The Official, one and only, Men's IRB Rugby World Cup 2023 thread

[Jim Lahey]

Is today the day that Ireland's Hindenburg-esque RWC collapse begins, or have the IRFU sufficiently padded those brown envelopes?

My money is on the later, but the former coming to fruition regardless.

[Sandstorm]

Is today the day that Ireland's Hindenburg-esque RWC collapse begins, or have the IRFU sufficiently padded those brown envelopes?

My money is on the later, but the former coming to fruition regardless.

I think you'll be grand.

[SaintK]

What's the latest on Sexton? Brown envelopes changed hands yet?

Not from the French the brown enveloppes guys have been ousted.

Seriously his behaviour was way out of line.

No doubt, he deserves a very long ban.
On the upside for Ireland, him not playing will give us a ready made excuse for going out in the quarters

So, how long a ban did he cop?

[Jim Lahey]

Not from the French the brown enveloppes guys have been ousted.

Seriously his behaviour was way out of line.

No doubt, he deserves a very long ban.
On the upside for Ireland, him not playing will give us a ready made excuse for going out in the quarters

So, how long a ban did he cop?

Think the lads are still are still adding up all the years on their fingers.

Or waiting for receipt confirmation of the wire transfer hitting their Cayman bank account.

[SaintK]

No doubt, he deserves a very long ban.
On the upside for Ireland, him not playing will give us a ready made excuse for going out in the quarters

So, how long a ban did he cop?

Think the lads are still are still adding up all the years on their fingers.

Or waiting for receipt confirmation of the wire transfer hitting their Cayman bank account.

[tabascoboy]

Chile's first RWC jersey

[Sandstorm]

Chile's first RWC jersey

Looks like their football shirt

[tabascoboy]

And the Uruguay shirt ( they all seem to look more like football shirts now...)

[tabascoboy]

Ah one that doesn't...

[average joe]

Don't know how one can still call these things rugby jerseys.

[Gumboot]

I quite like this year's All Blacks kit. Reminds me of the 2015 iteration in its unadorned blackness. Different collar design, of course, but that's not so obvious in the absence of any white trim. Wasn't a fan of the narrow white collar band of the last couple of years. And I don't mind the same lack of white hoops on the socks (the '15 version may have been a dark grey?).

[Tichtheid]

Scotland's shirt

[Sandstorm]

I don't like it.
Spurs vs Portmouth.

[tabascoboy]

[Sandstorm]

Much better

[Jock42]

Scotland's shirt

First one I've bought in a couple of years.

[Tichtheid]

Scotland's shirt

First one I've bought in a couple of years.

I like it, the home shirt especially.

[Jim Lahey]

Genuinely don't recognise any of those lads.

[boere wors]

Genuinely don't recognise any of those lads.

Me neither. Who are they?

[tabascoboy]

To be fair I'd recognise very few players from any of the teams in the RWC finals!

[Jim Lahey]

I'd back myself to know most of the Welsh players over the last 15 years or so.

But not a clue with that lot. Think one is the speed demon Dragons winger but name escapes me.

[boere wors]

Wait, they are Welsh... it is Jones, Jones, Jones and Jones

[tabascoboy]

I'd back myself to know most of the Welsh players over the last 15 years or so.

But not a clue with that lot. Think one is the speed demon Dragons winger but name escapes me.

Rio Dyer

[charltom]

https://https//www.telegraph.co.uk/rugb ... up-opener/

So that's a France win then

Is there a typo in the link?

[laurent]

https//www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/08 ... up-opener/

So that's a France win then

Is there a typo in the link?

Yes 2 https

at Any rate Peyper Is hated by the French

[Gumboot]

Michael Hooper gooone?

The celebrated Wallabies career of 125-test great Michael Hooper has likely come to a close after the Australian co-captain was left out of Eddie Jones’ squad for the Rugby World Cup.

In a major selection shock, Hooper was informed on Wednesday he would not be part of the 33-man squad travelling to France for the tournament, which starts next month, because of concerns about his lingering calf injury.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones will name the squad for the World Cup on Thursday evening from Darwin, where the team is in camp for the next four days.

[Guy Smiley]

Sad for Hooper, that's a bit of a shock to read.

[Kiwias]

Damn shame that a great player has to end his career this way.

[laurent]

Is there a typo in the link?

Yes 2 https

at Any rate Peyper Is hated by the French

He compensates for you after the last world cup. The dogs in the street know that. Link works for me? It links from Telegraph to Imdo?

I fixed it / your browser may correct it.

[Slick]

Michael Hooper gooone?

The celebrated Wallabies career of 125-test great Michael Hooper has likely come to a close after the Australian co-captain was left out of Eddie Jones’ squad for the Rugby World Cup.

In a major selection shock, Hooper was informed on Wednesday he would not be part of the 33-man squad travelling to France for the tournament, which starts next month, because of concerns about his lingering calf injury.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones will name the squad for the World Cup on Thursday evening from Darwin, where the team is in camp for the next four days.

That's a real shame, terrific player who carried that side many times.

Has Eddie also dropped Quade Cooper?

[Uncle fester]

Eddie being Eddie?

[Guy Smiley]

Quade isn’t in the team either

[Guy Smiley]

[JM2K6]

"People are paying attention to South Africa because they picked 4 scrum halves with another on standby? Fuck that. Let's see what they think about our fly half choices."

also 3 uncapped players and Skelton as captain. Hoo boy.

[Sandstorm]

"People are paying attention to South Africa because they picked 4 scrum halves with another on standby? Fuck that. Let's see what they think about our fly half choices."

also 3 uncapped players and Skelton as captain. Hoo boy.

1 flyhalf with 1 cap.....Eddie playing 4D boggle with us all again.

[Simian]

Even by Eddie Jones standards, this seems bonkers

[Simian]

"People are paying attention to South Africa because they picked 4 scrum halves with another on standby? Fuck that. Let's see what they think about our fly half choices."

also 3 uncapped players and Skelton as captain. Hoo boy.

1 flyhalf with 1 cap.....Eddie playing 4D boggle with us all again.

It’s one start, isn’t it (rather than one cap? Think he’s a few other caps off the bench?)?

Are any of his utility back picks 10s?

[Guy Smiley]

Are any of his utility back picks 10s?

Ben Donaldson played at 10 for the Waratahs this year.


He was.... shit.

[boere wors]

Bad news with Hooper, one of my favorite players. Is his injury so bad? Is he being given the go by Eddie and the injury story just made up?
Why is Quade Cooper not included?

[Simian]

Bad news with Hooper, one of my favorite players. Is his injury so bad? Is he being given the go by Eddie and the injury story just made up?
Why is Quade Cooper not included?

Yeah, I’d wondered if there been some sort of unrest in the camp or so.