2015 Rugby World Cup

[JackRabbitSlims]

yes, it was the performance all NZ rugby fans have been waiting to see

Springboks next weekend and then if all goes to plan, Wallabies in the final?

i'm picking Argentina to beat Ireland

Aussie have a couple of stars out for their game against Scotland.....but that would be a huge upset if they lose that one

all SH Semi finals looking very probable

 

[Brullnux]

Argentina 43-20 Ireland.

Huge win for Los Pumas, great win for a great side. Now supporting them
Which means they will be knocked out pretty soon

On a wider scale this tournament has been a huge blow to NH sides, only Wales has kept their reputation, along with the Scots, depending on the result later. Ireland destroyed and France humiliated, arrogant England pud need by a wounded Welsh who did pretty well all things considering and a meh Italy just about regaining something by overcoming expectations by almost beating Eire.

Southern Hemisphere sides (including Fiji and Japan) really impressive, probably SA the worst.

 

[fauniera]

Re:

Southern Hemisphere sides (including Fiji and Japan) really impressive

Has Japan drifted south?

But yes, Southern Hemisphere rules. Sould be 4-0 soon.
Super happy for Los Pumas.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

amazing for Argentina and well deserved - they've come a long way in world rugby

4 seasons in "The Rugby Championship" has made them a much more well rounded team. Some great backline moves in there.
It's 2nd time Argentina have made the WC semis.
Ireland, despite a rich rugby history have never quite got there and now this is the 3rd time they've been eliminated from a WC by Argentina!!

C'mon Scotland!!!

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

heartbreaking for Scotland!!

 

[Brullnux]

So, so close...

Australia gifted Scotland 2 tries and contributed heavily to the other one although that was a moment of genius from Horne. The penalty at the end was tight, huge 50/50 call from Joubert. He should have gone to the TMO. Most angles suggested Phipps had the last of it, but one of them suggested there was a Strauss shoulder.

The yellow card IMO was correct. I know the call is 'deliberate' and it is not 100% sure it was, but a hand was stuck out there with little effort to bring the ball back and was not really an interception attempt, just a 'block the ball and hope it bounces backwards' type movement. Sir Ian McGeechan offering a pearl of wisdom: saying it was not a deliberate knock on, and would have given a penalty but not the yellow. Sir Ian, might I remind you that a knock-on becomes a scrum, not a penalty. A deliberate knock on is a penalty and is the only reason it would be a penalty in that circumstance. Hence, a yellow card.

The scrum was a huge issue for the wallabies and was helped by Joubert a bit who has a tendency to pick a side at the scrum and stick by it (see France vs Italy and Wales vs Australia) and continued it here with a free kick near the end for early engagement (?!). Australia need to up their game again.

Edit: Joubert was not allowed to go to the TMO, so it is not that bad.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings has led the criticisms of Joubert.

Hastings tweeted: "If I see referee Craig Joubert again I am going to tell him how disgusted I am. It was disgraceful that he ran off the pitch like that at the end. The referee is not expected to make the right decision all the time. That's what the TMO system is in place for. This is the quarter-final of a rugby World Cup. This is the highest end of our sport and they have to get these decisions right."

 

[Brullnux]

That was not right on Hastings' part - don't make comments like these until emotions have died down and facts learnt.

Someone allegedly threw a bottle at Joubert and someone from the Scottish camp squared up to him.

 

[42x16ss]

As an Australian, I'm worried. Argentina may well roll the Wallabies, especially if Folau and Pocock can't play. Would be amazing to see the Pumas go all the way if the Wallabies can't.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

That was not right on Hastings' part - don't make comments like these until emotions have died down and facts learnt.

Someone allegedly threw a bottle at Joubert and someone from the Scottish camp squared up to him.

Hastings is making a right *** of himself
The local media here are giving him a real roasting and backing the Joubert decsison
He's made some outrageous calls in the last 12 hours

Fark me - Scotland made a monumental mistake though- that late in the game, in the lead, your throw to a defensive line out: - you throw to your money-man at two, drive it away and then kick the damn ball waaaaaay down in Aussie territory, defend like me possessed and win the game!
Throwing long in that position was just stupid!

ofc, all in my most humble of opinions.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

As an Australian, I'm worried. Argentina may well roll the Wallabies, especially if Folau and Pocock can't play. Would be amazing to see the Pumas go all the way if the Wallabies can't.

