Rugby World Cup 2019
- Thread starter Holle
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That would make the most sense you’d imagine.
Rugby Championship. Yeah, maybe. Too good for the USA etc.
Bloody hell, the ball handling and and support skills of Japan were a joy to behold. Why can't we see more of this in the Northern Hemisphere-- Lord knows we have enough coaches and players from down there now playing rugby over here.
Japan also has a team in the Super Rugby (The Sunwolves) but that's ending next year. I think the number of foreigners means that it's not benefiting Japanese rugby as a whole.
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Scotland were absolutely right to moan. They deserved to have their opportunity to play this game, and if it had have been England or the ABs there never would have been any question of the game being cancelled. Japan also were given and took the opportunity to top the group on absolute merit. Thankfully the game has been played and it was terrific. Now I'd like to see Japan reprise the miracle of Brighton again in the QFs. This time, it will feel less like a miracle. They really have a game that can unsettle anyone.
Isnt tri nations 'southern hemisphere teams'?
That's true traditionally, but I suppose that as a Pacific rim set of islands, they are actually closer geographically to Australia and NZ, and that Oceania region.
Japan and Ireland final.
Heard it here first.
Heard it here first.
That's probably the only time it will ever be suggested
Ireland team to face New Zealand: R Kearney; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Stockdale; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (capt), T Furlong; I Henderson, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander. Reps: N Scannell, D Kilcoyne, A Porter, T Beirne, R Ruddock, Luke McGrath, J Carbery, J Larmour.
New Zealand (to play Ireland on Saturday) - B Barrett; S Reece, J Goodhue, A Lienert-Brown, G Bridge; R Mo'unga, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, N Laulala; B Retallick, S Whitelock; A Savea, S Cane, K Read. Reps: D Coles, O Tuungaafsi, A Ta'avao, S Barrett, M Todd, TJ Perenara, SB Williams, J Barrett
I don't know how to feel about this one. We could get absolutely blown away if we turn up at less than our best. But ... if we're on our game then it's a coin toss.
Neutralising the All Blacks back row will be the key. Owens is reffing and he can be very lenient with messiness at the ruck, so we're going to have to ruck really well to get clean ball.
Beauden Barrett had always terrified me when he's played against us, so seeing him at 15 seems kind of positive because he might have less influence on the game. I haven't seen Mo'unga play a full game so I don't know if he's playing because he's better than Barrett or if Barrett was moved to 15 because there were no better options at 15.
I expect Mo'unga is going to be shit hot and we'll be in trouble all day but still I do think we've got a chance
New Zealand (to play Ireland on Saturday) - B Barrett; S Reece, J Goodhue, A Lienert-Brown, G Bridge; R Mo'unga, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, N Laulala; B Retallick, S Whitelock; A Savea, S Cane, K Read. Reps: D Coles, O Tuungaafsi, A Ta'avao, S Barrett, M Todd, TJ Perenara, SB Williams, J Barrett
I don't know how to feel about this one. We could get absolutely blown away if we turn up at less than our best. But ... if we're on our game then it's a coin toss.
Neutralising the All Blacks back row will be the key. Owens is reffing and he can be very lenient with messiness at the ruck, so we're going to have to ruck really well to get clean ball.
Beauden Barrett had always terrified me when he's played against us, so seeing him at 15 seems kind of positive because he might have less influence on the game. I haven't seen Mo'unga play a full game so I don't know if he's playing because he's better than Barrett or if Barrett was moved to 15 because there were no better options at 15.
I expect Mo'unga is going to be shit hot and we'll be in trouble all day but still I do think we've got a chance
You‘ll win. I mean, look at that team.
Not necessarily , a game can turn on a yellow or red card.
All things being equal you'd expect this Boks team to beat Japan 9 times out of ten. They're one of the favourites with good reason - they're a tough super athletic team that scores for fun.
But Japan are at home , which matters , and they're well coached. I only ever see Japan at World Cups and this team is on a totally different level to all their others - they've got a good professional bunch with some real talents in the back row and out wide. They played at a pace and intensity that Ireland couldn't match, some of that was Ireland being sub par but we don't expect anyone to do that to us. We've been the bullies more often than not for the past few years.
I'm not saying put your money on Japan, but don't be surprised if they run the Boks close. The handicap is 15 points , I wouldn't be backing the Boks on the handicap.
Similarly with Ireland , NZ are 12 points favourites. I might take a Japan Ireland double with those points.
I'm disappointed we didn't go for Larmour at FB. I know Kearney has been a magnificent servant, but Larmour asks so many more questions in attack than Kearney.
I'm not surprised either, but I am disappointed. We need to be able to break their line, and Larmour is much more capable of doing that than Kearney. Unfortunately, I don't think Kearney is quite as dependable defensively as he once was either.
What have you done?
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