RWC19 "Stuff"
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Where do we see NZ weaknesses? Their scrum maybe (lineout looks strong)?
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Vahaamahina Retires: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50131035
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Lurker wrote:Where do we see NZ weaknesses? Their scrum maybe (lineout looks strong)?
I don't really see any obvious weaknesses.
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
I see WR are now looking to include Japan in the RC and restore the Sunwolves to Super Rugby. Whilst this being a sensible and justified move it only highlights the disgraceful situation with Fiji getting nothing despite being ahead of Japan in the rankings for the last 4 yrs and still not far below Argentina. If they were given some meaningful games to play in and incentivise their players for I imagine they would be in the top 8.
Apart from the WC itself they had no other Tests this year. They have had 10 meaningful Tests since the last world cup !!!! I now think we need to move the Int diary forward and make the 6 Nats a proper 2 div comp. Italy are a shadow of the team Fiji and others are and yet get preferential treatment . They need to earn their position. I would go for a two tier set up of 8 teams each one playing home and away . Add in Georgia and either Spain or Russia to div 2 and then thir would be proper competion in every game. Each game would raise some money for the pot into which every team would get a share.
A similar set up for the S. Hemisphere/ Pacific teams.
However I won't hold my breath !!!
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
...and what would you do with the Premiership? Currently 5 games over 7 weekends in 6N, and the Celts oppose shortening that in any way (player welfare of course), so how long would 6 games ( if I understand your proposal) take? Shouldn't we be having a bit less rugby, not more?
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
- historically and recently Romania have been battling with Georgia to win the Rugby Europe Championship, surely they deserve a place in div 2?Add in Georgia and either Spain or Russia
And therein lies the problem, Romania and Spain both qualified ahead of Russia for RWC2019 but were both disqualified for fielding ineligible players/cheating ..... Below the current 6 Nations there's a whole set of leagues with 40 odd countries on a pyramid to gain promotion/relegation etc. The 6 Nations is the only fixed pool and Italy comfortably beat Georgia when they played in Nov 18.
And this is all before the English/French clubs and their owners veto the whole idea on the grounds of investment/legality etc.
I'm sure World Rugby would love to introduce more tier 2 involvement but they don't control the biggest club leagues in the world and therein lies a major problem.
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
..and we all support a team in the biggest and best club league...I wouldn't want that to change much, if at all.
If anyone reads TRP then you'll know my view....take the 6N back to a 5N (dump Italy), expand the Rugby Championship to include Japan, and (controversially) perhaps a Pacific Islands team made up of the best of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga (the current SANZAR nations want more international rugby). Find a formula that allows four from each to qualify, and hey presto, you have your RWC quarter-finalists. You free up time in the 5N, and the RWC, so the leagues continue, but with some rest weekends added in....we actually DO something about player welfare rather than just droning on about it. As for the lower-ranked sides, construct a tournament for them, although the tier-one nations would have to stump up the dosh to make that work.
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Sirs for semis
NZ v England
Ref Nigel Owens
Asst Romain Poite
Asst Pascal Gaüzère
TMO Marius Jonker
SA v Wales
Ref Jérôme Garcès
Asst Wayne Barnes
Asst Ben O’Keefe
TMO Ben Skeen
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Barnes to get the final if England lose....?