019 5:39:32 GMT
Argentina and Japan are the only other teams who could possibly sneak through but I agree, if it goes to form those will be the teams.
The best thing about this World Cup is just how open it is. New Zealand look a shadow of the team they were a year or 2 back but they are ultimately still the team to beat.
If you want a tip for a winner, I'm going to go for South Africa. The turn around in their form has been dramatic and it started with their home test series win against England with a host of new young exciting players mixed with their world class players like Faf and Willie La Roux.
But, I could make a genuine case for about 6 teams and as always IF England turn up, fully fit, we can beat anyone. Although, I'm a little worried about the make up of our forwards as I don't want Eddie to shoe horn 3 second rows into his starting side and I'm not a fan of Dan Cole coming back into the team. There's one hell of a section headache when it comes to the backs as well, so many options. Farrell at 10 or 12? Where does he play Daly? Is Nowell going to be fit?
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Post by GeneralFaye on Aug 13, 2019 5:49:10 GMT
1-15 this would be my starting team
Vunipola George Sinkler Itoje Lawes Wilson Curry Vunipola Youngs Farrell May Tuilagi Slade Nowell Daly
.. again, I could easily have put Kruis, Underhill, Watson and a few more in the side but in a big knock out game, I'd go for this.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2019 6:05:11 GMT
Argentina and Japan are the only other teams who could possibly sneak through but I agree, if it goes to form those will be the teams. The best thing about this World Cup is just how open it is. New Zealand look a shadow of the team they were a year or 2 back but they are ultimately still the team to beat. If you want a tip for a winner, I'm going to go for South Africa. The turn around in their form has been dramatic and it started with their home test series win against England with a host of new young exciting players mixed with their world class players like Faf and Willie La Roux. But, I could make a genuine case for about 6 teams and as always IF England turn up, fully fit, we can beat anyone. Although, I'm a little worried about the make up of our forwards as I don't want Eddie to shoe horn 3 second rows into his starting side and I'm not a fan of Dan Cole coming back into the team. There's one hell of a section headache when it comes to the backs as well, so many options. Farrell at 10 or 12? Where does he play Daly? Is Nowell going to be fit? I can't really see the Argies sneaking through instead of England but it depends which France turn up whether they or the Argies get through. Having said that the Argies have been pretty poor lately. Japan could probably just sneak through instead of Scotland and do have home advantage so their head to head match should be worth watching. I agree SA are possible dark horses but I'm more inclined towards the Aussies (unfortunately) right now. As for my starting 15 I'd go pretty much with your team as well (just a couple of changes maybe) and we would have a pretty strong bench.
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Post by Northy on Aug 13, 2019 7:02:24 GMT
Should be a good tournament, guy from our running club is going over for it, as a retirement present to himself.
He was the FD of UK for Radisson hotels, then the last few years FD of Europe for them. I should think he'll have a good hotel deal sorted out for him and his Mrs.
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Post by tuum on Aug 13, 2019 12:12:50 GMT
I am going for a couple of weeks. Not bothering with tickets. Registered with RWC web site but their ticketing process is so shit that I gave up trying. Had a look at options for the England v France on 12 October but cheapest was £500. Not going to pay £1,000 for two tickets in the group stage. Plenty of decent bars in Tokyo will be showing the games. Might go down to the stadium in Yokohama, or find a Fan Zone. Off to Sapporo after Tokyo for a week. All the games being held in Sapporo will have finished when I get there but I will watch the other games in a pub. Not been to Sapporo before so looking forward to it. The Japanese are pretty good at embracing these kind of events...should be fun!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2019 12:26:56 GMT
I am going for a couple of weeks. Not bothering with tickets. Registered with RWC web site but their ticketing process is so shit that I gave up trying. Had a look at options for the England v France on 12 October but cheapest was £500. Not going to pay £1,000 for two tickets in the group stage. Plenty of decent bars in Tokyo will be showing the games. Might go down to the stadium in Yokohama, or find a Fan Zone. Off to Sapporo after Tokyo for a week. All the games being held in Sapporo will have finished when I get there but I will watch the other games in a pub. Not been to Sapporo before so looking forward to it. The Japanese are pretty good at embracing these kind of events...should be fun! Enjoy it mate......lucky sod ! Wish I was going !
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Post by thevoid on Aug 13, 2019 12:29:10 GMT
South Africa look good, NZ the most vunerable they've been in years. Have Ireland peaked too soon? Hopefully Wales will crash and burn, they have a mediocre record against the Southern Hemisphere.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 15:56:05 GMT
Superb performance by England v Ireland today winning 57-15 in their penultimate world cup warm up game.
