*** The Official Rugby World Cup 2015 Thread ***

Argentina looked a really solid outfit today. The quality of handling and offloading whilst not absolute top draw was very good, and they tried to play a bit at times. I'm really please for them, that was a good perforance.
 
Well, that was a good opening weekend!

I'm South African... but after 15 minutes my allegiances swapped over. Never have I shouted as hard at the TV, as when I was for Japan to get that last try,... truly upset of epic proportions.

Never have a seen such a flaccid SA team, full of old men, nepotism spots and all under a shroud of politics. That's not to take anything away from the Japanese though, they outplayed and most of all, out-hearted their opposition.

Let the SA team burn I say, until we can rise again, with a new coach in tow.
 
Monkey Puzzle said:
Wales are really accumulating a shedload of injuries in the squad.
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We're now using an ambulance as our tour bus :( its a shame as I really wanted wales to have good games against both Eng, Aus, and Fiji, but now it just feels a little lack lustre. I wouldn't mind if we fielded our strongest team and let, but just getting a romping because of injuries is a massive pain :( we just don't have the selection pool to generate a decent second string (as shown vs. ireland)
 
So, we've been talking here at work - how many of your work colleagues could play for NZ and them still beat Namibia? Our consensus was that maybe a center, wing (or two) and maybe a number 8 could be swapped out?
 
sbi5ar said:
We're now using an ambulance as our tour bus :( its a shame as I really wanted wales to have good games against both Eng, Aus, and Fiji, but now it just feels a little lack lustre. I wouldn't mind if we fielded our strongest team and let, but just getting a romping because of injuries is a massive pain :( we just don't have the selection pool to generate a decent second string (as shown vs. ireland)
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TBH as an Englishman who suffered for 4 years in Cardiff including having to sit through a grandslam 6 nations. I want nothing more than a fully fit game between the two. No excuses just Rugby.

I especially don't want to lose to a gimped team as neither team had a solid game last weekend.
 
Oaks are playing well by half time, or the first 30 at least. Score not in their favour though they've played well generally and the French are looking, well French really.
 
I think the Aus-Fiji game today put England's performance into context, Fiji are a fit, physical organised side with a genuinely improved set piece, in hindsight, thankfully, England didn't get sucked into trying to play an open game against them as Australia did.

Scotland's performance today was well done and creditable considering the maelstrom surrounding the game after Japan's win against the boks. Pressure was on them and they were ring rusty considering how long they had to wait to start this competition and they gained composure as the game went on, just a pity ITV insist on using the clueless idiot Scott Hastings in the commentary box, he's more one eyed than most and hasn't a clue how modern Rugby is played :mad: (and what his even more clueless brother has said about England's probable changes, starting with Burgess and Farrell, confirms both brothers are idiots :confused:)

None of the tier 2 and smaller nations have embarrassed themselves, we are finally seeing the dividends of the investment made by World Rugby (former IRB) in the smaller nations because they have arrived fitter and with professional structures to support them and we are seeing that in the quality of their performances.
 
I didn't manage to see the game as I was in a meeting for most of it but glad to see Scotland get their campaign off to what was eventually a comfortable win over what could have been a tricky opponent. The scoreline was possibly a touch harsh on Japan but it's great to see Scotland showing composure and actually scoring tries when the opportunity presents itself.
 
Perhaps a naive question but what's the point in squad limits if you're allowed to have players outside of that training with the squad? I do feel some sympathy for the Welsh team with so many injuries so quickly into the Tournament but Warren Gatland just seems like an arrogant git so it's difficult to feel too much sympathy there.
 
TheMightyTen said:
Gatland up to his usual tricks, choosing what rules he obeys and what rules he doesn't :mad:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_82400,00.html

The arrogance of that man beggars belief and does Wales and its players no justice.
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What rule has he broken exactly? I'll save you time... None. He has asked the RWC board for clarification on what rule he has broken and they have said he has broken no rule, but has broken the "spirit of the rules"... whatever that means.

Gatland may appear arrogant to the outside, but he knows the rules and how to play them. Right now he doesn't need to do his pre-match mind games as England seem to be doing that for him.

Also hoping Burgess gets his comeuppance with his "Scott who?" comment... However I can't yet tell whether he will make or break Englands game. Either way, I hope for a good contest and fair refereeing of the game.
 
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