ri Alban Posted September 17, 2019 (edited) Starts this Friday. I had been looking forward to this for a while, until GT ruined all VC work. Who's gonnae win it? I think it's between NZ, Ireland and England. I'll go England. Anyway C'mon Scotland!!! If anyone wants to start a better thread, wire in. 👍 Edited September 17, 2019 by ri Alban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 17, 2019 Fixtures here Basically AM times https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/matches Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 17, 2019 Scotland games Ireland Sun 22 Sept 8.45am Samoa Mon 30 Sept 11.15am Russia Wed 9 Oct 8.15am Japan Sun 13 Oct 11.45am Quarters Sat 19 Oct, Sun 20 8.15, 11.15am Semis Sat 26 Oct / Sun 27 9am Final Sat 2 Nov 9am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boof Posted September 17, 2019 50 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said: Scotland games Ireland Sun 22 Sept 8.45am Samoa Mon 30 Sept 11.15am Russia Wed 9 Oct 8.15am Japan Sun 13 Oct 11.45am Quarters Sat 19 Oct, Sun 20 8.15, 11.15am Semis Sat 26 Oct / Sun 27 9am Final Sat 2 Nov 9am All Scotland games? Optimistic...but I hope you're right. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DETTY29 Posted September 17, 2019 (edited) Result of All Blacks and Springboks may determine how hard we go out for victory against Ireland. South Africa are on form too, but we just cannot perform or if close to New Zealand, get over the line. Not that we would be favourites against Ireland or be guaranteed to beat Samoa or Japan. Edited September 17, 2019 by DETTY29 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Posted September 17, 2019 Argentina France should be a tight one Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seymour M Hersh Posted September 17, 2019 How I'd love to be there. Japan is a country I've wanted to visit for a long time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barack Posted September 17, 2019 Robert Howley sent home to "assist" in an investigation into betting breaches. Stephen Jones sent out as his replacement. Chuckle, chuckle. Howler is a joke in the game, both inside Wales & outwith. Hope it's true. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 17, 2019 6 minutes ago, Barack said: Robert Howley sent home to "assist" in an investigation into betting breaches. Stephen Jones sent out as his replacement. Chuckle, chuckle. Howler is a joke in the game, both inside Wales & outwith. Hope it's true. Welsh backs will be fine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Jeff said: Argentina France should be a tight one Saturday has that game at 8.15am followed by South Africa v New Zealand at 10.45am. Great start. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barack Posted September 17, 2019 Just now, Mikey1874 said: Welsh backs will be fine They always were. Howley has made a fine career, of being the assistant coach from Chewin' The Fat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo414 Posted September 17, 2019 Will probably be New Zealand again but can see Ireland or Wales being up for causing an upset. As for Scotland We'll pump Russia, think we'll get past Samoa, get horsed by Ireland 15+ points. Japan is a tricky one imo, they remain our record victory but I keep thinking about their win over SA in 2015. Second in the group if we take Japan, knocked out comfortably by NZ in the quarters. Looking forward to a good tournament though, or what I can catch on my days off anyway Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roxy Hearts Posted September 17, 2019 Watched Wales a few times and how they win games is beyond annoying as they're dreadful to watch and Gatland is an arrogant p&#@%. Just grind out wins without many tries. Wish we could do that! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BudgeUp Posted September 17, 2019 https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/115243847/rugby-world-cup-how-the-top-eight-sides-number-up-over-the-last-four-years What these stats don't show though is this is arguably le Townsends first tournament with a full squad. Most 6 nations there are usually swathes of injuries as it happens a bit into the season. Not far enough in that the body is accustomed to the knocks. I reckon Scotland will have a fine tournament but Glasgow and Edinburgh will both suffer in the pro 14 due to having most of their squad away for the first rounds of games then injury concerns. I also think Russell has improved immensely since going to Racing and Hogg will be one of the standouts this year as long as he doesn't get injured the first game... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I P Knightley Posted September 18, 2019 22 hours ago, Roxy Hearts said: Watched Wales a few times and how they win games is beyond annoying as they're dreadful to watch and Gatland is an arrogant p&#@%. Just grind out wins without many tries. Wish we could do that! I've not looked at the draw to see when Wales would be scheduled to meet the ABs but I'd have Wales as my outsiders after NZ to win the thing. If Scotland come up against the Springboks in the QF, I give them a chance. No chance should it be the ABs, though - I think the mental hurdle is too great. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlphonseCapone Posted September 18, 2019 Rugby is for twats.