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

[JM2K6]

And as some extra evidence of this

[Sandstorm]

And as some extra evidence of this

Shouldn't have made him wear that stupid hat.

[tabascoboy]

I don't exactly have high hopes...

WALES SQUAD

FORWARDS (19)

Taine Basham – Talywain | Dragons (13 caps)
Adam Beard – Birchgrove | Ospreys (47 caps) (2019 RWC)
Elliot Dee – Newbridge | Dragons | (43 caps) (2019 RWC)
Corey Domachowski – Gilfach Goch | Cardiff Rugby (2 caps)
Ryan Elias – Carmarthen Athletic | Scarlets (34 caps) (2019 RWC)
Taulupe Faletau – RTB Ebbw Vale | Cardiff Rugby | (100 caps) (2011 RWC)
Tomas Francis – Malton & Norton | Provence | (72 caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)
Dafydd Jenkins – Porthcawl | Exeter Chiefs (7 caps)
Dewi Lake – Valley Ravens | Ospreys (9 caps)
Dillon Lewis – Beddau | Harlequins (51 caps) (2019 RWC)
Dan Lydiate – Rhayader | Dragons (71 caps) (2011 & 2015 RWC)
Jac Morgan – Cwmtwrch | Ospreys (11 caps)
Tommy Reffell – Pencoed | Leicester Tigers (10 caps)
Will Rowlands – Dragons (25 caps)
Nicky Smith – Waunarlwydd | Ospreys (44 caps) (2019 RWC)
Gareth Thomas – Newcastle Emlyn | Ospreys (22 caps)
Henry Thomas – Bath minis & juniors | Montpellier (2 caps)
Christ Tshiunza – Rhiwbina Squirrels | Exeter Chiefs (7 caps)
Aaron Wainwright – Whiteheads | Dragons (39 caps) (2019 RWC)

BACKS (14)
Josh Adams – Hendy | Cardiff Rugby (50 Caps) (2019 RWC)
Gareth Anscombe – Ponsonby | Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath (35 caps) (2015 RWC)
Dan Biggar – Gorseinon | Toulon (109 Caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)
Sam Costelow – Pencoed | Scarlets (4 caps)
Gareth Davies – Newcastle Emlyn | Scarlets (69 Caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)
Rio Dyer – Risca | Dragons (9 caps)
Mason Grady – Barry | Cardiff Rugby (4 caps)
Leigh Halfpenny – Gorseinon | unattached (100 Caps) (2011 & 2019 RWC)
George North – Llangefni | Ospreys (114 Caps) (2011, 2015 & 2019 RWC)
Louis Rees-Zammit – Rumney | Gloucester Rugby (27 caps)
Nick Tompkins – Old Elthamians | Saracens (28 caps)
Johnny Williams – Rams | Scarlets (6 caps)
Liam Williams – Waunarlwydd | Penlan | Kubota Spears (85 Caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)
Tomos Williams – Treorchy | Cardiff Rugby (48 Caps) (2019 RWC)

[laurent]

adding the french team



no surprises

[fishfoodie]

Not one single Jones in the Welsh squad !

[laurent]

Not one single Jones in the Welsh squad !

Madness

[Insane_Homer]

Not one single Jones in the Welsh squad !

Only 1 Davies but 3x Williams

[Slick]

Not one single Jones in the Welsh squad !

You see, you joke, but I have always thought there was something in that...

When Scotland were decent at football in the 70's and 80's we always had teams packed with Mc's. I was convinced this was the reason for us being so shite in recent years, a lack of Mc's. Unfortunately , my theory falls slightly apart with the new team, but hey ho.

[Sandstorm]

Not one single Jones in the Welsh squad !

Not true. Tongan is very similar to Welsh.

Taulupe Faletau = Tony Jones

[Sandstorm]

If anyone is doing an office RWC Sweepstake, Telegraph has a great, free sweepstake and wall-chart download:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... oad-print/

[sturginho]

Piloni
Pietro CECCARELLI (Perpignan, 28 caps)
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 46 caps)*
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 32 caps)
Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
Marco RICCIONI (Saracens, 22 caps)*
Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)*

Tallonatori
Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma, 47 caps)*
Epalahame FAIVA (svincolato, 7 caps)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

Seconde Linee
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)
Dino LAMB (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 44 caps)*
David SISI (Zebre Parma, 28 caps)*

Terze Linee
Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps) – capitano
Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 47 caps)*
Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)

Mediani di Mischia
Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)
Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
Martin PAGE-RELO (Lione, 1 cap)
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 20 caps)

Mediani di Apertura
Tommaso ALLAN (Perpignan, 74 caps)**
Giacomo DA RE (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 26 caps)

Centri
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
Luca MORISI (svincolato, 46 caps)*

Ali/Estremi
Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 13 caps)
Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 11 caps)
Montanna IOANE (Lione, 20 caps)
Paolo ODOGWU (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)

Did Mori get KCs daughter pregnant or something?

