The 2023 Rugby World Cup

[Del.Monte]

Any Ireland rugby supporters following events in the Southern Hemisphere in recent weeks will be more than a little alarmed at the resurgence of the All Blacks who effortlessly brushed aside their adversaries in this year's truncated Rugby Championship which finished up today. Australia continue to look way off the mark even managing to lose at home to Argentina. I'll be happy if the All Blacks regain their rightful place at the top of World rugby.

This was to be Ireland's year but having seen (Ireland) Leinster go down to La Rochelle, the Johnny Sexton saga and now the All Blacks returning to form....all very ominous.

[678904673]

Any Ireland rugby supporters following events in the Southern Hemisphere in recent weeks will be more than a little alarmed at the resurgence of the All Blacks who effortlessly brushed aside their adversaries in this year's truncated Rugby Championship which finished up today. Australia continue to look way off the mark even managing to lose at home to Argentina. I'll be happy if the All Blacks regain their rightful place at the top of World rugby.

This was to be Ireland's year but having seen (Ireland) Leinster go down to La Rochelle, the Johnny Sexton saga and now the All Blacks returning to form....all very ominous.

I'll be on that bandwagon as soon as the World Cup starts

[quodec]

Well the French certainly put it up to the All Blacks last night. Maybe getting them early is the thing, before they turn on the afterburners! Not sure whether Ireland could have dealt with either of those teams tonight. High octane stuff and a great opener!

[Del.Monte]

Awful stuff and the All Blacks have reverted to playing like drains again. France are good but the standard of opposition flattered them on the scoreline. It is as many commentators are saying that the All Blacks have not become a poorer side but that other countries have improved their game to match them - at last - but it's not the natural order.....

[678904673]

The France were good but New Zealand were very poor for large parts of the game. And the score line certainly flattered France. It does look like New Zealand have fallen back into the pack which overall isn't a bad thing as it makes this World Cup more interesting

[Berties_Horse]

NZ have regressed alarmingly, treated rugby ball like a hot potato and France duly punished them. Schmidt's fingerprints all over that one with no contingency plan evident, teams have adapted since 2018. And France hardly left third gear, essential Ireland avoid them at all costs in QF which makes SA a must-win.

[678904673]

A record win for Ireland. No injuries. Job done. Now on to Tonga. Who will be no push over

[Del.Monte]

Looking forward to England vs Argentina shortly - have them both backed for more than 10.5 points in the first half - probably be 0-0.

[Del.Monte]

Looking forward to England vs Argentina shortly - have them both backed for more than 10.5 points in the first half - probably be 0-0.

Well, that went as well as can be expected with my recent run of luck and I'm only a few cents down after the game. If England were still playing tomorrow they wouldn't have scored a try. A stellar performance by George Ford but England are no threat to any of the big players in the competition.

[Del.Monte]

Gone with two more of the same on the Scotland vs Springboks game at 4.45pm today.
Springboks more than 13.5 points in the 1st half and Scotland more than 9.5 points. Another low scoring 1st half with my luck or they could really tear into each other - that's why it's called gambling I suppose.

[678904673]

Just looking at the slate of games today. Japan v Chile up first. Who knew Chile had a rugby team. Every day really is a school day

[DeletedUser]

Just looking at the slate of games today. Japan v Chile up first. Who knew Chile had a rugby team. Every day really is a school day

Weren’t they the ones in the film Alive who ate each other ???

[678904673]

Weren’t they the ones in the film Alive who ate each other ???

Correct

[DeletedUser]

Correct

I might root for them so - good film that !!?

[CelticRambler]

Weren’t they the ones in the film Alive who ate each other ???

Correct

They weren't the exact same ones, though, were they?

[DeletedUser]

They weren't the exact same ones, though, were they?

Possible there was some overlap yeah …!!!

[Del.Monte]

Weren’t they the ones in the film Alive who ate each other ???

With some fava beans and a nice Chianti?

[DeletedUser]

With some fava beans and a nice Chianti?

I’m more a beer girl but for the sake of the cool reference I’ll chug one down !!!

[Del.Monte]

Gone with two more of the same on the Scotland vs Springboks game at 4.45pm today.
Springboks more than 13.5 points in the 1st half and Scotland more than 9.5 points. Another low scoring 1st half with my luck or they could really tear into each other - that's why it's called gambling I suppose.

Scotland 3 - South Africa 6 at halftime. Wiped out again.

[Del.Monte]

Best game of the weekend tonight - Wales vs Fiji - with the latter playing the game as it was always meant to be played. Wales, aided by some very dubious reffing decisions, scraped home 32 - 26. The only consolation is that Wales are no-hopers and won't get anywhere in the competition.

[jmayo]

Weren’t they the ones in the film Alive who ate each other ???

Correct

Incorrect
It was an Uruguayan club team that crashed in Andes.

BTW now that we are on trivia, one of the leaders a medical student went onto become a doctor, ran for president and was later offered vice president role which he turned down.
By all accounts it was two brothers who I believe became farmers who did the carving.

Oh and it was the Chileans that spilled the beans about the canabalism and provided the picture of half eaten leg.

Decades later one Luis Suarez was to pay homage to the them.

[Seafields]

Best game of the weekend tonight - Wales vs Fiji - with the latter playing the game as it was always meant to be played. Wales, aided by some very dubious reffing decisions, scraped home 32 - 26. The only consolation is that Wales are no-hopers and won't get anywhere in the competition.

The ref absolutely rode the Fijians. He was shocking. Great game though. If only that last pass at the end stuck. So close.

[Setanta]

Ireland v Tonga tonight.....always have a soft spot for Tonga from.my time spent relaxing off FIFO there

Great people,pure up for the craic like ourselves...... hopefully it'll be a good match,and Ireland win now though

[schmittel]

Looking forward to this, fingers crossed for a bonus point win, no injuries.

[Del.Monte]

The "Team of Us" rolls on against a good Tongan team and Johnny passes out ROG as Ireland's top points scorer. Of course Johnny took until he was 38 whereas ROG retired at 25.