2019 Rugby World Cup
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@JC said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
I heard Gats on the radio yesterday suggesting Wales threw the games to Ireland so as not to give away too many secrets. Ballsy.
Load of bollocks more like.
Only thing we can do is up the intensity and lower the unforced errors.
We don't have a Plan B.
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@MiketheSnow But which team really does? The best teams can, perhaps, choose to kick a bit more for territory or avoid lineouts (or try to ensure more of them), but I'm not sure that counts as a plan B - more a plan A.1, A.2 or whatever. Reckon it is more important to be able to force the opposition into playing your game. And in almost all the games that mattered over the last stretch, Wales has done that. And when they do, they're bloody hard to beat.
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@Billy-Tell said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
I wish this would just start.
I must have seen about 30 odd prediction-type articles about why the ABs definitely will or won't win the cup.
Maybe World Rugby should just cancel the tournament and hand out the places based on prediction articles.
and the irony is that this would have to be one of the most unpredictable RWCs to line up (alongside 1995)
My summary (from a NZ perspective) would be that there are teams that could beat the ABs if both sides play well (SA, England). Others that will beat the ABs if we are even slightly off our game on the day (Ireland, Wales) and a few more that will beat us if we are off our game and they play really well (Aus, Scotland, France, Argentina).
Who knows who will play well on the day or have a 'mare?
When you look at how Hansen (and Foster to give him some credit) prepare sides it is all about trying to avoid them having an off day. With some of the others it is all about them having a great day.
That's a good position to be in.
That is a better position to be in than being a team that is under threat even when playing well -
@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Stargazer said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@pakman If that's correct, what is the difference between the balls that makes such a difference to BB's kicking stats?
I guess its different gear, just like a golfer using brands of golf clubs
Different rugby balls can be quite different in shape. Gilberts tend to be a little 'rounder' in that they taper to the point closer to the point. Grip dot patterns are also design elements that are owned by manufacturers and they can have an effect on the way a ball travels through the air.
When you combine these factors with kicking styles and quirks and you will find that some designs suit some kickers better than others. -
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Crazy-Horse said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@No-Quarter said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Edit - oh my God the tweet it embedded above is horrible, what the fuck. Appears to have been taken from a game that never happened which is bizarre.
The bottom tweet reminds me how much I miss Richie. There was something reassuring about seeing him leading the Blacks out.
So they've got 3 left.
Guesses?
- Has to be 95
- Wilkinsons droppy
Am stuck for 3rd given the French debacles, 2011 and Jonah have all been done.
Thoughts?
Larkham droppy?
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@Frye said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Crazy-Horse said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@No-Quarter said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Edit - oh my God the tweet it embedded above is horrible, what the fuck. Appears to have been taken from a game that never happened which is bizarre.
The bottom tweet reminds me how much I miss Richie. There was something reassuring about seeing him leading the Blacks out.
So they've got 3 left.
Guesses?
- Has to be 95
- Wilkinsons droppy
Am stuck for 3rd given the French debacles, 2011 and Jonah have all been done.
Thoughts?
Larkham droppy?
Further up the list
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@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
Up to that “moment” my asshole had never been tighter my entire life.
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@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
Up to that “moment” my asshole had never been tighter my entire life.
I didn't enjoy any of the second half. Watching that frog kicker line up and miss that penalty was excruciating. Like getting your fingernails pulled out. Made worse by the home crowd being so damn quiet
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@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
Up to that “moment” my asshole had never been tighter my entire life.
For me it is when a shattered Stephen Donald was tackled on one side of the park and got turned over at the ruck, France spun it to the other side of the field and the first tackle made since the turnover was Donald on the other side of the field.
The guy was running on pure Columbian grade uncut adrenalin.
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@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
BTW who made the call on that play? Richie on the field? Situational coaching drills? I never have heard the story. Would love to know...
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@Hooroo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
Up to that “moment” my asshole had never been tighter my entire life.
