2019 Rugby Union World Cup

[TheLocalYokel]

I've noticed a lack of St George flags in house windows in my part of the world for the Rugby World Cup. When the football World Cup takes place they seem to be everywhere.

I live in Bristol where rugby is very popular. I wonder if things will change should England overturn the odds tomorrow and reach the final.

Are flags more in evidence in other areas of the country or is it just more of a football thing? I can't remember seeing many when the cricket World Cup was taking place in the summer either and, as with rugby, cricket is very popular around here.

 

[Jerry]

Are flags more in evidence in other areas of the country or is it just more of a football thing?

I haven't seen any in my part of Cardiff for Wales either. Must be a football thing.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Are flags more in evidence in other areas of the country or is it just more of a football thing?

In my travels around Birmingham I have noticed quite a few but nowhere near as many as when the England football team are in a tournament. I have noticed a big increase this year in Halloween decoration, some of them quite elaborate but that's for a different thread.

Best of luck to England although it will be a tough ask.

 

[Jerry]

Well that was impressive from England! Fingers crossed the team in red can make it the first northern hemisphere final!

 

[Nethercote2019]

A fantastic performance from team

 

[lbaspotter]

What a win for England against the mighty All Black's.

Bring on the final.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Well that was impressive from England! Fingers crossed the team in red can make it the first northern hemisphere final!

Yes, it was.

Two tremendous performances, first against Australia and now New Zealand. If England can keep this up, their opponents in the final will have to really put in a performance to win. Knock-out tournaments are never predictable though - one bad performance against an opponent's good performance can turn any form book around. Today though, as with the Australia quarter-final, England not only stopped their opponents from getting into their stride but imposed their own will, skill and tactics to come out deserved winners.

England will now probably start the final as favourites but favourites are there to be beaten, as we saw today. I loved England's attitude at the end of the match, commented on afterwards by the ITV studio team, when they adopted a very low key attitude to their victory. They correctly realise they've won nothing yet.

An England v Wales final would be a great filip for the Six Nations and Northern Hemisphere rugby in general, and of course the traditional rivalry between two old adversaries. It would also raise the profile of the game in the UK beyond those who normally follow rugby. The news media, let alone the sports media, would be full of it all week.

Would England find their task more difficult against Wales than against another Southern Hemisphere country? Wales and their players are more familiar at first-hand with England's type of game and their players. Furthermore, Wales have yet to put in the masterful performance of which we know they are fully capable, and putting one over on England would be a great incentive in itself (as it would for England vis-a-vis Wales), apart from the rather more important goal of winning rugby's greatest prize. Wales have to beat South Africa first though.

I shall be looking to see if more flags appear in windows this week.

 

[Jerry]

Would England find their task more difficult against Wales than against another Southern Hemisphere country?

It would add more spice to the game and both sides know each other well and IF Wales gets to the final it gives Wales a better chance of winning as Wales have beaten England multiple times over the last 50 years but not the All Blacks. So hopefully South Africa don't ruin the party!

 

[Brummiegem]

Be careful what you wish for Jerry. Good runs come to an end eventually, just ask New Zealand.
I’d say that was England’s best display under Eddie Jones, and providing there are no serious injuries I cannot see him making too many changes for the final.I think only Jonny May is a doubt, but plenty of time for that to change.
It was a tactical masterclass from Jones, attacking with pace and power from the first whistle.
As for the final, as I said last week, England will fear no one now, but can the same be said for South Africa or Wales.

 

[lbaspotter]

Unlucky Wales.

So it's England vs Springboks in the World Cup Final next week

 

[Jerry]

Congratulations to the party pooping South Africans!
I kind of feel that game sums up Gatlands reign he got us so close to the big boys but still not quite close enough! Still we gotten further than the Irish!

 

[Brummiegem]

Commiserations to the Welsh. I did not see the game, but everything I have read and heard since suggests that the Springboks did everything to stop Wales from playing their natural game. Therefore the game as a spectacle was not so entertaining.
Shame about the result, but i wonder what this means to the Welsh going forward? I see that a new coach has been named, but what is in store for the playing staff?

As for next week, England have been made favourites to lift the Webb Ellis trophy. I just hope that the players concentrate on the good things they have done so far.Maintain their generally good discipline, and hopefully play their pleasing style of rugby. Great to see more of the sport media and former players from around the World saying such good things about this England side. I remember a few years ago how much the Red Roses were hated for their boring kick and rush style of play, and uninspiring tactics.
How things have changed.
May the best team win.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Desperately close from reports. I wasn't able to see much of the game but I heard some of the 'expert' comments afterwards and from what was said it seems, as has been alluded to to above, that RSA's main tactic was to 'get in the face' of their opponents in the pack and try to win penalties.

