RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A)
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No apportioning blame. Just saying there's now a very big opportunity being missed with Japan & Georgia currently growing in stature. They'll atrophy otherwise.
Think SANZAR have thought it thru better than 6N - don't think it's conincidence Japan and Argentina have improved since Sunwolves and Jaguares in S15
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
No apportioning blame. Just saying there's now a very big opportunity being missed with Japan & Georgia currently growing in stature. They'll atrophy otherwise.
Think SANZAR have thought it thru better than 6N - don't think it's conincidence Japan and Argentina have improved since Sunwolves and Jaguares in S15
SANZAR is not a charity.
It was a commercial decision to introduce Japan and Argentina.
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@Victor-Meldrew pretty bold statement on Argentina. Have you seen the world rankings prior to 2012?
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@MiketheSnow said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
It was a commercial decision to introduce Japan and Argentina.
Yep. Maybe proves it makes good commercial sense to expand the game.
Grow the game, grow the money.
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@Bones said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Victor-Meldrew pretty bold statement on Argentina. Have you seen the world rankings prior to 2012?
They made the RWC QF's in '99 & '11 and 3rd place in '07. They've always been around 6 to 8 in the IRB rankings, I think.
IIRC they had regular games against Sth Africa, NZ, Oz and other Tier 1 teams from around the early '90's. Poss. a coincidence that coincided with their growth?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Bones said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Victor-Meldrew pretty bold statement on Argentina. Have you seen the world rankings prior to 2012?
They made the RWC QF's in '99 & '11 and 3rd place in '07. They've always been around 6 to 8 in the IRB rankings, I think.
IIRC they had regular games against Sth Africa, NZ, Oz and other Tier 1 teams from around the early '90's. Poss. a coincidence that coincided with their growth?
Quite possibly - but that doesn't line up with you pointing out their improvement since 2015 (Jags joined Soup). If you meant RC that was 2012. If anything their world rankings seem to have suffered...
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@MiketheSnow said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
It was a commercial decision to introduce Japan and Argentina.
Yep. Maybe proves it makes good commercial sense to expand the game.
Grow the game, grow the money.
Possibly for the SH
Going from 3 teams to 4 (Championship) is quite easy. And logistically makes sense.
Would love to see Georgia, Russia, Romania in the 8/9N
But the clubs pay most of everyone's wages and they can't afford for the players to be away for so long.
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@MiketheSnow Excuse me! This is rugby not soccer. The word you’re looking for is “salaries”.
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@Catogrande said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@MiketheSnow Excuse me! This is rugby not soccer. The word you’re looking for is “salaries”.
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Shit game. Ringrose try at the end the only one worth looking at.
Next up Samoa. Should be interesting to see what Schmidt now has to do with his injury stocks:
Conan - foot - gone home - Stander now the only experienced 8
Murphy - possibly busted a rib, after just flying out as a replacement. Waiting on results of a scan. Either O'Donnell or possibly, Dev Toner to replace him if it's required. Decision in next 24 hours. Murphy the next best experienced at 8.
Carbery - injured his ankle - again!! Must be his kiwi jeans.
Farrell - concussion - going through HIA processes - so Aki and Ringrose the only centres available currently - Ringrose having to play 4th match in a row.
Henshaw - still no update on his injury. Why is even there?
Sexton - thigh/groin strain - needed ice pack after he was subbed against Russia at HT.
Kearney - another concussion possibly to go with his shiner.Likely 23 for Samoa:
Larmour/Conway, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton, Murray
Kilcoyne, Best, Porter, Ryan, Henderson, Beirne, vdF, Ruddock/Stander
Reps: Scannell, Healy, Furlong, Kleyn, Stander/Ruddock, Carbery, Carty, Larmour/ConwayIt's looking like another car crash tournament for Schmidt.
Meanwhile, I'll enjoy watching Ross Byrne run out - injury free - tonight as Leinster get their first home game underway for the season.
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@Bones said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
Quite possibly - but that doesn't line up with you pointing out their improvement since 2015 (Jags joined Soup).
Currently on glass no. 3 of a 2003 Chateau Musar and don't want a long-winded thread...but they seem a lot more competitive since being exposed to regular competition in TRC and S15
And I don't view the IRB rankings as the ultimate arbiter of quality. I'd pick SA (5th) over Wales (2nd) any day - much as Wales is probably my no.2 team
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Bones said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
Quite possibly - but that doesn't line up with you pointing out their improvement since 2015 (Jags joined Soup).
Currently on glass no. 3 of a 2003 Chateau Musar and don't want a long-winded thread...but they seem a lot more competitive since being exposed to regular competition in TRC and S15
And I don't view the IRB rankings as the ultimate arbiter of quality. I'd pick SA (5th) over Wales (2nd) any day - much as Wales is probably my no.2 team
Nice choice. Was 2003 the one with a hint of shrapnel?
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@MiketheSnow said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
Going from 3 teams to 4 (Championship) is quite easy. And logistically makes sense.
It was actually logistically more sensible for Argentina to make a 7N when you look at travel times and where the Argentina players were based.
Would love to see Georgia, Russia, Romania in the 8/9N
Ditto Japan in a 5 country RC. I sense the chances of that being somewhat higher
But the clubs pay most of everyone's wages and they can't afford for the players to be away for so long.
Yep. The ultimate global rugby issue, Grow the clubs or grow the game.
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@Catogrande said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Bones said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
Quite possibly - but that doesn't line up with you pointing out their improvement since 2015 (Jags joined Soup).
Currently on glass no. 3 of a 2003 Chateau Musar and don't want a long-winded thread...but they seem a lot more competitive since being exposed to regular competition in TRC and S15
And I don't view the IRB rankings as the ultimate arbiter of quality. I'd pick SA (5th) over Wales (2nd) any day - much as Wales is probably my no.2 team
Nice choice. Was 2003 the one with a hint of shrapnel?
They actually stopped hostilities in the Bekka Valley so the Hochar clan could harvest the grapes.
Probbly the best value wine around today.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Catogrande said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
@Bones said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
Quite possibly - but that doesn't line up with you pointing out their improvement since 2015 (Jags joined Soup).
Currently on glass no. 3 of a 2003 Chateau Musar and don't want a long-winded thread...but they seem a lot more competitive since being exposed to regular competition in TRC and S15
And I don't view the IRB rankings as the ultimate arbiter of quality. I'd pick SA (5th) over Wales (2nd) any day - much as Wales is probably my no.2 team
Nice choice. Was 2003 the one with a hint of shrapnel?
They actually stopped hostilities in the Bekka Valley so the Hochar clan could harvest the grapes.
Probbly the best value wine around today.
Fantastic drop
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Ireland v Russia (Pool A):
They actually stopped hostilities in the Bekka Valley so the Hochar clan could harvest the grapes.
That is so - well - civilised.
"Would you please stop shooting at them? This is going to be a great vintage! Idiots"
"O.K. they seem to be done, ready, aim..."
