SWING LOWWW - The Rugby World Cup Thread

[AlunB]

there is a lot in this i think, and clear parallels with the premier league and the england national football team

france has it especially bad (no salary cap, attract a lot of foreign players near the end of their careers, freezes young players out) but you also see it across the english premiership, the pro 12 etc

coach Steve Hansen says 'foreign players' are destroying European rugby

http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/world-cup/69550-hansen-criticises-european-model

Premiership is the oddest one of all in my view. RFU won't allow players from outside the Prem in the England side, but the league is stuffed full of non-English players in absolutely key positions. Baffling.

[TightEnd]

World Rugby says Joubert got it wrong.

"The appropriate decision should have been scrum to Australia for knock-on"

 http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/115761


well played, so you appoint official & give him tech tools, then deny him ability to use them. Then you use those tech tools to tell him he was wrong

[TightEnd]

[TightEnd]

Click to see full-size image.

[nirvana]

I don't find the ref's decision a problem, I don't care whether they go to the TMO for none, some or all decisions.

Just don't get why there's any kind of decision to be made when an egg shaped ball bounces around unpredictably and some poor sod happens to have it land in his arms.

'Aah Sir, you've made a schoolboy error, you appear to have instinctively caught a ball that was bouncing around erotically a few seconds ago, that'll be 3 points and 50 lashings - tally ho and bums to the wall chaps'

[nuros]

Agree with your point, def lolled at erotically tho:D

[Ironside]

the NZ hacker has moved on in the last 42 years

http://www.facebook.com/PatDivillyFit/videos/926169580791358/

[TightEnd]

[Woodsey]

Rooting for the Argies today 

[TightEnd]

Predictions for the final?

who wins? close game? open game?

[hector62]

New zealand

26 - 15

[TightEnd]

Nigel Owens to referee Saturday's final.

excellent

[AlunB]

The man is truly one of the best things in rugby.

[AlunB]

Prediction? NZ by 20. Think Australia will find this a game too far after a very very tough tournament.

[BorntoBubble]

Nigel Owens to referee Saturday's final.

excellent

Saw someone post saying Nigel Owens for SPOTY not sure if he can win it but in my eyes he should.

Ive lost count of the amount of people that are none rugby (and rugby) fans before this world cup and saying that Owens has really helped them understand what is happening in the game and most importantly at breakdowns.

He is immense, and so witty and keeps the game alive.

Good luck to him in the final, I hope he has a great game to top of a great world cup.

I am hoping for a close one but think NZ by 10 or more.