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roxy Hearts Posted September 18, 2019 6 hours ago, I P Knightley said: I've not looked at the draw to see when Wales would be scheduled to meet the ABs but I'd have Wales as my outsiders after NZ to win the thing. If Scotland come up against the Springboks in the QF, I give them a chance. No chance should it be the ABs, though - I think the mental hurdle is too great. It's a fairly open WC with many teams much the same but the AB's will be hard to beat as they're the real stand outs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DETTY29 Posted September 18, 2019 8 hours ago, I P Knightley said: I've not looked at the draw to see when Wales would be scheduled to meet the ABs but I'd have Wales as my outsiders after NZ to win the thing. If Scotland come up against the Springboks in the QF, I give them a chance. No chance should it be the ABs, though - I think the mental hurdle is too great. Cant play each other until semi finals. Ireland or Scotland v. New Zeakand or South Africa. England or France v Wales or Australia. I'll need to check on seeding v. workd ranking and the draw. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DETTY29 Posted September 18, 2019 (edited) Current world rankings but change continuously 1. Ireland (Pool A) 2. New Zealand (Pool B ) 3. England (Pool C) 4. South Africa (Pool B ) 5. Wales (Pool D) 6. Australia (Pool D) 7. Scotland (Pool A) 8. France (Pool C) Quarter finals Q1 - Winner Pool C v. Runner Up Pool D England v. Australia Q2 - Winner Pool B v. Runner Up Pool A New Zealand v. Scotland Q3 - Winner Pool D v. Runner Up Pool C Wales v. France Q4 - Winner Pool A v. Runner Up B Ireland v. South Africa Semi Finals Semi Final 1 Winners Q1 v Q2 New Zealand v. England Semi Final 2 Winners Q3 v. Q4 Wales v. Ireland Final Winners S1 v. Winners S2 New Zeland v. Ireland WRC Champions Ireland When the draw was made, Australia were seeded above Wales so you could swap around. Ireland never get past quarter finals, Scotland may struggle to make quarter finals, France too, but France are equally capable of being the big surprise and make semi final at least. If the new tackle laws are rigourously invoked England (and Farrell) may be a surprise qf casualty. Edited September 18, 2019 by DETTY29 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shaun.lawson Posted September 19, 2019 (edited) I've been to-ing and fro-ing constantly over the last few months. Not in who I think will win it - I'm confident about that - but in all the rest of it. Absolutely anything could happen in Groups A and C; the NZ-SA game this weekend is way too close to call; who wins Group D is too close to call as well. It's far and away the hardest RWC to predict that I've ever known - but me being me, here goes. Lawson jinx be damned! Group A 1. Ireland 2. Japan 3. Scotland 4. Samoa 5. Russia Group B 1. New Zealand 2. South Africa 3. Italy 4. Canada 5. Namibia Group C 1. England 2. Argentina 3. France 4. Tonga 5. USA Group D 1. Australia 2. Wales 3. Fiji 4. Georgia 5. Uruguay Quarter-Finals England v Wales New Zealand v Japan Australia v Argentina Ireland v South Africa Semi-Finals England v New Zealand Australia v South Africa Third Place Final New Zealand v Australia Final England v South Africa World Champions South Africa A few quick sidelights: 1. Am I confident Scotland will be knocked out in the first round? Am I bollocks. I even think Ireland are in danger in that group. I expect an inspired host nation and pure chaos, in which Samoa could play their part too. This is Scotland's best World Cup side since 1995; I just suspect it's gonna end up very unlucky. 2. As you can see, I have the Boks winning it despite losing their first match. The first time that'll have ever happened if so. But even if the final ends up being a rematch with the All Blacks, I still think they'll do it. Which brings me to... 3. For me, England are third favourites, about half a level below the sport's historic superpowers. If we end up facing Australia in the last eight, even reaching the final will almost certainly be too much - because a knockout draw of AUS/NZ/RSA is impossible. If we avoid the Wallabies and get past a very tough, very dangerous, everything to lose and nothing to gain Welsh test, the pressure would be off and maybe, just maybe, Eddie Jones could mastermind a major upset. He's done it before against New Zealand in the semis, after all. Trouble is, if that happens, the media will go berserk, react as though we're World Champions already, and we'll collapse in a heap against the Springboks: for whom the 12-year rule says they're due. 1995. 2007. 2019? Edited September 19, 2019 by shaun.lawson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 19, 2019 Wallcharts in the newspapers today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Old Tolbooth Posted September 19, 2019 (edited) I fancy Scotland to make the knock out stages, but that's as far as they'll get as they'll come up against either the All Blacks or S Africa, and they're not good enough to topple either of those. England always seem to hit form before every RWC, and they've worryingly hit form again at the right time for them, however if they meet Wales in the quarters, then they'll underestimate them at their peril, the Welsh know how to play them and are a thorn in their side. I don't think Ireland are as strong as they have been in past years, but they're still capable of turning in a big performance and can beat anyone on their day, not quite sure how they're ranked No1 on the planet, but there you go. The All Blacks to win it for me, they just look a shade too strong for everyone else. Edited September 19, 2019 by The Old Tolbooth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milky_26 Posted September 19, 2019 i fancy south africa to win it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Sausage Posted September 20, 2019 Big match for us up first. I can’t see past an Ireland win, which puts pressure on us to beat Russia (not worried), Samoa (slightly worried) and Japan (very worried). If if we do scrape past those games, it’s New Zealand likely in the quarters. We’ve pushed them close recently in Edinburgh, but would need all of our players playing at absolute 100% to have a chance. We have a near full strength roster to pick from, I think only Ritchie missing for Ireland. Big decisions for Townsend are flankers, scrum half and centres. Rest of the team effectively picks itself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Findlay Posted September 20, 2019 Hogg stays injury free. We may just surprise a few. