Rugby World Cup

[Doon frae Troon]

Scottish B team look pretty impressive, perhaps we should have started them against Ireland.

 

[GB72]

Scottish B team look pretty impressive, perhaps we should have started them against Ireland.

Still think that you will qualify. Today wiped out the points difference advantage the other teams had

 

[GB72]

Wales may have won but will be interested to see the extent of the injuries. Few key players out could scupper their chances in the quarters especially as France and England can play b teams and go into the next round far fresher

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What's the latest on this super typhoon and will it affect any of the crucial games at the weekend. Also, is it worth England doing a "Southgate" and not winning and getting, in theory at least, a simpler passage going forward?

 

[GB72]

What's the latest on this super typhoon and will it affect any of the crucial games at the weekend. Also, is it worth England doing a "Southgate" and not winning and getting, in theory at least, a simpler passage going forward?

All on the BBC Website, typhoon more of a threat to the England match than the Ireland one so really would have little impact.

Why on earth would England want to finish second. There is nothing to pick between any of the quarter final and semi final opponents. Winning the group would give Australia rather than Wales in the quarters and which is arguably an easier match and that would leave New Zealand instead of South Africa in the semi. Again, not much between them but South Africa won the Rugby Championship this year.

 

[rudebhoy]

Still think that you will qualify. Today wiped out the points difference advantage the other teams had

the points difference is irrelevant.

If Scotland beat Japan and both end up on the same number of group points, Scotland go through by virtue of winning the head to head match.

However, because Japan got a very dodgy bonus point in the last minute of their game against Samoa, Scotland need to beat them AND at least equal the number of bonus points earned in the final match. It's very possible that Scotland will win, but Japan get a bonus point and Scotland don't, so they will be out. It would be a very Scottish way to be eliminated, another glorious failure.

 

[GB72]

Ridiculous as it may sound, if I was a betting man I would put an outside bet on Samoa beating Ireland and Scotland and Japan going through. Just got a feeling. As Fiji showed today, the Island nations have it in them.

the points difference is irrelevant.

If Scotland beat Japan and both end up on the same number of group points, Scotland go through by virtue of winning the head to head match.

However, because Japan got a very dodgy bonus point in the last minute of their game against Samoa, Scotland need to beat them AND at least equal the number of bonus points earned in the final match. It's very possible that Scotland will win, but Japan get a bonus point and Scotland don't, so they will be out. It would be a very Scottish way to be eliminated, another glorious failure.

It does make a difference if all 3 teams are on 15 points so Scotland bonus point win, Japan lose by less than 7 or score 4 tries and Ireland win with no bonus point. That then skips the results in the matches between teams and goes to points difference. Not that much of a shock to be in that situation.

 

[rudebhoy]

Ridiculous as it may sound, if I was a betting man I would put an outside bet on Samoa beating Ireland and Scotland and Japan going through. Just got a feeling. As Fiji showed today, the Island nations have it in them.


It does make a difference if all 3 teams are on 15 points so Scotland bonus point win, Japan lose by less than 7 or score 4 tries and Ireland win with no bonus point. That then skips the results in the matches between teams and goes to points difference. Not that much of a shock to be in that situation.

would be very surprised if Ireland don't get a bonus point win against Samoa.

Samoa are 33/1 to beat Ireland, very poor value in my book!

 

[GB72]

would be very surprised if Ireland don't get a bonus point win against Samoa.

Samoa are 33/1 to beat Ireland, very poor value in my book!

I know, no logical reason to suspect it but just got one of those feelings that an upset is on the cards. Worrying news is that the typhoon may have changed course again and the Scotland v Japan match could be under threat and reports are that the matches will not be moved to another venue.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I know, no logical reason to suspect it but just got one of those feelings that an upset is on the cards. Worrying news is that the typhoon may have changed course again and the Scotland v Japan match could be under threat and reports are that the matches will not be moved to another venue.

That typhoon being typhoon Haggis (sp?)

 

[Swingalot]

Why on earth would England want to finish second. There is nothing to pick between any of the quarter final and semi final opponents. Winning the group would give Australia rather than Wales in the quarters and which is arguably an easier match and that would leave New Zealand instead of South Africa in the semi. Again, not much between them but South Africa won the Rugby Championship this year.

Totally agree, if England keep on winning (which has its obvious benefits) and top the group I think their potential route to the Final is better as you have said. Would rather play Australia with this current England team rather than Wales. Wales have a way of beating us and other top teams. It is far from pretty (bar the recent Aussie game) and is built on a soak it up defensive structure and a very good kicking game, but they are good at it and I'm not sure we have the game management to deal with it.

Also, Eddie Jones will surely fancy playing Australia as he is not a shy bloke and the press would be all over him in the build up, which he loves.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Still think that you will qualify. Today wiped out the points difference advantage the other teams had

Gives Gregor a selection headache for the Japan game...……..that is not usual for Scotland.
Drop Fin, Greg and Hoggy.

 

[pokerjoke]

Gives Gregor a selection headache for the Japan game...……..that is not usual for Scotland.
Drop Fin, Greg and Hoggy.

Watched the whole game and Scotland certainly played well.
Should have definitely scored just before half time,I believe the top 4 teams would have and a couple of forward passes that will almost certainly need to be eradicated as chances will be fewer.
Certainly a remarkable turnaround since there first game.