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Post by GeneralFaye on Aug 24, 2019 20:27:11 GMT
I don't know where we are in the betting but in a neutral venue, and this World Cup really is a neutral one for the first time, we can beat anybody (if we get lucky with injuries)
I think the starting team today won't be far off from the one that starts the World Cup. Mako would start and Probably Nowell but that'll depend on their fitness.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 21:01:33 GMT
I don't know where we are in the betting but in a neutral venue, and this World Cup really is a neutral one for the first time, we can beat anybody (if we get lucky with injuries) I think the starting team today won't be far off from the one that starts the World Cup. Mako would start and Probably Nowell but that'll depend on their fitness. Yes the commentry seemed to think today's team was near enough the starting XV for the bigger world cup games. It should give Eddie a few opportunities to rest some players for the smaller teams, injuries permitting. Ireland were woeful but then England never really allowed them to start playing. Really looking forward to the World Cup now !
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Post by thevoid on Aug 25, 2019 9:13:57 GMT
If Wales are the best team in the world Jeremy Corbyn is Chief Rabbi. Their record against the Southern Hemisphere is woeful.
If England click and avoid collapses like the second half against Scotland they can beat anyone. Our two toughest pool games are France and Argentina which we should be too strong for (Argentina aren't what they used to be and France are in transition). Our reserves beat Wales 33-19 two weeks ago and only narrowly lost in Cardiff.
Looks like Ireland peaked too soon and Schmidt announcing his departure after the World Cup has sent them into a tailspin. They were the best side in the world a couple of years ago (yes Wales, they actually beat NZ. Twice). Ireland have never won a World Cup knockout match and that could well continue.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2019 20:53:13 GMT
Solid England performance against Italy tonight in the final warm up game before the World Cup winning 37-0.
Italy defended well in the first half but were awful in the second half and pretty toothless in attack. Plenty of England subs didn't weaken the team but Italy were pretty dire.
Two weeks to the World Cup !
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Post by thevoid on Sept 6, 2019 20:54:18 GMT
Solid England performance against Italy tonight in the final warm up game before the World Cup winning 37-0. Italy defended well in the first half but were awful in the second half and pretty toothless in attack. Plenty of England subs didn't weaken the team but Italy were pretty dire. Two weeks to the World Cup ! Predictions mate? I reckon SA will beat NZ in the group match.
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Post by GeneralFaye on Sept 6, 2019 20:58:16 GMT
I genuinely think it'll be us or South Africa, a feeling in my water suggests we'll go very close at least.
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Post by thevoid on Sept 6, 2019 21:01:19 GMT
I genuinely think it'll be us or South Africa, a feeling in my water suggests we'll go very close at least. We're hitting form at the right time. Wales are not better than England, SA, NZ or Australia. We can drop Ireland from the list of contenders, peaked way too early. Shame, as I prefer them to Wales.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2019 21:56:01 GMT
I hate to go against England but I think it'll be either NZ or SA as winners. Assuming we qualify from Group C (and there'd be serious questions asked if we don't) we'll have a QF against either Wales or Australia which is by no means a guaranteed win. Yes we're playing well and have a really good team and squad but somehow I just can't see us winning it - really hope I'm wrong though !
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Post by franklin66 on Sept 6, 2019 22:08:35 GMT
My lad is in Osaka atm for a few weeks pre Australia. He's sent some pics and it looks amazing not what I was expecting to be fair.
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Post by M on Sept 6, 2019 22:38:53 GMT
If we don't win it I'm not too sad as long as we get further than Wales. My lads junior rugby team club is packed with them and one of my best buddies is a plastic one too. Would never live it down if they got further than us. We've had a good couple of games now in the warmups. Certainly feeling more confident than I was about a year ago.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2019 22:49:44 GMT
If we don't win it I'm not too sad as long as we get further than Wales. My lads junior rugby team club is packed with them and one of my best buddies is a plastic one too. Would never live it down if they got further than us. We've had a good couple of games now in the warmups. Certainly feeling more confident than I was about a year ago. I know what you mean. I'd obviously love England to win it but if we can't I'd want anyone other than Wales (or the Aussies !) as I really can't stand them.
