|
Post by hhsussex on Sept 11, 2015 6:42:34 GMT
Begins on Friday 18th September, and will include two opening stage matches at the Brighton Community Stadium (South Africa v Japan, 19th Septmeber; and USA v Samoa, 20th September). Is there any appetite for a discussion on this board of the tournament? A few Likes would convince me to keep posting; a deafening silence will be met with more of the same
|
|
|
Post by leedsgull on Sept 13, 2015 8:18:29 GMT
This tournament is a major World event and one in which England are competitive so is worthy of coverage on this board.
|
|
|
Post by fraudster on Sept 13, 2015 10:53:40 GMT
What is Rugby? And why is the ball retarded?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2015 10:45:26 GMT
If Vunipola was unaware that bonus points applied in the World Cup, then the coaching and leadership are a disgrace. On reflection, this is only marginally off topic.
|
|
|
Post by fraudster on Sept 19, 2015 13:20:50 GMT
Bad stab Stonewall, bad stab.
That was a good game last night. I don't know how long this rugby thing's been about but it might just catch on. I particularly like the comedic bits where the big strong men are chasing the funny looking ball as it bobbles about all over the shop. "Come here you stupid ball" - excellent stuff.
|
|
|
Post by hhsussex on Sept 20, 2015 7:42:19 GMT
The best and the worst of world rugby yesterday. A wonderful, inspiring game at Brighton won by Japan, reducing the lumbering Boks to ineptitude at times, and a boring walkover by Ireland. But that is what a wider group representation is capable of producing and the message shouldn't be lost on the ICC as they seek to restrict the cricket World Cup to an Inner Circle of not always constant excellence.
Anyone care to speculate with me on the parallels and contrasts between TMO referrals - and the way they are performed - in these matches, and the implementation of DRS in cricket?
|
|
|
Post by hhsussex on Sept 27, 2015 8:06:26 GMT
In the early 2000s, faced with the dominance of the English and French teams, based on their highly professionalised and well-funded club system, the Celtic League was formed with 4 clubs each from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy. These elite teams, particularly in Wales where the regionalisation of sides has created something similar to a franchise operation based on 4 centres of excellence have fed into their national structure to the extent that Ireland and Wales, with much smaller populations and fewer resources to draw on, have been outstanding winners of the 6 nations for the last 4 years, and for 7 out of the last 11, winning 4 Grand Slams in the process. Scotland were slower to adapt but won last year's Pro 12 (as the tournament has now become) and their national team has recovered from years in the doldrums.
Last night the Welsh side showed how excellent coaching and a well-motivated elite squad, playing their "domestic" matches at the apex of a pyramid structure can overcome opponents who are much better-resourced. I wonder if there are parallels here with cricket?
|
|
|
Post by flashblade on Sept 27, 2015 8:15:16 GMT
In the early 2000s, faced with the dominance of the English and French teams, based on their highly professionalised and well-funded club system, the Celtic League was formed with 4 clubs each from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy. These elite teams, particularly in Wales where the regionalisation of sides has created something similar to a franchise operation based on 4 centres of excellence have fed into their national structure to the extent that Ireland and Wales, with much smaller populations and fewer resources to draw on, have been outstanding winners of the 6 nations for the last 4 years, and for 7 out of the last 11, winning 4 Grand Slams in the process. Scotland were slower to adapt but won last year's Pro 12 (as the tournament has now become) and their national team has recovered from years in the doldrums. Last night the Welsh side showed how excellent coaching and a well-motivated elite squad, playing their "domestic" matches at the apex of a pyramid structure can overcome opponents who are much better-resourced. I wonder if there are parallels here with cricket?No parallels at all. Rugby is prepared to alter its systems to achieve its objectives. County cricket tries to preserve its systems at all costs. Interesting comparison, HHS.
|
|
|
Post by hhsussex on Sept 27, 2015 8:16:21 GMT
In the early 2000s, faced with the dominance of the English and French teams, based on their highly professionalised and well-funded club system, the Celtic League was formed with 4 clubs each from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy. These elite teams, particularly in Wales where the regionalisation of sides has created something similar to a franchise operation based on 4 centres of excellence have fed into their national structure to the extent that Ireland and Wales, with much smaller populations and fewer resources to draw on, have been outstanding winners of the 6 nations for the last 4 years, and for 7 out of the last 11, winning 4 Grand Slams in the process. Scotland were slower to adapt but won last year's Pro 12 (as the tournament has now become) and their national team has recovered from years in the doldrums. Last night the Welsh side showed how excellent coaching and a well-motivated elite squad, playing their "domestic" matches at the apex of a pyramid structure can overcome opponents who are much better-resourced. I wonder if there are parallels here with cricket?No parallels at all. Rugby is prepared to alter its systems to achieve its objectives. County cricket tries to preserve its systems at all costs. Interesting comparison, HHS. Precisely.
|
|
|
Post by leedsgull on Sept 27, 2015 9:29:27 GMT
England should still have won that match had they not conceded so many penalties. The negative selections of Barritt and Burgess were also unhelpful.
|
|
|
Post by fraudster on Oct 3, 2015 16:03:45 GMT
After noticing NZ have qualified without playing a proper match it made me wonder why we're playing Australia and Wales. Turns out the groups are incredibly unfair as far as I can see. There's a whole host of poor sides who could qualify through other groups but the hosts, Australia and Wales have been given a s**t sandwich as far as I can see. I rarely talk about balance but this got me goat.
|
|
|
Post by flashblade on Oct 3, 2015 16:23:39 GMT
After noticing NZ have qualified without playing a proper match it made me wonder why we're playing Australia and Wales. Turns out the groups are incredibly unfair as far as I can see. There's a whole host of poor sides who could qualify through other groups but the hosts, Australia and Wales have been given a s**t sandwich as far as I can see. I rarely talk about balance but this got me goat. The draw was made around a couple of years ago and the seeding was based on the rankings at the time. At that point, Wales were ranked 9th in the world. They've improved since then but didn't get the benefit of the seeding, as did England and Australia.
|
|
|
Post by hhsussex on Oct 4, 2015 6:51:43 GMT
After noticing NZ have qualified without playing a proper match it made me wonder why we're playing Australia and Wales. Turns out the groups are incredibly unfair as far as I can see. There's a whole host of poor sides who could qualify through other groups but the hosts, Australia and Wales have been given a s**t sandwich as far as I can see. I rarely talk about balance but this got me goat. The draw was made around a couple of years ago and the seeding was based on the rankings at the time. At that point, Wales were ranked 9th in the world. They've improved since then but didn't get the benefit of the seeding, as did England and Australia. Meanwhile many of us have suddenly rediscovered long-forgotten Welsh ancestry, or romantic ties to Wales, all since last night.
|
|
|
Post by joe on Oct 4, 2015 9:25:35 GMT
England secure their place in the next round.
|
|
|
Post by leedsgull on Oct 5, 2015 9:28:55 GMT
So the English Football, Cricket and Rugby teams all failed to get out of their qualifying groups at their respective World Cups. People are always calling for consistency. What more do they want?
|
|