Well, the quarterfinals were a fantastic rugby spectacle and now the semis should be the same!

All four teams are capable of winning on their day....harder to pick than a broken nose mate.

Of course I'll back us to beat the Bok's and I reckon the Wallabies should edge out the Puma's....but both games are going to be epic!

Still banking on an All Blacks V Wallabies final.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

That was not right on Hastings' part - don't make comments like these until emotions have died down and facts learnt.

Someone allegedly threw a bottle at Joubert and someone from the Scottish camp squared up to him.

what was hilarious was the speed at which Craig Joubert ran from the field after he blew the final whistle!!

 

[The Principal Sheep]

I'm in agreement with Hastings in that to run away when there was no danger other than having to explain yourself is pathetic, it's disrespectful to the players and the game as a whole.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Australia coach Michael Cheika along with World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper have defended referee Craig Joubert's hasty exit following a contentious call that cost Scotland a win in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

Joubert was harshly criticised on social media and in the British press after awarding a late penalty to Australia that led to a 35-34 win for the Wallabies on Monday, finalising a World Cup semi-final lineup comprising all southern hemisphere teams.

The South African official ran off the field and didn't shake hands with players from either team after blowing the full-time whistle.

"Mistakes do happen but it's a tough job," Gosper told the BBC, adding that Joubert's performance would be reviewed, as are all games in the tournament.

"There's a review taking place of all aspects, including his exit from the pitch. Maybe he was keen to get to the bathroom, who knows?"

Gosper, as well as Chieka, said the mood of the crowd could have contributed to Joubert's hasty exit from the playing area.

"It was a very vocal crowd. I'm sure he sensed a bit of hostility and who knows how that affects behaviour? But he's a superb referee and he has been for some time,' Gosper said.

"Someone threw a bottle at him, didn't they? I'd be racing off, too, if I saw a bottle coming. I don't think anything of him going off quickly," Cheika said Monday. "I don't like the way that people are making something out of the way he ran off the field."

- with NZHerald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11531791

i agree, Joubert should have stayed on the pitch and shaken hands with players etc - it's a bad look no doubt.

Hastings coming out and saying that Joubert should never be allowed to referee a game again and I see there is a petition to have him banned for life for entering Scotland.....is quite frankly bloody ridiculous!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11531537

 

[Brullnux]

Tbh this isn't even one of his worse games It's just that it was a RWC quarter and it rested on such a high risk decision.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

The northern hemisphere teams just don't have the skill level across the park that the southerners do, they don't / can't play for 80 mins and they don't have the ability to close out a game when they are in the lead
The only one out here is the Springboks who rely on pure power and punch through the middle.....quite effectively i might add

Scotland were the architects of their demise. Their use of a long throw for the final lineout, in heavy rain, was the first crucial mistake. Their failure to secure the ball cleanly was the second big error.

Yes, Joubert's offside penalty call against Scotland was harsh, and I would say wrong.

 

[Brullnux]

In defence to my hemisphere's sides, Wales had about 1/3 of a team and still pushed Aus and SA to the end.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

In defence to my hemisphere's sides, Wales had about 1/3 of a team and still pushed Aus and SA to the end.

i agree with this statement

i think the "Super" rugby competition and "The Rugby Championship" along with the Bledisloe cup for AB's & Wallabies enables the SH teams to play a dynamic style of Rugby for a longer season that is not interrupted (usually) by poor weather.
Look at what has happened to Argentina since entering The Rugby Championship......beating the top teams and now looking to make the WC final.
Japan will now have a team in Super Rugby.....lets see how that plays out in the next 4 - 8 years
The Super teams pick local talent and only now are some players moving to other Franchises in other countries to get a start.....but not many

A deep love of 7's Rugby in this part of the world also means that in the summer months, guys are gals are out there playing 7's Rugby or touch rugby until the 15's season starts up again

 

[Archibald]

Re:

The northern hemisphere teams just don't have the skill level across the park that the southerners do, they don't / can't play for 80 mins and they don't have the ability to close out a game when they are in the lead
The only one out here is the Springboks who rely on pure power and punch through the middle.....quite effectively i might add

Scotland were the architects of their demise. Their use of a long throw for the final lineout, in heavy rain, was the first crucial mistake. Their failure to secure the ball cleanly was the second big error.

