The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Wonder if that scoreless draw looks tempting now

Sounds like a great match and we left ourselves with too much to do.

The best team won, and we can have no complaints. Better to go out playing Rugby than watching weather forecasts. Better for Japan going through with a win than a weather assist. I reckon they will take some stopping now.

For us? Some soul searching. From building up some momentum we've had a ****e 12 months. From where we were under Vern to where we are now feels like a backwards step. Townsend must have a decent 6Nd or he is done for.

The end of an era for some stalwarts like Laidlaw and Barclay, but some exciting players coming through like George Horne, Sam Skinner and Jamie Ritchie.

Onwards and upwards.

[Cormack74]

Ritchie was very good today and Scotland are reaping the rewards of creating an academy on the English Riviera to pick up the likes of Sam Skinner

Brilliant though Japan were, they played the way they always play - good running lines, good hands, players in close support - but Scotland didn't seem to have a plan to try and cope with it even though they knew it was coming.

And they didn't seem to have much of a plan in attack either. I can't recall a game at any level where 40 minutes elapses between visits to the opponents 22.

I thought Townsend might be the coach best suited to Scotland's intention to play expansive Rugby but you're right that they've actually gone backwards.

Maybe the advent of the Super 6 will give Scottish rugby a shot in the arm in terms of the player (and coach) development pathway which will pay dividends further up the food chain?

[Zapater]

In all honesty and zero patronizing.....how good have Japan been. I knew they could play off the cuff rugby and had great spirit etc but their scrummaging, lines of running, accuracy and physicality have amazed me.

They deserved to win vs us and Scotland and getting the Sunwolves into super rugby has done wonders for their consistency. Fair play to them

Really good, been great for the tournament. Well, the Sunwolves have been booted out, maybe things will look premature based on this tournaments performance.

Will be an interesting game, but think our forwards will batter them too much and the intensity of the game will get to them at the end, they seemed to struggle a bit with the physicality in the 2nd half, hopefully the Boks will exploit that. But it's a million miles away from the foregone conclusion it may seem on paper. Comprehensively beating Scotland and Ireland is an impressive feat.

[danperkins]

Quarter finals for us again Dan, I suspect we will go out in a blaze of glory and have a cut off NZ but lose by around 10 points

it's a poxy draw but I suppose you have to play the best at some point. We haven't been at our best but I do think we were struggling with the humidity.. that has died down thank christ so the lads seem a bit more energised. Sexton fit is absolutely vital but NZ are a beast.. hardest possible draw unfortunately but should be some game that I don't see us winning... ya never know though.

[Irishnev]

Really good, been great for the tournament. Well, the Sunwolves have been booted out, maybe things will look premature based on this tournaments performance.

Will be an interesting game, but think our forwards will batter them too much and the intensity of the game will get to them at the end, they seemed to struggle a bit with the physicality in the 2nd half, hopefully the Boks will exploit that. But it's a million miles away from the foregone conclusion it may seem on paper. Comprehensively beating Scotland and Ireland is an impressive feat.

We both lost by 7 points - not that comprehensive. The conditions also did for us with it being in an indoors sweat box with >80% humidity.

The Boks will beat them up physically but their lines of running will cause you problems. Their offloading game is also top notch

[Irishnev]

Quarterfinals- here we go

The NZ team that will beat Ireland has been picked and Retallick is back

[ame="https://twitter.com/ciantracey1/status/1184660085437415424"]https://twitter.com/ciantracey1/status/1184660085437415424[/ame]

[Yozza]

Rugby World Cup: England v Australia - George Ford dropped for quarter-final

England have dropped George Ford for their World Cup quarter-final against Australia, with Owen Farrell selected in his place at fly-half.

Ford has started every game at this World Cup and has been among England's most impressive performers.

But head coach Eddie Jones has left out the Leicester playmaker for the biggest game of his four-year regime.

Henry Slade comes in for Farrell - who has played centre in the World Cup to date - to partner Manu Tuilagi.

Both Billy and Mako Vunipola have been declared fit to start, with George Kruis also dropped to the bench and Courtney Lawes starting in his place.

"Australia defend a certain way - we believe these three players can trouble their defence, and defensively we feel like it's a pretty strong 10-12-13 combination," said Jones.