Is that how those who did watch the entire match saw it?

An England/Wales final would have been a fantastic occasion. For that reason I wonder how many England supporters were willing on Wales today. On the other hand they might believe they would prefer to play RSA for the reasons we discussed recently. Not that they will disregard or underestimate a team from a country with such a rugby pedigree (that's where RSA and Wales are similar).

It's sometimes said that in a knock-out competition the worst game to lose is a semi-final. I'm not sure I agree with that. I think the worst game to lose (all defeats are unwelcome) is the final itself. Having got that far you want to win it.

Games can turn on relatively insignificant events in themselves - a yellow card for instance. A 'favourite' tag means nothing unless the favourites actually win.

Incidentally, I believe there is a third-place match to be played. They do that in the football World Cup too. I can't think that anyone is really interested in it, certainly not the teams and supporters who must be feeling very low. Talk about after the Lord Mayor's Show.

 

[Jerry]

Shame about the result, but i wonder what this means to the Welsh going forward? I see that a new coach has been named, but what is in store for the playing staff?

Many of the older players most likely won't see another world cup and will probably retire over the next few years.
Going to be a few difficult years ahead for Wales I fear as Gatland took Wales from being whipping boys to a team that competed with and beat the best in the world with the exception of New Zealand. As a rugby nation Wales punches way above it's weight.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I note that England were fined £2,000 for their response to the New Zealand Haka before the match. The response itself apparently was well received by the New Zealanders but some of the England players crossed the half-way line to do it and thus breached World Rugby's rules relating to cultural challenges.

Perhaps England should do some Morris dancing before their matches as their own challenge.

I hope that the fine money is donated to an appropriate charity rather than swelling World Rugby's coffers.

 

[Brummiegem]

Steve Hansen(NZ coach)didn’t have a problem with the way England faced his team.He said he liked the way they lined up.The Haka amongst other things is a challenge being laid down to the opposition.Surely the opposition should line up as they see fit.I know the governing body have some rules and regulations regarding where the team facing NZ should stand.(i.e in their own half)
However I think it is a bit pathetic to be honest.Remember the French got right in the faces of the All Blacks during the Haka in the 2007 World Cup.(they also got fined).Interestingly the French won that match as well.Perhaps New Zealand should now drop the Haka as they obviously don’t like it if the opposition show they are not phased by it.
It is a shame that this issue is seemingly overshadowing what was a superb performance from England.
Looking at this from a different perspective,the Haka could also be looked at as being intimidatory.The authorities are trying to drive out intimidating behaviour from our sporting events,yet those same authorities are allowing South Sea Island Rugby teams from performing what is effectively a war dance.
I personally feel that although it is good theatre,it is a little outdated.If the opposition can’t have some freedom in the way they face the Haka then I think it should be dropped.

I like the idea of 15 and 20 stone men doing a Morris Dance Mr Yokel.Now that would be entertaining.

 

[Jerry]

Congratulations South Africa! 2019 Rugby World cup champions!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thoroughly merited win by RSA. England looked shell-shocked from the beginning with errors littering their lack of progress.

Much of it was due to their opponents not letting England play, just as England subdued Australia and New Zealand.

This was the third final that England have lost - I'd forgotten the 1991 one until reminded of it today - although they did manage a win in 2003.

As with Gatland, who was proved correct in his assertion that England's final was against New Zealand, a much vaunted overseas coach failed to deliver the one prize that really matters.

South Africa's tournament progress mirrored Germany in the football World Cup every four years - slow and relatively unimpressive performances in early games but increasing momentum until they peak in the final. Some senior football coaches say there is an art to winning such tournaments that take place over a limited time span; I suppose the same might apply with rugby.

England deserved praise for their performances in their other games, and reaching the final saw the sort of general interest in the country that usually only the football World Cup generates. If some of those who don't follow the game regularly are converted then that will be a wholly worthwhile legacy.

In the end though England were not quite good enough and RSA deserve praise and congratulation for their undoubted superiority on the day.

 

[lbaspotter]

It's been a great World Cup run to the final England Rugby, but it wasn't meant to be this time. You've done us proud lads.

Well done to the #Springboks. They played there own game and won it quite convincingly.

Oh on a final note #England have prove on there travels around Japan they are still better than the rest of the home nations: #Wales, #Ireland & #Scotland.

#carryushome

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Oh on a final note #England have prove on there travels arounfld Japan they are still better than the rest of the home nations: #Wales, #Ireland & #Scotland.

We'll find out if that's the case in the next Six Nations.