For me it is when a shattered Stephen Donald was tackled on one side of the park and got turned over at the ruck, France spun it to the other side of the field and the first tackle made since the turnover was Donald on the other side of the field.
The guy was running on pure Columbian grade uncut adrenalin.
That's how legends are born. I don't think he probably has to buy himself beers when he's out on the town in NZ
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@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Hooroo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
Up to that “moment” my asshole had never been tighter my entire life.
For me it is when a shattered Stephen Donald was tackled on one side of the park and got turned over at the ruck, France spun it to the other side of the field and the first tackle made since the turnover was Donald on the other side of the field.
The guy was running on pure Columbian grade uncut adrenalin.
That's how legends are born. I don't think he probably has to buy himself beers when he's out on the town in NZ
Deadset, I will always buy him a beer if he is in the same pub!
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@Hooroo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Hooroo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
Up to that “moment” my asshole had never been tighter my entire life.
For me it is when a shattered Stephen Donald was tackled on one side of the park and got turned over at the ruck, France spun it to the other side of the field and the first tackle made since the turnover was Donald on the other side of the field.
The guy was running on pure Columbian grade uncut adrenalin.
That's how legends are born. I don't think he probably has to buy himself beers when he's out on the town in NZ
Deadset, I will always buy him a beer if he is in the same pub!
This may sound a bit strange, but it’s something I’m looking forward to being able to do - I’m sure at some stage in my life I’ll be in the same room as him, and at that point the drinks will be on me. I can’t wait.
That reminds me of my favorite JK story - I met him in Tokyo one evening when I was out on a date with a very good looking girl (sadly hot crazy was in full effect though). I quickly talked to him on the way in (thanks, you’re a legend etc), then he stopped by our table on his way out (he was Japan coach at the time I think) to briefly say hi, making it seem like I kind of knew him (even though he was a complete stranger of course). Then gave me a greeeeat look like ‘get in there!’ and left, and I did, until the crazy fully developed.
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@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
BTW who made the call on that play? Richie on the field? Situational coaching drills? I never have heard the story. Would love to know...
There's a couple of interviews on Spark Sport with Henry talking about how Richie completely ignored the coaches instructions for that second half, who wanted the team to boot the ball into the French half. Richie backed his team to hold onto the ball instead and not let it into French hands. The coaches were glad they were ignored.
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@Wurzel said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
BTW who made the call on that play? Richie on the field? Situational coaching drills? I never have heard the story. Would love to know...
There's a couple of interviews on Spark Sport with Henry talking about how Richie completely ignored the coaches instructions for that second half, who wanted the team to boot the ball into the French half. Richie backed his team to hold onto the ball instead and not let it into French hands. The coaches were glad they were ignored.
Shows the benefit of strong onfield leadership
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@Hooroo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Salacious-Crumb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
#1. Brad Thorn securing lineout ball 80th min Final 2011.
Up to that “moment” my asshole had never been tighter my entire life.
For me it is when a shattered Stephen Donald was tackled on one side of the park and got turned over at the ruck, France spun it to the other side of the field and the first tackle made since the turnover was Donald on the other side of the field.
The guy was running on pure Columbian grade uncut adrenalin.
The other thing he was doing well , when we seemed all out of ideas , he was tucking the ball under his arm and hitting it up like a league second rower, straight over the advantage line , not out of the first five text book , but it was bloody effective in the heat of the moment .
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The 25 best players at the 2019 Rugby World Cup
Who will shine brightest out in Japan?So, here was the brief. Select the 25 best players at the upcoming Rugby World Cup, in order!
Cue long nights of soul-searching and repeated rejigging.
After much deliberation, this is what I’ve finally come up with. It’s a list put together taking into account both current form and enduring class, plus a dollop of personal preference.
Now let the debate begin....and I’ll get my hard hat on!
The 25 best players at the 2019 Rugby World Cup
