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Original poster

2023 Rugby World Cup

895 replies

KnickerlessParsons · 26/08/2023 17:17

Can't find a thread so thought I'd start one nice and early for some pre chat.

Really don't think either England or Wales are going to get out of the pool rounds 🙁

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Abhannmor · 27/09/2023 17:55

Italy are going to upend someone sooner or later. Very strong forwards. Nothing to lose!

Weepingwillows12 · 27/09/2023 19:10

I think Italy beating NZ would be quite an upset! I don't think we've had many upsets so far so maybe we are due one but I won't be putting money on it. Would be fun though.

Glasgowgin · 27/09/2023 19:55

Italy beating NZ would be amazing! Good to see 5-try Johnny called up for Scotland, but such a shame about McInally. Having seen Dupont's injury I hope they don't risk Finn against Romania... though still can't see us getting past this Ireland team sadly.

massistar · 27/09/2023 20:12

Absolutely gutted for McInally @Glasgowgin . Would have been lovely for him to go out on a high.

I really can't see us beating Ireland but hope we give it a damn good go.

Glasgowgin · 27/09/2023 20:43

massistar · 27/09/2023 20:12

Absolutely gutted for McInally @Glasgowgin . Would have been lovely for him to go out on a high.

I really can't see us beating Ireland but hope we give it a damn good go.

I think giving it a damn good go and justifying the complaints about the way the groups have been drawn would be a reasonable outcome (still a tiny bit hoping for a miracle!)

GrouchyKiwi · 27/09/2023 20:46

They really need to do the draw much closer to the competition. Maybe just a year out?

massistar · 27/09/2023 21:47

Yep agree @GrouchyKiwi . Scotland have been shafted but hey ho, them's the breaks.

Weepingwillows12 · 28/09/2023 06:23

I think world rugby said the draw will be done nearer for the next world cup so it doesn't end up so lop sided again.

Wakemeuuuup · 28/09/2023 10:22

I really hope they do the draw closer to the time for the next world cup. I still can't believe we lose 3 of the top 5 teams by the end of the quarter finals

duc748 · 28/09/2023 11:09

What has when the draw is done got to do with who ends up in which groups?

GrouchyKiwi · 28/09/2023 11:33

The Top 4 in the IRB World Rankings when the draw is done each "head" one of the pools, then the next 4 take the next places in each of the pools.

When this was done, England was higher up the rankings than France (and possibly Ireland), so the top 4 were NZ, SA, England and Australia. Then France was 5th, so went in with NZ, Ireland in 6th was place with SA, etc.

But then the World rankings changed a LOT, so two pools have the top 4 in them, making for a very unbalanced competition. And England has a very easy pool to get out of, despite being much lower down in the rankings these days.

GrouchyKiwi · 28/09/2023 11:36

I guess the original idea was to make sure the top 4 had the best chance of meeting in the semis (which would on paper make a better competition), but now we're going to lose some of the higher-ranked teams in the quarters.

The current way of doing it made sense in a rugby world where the top 4 rankings were pretty much static, with maybe 4th swapping between France and England, but the rugby world is very different these days.

Glasgowgin · 28/09/2023 20:49

I see Finn has been firmly wrapped in cotton wool and bubble wrap! Hope the Romania game goes well.

massistar · 28/09/2023 21:01

Yep. Wholesale changes and I'm glad about Finn. Just hope we're not taking it a bit too easy!

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 29/09/2023 14:19

Is anyone else looking at tables and now hoping eg Japan and Italy go through?

I agree with @Glasgowgin and @Abhannmor about Italy having good chances.

Interesting when you read about All Blacks once being dominant and now aren’t as much.

I really hope Scotland tries their best against Ireland (had Scottish uncle from Paisley sadly passed away over lockdown) and have half Scottish cousins.

Original poster
KnickerlessParsons · 29/09/2023 17:12

I really hope Scotland tries their best against Ireland (had Scottish uncle from Paisley sadly passed away over lockdown) and have half Scottish cousins.

I'm sure they will 😁

OP posts:
HewasH20 · 29/09/2023 19:43

Ugo appears to be chatting to Topsy in his PJs

Howsimplywonderful · 29/09/2023 19:45

I hope the Scotland game is good but I remember landing in Murrayfield after foot and mouth in 2001z were expected to beat Scotland but it went terribly wrong. I hope that history doesn’t repeat

FinnRustle · 29/09/2023 19:57

Italy definitely has the jolliest anthem.

I'd like to see Italy spring a surprise here - come on, Tommy Allen!

HewasH20 · 29/09/2023 19:59

Gutted that Tommy left Quins this summer. He has such a good eye. We have Dino Lamb at 4 as well.

GrouchyKiwi · 29/09/2023 20:01

Bah. It's Matthew Carley as ref. He's terrible.

Usually I'd be confident of an ABs win here, but we've just not clicked for ages so this is Italy's best chance for an upset probably ever.

GrouchyKiwi · 29/09/2023 20:08

Amazing try from Jordan. I thought he was out.

Floralnomad · 29/09/2023 20:12

I would love to see Italy win this

GrouchyKiwi · 29/09/2023 20:19

Oh, OK, I can probably relax now.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 29/09/2023 20:20

All Blacks back in town. Hate to say it but they play some beautiful rugby!