Pre WC fixtures - Sat 25th - En v Fj 15.15 - Sc v Ge 17.30 - Ir v Sm 19.45 - Sun Fra v Au 16.45

[_Os_]

Fiji are at 12/1 to win Pool C.

[Flockwitt]

I think I counted ~6 players in the starting side, & another 2-3 in the subs

Scotland had 8 or 9 starters, none on the bench.

On these performances Scotland look more able to take full points out of Tonga and Romania than Ireland. Can't select the best every match. Getting every point possible is going to be crucial.

I reckon the Boks will start the squad and bench players, have XV players on the bench.

Samoa I'm placing 2nd out of the PI sides behind Fiji.

Have to admit I'm finding it very hard to pick this RWC.

[fishfoodie]

I think I counted ~6 players in the starting side, & another 2-3 in the subs

Scotland had 8 or 9 starters, none on the bench.

On these performances Scotland look more able to take full points out of Tonga and Romania than Ireland. Can't select the best every match. Getting every point possible is going to be crucial.

I reckon the Boks will start the squad and bench players, have XV players on the bench.

Samoa I'm placing 2nd out of the PI sides behind Fiji.

On the last couple of weeks yeah, I'd agree with that. Historically the Pi sides played 60 minutes of Rugby, & then they'd run out of gas; & their set pieces, & place kicking made it hard for them to stay on contention, no matter how good their skills were.

Last week I was impressed by Fiji in the way they stuck in the game, & they didn't go to pieces in the set piece. It was the similar tonight with Samoa, but in the end their set piece wasn't as good as Fiji, but at least they can still work on that.

Ireland are lucky in that they have two games they should win to start, & work their way up to their biggest challenges, & also that we've, hopefully, a depth of players that we don't have to commit all our 1sts, so don't have to commit too many key players to get thru them. I think the risk for Scotland is that they don't have the depth, & have to balance rising injury, & getting match fit, & still getting those results.

[Slick]

Scotland had 8 or 9 starters, none on the bench.

On these performances Scotland look more able to take full points out of Tonga and Romania than Ireland. Can't select the best every match. Getting every point possible is going to be crucial.

I reckon the Boks will start the squad and bench players, have XV players on the bench.

Samoa I'm placing 2nd out of the PI sides behind Fiji.

On the last couple of weeks yeah, I'd agree with that. Historically the Pi sides played 60 minutes of Rugby, & then they'd run out of gas; & their set pieces, & place kicking made it hard for them to stay on contention, no matter how good their skills were.

Last week I was impressed by Fiji in the way they stuck in the game, & they didn't go to pieces in the set piece. It was the similar tonight with Samoa, but in the end their set piece wasn't as good as Fiji, but at least they can still work on that.

Ireland are lucky in that they have two games they should win to start, & work their way up to their biggest challenges, & also that we've, hopefully, a depth of players that we don't have to commit all our 1sts, so don't have to commit too many key players to get thru them. I think the risk for Scotland is that they don't have the depth, & have to balance rising injury, & getting match fit, & still getting those results.

And also, those teams will be targeting Scotland and may not go full noise against the others

[_Os_]

Have to admit I'm finding it very hard to pick this RWC.

Very hard to guess the order of the pools.

Even narrowing it down to two sides in each pool is hard, other than Pool A (France/NZ). Pool B and C both have three sides with strong chances, Pool D has four.

[_Os_]

On the last couple of weeks yeah, I'd agree with that. Historically the Pi sides played 60 minutes of Rugby, & then they'd run out of gas; & their set pieces, & place kicking made it hard for them to stay on contention, no matter how good their skills were.

Last week I was impressed by Fiji in the way they stuck in the game, & they didn't go to pieces in the set piece. It was the similar tonight with Samoa, but in the end their set piece wasn't as good as Fiji, but at least they can still work on that.

The odds on them getting out of their pool are going to tumble, if they can put four games together winning Pool C isn't unthinkable. Wales are in a bad way and it's not a vintage Wallabies side, both are also coached by old guys who sometimes seem a bit mental.

Ireland are lucky in that they have two games they should win to start, & work their way up to their biggest challenges, & also that we've, hopefully, a depth of players that we don't have to commit all our 1sts, so don't have to commit too many key players to get thru them. I think the risk for Scotland is that they don't have the depth, & have to balance rising injury, & getting match fit, & still getting those results.

One entirely plausible scenario is: Boks beat Scotland, Ireland beat the Boks, Scotland beat Ireland. Giving us one win each. Obviously that makes bonus points crucial as it's the total points that counts in the first instance. If teams are level on points, the first tiebreaker is points won in the match between the two teams (not points difference, but the 4 for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 for losing by 7 or less, 1 for 4 tries or more). In the Boks/Scotland/Ireland matches even losing by less than 7 could be crucial, as could one game getting loose enough for a side to score 4 tries.