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Post by GeneralFaye on Sept 7, 2019 5:06:45 GMT
I think Wales and Ireland are both too reliant on their home conditions/stadiums to win a World Cup, Wales in particular. In a truly neutral venue like Japan, I can't see them being a factor.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2019 19:34:46 GMT
Starts tomorrow with a pretty nondescript game Japan v Russia. NZ v SA on Saturday, and then England start v Tonga on Sunday. Ireland v Scotland as well.
Come on England !
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Post by salopstick on Sept 19, 2019 19:38:31 GMT
Rob Howley came back today. His plane touched down at 1250hrs this afternoon
Or 10/1 as he likes to call it
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Post by tuum on Sept 20, 2019 3:45:58 GMT
My lad is in Osaka atm for a few weeks pre Australia. He's sent some pics and it looks amazing not what I was expecting to be fair. Osaka's a good place. I had some sushi in Dotombori (tourist area in Osaka). One of the dishes was a fish about 8" long delivered whole to my table curled up slightly with a skewer through it's tail and head, with a gaping rectangular hole in it's belly where the flesh had been cut away. The fish was still wriggling and flapping it's head. On the same plate was some sashimi that looked suspiciously the same size as the hole in the fish's belly. Mrs.T (who is Thai) was straight into her dish. I decided to wait a while until the fish had stopped flapping. The Japanese do like their food fresh. Did he pop up to Kyoto for a spot of culture it's only a few quid on the train from Osaka?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 13:56:40 GMT
Comfortable win for the hosts in the opening game - Japan 30 - 10 Russia
Possible "upset" tomorrow with France v the Argies
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Post by GeneralFaye on Sept 20, 2019 13:59:24 GMT
Comfortable win for the hosts in the opening game - Japan 30 - 10 Russia Possible "upset" tomorrow with France v the Argies .. what would be the upset?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 14:20:38 GMT
My lad is in Osaka atm for a few weeks pre Australia. He's sent some pics and it looks amazing not what I was expecting to be fair. Osaka's a good place. I had some sushi in Dotombori (tourist area in Osaka). One of the dishes was a fish about 8" long delivered whole to my table curled up slightly with a skewer through it's tail and head, with a gaping rectangular hole in it's belly where the flesh had been cut away. The fish was still wriggling and flapping it's head. On the same plate was some sashimi that looked suspiciously the same size as the hole in the fish's belly. Mrs.T (who is Thai) was straight into her dish. I decided to wait a while until the fish had stopped flapping. The Japanese do like their food fresh. Did he pop up to Kyoto for a spot of culture it's only a few quid on the train from Osaka? That's fucking cruelty of the highest order.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 14:33:59 GMT
Comfortable win for the hosts in the opening game - Japan 30 - 10 Russia Possible "upset" tomorrow with France v the Argies .. what would be the upset? I know, in "theory" it would be the Argies winning after their recent run of poor results, but with the French you just never know which side will turn up do you ? NZ v SA tomorrow as well - should be a cracker.
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Post by GeneralFaye on Sept 20, 2019 14:38:41 GMT
.. what would be the upset? I know, in "theory" it would be the Argies winning after their recent run of poor results, but with the French you just never know which side will turn up do you ? NZ v SA tomorrow as well - should be a cracker. Yeah that's my point really, I wouldn't be surprised if either one of them turned the other over. The French generally get the acts together more in the World Cup than the 6 nations in recent years but the same can be said about the Argies as well. At least the game should be a good one and nice warm up to the SA v NZ game. Considering I've tipped SA to win the whole thing I'll be an interested viewer Australia v Fiji should be a fun game as well, you'll always get entertainment from Fiji but Australia should win comfortably in the end.
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Post by tuum on Sept 20, 2019 15:01:43 GMT
Osaka's a good place. I had some sushi in Dotombori (tourist area in Osaka). One of the dishes was a fish about 8" long delivered whole to my table curled up slightly with a skewer through it's tail and head, with a gaping rectangular hole in it's belly where the flesh had been cut away. The fish was still wriggling and flapping it's head. On the same plate was some sashimi that looked suspiciously the same size as the hole in the fish's belly. Mrs.T (who is Thai) was straight into her dish. I decided to wait a while until the fish had stopped flapping. The Japanese do like their food fresh. Did he pop up to Kyoto for a spot of culture it's only a few quid on the train from Osaka? That's fucking cruelty of the highest order. I don't disagree. There are a number of Japanese dishes that involve cutting up live seafood. I think they do something similar with squid and/or prawns. I didn't ask for this dish and wasn't expecting it. I think the chef just did it to shock us!
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