 

[BrianM]

A bit of a farce now with some games being cancelled due to the hurricane, surely they could be moved, even without supporters there, just to get them played.
Got a funny feeling the Scotland game will be cancelled......

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Scotland just discovered a new way of being eliminated from a major Sporting event

 

[Grant85]

Personally looks like a total farce to have games being called off for England and New Zealand and potential crucial games in the Scotland / Japan / Ireland group doubtful with potential for late cancellation.

Ok - so I get that its weather and if it's not safe, then so be it. But this is a World Cup across a fairly large nation. They should still be playing these games at an alternative venue or on Monday. It is surely not beyond the realms of a top sporting event to organise a new venue rather than just not playing the games.

England finishing top of the group without having played anyone tougher than Argentina a man down is a bit of a joke. Argentina have not beaten one of the top 8 Rugby nations since June 2017. At least have them and France battle it for top spot.

And if Pool A is decided on the basis of a cancelled game with Japan effectively eliminating a team they haven't played (and have never beaten in rugby history), then the whole competition is a total joke.

I am certain if these games were more important, they would not have cancelled them and would have done similar to what they have done in the Scotland / Ireland pool and said we'll make a call on the day. Or would even have already lined up an alternative venue.

And of course there is always the challenge in Rugby of managing your squad over 6 or 7 games and while other teams will be playing (and potentially getting injured), New Zealand, France and England just happen to have a weekend off in their hotels, lifting weights and getting massages.

 

[IanM]

Typhoon HAGGIS eliminates Scotland from a World Cup?

Of course, would they deffo beat Japan?

 

[Grant85]

on a wider point, the Rugby WC suffers massively from only having 8 (possibly 10) 'decent' teams. i.e. the original 5 nations in Europe and the 3 Southern Hemisphere nations.

You could add into that mix Argentina, Italy, Japan but they'd have to be placed into the 'no mugs' category, rather than genuine contenders. Albeit Japan obviously put themselves in a great position at both this and the previous WC and Argentina previous semi-finalists.

Both Argentina and Italy were added to their respective 'elite' championships in the Southern and Northern hemispheres, as they kept beating people and I'm sure with the belief that it would improve their standard playing higher level opposition each year. But in reality both teams have regressed (or perhaps not progressed as fast as the other nations) and basically just make up the numbers each year.

In fairness to the authorities they have stuck with a tournament of 20 teams to try and include these other nations and build interest in the sport. Places like Russia and Georgia have decent Rugby pedigrees and likewise the Pacific Island teams of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga have good participation rates and play decent Rugby. But these teams simply don't have the resources to compete and a lot of top Pacific Island players end up qualifying to play international Rugby for tier 1 nations. Also potential for USA and Canada to become competitive nations. But ultimately there are so many meaningless games in pools of 5 teams with most smaller nations eliminated after 2 games.

I think Rugby definitely needs more structure for the smaller teams to play more competitive fixtures and have an avenue to play top teams in competition more than once every 4 years.
Main issue with this is the existing busy schedule and that unlike other sports, you can generally only play a game of Rugby once a week. So while in Football or Cricket, they can rattle off 3 international matches in 7 or 8 days, it's going to take double that in Rugby.

Also clearly not a lot of money in it for top teams to play fixtures v Georgia and Samoa when they could play other top teams. And ultimately these amount to glorified friendlies, with the top teams simply using them as warm ups for matches v other top teams.

I appreciate this is a big cultural change, but would be interesting to see if the Pacific teams joined forced and played as the Pacific Islanders on a permanent basis. Similar to the West Indies at cricket. I believe they have done this for one off tours and matches previously. It would surely give them a far better chance of being a genuine world contender and mean losing fewer players to the Tier 1 nations.

 

[Grant85]

Typhoon HAGGIS eliminates Scotland from a World Cup?

Of course, would they deffo beat Japan?

No - they wouldn't def beat them. But they'd have a pretty good chance.

Japan played very well to beat Ireland and also beat SA at the previous world cup (where they also lost to Scotland, albeit on short rest).

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Personally looks like a total farce to have games being called off for England and New Zealand and potential crucial games in the Scotland / Japan / Ireland group doubtful with potential for late cancellation.

Ok - so I get that its weather and if it's not safe, then so be it. But this is a World Cup across a fairly large nation. They should still be playing these games at an alternative venue or on Monday. It is surely not beyond the realms of a top sporting event to organise a new venue rather than just not playing the games.

England finishing top of the group without having played anyone tougher than Argentina a man down is a bit of a joke. Argentina have not beaten one of the top 8 Rugby nations since June 2017. At least have them and France battle it for top spot.

And if Pool A is decided on the basis of a cancelled game with Japan effectively eliminating a team they haven't played (and have never beaten in rugby history), then the whole competition is a total joke.

I am certain if these games were more important, they would not have cancelled them and would have done similar to what they have done in the Scotland / Ireland pool and said we'll make a call on the day. Or would even have already lined up an alternative venue.

And of course there is always the challenge in Rugby of managing your squad over 6 or 7 games and while other teams will be playing (and potentially getting injured), New Zealand, France and England just happen to have a weekend off in their hotels, lifting weights and getting massages.

It’s an act of god, what do you want the Rugby authorities to do? You can’t just move games, look at the travel expenses, hotels etc for the fans.
Your post comes across as very sour grapes.