[fishfoodie]

And also, those teams will be targeting Scotland and may not go full noise against the others

Absolutely. Every coach is trying to work out how to use the resources they have best, & on our side of the draw, faced with so many competitive teams, they'll have to choose when to pull out all the stops & go for the result.

Every 2nd tier team is going to be looking for the opportunity of their opposition fielding a weakened team, & throwing the dice & fielding a full strength team.The last few weeks has shown that no one can take any result for granted.

[Flockwitt]

Have to admit I'm finding it very hard to pick this RWC.

Very hard to guess the order of the pools.

Even narrowing it down to two sides in each pool is hard, other than Pool A (France/NZ). Pool B and C both have three sides with strong chances, Pool D has four.

Yep. And a single red card anywhere can produce an expected outcome. I just hope this RWC doesn't get defined by it.

[Torquemada 1420]

Extraordinary. And 3 observations

1) Yet again, Steward shown up as a carthorse and beaten on the outside for 2 tries as he was for 3 (IIRC) against Ireland. Unless Eng can find a working defensive pattern (no evidence of any defence pattern yesterday) to keep Steward's side tight, he will be ruthlessly exploited now everyone has seen the issue. And FB is probably the hardest one to patch a failing for.

2) WTF was with the Marler challenge which saw the Fijian go off? UK broadcaster went all French in refusing to show any of us any replay so we were left with Peyper's word for it that it had been looked at and was okay but it looked direct head to head live.

3) Mitchell's "tackle" for which he got a pen. I mean, jeeeessssuss, what are Eng teaching in training. Did he thing he was lassoing a calf?

[PCPhil]

Tier 2 really giving Tier 1 a working.

First SA yesterday, then Fiji, now Samoa

missed this one at the time.

[Ymx]

Tier 2 really giving Tier 1 a working.

First SA yesterday, then Fiji, now Samoa

missed this one at the time.

It was sad and pathetic, but thanks.

[sockwithaticket]

Crowd only version of La Marseillaise

[PCPhil]

Crowd only version of La Marseillaise

Much better than the usual 'look at me' going all Mariah Carey at the end of an anthem.

[GrahamWa]

Crowd only version of La Marseillaise

A poach from the Scots, the dicks.

[sockwithaticket]

Crowd only version of La Marseillaise

A poach from the Scots, the dicks.

Other than an intro from the band, the crowd did the whole thing acapella. Jocks only do a verse.

[PCPhil]

Love the French crowd whistleling the realising it was their penalty

[sockwithaticket]

Has to be a yellow surely? He couldn't have gone any higher.

[Insane_Homer]

Wtf, early and high. That's yellow.

[Insane_Homer]

3 long accurate passes in the pissing rain to get that wide for the score

[sockwithaticket]

Gordon's mullet is a crime.

[Insane_Homer]

French hooker shitting the bed at lineout time

[sockwithaticket]

Great work in a very tight space there by Villiere.

[Slick]

Why’s the ref pointing out where the ball is for them, not his job

[sockwithaticket]

Eddie Jones impossible challenge - coach a team without turning their discipline to shit.

[Slick]

There is a good team is this Aussie lot somewhere

[PCPhil]

Should be hooked just for the hair.

[Simian]

Should be hooked just for the hair.

Ban him. Maybe with a week ban reduction if he goes to hairdressing school.

[sockwithaticket]

It's not foul play. McDermot causes his own man to take the tumble.

[sockwithaticket]

Should be hooked just for the hair.

Ban him. Maybe with a week ban reduction if he goes to hairdressing school.

I'll never get why Aussies have clung onto the mullet or why it's become more widely acceptable over the last few years.

[fishfoodie]

Fucking whiteline fever

[sockwithaticket]

Kelloway a bit lucky there. Villiere was falling, but Kelloway tucked his should and led with it, no attempt to wrap.

[fishfoodie]

I think Pearce is the best ref in the world at the moment, & has been for the last year or so

[sockwithaticket]

I think Pearce is the best ref in the world at the moment, & has been for the last year or so

I think over that period he's fallen below his best. Become more interested in making quick decisions than right ones. See it a lot in the Prem.

[Sandstorm]

Aussie League dude having great game.

[PCPhil]

If Aus do this the French scrum SA must be licking their lips.

[Sandstorm]

16-5 France HT

[PCPhil]

Aus really playing well.

[sockwithaticket]

Aus really playing well.

Not able to make it count on the scoreboard, though.

[Sandstorm]

The French just soak up the pressure, then when they get the turnover they come alive so quickly. Impressive skills throughout the team.

[sockwithaticket]

Well that was lovely.