[SaintK]

So no NH refs good enough for the key matches in Pools A and B then?
NZ V France - Jaco Peyper
South Africa V Scotland - Angus Gardner
Ireland V South Africa - Paul Williams
Ireland V Scotland - Nick Berry

[snaporaz]

Piloni
Pietro CECCARELLI (Perpignan, 28 caps)
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 46 caps)*
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 32 caps)
Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
Marco RICCIONI (Saracens, 22 caps)*
Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)*

Tallonatori
Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma, 47 caps)*
Epalahame FAIVA (svincolato, 7 caps)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

Seconde Linee
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)
Dino LAMB (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 44 caps)*
David SISI (Zebre Parma, 28 caps)*

Terze Linee
Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps) – capitano
Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 47 caps)*
Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)

Mediani di Mischia
Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)
Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
Martin PAGE-RELO (Lione, 1 cap)
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 20 caps)

Mediani di Apertura
Tommaso ALLAN (Perpignan, 74 caps)**
Giacomo DA RE (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 26 caps)

Centri
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
Luca MORISI (svincolato, 46 caps)*

Ali/Estremi
Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 13 caps)
Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 11 caps)
Montanna IOANE (Lione, 20 caps)
Paolo ODOGWU (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)

Did Mori get KCs daughter pregnant or something?

No, è perché ha 23 anni e tecnicamente e tatticamente limitatissimo.
Già è passato da un club di prima fascia (Bordeaux) ad uno con meno ambizioni.
Scommettiamo che tempo due anni gioca in serie A ?

[sturginho]

Piloni
Pietro CECCARELLI (Perpignan, 28 caps)
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 46 caps)*
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 32 caps)
Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
Marco RICCIONI (Saracens, 22 caps)*
Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)*

Tallonatori
Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma, 47 caps)*
Epalahame FAIVA (svincolato, 7 caps)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

Seconde Linee
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)
Dino LAMB (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 44 caps)*
David SISI (Zebre Parma, 28 caps)*

Terze Linee
Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps) – capitano
Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 47 caps)*
Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)

Mediani di Mischia
Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)
Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
Martin PAGE-RELO (Lione, 1 cap)
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 20 caps)

Mediani di Apertura
Tommaso ALLAN (Perpignan, 74 caps)**
Giacomo DA RE (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 26 caps)

Centri
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
Luca MORISI (svincolato, 46 caps)*

Ali/Estremi
Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 13 caps)
Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 11 caps)
Montanna IOANE (Lione, 20 caps)
Paolo ODOGWU (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)

Did Mori get KCs daughter pregnant or something?

No, è perché ha 23 anni e tecnicamente e tatticamente limitatissimo.
Già è passato da un club di prima fascia (Bordeaux) ad uno con meno ambizioni.
Scommettiamo che tempo due anni gioca in serie A ?

Sì, Fede ha dei limiti ben noti, soprattutto in difesa, però abbiamo Menoncello infortunato, Marin e Mey idem. Escludere entrambi Mori e Lucchini e portare solo due centri di ruolo mi sembra un rischio di troppo

[npradmin]

Will keep this topic at the top of the page for the tournamemt, after all we are a rugby forum....allegedly

[Ymx]

Will keep this topic at the top of the page for the tournamemt, after all we are a rugby forum....allegedly

[OomStruisbaai]

Awesome to see posters posting in their home language. Feel at home.

[sefton]

Awesome to see posters posting in their home language. Feel at home.

I though I recognised a dialect of Gibberish from Sandstorm.

[Gumboot]

Underdog status restored!

[OomStruisbaai]

Underdog status restored!

Thats a big worry. Foster have a great plan.

Springboks don't handle the favorite tag well.

Scotland in round 1 is going to be tough.

[TheNatalShark]

I'm not watching the next world cup if the seed draw is made so far out again.

All just to try and get Japan into a weaker pool.

[Uncle fester]

Some intriguing results today. Ireland looked well undercooked.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Springboks and Scotland cook at the moment. Scotland the big favorites after beating France.

[Ymx]

Just putting this here to help remind.

[Ymx]

Pool B with Ireland, SA and Scotland was always a tough one. But Pool C is certainly not forgone conclusion with a very dangerous looking Fiji.

With our result, Italy would fancy their chances against us, and send us packing.

Pool D has England. Enough said.

