Rugby World Cup 2023

[dronefromsector7G]

It’s the only real way we can beat SA. They’re better than us.

The fact that we lost the game because we made an error pretty much in the middle of the park sums up the game for me. Almost seems like a lottery

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Is it more dangerous than having lots of scrums where teams are looking for pens.

I just find the pens arbitrary and it's a shit way to have the game outcome hang on refs making tough calls.

Yes, much more dangerous - it's why collapsing scrums often get whistled quickly. Neck injuries will be career-ending.

As for arbitrariness, sometimes yes, it does seem like that. It's why it's often spoken of as creating an image in the ref's mind of who is on top, hence SA taking the scrum from a mark in the last matches. The players will be chirping about who is the one they want the ref to look at, and the ref will often go to the other side to watch.

 

[Gray]

Well they put up a good fight.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

The fact that we lost the game because we made an error pretty much in the middle of the park sums up the game for me. Almost seems like a lottery

I said before the tournament that I enjoy RU much less since they became professional.

You now have 30 tall, muscular guys weighing 18 stone hitting each other with better tactics.

Scrums take forever to set and kicking becomes a big territorial part of the game.

Hopefully NZ beat SA. They have the most flair and creativity.

 

[dronefromsector7G]

I said before the tournament that I enjoy RU much less since they became professional.

You now have 30 tall, muscular guys weighing 18 stone hitting each other with better tactics.

Scrums take forever to set and kicking becomes a big territorial part of the game.

Hopefully NZ beat SA. They have the most flair and creativity.

I hope so too. Hate the apartheid cunts. I find it incredible that you get 3 points for booting it 50 yards and 5 for a try

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I hope so too. Hate the apartheid cunts. I find it incredible that you get 3 points for booting it 50 yards and 5 for a try

If you made penalties less important, teams would just foul more, wouldn’t they?

 

[Semper aggressus]

Gutted. We were so close and I still don’t see why the ref gave that late penalty, all the scrums were getting ugly, not sure Genge was infringing any more than theirs. We didnt deserve to lose that.

 

[bluemanchester]

Not watched the last penalty given to SA again yet but it did seem a SA player turned in on the scrum which may have been the initial offence and if it was Okeefe ignored it for a reason only he knows. I will watch again tomorrow. I will add, the LotG are always skewed towards southern hemisphere sides so next weeks final will be a bit like a premier league ref being asked to choose which red top side he wants to favour when they play each other if they choose one of the poor SH refs.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

If you made penalties less important, teams would just foul more, wouldn’t they?

Precisely - it's why tries were increased to 5 (and they do get the chance to be 7).

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Not watched the last penalty given to SA again yet but it did seem a SA player turned in on the scrum which may have been the initial offence and if it was Okeefe ignored it for a reason only he knows. I will watch again tomorrow. I will add, the LotG are always skewed towards southern hemisphere sides so next weeks final will be a bit like a premier league ref being asked to choose which red top side he wants to favour when they play each other if they choose one of the poor SH refs.

I'd expect the ref to be Wayne Barnes.
I don't think any Australians are in the running, and Raynal would be a huge surprise.