The Rugby World Cup

[Insidious Von]

Anyone interested?

I played rugby in high school, then forgot about it. The Great Jonah Lomu brought me back...had he played in the NFL he probably would have broken the career rushing record.

 

[Insidious Von]

I wish I'd been there, the All Blacks vs The Wooden Spoon Champions!

 

[mellowjello]

I wish I'd been there, the All Blacks vs The Wooden Spoon Champions!

Italians should have come out in azzuro wife beaters, show em who's boss.

 

[basketcase]

Japan is fun to watch. Hopefully they'll have a good performance at home. Sadly Canada is now a bottom feeder.

 

[Gibbons#1]

I played rugby in high school as well. The timing for us is really messed up though because the early game starts at midnight and the late game starts at six in the morning.

 

[Don Draper]

Ah! It takes leather balls to play rugby, Indeed!

Is there a schedule of the tournament posted anywhere?

 

[Insidious Von]

This would be a Final, I agree the times are awkward.

South Africa is still segregated, the rugby club is while the football one is black.

 

[basketcase]

...

South Africa is still segregated, the rugby club is while the football one is black. ...

They have been improving. It is no longer rare to see talented black players recruited to play for big (mainly white) clubs but in general (like in the UK) Rugby is generally those with money and soccer is those without and the money is still mainly white.

As for the national team, between a third and half of the squad are black as is the captain.

 

[Insidious Von]

The SA rugby team is known as the Springboks, the football nationals are Bafana Bafana, I oftern wondered what the difference was?

In the span of 16 years, South Africa hosted both the rugby and football World Cup. I remember the zarzuelas and the SA football Bafana Bafana being almost entirely black. Except for their giant central defender named Matthew Booth, who was greeted with chants of "Booth, Booth, Booth" every time he touched the ball. Very popular in both communities, if he chooses to, he could become SA's first white Prime Minster since the end of Apartheid.

https://r7h9p6s7.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/mediaclub/2010/06/01b.jpg

 

[Insidious Von]

Mingia, The Wooden Spoon Champions win a game! I expect Italy to improve, rugby is giving football competition as the most popular sport on The Boot.

It won't last long, they're in the same group as The All Blacks and The Springboks. Canada has yet to play.

Canada vs Italy on Thurs at 3:45 AM, I'm going to be woke for that.

 

[Insidious Von]

It was depressing!

Has Canada regressed that much, they came out flat and stayed that way. Italy 48 Canada 7.

Canada had six turnovers in the first half, two on certain tries, I didn't watch the game through. Not a sucker for punishment. Considering the heavy sponsorship FIR enjoys, I expected The Azzurri to eventually improve. For Canada the misfortune comes from not having developed another Gareth Rees.

Canada had weight advantage on scrums but it meant nothing.

 

[Insidious Von]

Canada has been taking beatings, Italy came back down to earth losing to South Africa 49 - 6.

The Azzurri will be served as they face New Zealand on Saturday.

 

[mandrill]

Apparently the classic game of the tournament was played this morning with upstart Fiji physically taking it to much favoured Wales and giving the Welshmen a hellish scare before finally going under.

 

[mellowjello]

Canada has been taking beatings, Italy came back down to earth losing to South Africa 49 - 6.

The Azzurri will be served as they face New Zealand on Saturday.

I believe the present day Haka that NZ performs has been modified from the original. They've taken out some of the more hostile aspects
i.e. the slashing of the throat. PC has diminished even the Haka.

 

[derrick76]

RSA WINS!

Yes!!

 

[basketcase]

The Wales/NZ game was much more entertaining.

Sad that despite having some great open field players, England still plays for penalty kicks.

 

[Darts]

I believe the present day Haka that NZ performs has been modified from the original.

https://i.imgur.com/Q9ZZenc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HuHJHO2.jpg

 

[Hero28]

Wales vs New Zealand was for third place with very little at stake and therefore not taken very seriously. Both sides played mostly reserves and could afford to be expansive.

Did you watch the England/SA match? From the 28th to the 33rd minutes, England tried to punch in a try. At couple of points, they were just inches from the goal line but the SA defense held firm. In the end, they had no choice but to settle for a penalty kick.
The philosophy for every team in the final is to take what the game gives you. For example, SA never scored a try during their World Cup victories in 1995 and 2007. And they kicked penalties consistently against England on Saturday until their first try late in the match.

Agreed. That period you referred to involved 35 phases. England is a young team and will get better.

 

[mandrill]

The Wales/NZ game was much more entertaining.

Sad that despite having some great open field players, England still plays for penalty kicks.

I didn't watch the last 2 games, but I watched the 1st half of the Wales-SA game. It was spoiled for me, as I already knew that I would hate the result from having seen the final scoreline earlier.

Gruelling game with SA having an advantage in forward play, but Wales holding on enough to make the game competitive. Not much in the way of back play by either team. Endless rucking and mauling and close tackling. Still a good game to watch.

Didn't bother watching England - SA in the final or the bronze medal game. Hard core Wales fan.

 

[basketcase]

Wales vs New Zealand was for third place with very little at stake and therefore not taken very seriously.....

It's the national style of play I'm talking about. New Zealand likes to spread the ball to create gaps and then exposing those gaps with their pack, Wales likes hitting hard with their forwards to create gaps for their backs. England still focuses on kicking for space to gain field position and they then have penalties in the back of their mind.
South Africa was primarily pack and penalty oriented but has recently expanded their style.