Rugby World Cup 2023

[MillionMilesAway]

I thought cricket was top as it was the only sport that united them all.

Might be down to the measure used?

The ARL is played everywhere apart from Northern Territories/Tasmania; cricket is in Tasmania but only has 6 teams and Canberra don't have a team.
RL does play in Canberra, but not in South Aus or Western Aus.

Cricket has the international angle to it, and that could put it above RL but the domestic Sheffield Shield is only 6 teams, so if you're not in one of the big cities, it would be a long way to travel for a match.
It may be more important in Tasmania as there isn't a pro ARL/RL team there as far as I know (I think there are plans for one).

The Big Bash may skew importance too.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

As far as I know, it's always been that way, or for a long time now anyway.

Aussie Rules is top. Cricket and rugby league are next (RL is very regional, just as here). Union isn't played in much of the country - there are only 5 teams in the Aus/NZ/Fiji competition, and they're in the cities/capital. I don't think either rugby code have much presence in South Australia (Adelaide).

ARL has loads of teams in Melbourne (Victoria).

We have big competition here too when it comes to sport. Rugby Union here, I would say, is third behind GAA and football. Football is so badly run and is shown up by how well rugby is organised.
Rugby was always considered the posh school sport over here when I was growing up and I often think, what the hell could we produce if we had half the numbers that play Gaelic football, being involved in rugby. Really robust, fabulous, athletes.

If we do really well here in this tournament, who knows what it will do for the sport in this country.

Eddie Jones is at the top of the tree in the coaching of the national team as is but the coaching throughout the whole country is being firmly blamed in the studio here. Matt saying that the setup in Australia and Ireland is exactly the same, schools leading into the provinces into the national team but the big difference is the standard of education throughout.

What do I know? I never went to a posh school. I went to a Christian Bros. School that wouldn’t entertain anything other than Gaelic games and athletics. And we were banned from playing hurling until our year had passed through due to the violence involved while playing a near neighbouring school.

But the rugby schools are doing something right.
Another great asset Rugby has in uniting people here behind it is the fact that truly is an all of Ireland international event.

I tell you if Ireland did go all the way, Andy Farrell would be beatified like Jack was for just getting us to a quarter final.

 

[aguero93:20]

And we were banned from playing hurling until our year had passed through due to the violence involved while playing a near neighbouring school.

Tut tut. Violence in hurling, never heard the like.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Tut tut. Violence in hurling, never heard the like.

A long time ago.
There may have been a bit of crowd trouble too.
I’ll say no more.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

We have big competition here too when it comes to sport. Rugby Union here, I would say, is third behind GAA and football. Football is so badly run and is shown up by how well rugby is organised.
Rugby was always considered the posh school sport over here when I was growing up and I often think, what the hell could we produce if we had half the numbers that play Gaelic football, being involved in rugby. Really robust, fabulous, athletes.

If we do really well here in this tournament, who knows what it will do for the sport in this country.

Eddie Jones is at the top of the tree in the coaching of the national team as is but the coaching throughout the whole country is being firmly blamed in the studio here. Matt saying that the setup in Australia and Ireland is exactly the same, schools leading into the provinces into the national team but the big difference is the standard of education throughout.

What do I know? I never went to a posh school. I went to a Christian Bros. School that wouldn’t entertain anything other than Gaelic games and athletics. And we were banned from playing hurling until our year had passed through due to the violence involved while playing a near neighbouring school.

But the rugby schools are doing something right.
Another great asset Rugby has in uniting people here behind it is the fact that truly is an all of Ireland international event.

I tell you if Ireland did go all the way, Andy Farrell would be beatified like Jack was for just getting us to a quarter final.

Interesting. In terms of coaching, it wouldn't be the first time.

NZ teams are pretty much coached to the same plan - and that usually makes players slot into the All Blacks easily. As the game changes, they look a little lightweight in the pack.
English RU league sides for quite a while have played a very different style game, and players are coached to that style - that's not helped England at an international level as it's reffed differently and the style suffers when up against some of the other nations; the players don't know any other way though, or if they did, it's been coached out of them.
For domestic nations, having players in e.g. France will help immensely.

