The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Toulouse appetite to play from anywhere and in doing so to see areas of weakness is just immense to watch. There is no better scrum half to lead the play than DuPont. If you turn the ball over against them pretty much anywhere on the pitch you are ****ed.

31-12 going in to HT

[Buzzo]

Toulouse are phenomenal.

Excellent in all aspects of the game. Brutal up front and slick and flamboyant through the backs.

[Zapater]

Agreed

Those two 1/4 finals were probably the best two matches I’ve ever watched - particularly the first half of SA v France.

I’ve not watched chasing the sun 2 yet - have heard it’s good tho - not sure what platform.

No complaints if France won that game or NZ the final tbh. I would have been furious if England had put us out in the semis but on the balance of play they may have just deserved it. The other two I'd have said okay, it's how it goes. Particularly as there was only 1 point in it.

Not sure how it's distributed internationally, I found a link via Reddit. I think the first one is probably better but definitely worth a watch. The management team used a lot of Northern Hem media to hype the team up.

[Buzzo]

Just about to watch Toulouse v Quins - expecting a good match. Might even swerve the start of the footy for the end of this.

[Buzzo]

I can't see why he'd make it up though. That's something very specific to say even if he is exaggerating. And let's be honest, Ireland didn't go out because of complacency, it was razor thin and the ABs edged it, on another day maybe Sexton makes that kick and everything is different. I always say after the big games that they could go either way and that one was no different. Yes, it's desire, determination, fitness, heart but I do think there is a slight bit of luck involved too.

Has anyone else seen Chasing the Sun 2? Some really interesting footage about Rassie ****ing up Vermeulen, Etzebeth and Kolisi after the Ireland game. He thought the team started believing their own hype and didn't go the extra distance which led to the result.

Agreed

Those two 1/4 finals were probably the best two matches I’ve ever watched - particularly the first half of SA v France.

I’ve not watched chasing the sun 2 yet - have heard it’s good tho - not sure what platform.

[Zapater]

On the subject, went to a game of Top League rugby in Tokyo yesterday. Sungoliath vs Kubota Spears. Unfortunately Sam Cane and Kolbe were injured but there was some decent talent on show, still lacks a little something from the other competitions but entertaining none the less.

Interesting cultural differences, there's a different type of stadium atmosphere. The crowd sit in silence and only clap after a big incident or show dismay by gasping. Otherwise you can hear players on the pitch communicating, the impact of hits when it's close etc. Crazy to think you can have approx. 13.5k people in a relatively small stadium and have such relative silence.

They also call the fly half a stand off, which is not a term I hear very often.

[Zapater]

True, but if they said it - then it hints at complacency. Coaches can only control so much.

Ultimately tho, having watched that game there was nothing in it. Everything was left on the pitch. Could have gone either way.

I think the niggle that the saffers bring through all of this is ultimately very enjoyable they are masters at it.

Us Scots are easily the worst at the **** house element of the game. Even you guys are decent at it now.

I can't see why he'd make it up though. That's something very specific to say even if he is exaggerating. And let's be honest, Ireland didn't go out because of complacency, it was razor thin and the ABs edged it, on another day maybe Sexton makes that kick and everything is different. I always say after the big games that they could go either way and that one was no different. Yes, it's desire, determination, fitness, heart but I do think there is a slight bit of luck involved too.

Has anyone else seen Chasing the Sun 2? Some really interesting footage about Rassie ****ing up Vermeulen, Etzebeth and Kolisi after the Ireland game. He thought the team started believing their own hype and didn't go the extra distance which led to the result.

[Irishnev]

True, but if they said it - then it hints at complacency. Coaches can only control so much.

Ultimately tho, having watched that game there was nothing in it. Everything was left on the pitch. Could have gone either way.

I think the niggle that the saffers bring through all of this is ultimately very enjoyable they are masters at it.

Us Scots are easily the worst at the **** house element of the game. Even you guys are decent at it now.

Ha - we are suited to bring underdogs as we can bring the Celtic fight into it. We’ve some big players getting old and no obvious replacements coming in - back 3 - Lowe is in his 30s and Keenan has nobody pushing him. Centre the same - Aki is mid 30s although Osborne looks a good prospect. Half back is an issue as we need to see how Crowley or Byrne goes, JGP is 30s and Murray 35. The pack looks ok except Furlong who is pushing on

Our systems are well established and success breeds success so our under age teams have been really great these past years…. Let’s see how they make it. The series in SA is the last one left to win gif us - we’ve done NZ and Aus now plus won a test in SA. Should be good to see how our younger guys are developing

[Buzzo]

True, but if they said it - then it hints at complacency. Coaches can only control so much.

Ultimately tho, having watched that game there was nothing in it. Everything was left on the pitch. Could have gone either way.

I think the niggle that the saffers bring through all of this is ultimately very enjoyable they are masters at it.

Us Scots are easily the worst at the **** house element of the game. Even you guys are decent at it now.

[Irishnev]

I saw it and there was definitely complacency amongst fans but Farrell wouldn’t allow that - it isn’t his way. I’d say Ezebeth isn’t an angel either and I’d take what he says with a pinch of salt

[Buzzo]

Did you see the comments from Etzebeth on the Rugby Pod about the Irish team during the WC? A bit of spice ahead of the summer.

“
“After the game, you shake the guys’ hands and probably 12 out of the 23 told me, ‘See you guys in the final’,” Etzebeth said.

“My immediate thought was because of the way the logs worked, we were going to play France and they were going to play New Zealand.

My immediate thought was, ‘Are these guys seriously not even thinking about the All Blacks in a World Cup quarter-final, playing against them?’

“That remark that they made – ‘see you guys in the final’. I just thought these guys were making a big mistake to look past probably the most dominant team in the last 20 to 30 years of Test rugby. Surely, they can’t.

“We would never say that because we knew we’ve got the host nation and we were going to have to pitch up to beat France in their backyard.

“It just felt like they were just so confident saying things like that when you know you got the mighty All Blacks coming up in a World Cup quarter-final.

“I think Frans Malherbe was with me and I said, ‘Í don’t know if these guys are riding a bit high’,” Etzebeth added. “Obviously, it is good to be confident, but you can never be arrogant in this game.

“You can have the best season and you can have one slip-up or one missed tackle and a guy puts you on your arse.

“That’s the beauty of this game, you are never on top forever.”

[Irishnev]

Leinster dominant for an hr and didn’t put the game to bed, skin of their teeth yo get yo the final in the end

[Irishnev]

I saw that. Quite a team they will have.

I was looking on Twitter and the Barretts get absolutely slaughtered

I dunno what game some people watch?

They spent 18 months in Ireland as kids, their Dad ran a farm in Co Meath. Beauden was playing Gaelic football as well!

[Buzzo]

Jordie Barrett joining Leinster for what looks like 6 months from December - he’ll add some oomph to them

I saw that. Quite a team they will have.

I was looking on Twitter and the Barretts get absolutely slaughtered

I dunno what game some people watch?

[Irishnev]

Jordie Barrett joining Leinster for what looks like 6 months from December - he’ll add some oomph to them