Re: The Rugby Thread

[BarrileteCosmico]

Argentina-Ireland is not good for the nerves

[BarrileteCosmico]

Ah, there we go, sweet sweet victory.

Now it's all up to Scotland to keep this from becoming the Northern Hemisphere Exhibition Show.

[Jonathan28]

Scotland

I'm not even mad, this match was always going to have one of two outcomes, either we were going to get raped beyond all recognition or we were going to give the Aussies a hell of a run and then bottle it right at the end, and surprise, surprise it was the latter.

As a Scotsman you get used to this shit.

[Kick]

disappointed that it is literally the rugby championship in the Semi's.

But given the fact NZ has dominated the championship for a long time, they will be be a failure if they don't win.

The obvious final is New Zealand vs Australia.

[El Gunner]

So quarter-final match-ups confirmed (brackets included):

Q1
South Africa
Wales

Semi-final 1
South Africa vs New Zealand

Q2
New Zealand
France

Final

Q3
Ireland
Argentina

Semi-final 2
Argentina vs Australia

Q4
Australia
Scotland

UPDATED!



I was literally shaking when Foley stepped up for that final that. I was literally dying when Foley stepped up for that final kick.
Australia made it so hard for themselves. They gifted Scotland 3 ridiculous tries, but credit to the Scots they stuck in and I had a little fear that the absence of Pocock and Folau would take a bit of quality out of our overall play, but still we should have enough to beat the Scots comfortably, but then again this is knockout rugby and Scots are tough and physical and we always find it tough against tough and physical, so the way the match went wasn't much of a surprise at the end.

Just glad we won and got over the line, and hopefully we don't repeat that performance in the next two games.

Along with (or probably even more than) South Africa, we were the least impressive team of the semi-finalists. But I'll take that. Cheika will be all up the asses of the players this week, there's much to improve on and hopefully Pocock will be back fully fit because he is absolutely crucial to the team.

[BarrileteCosmico]

Scotland

I'm not even mad, this match was always going to have one of two outcomes, either we were going to get raped beyond all recognition or we were going to give the Aussies a hell of a run and then bottle it right at the end, and surprise, surprise it was the latter.

As a Scotsman you get used to this shit.

Hardly Scotland's fault the ref bottled it

[El Gunner]

The ref bottled what exactly?

[BarrileteCosmico]

Didn't use TMO on a key penalty decision at the end of the game. I'm by no means anything more than a casual when it comes to rugby but the reaction I've been reading has been universally against Joubert. For instance:

Bernard Foley slotted the penalty to secure a 35-34 win and booked Australia a semifinal clash with Argentina.

However, replays of the incident look to show that the ball didn't touch Strauss at all and that it came off the arm of Australian reserve halfback Nick Phipps.

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw said after the match that Joubert should have used the TMO, which wasn't possible in that situation.

If Joubert had gone against the rules and gone to the TMO, the penalty could have been over-ruled and Scotland would have held a two-point lead with less than a minute to play.

It was an act which angered Hastings and former England scrum-half Matt Dawson when they spoke in the immediate moments after the match.

BBC said Hastings reckoned it was 'one of the worst things he has seen on a rugby field'.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11531322

[El Gunner]

Keywords there, could have been overruled.

But that's beside the point.
I have been disgusted with Joubert's refereeing in the past year or so, but he was on point today thankfully.
All those reactions and outcries you are hearing about is just a classic case of the soreness that goes along with the underdog not coming out victoriuos at the end.

The decision was spot on, and even the rugby analysts in the studio after the game had a casual chuckle about how the fans booed in the stadium for that decision and the pitchside reporters calling it a "controversial call by referee Joubert"

The decision is explained somewhere more clearly in the law book, I just can't be arsed to go through the internet now and look it up it's 01h20.

[BarrileteCosmico]

World rugby: Australia were benefitted by wrong call

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34576756

[El Gunner]

Well shit, fair enough then.

But in his defense that happened so fast, I mean there were other people who thought it was the right call as well. And how can people be pissed with him for not going to the TMO if he can't go to the TMO for such a call???