I wonder if Australian RU hasn't the financial draw of other sports and players are going to other sports (just as West Indian cricket has lost players to e.g. basketball).

 

[leighton]

For me Big Gaz I dont think you ever think with the form going into the World Cup you be sorted out with a quarter final spot already. You know i have always rated the Welsh national team they have always played it the right way. Also that side is so open with avoiding the heavyweights until the semi finals. England aint a heavyweight but could get to the semi final too crazy thoughts.

As for the Aussies and Eddie Jones his rep is going down hill big time after the highs of Japan and then somehow destroying the English team to this shambles who on earth would be offer Eddie Jones any job. They just didnt have a plan. They were so so poor and didnt look like ever making a game of it down to bad judgement calls and just a bad game plan. Last time the Aussies played Ireland in Dublin last year they looked a decent side with out Eddie Jones as there manager. How the standard has dropped.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

The NRL transformed the way they market Rugby League in Australia about 15 years ago and they haven’t looked back. Crowds doubled, players’ salaries increased and the NRL is watched on TV by rugby league fans across the globe.

The wallabies had punched above their weight for many years (with success from a relatively small player pool) but have been found out in the last 2 world cups. It seems some other Countries learnt lessons from the Aussies eg mirroring or similar styles of play across age groups, provincial team and universities etc.

The commercial edge to pick the best players from Rugby League has gone and many South Sea Island heritage players would prefer to turn out for the lands of their families.

Gregan mentioned on the TV last night that they potentially have a golden decade of series and tournaments on Aussie soil including a visit by the Lions and Men’s and Women World Cups they might reignite the Wallabies if they get their act together.

 

[supercity88]

As far as I know, it's always been that way, or for a long time now anyway.

Aussie Rules is top. Cricket and rugby league are next (RL is very regional, just as here). Union isn't played in much of the country - there are only 5 teams in the Aus/NZ/Fiji competition, and they're in the cities/capital. I don't think either rugby code have much presence in South Australia (Adelaide).

ARL has loads of teams in Melbourne (Victoria).

I was working in QLD during the 2011 RWC and all the English/Irish/French went to the pub to watch the rugby and it was put to a small screen in the pub as the locals weren't interested at all. Rugby league or cricket up there. Melbourne is all about Aussie Rules and Rugby league. Sydney is more diverse. But like you say, union isn't that big a sport over there. I feel like the South African teams leaving Super Rugby will continue to harm the chances of NZ and Australia moving forwards, and help boost the quality of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams as they play a higher quality and different style of opposition.

 

[supercity88]

An excellent weekend of rugby. Ireland v South Africa really delivered. The Irish went for tries and probably left 6-9pts out there from losing attacking lineouts rather than kicking the points in the first half. And then in the second half South Africa left a similar number out there with missed kicks. Pollard will make a huge difference if he can get fit for the knockouts.

Ireland look fantastic but it's a big task to win the WC. They play Scotland in a couple of weeks. Then NZ in all likelihood and then the Welsh and then comes the final. Tricky, but possible.

France v SA if it does pan out that way, is a really difficult one to call as well. The French are able to punish penalties from nearly anywhere on the pitch and have the power to match SA potentially and then the flair too. That's a game where it could end up being one over-ambitious pass that causes an interception and the game is lost.

I really can't call either of those QFs. I think there's a lot more to come from NZ too. It's strange how little they're being talked about when usually it's theirs to lose.

England and Wales have had the chance to nail a system and bench and test different options. They've gained confidence and form and as much as Fiji are improved, England should beat them in the QFs and Wales should beat Argentina who look really out of form - so England's win must be dialled back a lot!

Then they meet the big boys. England will play France or South Africa and it's home time! Wales would play Ireland or NZ and I actually think they could cause an upset.

 

[aguero93:20]

Then they meet the big boys. England will play France or South Africa and it's home time! Wales would play Ireland or NZ and I actually think they could cause an upset.

As much as I hate playing Wales, I don't see them beating this Ireland team at this point in time if that match up happens.
Don't overrate that Wales result last night. They were OK and Australia were absolutely terrible, as they have been in all 3 games, they don't deserve to be called a tier 1 side based on their performances at this WC.