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 20, 2019 (edited) Edited September 20, 2019 by Mikey1874 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DETTY29 Posted September 20, 2019 Japan nerves, over-rated or Russia better than expected? Is the Japanese crowd very politely exicitable and cheering on both teams? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DETTY29 Posted September 20, 2019 And booing now.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpship Posted September 20, 2019 Scotland shouldn't have a problem against either Russia or Japan. Watching the build up to the first game.. In the studio we have ex-players from England, Wales and Ireland. Touch-line we have welsh and south Africa. Like watching foreign TV... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 20, 2019 5 minutes ago, jumpship said: Scotland shouldn't have a problem against either Russia or Japan. Watching the build up to the first game.. In the studio we have ex-players from England, Wales and Ireland. Touch-line we have welsh and south Africa. Like watching foreign TV... Andy Nicol was on the radio (with Matt Dawson) this morning before the game. But I have noticed every news clip talks about England. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri Alban Posted September 21, 2019 Fiji just fell apart. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibrahim Tall Posted September 21, 2019 10 minutes ago, ri Alban said: Fiji just fell apart. Aye. Was looking good for a while. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roxy Hearts Posted September 21, 2019 17 minutes ago, ri Alban said: Fiji just fell apart. Good at running with the ball and some physicality but not much else. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri Alban Posted September 21, 2019 Fancy a France annihilation of Argentina. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey1874 Posted September 21, 2019 Pundits on tv writing off France and Argentina's chances of beating England. Saying this is a decider. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neilnunb Posted September 21, 2019 Enjoying this France v Argentina game. Argentina right back into the match. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FWJ Posted September 21, 2019 Fair enjoying this France v Argentina match. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neilnunb Posted September 21, 2019 Oh Argies miss a last min kick to win it. 😲 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FWJ Posted September 21, 2019 Handbags at the end! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neilnunb Posted September 21, 2019 Fight, fight, fight! 😁 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shaun.lawson Posted September 21, 2019 Completely the wrong team won that. Argentina missed 5 easy points even before the late missed kick. But the ref was absolutely disgraceful. I lost count of how many penalties France conceded in their own 22, and he did nothing. Even gave them two warnings after their penalty count had gone into double figures. A joke. A nonsense. Victory for cheating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri Alban Posted September 21, 2019 11 minutes ago, shaun.lawson said: Completely the wrong team won that. Argentina missed 5 easy points even before the late missed kick. But the ref was absolutely disgraceful. I lost count of how many penalties France conceded in their own 22, and he did nothing. Even gave them two warnings after their penalty count had gone into double figures. A joke. A nonsense. Victory for cheating. Vive la France!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shaun.lawson Posted September 21, 2019 5 minutes ago, ri Alban said: Vive la France!!! They were shite. Hopefully they won't be around long. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diadora Van Basten Posted September 21, 2019 Enjoyed the end of the France v Argentina game. I watched first half then stopped watching as I thought it was all over. I used to play rugby and was the goal kicker and thought the player needed to put a bit of fade on the last penalty to keep it straight but he hooked it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milky_26 Posted September 21, 2019 i think this is the worst i have ever seen new zealand play Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roxy Hearts Posted September 21, 2019 1 minute ago, milky_26 said: i think this is the worst i have ever seen new zealand play That's because of SA pressure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milky_26 Posted September 21, 2019 i felt that was good by the ref, the scrum collapsed looked 50/50 but SA were just releasing it so he let play go on. kept the game flowing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milky_26 Posted September 21, 2019 (edited) 1 minute ago, Roxy Hearts said: That's because of SA pressure. agree, that is why i have tipped SA to win the trophy. it is strange as even under pressure NZ normally find a way through oooft off the post Edited September 21, 2019 by milky_26 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
