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

[C69]

The playing surfaces at all grounds are pristine. Amazing job by ground staff.

Well apart from the Wales game where the pitch was rolling up like a carpet and it was dangerous.

[Slick]

The next week of matches looks really dull until Sunday night.

4 years between competitions helps to forget how crap and tedious the first few weeks generally are

[Slick]

Also, no citing for Kriel

[Sandstorm]

The playing surfaces at all grounds are pristine. Amazing job by ground staff.

Well apart from the Wales game where the pitch was rolling up like a carpet and it was dangerous.

Dangerous???

[Torquemada 1420]

Also, no citing for Kriel

Farcical. Farrell should appeal.

[SaintK]

Also, no citing for Kriel

What actually happened?
I was listening on the train home from Paris and haven’t seen a clip

[Sandstorm]

Also, no citing for Kriel

What actually happened?
I was listening on the train home from Paris and haven’t seen a clip

[freddie]

So, the RWC report card for week 1

Venue Organisation B- With the exception of the England game, not heard of any other significant problems.

Anthems - Z - Absolutely terrible idea to get pre-recorded school choirs to sing them, ruins the atmosphere completely

Officials B- A mixed bag, some Howlers (Carley i mean you) and some decent performances as well.

Quality of games - B - Only 1 game that really lived up to the expectations, Wales v Fiji, the rest rated from decidedly average, to a complete borefest (Yes England i mean you)

Feel free to add your own

Marseilles ran out of water(!) and beer and didn't have anywhere near enough trams, busses etc. So think a C for now on the venues.

[SaintK]

Also, no citing for Kriel

What actually happened?
I was listening on the train home from Paris and haven’t seen a clip

Ooof!
Bloody hell and no citing......bonkers!

[Camroc2]

So, the RWC report card for week 1

Venue Organisation B- With the exception of the England game, not heard of any other significant problems.

Anthems - Z - Absolutely terrible idea to get pre-recorded school choirs to sing them, ruins the atmosphere completely

Officials B- A mixed bag, some Howlers (Carley i mean you) and some decent performances as well.

Quality of games - B - Only 1 game that really lived up to the expectations, Wales v Fiji, the rest rated from decidedly average, to a complete borefest (Yes England i mean you)

Feel free to add your own

Marseilles ran out of water(!) and beer and didn't have anywhere near enough trams, busses etc. So think a C for now on the venues.

Bordeaux exactly the same for the Ireland match.

[laurent]

So, the RWC report card for week 1

Venue Organisation B- With the exception of the England game, not heard of any other significant problems.

Anthems - Z - Absolutely terrible idea to get pre-recorded school choirs to sing them, ruins the atmosphere completely

Officials B- A mixed bag, some Howlers (Carley i mean you) and some decent performances as well.

Quality of games - B - Only 1 game that really lived up to the expectations, Wales v Fiji, the rest rated from decidedly average, to a complete borefest (Yes England i mean you)

Feel free to add your own

Marseilles ran out of water(!) and beer and didn't have anywhere near enough trams, busses etc. So think a C for now on the venues.

Bordeaux exactly the same for the Ireland match.

They don't understand rugby fans are mostly alcoholic (and it was 35°C)

I could not get a beer at the aussie game (to lazy to queue a second time as were i was they ran out of gaz) they did not have the perrier citron ersatz left either.

Anyway no issues getting in the stade de France, my partner was offered about 3 times help by the attendant to skip the queue or get in the elevator .

PS Cam I'll be at the 2 big Irish games against the scots and SA.

[robmatic]

The next week of matches looks really dull until Sunday night.

4 years between competitions helps to forget how crap and tedious the first few weeks generally are

Yeah, it's really poor as a neutral. I'll probably only watch Fiji vs Australia. I'd typically also fancy watching Japan against a misfiring England, but Japan appear to have regressed massively so probably not worth it.

[C69]

The next week of matches looks really dull until Sunday night.

4 years between competitions helps to forget how crap and tedious the first few weeks generally are

Yeah, it's really poor as a neutral. I'll probably only watch Fiji vs Australia. I'd typically also fancy watching Japan against a misfiring England, but Japan appear to have regressed massively so probably not worth it.

Should be a good game. I doubt the officials will allow Fiji as much latitude at the break down as Carley did against Wales.
That said it will be a shame to see Fiji go home early if they lose.
That said if Fiji win I fear for the plucky battered boys from Wales.

[Ovals]

The next week of matches looks really dull until Sunday night.