"We know Australia are a high possession team, they are a high phase team and that's how they want to play.

"And so there's going to be a lot of defending in that area, and we think those three guys are well equipped to handle it."

Although the Farrell, Tuilagi and Slade combination was used throughout this year's Six Nations, this still represents a significant gamble from Jones, with the Exeter back having not played more than 40 minutes of rugby since May after a serious knee injury.

For Ford, it is history repeating itself, after previous England coach Stuart Lancaster dropped him for the pool games against Wales and Australia at the 2015 World Cup.

Ford had been a regular starter in the previous two years before that tournament and was the standout performer in an impressive victory in Cardiff in the preceding Six Nations.

The former Bath player has once again impressed in Japan as England have beaten Tonga, the United States and Argentina with some comfort.

His partnership with Farrell has featured more times since the last Rugby World Cup than any other 10-12 combination in top-tier internationals.

Farrell looked out of sorts against Argentina, missing four consecutive kicks at goal and at periods in the second half looking caught between options as if still stunned by Tomas Lavanini's first-half shoulder charge.

But with the Wallabies likely to pick a heavyweight midfield of 17-stone Samu Kerevi and 19-year-old Jordan Petaia, another big man at more than 15 stones and 6ft 3ins, Jones has changed his play-making strategy.

"They are a clever team - they play good rugby, they've improved their scrum and line-out over the last six to 12 months considerably and that makes them more difficult to beat," said Jones.

"We've had three games, we've had three bonus-point wins, we can't do more than that.

"Do we have to play better than that against Australia? The likelihood is yes, and we are prepared for that."

Jones has stuck with the youthful pairing of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill in the back row to take on the great scavenging breakdown threat of David Pocock and Michael Hooper.

Jonny May wins his 50th cap on the wing, although there is no place even on the bench for Jack Nowell, who has failed to recover from a hamstring injury.

Lewis Ludlam covers the back-row positions on the bench, with Jonathan Joseph the other midfield option alongside Ford among the replacements.

Australia were beaten by Wales in the pool stage and have lost each of their last six matches against England.

But they beat England at Twickenham at the last World Cup en route to making the final, and defeated world champions New Zealand just two months ago.

"Pocock has probably, over the last 10 years, been the foremost number seven in the world," Jones said.

"Hooper is a massively important player for Australia - he's a link player, and takes the ball forward a lot once they get inside the opposition's 22.

"He's obviously a key leader for the team, but our two young boys are just getting better every game.

"Curry has improved his line-out jumping immensely over the last six or eight weeks, Underhill's probably the most combative seven I've seen for a long time. It's just going to be a battle at the breakdown."

England team to play Australia: Daly; Watson, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Farrell (capt), Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler; Itoje, Lawes; Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Marler, Cole, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Ford, Joseph.

[Irishnev]

Rugby World Cup: England v Australia - George Ford dropped for quarter-final

England have dropped George Ford for their World Cup quarter-final against Australia, with Owen Farrell selected in his place at fly-half.

Ford has started every game at this World Cup and has been among England's most impressive performers.

But head coach Eddie Jones has left out the Leicester playmaker for the biggest game of his four-year regime.

Henry Slade comes in for Farrell - who has played centre in the World Cup to date - to partner Manu Tuilagi.

Both Billy and Mako Vunipola have been declared fit to start, with George Kruis also dropped to the bench and Courtney Lawes starting in his place.

"Australia defend a certain way - we believe these three players can trouble their defence, and defensively we feel like it's a pretty strong 10-12-13 combination," said Jones.

"We know Australia are a high possession team, they are a high phase team and that's how they want to play.

"And so there's going to be a lot of defending in that area, and we think those three guys are well equipped to handle it."

Although the Farrell, Tuilagi and Slade combination was used throughout this year's Six Nations, this still represents a significant gamble from Jones, with the Exeter back having not played more than 40 minutes of rugby since May after a serious knee injury.

For Ford, it is history repeating itself, after previous England coach Stuart Lancaster dropped him for the pool games against Wales and Australia at the 2015 World Cup.

