Rugby World Cup - is your team playing?
Oct 21st, 2015, 03:36 AM
#221
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Sheila - I feel your pain. I was actually at Twickenham for the SCO vs AUS match. It was like a kick in the teeth I can tell you, many people visibly shaken by the turn of events in the dying minutes of the game. Even the Aussie supporters seated next to me (always a good thing about rugby, that the opposing fans however passionate can sit together in a civilised way) were embarrassed about the manner of their win as the replays leading to the wrongly awarded penalty played out on the big screens.
My heart goes out to the Scottish team who played with a level of skill, physicality and cussed determination we haven't seen for a very long time. Let's hope they can build on this.
When the dust settles, perhaps rugby has something to learn from other sports. Take tennis for example. The unwritten rule is that line umpires are discouraged from calling footfaults on match points unless they are "120% sure". And in high-level tournaments with hawkeye technology, the players get a fixed number of challenges they can make against the umpire's calls. Adapting those sort of protocols might have avoided the rugby QF (which in all other respects was one of the best matches of the World Cup) being soured by the referee wrongly gifting the match to Australia.
My heart goes out to the Scottish team who played with a level of skill, physicality and cussed determination we haven't seen for a very long time. Let's hope they can build on this.
When the dust settles, perhaps rugby has something to learn from other sports. Take tennis for example. The unwritten rule is that line umpires are discouraged from calling footfaults on match points unless they are "120% sure". And in high-level tournaments with hawkeye technology, the players get a fixed number of challenges they can make against the umpire's calls. Adapting those sort of protocols might have avoided the rugby QF (which in all other respects was one of the best matches of the World Cup) being soured by the referee wrongly gifting the match to Australia.
Oct 25th, 2015, 12:09 AM
#223
That was a close one!
yes we were watching, laverendrye - half of us cheering for the 'boks, the other half for the All Blacks. it showed that NZ can be beaten by a team that believes in itself and has the right tactics - the winner of today's match [probably Australia] please note.
yes we were watching, laverendrye - half of us cheering for the 'boks, the other half for the All Blacks. it showed that NZ can be beaten by a team that believes in itself and has the right tactics - the winner of today's match [probably Australia] please note.
Oct 25th, 2015, 11:46 PM
#226
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Yes; missed the Saturday game because we were flying, but sat through yesterday, and my place on the sofa is booked for the play off and the final. Backed the underdogs yesterday. Obvious why they were the underdogs.
Other than last Sunday (of which I will never speak again), it's been a wonderful tournament, in terms of quality of rugby, and spirit and fun.
Some year, I'd love to go, but maybe not Japan.
Other than last Sunday (of which I will never speak again), it's been a wonderful tournament, in terms of quality of rugby, and spirit and fun.
Some year, I'd love to go, but maybe not Japan.
Oct 25th, 2015, 11:49 PM
#227
Have been away staying with my son and family. The All Blacks, Springbok match was on live at 4am Sunday morning. Son was getting up to watch it live rather than the replay, so we decided to also. 8 year grand-son also got up. He set the alarm for 4am and put it under his pillow. His Dad actually woke him up ten minutes before as he would have missed the anthems and the haka. It was a very close game. DIL had her head under a blanket for the last few minutes!
Didn't get much of a chance to sleep in after we went back to bed, as it was our grand-daughter's 6 year old birthday, and she didn't get up to watch the match. . She crawled in to my bed at 6.45am!
Now we have another 4am start this Sunday. GO THE ALL BLACKS!!
Didn't get much of a chance to sleep in after we went back to bed, as it was our grand-daughter's 6 year old birthday, and she didn't get up to watch the match. . She crawled in to my bed at 6.45am!
Now we have another 4am start this Sunday. GO THE ALL BLACKS!!
Oct 26th, 2015, 02:43 AM
#228
Painful though it has been for the home nations, IMO the best two teams have made it through to the final. There is a huge gulf in skill AND tactics between the northern and southern hemisphere teams and the 6 Nations organisers clearly did Argentina a favour by refusing to have them in their club [which according to the excellent piece about Argentinian rugby which ITV broadcast last night, they did in a meeting that lasted all of 5 seconds]. More fool us!
Australia will have to go some to beat the ABs but if they play like they did last night, who knows?
Australia will have to go some to beat the ABs but if they play like they did last night, who knows?
Oct 26th, 2015, 08:17 AM
#229
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I don't know if the 6 Nation did Argentina a favour in rejecting them. They have certainly benefited from joining the Rugby Championship and coming up against the All Blacks and the Springboks (and Wallabies) twice a year. They've improved dramatically with that exposure.
Can the Wallabies hold on? One more game? Who knows? They beat the AB's once this year, but the AB's were below par then. Another 3am start coming up.
Can the Wallabies hold on? One more game? Who knows? They beat the AB's once this year, but the AB's were below par then. Another 3am start coming up.
Oct 26th, 2015, 01:22 PM
#230
Margo - if you compare them to how Italy have really failed to make a great deal of progress, it's difficult IMO to argue that they would have done as well if they had joined the 6 Nations.
set your alarms one more time!
set your alarms one more time!
Oct 27th, 2015, 10:20 AM
#234
I don't want to cheer against either team.>>
I'd like to be cheering against either of them, with England on the other side, but it wasn't to be.
not sure where my loyalties will lie - we'll find out when the whistle blows to start the game!
I'd like to be cheering against either of them, with England on the other side, but it wasn't to be.
not sure where my loyalties will lie - we'll find out when the whistle blows to start the game!
Oct 28th, 2015, 08:39 AM
#236
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Apparently rugby clubs in the Netherlands are seeing a huge increase in interest in the sport as a result of Dutch TV broadcasting all the games live. Has to be good news.
Maybe eventually I will have to choose whether I cheer for teh Netherlands in a world cup with an oval ball.
The way the round ball team is going I don't have to cheer for them for a long while
.
Maybe eventually I will have to choose whether I cheer for teh Netherlands in a world cup with an oval ball.
The way the round ball team is going I don't have to cheer for them for a long while
.
Oct 28th, 2015, 01:44 PM
#238
In the Guardian today it said that the fastest growing sport in the US is rugby - perhaps they are finally getting bored of all that stop-starting in the NFL.
sorry about your football team, Hets - the tables in the European championships qualifiers have been pretty well turned upside down.
sorry about your football team, Hets - the tables in the European championships qualifiers have been pretty well turned upside down.
Oct 28th, 2015, 02:08 PM
#239
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Oh I don't really mind. Orange fever gets a bit much every two years.
I asked my grandsons if they were now going to support England, or maybe Wales instead. They said they would think about it, but having been to Scotland this year they will probably end up supporting them instead. Traitors
.
I am glad rugby is getting more popular around the world. Generally a more enjoyable game to watch, not least because of the lack of histrionics and respect for the ref, even when they make a horrible decision.
Looking forward to the final.
I asked my grandsons if they were now going to support England, or maybe Wales instead. They said they would think about it, but having been to Scotland this year they will probably end up supporting them instead. Traitors
.I am glad rugby is getting more popular around the world. Generally a more enjoyable game to watch, not least because of the lack of histrionics and respect for the ref, even when they make a horrible decision.
Looking forward to the final.