Anyway, wrong calls such as these has been made before (it still doesn't change the fact that as we now know it was the wrong call of course, all I'm saying where's the cryout about all those other calls) this has been blown out of proportion because it potentially cost Scotland a place in the semi-final, again I remind, the underdog. And I say "potentially" because who's to say if a scrum was given Australia wouldn't have gone and scored a try or just put over a drop goal to win the match seeing as it wasn't that far out.

And tbf I was just mainly pissed that people were denying Aus' semi credentials again after something similar happened 4 years ago with the Bryce Lawrence - David Pocock OTT cryout.

[farfan]

France and England .
an embarrassment considering the resources and popularity of the sport compared to Argentina ..

[El Gunner]

Big day today! The hype is always has big here in Namibia as it is in SA and NZ when these two teams face off, because 90% of the people here support either of the two teams.

It's gonna be fun for me regardless of how the match goes because I'll just lay back and watch with no worries.
I hate the Springboks but I wouldn't might if they pull it off like I mentioned before.

[Kick]

I am nervous tbh, but if the same AB's play that played against France, we should win.

It'll be a massive game, regardless.

[Kick]

What a game !!

AB's through by 2 points against a very tough SA side.

Is there anyone better in the air than Ben Smith? He seems to catch every high ball

[El Gunner]

Word!
Tired of flat-track bullies like Nonu, Savea, SBW taking all the hype, Ben Smith is the All Black's most valuable player!

Tremendously effective and one of the most consistant players I've ever seen.

Dude is priceless, my guilt love for him will never die.

Hopefully Australia will get the win today, so we can face off!

[Kick]

Haha, SBW is only decent for his offloads.

Spoiler:

Ben Smith and Aaron Smith are probably my favourite All Blacks, both are fantastic players and are vital to us.

Tonights game should be great as well.

[El Gunner]

Haha, SBW is only decent for his offloads.

Spoiler:

Ben Smith and Aaron Smith are probably my favourite All Blacks, both are fantastic players and are vital to us.

Tonights game should be great as well.

Actually Aaron Smith is the only player more vital to the team than Ben imo, but I hate that *bleep* so much I really don't like ever giving him credit.

[El Gunner]

So quarter-final match-ups confirmed (brackets included):

Q1
South Africa
Wales

Semi-final 1
South Africa
New Zealand

Q2
New Zealand
France

Final
New Zealand
Australia

Q3
Ireland
Argentina

Semi-final 2
Argentina
Australia

Q4
Australia
Scotland

UPDATED!

Results:
SA 18-20 NZ
Arg 15-29 Aus

There's a little matter of a 3rd place playoff on Friday night but who cares


ALL BLACKS vs WALLABIES it is for the final.
They have never met before in the final.
The ALL BLACKS have never won a world cup outside of their country.
While the WALLABIES won one world cup at Twickenham before.

No doubt who the stronger team is. No doubt NZ have seemingly always had the better of Aus, but this is knockout rugby. This is a world cup final! It's sure to be fireworks as the it can't be argue that these are the two best rugby nations in the world for the past year!

[Kick]

Haha, SBW is only decent for his offloads.

Spoiler:

Ben Smith and Aaron Smith are probably my favourite All Blacks, both are fantastic players and are vital to us.

Tonights game should be great as well.

Actually Aaron Smith is the only player more vital to the team than Ben imo, but I hate that *bleep* so much I really don't like ever giving him credit.

He is fantastic, I imagine he is a pain to play against because he is so crafty and is always looking for penalties but we really notice it when he isn't there.

[El Gunner]

Congratulations Kick
Australia were too nervous in the first half.

[Kick]

Congratulations Kick
Australia were too nervous in the first half.

Thanks, it was a great game, well worthy of a final.

The AB's really stood up, but Australia can be proud.

[Kick]

Rugby legend Jonah Lomu died today. He was only 40 years old.

Rest in peace you great man, you will always be an icon of our sport and our country.

[silver]

So sudden. R.I.P.

[El Gunner]

Way too young.
RIP Jonah

[Kick]

Anyone catch the All Blacks Wallabies game last night?

Crazy match, it was the most free scoring game between the two ever.

NZ scored the most points ever against Aus, while Aus scored their second highest total against NZ.

Finished 54 - 34 to the ABs

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