[Ymx]

Key matches

Pool A - Italy v NZ

Pool B - Scotland v Ireland, but probably all 3 permutations of top 3

Pool C - Fiji v Wales

Pool D - England v Japan

[Cartman]

I still think its going to be 6-0 for the SH in our half of the draw
France = too fat
Italy = Italy
Scotland = not enough Saffers
Direland = not enough Kiwis

[OomStruisbaai]

I still think its going to be 6-0 for the SH in our half of the draw
France = too fat
Italy = Italy
Scotland = not enough Saffers
Direland = not enough Kiwis

We are part of the NH Boet

[fishfoodie]

Might as well post the Irish Squad here. Only change from expected was Healys injury has ruled him out, & Loughman got the call, so the Scots will have to focus their 5 minutes of hate entirely to POM

Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup squad

Forwards (18):
Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham,Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Ronan Kelleher, David Kilcoyne, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier.

Backs (15):
Bundee Aki, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton.

[Ymx]

I still think its going to be 6-0 for the SH in our half of the draw
France = too fat
Italy = Italy
Scotland = not enough Saffers
Direland = not enough Kiwis

We are part of the NH Boet

You’ve moved your summers to June?

[OomStruisbaai]

I still think its going to be 6-0 for the SH in our half of the draw
France = too fat
Italy = Italy
Scotland = not enough Saffers
Direland = not enough Kiwis

We are part of the NH Boet

You’ve moved your summers to June?

Its easy to explain. My biggest asset in life is loyalty.

I am living in the Boland area but have a different rugby area called Western Province. My fellow Bolanders support the Bulls and the All Blacks for mainly that reason. For me I support WP and the Stormers because thats where we play our rugby.

For many years we played Superrugby. We got kicked out. So we switched to the URC. We play rugby from October to June, a totally mind shift for us rugby supporters. Meaning we adobted to the NH and realize rugby is a global game these days.

So geography means vokol , loyalty is where our teams play.

[Ymx]

We are part of the NH Boet

You’ve moved your summers to June?

Its easy to explain. My biggest asset in life is loyalty.

I am living in the Boland area but have a different rugby area called Western Province. My fellow Bolanders support the Bulls and the All Blacks for mainly that reason. For me I support WP and the Stormers because thats where we play our rugby.

For many years we played Superrugby. We got kicked out. So we switched to the URC. We play rugby from October to June, a totally mind shift for us rugby supporters. Meaning we adobted to the NH and realize rugby is a global game these days.

So geography means vokol , loyalty is where our teams play.

Your ancestors would turn in their grave to see you turn your back on the international SH spiritual rugby history and rivalry.

Shame on you Oom.

You’re a burden, but you’re our burden.

[OomStruisbaai]

You’ve moved your summers to June?

Its easy to explain. My biggest asset in life is loyalty.

I am living in the Boland area but have a different rugby area called Western Province. My fellow Bolanders support the Bulls and the All Blacks for mainly that reason. For me I support WP and the Stormers because thats where we play our rugby.

For many years we played Superrugby. We got kicked out. So we switched to the URC. We play rugby from October to June, a totally mind shift for us rugby supporters. Meaning we adobted to the NH and realize rugby is a global game these days.

So geography means vokol , loyalty is where our teams play.

Your ancestors would turn in their grave to see you turn your back on the international SH spiritual rugby history and rivalry.

Shame on you Oom.

You’re a burden, but you’re our burden.

You need to thank your CEO, Robinson, he kicked us in the back when we needed you.

Myself have a very special place for the All Blacks and NZ rugby. I am a BIG Waikato fan, always will be.

[Ymx]

Well Supe went a bit dogshit. You’re missing nothing there.

You’re still part of the RC. Hopefully that remains.

[OomStruisbaai]

Well Supe went a bit dogshit. You’re missing nothing there.

You’re still part of the RC. Hopefully that remains.

The only problem for us in RC is that the Bok squad only get a rest in January/February

[SaintK]

About sums up where England are

[Sundance-Kid]

England could drop further to 11th if results in the first round of the RWC don't go their way.

https://rawling.github.io/wr-calc/?d=20 ... v720s0-8f2

*edit forgot I had to adjust for the RWC, so it could become even worse

[LoveOfTheGame]

About sums up where England are

Fiji!! Awesome, well done to them.

[Biffer]

England could drop further to 11th if results in the first round of the RWC don't go their way.

https://rawling.github.io/wr-calc/?d=20 ... v720s0-8f2

*edit forgot I had to adjust for the RWC, so it could become even worse

If Scotland beat South Africa they go to fourth and SA drop to fifth

[sefton]

8,9 and 10 are over rated.