Yes, Joubert's offside penalty call against Scotland was harsh, and I would say wrong.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/why-the-scots-cant-feel-hard-done-by-after-joubert-got-it-wrong/

 

[ferryman]

I find these figures staggering. If correct, I'm not sure what this tells you about the skill level required to be (relatively) competitive at test level rugby union if you look at the results in this competition. Pity Argentina's not been included though:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yeSN53py7PI/TmXJ4UMiD1I/AAAAAAAAAgs/54kHw_zo9AY/s1600/IRB+Player+Numbers.jpg

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

what do you find so staggering??

the skill levels of these men are not something that all of a sudden develops once they start playing for their respective countries

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

As an Australian, I'm worried. Argentina may well roll the Wallabies, especially if Folau and Pocock can't play. Would be amazing to see the Pumas go all the way if the Wallabies can't.

Well, the quarterfinals were a fantastic rugby spectacle and now the semis should be the same!

All four teams are capable of winning on their day....harder to pick than a broken nose mate.

Of course I'll back us to beat the Bok's and I reckon the Wallabies should edge out the Puma's....but both games are going to be epic!

Still banking on an All Blacks V Wallabies final.

It should be Aus vs NZ, but all hands will need to be on deck to beat the Puma's, they are starting to develop into a powerhouse in their own right. Don't forget that they were meant to go backwards after the last WC, with so many older players due for retirement

South Africa will bring it against the All Blacks as well, I'm sure they're still stinging from that upset against Japan.

 

[ferryman]

Re:

what do you find so staggering??

the skill levels of these men are not something that all of a sudden develops once they start playing for their respective countries

Look at the smaller countries ((NZexcepted). And how those countries have performed. There is clearly not an exceptional amount of skill needed to be competitive at that level was my point.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re: Re:

what do you find so staggering??

the skill levels of these men are not something that all of a sudden develops once they start playing for their respective countries

Look at the smaller countries ((NZexcepted). And how those countries have performed. There is clearly not an exceptional amount of skill needed to be competitive at that level was my point.

I'm struggling to understand the relationship between player numbers per country and their respective skill levels?

There are not that many rugby playing nations available to begin with!

Historically, there was a chasm between the tier 1 and tier 2 rugby playing nations....what we have seen in this WC is that gap becoming smaller, which is great for the game imho.

Having said that, there is still a massive difference in the style of rugby played, the speed and execution of superior skills from the top sides....in particular the Southern Hemisphere teams. Even the Southern Hemisphere teams have their individual, unique styles. I'm a kiwi and a proud one at that, but I love watching the Wallaby backline when it fires, they have a crispness to their passing and running lines completely different to NZ. It's great to watch!

IMHO the northern hemisphere competitions are not developing rugby with the pace and style the southerners are. Look at how much Argentina have improved since entering "The Rugby Championship"
How long have Italy been in the 6 nations? - they have gone almost no where since their introduction!
Argentina begged to be a part of the 6 nations and were turned down promptly....they must be stoked to be where they are now.

FYI
Japan are coached by an Australian
Scotland by a Kiwi
Ireland by a Kiwi
Wales by a Kiwi
Fiji by a Kiwi
Georgia by a Kiwi
Namibia by a Welshman
Canada by a Kiwi
Romania by a Welshman

England will be looking off shore for their next coach when Lancaster gets the boot - perhaps....maybe

 

[Brullnux]

Argentina have always been a pretty strong team, they came 3rd in the RWC 2007.

NH team just play a different style, less suited to the September/October pitches as they always play in January, February, March and November when the pitches are soft and sluggish. They have become used to slow ball and not exploiting pace of the backs - the whole game is much more focused on how the forwards can muller their way through. The breakdown is not as important; England and Ireland especially try to tackle high and keep the player up for a maul. In a dry Autumn like we are having now, the SH can exploit their superior ball skills. Italy, just last year, lost just 18-20 to Argentina in a wet November match. The Pumas' backs weren't able to play so Italy almost beat them. Scotland beat lots Pumas and challenged NZ to the end. Wales beat SA and Ireland also, and England, France and Ireland all beat the wallabies.

If the tournamnet had been played later in the year, say Nov/Dec 2015 or maybe Jan/Feb 2016, then NH teams would have done better, still lost, but better. However, you can only play what is in front of you and no matter how good your goal kicking is, your backs need to have the same ball skills as the SH teams.