Rugby World Cup 2023

[terminal7]

With less than 4 weeks to the beginning of RWC 2023, I find it very strange that many of the sides are undertaking 3/4 pre-RWC matches up to 26 August. It seems inevitable that a number of players will get injured in what is already turning out to be a series of tough matches. I appreciate that a number of players are not completely match fit after a summer break - at least in the northern hemisphere. Nevertheless, with the selections having yet to take place - England the exception having announced their squad earlier this week - players must be in a tough predicament of trying to impress yet being very concerned about injuries. Three players off injured after 50 mins in the current England v Wales match.

T7

[BigB]

WC warmups desirable, but more importantly finances dictate.

With RWC this autumn there are no autumn internationals, which are big money spinners for the national unions, which then drips down each country's pyramid (in theory at least, look away now if you are Welsh or English). Club rugby generally does not cover its costs and requires support from the unions to help provide the stream of top class players at club/province level that will entertain in the big international games.

Injuries are an unfortunate reality of rugby, but no nation will want to start RWC without being battle hardened in the preceding weeks.

[mike]

It seems inevitable that a number of players will get injured in what is already turning out to be a series of tough matches.
T7

We'll have the verdict on Farrell's suspension tomorrow, but sad news from France today. Ntamack ruptured his cruciate ligament against Scotland on Saturday and is out of the WC.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Romain-ntamack-declare-forfait-pour-la-coupe-du-monde/1413547 (in French)

[terminal7]

Wales have Dewi Lake a doubtful at RWC following injury on Saturday. I suspect there are others.

T7

[terminal7]

It seems inevitable that a number of players will get injured in what is already turning out to be a series of tough matches.
T7

We'll have the verdict on Farrell's suspension tomorrow, but sad news from France today. Ntamack ruptured his cruciate ligament against Scotland on Saturday and is out of the WC.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Romain-ntamack-declare-forfait-pour-la-coupe-du-monde/1413547 (in French)

Huge blow to France.

Whilst I am an admirer of Farrell's abilities - his continuing recklessness needs further severe censure.

T7

[terminal7]

Now Jack van Poortvliet out as a result of injury sustained Saturday. Still another 2 international games for most RWC countries - this is crazy. One thing sustaining injuries during course of a meaningful international but these are effectively warm up games.

T7

[didds]

My son summed it up perfectly this morning wrt injuries in warm up games..

It's a contact sport, people vying for "no warm up games people get injured"
If we stopped warm up games people would be saying "Do warm up games we need practice"
Cannae win.

[terminal7]

Warm up games versus international games - different fish. Pre season many top tier UK rugby teams play warm up games - but usually against lower tier teams. These current warm up games are played at full intensity - hence the damage caused.

Farrell was not treating this as a warm up but a must win against Wales. Hence the massive illegal strike on Taine Basham - determination to inflict damage on a back rower and hence disrupt the Welsh flow that was building up. The RFU gamed the system last time to ensure he captained England last season against Scotland. Let's see what their lawyers can do today.

T7

[didds]

FTR: I am not a farrell fan boy, nor wear Rose tinted spectacles ...

wrt Farrell - whatever.
they (WR and its representatives) don't understand their own system and laws and interpretations, and make it up as they go along. I've no doubt at all that a different ref/team of four/TMO on the day, and a different panel, would have come up with differing answers / results.

nothing to see here - move along

[terminal7]

FTR: I am not a farrell fan boy, nor wear Rose tinted spectacles ...

wrt Farrell - whatever.
they (WR and its representatives) don't understand their own system and laws and interpretations, and make it up as they go along. I've no doubt at all that a different ref/team of four/TMO on the day, and a different panel, would have come up with differing answers / results.

nothing to see here - move along

A lot to see here - a possible appeal against the decision by the WRC.

[didds]

A lot to see here - a possible appeal against the decision by the WRC.

WRC = World Rugby? ie the global overlords of the game?

Well, seeing as the panel are their representatives that would be a hilarious outcome and in that regard very amusingly of interest Id agree!

"We don't agree with our own decision so we are going to appeal against ourselves". LOL.

[didds]

and it seems that is what will happen.

WR will appeal the 6N panel (this one made of four Australians) that oversee these games even though they are not 6N matches, and act as WR's representatives.

You couldnt make this merde up....

[terminal7]

Clearly Richard Smith KC should go and work for Trump. The Independent Judiciary Panel (IJP) - comprised of three Aussies - were clearly side stepped by Smith in terms of the spurious George mitigation. The IJP's pronouncement undermines the safety protocols as well as the newly introduced Bunker review process.

You just need to view both the tackle as well as the aftermath to realise the extent of the venom in the tackle and subsequent demeanour of the transgressor.

T7

[terminal7]

Well the 'appeal' will take place next Tuesday. Much huffing and puffing by dad (quite right) and Borthwick (as to be expected). Not sure whether there is any further appeals in the event of Farrell being found 'guilty'.

T7

[terminal7]

Now Billy Vunipola gets a red - anyway England played better with 14 for about 10 mins. Maybe another bunch of Aussies will downgrade it to yellow next week.

T7

[didds]

Ive lost all symapthy with Rcs for head collisions, whether its a 20mm drop in height ornnot etc etc ...

We are YEARS into head contact = RC potential territory. It has to be a "balanced" risk approach for players/teams to continue to make such tackles with head contact potential, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it.

When the "coat hanger" rulings/laws first arrived it took three community coaches three training sessions with a community U17 squad to eradicate any chance of a head contact. We had NO cards of any colour all season for a head contact. Its that easy if you want to do it.

I was one of those coaches, that's how I know.

didds

[terminal7]

Ive lost all symapthy with Rcs for head collisions, whether its a 20mm drop in height ornnot etc etc ...

We are YEARS into head contact = RC potential territory. It has to be a "balanced" risk approach for players/teams to continue to make such tackles with head contact potential, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it.

When the "coat hanger" rulings/laws first arrived it took three community coaches three training sessions with a community U17 squad to eradicate any chance of a head contact. We had NO cards of any colour all season for a head contact. Its that easy if you want to do it.

I was one of those coaches, that's how I know.

didds

OK didds - you looking for a new appointment - arise our new England manager

T7

[Laughton]

OF gets off with a 4 match ban - but really that's a 3 match ban as it includes the Ireland game.

Why? OK he didn't play but he was available - the manager chose not to pick him because of the toll the "proceedings" were taking on the player.

[didds]

OF gets off with a 4 match ban - but really that's a 3 match ban as it includes the Ireland game.

Why? OK he didn't play but he was available - the manager chose not to pick him because of the toll the "proceedings" were taking on the player.

well when I was playing (which TBH was a few years ago now) clubs round here always dropped/rested/didnt select a RC'd player the first match after even though the displinary wouldnt be typci8ally until the week after THAT 1st game afterwards. It was just the done thing, and started the clock ticking on a ban.

i don't read anything into it all .

[BigB]

OF will miss the first game against Argentina.

There are some massive games in the first round of matches, FRA v NZ, SCO v SA, ENG v ARG, which certain teams will really be targeting, and/or which will have a key bearing on group winners and therefore routes through QF/SF/Final.

SCO also have a massive game v IRE as their last group game - by then they could be playing to win the group, or certainly to qualify 2nd.