4 years between competitions helps to forget how crap and tedious the first few weeks generally are

Yeah, it's really poor as a neutral. I'll probably only watch Fiji vs Australia. I'd typically also fancy watching Japan against a misfiring England, but Japan appear to have regressed massively so probably not worth it.

Should be a good game. I doubt the officials will allow Fiji as much latitude at the break down as Carley did against Wales.
That said it will be a shame to see Fiji go home early if they lose.
That said if Fiji win I fear for the plucky battered boys from Wales.

Fiji a bit unlucky to have Wales and Oz back to back - going into another big game after such a tough match does them no favours..

[SaintK]

They're re-doing the anthems!!

Rugby World Cup organisers have bowed to pressure and on Wednesday morning announced plans to re-record the pre-match national anthems after they faced widespread criticism across the tournament’s opening weekend. Officials also said the new versions would be subject to approval from the competing nations.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/202 ... -recorded

[Guy Smiley]

Marx is out of the cup....


https://www.reuters.com/sports/south-af ... 023-09-14/

South Africa's World Cup title defence suffered a major blow on Thursday when hooker Malcolm Marx was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a long-term knee injury.

"Marx, who was not included in Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s matchday squad to face Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday, went down at training on Wednesday after having his knee caught in contact," the Springboks said in a statement.

"With the Springboks having the luxury of an enlarged 33-man squad in France for the international showpiece, and sufficient cover at hooker within the squad, he will not be replaced in the squad at this stage."

Coach Jacques Nienaber said that while the Springboks, who beat Scotland 18-3 in their Pool B opener, were now left with only one specialist hooker in the squad, other players could step into the role if needed.

[SaintK]

Marx is out of the cup....


https://www.reuters.com/sports/south-af ... 023-09-14/

South Africa's World Cup title defence suffered a major blow on Thursday when hooker Malcolm Marx was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a long-term knee injury.

"Marx, who was not included in Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s matchday squad to face Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday, went down at training on Wednesday after having his knee caught in contact," the Springboks said in a statement.

"With the Springboks having the luxury of an enlarged 33-man squad in France for the international showpiece, and sufficient cover at hooker within the squad, he will not be replaced in the squad at this stage."

Coach Jacques Nienaber said that while the Springboks, who beat Scotland 18-3 in their Pool B opener, were now left with only one specialist hooker in the squad, other players could step into the role if needed.

Shame, probably the best hooker around at the moment
That's bollocks. You're not going to win the RWC without specialist hookers

[average joe]

Ja, it's a funny one that. Fourie I get but they're actually touting van Staden as backup.

[laurent]

Ja, it's a funny one that. Fourie I get but they're actually touting van Staden as backup.

You need one on the bench So a prop can sometimes cover but it makes no sense not to call a proper hooker.

[BnM]

Picture quality on ITV 4 is terrible.

[ASMO]

Anthems much better, but they still fuck the choir right off altogether

[ASMO]

Picture quality on ITV 4 is terrible.

Its SD

[BnM]

Woohoo!

[ASMO]

Torq gonna be raging

[C69]

Picture quality on ITV 4 is terrible.

Its SD

My pic quality is excellent

[PCPhil]

Uruguay must surely be the greatest per capita nation for teams sports in the globe.

[C69]

Uruguay must surely be the greatest per capita nation for teams sports in the globe.

Why? Taking the early 20 century joke football world cups out I don't see your point.
It has a bigger population than Wales

[C69]

FFS OKeefe is a pedantic prick

[C69]

Terrible pitch again

[Sandstorm]

That yellow to France #4 will be red in the next few mins.

[PCPhil]

Uruguay must surely be the greatest per capita nation for teams sports in the globe.

Why? Taking the early 20 century joke football world cups out I don't see your point.
It has a bigger population than Wales

Er, they haven't done too badly in recent world cups.......

[Oxbow]

Only half watching, but that should be a red I reckon.

[C69]

Nasty headshot

[ASMO]

Who the hell knows, its a bloody lottery the yellow/red situation

[Big D]

What was he actually trying to do? He got into an odd shape.

[Marylandolorian]

2 weeks

Not a nice game so far

[ASMO]

Moefana is a bit shit isnt he.

[salanya]

Has to be a red. Shoulder/elbow straight to the head, without any attempt at wrapping.

Scrumhalf should have an HIA though.

[ASMO]

Stays yellow, i can see an argument each way....bloody great try though.

[Big D]

I can't see how that isn't obstruction there.