What, no Rugby World Cup thread

[Yespage]

Peacock, Rugby World Cup NFL players are typically absurdly big, strong, and fast. And you put them next to Rugby players and you think OMG they look tiny.

40 minutes, on going action most of the time. Some guys with thighs thicker than trees, base muscle, not the clear trimmed muscle but born with and did some leg work muscle. And the toughness is insane.

The best part of Rugby over the NFL is there aren't endless stopages for penalties. There are penalties but they carry more significant effects. Points can be put up, teams a player(s) down.

Mostly prelims but now getting into group play. Fun stuff.

 

[Jimbo]

There is Now !

 

[Howard Simmons]

Peacock, Rugby World Cup NFL players are typically absurdly big, strong, and fast. And you put them next to Rugby players and you think OMG they look tiny.

40 minutes, on going action most of the time. Some guys with thighs thicker than trees, base muscle, not the clear trimmed muscle but born with and did some leg work muscle. And the toughness is insane.

The best part of Rugby over the NFL is there aren't endless stopages for penalties. There are penalties but they carry more significant effects. Points can be put up, teams a player(s) down.

Mostly prelims but now getting into group play. Fun stuff.

 

[Howard Simmons]

Ho, Ho, Ho. To tell you the truth I'd rather watch Rugby than Golf or Pickleball.

 

[Juan]

Did you check the ESPN OCHO thread?..

 

[nickp]

I can’t wait for the 2031 Rugby World Cup in America

 

[Yespage]

Uruguay played a spirited match against France, making the first try. Then France took over and a blow out seemed possible, but Uruguay wouldn't settle. France won handily, but it was great game.

 

[Yespage]

Fiji pull out an impressive win over Australia, their first in over 50 years! Chile got plastered by Samoa. I believe South America is winless at this point. England, Wales, Ireland, France, the heavyweights are all undefeated, France having defeated giant New Zealand.

 

[Yespage]

Ireland defeat South Africa is a brilliant contest between the giants. France beat Namibia by around infinity.

 

[Yespage]

Tonga put up a good fight, but Scotland was able to outclass them for a comfortable victory.

I keep needing to relearn the rules of rugby. I think the arms tackling could be a good inclusion for an NFL alternative. As would the 5 pt try, 2 pt extra "point" kick from the lateral spot of the try, and I'd like to make all penalties 15 yards. Make them consequential enough to make them stop committing the penalties... in theory.

 

[Yespage]

Uruguay were able to fight back against Namibia to win their first game of this World Cup. It'll be their consolation, generally playing in the Group of Death, Italy, France, and New Zealand!

Samoa found themselves too deep in their deficit to Japan, and despite a spirited fight back, a late red card and they fell just a little bit short. Samoa's dreams of a quarterfinal are ended. A big one today, Kiwis and the Italians.

 

[Yespage]

New Zealand plowed over Italy to dispel any ideas that New Zealand is at risk of not being in the quarterfinals.

 

[Yespage]

Samoa came so close to a victory over England. Remarkable game

Portugal upset Fiji to win their first World Cup match. Fiji manage to scrape a second place finish and will move onto the Quarterfinals still.

Those start at week's end. Ireland v New Zealand and France v South Africa will be the crackers for these quarterfinals.

 

[Yespage]

Quarterfinals start tomorrow. The appetizer will be Argentina v Wales at 11 (eastern) with Ireland v New Zealand at 3. That is a final like match up. Definitely recommend watching the two "late" games this weekend.

 

[Yespage]

Ireland v New Zealand was worth the hype. An incredible match up that ended with a desperate Irish side with 30+ phases in the final drive that just couldn't break through the All Blacks defense. New Zealand to play Argentina in the semi who managed to defeat Wales, helped by a really silly foul that was converted for three points.

England generally held their own and controlled most of their quarterfinal with Fiji. Then out of the blue, Fiji managed a pair of tries and tied the game. England responded quickly but couldn't break through for a try and decided on the fly for a field goal. One more penalty and Fiji didn't have enough field to break something through. Like the Irish, they finished the game with a long possession but clearly were gassed. England face the winner of the other "final" quarterfinal.

 

[Yespage]

Argentina scored first, but New Zealand would end up controlling the game quickly and winning soundly.

England faced a tough test with South Africa, and played a more defensive game, relying on penalty tries and a field goal. They rarely looked positioned to score a try. South Africa had to fight back hard, down most of the match, but were the only team to score a try (well, the only team to come close to), and did so late to put themselves in control. England had the final possession and despite good position into South Africa's territory, they were not able to line up a tying field goal attempt or remotely capable of moving the ball much deeper than 22 yards, and they just were repelled and pushed backwards. This left South Africa the victors. It was an intense, if not somewhat boring matchup.

South Africa v New Zealand in the final.