Really want Aussie to get up for this one Perth-style, think England will be a tough SF opponent (if we beat Ire) if they're high on confidence from winning well.

@Bones She is both Irish and English....tricky few weeks coming up

Right so the wife roped me into going to her work "team bonding day" where we'd all watch the rugby in a pub in London. Not ideal, but it's only the quarters, and I thought we'd be playing Japan/Scotland so limited stress. Until the Irish cocked it up for everyone.

Yesterday we found out that not all the wife's colleagues want to get up for the early kick off, so we're watching it 1hr delayed at someone's house, then "hopefully" catching up to live broadcast in time for the NZ kickoff at a pub nearby. Because its the morning, and London, and no one's booked anywhere, this whole plan is fraught with danger. Exacerbated by the likelihood football piston wristed gibbons will have some sort of inconsequential game on that people in pubs will insist on watching.

So I've made the executive call to watch the Eng game live with the boys over a liquid breakfast nearby, and meet the wife's work crew IF they sort their shit out and are watching the NZ game live.

Also, asking for a friend, what's the difference between a divorce and an annulment?

I bloody love this thread

Bulgarian goalkeeper sees no issue.

Football is an awful sport for this. Totally agree with suspending or cancelling a game when players are abused like that.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/15/bulgaria-goalkeeper-plamen-iliev-praises-home-fans-and-says-england-players-overreacted-euro-2020

@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):

Last time I saw this much confidence here was just before the Aussies smashed us to bits.

Ireland are a good side, who lack depth at 10. We seem to think they're shit now because they were beaten by Japan and thumped by England before the WC. But both games no Sexton. You can't play 10 man rugby without a 10.
They whipped Scotland and looked good against Samoa - they're not a spent force and they've beaten us 2 out of last 3. The Dublin game was one which we targeted to get payback for the first loss, and we scored 9 points and were well beaten.
Now I see Coles in the Herald saying 'we haven't talked about what happened last time'. Sounds a bit too much like Cheika not worrying about the opposition to me.

As for us, our best forward is underdone, and our reserve scrummaging has looked a bit shaky. I don't think Cane is back to his best, and we lack the grunt to bend set defensive lines. We have beaten South Africa, and had a couple of pretty meaningless cakewalks vs minnows, that's all. There's obviously a lot of potential in the Mounga Barrett axis, but I don't consider it proven under pressure just yet, and we have inexperienced wings who we know will be targeted in the air. Our centre has been out injured and the 12-13 combo lacks match time together.
Underdogs, clearly.

Glad we have Owens compared to some other options, but he's been below his usual high standards this cup, letting too much go at the breakdown and offside line which will suit the Irish. He is however the least likely to give a panicky dodgy shit red card.

I agree with this, am nowhere near as confident as some. The betting markets are a bit silly. I emotionally hedged by backing Ireland @ $5.70. And yes, I hate myself.

@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):

@Daffy-Jaffy interesting to see that pleading guilty early doesn't appear to result in a greater reduction then - or has everyone else tried to get off also?

Yeah I was expecting 4 weeks given he challenged it and lost.... why ever plead guilty to anything if it's a free option?

68 second laps of a 400m track, 117 times!

@chimoaus said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:

@Billy-Webb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:

@Bovidae said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:

The latest rankings. Well done Japan.

So do we swap out Argentina for Japan in the Rugby Championship?
Or, even better - can we include Japan and make it 5 teams?

Add Fiji and we have our own 6 nations.

East-West travel is worse than North-South for jet lag. Therefore South Africa should move to join the 6 Nations (replacing Italy?) and we should add Fiji and Japan to the Rugby Championship.

@chimoaus said in RWC: Wales v Uruguay (Pool D):

Anyone got a screen grab of that fan to add to the hawt discussion.

She got about 3 separate appearances on camera, and rightly so