Rugby World Cup

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Pothunter Oct 2023 8:30am, 29 Oct 2023 8,389 posts	0 Pothunter I’m not saying the overall result would have been different but on both form and ranking Ireland and France didn’t deserve to go out in the quarters (and neither would NZ or SA had the results been different). Overall a great tournament with some of the best games I’ve ever seen (specifically the two top quarters). Hope Australia can sort themselves out, and hope Fiji and the likes of Spain can continue their upward trajectory.
Fields Oct 2023 8:37am, 29 Oct 2023 10,255 posts	0 Fields I disagree about the draw, both Ireland and France played too much rugby in a knock out game and left points out there. They weren’t clinical enough. It just changed the weekend they were knocked out.
Little Nemo Oct 2023 8:43am, 29 Oct 2023 14,092 posts	0 Little Nemo If you can't see the difference between losing a QF and a SF then we obviously have a totally different way of seeing things! The only real advantage that I can cling to is that I'm a week on in my grieving process!
Fields Oct 2023 8:53am, 29 Oct 2023 10,256 posts	0 Fields There’s a difference in what week you pack up and go home, my point was their mindset in the game wasn’t right for a knockout match, turning down points on offer when they needed a perfect game.
jda Oct 2023 9:24am, 29 Oct 2023 15,736 posts	0 jda richmac, on the contrary IMO is demonstrated that 1-4 were a class apart and the next few were not competitive at that level. Scotland were particularly disappointing and the others didn’t show much at all. OK England did have one good game which they were unluckily to lose but with a more sensible draw both them and Arg would have (deservedly) been out in the quarters anyway.
Little Nemo Oct 2023 9:36am, 29 Oct 2023 14,093 posts	0 Little Nemo Are you talking about France, Fields? I can't think of many points they missed out on, apart from the charged down conversion? Anyway, you can always find things to argue about in hindsight. On the day they made too many mistakes in the last 10 minutes and the SA bench was stronger. It was heartbreaking but SA played a better game.
Cheg Oct 2023 9:41am, 29 Oct 2023 4,128 posts	0 Cheg There was some kicking for the corner rather than penalty kicks in the quarters I believe. New Zealand did it in the final as well. I’d like to look at the stats when Tier 1 sides play each other and kicking the 3 vs kicking for the corner and the points that produces.
Cheeky’s Dad Oct 2023 9:46am, 29 Oct 2023 3,847 posts	0 Cheeky’s Dad If you can't see the difference between losing a QF and a SF then we obviously have a totally different way of seeing things! I see your point Little Nemo It’s easier to say it makes no difference when you aren’t a supporter of either France or Ireland. I’m wondering whether I would have been happier being beaten by England in the semi than I was being beaten by Argentina in the quarters 😂 I’m not sure how the Ireland & France players would feel given they both had a realistic ambition of winning and it would be a brave journalist who asked the question so possibly we’ll never know 😁
Little Nemo Oct 2023 10:23am, 29 Oct 2023 14,094 posts	0 Little Nemo Yeah, probably for the players it doesn't make much of a difference if you're comparing it with winning the whole thing, Cheeky’s Dad Also do the players really want to play in the Bronze final? At the end of your career it might be nice to think you came 3rd but maybe you'd rather avoid it altogether. I'm sure by the time the 6 Nations comes around I'll be at peace with it all!
Fields Oct 2023 10:40am, 29 Oct 2023 10,257 posts	0 Fields Yeah a few times both France and Ireland went for the corner rather than taking the 3. Ireland I felt were far more culpable of this and their attacking play was one paced and sexton seemed to have gone lame. Ireland’s ex coach in the NZ coaching team was a big advantage. France definitely forced it too much in positions where a more safety conscious approach would have been better. But you can analyse every decision and find one that was wrong to suit your argument. I would always be looking to kick the points when on offer though. And while I’m a fan of neither team, I really wanted a France v Ireland final.