Ford had been a regular starter in the previous two years before that tournament and was the standout performer in an impressive victory in Cardiff in the preceding Six Nations.

The former Bath player has once again impressed in Japan as England have beaten Tonga, the United States and Argentina with some comfort.

His partnership with Farrell has featured more times since the last Rugby World Cup than any other 10-12 combination in top-tier internationals.

Farrell looked out of sorts against Argentina, missing four consecutive kicks at goal and at periods in the second half looking caught between options as if still stunned by Tomas Lavanini's first-half shoulder charge.

But with the Wallabies likely to pick a heavyweight midfield of 17-stone Samu Kerevi and 19-year-old Jordan Petaia, another big man at more than 15 stones and 6ft 3ins, Jones has changed his play-making strategy.

"They are a clever team - they play good rugby, they've improved their scrum and line-out over the last six to 12 months considerably and that makes them more difficult to beat," said Jones.

"We've had three games, we've had three bonus-point wins, we can't do more than that.

"Do we have to play better than that against Australia? The likelihood is yes, and we are prepared for that."

Jones has stuck with the youthful pairing of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill in the back row to take on the great scavenging breakdown threat of David Pocock and Michael Hooper.

Jonny May wins his 50th cap on the wing, although there is no place even on the bench for Jack Nowell, who has failed to recover from a hamstring injury.

Lewis Ludlam covers the back-row positions on the bench, with Jonathan Joseph the other midfield option alongside Ford among the replacements.

Australia were beaten by Wales in the pool stage and have lost each of their last six matches against England.

But they beat England at Twickenham at the last World Cup en route to making the final, and defeated world champions New Zealand just two months ago.

"Pocock has probably, over the last 10 years, been the foremost number seven in the world," Jones said.

"Hooper is a massively important player for Australia - he's a link player, and takes the ball forward a lot once they get inside the opposition's 22.

"He's obviously a key leader for the team, but our two young boys are just getting better every game.

"Curry has improved his line-out jumping immensely over the last six or eight weeks, Underhill's probably the most combative seven I've seen for a long time. It's just going to be a battle at the breakdown."

England team to play Australia: Daly; Watson, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Farrell (capt), Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler; Itoje, Lawes; Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Marler, Cole, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Ford, Joseph.

If England manage to keep that 15 fit then they’ll win the WC - the power in that side is frightening

[Cormack74]

Slade for Ford isn't a massive surprise given Ford has struggled to turn up in big games for England plus the Aussies are fielding some heavies in the back line.

In fact I would always pick it that way however in fairness to Ford he has had a decent WC so far albeit against considerably weaker teams.

I don't have too many concerns about power Nev, the question is whether their attack functions. In that respect Slade is also a good pick with the concern being that he's had very limited game time over recent months. The new attack coach (Scott Wisemantel) has added something to the mix as well.

England still have a tendency to not turn up sometimes or get complacent during the course of a game (which is mentioned earlier in the thread somewhere) so I don't see that they have any better chance than all the other teams left in the competition, but they are in a reasonable place at the moment.

I might be saying something different after the weekend if they're on the bus home mind.

[Irishnev]

There has surely got to be a shock in the 1/4 finals.....?

Eng vs Aus - Eng to win
NZ vs IRL - NZ to win
Wal vs FRA - FRA to win
Jap vs ZA - ZA to win

[labourRed]

Predictions for the Ireland game. 45 - 10 or thereabouts.

[Zapater]

Australia always have such good players, no idea why they're been so consistently **** in recent years. Pocock deserves better.

There has surely got to be a shock in the 1/4 finals.....?

Eng vs Aus - Eng to win
NZ vs IRL - NZ to win
Wal vs FRA - FRA to win
Jap vs ZA - ZA to win

I'm always **** at predictions, but I think you have those on the button.

[Irishnev]

Australia always have such good players, no idea why they're been so consistently **** in recent years. Pocock deserves better.



I'm always **** at predictions, but I think you have those on the button.

England’s power starting to show - so hard to defend against so many big guys smashing the **** out of you

[ChesterDave]

Solid defending there.

[Zapater]

Stupidity from Australia not taking the points there. Wastes your own time too when you're chasing the game. Seen it time and time again. Well defended from England there though